Babolat Pure Drive - are they really THAT good????

[jimanuel12]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i meant to say the pure drive - not the pure storm - sorry!!!

i was just wondering - i am an older tennis player and i remember that it seems that whatever racket the # 1 player is using is THE hot racket at that time.
everyone wants to run out and buy one and think they are going to play suddenly play like a pro.
are the Babolat Pure drive rackets really that good or are they overated????
it just seems like everyone and their brother and sister has one.
i have heard that they cause terrible arm problems.
just wanted to know from people who actually play with them.
__________________

 

[Solid MD]

Played with it today, and compared to the radical it has insane power, to the point you just touch the ball and it's in. Smashes are insane too, so this is a racquet for the young and beginners. It should be a GREAT racquet for a player with good control.

 

[Kot_Bigemot]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i meant to say the pure drive - not the pure storm - sorry!!!

i was just wondering - i am an older tennis player and i remember that it seems that whatever racket the # 1 player is using is THE hot racket at that time.
everyone wants to run out and buy one and think they are going to play suddenly play like a pro.
are the Babolat Pure drive rackets really that good or are they overated????
it just seems like everyone and their brother and sister has one.
i have heard that they cause terrible arm problems.
just wanted to know from people who actually play with them.
__________________

Well, you are right about one thing - arm problems. PD GT has a rating of 70 for flex and PDR GT has rating of 72. That tells you something, does not it? When, say, Head YouTek Radical Pro has flex rating of 60-61. NAd Head YouTek Radical OS has rating of 57.
I prefer flexy frames for many reasons. And as much as i always wanted to like Babolat, I never could play with them. Something was always missing.

 

[rlau]

And as much as i always wanted to like Babolat, I never could play with them. Something was always missing.

The Pure Storm Limited (GT/non-GT) seems to be pretty flexy and arm-friendly.

 

[Kot_Bigemot]

The Pure Storm Limited (GT/non-GT) seems to be pretty flexy and arm-friendly.

True.
That one is the only one that i could adapt too if needed.
But i prefer my BB 11 SE. Great frames, after you remove about a kilo of lead of course

 

[mmaster]

i bought into the hype and bought a pure drive standard cortex a year ago and I HATED IT. it was okay on forehand with good spin but my 2 handed backhand was horrible with the racquet. i quickly went back to my prostaff classic 6.1. PD is a rather stiff racquet according to the specs but it lacks the solid granite like feel that my psc had. now my friend is using my PD and i'm back to looking for a different racquet.

 

[PED]

I think alot of it depends on your game style. For an all court player who hits very flat, maybe it's not the best choice, but for someone who is baseline oriented uses poly and hits with alot of spin, they're great.

In the right hands, the PD is a serious weapon, just like a k90 is with the right user (not me . The stiffness and injury issue depends on the stroke and the user.

In the past, I've used the pd and the apdc with full poly with no arm problems. However, some people can hit with them for an hour and contract tennis elbow. It all boils down to the individual.

Interesting article recently in espn magazine about genetics and how not only are some people more predisposed genetically to perform well athletically but some people have connective tissue to is far less susceptible to injury. Interesting theory. Just think about Greg Oden in basketball or Michael Owen in soccer: both supremely talented but very very "fragile" (on a relative basis) I believe the article was 2 issues ago.

Looking at the above post regarding the YT Radical Pro. I've been using it for several months and really liking it. It can produce the big ball like the PD's but is much more arm friendly at a 58 flex, plus I like the thinner 21.5mm beam.

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

I totally agree with the reco to try the Head radical racquets. They are indeed much more arm friendly offer a more solid feel, dont vibrate on contact, and offer better torsional stability.

 

[milant]

Take this as you will, but, YES, they ARE really THAT good!!! I remember saying "Babolat racquets cannot be that good and it has to be the hype" about 10 years ago when it seemed that every pro player played with Babolat. At the time I played with a Prince and every racquet before that was a Prince. About three years ago I demoed a Pure Drive Cortex and fell in love immediately - it felt like an extension of my arm. Needless to say - I switched to PD and loved it. Power, control, weight... absolutely loved it! With time I grew to dislike one thing - stiffness. It is a trend, mind you, with most racquets these days, as stiffer racquets make for more powerful racquets, but while you can crank an ace or a killer ground stroke off the baseline, you lose just a touch of feel at the net.
Three months ago, I switch to Pure Storm Tour, that's not as stiff but touch heavier to give the same pop.
Still I enjoy the Pure Drive very much. I think it a killer stick and at the very least worth of a demo if not buying two of them right off the bat.
Cheers,
Milan
PS. SOAP BOX: A racquet is as good as the strings you put on it. Don't buy a good, expensive stick and string it with crappy "hemp rope". It's a mortal sin, it's in the Bible.

