2017 Pure Strike

Roland G

Hall of Fame
Man I'm seriously tempted to order one of these. The playtester comments have totally whetted my appetite.

And kudos to Babolat for the sane pricing. They could have thrown in a letter from Thiem and some rubber paint and added 30% to the RRP lol
 

ultradr

Legend
new 18x20 is way to lite.


main difference of new ones seems to be its more uniform stiffness while old ones were tip-stiff and throat flexy.
 
TW just posted their RAVING review of the 16x19:


Balance: 4 pts HL
Swingweight: 323
Stiffness: 67

Wow, very surprising from TW on the "super" positive review. The project one 7 was pretty mediocre to me and not very powerful. Maybe Babolat changed something.

Got a 90 score!!
Looking forward to read the review for the PS100
Both are quite attractive

What kind of ridiculous rating! 94 on groundstrokes. That makes me just want to buy it straight up without demoing lol. I hope it lives up to the hype cuz I've never seen a racquet drastically improve that much from a previous iteration that was not well-liked at all.

The scores on this racquet review are freaking OUT OF CONTROL.
Can someone find a racquet review that has this kind of rating that is not Federer's racquets?

guys ... it is entirely possible that this is a perfectly decent frame.

Agree. It's entirely possible that this is a perfectly decent frame.

However, the raving reviews and insanely high scores on a racquet whose previous version wasn't that well liked at all makes me think Babolat must've sent a nicely written letter to TW/Playtesters with some specifics as to what to say about the frame. The guys at top tennis training also gave the frame sick scores in their video review.

Again, not to pee all over the hype parade, it could very well be the best frame of 2016, but it could also be brilliant marketing from Babolat to reanimate the Pure Strike line.
 

ednegroni

Rookie
Ordered a 16x19. First racquet I buy at full price in about 15 years. I live in Puerto Rico so if I don't like it I'll probably be able to sell it quick.
 
"AMGF: Maybe Thiem will switch to the new frame in the off season. But right now it seems clear he's still on the old pure strike. Not surprising as I don't believe pros make huge change like that mid-season.

What will most likely happen is Thiem will continue to use the same frame unless he can find something that feels so much better that it overrides the psychological doubt/angst of changing - some pros are incredibly sensitive to flex and other variations; I remember my Yonex rep back in the day telling me how they sent Hewitt over fifty of the same frame but with minute flex differences (kinda like the tiny variations in 'kick point' available to the elite on golf club shafts) inviting him to pick the one he liked best so that they could replicate it for him consistently; yes Yonex QC is THAT good, especially with world #1's. What will happen eventually is Thiem's 'old' frame will be altered - where it doesn't count dynamically, such as bumper strip and covered up x-siders - to enable it to be passed off as a new model. Or, as per the addition of the cap system on the retail 'version' lol of Murray's Radicals, the consumer version will be brought into line with the pro's model. We dance on...
 
In the TW play test video Michelle (man I love watching her and Andy blast and dance respectively; the others - meh) claims she altered the 'NEW' 16x19 Strike to her specs. Given that in bald terms that means taking a 305 gram racquet to the 340 grams of the RF97A, that's some impressive customization. Like the equivalent of 70 inches or nearly six feet of 1/2 inch lead tape, +/- silicon or whatever - I'd like to see a thread on that alone :); reminds me of that thread about wrist bands vs. no wrist bands. MAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH!!
 

AMGF

Hall of Fame
"AMGF: Maybe Thiem will switch to the new frame in the off season. But right now it seems clear he's still on the old pure strike. Not surprising as I don't believe pros make huge change like that mid-season.

What will most likely happen is Thiem will continue to use the same frame unless he can find something that feels so much better that it overrides the psychological doubt/angst of changing - some pros are incredibly sensitive to flex and other variations; I remember my Yonex rep back in the day telling me how they sent Hewitt over fifty of the same frame but with minute flex differences (kinda like the tiny variations in 'kick point' available to the elite on golf club shafts) inviting him to pick the one he liked best so that they could replicate it for him consistently; yes Yonex QC is THAT good, especially with world #1's. What will happen eventually is Thiem's 'old' frame will be altered - where it doesn't count dynamically, such as bumper strip and covered up x-siders - to enable it to be passed off as a new model. Or, as per the addition of the cap system on the retail 'version' lol of Murray's Radicals, the consumer version will be brought into line with the pro's model. We dance on...

