Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Strike 2024 (98 16x19 and 100 16x20)
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
racquetlab
Hall of Fame
First, let me say that I'm very grateful for having been included in this Pure Strike 100 16x20 playtest - I had many ups, a few downs, but mostly a lot of fun!
I tried to put in as many hours as possible, in different situations and against a variety of opponents - all on hard court - in match/drill/practice situations and I am very impressed with it! I think it will be a very successful racquet as I can see how it suits a large variety of players. I am personally tempted to switch, but will have to spend a bit more time with it. The racquet I received was above spec, and I would love to try a demo that's at or just below spec to see if it would mitigate some of the pitfalls I experienced.
String and tension used for test:
MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 at 50#
Pure Strike 100 16x20
Tennis experience/background:
I started playing as a young kid and have been in and out of racquet sports my whole life. Whilst my focus was on other competitive sports in high school and college, I returned to tennis in my 20s and play now around 6 days per week.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I'm an aggressive baseliner with full strokes and a OHBH, who looks for short balls to close in at the net. Serve and forehand are probably my strongest shots, but my biggest weapon is my movement.
Current racquet/string setups:
Tecnifibre TFight ISO 300, strung with MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 at 50#, currently flirting with the Ezone 98 as well
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
16 Hours of drills, practice matches (singles and doubles), clinics, USTA Singles matches, and fun hits against a variety of players from heavy topspin to flat hitters at 4.0 to 5.5 level
Groundstrokes
After a bit of time getting used to the feel and higher swingweight compared to my current racquet of choice, I was able to dial in my timing and started grooving with it nicely. Right away, I appreciated the blend of power and control that comes in a very comfortable package. Whilst it's a 16x20 pattern, it is a very open pattern, so on basic rally balls, I appreciated the depth and easy access to spin it offers, along with the decent feedback it provides.
My first impression was that this racquet suits a variety of strokes - I can see how more compact strokes can generate easy depth with the power it provides, and I found fuller cuts at the ball very satisfying as it was easy to generate spin and ample net clearance with the relatively high launch angle. One of my hitting partners commented that I only hit 2 shots long in couple hours of hitting and how much heavier my shots felt. No complaints there!
One of my favorite shots with this Pure Strike was the down the line forehand - over and over again, I was able to surprise my opponents with the extra zip I was able to generate when slightly flattening out my stroke and letting it rip.
It's the most controlled line for Babolat, however, it it is still a very open pattern and needs spin to control the ball compared to other control racquets.
It's a baseliner's dream come true - effortless spin and depth, and easily rev up the power when called for!
-Serves:
Both flat first and slice second serves were very easy to dial in, and on some days I felt like I could place my first serves on a dime. When I was loose and fresh and managed to get on top of the ball, I hit some of my best serves with it. On off days, and later in matches, I could feel the extra weight starting to bog me down, but the inherent power and spin potential would still allow me to place it in, and spin serves were great. I was pleasantly surprised how few double faults I hit with it, and the extra confidence was helpful in tight match situations where I could rely on the racquet to bail me out. If I had to knock something, I would say the extra 10 points in swingweight of the demo compared to my current racquet stopped me from getting enough action on kick serves to do any damage. But if you get a Pure Strike that's closer to published specs, I think that should mitigate that issue.
Volleys
Approach and punchy putaway volleys are great, it offers tons of control and depth, and I appreciated the 100sq in face at net. Touch volleys and slicey drop volleys are not its strong suit, as the open string pattern can get a bit launchy. If you're a player that's on top of the net and lives for volleys you punch through the opponent's shoe laces, this is a great stick. It took me a while getting used to it, but once I dialed it in, I really liked it. It also felt pretty maneuverable, despite being over spec. Whilst it's not my favorite stick to volley with, it's not bad by any means. I just like to get a little bit more crafty and this requires way softer hands for those shots than I have.
Serve returns
I appreciate the extra mass for stability on returns, but against harder hitters I sprayed balls a bit more than I would like. Blocking returns was fine, especially aggressively stepping in and taking them early, but if I wanted to punch my returns a bit more, they could fly on me and I struggled with control. The ball doesn't sit on the strings very long to have the ability to absorb and redirect shots better. Overall not bad but maybe not its strong suit.
Power/Control
The Pure Strike 100 16x20 offers a very unique blend of power and control which makes it stand out in the market. It's not as powerful as a Pure Drive, but the power is there when you need it, and it's controlled enough with the 16x20 string pattern that it never feels uncontrollable. It's like that V8 engine that you can rely on when you really need to punch it to overtake another car. It was very easy to go from 70% shots to 90% power, when called for. It's not the most controlled stick out there, but spin comes easy and helps in controlling the shots.
Top Spin/Slice
Whilst it's not a spin monster, spin was VERY easy to generate, even players with less extreme grips can generate a heavy, dipping ball. Spinny approach shots and short angles were super fun to hit as you know you can just rely on that spin to hit penetrating shots without overhitting. I didn't get to try it on clay but would be very tempted to try as I think it would be a great racquet for that surface. Backhand slice was a shot I actually struggled with a bit to dial in. Maybe it's the flex in the throat (or lower hoop?) which makes it a bit unpredictable. Whilst not terrible, it's not as solid and predictable as on a stiffer frame like the Pure Drive or a Tfight, but given more time I would be able to dial it in, I'm sure.
Comfort
Comfort with this racquet was outstanding. Even against heavier hitters where I would hit more off-center shots, I didn't experience any pain whatsoever. Yes, I could feel a bit of vibration, but it wasn't impacting my joints at all. It was more comfortable than the Pure Aero line to me. I think Babolat nailed it in this regard!
Feel
The feel took me a bit by surprise. At first it felt a bit dead to me - not muted - it's a peculiar blend of soft, solid and...plasticky. My current racquet feels crisp, but comfortable and whippy. The Pure Strike felt like the total opposite to me. Which is not a bad thing, just drastically different. But once I got used to the feel, I really appreciated how solid and predictable it is. The sweet spot feels pretty generous, but power seems to drop off pretty quickly outside of it, and it's not the most plush frame for touch shots, as I mentioned.
Maneuverability
Being a little over spec and coming in at 325 swingweight, it wasn't as maneuverable as I prefer, but for stronger players this shouldn't be a deterrent. It didn't bother me on groundstrokes at all, but on kick serves and reaction volleys, I wish it were a bit more head light at times.
Stability
It's a solid frame and I felt I could hit out with it comfortably. Against heavier hitters it occasionally could flutter a bit, especially at the net. My demo feels like it has a lot of mass in the throat, having more weight distributed in the handle and at 3/9 would suit me better, but that's splitting hairs. Overall I think the stability is good.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Overall, I think this is an amazing racquet that blends power and control in a very unique package. It's a very comfortable frame that will please a large variety of players and stroke styles - it rewards fuller strokes with easy spin and heavy balls, and more compact, punchier strokes generate easy depth. It's very easy to control its power, and flattening strokes add that extra zip with ample control. It's almost impossible to miss shots with it!
I think conceptually, the Pure Strike 100 16x20 sits uniquely between spin and control racquets which is very interesting to me - it's not as controlled as other control lines, but if you're a baseliner who hits with spin and want more power, control and comfort, this is a fantastic option!
The demo I received was a little bit over spec and had a higher swingweight than published specs, which I appreciated for groundstrokes and returns, but was a bit of a challenge on kick serves and shots on the run where I needed that extra racquet head speed.
From a design perspective, the squarish throat section took me a bit of time getting used to with my OHBH, and it isn't the fastest racquet through the air. But the paint and finish is great, and I for one, appreciate a white racquet and I like the updated cosmetics.
The feel is great and it's definitely a racquet I'm considering switching to. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be RELIABLE. From loose practice days to tight match situations, it is a very capable partner in crime.
Thanks @TW Staff for the opportunity!
I tried to put in as many hours as possible, in different situations and against a variety of opponents - all on hard court - in match/drill/practice situations and I am very impressed with it! I think it will be a very successful racquet as I can see how it suits a large variety of players. I am personally tempted to switch, but will have to spend a bit more time with it. The racquet I received was above spec, and I would love to try a demo that's at or just below spec to see if it would mitigate some of the pitfalls I experienced.
String and tension used for test:
MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 at 50#
Pure Strike 100 16x20
Tennis experience/background:
I started playing as a young kid and have been in and out of racquet sports my whole life. Whilst my focus was on other competitive sports in high school and college, I returned to tennis in my 20s and play now around 6 days per week.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I'm an aggressive baseliner with full strokes and a OHBH, who looks for short balls to close in at the net. Serve and forehand are probably my strongest shots, but my biggest weapon is my movement.
Current racquet/string setups:
Tecnifibre TFight ISO 300, strung with MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 at 50#, currently flirting with the Ezone 98 as well
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
16 Hours of drills, practice matches (singles and doubles), clinics, USTA Singles matches, and fun hits against a variety of players from heavy topspin to flat hitters at 4.0 to 5.5 level
Groundstrokes
After a bit of time getting used to the feel and higher swingweight compared to my current racquet of choice, I was able to dial in my timing and started grooving with it nicely. Right away, I appreciated the blend of power and control that comes in a very comfortable package. Whilst it's a 16x20 pattern, it is a very open pattern, so on basic rally balls, I appreciated the depth and easy access to spin it offers, along with the decent feedback it provides.
My first impression was that this racquet suits a variety of strokes - I can see how more compact strokes can generate easy depth with the power it provides, and I found fuller cuts at the ball very satisfying as it was easy to generate spin and ample net clearance with the relatively high launch angle. One of my hitting partners commented that I only hit 2 shots long in couple hours of hitting and how much heavier my shots felt. No complaints there!