 

[Kyle7286]

I use the PDRGT+, have an all around game, 3.0 player. Stringing with Luxilon 17g Power at 60lbs. The racket is a cannon with these strings. If i do top spin correctly the racket is amazing. I'm going to change strings to a more control oriented string once these wear out.

 

[RoddickForever]

I play with a Pure Drive Roddick GT+ and I actually switched to it to avoid my tennis elbow. Compared to my old Volkl Tour 10 V-engine (93 sq. in, 18x20, 8 pts HL) it has a lot more power and spin potential but I've lost a little accuracy simple because it's a bigger racquet with a looser string pattern. Flat serves are a lot more powerful and my kick serves bounce higher. Volleying feels solid but accuracy is a little less. Hope this helps!

 

[Hemispheres]

Don't just consider the Babolat. Decide if that type of racquet - stiff, around 11 oz, 100 sq in head - is right for you. There are many frames like the Pure Drive nowadays, namely from Dunlop, Volkl/Becker, Wilson and Head and other manufacturers. Any one of them is bound to feel like a significant change from an "old-school" frame.

 

[dgoran]

The real question is are you that good to use pure drive, lol

Definitely will not make you work as hard as other sticks BUT>>the user just has to know how to manage the power. It is really powerful so you have to spend time playing with string setups that suit your game, maybe even modify your strokes etc...

most rec players do not want to bother and they stick to what they are familiar with but I garantee you if you get use to it Tennis is just that much easier.

 

[Panic492]

Picking a racquet is like picking a wife, need to find the perfect match. I know the Pure Drive is very popular but I found it to be terrible for me. I demoed it twice within 18 months. The vibration was tough.

 

[quest01]

I've been a Pure Drive GT user for a little while now and its the best racquet i've used so far. Serving is a pleasure with this racquet and hitting with spin, control, and power on groundstrokes comes easy. You should definitely give it a whirl, you shouldn't be disappointed.

 

[Jack & Coke]

I've been a Pure Drive GT user for a little while now and its the best racquet i've used so far. Serving is a pleasure with this racquet and hitting with spin, control, and power on groundstrokes comes easy. You should definitely give it a whirl, you shouldn't be disappointed.

quest01 is correct!

 

[big bang]

well I think it like all babolats.. sucked big time

 

[klementine]

If I may speak in metaphorical terms.....

I like fuel injected-- electronically controlled everything, crotch rockets (sport bikes)-- they are light-- quick-- and user friendly... like the Babolat Pure Drive.

But, I much prefer the heavy, powerful and 'I'm in control' feeling of an old Harley with a carburator in it-- box, thin beamed, more classic feeling racquets.

Plus--- If I break-down on the side of the road.. I would much rather have the carborator to deal with then the fuel injected bike. Maybe I could even get the Harley with the carburator running again... Meaning, in terms of racquets, 'FEEL'-- with a more classic feeling racquet, the 'feel' and 'response' is instant-- whatever mistake in form is made-- it will translate immediately-- letting you know what you have done wrong and what you can do to fix-it immediately.. With a racquet like the Pure Drive-- even with poor form, your shots will have pace-- not always a positive and more conducive to injury.

 

[GPB]

I hit with a buddy's PDR last night, strung with a Babolat multifilament (xcel or xcel power) and my arm just about fell off. Sure, I was blasting my forehands and decent backhands... but:
(a) you have to work very hard to control it,
(b) you have to have an arm of steel, and
(c) if I go with Babolat, I'm going with the Pure Storm Tour... it's awesome!

oh, and I love klementine's post above mine!

 

[wrxtotoro]

I used to use a PDR+/PDRGT+ and my serve was way bigger with these two sticks than with my current Speed Pro. IMO it's good for single games but not so for doubles...

 

[Jack & Coke]

IMO it's good for single games but not so for doubles...

Cara Black (currently No.1 women's doubles player), and Leander Paes
(currently No. 8 men's doubles player) disagree with your silly comment.

The Babolat Pure Brive is a good tool for singles, as well as doubles.
Sure maybe you like the flavor or feel of some brands than others, but to
imply that the PDGT is "not so good" for double is naive.

