Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Drive 2025

Fighting phoenix

Professional
2025 Pure Drive 98 Review

String and tension used for test: First strung with RPM Blast 1.25 @ 49lbs mains / 47lbs crosses; after four sessions, restrung with RPM Blast Rough (red) 1.25 @ 49/47lbs. I think both strings paired with this racquet well, but like the rough version better as it's slightly more comfortable. Racquet swingweight was about 323 strung, static (unstrung) slightly underspec at 302g, balance strung with two overgrips (I usually played L3, grip I received was L2) was 32.9cm. Other than the overgrips, I didn't make any modifications.

Tennis experience/background: Played juniors and college tennis, life happened and played sporadically for 20 years or so, and in the last three years have been playing 4-5x/week, USTA leagues, tournaments, drills, etc.. 4.5 NTRP / 7.1 UTR, but of course I'm now in my early 50s and am cognizant that I need more help from my racquet than typical players sticks I've used in the past.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Lefty all court player, two-handed backhand except for my more common slice backhand, big kick serve and crafty game (not a "and-one" style of player lol)

Current racquet/string setups: recently switched to the Vcore 98 (2023) after a long racquet journey, mostly with either Lynx Tour or Confidential, great fit for my game. I tend to enjoy 98s that provide a little extra help, as I find 100s to be slightly more cumbersome than I prefer (ie 98s allow me more creativity/whippiness...I know, could be mental), so this PD98 would be in my wheelhouse of frames to consider. I also spent 4 months maining the PA98, so in a good position to make comparisons to that one as well as other 98s.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? ~15 hours of doubles, singles, and drills

-Groundstrokes: forehands are where this racquet really shines - medium launch angle, good access to spin, tons of power and was able to hit a number of "wow" forehands (the kind you blissfully remember the rest of the day). Slice backhands were great, low and penetrating, and defensive shots were okay (easy power helped me keep defensive balls deep, but isn't as maneuverable as my Vcore or the PA98). Two-handed topspin backhands however I had trouble controlling - this shot is flatter for me, and I would occasionally struggle with keeping these in the court. Likely an adjustment issue, but it wasn't as good of a fit for my two-hander as other racquets I've been using.
-Serves: Unbelievable serving stick - tons of power, decent accuracy, great kick and slice serves. Best serving 98 I've tried.
-Volleys: great putaway power, also surprisingly good on touch/angled volleys. Slightly cumbersome to maneuver however, and occasionally had trouble keeping balls in the court given the power level.
-Serve returns: great at returns - super stable and solid, off center returns seemed to find a way to make it back into the court. Did need to adjust to the lower launch angle than the Vcore or PA98 as at the beginning I seemed to be finding the net cord too often, but adjusted fairly quickly.

Power/Control- this is definitely the most powerful 98 I've played with, and the change to the 16x20 string pattern definitely helped with directional control (I briefly demo-ed the PDVS, and feel like the 16x20 pattern was a good change for them to have made). Very similar control levels to the Vcore 98 and PA98 - any shots I missed were definitely on me, and my only complaints were sometimes sailing flatter two-handed backhands and keeping low volleys in the court given the power level of the racquet. More of an adjustment thing than a complaint about the racquet itself.
Top Spin/Slice- top spin was just fine, and I did find myself trying to hit with more topspin than I regularly do in order to tame the power. Spin was particularly strong on serves - great slice and kick serves, and the extra power just made my serve all that more dangerous. Backhand slices felt great.
Comfort- not its strong suit, and definitely stiffer than the PA98 (and for sure than the Vcore). I think the Flax/NF2 technology does help, as it feels slightly more comfortable than the previous version, and I didn't get any arm pain during this playtest with a full bed of poly, but it would be something I'd worry about if I considered switching to this.
Feel- fairly muted but not overly so; a good thumpish/solid feel when striking the ball, and I had no issues hitting drop shots or touch volleys.
Maneuverability- going forward, I would likely customize by adding some tail-weight to make the balance more head light as maneuverability wasn't its strongest suit. Less maneuverable than most 98s I've tried, but that's offset by the great stability and easy power the racquet helps with.
Stability- rock solid, one of the more stable 98s I've played with.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: when looking for the right racquet, I try to find one that accentuates my strengths, and this one mostly fits the bill - more free service points, killer forehand, strong slice backhands. However, not being an "and-one" type of first strike player, and valuing touch, finesse, all court, craftiness, spin, angles, etc., as a full package the Vcore might be a better fit for my game. This falls in the category of a killer first strike players stick - and it is an Excalibur-like option for the right player. In that regard, I liked it better than the PA98 which to me has a less satisfying feel and isn't as strong of a serving frame as this one. Unlike the previous PDVS, I think there is a definite niche this racquet will play in the market place given that it has slightly better feel and directional control. Great racquet overall - thank you TW and Babalot for the opportunity! I plan to keep it and customize it a bit, and will consider switching to it sometime in 2025 if I feel like it does more for me than the Vcore 98.
 

mircogia

New User
I've been playing last month with a test PD 100 from 2021 (transitioning away from my previous speed mp) and i'm liking it a lot. As i'm going to buy one, should i stick to the 2021 or buy directly the 2025 edition? Improvements are noticeable? Are worth the 100$ delta cost?

Thanks
 
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McLovin

Legend
I have a question.
Between the PD 2021 to the 2025 is there a different in Spin.
Headsize 100, 300g

Thx
Not that I could tell, although I'm comparing to a 1-week demo of the 2021 version a little over 2 years ago. Given that I have trouble remembering what I had for dinner last week, I'd take my recollection w/ an extremely large grain of salt...
 

TheBoom

Hall of Fame
I've been playing last month with a test PD 100 from 2021 (transitioning away from my previous speed mp) and i'm liking it a lot. As i'm going to buy one, should i stick to the 2021 or buy directly the 2025 edition? Improvements are noticeable? Are worth the 100$ delta cost?

Thanks
If you feel the previous version but were feeling sore/pain/etc. after hitting with it, the $100 is absolutely worth it. If not, I think they’re pretty similar performance-wise and any differences will be on the margin so may as well save some money or get an extra racket with the savings


I have a question.
Between the PD 2021 to the 2025 is there a different in Spin.
Headsize 100, 300g

Thx
Not enough of one to say either is better at spin IMHO. But if you (like me) like the feeling of more ball pocketing and that gives you confidence to swing out more, I think you’ll probably find it easier to get spin from this one.
 

Doms86

New User
I've been playing with the PA 100 for the last two years and by chance got my hands on a PD 2021.
What can I say, the PD plays easier and has more speed/power, but the PA has a lot more spin in my opinion.
I am therefore in a dilemma because I would like to play with a lot of spin but also easy power.
 

codonnell

Semi-Pro
Pure Drive 98 Review

I would like to thank the @TW Staff and Babolat again for selecting me to be a part of this playtest, I greatly appreciate it and have not been this excited for a new racquet release for some time.

String and tension used for test:

Tourna Silver 7 tour @46 Ibs

Tennis experience/background:

-26 years old, high 3.5- low 4.0 rating mainly due to consistency, I played 3 years of varsity high school singles 1 and 2 with a small sample of men’s and mixed doubles for USTA when I was younger. I also took summer tennis camps every year from 7ish-13 and played in an adult night program during the summer from 13-19.

-I played in a singles winter men’s league previously and now do a rotational indoor doubles sessions & during the summer I usually have a large group of guys play doubles most Saturday mornings and another small group that sometimes rotates games of singles during midweek or just enjoy the casual hit around.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

-Primarily a stronger single’s player but find myself playing and enjoying more doubles each year. I tend to be an all around baseliner (both offensive and defensive who will grind from the back using good anticipation and physicality until I get a weak enough ball to go for a winner.

-I have a strong spiny forehand with good clearance and a very consistent backhand that’s flatter with a lot of pop.

-My volleys tend to be hit or miss, my touch volleys are better than my normal volleys.

-My flat serve has decent power but tend to sacrifice the placement and my slice serve is great when it’s on. Kick serve has been improved on and is now “serviceable”.

-My return game typically consists of flatter blocks or slices to get the point started, but I would not call it a strength.

- I rely quite a bit on my movement and decent speed to keep getting to balls and staying in the point for as long as possible.

Current racquet/string setups:

My current frame is the Babolat aero storm gt strung with tourna s7t @42 Ibs (weighted to 11.75 oz 6pts hl 333 sw). Prior to this I used the pure drive Roddick gt all throughout high school, used the 2018 pd for a year as well as tried the aero vs tour. I’ve demod the first gen pd 98/vs on numerous occasions and also own a aero 98 which I hit with a decent amount to compare the frames.

How many hours did you play with the racquet?

10 hours with the pd98 Mainly doubles with a couple single sessions mixed in all on indoor hardcourt.

-Groundstrokes/Top Spin/Slice

The pd98 was extremely solid on groundstrokes, very stable for its weight class, and the maneuverability was not bad for the expected 3-4 pts hl. I never felt like I couldn’t get the frame into the position it needed to be in and was by no means sluggish. The spin potential was above average for a 98 with its relatively open 16-20 string pattern and you’ll expect a medium launch angle (took me an adjustment period), but I do feel as you have to focus on accentuating the topspin motion to get the best spin out of it. The frame has excellent power for a 98 considering its thickest part of the beam is 23 and it’s tapered with a 21 on each side. I would agree with the previous reviewers and say I don’t think I’ve hit with a more powerful 98. I found that the frame excelled the best on the backhand side when in stock, especially on flat backhand drives and aggressive slices. The frame was always stable no matter the pace of the shot I was receiving and provided a nice low hard response frequently. I often bullied the net player with the backhand down the line in which many players struggled with the pace and low clearance. For the forehand, I at times still felt the frame was a bit sporadic on topspin shots partially due to the power levels of the frame (so I will up my string tension on the next restring) and when it was hit outside of the sweet spot, but was fantastic on flat shots as well as tight approach shots to the net. I also loved the frame on high forehands when you can just swing straight through the ball on short balls. Slices on the forehand side not used too much but I felt the frame was plenty easy to slice block on the forehand side.