One of my favorite shots with this Pure Strike was the down the line forehand - over and over again, I was able to surprise my opponents with the extra zip I was able to generate when slightly flattening out my stroke and letting it rip.
It's the most controlled line for Babolat, however, it it is still a very open pattern and needs spin to control the ball compared to other control racquets.
It's a baseliner's dream come true - effortless spin and depth, and easily rev up the power when called for!
-Serves:
Both flat first and slice second serves were very easy to dial in, and on some days I felt like I could place my first serves on a dime. When I was loose and fresh and managed to get on top of the ball, I hit some of my best serves with it. On off days, and later in matches, I could feel the extra weight starting to bog me down, but the inherent power and spin potential would still allow me to place it in, and spin serves were great. I was pleasantly surprised how few double faults I hit with it, and the extra confidence was helpful in tight match situations where I could rely on the racquet to bail me out. If I had to knock something, I would say the extra 10 points in swingweight of the demo compared to my current racquet stopped me from getting enough action on kick serves to do any damage. But if you get a Pure Strike that's closer to published specs, I think that should mitigate that issue.
Volleys
Approach and punchy putaway volleys are great, it offers tons of control and depth, and I appreciated the 100sq in face at net. Touch volleys and slicey drop volleys are not its strong suit, as the open string pattern can get a bit launchy. If you're a player that's on top of the net and lives for volleys you punch through the opponent's shoe laces, this is a great stick. It took me a while getting used to it, but once I dialed it in, I really liked it. It also felt pretty maneuverable, despite being over spec. Whilst it's not my favorite stick to volley with, it's not bad by any means. I just like to get a little bit more crafty and this requires way softer hands for those shots than I have.
Serve returns
I appreciate the extra mass for stability on returns, but against harder hitters I sprayed balls a bit more than I would like. Blocking returns was fine, especially aggressively stepping in and taking them early, but if I wanted to punch my returns a bit more, they could fly on me and I struggled with control. The ball doesn't sit on the strings very long to have the ability to absorb and redirect shots better. Overall not bad but maybe not its strong suit.
Power/Control
The Pure Strike 100 16x20 offers a very unique blend of power and control which makes it stand out in the market. It's not as powerful as a Pure Drive, but the power is there when you need it, and it's controlled enough with the 16x20 string pattern that it never feels uncontrollable. It's like that V8 engine that you can rely on when you really need to punch it to overtake another car. It was very easy to go from 70% shots to 90% power, when called for. It's not the most controlled stick out there, but spin comes easy and helps in controlling the shots.
Top Spin/Slice
Whilst it's not a spin monster, spin was VERY easy to generate, even players with less extreme grips can generate a heavy, dipping ball. Spinny approach shots and short angles were super fun to hit as you know you can just rely on that spin to hit penetrating shots without overhitting. I didn't get to try it on clay but would be very tempted to try as I think it would be a great racquet for that surface. Backhand slice was a shot I actually struggled with a bit to dial in. Maybe it's the flex in the throat (or lower hoop?) which makes it a bit unpredictable. Whilst not terrible, it's not as solid and predictable as on a stiffer frame like the Pure Drive or a Tfight, but given more time I would be able to dial it in, I'm sure.
Comfort
Comfort with this racquet was outstanding. Even against heavier hitters where I would hit more off-center shots, I didn't experience any pain whatsoever. Yes, I could feel a bit of vibration, but it wasn't impacting my joints at all. It was more comfortable than the Pure Aero line to me. I think Babolat nailed it in this regard!
Feel
The feel took me a bit by surprise. At first it felt a bit dead to me - not muted - it's a peculiar blend of soft, solid and...plasticky. My current racquet feels crisp, but comfortable and whippy. The Pure Strike felt like the total opposite to me. Which is not a bad thing, just drastically different. But once I got used to the feel, I really appreciated how solid and predictable it is. The sweet spot feels pretty generous, but power seems to drop off pretty quickly outside of it, and it's not the most plush frame for touch shots, as I mentioned.
Maneuverability
Being a little over spec and coming in at 325 swingweight, it wasn't as maneuverable as I prefer, but for stronger players this shouldn't be a deterrent. It didn't bother me on groundstrokes at all, but on kick serves and reaction volleys, I wish it were a bit more head light at times.
Stability
It's a solid frame and I felt I could hit out with it comfortably. Against heavier hitters it occasionally could flutter a bit, especially at the net. My demo feels like it has a lot of mass in the throat, having more weight distributed in the handle and at 3/9 would suit me better, but that's splitting hairs. Overall I think the stability is good.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Overall, I think this is an amazing racquet that blends power and control in a very unique package. It's a very comfortable frame that will please a large variety of players and stroke styles - it rewards fuller strokes with easy spin and heavy balls, and more compact, punchier strokes generate easy depth. It's very easy to control its power, and flattening strokes add that extra zip with ample control. It's almost impossible to miss shots with it!
I think conceptually, the Pure Strike 100 16x20 sits uniquely between spin and control racquets which is very interesting to me - it's not as controlled as other control lines, but if you're a baseliner who hits with spin and want more power, control and comfort, this is a fantastic option!
The demo I received was a little bit over spec and had a higher swingweight than published specs, which I appreciated for groundstrokes and returns, but was a bit of a challenge on kick serves and shots on the run where I needed that extra racquet head speed.
From a design perspective, the squarish throat section took me a bit of time getting used to with my OHBH, and it isn't the fastest racquet through the air. But the paint and finish is great, and I for one, appreciate a white racquet and I like the updated cosmetics.
The feel is great and it's definitely a racquet I'm considering switching to. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be RELIABLE. From loose practice days to tight match situations, it is a very capable partner in crime.
Thanks @TW Staff for the opportunity!
racquetlab
Hall of Fame
SW measured on Briffidi.
Unstrung, no shrink wrap:
305.6g
8 HL
293 SW
Strung, with overgrip and dampener:
328.8g
6 HL
326 SW
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
patrickluvsoj
Rookie
racquetlab
Hall of Fame
Oh wow - they’re very different sticks!
The Ezone is very muted, and requires big swings to unleash its magic. It has a much denser pattern so it’s less spin friendly and launch angle is flatter, but cuts through the air faster. On flatter shots, the Ezone has better control. That Ezone feel is strange - it lulls you into thinking it’s comfortable but can make you feel tender. I had to add quite a bit of weight to make it work.
The PS100 on the other hand provides easier depth and control through spin, and produces a heavier shot. There’s more direct feedback on the stringbed, although I wouldn’t call it crisp. Comfort is better with PS100. I think you can dial in desired feel with string choice quite well. I tried a stiffer poly and a soft co-poly as well, and it changed the character and playability quite a bit.
I THINK I’m a better player with the Ezone, but I AM a better player with the PS100.
Hope this helps!
As for my Strike 100 16x20, after less than an hour with full-bed RPM Rough Fluo Red 1.25 @ 55/53 lockout (~52/50 eCP), which produced a rather hefty 337SW and felt fairly sluggish and boardy, I made the very atypical decision to do some surgery, mainly for the sake of keeping at least some RPM Rough along for the ride, which I have no more of at the moment. I locked it down very securely in my 6-point stringer, cut the mains out, and put in Gosen AK Pro CX 1.24 "Black Spiral" @ 55 lbs. I know doing so is basically sacrilege to most anyone who knows anything about stringing (and rightfully so) and nothing that should ever be recommended, but given the scenario, I made a rare exception, just to not have to junk all that RPM Rough so quickly. Below is the setup:
With AKPCX 1.24 / RPM Rough 1.25 in place, the strung spec went from 336g/32.0cm/337sw to 334g/31.9cm/332sw -- a reduction of 5 points SW, 0.1cm balance and 2g static weight (removed from the face). After 24 hours of settling, the snapback is incredible as well. When shadow-swinging, it feels noticeably easier to maneuver. Excitement renewed! Hopefully I'll get some court time with it by late-week. Will report back by then.
Last edited:
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
Wow! Interesting that the mains alone account for such a difference in swing weight. I've only done what you did with poly crosses when I was trying to save the longer lasting and expensive gut mains I was using.As for my Strike 100 16x20, after less than an hour with full-bed RPM Rough Fluo Red 1.25 @ 55/53 lockout (~52/50 eCP), which produced a rather hefty 337SW and felt fairly sluggish and boardy, I made the very atypical decision to do some surgery, mainly for the sake of keeping at least some RPM Rough along for the ride, which I have no more of at the moment. I locked it down very securely in my 6-point stringer, cut the mains out, and put in Gosen AK Pro CX 1.24 "Black Spiral" @ 55 lbs. I know this is sacrilege to most any stringer out there (and rightfully so) and nothing that should ever be recommended, but given the scenario I made a rare exception:
With AKPCX 1.24 / RPM Rough 1.25 in place, the strung spec went from 336g/32.0cm/337sw to 334g/31.9cm/332sw -- a reduction of 5 points SW, 0.1cm balance and 2g static weight (removed from the face). After 24 hours of settling, the snapback is incredible as well. When shadow-swinging, it feels noticeably easier to maneuver. Excitement renewed! Hopefully I'll get some court time with it by late-week. Will report back by then.
Yeah, RPM is a pretty dense/heavy poly, almost right up there with the likes of Lynx Tour and friends. Just a swap out of the mains pulling out 2 grams, though, was still a bit surprising. I'll take it, though!
