Pure Drive VS and Pure Aero VS Comparisons

[darkother]

I was wondering if anyone who has played with both the Pure Drive and Pure Aero VS racquets could give me some feedback on the differences. I’ve hit with the Pure Aero VS and liked it, but it didn’t quite click with me. For reference, the two babolat frames I’ve liked the most in the last few years are the 2018 Pure Drive and the 3rd gen Pure Strike 98. Would the pure Drive VS split the difference between the two?

 

[PaulC]

You may like the PD VS, but with some slight customization with weight increase... leather grip, thicker gauge strings or lead ups etc.

 

[Injured Again]

I was on three different Tennis Warehouse playtests - the PDVS, the PAVS, and the Gen 3 Pure Strike 100.

The PDVS and PAVS are much more similar than they are different, but they are both quite different from the Pure Strike. The PDVS and PAVS both have that stiff and slightly hollow contact feel. The PAVS feels a bit more point-and-shoot than the PDVS, though some of that may have been due to strings and tension. Neither had the pocketing and control over the entire range of strokes that I found with the Pure Strike. Both the PDVS and PAVS have power levels above their light weights.

I thought the PDVS would be half way between a Pure Drive and the Pure Strike, but I think it's only about 20% of the way to a Pure Strike. I've never hit with the new Pure Aero so I can't say how the PAVS is different.

 

[darkother]

You may like the PD VS, but with some slight customization with weight increase... leather grip, thicker gauge strings or lead ups etc.

I normally use 16g poly strings and add lead and an overgrip so that would bring my static weight up a bit.

 

[darkother]

I was on three different Tennis Warehouse playtests - the PDVS, the PAVS, and the Gen 3 Pure Strike 100.

The PDVS and PAVS are much more similar than they are different, but they are both quite different from the Pure Strike. The PDVS and PAVS both have that stiff and slightly hollow contact feel. The PAVS feels a bit more point-and-shoot than the PDVS, though some of that may have been due to strings and tension. Neither had the pocketing and control over the entire range of strokes that I found with the Pure Strike. Both the PDVS and PAVS have power levels above their light weights.

I thought the PDVS would be half way between a Pure Drive and the Pure Strike, but I think it's only about 20% of the way to a Pure Strike. I've never hit with the new Pure Aero so I can't say how the PAVS is different.

That makes sense. Have you hit with the AeroPro Drive? If so, how much in between would the PD VS be between that and the 2018 pure drive?

 

[Injured Again]

That makes sense. Have you hit with the AeroPro Drive? If so, how much in between would the PD VS be between that and the 2018 pure drive?

No experience with the AeroPro Drive - sorry!

 

[michael valek]

I didn’t really like either. Neither does anything as well as the pure drive or pure aero. So I saw them both as a bit pointless. Apart from the fact that Babolat was kind of listening to the market, making those frames in smaller head sizes kind of misses the point. The originals are better.

 

[darkother]

No experience with the AeroPro Drive - sorry!

No worries, thanks for the feedback earlier!

 

[darkother]

I didn’t really like either. Neither does anything as well as the pure drive or pure aero. So I saw them both as a bit pointless. Apart from the fact that Babolat was kind of listening to the market, making those frames in smaller head sizes kind of misses the point. The originals are better.

Gotcha. Reading through the user reviews on the playtest thread that’s kinda the impression I got as well

 

[BillKid]

Recently demoed the PAVS.
Did not expect too much but did not find it bad either.
A bit less spinny, lower launch angle and a tad less power than the PA I would say. Did not have a head to head comparison but it reminded me some old versions of Pure Drive and Aeroprodrive. Also reminded me a little bit the Yonex AI 98.
Crisp if not stiff feel but not particularly uncomfortable. Babolat DNA is clearly there, you like it or not. It does not shine in any compartment but has no particular weakness.
May be interesting for those in search of a stiff modern frame offering some polyvalence.

 

[darkother]

Recently demoed the PAVS.
Did not expect too much but did not find it bad either.
A bit less spinny, lower launch angle and a tad less power than the PA I would say. Did not have a head to head comparison but it reminded me some old versions of Pure Drive and Aeroprodrive. Also reminded me a little bit the Yonex AI 98.
Crisp if not stiff feel but not particularly uncomfortable. Babolat DNA is clearly there, you like it or not. It does not shine in any compartment but has no particular weakness.
May be interesting for those in search of a stiff modern frame offering some polyvalence.

I actually got to hit with the PA VS about a month ago and agree with your thoughts. I enjoyed it but thought it was just a little bit unstable when playing against some bigger hitters. Adding a bit of lead may have helped with this as well, but I think the one I tried was a bit less headlight than it was supposed to be.

Since I liked the 2018 pure drive more than the last couple Pure Aeros, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the PD VS more, although the PA VS seems to be a bit more liked.