Comparison to the pa98-

Forehand: the pa 98 swings through the air faster providing better and more consistent spin on the forehand side with a higher launch angle. However, the pd98 was the better frame on flat and linear shots offering more power and penetration into the court.

Backhand: I actually enjoy both frames for the flat backhand as they both offer a solid hoop feel with what feels like a high twist rate (pd98 unknown). The pd98 I think edged out the pa98 on the flat, while the pa98 edges spin. For slice I liked the pd98 better as I felt like the ball stayed nice and low to the court and didn’t kick up enough to worry about being punished. I definitely upped my slice usage with the frame which is by no means a bad thing

-Serves:

The pd98 is still a pd and it was tremendous when it came to serving. Plenty stable for less solid contact serves and great pop on flat and slice serves. When comparing to the previous pd 100s I felt like this frame did not have much of a drop off in power and even offers a bit better control when spot serving. I had quite a few aces and service winners in my doubles sessions, especially on players that tried to play a bit too closer to the baseline. I found my outwide serves to be noticeably better than I serve with most frames and provided me more variety when serving to keep my opponents off guard. This is must try for big servers looking for smaller head size and easily the frames best trait. One of my

Consistency issues is my serve but the frame instilled high confidence when I was serving and tidied up my service holds.

Comparison to the pa98-

The pa98 in my opinion also has great pop on serve and is a good serving racquet. In my first session I preferred the pa98 for serve but as i grew into the frame here’s my take:

Flat: PD98>PA98 the power is pretty comparable but the PD98 is just an easier frame to replicate the serving, more forgiving on overheads, and offers a bit more control

Slice: When it comes to slice it’s about what you want, the PD98 offered a more powerful slice while the PA98 offered more movement on the serve.

topspin: PD98>PA98 was just an overall more consistent frame for the shot, may sacrifice some clearance but the contact was always more solid to me and felt more reliable as funny as it may sound.

-Volleys:

Despite not being a great net player, I felt the pd98 was plenty solid on volleys with minimal twisting at the net. There are definitely better feedback frames when it comes to touch shots and drop shots but the frame was not poor in this category, however I found it harder to get tighter angles on volleys like I do with my aero storms. I feel this frame excels at the net for a player looking for a solid put away volley but not so much the cat and mouse points.

-Serve returns:

The pd98 was very good on serve returns, it’s up there in its strengths along side the serve and backhand. I felt the frame was great at neutralizing power as well as giving it back. It was excellent on blocking hard flat serves as well as taking the occasional cut at a weak or high bouncing serves. I even had comments on how much better my slice returns looked and those shots didn’t look like something I would hit. Depending on how this frame is strung it may even take some self control not to go for too much power as I saw quite a few shots run long. I also felt when you committed to your shot/return the frame was more rewarding over half hearted swings.

Comparison to the pa98-

Overall I enjoyed the pd98 on returns more than the pa98. I felt like the ability to get into points was easier and more reliable. However the pa 98 felt easier in turning the point more favorable in my end from an attacking standpoint. The transition to attack was quicker but you risk getting into least points. It’s more of a risk reward in my opinion. If you want the solid sound return to start the point I feel the pd98 was better whole if you’re looking to get the point back into a more favorable rally the pa98 is better.
 

codonnell

Semi-Pro
PT2

Power/Control-

The pd 98 offers excellent power and is one of the most powerful 98 frames I’ve ever hit with. I felt it was fantastic on shot balls or high balls and when you commit to swinging out you get an extremely hard rippling ball effect that penetrated deep into the court that some players I hit with struggled to get a good racquet on. With great power comes a cost, some control. I felt the frame actually had pretty good control which may be attributed to the new partial box beam in the hoop. I found tight angles from the baseline to be relatively easy to hit on both the forehand and backhand side to drag players off the court despite not the same success at the net. I preferred the tight right inside out forehand as opposed the cross court with this frame. The control on serves was also better than the big serving 100s you’d find with little loss in power production. As for the shortcomings in control, due to the not great forgiveness outside the sweetspot and high power levels, I found the forehand to run long on mishits and the backhand at times to miss just short at the net with the differing launch angle from what I’m used to (could be more so user error). It is definitely more powerful and launchy compared to an ezone, edges the pa98 especially on flat hitting groundstrokes, and offers a more tweener power/spin friendlier feel to the gen 3 pure strikes. I think the project one7 strike is a good comparison on the power levels of the 98 and felt the most like a mini pure drive in recent times, but this definitely offered more pop on serve.

Comfort-

The pd98 despite the flax inserts was still a pretty stiff frame. If you really miss the sweetspot you’re going to notice it which can be good or bad. It’s definitely less stiff than a standard pd 100 of the past and some more players may be able to enjoy the frame due to this. As compared to the previous generation, I hit with someone using the gen 2 pd 98 and he said this version felt notably more plush to him so for those who felt the last gen was too stiff but enjoyed the frame, give this one a try. I’d recommend finding a more comfortable string or less stiff poly as well to better accommodate the pd98. If you do have arm issues I’d say just be cautious when demoing the frame but don’t be completly frightened to try it!

Feel-

The pd98 offered a solid feel on ball contact and did not come off hollow at all to me. The frame offers good feedback on how you’re hitting due to the stringbed and frame composition and is less muted than a good amount of the recent Babolat’s I have hit with. The typical tinny noise was not as prevalent with this frame as well compared to other frames of its stature which I think a lot of people will be happy with. Overall this frame is by no means a feel or comfort frame, it’s definitely more of a powerful, raw, and solid feeling experience.

Maneuverability-

The maneuverability of the frame was not poor by any means. To reiterate and expand on what was stated earlier in the review, I never really felt that the frame caused me to be out of position due to its balance at the baseline but did struggle at times on quick movements at the net. People that are used to 300 gram frames may find the 305 to be an adjustment but with a settle in period should be perfectly fine moving the frame around at the baseline and net. I’d say the frame didn’t necessarily gravitate towards a sluggish or whippy feel, it was pretty neutral. The pd98 could definitely be improved on those reflex shots where a higher hl balanced frame would yield a better outcome or easier to use especially if you’re scrambling out of position or slower to react. Overall the frame in my opinion in stock form swings best for those with a more linear swing path and someone who likes to play close to the baseline and come into the net to finish points.

Comparison to the pa98- feel+maneuverability

I felt that the pa98 is the more comfortable feeling racquet, with its lower stiffness rating (65) and offered a less harsh response outside of the sweetspot, but you do lose some feedback with it. The pa98 was also much more maneuverable with its 6 pts hl offering better quick movements and the net and easier for players with longer whippier strokes compared to the pd98 being better for linear strokes and I believe even people with more compact strokes would also benefit from it (think Roddick - Murray like)

Stability-

Stability on the pd98 was fantastic, there was really minimal fluttering on off contact and the frame can handle pace exceptionally well with the higher stock weight. I feel as some modern frames can lack a feel/stableness in the hoop but the pd98 is not one of them at all (one of my issues with pd vs and pd 18). I do not think lead at 3-9 would at all be necessary and instead would be more focused on bringing up the balance point. The stability really shines on the serves, returns, and slices. I just felt overall more confident to put the frame through the ball and not worry as much about the off centered shots or power servers. I definitely had less shanks which is always a win in my book.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

Cosmetic: A general reaction as well is just how pretty the frame looks. I absolutely love the silvery blue and navy blue accents which are built into the bunker guard. This has to be one of my favorite cosmetics I’ve ever seen and multiple people I’ve shown also really enjoy it too.


Overall performance:

I think the new Pure Drive 98 2025 is a great frame that stays true to the Babolat Pure Drive heritage; offering great power, stability, and amazing serving capabilities packaged in a smaller more controlled head size, built for the modern game.

I’d recommend this frame to players who are looking for a powerful 98 and like to play an aggressive baseline style of play (1-2 punch tennis) and looking for a raw feedback, solid feeling, and good stability racquet. I absolutely recommend giving this racquet a try.

I personally really enjoyed it on serve and from the baseline, particularly the backhand side on flats and slices. I will be tinkering with the weight more than I have from now on. I think right now for my personal preference I prefer the pa98 but when I get the pd98 speced out i may I like it more over the current pa98. Its more due to the higher launch angle and spin potential and I like it more on the forehand side which is such and important shot for myself. However there is absolutely a market demographic for this frame and plays distinctly different from Babolats current offerings.

Customizing: I plan on a small bit of lead at 12 with mainly adding putty and silicone ear plugs to increase the hl balance and comfort of the frame. I am hoping this bumps up the topspin forehand and turn into an all time favorite of mine.

Thank you once again tennis warehouse and Babolat for this amazing opportunity!
 

Fighting phoenix

Professional
PT2

Power/Control-

The pd 98 offers excellent power and is one of the most powerful 98 frames I’ve ever hit with. I felt it was fantastic on shot balls or high balls and when you commit to swinging out you get an extremely hard rippling ball effect that penetrated deep into the court that some players I hit with struggled to get a good racquet on. With great power comes a cost, some control. I felt the frame actually had pretty good control which may be attributed to the new partial box beam in the hoop. I found tight angles from the baseline to be relatively easy to hit on both the forehand and backhand side to drag players off the court despite not the same success at the net. I preferred the tight right inside out forehand as opposed the cross court with this frame. The control on serves was also better than the big serving 100s you’d find with little loss in power production. As for the shortcomings in control, due to the not great forgiveness outside the sweetspot and high power levels, I found the forehand to run long on mishits and the backhand at times to miss just short at the net with the differing launch angle from what I’m used to (could be more so user error). It is definitely more powerful and launchy compared to an ezone, edges the pa98 especially on flat hitting groundstrokes, and offers a more tweener power/spin friendlier feel to the gen 3 pure strikes. I think the project one7 strike is a good comparison on the power levels of the 98 and felt the most like a mini pure drive in recent times, but this definitely offered more pop on serve.

