Babolat Pure Strike 2023
- Thread starter Casper777
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RNBABOLAT
Professional
Same here... Hopefully we can expect something close to the new PA98 with something between 63 or 65. The strike is a great racquet but the stiffness make it really hard for long sessions, I keep mine in my bag and I'm afraid to use it and really reminds me why this racquets is so great
RNBABOLAT
Professional
In the Babolat Thread @Babolat Official say exactly the same... But hopefully we can start asking for a lower stiffness AND glossy dark paintjob with red and white accents like old pure storms or controls
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Have you tried the Strike VS? If I played with standard weight Strikes I would switch to the VS. But I play with the heavier Strike Tour and there is no equivalent on the VS line.
RNBABOLAT
Professional
Yes I buy the matching pair from you and currently is my racquet of choice... Is nice but I miss some of the regular PS feel and power but the stiffness was the problem... Thats why I use the VS with some lead at 12 but now I'm trying at 3 and 9, lowering the tension and see what happen, the idea is keep it at least for a year until the new PS release
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Try a gut/poly hybrid at mid-forties tension maybe with thin gauge to unlock more power. It definitely needs some weight to match up to the Strike’s power, but I liked its plush feel and comfort.
RNBABOLAT
Professional
As soon as I receive it will try... But right now some people (In the VS) said the racquet felt too soft with hybrid or multi thats why I put thin polys at 50 and now 49 with Poly Tour Spin. Have you tried removing the last cross? Thanks
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I had another VS when it first came out that I tried with a hybrid and it didn’t feel too soft to me. Since the one you are buying has Klip gut on it that is relatively new, you could try to find a stringer who will leave the gut mains and do a poly cross.
Fairhit
Hall of Fame
I was playing with the Yonex Vcore Pro HD, I was pretty happy with it, syn gut at 48, not much spin really. I have a PO7 and tried it for fun, I didn't realize how much I was missing the spin, since I didn't find any PO7 around, I bought the 3rd Gen. It was love at first sight, I love everything about it. It unlocked nasty angles I never dreamed of executing with the HD, some free power I had to work a little to hard to get before, those put away shots from no man's land, wow, I used to treat those shots as approach shots but now I can finish some points from there.
The 3rd Gen is almost perfect, the only knock on it is its hardness on the arm, it is hard with syn gut, I was having TE symptoms after a couple of hours of play, I had to lower the tension and change the original grip for a padded one. If the next gen brings down the RA and keeps everything else the same, it would be the perfect racquet.
The 3rd Gen is almost perfect, the only knock on it is its hardness on the arm, it is hard with syn gut, I was having TE symptoms after a couple of hours of play, I had to lower the tension and change the original grip for a padded one. If the next gen brings down the RA and keeps everything else the same, it would be the perfect racquet.
RNBABOLAT
Professional
I tried gut in the crosses but never on the mains... there might be a drop in spin or control?? And what kind of poly I can use? I normally use solinco and that might sew through the gut really fast.
RNBABOLAT
Professional
Thats the feeling I got!!! Amazing and really a racquet that can improve your game if you have the patience to tame the power, maybe thats Babolat signature
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I used to play with fullbed gut before I moved to gut mains/poly crosses which to me feels like a lot more spin and control. If you come from a full poly background, your perception might be different.
I typically play with VS mains/HyperG Soft crosses and break the gut around 15 hours. Since the poly goes dead around the same time, I’m not concerned about trying to get longer life from the gut.
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
I think they need to separate the strike tour from the rest of the strike range and re introduce it as the control or storm name and it needs to be heavier with bigger grip availability.
As others had suggested a slightly softer feel would make people happy with the other frames. Probably a nice upgrade to the cosmetics but keep it nice and clean.
As others had suggested a slightly softer feel would make people happy with the other frames. Probably a nice upgrade to the cosmetics but keep it nice and clean.
What is the closest frame you find to the PS 16x19?
