Babolat Pure Strike 98 18x20 - Thiem
- Thread starter Bill W
- Start date
Matthew Lee
Professional
Thiem uses the old 18x20 under the new paintjob. Which one are you referring to?
danbrenner
Legend
They are completely different rackets they do not play anything alike in the string patterns are totally different so you are literally trying to compare an apple to an orange. Best thing to do is try the Pure strike and let us know what you think
pfrischmann
Professional
I am demoing it right now. I used to use the PS-97 and switched after shoulder surgery. I've been using the PS 16X19 for a while. I fins it great on ground strike and serves but a little too explosive on half-volleys and volleys. It's just a little too live. I just started playing with the 18X20 and I find it a bit more controlled and less powerful. It may be just right..more to come
danbrenner
Legend
i hear you. i have used all of those sticks. i like Babolats the best in general. the PS 18x20 is great. so is the 16x19. . i use a PA for more explosiveness. But i love both pure strikes. of al lthe 18x20 frames i have used its my favorite because you still get that babolat crisp power feel.. the prob with the 18x20 is getting the ball to clear the net with margin on GStrokes the 16x19 are much better for that.
TennisHound
Legend
I've only tried the older pink and black one (which apparently Thiem uses still under the new white pj). I honestly don't know how Thiem makes this racquet work. It has absolutely no power and the ball dies outside the sweetspot (which is about the size of a quarter). I haven't tried the new white 18x20, since the white project one 7 16x19 felt like an empty marshmallow with little power.
danbrenner
Legend
Lol. U need gut mains. That's the only way to open up any 18m stick. And power is there as well with the gut. Thiem uses a lot of raw power with all of his ground strokes. But I agree with you that in general the 18x20 patterns ar le more challenging. I do love the ps in 18x20 new white version. Ignore I could find a chap used one I would buy one just to have.
TennisHound
Legend
They must've changed quite a bit from the pink and black to the white one.
Serjojeee
Rookie
He makes it work with some lead ))) I'm using something close to his setup, a bit lower SW of 340 and a leather grip. Monstrous raquet but it'll make you work for that power.
danbrenner
Legend
yep.. the new white one is way softer feeling. much more enjoyable.
RVAtennisaddict
Professional
I liked the older one better. Sold my 2017 to get two more 2014. Leather and a little lead. Play rpm blast 18g at 52. No dampener. Though desperately want to try Wilson ultra tour. Always been a Wilson guy and my first racquet was sting (blue black and grey). Also will occasionally pull the rf97 2014 out of bag. But play better with purestrike 18x20 2014.
danbrenner
Legend
Yeah. I love the pure strikes. I'm just too addicted to the free power on serve from the PA. Even the 16x19 ps doesn't stack up to it. Soooo.
tom4ny
Professional
I have both the 16x19 and 18x20 2017 Pure Strike and I actually prefer the 18x20 or Thiem endorsed model. I find the stringbed on the 18x20 to be more consistent and spin generation is very good for a dense pattern. The 16x19 has a hot spot where the ball can explode and be be somewhat unpredictable. I think that it may be this hot spot that people are referring to when they say that the sweet spot is small. My experience is that the sweet spot runs wide and is fairly centered but within that there is a "hot" area. The 18x20 has a little less power overall but when I put 18 gauge Cyclone Tour in there at 53 lbs. I loved it. The frame has predictable power and great control. I love it at net and return of serve and it is almost as good as the 16x19 on serve. My only problem is that it gives me golfers elbow. Both versions cause this. The only other racket I have played with that gave me that is the Wilson Burn FST. I typically play with stiff rackets and a full bed of poly and have no history of elbow problems. Otherwise I like the 18x20 PS especially for playing doubles.
RVAtennisaddict
Professional
I have been playing with the PureStrikes, and never get what I would call tennis/golfers elbow. But that does not mean that I don't feel a little sore at times.. But nothing that a touch of motrin can't handle. I did use the delpo BLX when it came out (18x20) and got such bad tennis elbow that I was afraid to play with 18x20 until I tried the purestrike (5+ years) and until I got little education - started reading these boards. Still using RPM 18 at 52-53. Toying with trying some other strings (thought I was going to love tourbite 18, but it seemed to change feel to fast and get spongy on me). Thinking about head hawk or 4g again.
I did pick up a WilsonUltraTour today at my local proshop.. as soon as it gets strings in it I am going to demo. To me without strings, it felt a little head heavy to me. Will see, on paper it looks very very interesting to me
rabramson
New User
Has anyone experimented with lead tape on the Pure Strike 18x20 (the new Thiem version, white and orange)? I love the racquet (serves and forehands are awesome!), but it feels a bit light, especially on the backhand side. My backhand has been consistent with other racquets, but with the Pure Strike 18x20, I tend to launch backhands more. I currently am using Gamma Pro at 57 lbs. Any suggestions on where I can place lead tape to help control my backhand?
danbrenner
Legend
No one can answer that question but yourself. You need to experiment with thyour lead. First tailweight. Then throat. Then around the hoop. 3 and 9. Or 10 and 12.
rabramson
New User
Thanks, Dan...I will start playing with the tape and see what works best!
AgressivelyFrames
Rookie
I have put lead on a 2014 18x20 pure strike and it seems to have made the racket definitely more stable and powerful. Only thing is it didn't necessarily help spin for me which is why I'm looking to get rid of mine.
rabramson
New User
Where did you place the tape, AF?
AgressivelyFrames
Rookie
3 and 9. Four 5 inch strips to make 5 grams. I was going for the thiem spec.
Serjojeee
Rookie
Try to add some lead at 12, for me 2 gms was enough.
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
I like the new PS 18x20, much better than the 16x19 P17. It has good control, decent spin for a 18x20 and felt fairly solid but maneuverable.
rabramson
New User
Thanks for the advice!
rabramson
New User
Thanks for the advice!