Thiem is a special player in that regards. He actually contacted Babolat after trying a Pure Strike 16x19 he got from a shop. He then moved to the 18x20 with a modified (Head) grip. This guy seems totally happy with an off the shelf ps 18x20.

Now that Babolat is making a new version of a line that was going nowhere fast and it is getting great reviews. But that makes me wonder:
1-Was the original Pure Strike really bad or people just didn't care because no top player was "endorsing" it?
2-Did Thiem had any word to say in the new version or are they just using his recent successes to promote the new frame?
3-If Thiem had any word, is he gonna change to this new frame first chance he gets or is he sticking to the original 18x20?
 
In the TW play test video Michelle (man I love watching her and Andy blast and dance respectively; the others - meh) claims she altered the 'NEW' 16x19 Strike to her specs. Given that in bald terms that means taking a 305 gram racquet to the 340 grams of the RF97A, that's some impressive customization. Like the equivalent of 70 inches or nearly six feet of 1/2 inch lead tape, +/- silicon or whatever - I'd like to see a thread on that alone :); reminds me of that thread about wrist bands vs. no wrist bands. MAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH!!

I'd like to hear Andy's thoughts on this frame. He plays with the DR 98 if I'm not mistaken and the review mentions this frame is similar to it.
 
I'd like to be the retailer that sold him the racquet, unless a minion bought it for him; it would be quite the story to bedazzle the punters with!! Wonder if he took it strung or unstrung, or if they had to cut the factory strings out first - as I imagine he'd be a pretty discerning customer!! Or if he demoed first did he have to leave a deposit? (Head now spinning)
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Dear Mr. Babolat

Is there a way to make this Great racket to 27.5 inches by Babolat. and still keep the same Swing weight ?
 
Check your eyes. :)

I don't care what Dominic is using in sense of me trying to be like him I care about lies that Babolat is spreading and trying to deceive us one more time.

OK. Blew up the image and can now see what you are talking about.

Well, I purchased the 2013 AeroPro Drive that Rafa was using and now I play exactly like him. Also purchased the RF97A and I play just like Roger.

Back in the day I had a Donnay Allwood and I used to play just like Bjorn. Still have it actually to remind me of when Lawn Tennis was a real sport.

Not interested in playing like Novak or Andy because I can't stand Head racquets.

(DISCLAIMER: This post makes judicious of sarcasm. Any offence, deliberate or otherwise, is not intended.)
 
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robithinker

New User
Check your eyes. :)

I don't care what Dominic is using in sense of me trying to be like him I care about lies that Babolat is spreading and trying to deceive us one more time.

From what I have read, Djokovic, Rafa, Murray and Federer do not play with stock frames. Each has it adjusted to their game to the point where the stock versions are very dissimilar to the ones they use. It may be a bit disingenuous to pass off a stock frame as the one another player uses, but marketing has involved slight of hand for decades. That's also the reason they usually use the word "endorses" rather than "uses." If it keeps a racquet manufacturer in the black, thus keeping more competitors in the market, then that's good for innovation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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To me, the pachyderm in the pantry here is if the 'new' Strike is so all-fired awesome, why doesn't Thiem, who is apparently so easy to please that he has been fine with using a modified 'old' model off the shelf, make the switch, especially as he supposedly helped develop the newbie, and is using a paint job of it?
 
I am very surprised to see TW review of 90 for 11.3oz frame..

I know TW is not sold to any brand because most of us believe they are accurate most of the time.

If not TW reputation on the line...:(:(
 

Automatix

Legend
New Pure Strike 98 (16*19) specs looks identical to the current one:
Unstrung Weight: 10.8oz / 305g
Unstrung Balance: 32cm / 7 pts HL

wouldn't that mean same swing weight? unless there were changes to Beam width? any info on that?
No. Two words: weight distribution.
 