Comfort-

The pd98 despite the flax inserts was still a pretty stiff frame. If you really miss the sweetspot you’re going to notice it which can be good or bad. It’s definitely less stiff than a standard pd 100 of the past and some more players may be able to enjoy the frame due to this. As compared to the previous generation, I hit with someone using the gen 2 pd 98 and he said this version felt notably more plush to him so for those who felt the last gen was too stiff but enjoyed the frame, give this one a try. I’d recommend finding a more comfortable string or less stiff poly as well to better accommodate the pd98. If you do have arm issues I’d say just be cautious when demoing the frame but don’t be completly frightened to try it!

Feel-

The pd98 offered a solid feel on ball contact and did not come off hollow at all to me. The frame offers good feedback on how you’re hitting due to the stringbed and frame composition and is less muted than a good amount of the recent Babolat’s I have hit with. The typical tinny noise was not as prevalent with this frame as well compared to other frames of its stature which I think a lot of people will be happy with. Overall this frame is by no means a feel or comfort frame, it’s definitely more of a powerful, raw, and solid feeling experience.

Maneuverability-

The maneuverability of the frame was not poor by any means. To reiterate and expand on what was stated earlier in the review, I never really felt that the frame caused me to be out of position due to its balance at the baseline but did struggle at times on quick movements at the net. People that are used to 300 gram frames may find the 305 to be an adjustment but with a settle in period should be perfectly fine moving the frame around at the baseline and net. I’d say the frame didn’t necessarily gravitate towards a sluggish or whippy feel, it was pretty neutral. The pd98 could definitely be improved on those reflex shots where a higher hl balanced frame would yield a better outcome or easier to use especially if you’re scrambling out of position or slower to react. Overall the frame in my opinion in stock form swings best for those with a more linear swing path and someone who likes to play close to the baseline and come into the net to finish points.

Comparison to the pa98- feel+maneuverability

I felt that the pa98 is the more comfortable feeling racquet, with its lower stiffness rating (65) and offered a less harsh response outside of the sweetspot, but you do lose some feedback with it. The pa98 was also much more maneuverable with its 6 pts hl offering better quick movements and the net and easier for players with longer whippier strokes compared to the pd98 being better for linear strokes and I believe even people with more compact strokes would also benefit from it (think Roddick - Murray like)

Stability-

Stability on the pd98 was fantastic, there was really minimal fluttering on off contact and the frame can handle pace exceptionally well with the higher stock weight. I feel as some modern frames can lack a feel/stableness in the hoop but the pd98 is not one of them at all (one of my issues with pd vs and pd 18). I do not think lead at 3-9 would at all be necessary and instead would be more focused on bringing up the balance point. The stability really shines on the serves, returns, and slices. I just felt overall more confident to put the frame through the ball and not worry as much about the off centered shots or power servers. I definitely had less shanks which is always a win in my book.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

Cosmetic: A general reaction as well is just how pretty the frame looks. I absolutely love the silvery blue and navy blue accents which are built into the bunker guard. This has to be one of my favorite cosmetics I’ve ever seen and multiple people I’ve shown also really enjoy it too.


Overall performance:

I think the new Pure Drive 98 2025 is a great frame that stays true to the Babolat Pure Drive heritage; offering great power, stability, and amazing serving capabilities packaged in a smaller more controlled head size, built for the modern game.

I’d recommend this frame to players who are looking for a powerful 98 and like to play an aggressive baseline style of play (1-2 punch tennis) and looking for a raw feedback, solid feeling, and good stability racquet. I absolutely recommend giving this racquet a try.

I personally really enjoyed it on serve and from the baseline, particularly the backhand side on flats and slices. I will be tinkering with the weight more than I have from now on. I think right now for my personal preference I prefer the pa98 but when I get the pd98 speced out i may I like it more over the current pa98. Its more due to the higher launch angle and spin potential and I like it more on the forehand side which is such and important shot for myself. However there is absolutely a market demographic for this frame and plays distinctly different from Babolats current offerings.

Customizing: I plan on a small bit of lead at 12 with mainly adding putty and silicone ear plugs to increase the hl balance and comfort of the frame. I am hoping this bumps up the topspin forehand and turn into an all time favorite of mine.

Thank you once again tennis warehouse and Babolat for this amazing opportunity!
Great review man! I pretty much second everything you said. Great racquet, and now that I’m back to my vcore it has me wondering if I shouldn’t go back to this…
 

codonnell

Semi-Pro
Great review man! I pretty much second everything you said. Great racquet, and now that I’m back to my vcore it has me wondering if I shouldn’t go back to this…
Thanks man! Same to you, I agreed on pretty much all of your points too. Especially in the serve and power levels! What customization are you thinking for the pd98? The vcores in their own right are great frames especially the spin potential on them.
 

Fighting phoenix

Professional
Thanks man! Same to you, I agreed on pretty much all of your points too. Especially in the serve and power levels! What customization are you thinking for the pd98? The vcores in their own right are great frames especially the spin potential on them.
Yeah I’m thinking five grams of putty in the butt, 32.5cm balance would be perfect. Happy new year!
 

TheBoom

Hall of Fame
Pure Drive 98 Review

I would like to thank the @TW Staff and Babolat again for selecting me to be a part of this playtest, I greatly appreciate it and have not been this excited for a new racquet release for some time.

String and tension used for test:

Tourna Silver 7 tour @46 Ibs

Tennis experience/background:

-26 years old, high 3.5- low 4.0 rating mainly due to consistency, I played 3 years of varsity high school singles 1 and 2 with a small sample of men’s and mixed doubles for USTA when I was younger. I also took summer tennis camps every year from 7ish-13 and played in an adult night program during the summer from 13-19.

-I played in a singles winter men’s league previously and now do a rotational indoor doubles sessions & during the summer I usually have a large group of guys play doubles most Saturday mornings and another small group that sometimes rotates games of singles during midweek or just enjoy the casual hit around.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

-Primarily a stronger single’s player but find myself playing and enjoying more doubles each year. I tend to be an all around baseliner (both offensive and defensive who will grind from the back using good anticipation and physicality until I get a weak enough ball to go for a winner.

-I have a strong spiny forehand with good clearance and a very consistent backhand that’s flatter with a lot of pop.

-My volleys tend to be hit or miss, my touch volleys are better than my normal volleys.

-My flat serve has decent power but tend to sacrifice the placement and my slice serve is great when it’s on. Kick serve has been improved on and is now “serviceable”.

-My return game typically consists of flatter blocks or slices to get the point started, but I would not call it a strength.

- I rely quite a bit on my movement and decent speed to keep getting to balls and staying in the point for as long as possible.

Current racquet/string setups:

My current frame is the Babolat aero storm gt strung with tourna s7t @42 Ibs (weighted to 11.75 oz 6pts hl 333 sw). Prior to this I used the pure drive Roddick gt all throughout high school, used the 2018 pd for a year as well as tried the aero vs tour. I’ve demod the first gen pd 98/vs on numerous occasions and also own a aero 98 which I hit with a decent amount to compare the frames.

How many hours did you play with the racquet?

10 hours with the pd98 Mainly doubles with a couple single sessions mixed in all on indoor hardcourt.

-Groundstrokes/Top Spin/Slice

The pd98 was extremely solid on groundstrokes, very stable for its weight class, and the maneuverability was not bad for the expected 3-4 pts hl. I never felt like I couldn’t get the frame into the position it needed to be in and was by no means sluggish. The spin potential was above average for a 98 with its relatively open 16-20 string pattern and you’ll expect a medium launch angle (took me an adjustment period), but I do feel as you have to focus on accentuating the topspin motion to get the best spin out of it. The frame has excellent power for a 98 considering its thickest part of the beam is 23 and it’s tapered with a 21 on each side. I would agree with the previous reviewers and say I don’t think I’ve hit with a more powerful 98. I found that the frame excelled the best on the backhand side when in stock, especially on flat backhand drives and aggressive slices. The frame was always stable no matter the pace of the shot I was receiving and provided a nice low hard response frequently. I often bullied the net player with the backhand down the line in which many players struggled with the pace and low clearance. For the forehand, I at times still felt the frame was a bit sporadic on topspin shots partially due to the power levels of the frame (so I will up my string tension on the next restring) and when it was hit outside of the sweet spot, but was fantastic on flat shots as well as tight approach shots to the net. I also loved the frame on high forehands when you can just swing straight through the ball on short balls. Slices on the forehand side not used too much but I felt the frame was plenty easy to slice block on the forehand side.

Comparison to the pa98-

Forehand: the pa 98 swings through the air faster providing better and more consistent spin on the forehand side with a higher launch angle. However, the pd98 was the better frame on flat and linear shots offering more power and penetration into the court.

Backhand: I actually enjoy both frames for the flat backhand as they both offer a solid hoop feel with what feels like a high twist rate (pd98 unknown). The pd98 I think edged out the pa98 on the flat, while the pa98 edges spin. For slice I liked the pd98 better as I felt like the ball stayed nice and low to the court and didn’t kick up enough to worry about being punished. I definitely upped my slice usage with the frame which is by no means a bad thing

-Serves:

The pd98 is still a pd and it was tremendous when it came to serving. Plenty stable for less solid contact serves and great pop on flat and slice serves. When comparing to the previous pd 100s I felt like this frame did not have much of a drop off in power and even offers a bit better control when spot serving. I had quite a few aces and service winners in my doubles sessions, especially on players that tried to play a bit too closer to the baseline. I found my outwide serves to be noticeably better than I serve with most frames and provided me more variety when serving to keep my opponents off guard. This is must try for big servers looking for smaller head size and easily the frames best trait. One of my

Consistency issues is my serve but the frame instilled high confidence when I was serving and tidied up my service holds.

