**The PURE DRIVE 2012 Forum (club)**

[BC1]

Originally Posted by Dgdavid

How was the backhand?

It's been fine. Nothing to brag about, but as good as it ever it is. The PD isn't harming it in anyway. Actually I've found when I just go for it, let it rip, and be aggressive with it, it's fairly good. It's when I'm hesitant and unconfident that I don't get much out of my back hand - but I guess that can be said for any stroke.

Like you have said, I have found the racquet to be good in all areas - no complaints whatsoever. For once I'm not blaming the racquet!

[BC1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Try the stick without poly in it before making a rushed decision.

I agree, or at least lower your tension. I have found that I have had more arm trouble with some less stiff racquets that aren't as stable in the hoop as the pd. What you will find is that if you hit some flexier racquets at the tip of the hoop or way outside the sweetspot the vibrations and shock can be intense - you don't find that with the pd. Strings will make a difference in either however.

[fibonacci888]

No money is lost since i was still testing because Babolat was slow with shipping towards my dealer. So i put the order on hold and will continue testing.

I'll take your comments/suggestions with me, thanks!

[hydenst]

I just switched over from the origional roddick cortex + to the new 2012 racket and I LOVE it...before that i played with the 3rd gen pure drive team plus... but i add a full pack of lead tape to my racket I divide it up equally to the 12, 9, 6, 3 o'clock positions...and i string it with the pro hurricane/nvy hybrid combo at 50lbs...all decisions i have come to love the feel of...i am a former colligate player and currant assistant collegiate coach as well as a uspta certified and i think the new frame is by far babolat's best racket out there!!!

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by BC1

It's been fine. Nothing to brag about, but as good as it ever it is. The PD isn't harming it in anyway. Actually I've found when I just go for it, let it rip, and be aggressive with it, it's fairly good. It's when I'm hesitant and unconfident that I don't get much out of my back hand - but I guess that can be said for any stroke.

Like you have said, I have found the racquet to be good in all areas - no complaints whatsoever. For once I'm not blaming the racquet!

I have the odd sensation of loving the racket and it is by far my favourite and I feel very confident with it but my on court results in proper matches are Lost 2, Drawn 1, Won 1 since I've had it! Putting is down to better opponents...maybe

[BC1]

Originally Posted by hydenst

I just switched over from the origional roddick cortex + to the new 2012 racket and I LOVE it...before that i played with the 3rd gen pure drive team plus... but i add a full pack of lead tape to my racket I divide it up equally to the 12, 9, 6, 3 o'clock positions...and i string it with the pro hurricane/nvy hybrid combo at 50lbs...all decisions i have come to love the feel of...i am a former colligate player and currant assistant collegiate coach as well as a uspta certified and i think the new frame is by far babolat's best racket out there!!!

Wow! What an endorsement! That's great and good to hear. Thank you and welcome to the "club". Glad to see players in the upper ranks, like yourself, love it as well! Thanks for joining in.

That's a lot of lead! What is the final weight?

[BC1]

Originally Posted by Dgdavid

I have the odd sensation of loving the racket and it is by far my favourite and I feel very confident with it but my on court results in proper matches are Lost 2, Drawn 1, Won 1 since I've had it! Putting is down to better opponents...maybe

Intersting... Well, regardless of the results, how do you feel you're playing? How are you're shots? Lots of unforced errors? Are these players you've won against in the past? As you know, no racquet will allow you to win against a stronger/better opponent.

[DrewRafter8]

Originally Posted by keithfival

How would you rate the comfort level of the Black Drive vs the APDC+? The APDC+ is always wearing on me one way or another, wrist, shoulder, neck. The new PD felt much more solid/cushy when I hit for 20 minutes but I wonder if in the long run it would be the same. What's your experience?

The Black Drive is a much more solid hit for the long term. I had put silicone in the handle of my APDC+'s to make them feel solid. I've never had any arm issues with a Babolat though. I know that the RA of the Black Drive+ is higher then the APDC+ but the new cortex takes out most of the bad vibrations that the APDC+ had due to it's hollow feel.

[hydenst]

Originally Posted by BC1

Wow! What an endorsement! That's great and good to hear. Thank you and welcome to the "club". Glad to see players in the upper ranks, like yourself, love it as well! Thanks for joining in.

That's a lot of lead! What is the final weight?

In the end it's rt around 12.3...and only slightly handel heavy lol

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by BC1

Intersting... Well, regardless of the results, how do you feel you're playing? How are you're shots? Lots of unforced errors? Are these players you've won against in the past? As you know, no racquet will allow you to win against a stronger/better opponent.