 

[royfrombigd]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i meant to say the pure drive - not the pure storm - sorry!!!

i was just wondering - i am an older tennis player and i remember that it seems that whatever racket the # 1 player is using is THE hot racket at that time.
everyone wants to run out and buy one and think they are going to play suddenly play like a pro.
are the Babolat Pure drive rackets really that good or are they overated????
it just seems like everyone and their brother and sister has one.
i have heard that they cause terrible arm problems.
just wanted to know from people who actually play with them.
__________________

IMO yes, yes, yes they are that good. I've been playing with a Pure Drive Standard with Cortex for about 2 months now and absolutely love it. I had previously played with a Microgel Radical MP for about 2 years before that and I have not had one regret yet since switching. I still love the Radicals, but I decided to switch for the simple fact that i was just having to work too hard to produce pace on serve. I can't tell you how much $ I spent on strings and tension combinations to improve my pace on serve with the Radical. After 1 demo, I was prettty much hooked on the PD and I have not had any elbow or arm issues, but I do use a soft string-Technifibre NRG2 18g. The downside to the Pure Drive for me is that my groundstrokes do not have the precision or control of the Radical, but I am able to produce more spin and pace which is a nice trade off. Serves, volleys and slices are already better after only a couple of months with the PD. You owe it to yourself to at least demo the thing and see what everyone is talking about. You won't regret it.

 

[mmaster]

Cara Black (currently No.1 women's doubles player), and Leander Paes
(currently No. 8 men's doubles player) disagree with your silly comment.

The Babolat Pure Brive is a good tool for singles, as well as doubles.
Sure maybe you like the flavor or feel of some brands than others, but to
imply that the PDGT is "not so good" for double is naive.

the best shot ever was hit with that racquet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdaGea6esJ0

 

[wrxtotoro]

Cara Black (currently No.1 women's doubles player), and Leander Paes
(currently No. 8 men's doubles player) disagree with your silly comment.

The Babolat Pure Brive is a good tool for singles, as well as doubles.
Sure maybe you like the flavor or feel of some brands than others, but to
imply that the PDGT is "not so good" for double is naive.

sigh... try to be nice can you? 1) I was talking about PDR+ 2) those are pro and they can weld anything reasonable... Give them a Walmart racket and I am sure they can still easily bagel 90% of the people on this board.

At club level, double games are more about strategy and consistency with great volley placement rather than huge blasting serve. PD is great for serving and it's a powerful baseline stick with very good spin potential. The touch and feel is just so so... Again, IMO a control oriented racket would be a better choice for double games at club level. sigh... :?

One more thing, the PD it's quite stiff. If you have a full and fast swing and hit the sweet spot all the time, you will be fine with that. Otherwise there's a higher risk of developing tennis elbow with such a stiff racket. I would not recommend that racket to older players.

 

[dgoran]

BTW if any of you got a chance to hit with pre-cortex version please try it. It is 2-3 times better than Cortex and PDGT.

I was skeptic so I bought 2 Pure Drive Team and one swirly and this thing is a rocket...i swear.

I played around 2001 with Pure Drive Team and plus and have since tried many many rackets and while there certainly are merits to heavy thin beam rackets (Pro Tour 630 my personal; choice in this category) there are no denying Pure Drive performance.

I had 4 Pure Drive GT and have since sold them all but I got curious to go back to Pure Drive Team and I am glad I did. No hollow feel, solid not disconnected on your shots, much better serve that PDGT.

I realize its personal and some might enjoy GT but all those pros could not be wrong refusing to play with cortex so I had to try...
I am glad that I did...

 

[quest01]

The PDGT is a great racquet and its the only racquet where I can serve over 100 miles per hour with. I can't serve over 100 mph with any other racquet besides the PDGT or the Roddick version. If you like hitting booming serves then the PDGT is suited towards rocket servers. I also never had any problems controlling my shots from the baseline as some people in here have mentioned. If you use poly in the mains and have in strung at around 60 lbs or higher you won't have any issues controlling your groundstrokes.

 

[Jack & Coke]

2010 AO Mixed Doubles Champions

 

[Jack & Coke]

2010 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champions

Babolat Pure Drive

​

 

[movdqa]

I hit with the PDR for a while and like the racquet except for two things: I found it hard to volley with and the shock level on some shots would jar my arm for a while. The GT versions of the PD/R are supposed to be a lot better for volleying and they are supposed to be more forgiving too.

