strung w/ black knight 1.28 mains and ghost wire 1.27 crosses at 50# plus overgrip
323.9g
31.9 cm
323 sw
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Drive 2025
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323.9g
31.9 cm
323 sw
McLovin
Legend
32.1cm? Let’s see, that’s…divide by 2.54…subtract from 13.75…convert to fractions…carry the 1…
425 pts HL?
I presume you’ll have it ready to go in 4 1/2 hours?
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Yeah I think it’s a good idea, but I want a give it a couple sessions stock first, then add weight to the butt / leather. I think they said we can modify it as long as we spend enough time with it stock to be able to compare.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
I would think very minimally, especially if it’s putty under the butt cap (which should have zero impact on swing weight). Agree that a leather grip on a stiff frame like this though might make it feel too harsh for me.
McLovin
Legend
codonnell
Semi-Pro
Agreed, I will be doing my review based off stock, but after enough time with the frame I’ll be customizing it to my preferred spec within the 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 balance point with some tac. I will let you know how that alters the playability of the frame.
JonnyAbs
Semi-Pro
I removed the cardboard insert and plastic from the handle from my PD 98 and weighed it. 299 grams unstrung. 6 grams lighter than spec. I'm actually OK with that as my pure drives are about 300 grams and this is within their +/- 7 grams margin of error. I'll get the weight tonight after I string it and add a dampener and OG.
Did everyone know that Babolat has been having these made in China for a long time? I always thought they were made in France, but I just checked my 2009 and 2006 pure drives and sure enough they are made in China too. They say Engineered in France, however. I learned something new, and oddly it depressed me a little. For some reason, I liked the idea that they were made in France lol
McLovin
Legend
Got in my first hit w/ the PD+ today, and have to say my initial thoughts are promising. When I demo'd the previous PD+ against the Blackout XTD, the deciding factor was the PD+ felt sluggish coming around on the forehand. This one feels a bit 'whippier', yet still stable enough to handle some of @Soundbyte 's heavy lefty serves (although he did put a few into my body that I just couldn't do anything with).
I played sets 1 & 3 w/ the PD+ and set 2 w/ the Blackout XTD. Both are strung w/ Restring Zero 1.23mm @ 48lbs, and honestly, they felt practically interchangeable to me, even though the Blackout has some mods and the PD+ is stock (...albeit w/ 2 overgrips to compensate for the Size 2 handle).
It was competitive 4.5+ doubles, so no long rallies from the baseline, but the few that I hit were solid. Stable at the net, good pop off the serve (that's relative...at my age, 'good pop' means over 80mph...). Really looking forward to more court time w/ this.
I played sets 1 & 3 w/ the PD+ and set 2 w/ the Blackout XTD. Both are strung w/ Restring Zero 1.23mm @ 48lbs, and honestly, they felt practically interchangeable to me, even though the Blackout has some mods and the PD+ is stock (...albeit w/ 2 overgrips to compensate for the Size 2 handle).
It was competitive 4.5+ doubles, so no long rallies from the baseline, but the few that I hit were solid. Stable at the net, good pop off the serve (that's relative...at my age, 'good pop' means over 80mph...). Really looking forward to more court time w/ this.
codonnell
Semi-Pro
here’s a link of the pictures below:
i took pictures with it beside the aero 98 and aero storm too, you can really see the box beam in the pd98 at the 3-9 up to the 12. I just sent it into my stringer too.
measures specs are:
Unstrung
301-302 grams (10.7oz)
balance of 32.4-5
i took pictures with it beside the aero 98 and aero storm too, you can really see the box beam in the pd98 at the 3-9 up to the 12. I just sent it into my stringer too.
measures specs are:
Unstrung
301-302 grams (10.7oz)
balance of 32.4-5
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with all the new rackets coming out in the next month, does anyone know what time specifically in the morning or day the new rackets are available for order when they release?
and in follow up, another question, do rackets ever sell out on release day that they get backordered?
and in follow up, another question, do rackets ever sell out on release day that they get backordered?
TennisHound
Legend
Good for you.