TFight is quite close if you chose one that is a bit above specs,
Mine are 303 gr unstrung and have a 326 SW once strung w/ overgrip... but the RA is a slightly lower, which is nice...
But the string bed is too open and the launch angle is very high compared to the PS...
Might try some thicker gauge with it!
TFight is quite close if you chose one that is a bit above specs,
Mine are 303 gr unstrung and have a 326 SW once strung w/ overgrip... but the RA is a slightly lower, which is nice...
But the string bed is too open and the launch angle is very high compared to the PS...
Might try some thicker gauge with it!
Tranqville
Hall of Fame
You nailed it! I like white color though, but that's more of a personal preference.
I guess dampening tech is the necessary evil with high stiffness RA. I would like just a tweak, a couple of RA points less and a bit less dampening. I actually like that rubber tech they use, I think it adds to racquet's distinct character, but I would welcome more feel.
GermanBeast
Rookie
What is the closest frame you find to the PS 16x19?
TFight is quite close if you chose one that is a bit above specs,
Mine are 303 gr unstrung and have a 326 SW once strung w/ overgrip... but the RA is a slightly lower, which is nice...
But the string bed is too open and the launch angle is very high compared to the PS...
For me, the closest is the 360+ Radical MP in terms of stability and spin.
Because the radical has a more closed string pattern than the PS, it has a bit less free power but way more predictable control.
Also the feel is way better.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
Agree. At some point there will be no point in buying a Babolat over a Yonex.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Try the Pure Strike Tour. Even though it is heavier, it is balanced more headlight and so the SW/maneuverability is about the same. But you get the advantage of more stability, comfort and slightly more power.
My wife used to play with the PS 16x19 for a few months because she thought the Tour might be too heavy for her. After trying my PS Tour a couple of times in practice, she switched to it and says there are no negatives to the switch, only positives.
RNBABOLAT
Professional
The thing with the TF frames are the weird grip shape.... thats a real turn off since that can't be fixedWhat is the closest frame you find to the PS 16x19?
TFight is quite close if you chose one that is a bit above specs,
Mine are 303 gr unstrung and have a 326 SW once strung w/ overgrip... but the RA is a slightly lower, which is nice...
But the string bed is too open and the launch angle is very high compared to the PS...
StringStrungStrang
Professional
Love the Pure Strike Line BUT aside from all the great comments for lower RA ( try PS VS) better dampening tech, my request is, please Babolat release the 98 and 98 Tour editions in an extended or Plus (27.5 ") edition !!!
Don't make me have to consider other racquets !! It's the only thing missing from the equation for me.
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socallefty
G.O.A.T.
It seemed like there was more choice of extended length racquets 20-25 years ago and many players liked serving with them especially shorter players.
But as tennis has become more of a power baseline sport, it seems like many players prefer standard length racquets from the baseline/net even if they lose the extra pop on serves they get with the extended length. Maybe players serve better with poly also even with standard length due to the extra spin which allows you to swing harder. As a result, there are less racquet models available in extended length as the market seems to be smaller than it used to be.
But as tennis has become more of a power baseline sport, it seems like many players prefer standard length racquets from the baseline/net even if they lose the extra pop on serves they get with the extended length. Maybe players serve better with poly also even with standard length due to the extra spin which allows you to swing harder. As a result, there are less racquet models available in extended length as the market seems to be smaller than it used to be.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
And yet there’s so many pros playing with longbody racquets with poly or poly hybrids.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Probably someone working for a racquet company will have to comment on whether what the pros play with has any impact on the business decisions made by the company on what to make available for retail. My guess is that pro preferences have no correlation to what most rec players want to play with except for those who post on the Pro Equipment section here.
My post above was related to rec play where a lot of my friends played with extended length 20 years ago (including me with Pure Control+ for a while) and no one seems to do so anymore.