Every once in a while with the PDR (like once a week or once every two weeks) I'd hit off-center and my arm would sting for several minutes. Playing with the racquet was fine - it's just something that came up now and then.

I eventually went to the KPS88 - a racquet with more power and more stability at the cost of much more weight. It's not a racquet for classic players unless you string it very tightly.

 

[OldButGame]

The Pure Storm Limited (GT/non-GT) seems to be pretty flexy and arm-friendly.

I really find this to be true also..(non-GT).
I think its overly simplistic to presume that Babolats are 'bad',.........as with most brands,...they have different lines,....e.g.....the Pure Drives are completely different animals from the Pure Storms....imo.

 

[Tar Heel Tennis]

I have played with the PDR+C since 2007, and I absolutely love it. I did have some elbow trouble for a while, but switching to a full natural gut string solved that issue immediately.

The racket is quite powerful, and to me, has a feel unlike any other frame I have tried (20-30?). That's why I chose the PDR+C - it just feels like the most natural frame in my hands.

I haven't ever had any vibration issues - perhaps others have been hitting with a frame that's cracked, or simply miss the sweet spot - which I find to be ample in size.

I also can get as much spin as I want from this frame (and my stroke). One advantage I have when playing, is that I hit with such pace, that often my opponent(s) thinks my shot will sail long, when it really dives into the court.

But, selecting a racket (or strings, or shoes, or just about anything else) should be done by you - not by asking for advice from people that don't know how you play the game or swing a racket. M2C

 

[Fedace]

Big time Power for a player frame. it is pretty dam good. GT is the best version of all Pure drives..

 

[ClubHoUno]

Big time Power for a player frame. it is pretty dam good. GT is the best version of all Pure drives..

You play the Roddick or the normal + version of the GT ?

 

[Fedace]

You play the Roddick or the normal + version of the GT ?

i play doubles so i play the normal version of +. i don't need that extra weight at the net from Roddick version. it is too slow at NET

 

[Tar Heel Tennis]

^ it's not the racket that's too slow at the NET

 

[Fedace]

^ it's not the racket that's too slow at the NET

Extra Swingweight does make it harder to get the racket around during the lightening quick exchanges at net in doubles.

 

[Limpinhitter]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i meant to say the pure drive - not the pure storm - sorry!!!

i was just wondering - i am an older tennis player and i remember that it seems that whatever racket the # 1 player is using is THE hot racket at that time.
everyone wants to run out and buy one and think they are going to play suddenly play like a pro.
are the Babolat Pure drive rackets really that good or are they overated????
it just seems like everyone and their brother and sister has one.
i have heard that they cause terrible arm problems.
just wanted to know from people who actually play with them.
__________________

If you like watching your groundies hit the back fence without touching the court, they're THE BEST! Especially that Pure Drive Roddick! I call it the home run king!

 

[Tar Heel Tennis]

Extra Swingweight does make it harder to get the racket around during the lightening quick exchanges at net in doubles.

just admit the truth. YOU are too slow, or not strong enough to handle the PDR. there is nothing wrong with the racket.

forget it. your reputation precedes you, and I never should have responded to you in the first place. please accept my apology.

 

[quest01]

I have a few pdgts and I find these racquets very easy to use. Hitting hard with a lot of spin is easy on serves and forehands, if you want to just hit spin serves all day with a ton of spin you can easily accomplish this with the pdgt. Also if you swing hard with an uppercut type forehand motion you won't have any problems blasting winners from the baseline, i've hit more winners, serve and forehands with the pdgt than any other racquet I've ever used. Its a racquet designed for all levels and its also a nice looking racquet, I like the shiny blue paintjob a lot.

 

[saqdeez]

Im a 4.5.

I concur with the comment about hitting the biggest serves ever, easily crushing forehands with huge spin etc. I think slice is one of the most underrated things, so easy to hit a hard slice and it just glides across the court. Also easy to hit a quick forehand slice if you have to hit the squash shot. Serves 10/10, best frame ever for that, noticeably bigger and more spin than the cortex vers!