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How does the string pattern compare to the Aero 98 ? Is it more dense? Also is the swingweight higher?here’s a link of the pictures below:
i took pictures with it beside the aero 98 and aero storm too, you can really see the box beam in the pd98 at the 3-9 up to the 12. I just sent it into my stringer too.
measures specs are:
Unstrung
301-302 grams (10.7oz)
balance of 32.4-5
codonnell
Semi-Pro
When I receive it back strung, I’ll post pictures side by side for the pattern comparison. Based off what I see from the crosses on the grommet. The 20th cross appears to be higher and the pattern looks to be more dense to me. As for sw, estimations that I’m seeing here it could be a point or 2 higher. However the frame feels incredibly solid throughout and the low balance point you’ll definitely feel the weight of the frame. More to come!
I’m just saying, normally this is the one place that everyone raves on the PD. Unfortunately the rest of my game with that racket were…meh..and I’m usually an okay server, not great
JonnyAbs
Semi-Pro
There are a few quick reviews of it already. I used it for about a half hour last night in some dubs. Wasn't fairing well in match play and probably switched back to my standard pure drive 2006 too early (2-2 in the first set) because then I was off when using that too. I was serving well with the pd 98. It has noticeably less power than my PD, which is probably to be expected. Launch angle is the same or maybe a tad lower with the 98. I was getting a lot less power on volleys, which arent my strongest suit already. I have great hands with respect to hand-eye coordination, but I don't have the best putaway volleys. I was even struggling to get some volleys over the net for whatever reason. I need more time with it. I strung it at 52/50, which is a good 3 pounds lower than my 2006 pure drive, but maybe I needed to go even lower. I also strung it immediately before playing so it had no time to loosen up in the frame, and this is the first string job, if that even matters. It definitely seemed more of a control racquet and my shots were landing closer to the service line than usual. But I could indeed swing out. Time will tell.
I might be wanting to swap with a pd 100 user if that is allowed once the playtest is over, but again, I need more time with it. I will say that it wasn't bothering my arm, which people had reported about the previous version. I felt it once on one shot but that was all.
JonnyAbs
Semi-Pro
It hits a less loopy and spinny ball as compared to the pa 98. Which makes sense. It hits more like a pure drive, and the aero 98 hits more like an aero
I think this is due to their weight distributions. I believe Aeros are more polar for more spin.
JonnyAbs
Semi-Pro
I don't have my pa 98 any longer to compare but I would say the drill patterns are very similar. Swingweight of the pa 98 seemed higher to me.
TennisHound
Legend
Good points. Still fairly tight stringing for a 98.
codonnell
Semi-Pro
here are some pictures comparing the new pure drive 98 to the aero 98 and aero storm. As you can see the pure drive 98 and aero 98 have pretty much the same exact string spacing with the pd 98 being possibly a hair denser in the center of the string bed. I wouldn’t call it a very dense 16-20 as the aero storm tends to be quite a bit denser, especially if you look at the bottom cross. The storms bottom cross is nearly at the 2nd bottom cross of both the current models. Feel free to ask for more angles or pictures I’m happy to provide!
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Thanks!
here are some pictures comparing the new pure drive 98 to the aero 98 and aero storm. As you can see the pure drive 98 and aero 98 have pretty much the same exact string spacing with the pd 98 being possibly a hair denser in the center of the string bed. I wouldn’t call it a very dense 16-20 a the aero storm tends to be quite a bit denser, especially if you look at the bottom cross. The storms bottom cross is nearly at the 2nd bottom cross of both the current models. Feel free to ask for more angles or pictures I’m happy to provide!
KC!
Hall of Fame
I agree, I crushed serves with the 2021. One of the best serving racquets for me.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
That’s a great hot take!!
Comparing a babolat to a pro staff? Heresy
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
Never thought it was possible - but the racket really reminds me of the hyper pro staff series 6.1. Crisp with some direct ball feedback, a little launch, but direction control is on tap and put away power is ample!
I don’t want this racket to be my daily driver, but I fear it’s a bit more generous than an ezone, and the power is intoxicating!
i've never seen so many offensive things in one post...
comparing it to a 6.1 95...
saying HPS is crisp with only some feedback
more generous than an ezone?
i'm seriously offended... (joking of course)
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
We need to hit and clear the air!
PD98 is crisp with decent ball feedback, and extra stiffness helps keep mishits deep in the court, or touch volleys spinning (the generosity)
i'm hearing rumors of an LA gathering pre-christmas...joint PD98 and 100 playtestWe need to hit and clear the air!