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Fairhit
Hall of Fame
What percentage of sales would you say an extended frame would have vs regular length in any determined line?
I work in an industry that shares part of the process of making a racquet, that part is the moulds, in my industry we make a mould for a product if the product is going to sell well and we can justify the elevated cost of making said mould.
For any determined product, we make 6 moulds, the product sells more from the central size moulds but the bigger and smaller are necessary, we could make even bigger size but I would sell less than 1% of the total sales when it should be selling around 10%, it is preferred to not incur in such expenses.
I think it is the same with racquets, the moulds are expensive and they don't make just one, they have to make several of them and not just for one line, I guess if they launch just one line of extended length frames, the people would start to ask for another line, the thing is, people would buy one just to try, the public in general is not going to compromise with extended length frames and keep buying them, is not worth it for them to invest in the whole process of making what is basically another model if they're not selling at least an important percentage with it.
It is a whole process that is not going to sell more frames, just some novelty sales for some people.
I work in an industry that shares part of the process of making a racquet, that part is the moulds, in my industry we make a mould for a product if the product is going to sell well and we can justify the elevated cost of making said mould.
For any determined product, we make 6 moulds, the product sells more from the central size moulds but the bigger and smaller are necessary, we could make even bigger size but I would sell less than 1% of the total sales when it should be selling around 10%, it is preferred to not incur in such expenses.
I think it is the same with racquets, the moulds are expensive and they don't make just one, they have to make several of them and not just for one line, I guess if they launch just one line of extended length frames, the people would start to ask for another line, the thing is, people would buy one just to try, the public in general is not going to compromise with extended length frames and keep buying them, is not worth it for them to invest in the whole process of making what is basically another model if they're not selling at least an important percentage with it.
It is a whole process that is not going to sell more frames, just some novelty sales for some people.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
Agreed. but Babolat already make Plus versions of its Pure Aero and Pure Drive lines. Isn't it possible that the moulds already exist (in stock or custom ) and only the length the handle is trimmed or needs to be adjusted.
Could it be that simple? I don't imagine that they make entirely new moulds for the PD or PA for their extended versions, although I could be entirely wrong. The Plus factor could be designed into those moulds. I could imagine even different models of have the same mould and only the layup / graphics weighting and drilling change. It is curious that they offer the Plus versions for PA and PD but not for PS. They must not believe there is a market for them and they could right. I may be a market of one - but I'd still order 3 or 4 !!
Could it be that simple? I don't imagine that they make entirely new moulds for the PD or PA for their extended versions, although I could be entirely wrong. The Plus factor could be designed into those moulds. I could imagine even different models of have the same mould and only the layup / graphics weighting and drilling change. It is curious that they offer the Plus versions for PA and PD but not for PS. They must not believe there is a market for them and they could right. I may be a market of one - but I'd still order 3 or 4 !!
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Fairhit
Hall of Fame
If the shape of the frame is the same, yes, they could be offering those frames in extended length, however, if the shape has changed from model to model, they would have to make a brand new mould for extended length frames if they want to sell them as part of the new model and with the same characteristics, otherwise it is just the old frame.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
The Pure Aero and Drive are their bestselling products and maybe the Plus versions sell enough to justify having them for those models. The Strikes and Strike VS are probably niche products to round out their product portfolio selling in much smaller numbers and they might want to minimize the number of variations for those.
The Strike VS had a Tour version in the previous Gen that they got rid of in Gen 3. I am always afraid that they will get rid of the Tour version (my racquet since 2014) in the Pure Strike line too in the next Gen as I hardly ever meet anyone else playing with it. The few Pure Strikes I see are usually the standard weight versions and the trend is towards lighter racquets amongst younger players.
The Strike VS had a Tour version in the previous Gen that they got rid of in Gen 3. I am always afraid that they will get rid of the Tour version (my racquet since 2014) in the Pure Strike line too in the next Gen as I hardly ever meet anyone else playing with it. The few Pure Strikes I see are usually the standard weight versions and the trend is towards lighter racquets amongst younger players.