Automatix

Legend
Now that Babolat is making a new version of a line that was going nowhere fast and it is getting great reviews. But that makes me wonder:
1-Was the original Pure Strike really bad or people just didn't care because no top player was "endorsing" it?
2-Did Thiem had any word to say in the new version or are they just using his recent successes to promote the new frame?
3-If Thiem had any word, is he gonna change to this new frame first chance he gets or is he sticking to the original 18x20?
1. Could be both.
Babolats strength and sales rely on marketing and frames which provide power - bestsellers being APD & PD.
2. We will never know. Babolat can say anything they want and we won't have a means of verifying it.
3. Time will tell. We have a lot of knowledgeable posters here so if he switches someone will notice or will have word about it from undisclosed sources.
 
Having read the rest of the TW review, particularly where they conjecture that the new model is between the old model and the Pure Drive, I think it's extremely unlikely Thiem would switch to the (appropriate18x20) new model (obviously suitably modified/weighted etc). If it is more towards the tweener end of things and more user friendly than previously, that would presumably be the last thing he needs.
 

Serjojeee

Rookie
Having read the rest of the TW review, particularly where they conjecture that the new model is between the old model and the Pure Drive, I think it's extremely unlikely Thiem would switch to the (appropriate18x20) new model (obviously suitably modified/weighted etc). If it is more towards the tweener end of things and more user friendly than previously, that would presumably be the last thing he needs.
The 18x20 could play rather differently and fsi could be done in a different way (dense string pattern in the sweet spot to bring the power and spin down) so we should wait for it to be released to make conclusions. In first iteration it's by no means a pure drive clone, I have one and it's a different beast.
 

Ambivalent

Hall of Fame
In the TW play test video Michelle (man I love watching her and Andy blast and dance respectively; the others - meh) claims she altered the 'NEW' 16x19 Strike to her specs. Given that in bald terms that means taking a 305 gram racquet to the 340 grams of the RF97A, that's some impressive customization. Like the equivalent of 70 inches or nearly six feet of 1/2 inch lead tape, +/- silicon or whatever - I'd like to see a thread on that alone :); reminds me of that thread about wrist bands vs. no wrist bands. MAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH!!

Or, more reasonably, a leather grip, some silicone and some lead. Not totally unreasonable.
 

RVAtennisaddict

Professional
IDK. I have to say, I have loved the original 18x20 with leather grips and an overgrip. Looking forward to trying the new version of the 18x20, just bummed to have to wait until February.

Don't really want to get into yet another discussion about what rackets the pros do and don't play with. But the older the pro, imo, the less likely they are to be playing with a current frame. And yes, they all get truly matched frames and customize (don't most of us customize). The fact that Thiem and Bouchard play with nearly stock frames that they customize supports my belief. I suspect PS 97 Auto is at least close to what Fed plays with. But I also know that everyone here has strong opinions and I will not be changing them...
 

atatu

Legend
Interesting, I was wondering if this frame could really have comparable spin to the Pure Aero and I went back and compared Chris' numbers from the PA Tour review, and in fact the average spin on his FH was 1362 vs. 885 and for the BH it was 839 vs. 759.
 

avocadoz

Professional
Man I'm seriously tempted to order one of these. The playtester comments have totally whetted my appetite.

And kudos to Babolat for the sane pricing. They could have thrown in a letter from Thiem and some rubber paint and added 30% to the RRP lol
Lol @ the Wilson shade.
 

kmtennis

New User
TW just posted this video. In it, Chris talks about the new Pure Strike 16x19, 100, and Team versions.

 
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Serjojeee

Rookie
IDK. I have to say, I have loved the original 18x20 with leather grips and an overgrip. Looking forward to trying the new version of the 18x20, just bummed to have to wait until February.