Any news regarding the consistent respone from PS98?
Cowboy
Semi-Pro
There is a guy in my neighborhood who is MUCH better than I am. I'm guessing he is 4.5 or 5.0. He normally plays with a Blade 98 v8 18x20 with NXT Comfort (due to elbow pain).
I put the Pure Strike 100 16x20 in his hands today while we were practicing. His quick review is that the racquet has lots of available power and explosive spin. At one point he exclaimed "look at that. I'm not even hitting it with much spin and the ball is just nose-diving!"
I think part of the difference in spin is the hybrid string setup, but I would think that would also translate to less power (not more). He basically ended it by saying that he could get used to playing with this racquet if he had more time to practice with it.
As for me, I played with it for an hour over my lunch break. I liked it a lot more today than I did the last time out. In fact, I'm liking it more each time I pull it out of the bag. I don't know if that is getting more used to the racquet, the RPMr mains losing some tension, or playing against someone who can put more pace on the ball. Probably all three.
The first time I pulled it out, it felt like it was too light. It had no heft. No plow-through. I really didn't like it after the first practice, so I stuck with my weighted Blade 100L for my match the followed that practice. In hindsight, I think that might have been a mistake. I hit some balls with my wife the following day and it felt much better. Today, I felt much more dialed in. I have another match tomorrow evening, and I have decided to give the Pure Strike a run and see how it does (in a match that counts for something). If nothing more, that should tell you that my confidence in this racquet is growing.
Edit: Ironic timing, he just sent me a text that he wants to hit with it more.
I put the Pure Strike 100 16x20 in his hands today while we were practicing. His quick review is that the racquet has lots of available power and explosive spin. At one point he exclaimed "look at that. I'm not even hitting it with much spin and the ball is just nose-diving!"
I think part of the difference in spin is the hybrid string setup, but I would think that would also translate to less power (not more). He basically ended it by saying that he could get used to playing with this racquet if he had more time to practice with it.
As for me, I played with it for an hour over my lunch break. I liked it a lot more today than I did the last time out. In fact, I'm liking it more each time I pull it out of the bag. I don't know if that is getting more used to the racquet, the RPMr mains losing some tension, or playing against someone who can put more pace on the ball. Probably all three.
The first time I pulled it out, it felt like it was too light. It had no heft. No plow-through. I really didn't like it after the first practice, so I stuck with my weighted Blade 100L for my match the followed that practice. In hindsight, I think that might have been a mistake. I hit some balls with my wife the following day and it felt much better. Today, I felt much more dialed in. I have another match tomorrow evening, and I have decided to give the Pure Strike a run and see how it does (in a match that counts for something). If nothing more, that should tell you that my confidence in this racquet is growing.
Edit: Ironic timing, he just sent me a text that he wants to hit with it more.
@Cowboy - Great update, and funny, you're coming from opposite end of the spectrum with your first experience, versus mine. At a hulky 337SW (with full bed RPM Rough 1.25) and a low and pretty polar MGR/i of 20.3 (for my standards anyways, I'm used to stuff anywhere from 20.7 to 20.9), it felt sluggish to come around and boardy/buzzy on contact. Now that I've done a hybrid partial restring with AK Pro CX 1.24 in the mains, it's dropped a fair mount in spec (per my post above) and feels much more manageable. I have a hit lined up for tomorrow night, in which I'll give it some time. Not sure if I'll start with it or finish with it, but it's getting some time nonetheless!
Cowboy
Semi-Pro
I still think mine is under spec. I need to buy a scale to confirm that.
One of the guys on my team has a gen 3 pure strike. His is noticeably heavier in hand. He strings with Kirschbaum Black Shark 125. I'm not sure how that would compare to your full bed of RPM.
I honestly wish this playtest was a little bit longer. I'm fairly certain that I was the last person to receive my racquet, and I've had 9 days of rain over the last 2 weeks. The days that weren't rainy have been high wind. Very few good days for tennis in there. Thankfully, I'm still finding time and ways to get on the court...even if that is just an hour at a time.
You and me both. That said, I reached out to TW via the same email used to apply for the playtest asking for another week, due to the same reason, and they happily granted it. I bet you could get at least another week, if not two. Give it a shot!
Cowboy
Semi-Pro
I think I'll be alright. I've got two more matches scheduled between now and then. I should also be able to hit at least another time or two for practice/lessons.
I was hoping to try the frame out with multiple string combinations....full bed poly, full bed multi, etc. However, it looks like I'm sticking with just the hybrid at this point. I'll get my official review in on the deadline (have a match scheduled 2/8) and continue to play with it and update here as time goes on.
racquetlab
Hall of Fame
taydbear7
Professional
98 16x19
JFrijhoff
Rookie
The 100 16x20 starting to look very interesting. Hopefully I can get some local testing time with it in the future.
gino
Legend
Thanks again @TW Staff for selecting me for the PS98 16x19 playtest. It's been a joy to get to try this frame alongside my own pure strikes (my frame of choice is the Gen 3 Pure Strike Tour). See below for a written review - I also decided to put my thoughts/hitting experience into a review video (see video description for time stamps) to add a bit of a personal touch. Hopefully other members enjoy reading/hearing my thoughts. Thanks again TW!
String and tension used for test: Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 Black @48lbs
Tennis experience/background: Former NCAA collegiate player/coach & nationally ranked junior. Come from a long history of using player's frames (Wilson 6.1 95, HEAD Prestige Microgel - Youtek, HEAD Speed Youtek IG, & Wilson RF97)
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court attacking player. Always seeking a midcourt forehand. Uses slice backhand frequently. These days more placement over power as my legs age. One-handed backhand & semi-western forehand grip.
Current racquet/string setups: My current frame of choice is a tie between the Wilson kBlade 98 & Babolat Pure Strike Tour. I can comfortably switch between both of these options in any given match. Strings rotate between Diadem Solstice Black, Topspin Cyber Flash, & Volkl Cyclone Tour.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 8-10 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
Groundstrokes: Groundies with the PS98 16x19 are terrific. For me, it's the perfect blend between power and control. Enough free power to use my opponents pace & redirect shots on defense, but also enough control to take a large cut at the ball & not worry about it sailing long. I enjoy the ball-pocketing with this open pattern, it grips the ball well but also doesnt impart an offensive launch angle. A great modern player's frame from the ground, allowing for considerable forgiveness with all groundstrokes. I'm a huge fan of the upper hoop response with these frames, a controllable level of power.
Serves: Serving with the PS98 16x19 was a really enjoyable experience. Tons of forgiveness but also control. The upper hoop response allows to a comfort in the attacking mindset, being able to take a big cut at a kick serve or slice serve without fear of imparting too much spin. Flat serves were excellent as well - great directional control and a solid level of power for a 98 sq inch player's frame.
Volleys: The touch on these frames is exceptional. I mentioned this in my video, but too often people have claimed this line of frames lacks feel. I believe that is an incorrect classification of a muted/dampened/soft layup. To me, the string bed is incredibly responsive & easy to trust, which is a more true reflection of feel/touch. The touch on volleys, overheads, and drop-shots is stellar & allows for a lot of confidence in the trajectory of touch shots. I love the way the string pattern catches a volley, the ball sinks into the stringbed, but comes out with interest. I think the experience at net is a lot like using a pro staff 97 with more forgiveness outside of the sweetspot.
Serve returns: I would echo my sentiments in terms of the groundstrokes. This frame is great at absorbing pace based on the beam design/molds construction. More of the same when compared to pure strikes of old. Great in terms of blocking the ball back but still having free power on board. One of the few players frames on the market today that can deliver a chip return with some weight of shot. I love the way the slice return bites with this frame.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control: As I mentioned in my video, the power on these is substantial but not alike to other thicker beamed Babolat frames. To me it’s more powerful than a blade or pro staff 97 but less so than a modern prestige, radical or speed. I would say enough free power onboard to feel like you aren’t losing anything, but not enough to get away with abbreviated swings and still feel like you are hitting with depth. The control is exceptional, especially for a 16 main frame. It allows for controllable power and spin off of ground, which makes for a really balanced hitting experience.
Top Spin/Slice: Also mentioned in my video review, the spin production on this 16 main PS98 is exceptional. The string pattern allows for a controllable degree of spin that doesn’t create a launch angle that makes you have to tailor your game to the frame. In short, enough spin on tap to take big cuts, but not so much that you feel like you have to consciously calculate the right level of spin.
Comfort: The PS98 16x19 is a really comfortable frame. The mid-60s RA coupled with a low vibration frequency make for a soft and dampened layup. As mentioned prior, this doesn’t affect the touch or string bed responsiveness. The softer band dampened feel just makes for a comfortable ride when hitting outside of the sweet spot, something very foreign for a frame with the Babolat branding. If I could compare it to any other frames comfort level, I think I would compare it to the Wilson blade pro, plush but not overly dampened or soft.
Feel: As mentioned in my section on volleys & netplay - the PS98 has a really predictable response across the stringbed and upper hoop, which allows for a ton of confidence in every shot. The predictability of the string bed and blend of control/power make this frame great from a feel perspective. Never really had to second guess my shot placement with this frame.
Maneuverability: This is is one area I think this frames could be better out of the box. For whatever reason the weight distribution & beam design make for a weighty head even if the balance doesn’t suggest it. I’m sure with tail weighting or even a simple leather grip this could be solved. I customize my pure strike tour gen 3 frames up to 370g with tail weighting and they are more maneuverable than the PS98 out of the box.