PD98 is crisp with decent ball feedback, and extra stiffness helps keep mishits deep in the court, or touch volleys spinning (the generosity)
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
Prolly a stupid question, but....... does anybody know if the skips and tie offs are the same as previous model, it looks like they are from looking at the grommets...
The 100 is the same as the outgoing model for sure
Consistent string bed? Comparable to...?
How much free power are we talking? EZ98? PA98? More? Less?
Thanks in advance!
The new PD98 now has a 16x20 as well, same as the PA98.
Alcawrath
Professional
It looks great, but I'm still waiting to hear what it does better than the PA98...
Fighting phoenix
Professional
@2ndServe Yeah so far only one hitting session, rained out this morning, hopefully will be able to play tomorrow, but have three hitting sessions set up for Mon-Wed. I played with the PA98 for 4-6 months, so I'll be able to compare the two in more depth. So far, I'd say the PD98 feel is a little thumpier, stiffer, launch angle is lower, serve is better (easy power and great placement). More to come.
Thanks FP.
Curious: precision level versus the PA98? Especially for flatter hitting? More dense center 8-10 mains (hopefully)?
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
PD98 is similar launch angle to my 2021 VC95, but has much more power, and more head stability.
Not on the playtest, but anyone who likes to color coordinate strings and racquets, I think this is decent...
Hard to tell from the pic with bad lighting but Hawk Power complements the frame. Almost as if you blended the blue and black parts. Strung at 48 and going to hit tomorrow.
Hard to tell from the pic with bad lighting but Hawk Power complements the frame. Almost as if you blended the blue and black parts. Strung at 48 and going to hit tomorrow.
StefanosWillSaveTheWorld
Rookie
Hit with the new 98 this morning. It is definitely softer with a more pocketing, controlled sensation than previous version. Has a nice modern crisp feel. I thought it was slightly erratic but it was far from ideal playing conditions. 42 degrees with some wind. Will try more today and tomorrow and report back
Spent some time just drilling groundstrokes and serving with all 3 this morning. The ‘25 still feels nicer than the ‘18 and ‘21 after some more court time, but I still prefer the swirly and PDT in almost everything. It is more forgiving than the swirly but the feel of the swirly is much more confidence inspiring when hitting the middle. Swirly and PDT were noticeably more solid on backhands too. I’m thinking the lower balance point and 312 SW on the 2025 PD could be causing this though. It would probably benefit from a couple grams in the hoop to get the balance to spec. I also got a few more sets of tour bite 17 and I’ll string the ‘25 up with that soon to get a more fair/direct comparison
McLovin
Legend
Had another hit with the PD+ this morning. Just a hitting/drilling session, but I continue to be impressed with this iteration (as compared to what I remember of the previous version). I really can swap between this and my Blackout XTD with zero adjustment needed.
So far, the one thing I’d give the nod to the PD+ over my Blackout is the plow. I’ve been able to better handle heavy shots at shoulder height, but it’s still maneuverable enough that I’m not late on my forehand. It may even be a tad more stable at the net, but I’m going to need more time w/ volleys swapping between the two before I make the call.
So far, the one thing I’d give the nod to the PD+ over my Blackout is the plow. I’ve been able to better handle heavy shots at shoulder height, but it’s still maneuverable enough that I’m not late on my forehand. It may even be a tad more stable at the net, but I’m going to need more time w/ volleys swapping between the two before I make the call.
codonnell
Semi-Pro
I just had a 2 1/2 hour hitting session with the pd 98. Decent first impression so far but definitely takes a settle in period. The frame provides good pop as a pd would, good stability, surprisingly decent maneuverability for the lower balance point. It really shined on the flat backhands and slices were amazing. There was next to no twisting when handling volleys either. On my forehead, it was quite inconsistent and will take some time to dial in. So far I feel as if this frame suits someone with a linear swing path and more of a flat ball hitter. You realy have to focus on shaping that shot to get the topspin. I can provide more detail but those were some of the first impressions. I also played with someone who used the last gen 98, so I will be uploading some pics to compare tho they may not be great quality fair warning
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codonnell
Semi-Pro
Here’s some pics, shockingly the previous generation pd 98 looks to have a denser pattern in the middle of the frame and the Beam thickness looks about the same.
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