The Babolat Pure Strike Project Two Zero Thread

Pure Strike Tour 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 320 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 315 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 18x20 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 18×20
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 16×19 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 100 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 300 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Team 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 285 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Lite 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 265 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in
 

TennisManiac

Hall of Fame
Pure Strike Tour 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 320 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 315 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 18x20 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 18×20
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 16×19 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 100 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 300 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Team 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 285 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Lite 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 265 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in
I'm assuming these are the unstrung specs.?
 

Fairhit

Hall of Fame
Soooo, the same racquet with a higher RA? I think I will pass...

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy about this launch, it means that the PS17 will be on sale soon.
 

vanworth

Rookie
Pure Strike Tour 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 320 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 315 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 18x20 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 18×20
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 16×19 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

If these are unstrung then 67 strung may not be too bad, 18x20 is high though at 69. Tour will be interesting to see how it reviews.
 

tribesmen

Professional
Tour will be great for those who are looking for easy-to-play RF97 i.e. stable, not too soft and powerful with a good control.
 

vanworth

Rookie
Tour will be great for those who are looking for easy-to-play RF97 i.e. stable, not too soft and powerful with a good control.
Yes that spec is fairly unique in terms of stock rackets in current lines. Well if our experts here are correct and Thiem has switched, he just got this new racket to it's first slam final!
 

bleno567

Professional
Pure Strike Tour 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 320 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 315 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 18x20 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 18×20
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 16×19 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 100 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 300 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Team 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 285 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Lite 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 265 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

I wonder if they kept the same 21.3-23.3-21.3 beam thickness or really did cut it back down to 21-23-21 mm like the original version.
 

kblades

Semi-Pro
Pure Strike Tour 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 320 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 315 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 18x20 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 18×20
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 16×19 2019:
Headsize: 98 sq in
Weight: 305 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike 100 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 300 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 320 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Team 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 285 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 72 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

Pure Strike Lite 2019:
Headsize: 100 sq in
Weight: 265 g
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 330 mm
Stiffness: 70 RA
Beam: 21-23-21 mm
Length: 27 in

If these truly are the specs, I’m liking the numbers on the tour version. That’s pretty close to where I currently have my PS one7’s weighted up to. It plays significantly better at that spec versus stock. My pair came in at 298g unstrung so I’ve added a total of ~20g, plus dampener and 2 OG’s. If true, the tour spec seems like a nice option that may be playable in stock form, or atleast not need anywhere the amount of customization as I’ve had to do with the the current gen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

DJTaurus

Hall of Fame
Yikes. 70+ RAs on all of them? I’ll pass. Way to ruin a great racquet Babolat.

On the blind test there was 75% satisfaction on comfort compared to the previous version. If you have played with the latest pure aero and drive they are too muted and pain free despite their high RA..... i prefer the older versions feel and feedback on ball contact by they solved arm pain issues without reducing stiffness.
 
A
On the blind test there was 75% satisfaction on comfort compared to the previous version. If you have played with the latest pure aero and drive they are too muted and pain free despite their high RA..... i prefer the older versions feel and feedback on ball contact by they solved arm pain issues without reducing stiffness.
Actually hit with a 'new' PD Tour+ and you're right, it still felt quite stiff, but gave the impression that it was much less harsh than previous models; I'm wondering if with this apparent masking of vibrations it will still bother sensitive arms as much in the long run?
 
Are you implying that Theim would play better with an old APD?

None of us have any idea what Thiem is actually using underneath the PJ. Some people want to believe he is using a stick that is close to the Retail model.

I don't believe that.

Rafa gave Dominic a Tennis lesson on Sunday. We know Rafa is using a softer APD style of frame. Perhaps Dominic needs something like that to take his game to the next level. Who knows?
 

bleno567

Professional
Does anyone have experience with the 16×19 and the 100? Can anyone comment on how the launch angle differs?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 

gazz1

Semi-Pro
On the blind test there was 75% satisfaction on comfort compared to the previous version.