Stability: the PS98 is incredibly stable out of the box. The mid/upper hoop can handle pace and redirect the pace with interest. Really a gem of a frame in terms of stability, especially given the thin beam and 98 headsize. I found blocking heavy balls back with pace easy while still managing to hit with considerable depth.
Additional category - SOUND: I think the tone of a frame is important to consider. It can play a role in the tactile perception of a frames comfort. I think the Gen 3 was really dull in terms of sound but Gen 4 I feel a more bass/low-end frequency when I strike the ball. Check the end of my video for a sound test where I use Gen 3 and Gen 4 in consecutive alike shots with the same conditions (same string, tension, grips, weight, etc). Have spent some considerable time with other pure strike-truthers like @socallefty analyzing this notion relative to the pure strike tour.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: see above video for more in depth general comments. This frame is a great modern players option, something with controllable power & ample spin production. Highly recommended for the attacking player coming from the pro staff, prestige, or alike players frame lineage.
Concluding remarks: the pure strike 98 is a special frame to me personally. I switched back in 2017 to this frame full-time after years/decades of using classic player's sticks like the Wilson 6.1 95, HEAD Prestige Microgel - Youtek, HEAD Speed IG, and Wilson RF97. I've used the Gen 3 strike 98 tour competitively in men's opens & even had the privilege to take to Europe and use on the legendary Foro Italico (Rome Open) clay courts - see below pics.
To me, the pure strike 98 is the perfect well-rounded player's stick. Controllable power but also a lot of things I like in a player's frame (thin beam, 98 inch head, etc). The gen 3 pure strike tour is an all-time frame for me. Gen 4 Pure Strike 98 picks up right where Gen 3 left off. Offering a comfy soft layup with all of the benefits of a modern Babolat frame. The sound/tone of the Gen 4 is more of a pronounced "thud" - I think that will be a welcome change for a lot of people who wanted to use a pure strike 98, but didn't love the tactile experience of Gen 3.
Last edited:
Amazing review, great work! After demo 100 16x20, and PS98 16x19. I switched to PS98 16x19 as well. Feels natural on all strokes and very comfortable.Thanks again @TW Staff for selecting me for the PS98 16x19 playtest. It's been a joy to get to try this frame alongside my own pure strikes (my frame of choice is the Gen 3 Pure Strike Tour). See below for a written review - I also decided to put my thoughts/hitting experience into a review video (see video description for time stamps) to add a bit of a personal touch. Hopefully other members enjoy reading/hearing my thoughts. Thanks again TW!
String and tension used for test: Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 Black @48lbs
Tennis experience/background: Former NCAA collegiate player/coach & nationally ranked junior. Come from a long history of using player's frames (Wilson 6.1 95, HEAD Prestige Microgel - Youtek, HEAD Speed Youtek IG, & Wilson RF97)
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court attacking player. Always seeking a midcourt forehand. Uses slice backhand frequently. These days more placement over power as my legs age. One-handed backhand & semi-western forehand grip.
Current racquet/string setups: My current frame of choice is a tie between the Wilson kBlade 98 & Babolat Pure Strike Tour. I can comfortably switch between both of these options in any given match. Strings rotate between Diadem Solstice Black, Topspin Cyber Flash, & Volkl Cyclone Tour.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 8-10 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
Groundstrokes: Groundies with the PS98 16x19 are terrific. For me, it's the perfect blend between power and control. Enough free power to use my opponents pace & redirect shots on defense, but also enough control to take a large cut at the ball & not worry about it sailing long. I enjoy the ball-pocketing with this open pattern, it grips the ball well but also doesnt impart an offensive launch angle. A great modern player's frame from the ground, allowing for considerable forgiveness with all groundstrokes. I'm a huge fan of the upper hoop response with these frames, a controllable level of power.
Serves: Serving with the PS98 16x19 was a really enjoyable experience. Tons of forgiveness but also control. The upper hoop response allows to a comfort in the attacking mindset, being able to take a big cut at a kick serve or slice serve without fear of imparting too much spin. Flat serves were excellent as well - great directional control and a solid level of power for a 98 sq inch player's frame.
Volleys: The touch on these frames is exceptional. I mentioned this in my video, but too often people have claimed this line of frames lacks feel. I believe that is an incorrect classification of a muted/dampened/soft layup. To me, the string bed is incredibly responsive & easy to trust, which is a more true reflection of feel/touch. The touch on volleys, overheads, and drop-shots is stellar & allows for a lot of confidence in the trajectory of touch shots. I love the way the string pattern catches a volley, the ball sinks into the stringbed, but comes out with interest. I think the experience at net is a lot like using a pro staff 97 with more forgiveness outside of the sweetspot.
Serve returns: I would echo my sentiments in terms of the groundstrokes. This frame is great at absorbing pace based on the beam design/molds construction. More of the same when compared to pure strikes of old. Great in terms of blocking the ball back but still having free power on board. One of the few players frames on the market today that can deliver a chip return with some weight of shot. I love the way the slice return bites with this frame.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control: As I mentioned in my video, the power on these is substantial but not alike to other thicker beamed Babolat frames. To me it’s more powerful than a blade or pro staff 97 but less so than a modern prestige, radical or speed. I would say enough free power onboard to feel like you aren’t losing anything, but not enough to get away with abbreviated swings and still feel like you are hitting with depth. The control is exceptional, especially for a 16 main frame. It allows for controllable power and spin off of ground, which makes for a really balanced hitting experience.
Top Spin/Slice: Also mentioned in my video review, the spin production on this 16 main PS98 is exceptional. The string pattern allows for a controllable degree of spin that doesn’t create a launch angle that makes you have to tailor your game to the frame. In short, enough spin on tap to take big cuts, but not so much that you feel like you have to consciously calculate the right level of spin.
Comfort: The PS98 16x19 is a really comfortable frame. The mid-60s RA coupled with a low vibration frequency make for a soft and dampened layup. As mentioned prior, this doesn’t affect the touch or string bed responsiveness. The softer band dampened feel just makes for a comfortable ride when hitting outside of the sweet spot, something very foreign for a frame with the Babolat branding. If I could compare it to any other frames comfort level, I think I would compare it to the Wilson blade pro, plush but not overly dampened or soft.
Feel: As mentioned in my section on volleys & netplay - the PS98 has a really predictable response across the stringbed and upper hoop, which allows for a ton of confidence in every shot. The predictability of the string bed and blend of control/power make this frame great from a feel perspective. Never really had to second guess my shot placement with this frame.
Maneuverability: This is is one area I think this frames could be better out of the box. For whatever reason the weight distribution & beam design make for a weighty head even if the balance doesn’t suggest it. I’m sure with tail weighting or even a simple leather grip this could be solved. I customize my pure strike tour gen 3 frames up to 370g with tail weighting and they are more maneuverable than the PS98 out of the box.
Stability: the PS98 is incredibly stable out of the box. The mid/upper hoop can handle pace and redirect the pace with interest. Really a gem of a frame in terms of stability, especially given the thin beam and 98 headsize. I found blocking heavy balls back with pace easy while still managing to hit with considerable depth.
Additional category - SOUND: I think the tone of a frame is important to consider. It can play a role in the tactile perception of a frames comfort. I think the Gen 3 was really dull in terms of sound but Gen 4 I feel a more bass/low-end frequency when I strike the ball. Check the end of my video for a sound test where I use Gen 3 and Gen 4 in consecutive alike shots with the same conditions (same string, tension, grips, weight, etc). Have spent some considerable time with other pure strike-truthers like @socallefty analyzing this notion relative to the pure strike tour.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: see above video for more in depth general comments. This frame is a great modern players option, something with controllable power & ample spin production. Highly recommended for the attacking player coming from the pro staff, prestige, or alike players frame lineage.
Concluding remarks: the pure strike 98 is a special frame to me personally. I switched back in 2017 to this frame full-time after years/decades of using classic player's sticks like the Wilson 6.1 95, HEAD Prestige Microgel - Youtek, HEAD Speed IG, and Wilson RF97. I've used the Gen 3 strike 98 tour competitively in men's opens & even had the privilege to take to Europe and use on the legendary Foro Italico (Rome Open) clay courts - see below pics.
To me, the pure strike 98 is the perfect well-rounded player's stick. Controllable power but also a lot of things I like in a player's frame (thin beam, 98 inch head, etc). The gen 3 pure strike tour is an all-time frame for me. Gen 4 Pure Strike 98 picks up right where Gen 3 left off. Offering a comfy soft layup with all of the benefits of a modern Babolat frame. The sound/tone of the Gen 4 is more of a pronounced "thud" - I think that will be a welcome change for a lot of people who wanted to use a pure strike 98, but didn't love the tactile experience of Gen 3.
Serve return, redirect heavy balls and DTL forehand are surprisingly good with this stick.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
@gino Thanks for the detailed review. I was waiting for someone to compare it with the Gen 3 Tour which is my current racquet of choice.
I was initially distressed that the Gen 4 didn’t have a Tour version. But having seen the specs, it seems like the regular 16x19 has a similar SW to the previous Tour, but with less static weight and so the difference may not be too great.
Let’s say you broke/lost some of your Gen 3 PS Tours and need to replace them. Would you buy more Gen 3 PS Tours or would you buy some Gen 4 PS 16x19s? Without considering price, what are the reasons for your decision? I’m asking because that is likely a choice I will have to make in the next year or two. Particularly interested in comments related to stability, maneuverability, sweet spot size, feel and comfort differences with identical stringjobs - I can tweak the power/control/spin to my liking by adjusting the stringjob for similar racquets.