Don't really want to get into yet another discussion about what rackets the pros do and don't play with. But the older the pro, imo, the less likely they are to be playing with a current frame. And yes, they all get truly matched frames and customize (don't most of us customize). The fact that Thiem and Bouchard play with nearly stock frames that they customize supports my belief. I suspect PS 97 Auto is at least close to what Fed plays with. But I also know that everyone here has strong opinions and I will not be changing them...
The babolat leather grip on my pd felt perfect, I added some more lead to my preferred balance and met my first rotator cuff tear - follow through on my forehand messed up... That was weird. So I'm aware of messing with the hl balance, too many years with leaded hh pd I suppose. High racquet head speed on stock ps 18x20 is making really heavy ball
 

TW Staff

Administrator
tennissavvy and others,

We really did like the racquet! Hannah and Jason are contemplating switching (both have a racquet at their desk) and Chris keeps going back to the racquet in his hitting sessions. Several of the other playtesters who were not on the review really enjoyed hitting with the racquet as well. And believe me, if we don't like something even from a popular brand, we will let you know (check out the Nike Ultrafly review).

And if you have any questions, please ask! We would love to answer any!

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 

ONgame

Semi-Pro
tennissavvy and others,

We really did like the racquet! Hannah and Jason are contemplating switching (both have a racquet at their desk) and Chris keeps going back to the racquet in his hitting sessions. Several of the other playtesters who were not on the review really enjoyed hitting with the racquet as well. And believe me, if we don't like something even from a popular brand, we will let you know (check out the Nike Ultrafly review).

And if you have any questions, please ask! We would love to answer any!

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

Now I'm interested in what modifications Jason, Hannah, Chris would make to their pure strikes. I don't think 11.3oz racquet would really work for them. I know Jason in the review said he would add to 3 and 9.
 

ultradr

Legend
for me, tw reviews have been most reliable one out there.
I'll be waiting for upcoming new speed pro and blades.
 

mrtrinh

Professional
for me, tw reviews have been most reliable one out there.
I'll be waiting for upcoming new speed pro and blades.

Ditto, i took the plunge and ordered a pair of the new pure strikes. They were spot on about the pure aero vs. It's a shame, i really wanted to like the racket but I just couldn't serve well with it.
 

ultradr

Legend
Ditto, i took the plunge and ordered a pair of the new pure strikes. They were spot on about the pure aero vs. It's a shame, i really wanted to like the racket but I just couldn't serve well with it.
i noticed Michelle crushes the ball, by the way. my guess is she was a pro, possibly world class, no?
 

Doc Hollidae

Hall of Fame
Man I'm seriously tempted to order one of these. The playtester comments have totally whetted my appetite.

And kudos to Babolat for the sane pricing. They could have thrown in a letter from Thiem and some rubber paint and added 30% to the RRP lol

The P17 paint does have a rubberized feel to it. It doesn't feel like the normal Babolat paint job. One thing I've noticed is the paint doesn't chip/scratch as easily. Been playing with my P17 for several months now and the paint job still looks as clean as when I first got it.
 

YellowFedBetter

Hall of Fame
tennissavvy and others,

We really did like the racquet! Hannah and Jason are contemplating switching (both have a racquet at their desk) and Chris keeps going back to the racquet in his hitting sessions. Several of the other playtesters who were not on the review really enjoyed hitting with the racquet as well. And believe me, if we don't like something even from a popular brand, we will let you know (check out the Nike Ultrafly review).

And if you have any questions, please ask! We would love to answer any!

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
I have a question, I loved the review and all the positive comments on the racquet, but the one thing that concerned me was Michelle's comments on losing control and having the ball fly on her at times. This is very important to me as there's nothing I hate more than shots that sail on me. So my question is, did she feel it was more of a technique thing or did the racquet feel conducive to losing control and how did she feel overall about the control overall in a little more detailed way?
 

Tuskarr

Semi-Pro
I have a question, I loved the review and all the positive comments on the racquet, but the one thing that concerned me was Michelle's comments on losing control and having the ball fly on her at times. This is very important to me as there's nothing I hate more than shots that sail on me. So my question is, did she feel it was more of a technique thing or did the racquet feel conducive to losing control and how did she feel overall about the control overall in a little more detailed way?
She said why.
 