TomTennis495
Professional
Softer feel . That is all.
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
Thats weird gen 3 is what I generally hear all the love for, I never tried gen 2 but what you say sounds true to me
Fairhit
Hall of Fame
Gen 2 made a big splash, one of the better frames tested by TW.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
Blade_X
Professional
If i am not mistaken when gen 2 was released it broke all TW review ratings. It was the next big thing after DR98 back then. It literally plays like a blade with raw power and pure drivish metallic crisp feel. It broke down many wrists and shoulders.
If my arm could handle it today I wouldn’t be playing with blade v5 which is my main stick.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
I thought it worth noting that the almost universal adoption of poly at the pro level hasn’t necessarily resulted in a reduction in longbody users both pro & amateur; the longbody rec users that I know - including myself - still use them albeit with poly.
I should note though that a lot of the tennis I play is on clay with relatively slow balls and seasonally cool weather; I remember when I played in California - April & May during a couple of visits - a longbody did seem somewhat redundant due to the speed of the courts and balls.
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jmacdaununder2
Legend
PA+ & PD+ models are produced from the same molds as standard length PA & PD models respectively; all hairpins have to be cut to length after baking in any case, so it’s not difficult to cut hairpins to produce racquets longer than 27”.
Likewise Babolat Tour models - PAT, PDT and presumably even PST - although I haven’t checked this particular model firsthand - are produced from the same molds as their non-tour counterparts, the only non-cosmetic difference being the inclusion of two longitudinally oriented weights within a metal ‘lattice’ in the handle. (If you remove the trap door from the butt cap these weights are visible.)
Likewise Babolat Tour models - PAT, PDT and presumably even PST - although I haven’t checked this particular model firsthand - are produced from the same molds as their non-tour counterparts, the only non-cosmetic difference being the inclusion of two longitudinally oriented weights within a metal ‘lattice’ in the handle. (If you remove the trap door from the butt cap these weights are visible.)
danbrenner
Legend
does anyone have a pic of the new release. its being released at the end of the year. so they should be floating around now.
also. what version did most of you prefer. the v2 or v3. i currently use the v3. not as my main. but my back up. but i love it. feels a little less muted.. more raw. what do you guys think.
also. what version did most of you prefer. the v2 or v3. i currently use the v3. not as my main. but my back up. but i love it. feels a little less muted.. more raw. what do you guys think.
WYK
Legend
Please, lower RA. Like maybe 64 65 even. If we want power, we'll go to the PD or PA. What we want is more control and feel in a babo stick akin to the old storms.
They had control AND spin. It was a great time for all.
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
There were pics and specs posted in the Pure Strike 2024 thread but they were deleted. The new paint is a modification from v3 (not the new VS…..unfortunately) and the changes on the 100 look interesting and worth a demo!
Blade_X
Professional
Pure strike 2024
The most powerful among control oriented sticks is 2-3 months away launch. PJ changes will remain as minimal as possible.
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
danbrenner
Legend
That’s horrendous. Looks like the current model stripped down. I hope this is not the real paint.Pure strike 2024
The most powerful among control oriented sticks is 2-3 months away launch. PJ changes will remain as minimal as possible.
danbrenner
Legend
What are the changes on the 100. Where do you get that info. I’m
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
Someone posted the catalog pics in this thread or one of the other pure strike threads and it had the new specs. The post was deleted, so I guess it is too soon……..think Wilson Steam 100 string pattern……
danbrenner
Legend
Yeah. i had the 100 too. but the strike 100 is looked at as a pariah . like it should never have been made. so ive gone off it.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
This is the post !!
The most powerful among control oriented sticks is 2-3 months away launch. PJ changes will remain as minimal as possible.
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
No- it was a different post with specs
They allowed this post but deleted the others. Wish I would have snapped a screen shot