Last edited:
Blade_X
Professional
To me project one mold always felt more natural in hands. Like a stiffer Blade. I dont know why but i never gelled with the mold of gen 3..... it felt disconnected with its long throat like not holding sth unibody but separated in two parts....head felt too far away from the grip if you know what i mean. Project one was more fluid and more forgiving at least to me. With gen 3 i only enjoyed strike tour. I couldnt feel comfortable even with the 100 inch version. So please tell me only this: mold remains exactly the same with the exception of more connected feel ?
gino
Legend
Ah man this is a tough question. Without considering price, I would just find a way to tailweight the new one. A leather grip & some putty in the buttcap gets you close enough to the weight distribution in the PS98. I know you've been historically against customization, but a leather grip and throwing some weight in the trap door is relatively simple. To your point, the swingweights are pretty close (if you can source some to your spec), so I think you'll be in for a similar hitting experience.
Stability: even wash, felt the same
Maneuverability: nearly identical, both needed tail weighting
Sweet spot size: no perceivable difference
Feel: same responsive string bed
Comfort: gen 4 is a touch softer
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Thank you. Considering price, might be worthwhile to stock up on Gen 3 Tours.
gino
Legend
The mold is the same, far as I can tell. Grommets look identical & all contours of the throat yoke/hoop feel the same. I think this beam design on the strikes is genius, sort of threads the needle between an aero dynamic throat and a flat box beam throat. Super cool concept that in its later iterations now flexes in a similar way to the prestiges and Wilson frames I grew up with
gino
Legend
I did have rpm rough going in the mains when competing with the PST. Completely agree, awesome experience. I felt like it was hard to miss a ground stroke if my feet were where they needed to be
@gino - Very nice review, and video and pics as well! Motivates me to do a similar format!
In other news, I finally had a second hit with the 100 16x20 tonight, after playing a warmup set against a similar 4.0-4.5 -ish partner (flatter ground strokes, one-handed backhand, decent variety -- fun to hit against). With a newly-created hybrid in place -- Gosen AK Pro CX 1.24 mains / RPM Rough Fluo Red 1.25 crosses @ 55/53 -- the frame performed MUCH better all the way around. Like almost night and day better.
For one, the lighter string bed lowered the strung spec from 336g/32cm/337sw to 334g/31.9cm/332sw, which, numbers aside, was simply way easier to play (much easier hoop acceleration, timing and maneuverability). As expected, the hybrid produced much better feel, as well as all-but-eliminating the brassy vibrations from the previous full bed of RPM Rough (admittedly, probably strung too high at 55/53 lockout, so ~53/51 eCP), increased free power, still retained a good chunk of spin (more so from snapback than anything else, in that typical gut/syn-gut mains kind of way) and control was nearly identical. The thing that impressed me the most was how naturally stable and reigned-in-yet-powerful the frame felt. It actually kind of stunned me; most probably because I just came off of a set using a VCP 97D with full-bed poly, strung a little too high (a shockingly low-power experience, and not in a good way!). I also got the chance to hit with my partner's Strike 98 16x19 Gen 3 and my '21 Prestige MP-L, which gave me a good sense of where the 100 16x20 sits in the grand scheme of things.
Versus the Strike 98 16x19 Gen 3 (with full-bed Focus Hex White 1.23) -- First off, I realize there are string differences in play here, but I'm very much inclined to say the Gen 4 Strike layup feels more crisp, direct and transmissive. That said, the Gen3 98 did feel more solid overall, more dense in the mid-hoop, and was more pin-point in its control, without sacrificing any plow (actually having a little more, in fact, but that was mostly due to the slightly higher swing weight in my friend's 98 Gen3's, probably mid-330's). The 100 16x20, however, did feel more forgiving, like you really knew you were hitting with a 100 instead of a 98. I know that seems almost dumb to mention, but it's much less obvious between certain 98 and 100 siblings, whereas here, you know it. The 100 also did flex a bit more along the entirety of the frame on contact, having a bit more "lacrosse stick catch and throw" to its impact feel, whereas the 98 Gen 3 was a bit more "bludgeoning with a meat mallet" -- I'd say an overall difference in either direction of maybe 15-20%.
Versus my Auxetic 1.0 MP-L (with Focus Hex Red 1.27 / Hawk Black 1.30, spec'd to 344g/31.8cm/336sw) -- The Strike didn't feel as quick or surgical to maneuver (somewhat to be expected, per the chunkier beam and lower MGR/i), but it did feel just about as controlled, if not more so, and that's even with a hybrid string bed, versus full bed poly in the MP-L, so that's saying something. I think the shorter center mains in the Strike make most of the control difference (drill mapping between S10016x20 and MP-L is almost identical). And even for being as over-spec as my S10016x20 copy is, it was almost level with the MP-L on overall ability to craft basically any shot shape one desired. I would have to presume, then, that a more on-spec S10016x20 would match up very well, if not favorably in most regards, to the MP-L at identical strung spec. The main boost was innate power -- noticeably higher in the Strike, owing to the thicker / more elliptical beam, a flex that feels about 62-63RA strung (higher than the claimed 61 by TW) and a layup that, in typical Babolat fashion, offers a bit more of a crispy, crackly, immediate rebound response, versus those from the likes of Head, Yonex, etc.
Hope that helps give some more perspective on the 100 16x20. Looking to get a few more hits in, perhaps with one more string bed, before authoring my review (@TW Staff was nice enough to give me until 2/16, considering how late I received my frame).
Update again soon!
In other news, I finally had a second hit with the 100 16x20 tonight, after playing a warmup set against a similar 4.0-4.5 -ish partner (flatter ground strokes, one-handed backhand, decent variety -- fun to hit against). With a newly-created hybrid in place -- Gosen AK Pro CX 1.24 mains / RPM Rough Fluo Red 1.25 crosses @ 55/53 -- the frame performed MUCH better all the way around. Like almost night and day better.
For one, the lighter string bed lowered the strung spec from 336g/32cm/337sw to 334g/31.9cm/332sw, which, numbers aside, was simply way easier to play (much easier hoop acceleration, timing and maneuverability). As expected, the hybrid produced much better feel, as well as all-but-eliminating the brassy vibrations from the previous full bed of RPM Rough (admittedly, probably strung too high at 55/53 lockout, so ~53/51 eCP), increased free power, still retained a good chunk of spin (more so from snapback than anything else, in that typical gut/syn-gut mains kind of way) and control was nearly identical. The thing that impressed me the most was how naturally stable and reigned-in-yet-powerful the frame felt. It actually kind of stunned me; most probably because I just came off of a set using a VCP 97D with full-bed poly, strung a little too high (a shockingly low-power experience, and not in a good way!). I also got the chance to hit with my partner's Strike 98 16x19 Gen 3 and my '21 Prestige MP-L, which gave me a good sense of where the 100 16x20 sits in the grand scheme of things.
Versus the Strike 98 16x19 Gen 3 (with full-bed Focus Hex White 1.23) -- First off, I realize there are string differences in play here, but I'm very much inclined to say the Gen 4 Strike layup feels more crisp, direct and transmissive. That said, the Gen3 98 did feel more solid overall, more dense in the mid-hoop, and was more pin-point in its control, without sacrificing any plow (actually having a little more, in fact, but that was mostly due to the slightly higher swing weight in my friend's 98 Gen3's, probably mid-330's). The 100 16x20, however, did feel more forgiving, like you really knew you were hitting with a 100 instead of a 98. I know that seems almost dumb to mention, but it's much less obvious between certain 98 and 100 siblings, whereas here, you know it. The 100 also did flex a bit more along the entirety of the frame on contact, having a bit more "lacrosse stick catch and throw" to its impact feel, whereas the 98 Gen 3 was a bit more "bludgeoning with a meat mallet" -- I'd say an overall difference in either direction of maybe 15-20%.
Versus my Auxetic 1.0 MP-L (with Focus Hex Red 1.27 / Hawk Black 1.30, spec'd to 344g/31.8cm/336sw) -- The Strike didn't feel as quick or surgical to maneuver (somewhat to be expected, per the chunkier beam and lower MGR/i), but it did feel just about as controlled, if not more so, and that's even with a hybrid string bed, versus full bed poly in the MP-L, so that's saying something. I think the shorter center mains in the Strike make most of the control difference (drill mapping between S10016x20 and MP-L is almost identical). And even for being as over-spec as my S10016x20 copy is, it was almost level with the MP-L on overall ability to craft basically any shot shape one desired. I would have to presume, then, that a more on-spec S10016x20 would match up very well, if not favorably in most regards, to the MP-L at identical strung spec. The main boost was innate power -- noticeably higher in the Strike, owing to the thicker / more elliptical beam, a flex that feels about 62-63RA strung (higher than the claimed 61 by TW) and a layup that, in typical Babolat fashion, offers a bit more of a crispy, crackly, immediate rebound response, versus those from the likes of Head, Yonex, etc.
Hope that helps give some more perspective on the 100 16x20. Looking to get a few more hits in, perhaps with one more string bed, before authoring my review (@TW Staff was nice enough to give me until 2/16, considering how late I received my frame).
Update again soon!
Last edited:
SinneGOAT
Legend
I’m willing to bet we get a tour model in the coming months. Babolat usually slow rolls the release of tour/plus models a few months after the main release. I’m curious if they make any changes.
SinneGOAT
Legend
Exactly, the bite just brought my ball down on everything, what an experience. With the razor code I have to keep my stroke tight and fast to avoid sending it long or keeping it high, rpm rough made it easy.
