I finally got to try the new Babolat Pure Control and Graphene Prestige S. I decided to demo them head to head since their base specs are close to the Pure Storm GT and to one another.
Both were strung with Wilson NXT 17 at mid-recommended tension which is the policy of the friendly local tennis chain that I use for demos. I played with them completely stock, no lead tape, just an overgrip. I even forgot to add a rubberband dampener.
While they played differently from one another they shared one common characteristic: both played more hollow or tinny compared to my old Pure Storm GTs and our 315 Ltds. It was sort of like the difference between the old Dunlop AG 4D 200 frames and the new Dunlop frames. The older frames feel more solid while the newer ones feel almost toy-like.
PURE CONTROL NOTES
That's not to say they're uncomfortable. I had heard about the new Pure Control's "crisper, modern" feel and I'm pleased to report that it's not at all uncomfortable compared to the PSGT. It actually felt more solid than the Prestige S. On paper the Prestige S has a higher SW than the Pure Control but I feel this once again reveals the limits of the SW spec. The Pure Control was definitely not as easy to swing but it felt far more solid and stable compared to the Prestige S.
GRAPHENE PRESTIGE NOTES
On the other hand, the Prestige S felt a little more precise. Spin was definitely easier to generate with the Pure Control and it felt more plush but the Prestige S seemed to produce a more consistent launch angle. I've noticed this when comparing Dunlop, Head, and Tecnifiber frames to Babolat so it's not a surprise. Others have noted a lack of precision with Babolats relative to other frames too. Personally I believe it's the grommet system: it provides a larger sweet spot and more spin but at the cost of some consistency.
NOT LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Neither frame impressed me enough to cause me to want to change. In fact, they seem to be a step backwards in terms of a solid, high quality feel. Frame prices have remained remarkably stable over the last several years at around $179 to $199 dollars. But raw materials and labor might must be rising given movements in other commodity markets and industries (even China is facing rising labor costs). Let me stress, neither was a bad frame. They both felt just fine and would probably feel even better with gut mains, some extra mass, etc. But even when comparing stock forms they just can't compare to the classics like the Dunlop AG 4D 200 or PB10 Mid in feel.
We know that Babolat switched the Pure Control's graphite to a lower thread count which costs less. Maybe manufacturers are reducing the costs of their materials in various ways to maintain margins in the face of other rising costs while trying to avoid breaching the $199 price point. This might explain the general decline in the solid feel of frames over time.
All of this leaves me ever more impressed with the 315 Ltds. They're just so freakin' plush and solid compared to other recently launched frames and they're still the same price roughly.
For those of us who love old school, plush, solid frames we're probably both cursed and blessed. The industry is moving away from that feel, for whatever reason. So we'll be consigned to OOP frames to a large degree. For now, these are probably available from various second hand sources at lower prices. But at some point, as they become ever more rare, those prices might start to rise too.
Both were strung with Wilson NXT 17 at mid-recommended tension which is the policy of the friendly local tennis chain that I use for demos. I played with them completely stock, no lead tape, just an overgrip. I even forgot to add a rubberband dampener.
While they played differently from one another they shared one common characteristic: both played more hollow or tinny compared to my old Pure Storm GTs and our 315 Ltds. It was sort of like the difference between the old Dunlop AG 4D 200 frames and the new Dunlop frames. The older frames feel more solid while the newer ones feel almost toy-like.
PURE CONTROL NOTES
That's not to say they're uncomfortable. I had heard about the new Pure Control's "crisper, modern" feel and I'm pleased to report that it's not at all uncomfortable compared to the PSGT. It actually felt more solid than the Prestige S. On paper the Prestige S has a higher SW than the Pure Control but I feel this once again reveals the limits of the SW spec. The Pure Control was definitely not as easy to swing but it felt far more solid and stable compared to the Prestige S.
GRAPHENE PRESTIGE NOTES
On the other hand, the Prestige S felt a little more precise. Spin was definitely easier to generate with the Pure Control and it felt more plush but the Prestige S seemed to produce a more consistent launch angle. I've noticed this when comparing Dunlop, Head, and Tecnifiber frames to Babolat so it's not a surprise. Others have noted a lack of precision with Babolats relative to other frames too. Personally I believe it's the grommet system: it provides a larger sweet spot and more spin but at the cost of some consistency.
NOT LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Neither frame impressed me enough to cause me to want to change. In fact, they seem to be a step backwards in terms of a solid, high quality feel. Frame prices have remained remarkably stable over the last several years at around $179 to $199 dollars. But raw materials and labor might must be rising given movements in other commodity markets and industries (even China is facing rising labor costs). Let me stress, neither was a bad frame. They both felt just fine and would probably feel even better with gut mains, some extra mass, etc. But even when comparing stock forms they just can't compare to the classics like the Dunlop AG 4D 200 or PB10 Mid in feel.
We know that Babolat switched the Pure Control's graphite to a lower thread count which costs less. Maybe manufacturers are reducing the costs of their materials in various ways to maintain margins in the face of other rising costs while trying to avoid breaching the $199 price point. This might explain the general decline in the solid feel of frames over time.
All of this leaves me ever more impressed with the 315 Ltds. They're just so freakin' plush and solid compared to other recently launched frames and they're still the same price roughly.
For those of us who love old school, plush, solid frames we're probably both cursed and blessed. The industry is moving away from that feel, for whatever reason. So we'll be consigned to OOP frames to a large degree. For now, these are probably available from various second hand sources at lower prices. But at some point, as they become ever more rare, those prices might start to rise too.
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-- mine are also weighted same - circa 328g (luckily I got a PS GT that came in heavy-ish in the spec tolerance and got a Strike that cane in light-ish on the spec tolerance) I am very intersted in learning how the 16x19 305 compares to the 18 x 20. I seem to have dialled into the 18 x 20 now (which at first I found to be challenging), and have become addicted to it's precision "point and shoot" control (of course subject to the user being on form on any given day). Having added thin guage VS Team gut has certainly given me more access to spin, with a lower tension than I usually play 55lbs versus 57/58lbs.
I definitely advise you to customize it with lead though. Makes the frame play so much sweeter. I have mine at 364 g, 355 SW and a balance of 32.3 cm (polarized setup). Playing topspin feels so good it could be illegal 8)
