****Pure Drive w/ Cortex Review****

[Borat]

BABOLAT PURE DRIVE STANDARD CORTEX REVIEW

Design/Comfort- 8.5/10
The Pure Drive is an excellently designed racquet. They paintjob is great in person, and includes a great color scheme. The painjob shifts from a matte finish in the throat to a high gloss finish on the hoop. Strung with a soft string, the feel is very crisp and responsive. With the right string nobody could say that this frame is too harsh.

Groundstokes-9.5/10
This was a very interesting category for the Pure Drive. This frame is realatively stiff at 70RA stiffness rating, which equates to a high power frame. Due to this stiffness, the frame also had exeptional directional control, I was hitting the lines whenever I wanted to. The spin potential on the Pure Drive is great, it hits tight topspin from both wings, which helps keep all of the high powered groundstokes in. This frame was built for the baseline, and it was built well.

Volleys-7.5/10
The Pure Drive was a solid volleying frame. This frame packs a punch in at the net with good stability, surprisingly enough with its 11.2 oz. static weight. Control on volleys is just alright, not bad nor great. this frame is not a frame for a doubles player or anyone that comes to the net to pass on.

Serves-9.5/10
One of if not the best serving sticks on the market today. Flat serves are were hit faster than I have ever hit them before, and they went where I wanted them to. There was no lack of spin on second serves, both on kick and slice serves. This is definately a serve improvement frame.

Overall-8.75/10

Final Thoughts
This is simply a frame that doesn't get enough love on these boards. It plays very well from all parts of the court, and was a pleasure to play with. It doesn't feel harsh or stiff at all with a multifilament or synthetic gut on it, and although it has exeptional power, the generous spin potential really keeps balls in. This frame is a breakthrough in modern racquet technology, and there is a reason that it and its brother and sister models are all best sellers on TW. If you play a baseline game, and want a better serve while still keeping some strength in volleying for the occasional trip to the net, this frame deserves a look-see.

 

[Voltron]

Great review Borat, I've been looking for a PD review. Not that I want one though.

 

[Borat]

Great review Borat, I've been looking for a PD review. Not that I want one though.

Thanks Voltron. It is actually a fun racquet to play with, even if it is just for a while.

 

[Noveson]

BABOLAT PURE DRIVE STANDARD CORTEX REVIEW

Design/Comfort- 8.5/10
The Pure Drive is an excellently designed racquet. They paintjob is great in person, and includes a great color scheme. The painjob shifts from a matte finish in the throat to a high gloss finish on the hoop. Strung with a soft string, the feel is very crisp and responsive. With the right string nobody could say that this frame is too harsh.

Groundstokes-9.5/10
This was a very interesting category for the Pure Drive. This frame is realatively stiff at 70RA stiffness rating, which equates to a high power frame. Due to this stiffness, the frame also had exeptional directional control, I was hitting the lines whenever I wanted to. The spin potential on the Pure Drive is great, it hits tight topspin from both wings, which helps keep all of the high powered groundstokes in. This frame was built for the baseline, and it was built well.

Volleys-7.5/10
The Pure Drive was a solid volleying frame. This frame packs a punch in at the net with good stability, surprisingly enough with its 11.2 oz. static weight. Control on volleys is just alright, not bad nor great. this frame is not a frame for a doubles player or anyone that comes to the net to pass on.

Serves-9.5/10
One of if not the best serving sticks on the market today. Flat serves are were hit faster than I have ever hit them before, and they went where I wanted them to. There was no lack of spin on second serves, both on kick and slice serves. This is definately a serve improvement frame.

Overall-8.75/10

Final Thoughts
This is simply a frame that doesn't get enough love on these boards. It plays very well from all parts of the court, and was a pleasure to play with. It doesn't feel harsh or stiff at all with a multifilament or synthetic gut on it, and although it has exeptional power, the generous spin potential really keeps balls in. This frame is a breakthrough in modern racquet technology, and there is a reason that it and its brother and sister models are all best sellers on TW. If you play a baseling game, and want a better serve while still keeping some strength in volleying for the occasional trip to the net, this frame deserves a look-see.

I own a PD with cortex that I absolutely love. Not always my main racquet but it is great. Love hitting deep forehands all day long. Did anyone else notice a lack of heaviness in the shots though? I was getting the spin that I wanted, but the ball wasn't as heavy as usual. This racquet would be a lot more recommended on these boards if it wasn't for all the "only a 15 oz 60 inch racquet works" people. They talk a lot of people out of buying a PD.

 

[Voltron]

Thanks Voltron. It is actually a fun racquet to play with, even if it is just for a while.

I though so, but tell me, is it a rocket launcher?

 

[Noveson]

Great review by the way. VOltron, if you hit a flat ball then yes, back fence everytime. Western/Semi western and you will be fun. It is right up there with the 001 and Pure Storm on my list.

 

[Borat]

Yah, just hitting flat serves is amusing enough. If you put spin on groundstokes, they will stay in.

 

[Voltron]

Yah, just hitting flat serves is amusing enough. If you put spin on groundstokes, they will stay in.

Okay, gotcha, I'm demoing a K90 in two days! Ok that was OT, sorry.

 

[Sagittar]

nice review Borat , we needed a pure drive review indeed ..

but at 70 stiffness , wouldn't you feel in danger after a couple of month hitting with it ?
does the cortex system does that well of a job ?

 

[jdeloach]

Great review Borat!!

 

[Borat]

I really dont think the stiffness will hurt you at all. From what I saw playing with it, with a soft string it didnt feel harsh and raw like some other stiff frames. I wouldn;t risk it if you have a serious arm condition though

 

[Borat]

It think the Cortex does nothing more than vibration dampenening, but I haven't used the pure drive original.

 

[Borat]

Overall, I would reccomend the frame.

 

[Sagittar]

thnx for your answers Borat .. great job

 

[WhiteSox05CA]

The racquet is designed for the aggressive baseliner that uses lot of spin. And those are the people who like the Pure Drive. It also is probably one of the best serving racquets I've ever used. I knew that frrom the first serve I hammered down with it.

I like it because I fit the peramaters Babolat was aiming for- aggressive, spin-oriented baseliners.

I don't mind the stiffness at all. I do notice a difference for sure, from my RDX 500, but it's not unpleasant. I would try using poly in the racquet for sure. I'm not sure if using a stiff string affects the efficiency of the "Woofer System" though. I also noticed it had much more power from my normal setup, but nothing that I can't control.

It's easy to see why some people on these boards don't like it. The stiffness could be a problem for some. Some older people are used to the classic frames. And some are flat-hitters.

There is a reason that it was named the "Racquet of the Decade" and that all versions of it, (except OS) are best-sellers on TW.

 

[AJK1]

I had some extra cash, so i satisfied my curiosity and ordered one! I get it tomorrow. I'll have a hit with it and respond here with some feedback.

 

[bluegrasser]

Having hit with this frame for two weeks several months ago, I'd say it's a good baseline racquet *if* you hit with lots of spin, if you hit a flatter shot, then it's a rocket launcher. I felt it was weak on the volley, hard to hit touch shots, and if you didn't cut those volleys with heavy underspin the ball would sail.