Cowboy
Semi-Pro
One thing I noticed in Gino's video above is the graphics. HUGE improvement on the gen 4. Specifically, the location of the "Babolat" in the hoop. I've played with racquets where the logo is off-centered like his gen 3 between 9 and 11. I hate that. I'm not overly OCD, but it becomes a distraction to me. Having the graphic balanced at 12 makes it not a distraction.
Also, I lost my match last night, but that is no fault of the racquet. The guy had one of the hardest serves that I've faced in a while. It was intimidating the first few games, but it was no challenge once I figured out the touch. The racquet did an excellent job at redirecting his pace. At this point, I'm really enjoying the return of serve aspect of the racquet.
Also, I lost my match last night, but that is no fault of the racquet. The guy had one of the hardest serves that I've faced in a while. It was intimidating the first few games, but it was no challenge once I figured out the touch. The racquet did an excellent job at redirecting his pace. At this point, I'm really enjoying the return of serve aspect of the racquet.
Absolutely with you there. And for as seemingly boring as two sets of red strips are, they also provide more visual symmetry. Small, seemingly insignificant details to most, I'm sure, but they can make a difference.
Nastase
Semi-Pro
Here is my review of the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19.
String and tension used for test: I initially strung this at 50 lbs. with Solinco Hyper-G 18, which is my normal string. I later strung it with Tourna BHB17. I liked both equally with a perhaps a slight bias towards Hyper-G. I didn’t find the racquet particularly string sensitive.
Tennis experience/background: Former college and open level player, now in my late-50’s. I have played a few senior ITF events and play several times a week when healthy.
Describe your playing style: In my singles days I would consider myself an aggressive baseliner, but now I play mostly doubles so I have an all-court game and prefer to volley. I’ve been on a bit of a quest for more power over the past couple of years, finding that as I age there has been a drop-off in consistent power. While I don’t think power is the solution for everything, a little bit of help out of the corners or on serve would be good.
Current racquet/string setups: I have been playing with the Yonex Vcore 98 (2021) with Hyper-G 18 soft at around 50 lbs. I add weight at 3-9 to bring the swing weight up a bit and to match frames.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10
Overview: I have played a lot of tennis with the G2 and G3 Pure Strike 98s and feel I have always played well with this line of racquets. I was in-and-out of the Gen 3 Strike a couple of times (or 3 times, in true holic fashion). The sweet spot of the Gen 3 was modestly bigger than the Gen 2 and it was more stable as well, but the Gen 3 sweet spot still wasn’t huge, and the super dull/muted feeling always ended up putting me off. I did also develop some wrist pain from time to time with the Gen 3 if I played a lot. So, I always liked the performance of the Strikes but ultimately put them down.
Just looking at the specs of the new Strike (swing weight, flex) I was hopeful that it would retain the Gen 3 performance characteristics but deliver more comfort – and it definitely did. Overall performance is incrementally improved but remains very, very close to the previous version. If you liked the Gen 3 but wanted more comfort, feel, and a more responsive upper hoop, you will really like this one.
I didn’t measure it, but my frame seemed to come in slightly under spec. I use 18g strings, which contributed to a lower SW, but the racket was surely not 330 SW. I would guess mid 320s.
Groundstrokes: I was really impressed with the racket’s performance from the first hit. The racket is comfortable, stable, and I kept thinking how dependable and solid it was. It struck a great balance between power and control. Spin capability was good but not excessive, and I found spin to be quite similar to the Gen 3. The new Strike 98 seemed to produce depth and weight of shot perhaps a little easier. I found groundstrokes to be 9/10 in terms of comfort and stability, and my overall trust factor was really high when hitting competitively. I didn’t find it to produce any wildly errant shots, and in stock form it was nearly perfect for me. Feel was improved and therefore I could play pretty freely without fear of wrist pain. Very high marks on groundstrokes.
Serves: The Gen 3 Strike racket was a really dependable serving racket, and this new version did everything equally well. I felt really confident serving and found the weight of the serve or heaviness to be very good, perhaps a modest improvement over Gen 3. I thought the upper hoop of the frame was more responsive than the Gen 3. I don’t hit a big flat serve that often and mostly rely on spin and location, so the racket’s capabilities suited me well. I didn’t have any issues getting the racket overhead or getting it moving. The improved comfort helped me to swing more freely perhaps. A very good, dependable serving racquet.
Volleys: The racket was solid and stable on volleys, and I thought maneuverability was good. It had just enough weight to withstand heavy balls and is just mobile enough to get it into position consistently. The racket seemed to handle mishits well and I did not feel any flutter if I was in a bad position. It delivered good pace of shot and I never felt disadvantaged. The better comfort and improved feel were the standout features for me. When I developed wrist issues with the Gen 3, I felt it most often when I was volleying. I didn’t have any wrist issues when volleying with the new Strike 98.
Serve returns: This is my best shot so it’s reasonable that I would give the Strike high marks here as the same traits on groundstrokes were evident on returns. I trusted this frame and found it to be solid, stable, and dependable. Maneuverability was fine, but predictability and stability were the standout features. I got good results even when hitting up near the tip of the frame. I felt confident hitting a variety of returns and can’t identify any shortcomings in this area.
Comments on racket performance
Power/Control- The Strike provides an excellent balance between power/control. The power was good but not overwhelming, but I never felt particularly hindered or disadvantaged. As I have aged, I need something that makes serving easier and the Strike was super dependable. For my swing speed and game, it generated power that was similar to a Gen 3 Strike but offered a little bigger sweet spot, and just plain felt better in my hand and at contact.
Top Spin/Slice- This retains the same excellent spin capabilities as the previous version, and I think the spin would be fairly equal if tested side-by-side. I think spin is very adequate but not overwhelming. Kick serves and slice shots had good bite and I could see a good bounce produced on high heavy balls. I would probably give the new Strike higher spin marks than some of rackets I have tested in this same category including the Ezone 98 and PA98, but probably less so than a Vcore 98.
Comfort- As I have said, comfort is the one area where the Strike needed to be improved and the new one didn’t disappoint. I really had no discomfort (albeit I’ve only hit with it for 10 hours) no matter what shot I hit, and my mishits didn’t wake my wrist up either. No complaints regarding comfort at all.
Feel- Feel is subjective of course, but I thought the feel of the previous version was a real shortcoming. The new Strike has an improved feel that is dampened, as before, but I felt significantly more connected to the new Strike. So, thumbs up that they created a comfortable, better feeling racket that provided more feedback. The feel led me to be confident while hitting spinny, short corner shots and when taking pace off volleys.
Maneuverability- They reportedly added a little swing weight to this version but mine was not 330 SW. The racket I received had a SW that was in the mid 320’s and it felt nearly perfect to me in the hand. There is nothing more for me to add than that. It struck the perfect balance of mass and maneuverability. I really liked it. I could manage a 330 SW frame comfortably and wouldn’t shy away from that spec, although if I stay with this frame, I will use the matching service to find another close to the one I have.
Stability- This was another stand-out feature for me. The Strike was super stable and predictable in the hand from anywhere on the court. An improvement over the previous version and one of the most stable racquets I have hit in this category. Racquets in this weight class (305 grams etc.) usually must have 330+ SW to offer this stability.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: At the risk of being repetitious this is an improvement over the previous version in very incremental but meaningful ways with the exception of feel and comfort. Feel and comfort were improved significantly for me. It is a very well-balanced frame that provides great stability, predictability, and I just had a high trust factor when playing with it. I wasn’t huge fan of the Gen 3 cosmetics, and Babolat has softened the graphics on this version which I like. This is a great performing frame and is a racket I will continue to test. I play a lot more on clay these days and with age I am considering going up to a100 sq inch racquet. Since I like this Strike 98 so much, I may consider testing one of the 100 sq inch versions.
Monumental thanks to TW and Babolat for the opportunity to participate in this test!
String and tension used for test: I initially strung this at 50 lbs. with Solinco Hyper-G 18, which is my normal string. I later strung it with Tourna BHB17. I liked both equally with a perhaps a slight bias towards Hyper-G. I didn’t find the racquet particularly string sensitive.
Tennis experience/background: Former college and open level player, now in my late-50’s. I have played a few senior ITF events and play several times a week when healthy.
Describe your playing style: In my singles days I would consider myself an aggressive baseliner, but now I play mostly doubles so I have an all-court game and prefer to volley. I’ve been on a bit of a quest for more power over the past couple of years, finding that as I age there has been a drop-off in consistent power. While I don’t think power is the solution for everything, a little bit of help out of the corners or on serve would be good.
Current racquet/string setups: I have been playing with the Yonex Vcore 98 (2021) with Hyper-G 18 soft at around 50 lbs. I add weight at 3-9 to bring the swing weight up a bit and to match frames.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10
Overview: I have played a lot of tennis with the G2 and G3 Pure Strike 98s and feel I have always played well with this line of racquets. I was in-and-out of the Gen 3 Strike a couple of times (or 3 times, in true holic fashion). The sweet spot of the Gen 3 was modestly bigger than the Gen 2 and it was more stable as well, but the Gen 3 sweet spot still wasn’t huge, and the super dull/muted feeling always ended up putting me off. I did also develop some wrist pain from time to time with the Gen 3 if I played a lot. So, I always liked the performance of the Strikes but ultimately put them down.
Just looking at the specs of the new Strike (swing weight, flex) I was hopeful that it would retain the Gen 3 performance characteristics but deliver more comfort – and it definitely did. Overall performance is incrementally improved but remains very, very close to the previous version. If you liked the Gen 3 but wanted more comfort, feel, and a more responsive upper hoop, you will really like this one.