Blind drunk :unsure:

All jokes aside, I have felt rackets with a higher RA play more comfortable than some with lower RAs, so maybe they have done something special...I hope so.
 

TennisHound

Legend
I disagree out the empty feeling. I feel that it’s way more solid than any of the other sticks like the pure drive and aero.
It’s the perfect compromise between a player stick and a tween her and the string spacing is perfect not to open like the pure drive
Kind of late reply, but I agree on the string spacing
 

WhiteStripes

Semi-Pro
Does anyone have experience with the 16×19 and the 100? Can anyone comment on how the launch angle differs?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Balls come off the 100 a little higher, but it's not that significant. Both have pretty low trajectories for 16x19 in my opinion.
 

TforTommy

Semi-Pro
that being said tho, I really liked the feel of the pure strike. It's stiff but it's got a really nice almost soft feel to it. Loved the frame. I've never really gel'd with the pure drive but the pure aero is great. Just with my 1hbh I feel like the aero is just abit awkward in some ways on my backhand and the pure strike was a much better fit
 

hurworld

Hall of Fame
If PS17 is any indication, the real test is 6 months to a year after racquet goes on retail and if we will see posts on TTW complaining arm problem as a result of using the new PS for a long period of time.
 

tribesmen

Professional
PS17 is a player racquet and not meant for beginner-intermediate level. If you hit it correctly, balls go to sweet spot and not to the frame or outside of sweet spot, then the PS17 is heavenly, only downsize is that it is too light and you need to put some lead to it. If you cannot target the sweet spot then lots of vibration go to the arm.
 
Tell you nothing about the product and expect you to purchase it based on what it looks like.

Sorry. But why would anyone purchase a tennis racquet without properly demoing it first?

There are a lot of things to consider with a racquet that are based on individual preference. String configuration, type of grip and overgrips, customised weighting, etc.

Anyone who simply purchases a racquet based on published specifications and other people's comments is asking for trouble afaic.

Would you buy a motor vehicle without properly Test Driving it first?
 

TforTommy

Semi-Pro
Sorry. But why would anyone purchase a tennis racquet without properly demoing it first?

There are a lot of things to consider with a racquet that are based on individual preference. String configuration, type of grip and overgrips, customised weighting, etc.

Anyone who simply purchases a racquet based on published specifications and other people's comments is asking for trouble afaic.

Would you buy a motor vehicle without properly Test Driving it first?

Some frames I do it just for the sake of it, just for collection purposes. Most of the time I know that i'll be modifying it to match my spec. I don't buy the odd frame with intent to make it my permenant racquet by any means at all
 

TennisManiac

Hall of Fame
Sorry. But why would anyone purchase a tennis racquet without properly demoing it first?

There are a lot of things to consider with a racquet that are based on individual preference. String configuration, type of grip and overgrips, customised weighting, etc.

Anyone who simply purchases a racquet based on published specifications and other people's comments is asking for trouble afaic.

Would you buy a motor vehicle without properly Test Driving it first?
I don't demo anymore. Why would I? The racket that would be sent to me wouldn't be set up the way I play as far as static weight and balance. Nor would it be in the grip size I play with. Nor would it have the type of strings I play with. Nor would the strings be anywhere close to the tension that I play with. So you see... it makes no sense to demo a frame that wouldn't even be remotely close to the way I would have it set up. Just a waste of time and money. If I think I might really like a frame I just buy it. If it works... great. If not... I sell it.
 

Prince Vegeta

Semi-Pro
I don't demo anymore. Why would I? The racket that would be sent to me wouldn't be set up the way I play as far as static weight and balance. Nor would it be in the grip size I play with. Nor would it have the type of strings I play with. Nor would the strings be anywhere close to the tension that I play with. So you see... it makes no sense to demo a frame that wouldn't even be remotely close to the way I would have it set up. Just a waste of time and money. If I think I might really like a frame I just buy it. If it works... great. If not... I sell it.
I guess one could get a demo and string it themselves, and modify it with their own setup to test with, but that takes a lot of time to get right and most places only let one have a frame for a week. I’m my own experience it takes at least a month to start grooving with a different frame.
 

vanworth

Rookie
There didn’t seem to be any call outs about comfort...just comments like if you liked the last one you should like this one. At 69RA, it seems like I’ll end up with the same TE problems as the PO7 :(
I really like these reviewers but that's a huge omission from the review very very poor, TW are well aware of all the comments about comfort from the previous generation, they should have at least mentioned the comfort level here! I think the fact they didn't is a big red flag.
 