You know the feeling when you are under pressure and your swing can shorten as you tighten up? Well, with the Prestige and to a lesser extent, the Warrior, i patch this up mid game by relying on the rackets solidity to help push deep balls back and in. In these scenarios, I am hitting long with the PD but the issue is recovering my head speed not the racket.

I have got into a bad habit of switching power delivery from head speed to racket weight when my strokes go off and it doesn't work with the PD. But it highlights a flaw in my game.

[JackB1]

OK I FINALLY got to hit tonite with my new Pure Drive 2012!

The racquet was pretty easy to switch to, but it did take some time to adjust from the Warrior. The PD feels a little lighter and whippier than the Warrior with slightly less plow thru, but pretty equivalent. Power was about the same and I was surprised the power wasn't too much with my multi/poly hybrid at 58/55. I could definitely swing out and keep the ball in. You had to be careful though at times it felt like the ball would "spring" off the stringbed when you hit too flat. If you want to swing fast, you have to make sure and brush up on the ball.

Serves were the best feature for me. It was easy to place them anywhere in the box with pace and/or spin. I was quick to adjust to serving with the PD and drilled a few aces. Groundstrokes were also nice with the PD. Punch volleys and put away floaters were easy with the PD, but touch shots were a bit of a struggle so far. For some reason I was leaving all my touch shots short, which was strange since the PD is such a powerful racquet. I just need more time to dial in drops and touch shots.

The swingweight may need some additional weight I think? It feels a little light and lacking a little plow and weight behind the ball. Do most of you play the racquet stock or did u add some weight. Mine is 325 with overgrip and I tend to like a final weight of 330-335 grams, so I may add 5-10 grams. I think I would keep balance around what it is.

Overall I am pretty pleased so far, but the racquet didn't "wow" me, but I think I need a little more adjusting time. I only played doubles tonite, so I didn't get to hit a whole lot of groundstrokes. I absolutely LOVE the cosmetics and the racquet looks sick with the blue and black string scheme I have. Also, I had zero arm issues or soreness with my multi/poly hybrid.

The only negatives so far was that I seemed to miss the sweetspot towards the bottom more and got jammed. The sweetspot wasn't as large feeling as the Warrior and when you missed the middle, the ball didn't really go anywhere, but it wasn't tiny either. Just need to dial in the racquet spacing distance better...it must be slightly different than the Warrior?

More to come....will try the PD in a competetive doubles match tomorrow and hopefully a singles league match soon.

[Bergboy123]

I'm really struggling to get my drop shots in with my new PD I had a real weapon of a drop shot developed with my APD, but I've almost completely lost it now! Anybody else have this problem?

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Bergboy123

I'm really struggling to get my drop shots in with my new PD I had a real weapon of a drop shot developed with my APD, but I've almost completely lost it now! Anybody else have this problem?

I have only had the PD for one session, but I did have a rough time with droppers and feel shots. They all seemed to land shorter than normal. Not sure yet if I just need to get more used to the racquet or not? I had no issues with drop shots with my Warrior, but that is the drawback of a powerful and stiff racquet....feel and touch shots are not as easy. Everything has it's Pros and Cons. How long have you had the Pure Drive?

[Bergboy123]

I've had mine for a little less than a month now! And I'm having the same problem, they all go short!

[BC1]

Originally Posted by Dgdavid

You know the feeling when you are under pressure and your swing can shorten as you tighten up? Well, with the Prestige and to a lesser extent, the Warrior, i patch this up mid game by relying on the rackets solidity to help push deep balls back and in. In these scenarios, I am hitting long with the PD but the issue is recovering my head speed not the racket.

I have got into a bad habit of switching power delivery from head speed to racket weight when my strokes go off and it doesn't work with the PD. But it highlights a flaw in my game.

I totally understand what your saying, and I too have found myself falling into this style of play with all of my pds over the years. You subconsciously stop playing aggressively and just start throwing the racquet out there for easy returns. The forgiving racquet allows this, but it hurts your game. Yes, as you said, the key is to keep up the speed and don't get lazy with the footwork or swing. To play with the Pd effectively you still have to treat it like it's mores of a players raquet and take solid swings, then it can be a very effective racquet, and deadly for your opponents. I think this is why this racquet is used by all levels, from 3.0s to pros, but like with most racquets you get out of it what you put into it.