I usually take turns with my hitting partner when it comes to controlling points but yesterday it was me in control 90% of the time. I cant think of more than a couple occasions when i was on the run. He was on his back heels the whole time. Nasty racket for those who can harness the power

 

[caesar66]

It is absolutely the most versatile racquet on the market. Powerful, but not a rocket launcher with no control like some say. Just look at how many top college players use the Pure drive and play better than most of us ever will. Stock, with a good hybrid-great baseline basher. A little lead and a multi strung tight-Serve and volley all day. I honestly believe that 95% of all rec players could put down whatever they are using now, pick up a pure drive, and within two weeks play as well (some of us probably better) than we do know.

This is just my opinion, but the arm problems people associate with the pure drive are due to technique, not the racquet. If you strike the ball cleanly your arm will be fine.

 

[nasaguy]

Which pure drive do you recommend

My daughter is 14 and hit a hard flat ball. She usually goes a round or two in the locals but isnt at the top yet. Is the pure drive lite gt a good choice. She would be a 3-3.5 I'd say. I'm a 4.5 in a 3.5 body

 

[magnut]

Its a good racquet for what it is ........but no, they are highly overated. Most people that preach about them do so as a result of marketing through teaching pros and ATP players.

There are so many racquets out there that are much better. Many are sadly discontinued though. I dont play with to many new frames that I would place in the greatness category. Old frames......theres a bunch of them.

 

[harryz]

I couldn't agree more

It is absolutely the most versatile racquet on the market. Powerful, but not a rocket launcher with no control like some say. Just look at how many top college players use the Pure drive and play better than most of us ever will. Stock, with a good hybrid-great baseline basher. A little lead and a multi strung tight-Serve and volley all day. I honestly believe that 95% of all rec players could put down whatever they are using now, pick up a pure drive, and within two weeks play as well (some of us probably better) than we do know.

This is just my opinion, but the arm problems people associate with the pure drive are due to technique, not the racquet. If you strike the ball cleanly your arm will be fine.

After way too many years using mids (Prestige, Pro Staff) I recently started trying various Babolats including the Storm Tour, Aero Storm Tour and PD Roddick. Am taking lessons from a pro who is sponsored by Babolat, and he's encouraging me to use a larger headed, more powerful stick to ease the work I'm doing. He is right! The PDR is the best of the lot for me. I was scared off by the prospect of TE or shoulder issues, but haven't had ANY. The racquet is so stable that it's ridiculous. I can hit through the ball and knife slices all day with great control, depth and pace. Simply addictive. Can't help but wonder if the stability is what is limiting vibration. The demo I have has RPM, and poly strings in a full bed tend to hurt me. Not so in this case. I have good technique and am guessing that helps, but I simply had no idea just how great this stick is.

Harry

 

[____]

PD is an awesome stick if you can tame it.To me,its power is controlable by changing my eastern FH to semi western.You will gain tons of spin to your shot.

For OHBH,I think it's not as versatile as THBH users.My OHBH tend to sail long with PD.I felt I couldn't hit out my BH with PD.

About a high stiffness,don't let it scare you.On the contrary,I felt a PD is very comfortable to me even with a full poly set up.
I recovered from wrist and elbow injury when switched to this stick(my previous stick was HM 200G).

I used 3rd gen PD with silicone in the handle and lead at 3,9which I felt much better than the later generation.

 

[Ben Hadd]

The real question is are you that good to use pure drive, lol

Definitely will not make you work as hard as other sticks BUT>>the user just has to know how to manage the power. It is really powerful so you have to spend time playing with string setups that suit your game, maybe even modify your strokes etc...

most rec players do not want to bother and they stick to what they are familiar with but I garantee you if you get use to it Tennis is just that much easier.

very true. add lead to taste also

 

[mrmo1115]

Do the grip sizes run big on the GT Pure Drive?

 

[KenC]

I think the PD is more of a middle of the road, nothing extreme, rather generic racquet. It's the Jack Kramer Autograph of the new millenium. If you can't decide what racquet to get, just get a PD and go play some tennis.

 

[Kaz00]

Well I thought the PDR was pretty dang good until recently when it took a nasty hit into the concrete it has been feeling really dead all around the frame. Went right back to the PST and first ball was cracking winners. Guess I'm too adjusted to the PST

 

[recreationalplayer]

Is the Pure Drive as good as its reputation

Yes. It isn't by accident that so many recreational as well as college level players use Babolat PD. I have used Wilson, Donnay, Prince and before buying 2 Babolat Pure Drives I road tested several racquets through the Tennis Warehouse Demo Program. The Pure Drive has a unique feel that isn't easily described and produces superior results when compaired to other reacquts, used by the same player.