RoarTT

Semi-Pro
I'd like to hear Andy's thoughts on this frame. He plays with the DR 98 if I'm not mistaken and the review mentions this frame is similar to it.
I asked him about it. This is what he said:)

"I liked it, but I'm still sticking to my DR 98. This update provides more power and a more solid feel compared to the version it replaces, but I didn't feel like it gave me the same level of control and feel that the Yonex racquets do. But, that is just my personal opinion! As you can tell from the review, our playtesters that got to hit with it a little more extensively LOVED the racquet, and since they have more experience with it than I do I'd trust their opinions more than my own :)Andy, TW"
 
I asked him about it. This is what he said:)

"I liked it, but I'm still sticking to my DR 98. This update provides more power and a more solid feel compared to the version it replaces, but I didn't feel like it gave me the same level of control and feel that the Yonex racquets do. But, that is just my personal opinion! As you can tell from the review, our playtesters that got to hit with it a little more extensively LOVED the racquet, and since they have more experience with it than I do I'd trust their opinions more than my own :)Andy, TW"

Awesome! Thank you very much :)
 

Doc Hollidae

Hall of Fame
Now I'm interested in what modifications Jason, Hannah, Chris would make to their pure strikes. I don't think 11.3oz racquet would really work for them. I know Jason in the review said he would add to 3 and 9.

IMO, all it needs is a leather grip to move the balance point down a bit.
 

RoarTT

Semi-Pro
Why does it take so long to shell out the same frame with more holes in the hoop?
It's all about marketing strategy. Forinstance, people are more likely to buy the 18x20 version as well as the 16x19 if they are released seperatly in time. The economoists at Babolat know what they are doing:p
 

QuentinFederer

Professional
Anyone got any close up pics of Thiem's racket at the US Open? I'm I retested to see if he's still using the old one with X-sider or whether he's switched to the new strike
 

RanchDressing

Hall of Fame
In the TW play test video Michelle (man I love watching her and Andy blast and dance respectively; the others - meh) claims she altered the 'NEW' 16x19 Strike to her specs. Given that in bald terms that means taking a 305 gram racquet to the 340 grams of the RF97A, that's some impressive customization. Like the equivalent of 70 inches or nearly six feet of 1/2 inch lead tape, +/- silicon or whatever - I'd like to see a thread on that alone :); reminds me of that thread about wrist bands vs. no wrist bands. MAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH!!
Lol actually it's not very wild at all. Besides, I don't imagine michelle actually added 40g to the racquet. Probably just had some weight added to the handle and boosted the swing weight up above 330.

I've made a vcore tour 97 (310) into a 390g~ and 364swing weight beast. I've taken a 300g prostaff 97 knock off, drilled out and removed weights inside the handle, and then made it a 364g fed spec 355sw. No racquet modification hasn't been done, and I would say 95% of the modifications done to racquets is way easier than one would initially think.

Holy Cow, a 90?! I'm telling you, they must have completely tweaked it quite a bit from the Project One 7.

Or it's just a favorable review by people who are paid to make reviews, for the interest of selling racquets. I mean lets be honest. TW doesn't pay these guys to make us content to entertain. They make content to help sell racquets.

That being said, from the looks of it, the stock specs look good for customization, making it pretty easy to get to nearly any kind of setup you want (I haven't checked the TW)
 

RanchDressing

Hall of Fame
Whew I spoke too soon. It does have a large "sweet zone" because of a higher balance point. But the twist weight is really really high at 323 swing weight of 15.1. It's pretty light which is nice but that twist weight is just too high for my liking stock. RIP
 

RanchDressing

Hall of Fame
Man I'm seriously tempted to order one of these. The playtester comments have totally whetted my appetite.
LOL so, I have to tell you, that's their job. That's what they're paid for. That's how TW makes money.
Just play test one first. The twist weight is really high, so if that's a problem for you, you might not like it. However I'm sure there will be some people who will really like the low swing weight combined with a high twist weight.
 
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