The racket that would be sent to me wouldn't be set up the way I play as far as static weight and balance. Nor would it be in the grip size I play with. Nor would it have the type of strings I play with. Nor would the strings be anywhere close to the tension that I play with.

In that situation you aren't demoing the frame. You are just hitting with a different racquet. Pot Luck.

it makes no sense to demo a frame that wouldn't even be remotely close to the way I would have it set up.

Yes. But you are not actually demoing the frame then.

When I say "Demo" I mean actually test the racquet with the same specifications you are used to playing in conditions you are familiar with. That is not what you are talking about.

I feel sorry for people who don't have the opportunity to properly demo frames before they purchase them. Hard Luck :(

If I think I might really like a frame I just buy it. If it works... great. If not... I sell it.

In that case, I don't get why you would even care about racquet reviews then. Just find the racquets with published specs that you think you might be able to get close to your current set up and spend the money.

Of course, you could just buy twenty 2013 APDs and be done with it for the next twenty years ;)
 

Fairhit

Hall of Fame
In a perfect world you should be able to demo a racquet with the exact same characteristics as the one you eventually get but that is not how it works, sometimes you just get a perfect racquet to demo and another completely different frame when you buy it.

I personally don't have the option to demo, I read reviews and watch the videos, there's people whom have spot on concepts when reviewing and I trust them with their assessments, also, here in TTW, you can fins a large enough pool of opinions so you can have an accurate sense of a racquet, if I find a frame that I like and find good enough opinions and reviews about it, I just buy it, if I gel with it is an absolute win if I don't I just collect it.
 
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Deleted member 756272

Guest
How consistent were the P17's specs from racquet to racquet? Is it worth buying matched?

I'm thinking about purchasing some 18x20 P17s for the summer bc the P20 release date is so far away.
 

TennisManiac

Hall of Fame
How consistent were the P17's specs from racquet to racquet? Is it worth buying matched?

I'm thinking about purchasing some 18x20 P17s for the summer bc the P20 release date is so far away.
I know two people who each bought two P17s when they first came out. The rackets were within 8 grams of each other, which isn't that bad. But it's not that good either. If I but a pair of frames... they better damn well be within a gram or two of each other.
 

kblades

Semi-Pro
How consistent were the P17's specs from racquet to racquet? Is it worth buying matched?

I'm thinking about purchasing some 18x20 P17s for the summer bc the P20 release date is so far away.

Not good...I bought a matched pair from my local shop a few months back. We measured 8 or 10 frames before finding 2 that were close, but of the ones we measured they were all over the place as far as weight and balance. Even the two I bought were 298g unstrung which is 7g under spec.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
If I but a pair of frames... they better damn well be within a gram or two of each other.

Easily done if you carry your Digital Scale and Balance Board with you to the Retailer.

If you go with Online Purchase, stump up the extra and use a Racquet Matching Service.

I've bought 5 x A, 3 x B, and 2 x C sticks in the past few years. I did purchase them from a Retailer and all were within 2 grams (and 2 points Balance) of each other, in each group. (Digital Scales and Balance Board come in very handy ... as does purchasing from a Retailer that has several of the product in stock)
 

TennisManiac

Hall of Fame
Easily done if you carry your Digital Scale and Balance Board with you to the Retailer.

If you go with Online Purchase, stump up the extra and use a Racquet Matching Service.