I didn’t measure it, but my frame seemed to come in slightly under spec. I use 18g strings, which contributed to a lower SW, but the racket was surely not 330 SW. I would guess mid 320s.
Groundstrokes: I was really impressed with the racket’s performance from the first hit. The racket is comfortable, stable, and I kept thinking how dependable and solid it was. It struck a great balance between power and control. Spin capability was good but not excessive, and I found spin to be quite similar to the Gen 3. The new Strike 98 seemed to produce depth and weight of shot perhaps a little easier. I found groundstrokes to be 9/10 in terms of comfort and stability, and my overall trust factor was really high when hitting competitively. I didn’t find it to produce any wildly errant shots, and in stock form it was nearly perfect for me. Feel was improved and therefore I could play pretty freely without fear of wrist pain. Very high marks on groundstrokes.
Serves: The Gen 3 Strike racket was a really dependable serving racket, and this new version did everything equally well. I felt really confident serving and found the weight of the serve or heaviness to be very good, perhaps a modest improvement over Gen 3. I thought the upper hoop of the frame was more responsive than the Gen 3. I don’t hit a big flat serve that often and mostly rely on spin and location, so the racket’s capabilities suited me well. I didn’t have any issues getting the racket overhead or getting it moving. The improved comfort helped me to swing more freely perhaps. A very good, dependable serving racquet.
Volleys: The racket was solid and stable on volleys, and I thought maneuverability was good. It had just enough weight to withstand heavy balls and is just mobile enough to get it into position consistently. The racket seemed to handle mishits well and I did not feel any flutter if I was in a bad position. It delivered good pace of shot and I never felt disadvantaged. The better comfort and improved feel were the standout features for me. When I developed wrist issues with the Gen 3, I felt it most often when I was volleying. I didn’t have any wrist issues when volleying with the new Strike 98.
Serve returns: This is my best shot so it’s reasonable that I would give the Strike high marks here as the same traits on groundstrokes were evident on returns. I trusted this frame and found it to be solid, stable, and dependable. Maneuverability was fine, but predictability and stability were the standout features. I got good results even when hitting up near the tip of the frame. I felt confident hitting a variety of returns and can’t identify any shortcomings in this area.
Comments on racket performance
Power/Control- The Strike provides an excellent balance between power/control. The power was good but not overwhelming, but I never felt particularly hindered or disadvantaged. As I have aged, I need something that makes serving easier and the Strike was super dependable. For my swing speed and game, it generated power that was similar to a Gen 3 Strike but offered a little bigger sweet spot, and just plain felt better in my hand and at contact.
Top Spin/Slice- This retains the same excellent spin capabilities as the previous version, and I think the spin would be fairly equal if tested side-by-side. I think spin is very adequate but not overwhelming. Kick serves and slice shots had good bite and I could see a good bounce produced on high heavy balls. I would probably give the new Strike higher spin marks than some of rackets I have tested in this same category including the Ezone 98 and PA98, but probably less so than a Vcore 98.
Comfort- As I have said, comfort is the one area where the Strike needed to be improved and the new one didn’t disappoint. I really had no discomfort (albeit I’ve only hit with it for 10 hours) no matter what shot I hit, and my mishits didn’t wake my wrist up either. No complaints regarding comfort at all.
Feel- Feel is subjective of course, but I thought the feel of the previous version was a real shortcoming. The new Strike has an improved feel that is dampened, as before, but I felt significantly more connected to the new Strike. So, thumbs up that they created a comfortable, better feeling racket that provided more feedback. The feel led me to be confident while hitting spinny, short corner shots and when taking pace off volleys.
Maneuverability- They reportedly added a little swing weight to this version but mine was not 330 SW. The racket I received had a SW that was in the mid 320’s and it felt nearly perfect to me in the hand. There is nothing more for me to add than that. It struck the perfect balance of mass and maneuverability. I really liked it. I could manage a 330 SW frame comfortably and wouldn’t shy away from that spec, although if I stay with this frame, I will use the matching service to find another close to the one I have.
Stability- This was another stand-out feature for me. The Strike was super stable and predictable in the hand from anywhere on the court. An improvement over the previous version and one of the most stable racquets I have hit in this category. Racquets in this weight class (305 grams etc.) usually must have 330+ SW to offer this stability.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: At the risk of being repetitious this is an improvement over the previous version in very incremental but meaningful ways with the exception of feel and comfort. Feel and comfort were improved significantly for me. It is a very well-balanced frame that provides great stability, predictability, and I just had a high trust factor when playing with it. I wasn’t huge fan of the Gen 3 cosmetics, and Babolat has softened the graphics on this version which I like. This is a great performing frame and is a racket I will continue to test. I play a lot more on clay these days and with age I am considering going up to a100 sq inch racquet. Since I like this Strike 98 so much, I may consider testing one of the 100 sq inch versions.
Monumental thanks to TW and Babolat for the opportunity to participate in this test!
gino
Legend
In general it’s a much better cosmetic. I actually did a side by side comparison but then cut it out of my video. Should have kept it in there! LOL
SinneGOAT
Legend
I am so excited to share my feedback on the strike 16/19, as I felt the opponents I hit against gave a good test of the strike’s capabilities as a player’s frame. Thank you @TW Staff for this opportunity, it has been amazing!
String and tension used for test: Razor Code at 56 and RPM Rough, raised tension due to increased elevation, so it should be comparable to my tension at my regular elevation but I also tried it with my standard tension at the higher elevation.
Tennis experience/background: been playing for 18 years, an advanced tournament level player.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I’m an aggressive baseliner who isn’t afraid to go to net.
Current racquet/string setups: Head Extreme Tour with razor code at 52 pounds, which is equivalent to 56 at the elevation.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 20 hours, doing between 4 to 8 hours the last 2 1/2 weeks.
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: this racquet was phenomenal. Compared to my extreme tour, the plow through was addicting. Without any weight the racquet was able to redirect pace and create it with ease.
-Serves: this racquet also excelled in this area. The extra plow gave my serves more power. My serves aren’t always great, but it was rocking with this racquet over my extremes.
-Volleys: volleys was also amazing. I hope I don’t sound like a broken record but seriously this racquet was a step up in every category over my extremes. With the extremes I had to put more effort and use my legs when punching back, but due to the stability and plow of the racquet I was putting away volleys without much effort. The power on volleys added to the ease of putting away high shots.
-Serve returns: returns were great with this racquet. It didn’t handle high pace incredibly well which is something the extreme did better, but I can chalk that up to the weight I’ve added to those. On high pace serves I had to stand farther back and slice, so maybe weight at 3/9 could help block those returns better, but overall still good.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- This racquet leaned more to the power side, but still it was phenomenal and covered both areas. When I wanted to raise the pace it worked with me, and when I slowed down and went for my spots it would hit it. Overall this is more of a powerful player’s frame, but don’t let that description deter you, it still can reign in the pace and have good accuracy.
Top Spin/Slice- this racquet was amazing in spin and slices. I immediately felt at home going for backhand and forehand slices to mix up the pace and on the run backhand slices dipped and skidded more than my extreme tours. Topspin was great with this racquet, and was accentuated even more with rpm rough. The rough made looping the ball high to their backhand and forehand easy, and worked great with the frame.
Comfort- comfort was surprisingly good for a babolat. I’m used to soft frames like the v7 blade and extreme tour, and 20 hours in I have had no pain. Even with higher tensions like 56 I still haven’t had any pain on off center hits.
Feel- Feel is good, but maybe not this racquet’s highlight. In the feel category I’m biased with using frames like the blade and prestige and gravity, so this obviously isn’t in the same category, but that’s also its strength and selling point. This racquet has power when you need it, and control when power isn’t needed. This racquet handled drop shots and volleys really well, and I can get a good feel for where I hit on the stringbed.
Maneuverability- Maneuverability is I would say one of the downsides of the racquet, but marginally. I’m used to a very headlight extreme tour, which is known for low swingweights and high whippiness. The strike is still whippy, but the 329-330 swingweight was an adjustment. In stock form this racquet can still be considered “whippy” if you get an on spec frame, but I personally will stay away from anything more than perhaps a few grams in the handle or 3/9. Over my extreme tours this frame sacrificed a little whippiness for plow and stability.
Stability- for stability I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. On ground strokes it handled shots very well up until I had harder hitting opponents. Due to this I had to stand farther back so I could handle the pace. On hard serves and ground strokes, the frame can slightly get pushed around but I am probably facing very rare opponents who have great technique and good power. For 90% of opponents I would say this frame has enough stability in stock form.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall this has been an amazing playtest and I’m happy to say I have made the switch! The pure strike gen 4 is an amazing racquet that knows what it can give you, controllable power and plow. When I want to dominate it will give the pace, and when I’m fighting in every point it will hit the corners with enough spin to land and jump. This frame is so great and I am very grateful for this opportunity! Thank you @TW Staff once again for letting me on this playtest, and thank you Babolat for letting us have this opportunity and for making a great racquet, I have found the successor to my extreme tours!
String and tension used for test: Razor Code at 56 and RPM Rough, raised tension due to increased elevation, so it should be comparable to my tension at my regular elevation but I also tried it with my standard tension at the higher elevation.
Tennis experience/background: been playing for 18 years, an advanced tournament level player.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I’m an aggressive baseliner who isn’t afraid to go to net.
Current racquet/string setups: Head Extreme Tour with razor code at 52 pounds, which is equivalent to 56 at the elevation.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 20 hours, doing between 4 to 8 hours the last 2 1/2 weeks.