[Hominator]

Originally Posted by JackB1

OK I FINALLY got to hit tonite with my new Pure Drive 2012!

The racquet was pretty easy to switch to, but it did take some time to adjust from the Warrior. The PD feels a little lighter and whippier than the Warrior with slightly less plow thru, but pretty equivalent. Power was about the same and I was surprised the power wasn't too much with my multi/poly hybrid at 58/55. I could definitely swing out and keep the ball in. You had to be careful though at times it felt like the ball would "spring" off the stringbed when you hit too flat. If you want to swing fast, you have to make sure and brush up on the ball.

Serves were the best feature for me. It was easy to place them anywhere in the box with pace and/or spin. I was quick to adjust to serving with the PD and drilled a few aces. Groundstrokes were also nice with the PD. Punch volleys and put away floaters were easy with the PD, but touch shots were a bit of a struggle so far. For some reason I was leaving all my touch shots short, which was strange since the PD is such a powerful racquet. I just need more time to dial in drops and touch shots.

The swingweight may need some additional weight I think? It feels a little light and lacking a little plow and weight behind the ball. Do most of you play the racquet stock or did u add some weight. Mine is 325 with overgrip and I tend to like a final weight of 330-335 grams, so I may add 5-10 grams. I think I would keep balance around what it is.

Overall I am pretty pleased so far, but the racquet didn't "wow" me, but I think I need a little more adjusting time. I only played doubles tonite, so I didn't get to hit a whole lot of groundstrokes. I absolutely LOVE the cosmetics and the racquet looks sick with the blue and black string scheme I have. Also, I had zero arm issues or soreness with my multi/poly hybrid.

The only negatives so far was that I seemed to miss the sweetspot towards the bottom more and got jammed. The sweetspot wasn't as large feeling as the Warrior and when you missed the middle, the ball didn't really go anywhere, but it wasn't tiny either. Just need to dial in the racquet spacing distance better...it must be slightly different than the Warrior?

More to come....will try the PD in a competetive doubles match tomorrow and hopefully a singles league match soon.

Hi Jack, I use the 2012 PD stock, and I'm hitting with former college players who still whack the crap out of the ball. The racquet hasn't been pushed around at all. The best thing about the lighter weight compared to my X10 325s is the racquet head speed I can get from the racquet. That, plus I can shorten my strokes, which simplifies things...

[bluegrasser]

I love the PD for doubs, but in singles or just hitting with a friend I struggle with control, hit a lot of out balls, especially with the forehand. To be fair, I have eastern grip (forehand ) con't backhand w/ little to moderate spin. I tried the Pure Storm GT, but couldn't hit my topspin lob ( best shot) with it, the racquet didn't seem to grab the ball,

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by JackB1

I have only had the PD for one session, but I did have a rough time with droppers and feel shots. They all seemed to land shorter than normal. Not sure yet if I just need to get more used to the racquet or not? I had no issues with drop shots with my Warrior, but that is the drawback of a powerful and stiff racquet....feel and touch shots are not as easy. Everything has it's Pros and Cons. How long have you had the Pure Drive?

Agree the SW was lower but it seem to help in the quick volley department so i think it is a tradeoff. but what do you think about vibration dampening of this new PD ? for some reason this one is hurting my shoulder more so than previous year's model.
and how would you compare this one to previous Pure drive GT overall ? better or worse ? thanks

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Agree the SW was lower but it seem to help in the quick volley department so i think it is a tradeoff. but what do you think about vibration dampening of this new PD ? for some reason this one is hurting my shoulder more so than previous year's model.
and how would you compare this one to previous Pure drive GT overall ? better or worse ? thanks

I have no experience with any prior PDs so I really can't comment on that, but I didn't notice any bad vibes in my first night with it. Could be your string setup? Try a soft multi at 60 lbs.

[clunker]

Hello all,
I have enjoyed reading all the comments and experiences about PD.
I don't own one, but I do have a comment about it after demoing it last week. I also demoed every previous PD. I am a 4.5 player and like flexible racquets ( played with Volkl 10s for about 6 years). I used to look at PDs as a joke of a racquet thiking how it is impossible to play with it. I still think that EXCEPT for 2012. I liked it a lot, and on some nicely hit forehands I could feel a little flex in the racquet that almost made me giggle. It was great on returns and makes you more confident to return with some pace. Serves were consistent and powerful.
Not buying it yet, but thinking that I might switch to it ( as surreal as it is to me) is the best evaluation I can give.
Good luck, and thanks for the nice post.