Comparison to the pa98-

The pa98 in my opinion also has great pop on serve and is a good serving racquet. In my first session I preferred the pa98 for serve but as i grew into the frame here’s my take:

Flat: PD98>PA98 the power is pretty comparable but the PD98 is just an easier frame to replicate the serving, more forgiving on overheads, and offers a bit more control

Slice: When it comes to slice it’s about what you want, the PD98 offered a more powerful slice while the PA98 offered more movement on the serve.

topspin: PD98>PA98 was just an overall more consistent frame for the shot, may sacrifice some clearance but the contact was always more solid to me and felt more reliable as funny as it may sound.

-Volleys:

Despite not being a great net player, I felt the pd98 was plenty solid on volleys with minimal twisting at the net. There are definitely better feedback frames when it comes to touch shots and drop shots but the frame was not poor in this category, however I found it harder to get tighter angles on volleys like I do with my aero storms. I feel this frame excels at the net for a player looking for a solid put away volley but not so much the cat and mouse points.

-Serve returns:

The pd98 was very good on serve returns, it’s up there in its strengths along side the serve and backhand. I felt the frame was great at neutralizing power as well as giving it back. It was excellent on blocking hard flat serves as well as taking the occasional cut at a weak or high bouncing serves. I even had comments on how much better my slice returns looked and those shots didn’t look like something I would hit. Depending on how this frame is strung it may even take some self control not to go for too much power as I saw quite a few shots run long. I also felt when you committed to your shot/return the frame was more rewarding over half hearted swings.

Comparison to the pa98-

Overall I enjoyed the pd98 on returns more than the pa98. I felt like the ability to get into points was easier and more reliable. However the pa 98 felt easier in turning the point more favorable in my end from an attacking standpoint. The transition to attack was quicker but you risk getting into least points. It’s more of a risk reward in my opinion. If you want the solid sound return to start the point I feel the pd98 was better whole if you’re looking to get the point back into a more favorable rally the pa98 is better.
I feel like the Pure Drive 100 felt most stiff on serve, which is where I was happy to have it. The firm response just crushed the ball on my first serves. Would you say the same is true for the 98?

And great review by the way, really enjoyed reading your thoughts!
 

codonnell

Semi-Pro
I feel like the Pure Drive 100 felt most stiff on serve, which is where I was happy to have it. The firm response just crushed the ball on my first serves. Would you say the same is true for the 98?

And great review by the way, really enjoyed reading your thoughts!
Thank you! That is very kind of you to say. I would definitely agree with what you said in relation to the 98 felt the most stiff on the serve compared the other aspects of hitting, with the backhand being the next noticeable stiffer firm response. I definitely felt that stiffness/firmness lead to that crushing the ball sensation and much more confidence in going for the first serve. I think the stiffness starts to be viewed as a drawback when considering miss hits and fatigue. I’m am happy they didn’t make the pd98 too flexible since that is inherently what a pure drive is! They still have a little room to tinker for future iterations if they want to go that route to me the pa98 also offers plenty of power in a bit more flexible layup but would not go lower. ( I like mid to high stiffness)
 

jimdontcare

Semi-Pro
PURE DRIVE 98 (2025) REVIEW

String and tension used for test:
Hyper G Hybrid, 47 lbs

Tennis experience/background: 4.0 and play USTA competitively. Played fervently as a kid, quit in high school for various reasons, and picked the game up again as an adult. Played singles almost exclusively until 2023, now I’ve joined some doubles leagues and learned to love that game too.

Describe your playing style: Counterpuncher I guess. My forehand is very strong for my level (and compared to the rest of my game lol), and my default is to try wearing down an opponent with quality forehand after quality forehand until something opens up. But one of my strong suits for my level is problem solving in a match and trying whatever it takes to win. Most compliments I get are for the heaviness of my ball, the spin and speed (not placement lol) of my serve, and my hustle.

Current racquet/string setups: Prince Textreme Tour 100 (310) (2019). I’ve been a Grapplesnake stan (mostly M8 and Alpha), but I used to play Hyper G exclusively and the new hybrid has been a delight for my racquet and game. Possibly relevant for this playtest: I played the Babolat Project One 7 for most of my adulthood until I needed a softer racquet so I could play while recovering from a wrist injury.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke

-Groundstrokes:
Really really like. I can’t explain why without going into the racquet’s weight distribution. It offers a tremendous balance between whippiness and being a sledgehammer. It’s pretty polarized, almost like someone already put weight into the buttcap and lead between 9:30 and 2:30. This racquet wants a moderate to long takeback so that it can whip all that weight into the ball. It took about a half hour for me to figure out how to modify my swing to use this racquet optimally—though for me that didn’t require too much change. If your weight transfer is good, you will achieve better power and court penetration than any racquet in this class. The top end power is everything the Pure Drive moniker promises, but you do have to pull the trigger yourself.

Relatedly, I do find this racquet less helpful on defense than other power racquets. If I’m not able to take the optimal swing, maneuverability goes down and power goes down. Add that to a relatively small and defined sweetspot for its class, and you have a racquet that wants you to end the point before you have a chance to go on defense.

I found directional control to be quite satisfactory. I always felt in control and I think the stringbed density is perfect for what this racquet is trying to do. However, the stiffness has made it difficult for me to figure out depth control, but that might just be a preference thing. I’m not sure whether this racquet has a hot spot or whether the power difference between the sweet spot or slightly outside the sweetspot is just that drastic. Tip awareness is great and it’s easy to know how you’re modulating your stroke. My guess is that the box beam design at the top of the hoop creates a little extra drag to create this awareness, but it might all be in my head, who knows.

The rally ball is great, but where this racquet really shines is in the forecourt. When you’re on offense, oh boy are you on offense. Aggressive shots felt way less risky with this racquet, which is a great feeling. At times I felt like I had more unforced errors on rally balls than on aggressive shots in the forecourt.

-Serves: Love. Power and precision on flat serves, good kick. Slice was a noticeable step down from my racquet of choice. But the ease with which I could cause problems on my serve made for far fewer serve nerves. I have a continuous service motion, and I think that works well for this stick.

-Volleys: Dislike. Biggest weakness of the racquet for me. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, there’s not enough punch for depth or easy putaways, the stiffness makes it too difficult to find angles or land drop volleys, and the head heaviness hurt me on a few reaction volleys. One positive here is putaway volleys, which were great. On balls that sat up a bit and I could properly put weight into the shot, there were few times I let a point go on longer than it should have. If I played singles exclusively and just came into the net to finish a point, I might consider this enough of a redeeming quality, but I never got comfortable in doubles.

-Serve returns: Jury still out a bit on this one. On the bright side, it was easy to get the return deep and make the first ball difficult for the server. On the down side, the sweet spot on this racquet is rather small and defined, at least compared to what I’m used to and what I prefer, so I really had to focus on making clean contact. Classic small sweetspot tradeoff I suppose.

Comments on racquet performance in each area

Power/Control-
As I’ve said, at its best, this thing is as powerful as your thick beamed power 100s (I don’t have swingvision data to back this up, but on camera, this looks very true). However, I felt much more in control with this racquet than power 100s. I’ve seen some people on these boards describe the Pure Drive as a racquet that controls you rather than the other way around. If you feel that way but like the PD’s power, give this a try. Because it takes fuller, cleaner strokes to access PD levels of power, it’s easier to feel like you know what you’re getting. If the Pure Strike is a powerful take on a player’s racquet, the Pure Drive 98 is a player’s take on a power racquet.

Top Spin/Slice- While it probably doesn’t need to be said, penetration is the name of the game here, so if you like loopy balls or using spin to create angles, there are better options. However, I hit a pretty spinny ball for my level and I did not feel like I needed more topspin. Once the racquet gets going it’s easy to get the racquet head speed needed to hit the ball hard and with enough spin for margin. Make sure to give the slice a good test if that shot’s important to you, as I struggled to consistently hit good slices with it, but slices are a bit of a weakness for me anyway. You really have to commit to get the drive and action you need.

Comfort- You’d be hard-pressed to call this a comfortable stick, but I fully expect fewer people will complain about comfort in the 2025 PD98 compared to the last generation. With the last gen, I saw even pros and other people who never complain about comfort talk about it being too jarring for them. I don’t see that being an issue here. I did feel some arm fatigue after my first session, but I think I just needed to get used to it. Don’t bother trying if racquets have caused you problems before.

Feel- I actually quite enjoyed the feeling on contact. It’s a good mix between responsive/communicative and making you forget how stiff it is. Touch shots are on par with other stiff racquets I’ve played.

Maneuverability- As I said in the groundstroke section, this racquet’s weight distribution makes it feel like it wants to be swung a certain way: driving through the ball with purpose and vigor. If you do that, this thing is incredibly maneuverable. It is so easy to create racquet head speed. If I was on the back foot, however, and trying to give myself some time via lift or slice, I found it a little clunkier. Not terrible or encumbering, but noticeable.

Stability- Great stock for its class. I’d rate this above the Ezone 98 or the FX 500 Tour. I’m curious to see the twistweight rating for this stick because I think it’ll be noticeably lower than its 100 counterpart (and if this is the stick for you, that’s a feature and not a bug), so there will be some tradeoff there. I only really noticed this on difficult reaction volleys, but I wouldn’t be doing a ton with those shots on my 15+ TW go-to racquet anyway. (Edit: I forgot to mention that the lateral stability of this racquet made down-the-line shots quite good for something in this class. Certainly adds to the feeling that this racquet encourages aggressiveness.)