I've bought 5 x A, 3 x B, and 2 x C sticks in the past few years. I did purchase them from a Retailer and all were within 2 grams (and 2 points Balance) of each other, in each group. (Digital Scales and Balance Board come in very handy ... as does purchasing from a Retailer that has several of the product in stock)
Yep. I do have a scale and balance board. But unfortunately I have to pay the extra for racket matching since I don't have a retailer near me. But when I get the frames I can double check to make sure the service was performed properly.
 
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Deleted member 756272

Guest
Thanks for sharing the info about Babolat frames! @TennisManiac @kdm711 @DJTaurus

@Karma Tennis - Do they allow you to measure all the frames in the store? Do you take the marketing paper off the head? How many do you have to measure to find 2 that are close enough? I've never thought of doing that before even though I do my own customization and stringing at home. I guess there's nothing preventing that unless the store has a sign ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

@AeroPro Staff - Can't wait to join the dark side! :) I've been using box beam frames from the early 2000s and kept hearing great things about Babolat.
 

kblades

Semi-Pro
Thanks for sharing the info about Babolat frames! @TennisManiac @kdm711 @DJTaurus

@Karma Tennis - Do they allow you to measure all the frames in the store? Do you take the marketing paper off the head? How many do you have to measure to find 2 that are close enough? I've never thought of doing that before even though I do my own customization and stringing at home. I guess there's nothing preventing that unless the store has a sign ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

@AeroPro Staff - Can't wait to join the dark side! :) I've been using box beam frames from the early 2000s and kept hearing great things about Babolat.

I don’t see why a shop would mind you measuring. My local shop actually does it for me. It’s up to you if you want to take off the marketing placard. My suggestion is that if you are looking for a specific spec, then it probably makes sense to remove it. I would just remove it from one to weigh it, then deduct that amount from the rest of the ones you check just because it would be time consuming to do every racquet. Then just remember to reduce it another 2-3g for the plastic around the handle.

As far as how many it takes to find 2 that’s close, that is going to vary significantly especially depending on the manufacturer and their QC tolerances. When I bought my Pure Strikes, we went through 7 or 8 frames before finding 2 that were close. However, the guy that was helping me said the night before someone wanted a matched pair of Clashes and it took them 18-20 frames before finding a matched pair.

One other thing to keep in mind is depending on how big your local shop is and what brand/frame/grip size you are looking for, there may only be a limited number of frames to choose from. If you think about all the different manufacturers, plus all the variations of models, and then multiple grip sizes, that’s a lot of inventory. So if you are buying a popular frame in an average grip size, chances are the shop will have more frames on hand to pick from. But if you are looking for something that isn’t a big seller in your area, chances are they will have lesser inventory on hand.

Your other option is buying from TW and using their matching service. This saves you the time and hassle, and chances are they have a lot more inventory on hand than your local shop to pick from.
 
@Karma Tennis - Do they allow you to measure all the frames in the store? Do you take the marketing paper off the head? How many do you have to measure to find 2 that are close enough? I've never thought of doing that before even though I do my own customization and stringing at home. I guess there's nothing preventing that unless the store has a sign ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Never had a problem in any Retail Store. I just tell them up front that I'm looking to purchase three or four racquets and they are happy to throw as many at me as they have. Some staff are surprised what lengths I go to but when I explain it to them they understand.

I always weigh and balance the racquets off the rack. I don't remove any of the packaging but I do make sure the racquets all have the same packaging (IE same cards, same plastic wrap on the grip etc.).

Of course, always compare the same grip size.

I'm aiming to get racquets that are matched. The basic spec of the bare frame doesn't worry me because we customise them.

So, for example, if the published spec of a racquet is 310g unstrung and 6 Points HL ... I'm not fussed if they they are a few grams or points either way ... as long as they all match.

Hope that helps. Keep in mind, I always buy at least two racquets at a time. So if I only buy two, I make sure they are as close to each other as possible. If I buy another two, I will try to have them match the original two, or as close as possible to the original two. It is often hard to match racquets off the shelf if they have been shipped to the Retailer in different batches.
 
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