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I think this racquet is tailor made for the serve+1 game. If your racquet philosophy involves maximizing your strengths above all else, and you thrive on short points and aggressive baseline play, this should be on your shortlist. If you wish you could tame a Pure Drive or competitor stick and have tried a million string jobs to try reigning in that addictive power, give this a try. If you’re a power 100 player who is happy with your stick but fits into that aggressive baseliner, big serve/forehand camp, see if this can give you an extra edge. This is not for the power 100 player who thrives off of its defensive help. This is for your Ben Sheltons and Jack Drapers, not your Jordan Thompsons.

I’ve gotten enough unsolicited compliments about my play with this stick that it’s made me question whether I should keep playing with it, so I’ll continue to give it a try. At the moment, I find it too tricky at net to main it in doubles and not versatile or with enough defensive prowess to fit me in singles, but this does feel like a thrilling convertible I’ll pull out of the garage every once in a while. I’ll do some more head to head testing and give another couple string jobs a try before my final verdict.

Many thanks to TW for giving me a shot at this playtest thing.
 
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TheBoom

Hall of Fame
Thank you! That is very kind of you to say. I would definitely agree with what you said in relation to the 98 felt the most stiff on the serve compared the other aspects of hitting, with the backhand being the next noticeable stiffer firm response. I definitely felt that stiffness/firmness lead to that crushing the ball sensation and much more confidence in going for the first serve. I think the stiffness starts to be viewed as a drawback when considering miss hits and fatigue. I’m am happy they didn’t make the pd98 too flexible since that is inherently what a pure drive is! They still have a little room to tinker for future iterations if they want to go that route to me the pa98 also offers plenty of power in a bit more flexible layup but would not go lower. ( I like mid to high stiffness)
I agree, the stiffness is what makes it what it is (and what a pure drive is, is good!). I also noticed the firmness on my backhand, it’s a characteristic I actually like since my backhand is much flatter than my forehand.

Interesting to hear that attribute is a part of the 98 even with the different beam shape. Thanks for the insight!
 

Doms86

New User
Do any of you tennis buddies have a comparison of the new PD 2025 to the PA 2023 in terms of pwr, control, feel/touch, serve and spin for me?

thanks in advance
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster

Playtesters made this sound so good, i have to buy 3 of these right away. Some kind of new technology that makes this racket feel Amazing ??
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
These are so close. Id personally take the Pure Drive. But if these were painted the same, apart from the aero beam I probably could interchange them.
I think Pure Aero still is easier racket to generate topspin with due to its aerodynamics design. That's been to my experience, i tried both 2023 pure aero and 2022 pure drive rackets. but the control on the pure drives is slightly better
 

TheBoom

Hall of Fame
Do any of you tennis buddies have a comparison of the new PD 2025 to the PA 2023 in terms of pwr, control, feel/touch, serve and spin for me?

thanks in advance
These are so close. Id personally take the Pure Drive. But if these were painted the same, apart from the aero beam I probably could interchange them.
I have to agree with Soundbyte. They’re very close, but there are a couple key differences. I’ll try to write more later when I have more time, but fundamentally I think it comes back down to one of two things (and frankly, it’s almost always been the case between the two):

1) Do you have a modern and fast enough swing to take advantage of the Pure Aero?

2) Do you want raw feedback from your racket?

If the answer is to both is yes, get the Pure Aero. It has a more raw feel to it (less dampening) which also makes it feel less comfortable in my experience because the new pure drives dampening is so good.

I also think the pure aero is worse for a larger variety of players swing paths, but very good for someone with a modern/heavy swing. The tighter string pattern has helped reduce the “launchyness” or unpredictability of it, but I’d still say the pure drive gives a more consistent response than the pure aero if you don’t swing fast
 

snoflewis

Legend
I'd probably be a lot less excited in my review if my 98's weight distribution was as off as it sounds like Beckett's was.
How do you know whether yours wasnt the one that was off? The one i briefly tried felt clunky in the hoop.

My pd100 playtest came more HL and higher sw than TW's specs, but it was weighted better than any stock PD i've tried.
 

TennisHound

Legend
Part 1

2025 Pure Drive 100 (standard) Review:

String and tension used for test: RPM Blast.17ga @ 52lbs

Tennis experience/background: Played tennis for about 30+ yrs (as a junior, HS, Jr College, Club) Low 4.5 56yo.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Basic all court game (one-handed backhand), more serve and volley. I try to end points fairly quickly by a good return and/ or serve, then put away at the net. Play mostly clay (Rubico/ HarTru). I use a grip between an Eastern forehand grip and semi-Western, with more of a semi-Western on the backhand (more similar to Ivan Lendl). I’ve started playing from the backcourt more since I play on clay more. I play doubles more than singles. Doubles is all serve and volley.

Current racquet/string setups: Wilson Blade Team V8 (99” 9.9oz unstrung, 16x18), with lead around headguard, 11.1 oz strung, approx 325-328 SW, Strung with Diadem Solstice Power 16L 48lbs.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? Approx. 13-16 (had lots of rain over the last several weeks).

Groundstrokes: Score - 83
It took a slight adjustment from my current setup, since the SW is lower and the racquet is bigger. It's a round frying pan shape that comes through the air differently than Head, Prince, or Wilson racquets. It's cumbersome, but the HL balance makes it fast swinging. It didn’t take long (1-2hrs) to get used to it. The more I used it, I enjoyed the controlled response, even though there was some slight stiffness and instability outside the sweetspot, most likely due to the low SW. I began to appreciate the lower SW, and the more I used it, the more confidence I had to go for harder shots. This racquet works best with a fast swing, but the grabby nature of the 17ga RPM allowed me to slow my swing down at times and place my shots. I didn't hit any balls late, and had no trouble timing and redirecting back fast shots to either side. There wasn’t one groundstroke that stood out, however slices were very good on forehand and backhand, especially a running forehand “squash” shot. If I had to choose one standout groundstroke it would be a stretch forehand down the line. Depth control wasn’t as challenging as some previous models and the net clearance was lower than my current racquet. Groundstrokes were almost as good as returns and I could simply put the ball anywhere I wanted.

Serves: Score - 78
Serves took some adjustment time since I rely on SW to get depth on my serve. Getting action on my serves was not a problem, in fact I don’t think I hit one serve that didn’t have some spin on it. Best serves with this racquet were slice serves. Body serves were ridiculously easy, especially on hard courts. I was able to serve kick serves but they all landed short and sat up. I tried tossing the ball forward slightly to get more court penetration on kick serves, but never found a good groove. The kick serves had a lot of spin, but weren’t heavy and sat up easily for the opponent.
 
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TennisHound

Legend
Part 2
Volleys: Scores - 80
Volleys were effortless and maneuverability played a big role. I was able to consistently control high floating volleys, which is a difficult shot for me, especially in doubles. I didn’t have to concentrate on volleys too much, since the racquet was easy to get in place, and took almost no adjustment. I hit some half volleys that I haven’t hit as good in awhile. I thought “Whoa, how'd I do that?” WIth the lighter SW, I had to punch volleys at times, but it wasn’t troublesome and I didn’t have to punch it much. As expected, high floating volleys were the most challenging to control, but with the Pure Drive I was able to maintain control while stretched out and place it back for an offensive shot. The best volleys with this racquet were lower half volleys and higher volleys (almost overhead). The racquet did twist at times when I didn’t hit the sweetspot, but only because I used bad technique and/or hit it late.

Serve returns:
Scores - 86
Best area for this racquet. I hit several winners that had me shaking my head. I almost had to put up a hand to the opponents, to say “It's the racquet.” And it was. Whether I was hitting a backhand topspin drive, or slicing a high kick serve to my backhand, I was able to control it with little effort and “power” my returns back with pace. I was able to time high forehands easily and had no trouble going inside out or inside in (down the line). I especially liked this racquet when I was stretched out on the forehand (like up the tee on the ad side). For some reason, I could get a lot of pace and had zero mishits.

Power/Control: Score - 85
For me, this racquet had a very good combination of power and control. It seemed to have more control than previous models, with slightly less power (2018 had the most power, in my opinion). String patterns make a difference and this one is close to perfect. There is more power on tap than a Pure Aero, Head Extreme MP and Speed MP. The lower SW inherently gives it more control and the conservative string pattern compliments the power and control aspects. This version of the Pure Drive has the best combination of power and control of all the PDs I’ve hit with. It’s almost as powerful as my current (modded) racquet, but it’s substantially more forgiving. Especially with the RPM .17ga, the racquet wasn’t ever launchy, and I was able to be very consistent with it. I could play this racquet without mods, but 2-3g at twelve makes this racquet a real weapon. Power outside the sweetspot dropped off considerably and it was jarring. This was probably due to the string, but it was harsh up top. Not as much as a Head or Ezone 100, but pretty close. Even so, the other benefits outweighed the harshness, and a different string/ tension and weight would help alleviate this to some degree.

Top Spin/Slice: Score - 84
Spin is natural for this racquet - It's easy to accelerate the racquet head and the string pattern grabs the ball nicely and produces a good controllable spin on the ball. The best shot with this racquet is hitting high/ lob topspin shots from the backcourt, especially when pushed back from receiving a heavy deep ball from the opponent. I had no trouble controlling lobs or gauging depth, whether slice or topspin. Backhand slices were very easy to control as well as forehand slices. The string pattern also aids in flattening out the ball enough to drive it when needed. There are racquets in this category that produce a heavy ball, but it's at the expense of maneuverability, and usually require high SW. I prefer the lower SW on the Pure Drive instead of a heavy hitting but sluggish racquet.

Comfort: Score - 77
Its not an overly comfortable feeling racquet. Its slightly stiff, vibrates slightly, and is somewhat dead outside the sweetspot, but none of these attributes distract from play. FOr a stiff powerful racquet, it didn’t cause me any pain or discomfort, and I didn’t notice any tenderness after playing 2-3 hours with it. The RPM Blast was a dead and harsh string, yet I had no problems with the comfort level.

Feel: Score - 78
I preferred the stiff and plain feel of this racquet over other racquets in its class. It doesn’t feel strange and overly dampened but it doesn’t feel like a rattletrap either. I would categorize the feel of this version as plain and predictable. It was harsh outside the sweetspot, but it had zero vagueness, and I knew where the ball was on the stringbed. When I connected to the sweetspot, there was another gear of power and the feel was downright addictive. The previous version felt a little dead, while this one feels lively and gives predictable feedback.

Maneuverability: Score - 87
It's very maneuverable and that’s a good thing. It is light on SW but is stable in the middle and lower part of the racquet. I had no trouble getting into position for any shot, and reaction exchanges were very fun. I also had no trouble maintaining quick rhs throughout the match and was able to maintain my level when I started to get tired. I added weight to try it out, but the maneuverability is more rewarding without the weight, so I preferred it stock. Its quick enough, that I will probably end up adding weight to it, but the maneuverable nature of it appeals to every level of player and even lower/ beginner players have no problem swinging it confidently.

Stability: Score - 75
This version of the Pure Drive is not the most stable model. It did twist and turn at times if I hit mishits. It wasn’t severe and didn’t feel cheap or flimsy, but I felt it often when if I didn’t hit the sweetspot, or close to it. It wasn’t one shot, since I felt some instability in just about every shot outside the sweetspot. Some of this could be attributed to the string and tension, since a softer string at lower tension (46-51lbs) would help alleviate this somewhat. The instability is not on the level as the Clash, Speed, or Boom but it is a reminder of the lower SW. Adding a little weight at twelve made a big difference. Either way, it's fine to play it as-is, since the instability is a welcome sacrifice to have excellent maneuverability.

Scores Summary:
Groundstrokes - 83
Serve - 78
Volleys - 80
Serve Returns - 86
Power/ Control - 85
Topspin/ Slice - 84
Comfort - 77
Feel - 78
Maneuverability - 87
Stability - 75

Overall Score: 81

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This is the best 100 square inch racquet you can buy in my opinion. There are others that have more SW, flexier feel, and a dampened response, but Babolat has stayed true to what works and this version of the Pure Drive is no different. It has somewhat of a raw, lively feel that may not appeal to everyone, but I prefer it since it helps me know exactly where I’m hitting the ball and allows me to control my shots better. Power is down slightly, but for its weight, power and control are excellent. I was amazed at how consistent I was. I had some rallies over 20 shots and could control any shot I needed. I will probably add some weight to it, and restring it, but I could easily use it just like it is and I’ve already won matches with it against tough opponents.

Thank you TW and Babolat (escpecially TW), I appreciate this awesome opportunity!
 
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TennisViking

Semi-Pro
@TennisHound , very good review :)

Could you kindly share more about the specs of the racquet you tested ?

You mentioned in the beginning about 325-328 SW but I thought that was for your own Blade Team with lead…..or was that indeed for the Pure Drive ?

Did you measure the balance and SW for this Pure Drive ?

Apologies if I missed it. Great review :)

Last but not least, have you played with the Ezone 100 (2022)? How does the 2025 Pure Drive compare ?
 

ghostwind

New User
Is this racquet hard to tame when not using full poly and/or using a very high tension? I ask because as a 3.0, looking to grow, I would use synthetic gut or, at most, a hybrid synthetic gut mains + poly crosses, and because I'm 3.0, I don't yet have the skills to tame all that power maybe. Thoughts?
 

TennisHound

Legend
@TennisHound , very good review :)

Could you kindly share more about the specs of the racquet you tested ?

You mentioned in the beginning about 325-328 SW but I thought that was for your own Blade Team with lead…..or was that indeed for the Pure Drive ?

Did you measure the balance and SW for this Pure Drive ?

Apologies if I missed it. Great review :)

Last but not least, have you played with the Ezone 100 (2022)? How does the 2025 Pure Drive compare ?
I didn’t measure the SW, but mine was slightly under spec at 11.1oz strung and about 4.5 pts HL. When I added dampener and overgrip it was right at 11.3 and 4 pts HL. I would guess the SW was very close to the listed spec of 317, maybe a little lighter around 315.

I have played with the ‘22 Yonex EZone 100. I’m pretty sure we did a playtest on it. It was a very good hitting racquet. I prefer the PD more. To me the Yonex was more harsh in the upper hoop, and it was a tad more unpredictable. This is splitting hairs though. I could pick up the Yonex and play just as comfortably.
 

TennisHound

Legend
Is this racquet hard to tame when not using full poly and/or using a very high tension? I ask because as a 3.0, looking to grow, I would use synthetic gut or, at most, a hybrid synthetic gut mains + poly crosses, and because I'm 3.0, I don't yet have the skills to tame all that power maybe. Thoughts?
I don’t think it would be too launchy. A hybrid at 53-55lbs should be fine. You could get a demo from TW strung with a multifilament and try it out.
 
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TheBoom

Hall of Fame
Is this racquet hard to tame when not using full poly and/or using a very high tension? I ask because as a 3.0, looking to grow, I would use synthetic gut or, at most, a hybrid synthetic gut mains + poly crosses, and because I'm 3.0, I don't yet have the skills to tame all that power maybe. Thoughts?
You should be fine. The power is predictable which is the most important part. Like @TennisHound said, you string in the mid 50’s and you should be ok. It’s a great frame to grow with IMO
 

Lack

Rookie
PD Plus
String and tension used for test: Diadem Flash 18g navy at 45 lbs prestretched 25% full bed, Babolat RPM Hurricane 17g at 45 lbs prestretched 25% full bed
Tennis experience/background: Early 30s. Played D2 college tennis. Singles player. Currently coaching at a middle/high school and a tennis club.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All around player
Current racquet/string setups: Prince Phantom 100x 18x20 / Diadem Flash 18g navy at 45 lbs prestretched 25%
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 18+ hours indoor

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: Right off the bat just as expected I was getting loads of power on my groundstrokes. It penetrates through the court with extra depth more than what I am used to. Sweetspot feels plush and stable on off center shots. A little bit of soreness on the arm after 2 hours of hitting, maybe because of the stiffness difference and extended version.
-Serves: Took about 20 min getting the timing down. This racquet generated explosive serves. Definitely an upgrade on velocity and pop. In matches I was receiving easy returns even on 2nd serves for me to continue aggressive play. Gave me boost of confidence on my service game.
-Volleys: Touch felt very stable and firm. Good reach and power especially when I had to reflex volley. However, not easy to maneuver the racquet or hit drop shots.
-Serve returns: This one was the big issue for me since my return launched higher than I needed. The racquet provided a good reach but I struggled to time the ball early. Against strong first serves, just a tad off timing and I knew it was flying off the court. In matches I had to chip most of my return games.

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Power oriented racquet. It plows through super deep to the baseline with ease.
Top Spin/Slice- Generates great amount of spin. Might be too demanding for heavy topspin baseliners.
Comfort- Not as comfortable as Prince Phantom. Felt a bit of soreness on my arm after 2 hours of hitting.
Feel- Plush and solid. Impact feels stable even outside the sweetspot.
Maneuverability- Not easy to maneuver and hit with precise timing. Difficult to play around when I'm off positioned.
Stability- Racquet is very stable and solid. Doesn't jolt my wrist back even when receiving fast paced balls.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
PD Plus is an amazing racquet but just not right for me. I wish we had a PD 95 Plus for extra control and maneuverability.

Thank you TW and Babolat for this opportunity to playtesting!
 

stapletonj

Hall of Fame
2025 BABOLAT 100 PURE DRIVE

String and tension used for test: actually used 3 diff. String jobs for the test.

1. Yonex multiM/polyX - 57/53

2. Luxilon Eco M/Yonex poly Tour ProX - 55/50

3. My personal “secret sauce”. Wilson gut 17 M/Poly tour proX - 62/55

Tennis experience/background:

I started in the mid 80s. Rural WV, no instruction, no exposure, nothing. I have been to camps run by Bollitieri, Van der Meer and Harry Hopman. I have read books on tennis, videos, been to Roland Garros and US Open and Cincinnati several times. I still play a lot of local tournaments and can handle most of the players at my age/level. I turned 68 in June 2024.



Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

At my best, I was a certified (by Dennis Van Der Meer himself) 5.0 doubles player and 4.5 singles player. Now, I consider myself a high 3.5/low 4.0. (Age is creeping up on me, but I am fighting it with everything I have). Haven't played singles in years, but can still play a pretty good lefty slicing and OHBH doubles game. Coming in at every opportunity. Forehand is my big weapon. I am still working on my forehand volley, but my backhand volley is pretty slick.



Current racquet/string setups:

vcore 100, 7th gen. Gut mains at 62 lbs/smooth poly crosses at 55 lbs.



How many hours did you play with the racquet?

About 20, Christmas and Winter screwed me up. Too cold for outdoors, indoor club closing here and there during the holidays, out of town trips to see the in laws.



-Groundstrokes:

The tighter pattern gave me slightly better control than the older pure drive, even though there was plenty of spin and power still there . I actually felt I could pick smaller targets for passing shot opportunities in drills and was successful. A young 4.5 player from CA was in to see his family over Christmas. His biggest comment on it was that it was significantly more stable on the backhand side. (Two Hander) He has always played with a Pure Drive.


-Serves:

My serves felt a little less powerful than with my usual vcore, or an older pure drive. A little of this might be the multi and poly strings vs. the somewhat livelier gut I usually play with. However, I have played with multi and poly in my vcore before and had no such issues, so I think it is mainly the frame. Once I got the gut/poly in there, the power was back 99%. I did notice that there was noticeably less sidespin when I went for that in the ad court on my serve.


-Volleys:

I really found no distinct difference on volleys between the older Pure Drives and this model. It was very good, but nothing magical.


-Serve returns:

The accuracy and slightly less stiffness of this racket vs. my usual did not hurt my forehand return and helped my backhand return. Psychologically perhaps, I felt like a slightly late backhand return would not hurt as much as a stiffer frame and this helped me be a little more aggressive.


Power/Control-

This racket is just a little less powerful than the older model pure drive, but control is better than either the older pure drive or my Yonex vcore. My 3.0, borderline 3.5 Pure Drive player said that she sometimes lacks control on her groundstrokes and has to dial everything back to the middle of the court if she is pushed at all. With the new model, she felt like she could take harder hit balls and hit closer to the lines. She made the analogy to sports cars vs. pickup trucks on a potholed vs. smooth road. If she is grooving with the ball machine or a fed ball in a drills session/lesson (smooth road), the older Pure Drive gives her more power for better/deeper shots. But in match play, (potholed road) she has to dial it back significantly to make sure she gets the ball back in play. The newer model, with its’ increased control, allows her to hit out more and go closer to the lines than her current model. Much like how one can drive down a potholed road faster in a pickup truck than a Lamborghini. The sports car will male it to the first pothole much faster, but the pickup will come out of the pothole and keep going while you are calling for a tow truck for the sports car.


Top Spin/Slice-

You can certainly get topspin and slice with this frame. However, the slightly tighter grouped mains do provide about 5-10% less spin than the older Pure Drive across the board.


Comfort-

This racket felt softer on the arm than both the older Pure Drive and my current Vcore, both of which are pretty stiff. No arm pain whatsoever.


Feel-

This racket has a distinctly more “point and shoot” feel than the old Pure Drive and that is a good thing. For it to gain that, while giving up minimal power and spin to its’ predecessor is an accomplishment. Not only myself, but the below mentioned 3.0 and 4.5 “assistant testers” attested to this.


Maneuverability-

I did not feel the need to add any lead anywhere on this racket. Nor did I ever feel like I could not get the racket into hitting position quickly enough.



Stability-

I did not once have an issue when the racket twisted in my hand.

I never felt like the ball was overpowering me if I could get the racket to it, even on a Hydrogen Proton ball machine session with power set to level 8. I needed no lead tape anywhere to get this racket to perform at what I considered to be its’ intended level.

My 4.0 hard hitting friend (Vcore 98 with poly guy) said he felt that the racket was significantly more stable/solid feeling than the older pure drive model.



General reaction/comments on overall performance:


The bare touch of the bright red on an otherwise muted paint job was imho quite classy.

One true annoyance: the frame finish is very very satiny. VERY slippery to the touch. I was taught to use my off hand to cradle the racket on the throat and hold the handle very lightly to facilitate quick grip changes on returns/groundstrokes/volleys. The instant I felt myself tightening my offhand grip to do so, I distinctly felt my hand slipping on the yoke! If my off hand were wet with sweat in the summer, this might not be an issue. It sure was in the winter. A couple of small thin strips of athletic tape on the yoke might do the trick, or maybe a light sandpapering on the yoke.

Overall, my take is that lower level Pure Drive players can and probably should switch to this racket. The only slightly less power, increased comfort, and increased control would help their consistency tremendously.

Even higher level Pure Drive players might want to switch to this stick. Do they need the slightly more flex? No. BUT will the slight loss of power hurt them, also No. Will the increased control help them? Yes. Better players playing against better players by nature hit deeper and closer to the sidelines. One or two points usually make the difference in a set. They are usually unforced errors hitting long or wide. This racket might just make that one critical point in the set stay in and not spray just a little wide.

Babolat has taken a stiff rocket ship and allowed it to become a tool that will help on crucial points. That’s a good thing.



As always, TW, you guys are the greatest, I look forward to my next order like a kid at Christmas every time!
 

pow

Hall of Fame
Part 1
Feel free to tag me if you have any questions about this frame or my review.

Babolat Pure Drive Plus (27.5 inch) 2025

String and tension used for test:
49lbs Yonex Poly Tour Drive 1.25mm
Tennis experience/background: 4.5 recreational player with 20 years experience
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): aggressive topspin baseliner, 2 handed backhand. Prefer to drive through shots on both wings.
Current racquet/string setups: Solinco Whiteout XTD+ 28 weighted to 355g.
Solinco Blackout XTD+ 28 weighted to 365g
Prince Phantom LB 28 weighted to 351g
How many hours did you play with the racquet? ~20 hours so far

-Groundstrokes: I am a racquetholic and this racquet is the spinniest racquet I have used. Every spec on this racquet is made to maximize your ability to bend the poly stringbed: open pattern, extended length, high stiffness, and large head. It requires confidence in your stroke because you really have to trust your stroke and swing out completely to produce the spin needed to bring the ball down. I greatly preferred hitting topspin and not flat or underspin because getting the ball to dip fast is important when a racquet is this powerful. I think the stiffness of the hoop forces the strings to bend and not the frame. Due to the stiffness of the overall frame, the racquet is predictable on fast swings because there is no flex or fluttering on impact. I had a lot of confidence on depth control with this racquet because I can swing hard and count on the spin to bring the ball down. This racquet is intended for spin, if you like hitting flat/linear shots, it may be difficult to keep your shots in consistently.

-Serves: My regular racquets are more extended (28 inch) but are less stiff and the string spacing is less open so this is not the most powerful frame I have ever served with but it is close. This Pure Drive is in the top decile of power and spin for serves of racquets that I have used. The feel is dampened (less noticeable vibrations immediately after ball impact) but the stiffness is still there and noticeable. This racquet will typically be the most powerful racquet that most will ever serve with. I usually use heavier and more extended racquets (28in.) but this racquet serves with similar power. I think it is due to the stiffness of the frame. Great with spin serves due to the pattern.

-Volleys: This racquet is very maneuverable so volleys were not difficult. Plenty of pop and directional control. My personal preference is still for a 98 or smaller head here for a more uniform and predictable stringbed. I have no way to measure swing weight but based on feel, I would estimate this to be mid to low 330's SW so it's plenty maneuverable for net-play for an extended racquet. The stringbed is very uniform due to the stiff hoop and there's plenty of pop. I feel the detractor is the slightly dampened feel of the frame takes away from touch and soft hands volleys.

-Serve returns: This racquet was great for serve returns. I assume the player who opts for an extended Pure Drive understands what they are getting themselves into. The swingweight and sweet spot location will naturally be higher as a result of the extension. This requires you to get a heavier racquet moving before the ball arrives but the end result is a racquet face that is less likely to twist because a high swingweight wins the collision. Winning the collision is most important in serve returns as the speed of the ball is most likely to twist the frame on contact. Some may argue the increased swingweight will make it harder to get the racquet into position, I am a strong believer that it takes practice but the benefits of the extension and swingweight far outweigh the drawbacks in a serve return.

Power/Control-
On the power or control spectrum this is in the top 5% of power racquets available off the shelf. Every spec on the racquet is maximum power and you feel it. The open pattern, stiff frame, and extended length all come together to form one of the most powerful racquets available. The control of this frame comes from its spin which I prefer as opposed to a tight string pattern with uniform stringbed and superb directional control. This racquet is designed for swinging hard and with spin. I don't think this racquet is designed for flat hitters due to the open pattern which can cause the ball to fly and the stiffness of the frame which can also cause the ball to fly for flat hitters.
 

pow

Hall of Fame
Part 2

Top Spin/Slice- This racquet has a high launch angle and is powerful. I can still control this stick but I think it is bordering on that edge for me. I would not want the string pattern to be any more open as balls occasionally fly on me. The open string pattern allows for good bite on the ball. I paired it with a shaped poly and I highly recommend it because the feeling of ball bite inspires confidences when swinging out. This is the top racquet I have used in terms of topspin and inspires confidence in bringing a ball down. For slices, I may need more time to dial-in and get used to the frame. With the open pattern and shaped strings, I am finding my slices to float with good margin over the net but I feel like it sits up a little too much when it reaches the other end and I only use it in defensive situations.

Comfort- It is obvious this racquet has dampening technology built into the materials. It takes away from feedback that I have in other sticks but it might be necessary for the high stiffness. I am curious how this racquet would play if it were 3 RA points less stiff. I would not recommend this racquet if you have any sort of arm sensitivities. This racquet has some considerations for arm-friendliness but there's only so much that can be done to counteract the physics of a high stiffness frame. I recommend a medium to soft poly when using this frame and not a stiff poly. Although I did not get a chance with this playtest, I have used soft multis and syn-gut with previous Pure Drives and I did not find them to provide enough control and spin to effectively pair with the Pure Drive frame.

Feel-
The feel is slightly dampened. I remember hitting with the light blue 2016(?) Pure Drive and the feel on this is similar to how I recall that racquet. I also own the first generation Pure Drive and Aero Pro and the feel on this racquet is not like those early iterations. It is comfortable for a Pure Drive, has a clean feel on impact without much vibrations after impact. In terms of best feel for touch shots, this racquet is average to me and I don't think that's a main focus in the design philosophy of a Pure Drive.

Maneuverability-
This racquet is maneuverable for a 27.5in racquet. I would guess that its swingweight is near 335 with a moderate headlight balance. It is not maneuverable if you're comparing it to a standard length racquet simply because it is an extended racquet and will naturally have a higher swingweight. For an extended racquet, this is the most maneuverable that I have used (I used about 5 different racquets). The shape of the frame seems to cut through the air well. I am no longer a one-handed backhand player but I feel the length extension and higher swingweight may be difficult for a one-hander. As a two-hander, I love the heft and length.

Stability- This racquet is very stable. Higher stiffness and swingweight means this racquet does not flutter unless I completely frame the shot. I have grown to prefer extended racquets over standard length because getting the racquet moving typically means the ball down not twist the frame. The swingweight and stiffness make this racquet very predictable to me at ball impact. If you can swing this frame, the ball will be crushed on the collision.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

For context, this is an extended racquet and I think the extended racquet user knows what they're getting into. If I compare it against a standard length racquet, the swingweight will almost always be higher and it will always be less maneuverable.

I use 28in. racquets and with significantly more weight (355g+) so this Pure Drive is not the most powerful racquet I've used. Given that this is an extended racquet, it will automatically be more powerful than standard length racquets before factoring in that it's a Pure Drive with an open pattern and high stiffness.

For what's available off-the-shelf (stock) this racquet has to be in the top 5% of power racquets available. This is more spinny than my regular racquets and feels more harsh/raw despite more muted/dampened feel due to the high stiffness rating. On impact, the feeling to me is that this racquet does not bend at all.

Due to the extra length and stiffness, it should come as no surprise this racquet is in the top decile for power. Hitting with significant topspin is a must here. If you are a flat hitter or a finesse/feel player I think it's possible to use but there are much better options out there. This is an ideal racquet for a topspin baseliner and it's maneuverable enough at the net to finish off points.

I like to focus on feel when choosing or evaluating a racquet because that is a spec you cannot overcome with customization. This racquet is very stiff but dampened very similar to recent Pure Drive offerings. I believe powerful stiff extended racquets require topspin technique and poly strings to keep the ball in the court. I don't think softer strings like gut, syngut or multi will pair well with this racquet because they will not generate enough spin and will not be durable enough. I stuck with soft polys in my play test out of concern for my elbow and it was an acceptable compromise. If you have a sensitive elbow or wrist, this is not a racquet for you.

This racquet is a string eater. I am generally not a string breaker but the combination of wide upper hoop, open string pattern, high stiffness and extended length are a recipe for string destruction. I've broken a string on two outings already and I usually have to cut my polys out from string deadness. I recommend a thicker string gauge.

Overall, I am excited to continue to play with this racquet. Every spec on this frame is designed to maximize power and spin. I love taking full swings knowing the racquet head speed and ball bite will give my opponent something wild on the other side of the net. Although I may add weight down in the future, this stick plays great in its stock form.
 

JonnyAbs

Semi-Pro
Pure Drive 98 2025

String and tension used for test
: Volkyl Cyclone 17 (1.25) @ 53/51. I thought it made sense to use what I always do for testing to reduce outside variables.

Tennis experience/background: I started playing tennis at age 7 and just played in the summer (Arthur Ashe sponsored National Junior Tennis League in Philly). Continued to play in high school so that expanded my play to spring and summer. Played Division 3 in college. Currently play USTA at the 4.5 level. I'm 5'9 and 43 years old.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I'm mostly a baseliner and hit with a western forehand and two handed backhand. I've been called a counter puncher. My strength is my consistency and hand eye coordination. I return serve very well and have good (although not particularly powerful) reaction volleys. I hit with pretty good and steady pace but don't consider myself a power player. Serves are likely my weakest stroke (both in power and effectiveness).

Current racquet/string setups: Pure Drive Standard 2006 - Volkyl Cyclone 17 @ 54/52

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 5 hours. It normally would have been at least double that, but I was sick back to back and not able to hit for the past 2 weeks.

Groundstrokes: I was very interested to see what the launch angle would be like with this racquet as I use a PD 2006 because it has the older babolat drill pattern. I am not a huge fan of the open FSI drill pattern and didn't like the 2018 or 2021 pure drives because I found them too erratic. However, the 20th cross was a nice addition in that it brought the launch angle down and created a lot of control. I couldn't generate my normal topspin though. I was dropping a lot of groundstrokes around the service line, and then I would randomly drive a shot very long because it lacked spin. When I had time to set up though, I could hit some nice flat bombs on the forehand side. However, when on the run or rushed, my shots lacked pace and depth.

Serves: I really liked flat serves with this racquet. It provided both nice pop and control. I lost a little pace compared to my 2006, but that was welcomed as I often struggle with first serve consistency, so I am fine trading a little power for more control. Second serves were like groundstrokes in that they were landing shorter in the box instead of towards the back of the box. That allowed opponents to more easily attack. I was also hitting more second serves into the net, but that is correctable with more time and adjustment.

Volleys: I honestly didn't love volleys with this racquet because they were landing too close to the service line. I don't have the strongest volleys as it is (from a power standpoint; my hand eye and contact are fine), so I need a little help from the racquet in this regard. The 98 didn't feel unstable, but I would scratch my head sometimes with a volley that went nowhere off my racquet and into the net. Overheads, like serves, were great though as I could hit them with both good pace and consistency. They were probably my favorite stroke with this racquet.

Serve returns: Directional control of returns was great. As you have probably noticed, I don't get the most height/depth with this racquet, but I could use that to my advantage on returns by hitting them as sharp cross court angles that pulled my opponent off the court. Down the line returns were good also.

Power/Control- When I had time to set up, power was great and I could hit flat bombs, basically off either wing but especially on forehands. When on the run or rushed, not so much as shots would land short and my opponent could attack. Control was very good. I consider this more of a control stick than power, especially when compared to the standard pure drives that I usually use.

Top Spin/Slice- This racquet is great for slice as I didn't have much worry of them sailing long. Hit slices with confidence. However, I didn't feel like this 98 had the same topspin potential as my 2006 PD. Considering that I use a western forehand, I need that.

Comfort- I was concerned about comfort because off center shots with a pa 98 I used to own felt jarring. I didn't experience that with this pd 98. A higher swingweight probably helped in this regard compared to the previous version, in addition to the flax inserts.

Feel- Honestly, I probably didn't log enough time to get a great read here. Control is one of the best aspects of this racquet, so I would say that that also translates to feel. I don't hit a lot of drop shots as it's a part of my game that needs more practice.

Maneuverability- I think the swingweight of this 98 is right where it should be. Any less and it would have even less power and would be more jarring. At the same time, I didn't struggle to get it around, nor did it feel sluggish at the net or when making quick reactions.

Stability- The racquet had nice stability. Off center shots didn't travel as far as they usually do, but that is just the nature of a racquet that offers a bit more control and less power than a standard PD. I didn't feel like it was getting pushed around.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I enjoyed testing this racquet and think it will be great for someone who doesn't like the loopiness of their shots with the pa 98. It offers similar control to the PA 98 but with flatter strokes. If you can generate your own topspin and like to hit a ball with a straighter trajectory, and the PD 100 has too much power, then this is the stick for you. I would say that the PD 98 is to the PD 100 like the PA 98 is to the PA 100. They are similar to their 100 brothers but trade some power for more control.
 

snauwart

New User
does anyone know when they'll be available in Australia? tennis only doesn't have anything on their website yet and watching GMP makes me really want to demo them
 

JonnyAbs

Semi-Pro
Finally got out to hit again tonight with the 98 after 2 weeks of being sick. Played with 2 other 4.5s rotating where one player is by himself returning as the other two alternate every 2 points serving and you play to 11 trying to beat the returner. It is a great workout for the returner. You rotate after you get to 11.

I warmed up with the 98 but it requires too much of me to use it. I like something that gives me a little easier depth as my game is more based on consistency and I have more speed than cardio, so I can't be swinging out on every shot or I will tire quickly.

So I passed it over to the best player out of the 3 of us and he used it for the games to 11. He is a racketholic and uses many frames but his old faithful is either a pure aero or pure aero plus. He also experiments with the speed mp and speed pro from time to time, as well as other various racquets but they are his typical go-tos. He is a lefty with a great topspin forehand and also a game based on consistency and placement. He is great at moving you back and forth and also drawing you in and following it with a lob. And he almost always makes you hit the extra shot to put the ball away if you manage to take control of the point.

He played ridiculously good with the 98. To have any shot of competing or possibly barely beating him, I have to rely on hitting the majority of balls to his backhand. So I tried to do that tonight and it didn't matter. He was able to take those and put them up the line deep in the corner to my back hand. I would return it and the next ball would go deep into the opposite corner. He did this over and over to both of us. He was definitely taking advantage of this sticks directional control.

He also did note that the racquet felt a little underpowered towards the top, as others have pointed out and is likely due to the box shape up there. But this didn't seem detrimental to his game. I'd say he won at least 2/3 of his points on the night. Maybe even closer to 3/4. The other guy and me were pretty equal. We won a similar amount of points against each other and struggled against our friend using the 98. This was on clay which probably doesn't favor the two of us who struggled, but surface was only a minor factor. We were just out played with the guy using the 98.

He is now consider picking one up and I am considering trying out a pd 100 to see how it stacks up to my 2006 pd.
 

Steadyhand

New User
I have used to the PD Team and found it be quite reasonable on most fronts, except it was a bit light for me as a male 185 lb 4.0 player. My daughters liked quite a bit, except that they were not generating as much racquet head speed with it compared to an ezone 100L.
Does anyone think the new PD team will play compared to the 2021 variation. As a women 3.5 player I found the lighter Team gane me my power without the weight
This is likely to stay the same. I tried the 2025 version and found that to be true (light and powerful). Have not tried a prior PD team though so cannot compare.
 
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JonnyAbs

Semi-Pro
Would anyone on the playtest that received a PD 100 4 3/8 be interested in trading it to me for my PD 98 4 3/8?

I ran it by @TW Staff to make sure it was OK and they gave a green light. We just cannot sell/trade it in the classifieds, but trading within the playtest is fine, and it will produce even more user feedback in here.
 

Soundbyte

Hall of Fame
Would anyone on the playtest that received a PD 100 4 3/8 be interested in trading it to me for my PD 98 4 3/8?

I ran it by @TW Staff to make sure it was OK and they gave a green light. We just cannot sell/trade it in the classifieds, but trading within the playtest is fine, and it will produce even more user feedback in here.
Sounds like a cool idea. I have a PD+ in L2 that id swap for a PD98 in L2 or L3.
 
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