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: this racquet was phenomenal. Compared to my extreme tour, the plow through was addicting. Without any weight the racquet was able to redirect pace and create it with ease.
-Serves: this racquet also excelled in this area. The extra plow gave my serves more power. My serves aren’t always great, but it was rocking with this racquet over my extremes.
-Volleys: volleys was also amazing. I hope I don’t sound like a broken record but seriously this racquet was a step up in every category over my extremes. With the extremes I had to put more effort and use my legs when punching back, but due to the stability and plow of the racquet I was putting away volleys without much effort. The power on volleys added to the ease of putting away high shots.
-Serve returns: returns were great with this racquet. It didn’t handle high pace incredibly well which is something the extreme did better, but I can chalk that up to the weight I’ve added to those. On high pace serves I had to stand farther back and slice, so maybe weight at 3/9 could help block those returns better, but overall still good.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- This racquet leaned more to the power side, but still it was phenomenal and covered both areas. When I wanted to raise the pace it worked with me, and when I slowed down and went for my spots it would hit it. Overall this is more of a powerful player’s frame, but don’t let that description deter you, it still can reign in the pace and have good accuracy.
Top Spin/Slice- this racquet was amazing in spin and slices. I immediately felt at home going for backhand and forehand slices to mix up the pace and on the run backhand slices dipped and skidded more than my extreme tours. Topspin was great with this racquet, and was accentuated even more with rpm rough. The rough made looping the ball high to their backhand and forehand easy, and worked great with the frame.
Comfort- comfort was surprisingly good for a babolat. I’m used to soft frames like the v7 blade and extreme tour, and 20 hours in I have had no pain. Even with higher tensions like 56 I still haven’t had any pain on off center hits.
Feel- Feel is good, but maybe not this racquet’s highlight. In the feel category I’m biased with using frames like the blade and prestige and gravity, so this obviously isn’t in the same category, but that’s also its strength and selling point. This racquet has power when you need it, and control when power isn’t needed. This racquet handled drop shots and volleys really well, and I can get a good feel for where I hit on the stringbed.
Maneuverability- Maneuverability is I would say one of the downsides of the racquet, but marginally. I’m used to a very headlight extreme tour, which is known for low swingweights and high whippiness. The strike is still whippy, but the 329-330 swingweight was an adjustment. In stock form this racquet can still be considered “whippy” if you get an on spec frame, but I personally will stay away from anything more than perhaps a few grams in the handle or 3/9. Over my extreme tours this frame sacrificed a little whippiness for plow and stability.
Stability- for stability I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. On ground strokes it handled shots very well up until I had harder hitting opponents. Due to this I had to stand farther back so I could handle the pace. On hard serves and ground strokes, the frame can slightly get pushed around but I am probably facing very rare opponents who have great technique and good power. For 90% of opponents I would say this frame has enough stability in stock form.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall this has been an amazing playtest and I’m happy to say I have made the switch! The pure strike gen 4 is an amazing racquet that knows what it can give you, controllable power and plow. When I want to dominate it will give the pace, and when I’m fighting in every point it will hit the corners with enough spin to land and jump. This frame is so great and I am very grateful for this opportunity! Thank you @TW Staff once again for letting me on this playtest, and thank you Babolat for letting us have this opportunity and for making a great racquet, I have found the successor to my extreme tours!
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
Nice review! (actually all the reviews have been great so far) Interestingly, I also just moved away from the Extreme Tour to the Pure Strike 100 16x19, and experienced many of the differences you articulate here. I also strongly considered the PA98 and the regular PA, but find this PS100 to be a great middle ground between control frames and spin/power monsters like the Pure Aeros. Perfect fit for my game - stability, control, spin and power, whippiness and forgiveness - so that now I can just focus on getting better vs. monkeying around all the time with modifications and trying new frames.
HerculesJack
New User
Can I ask a naive question: why the TW racket comparison tool shows that the new PS 100 16x20 has smaller sweet zone than PS 98 16x19? I was thinking that the 100 should be more forgiveness and thus have larger sweet zone.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Swingweight, twistweight, flex, and vibration frequency are all lower for the 100. So the 100 has less mass in the head and is less stiff. Those all contribute to the smaller sweet zone. The 100 TW measured here seems to be underspec compared to those in the wild though. Mine is 330 swingweight, so I would expect the sweet zone to be closer to the 98 than the one here.
Plus, the drilling of the mains is a bit more gradually exponential as you move out of center, which will often create a more concentrated sweet zone across that axis (ie. narrower as you move up and down the face between 12 and 6).
@SinneGOAT - Any idea on the spec of your playtest frame, unstrung or strung? (Sorry if I missed it earlier)
SinneGOAT
Legend
I think 307 grams unstrung, no clue swingweight but comparing with ones I have that are on spec it feels maybe 326-328 swingweight?
HerculesJack
New User
I see, so in practice which one will feel more "forgiving", the 100 16x20 or 98 16x19?
taydbear7
Professional
Thanks again @TW Staff for selecting me for the PS98 16x19 playtest. It's been a joy to get to try this frame alongside my own pure strikes (my frame of choice is the Gen 3 Pure Strike Tour). See below for a written review - I also decided to put my thoughts/hitting experience into a review video (see video description for time stamps) to add a bit of a personal touch. Hopefully other members enjoy reading/hearing my thoughts. Thanks again TW!
String and tension used for test: Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 Black @48lbs
Tennis experience/background: Former NCAA collegiate player/coach & nationally ranked junior. Come from a long history of using player's frames (Wilson 6.1 95, HEAD Prestige Microgel - Youtek, HEAD Speed Youtek IG, & Wilson RF97)
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All-court attacking player. Always seeking a midcourt forehand. Uses slice backhand frequently. These days more placement over power as my legs age. One-handed backhand & semi-western forehand grip.
Current racquet/string setups: My current frame of choice is a tie between the Wilson kBlade 98 & Babolat Pure Strike Tour. I can comfortably switch between both of these options in any given match. Strings rotate between Diadem Solstice Black, Topspin Cyber Flash, & Volkl Cyclone Tour.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 8-10 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
Groundstrokes: Groundies with the PS98 16x19 are terrific. For me, it's the perfect blend between power and control. Enough free power to use my opponents pace & redirect shots on defense, but also enough control to take a large cut at the ball & not worry about it sailing long. I enjoy the ball-pocketing with this open pattern, it grips the ball well but also doesnt impart an offensive launch angle. A great modern player's frame from the ground, allowing for considerable forgiveness with all groundstrokes. I'm a huge fan of the upper hoop response with these frames, a controllable level of power.
Serves: Serving with the PS98 16x19 was a really enjoyable experience. Tons of forgiveness but also control. The upper hoop response allows to a comfort in the attacking mindset, being able to take a big cut at a kick serve or slice serve without fear of imparting too much spin. Flat serves were excellent as well - great directional control and a solid level of power for a 98 sq inch player's frame.
Volleys: The touch on these frames is exceptional. I mentioned this in my video, but too often people have claimed this line of frames lacks feel. I believe that is an incorrect classification of a muted/dampened/soft layup. To me, the string bed is incredibly responsive & easy to trust, which is a more true reflection of feel/touch. The touch on volleys, overheads, and drop-shots is stellar & allows for a lot of confidence in the trajectory of touch shots. I love the way the string pattern catches a volley, the ball sinks into the stringbed, but comes out with interest. I think the experience at net is a lot like using a pro staff 97 with more forgiveness outside of the sweetspot.
Serve returns: I would echo my sentiments in terms of the groundstrokes. This frame is great at absorbing pace based on the beam design/molds construction. More of the same when compared to pure strikes of old. Great in terms of blocking the ball back but still having free power on board. One of the few players frames on the market today that can deliver a chip return with some weight of shot. I love the way the slice return bites with this frame.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control: As I mentioned in my video, the power on these is substantial but not alike to other thicker beamed Babolat frames. To me it’s more powerful than a blade or pro staff 97 but less so than a modern prestige, radical or speed. I would say enough free power onboard to feel like you aren’t losing anything, but not enough to get away with abbreviated swings and still feel like you are hitting with depth. The control is exceptional, especially for a 16 main frame. It allows for controllable power and spin off of ground, which makes for a really balanced hitting experience.
Top Spin/Slice: Also mentioned in my video review, the spin production on this 16 main PS98 is exceptional. The string pattern allows for a controllable degree of spin that doesn’t create a launch angle that makes you have to tailor your game to the frame. In short, enough spin on tap to take big cuts, but not so much that you feel like you have to consciously calculate the right level of spin.
Comfort: The PS98 16x19 is a really comfortable frame. The mid-60s RA coupled with a low vibration frequency make for a soft and dampened layup. As mentioned prior, this doesn’t affect the touch or string bed responsiveness. The softer band dampened feel just makes for a comfortable ride when hitting outside of the sweet spot, something very foreign for a frame with the Babolat branding. If I could compare it to any other frames comfort level, I think I would compare it to the Wilson blade pro, plush but not overly dampened or soft.
Feel: As mentioned in my section on volleys & netplay - the PS98 has a really predictable response across the stringbed and upper hoop, which allows for a ton of confidence in every shot. The predictability of the string bed and blend of control/power make this frame great from a feel perspective. Never really had to second guess my shot placement with this frame.
Maneuverability: This is is one area I think this frames could be better out of the box. For whatever reason the weight distribution & beam design make for a weighty head even if the balance doesn’t suggest it. I’m sure with tail weighting or even a simple leather grip this could be solved. I customize my pure strike tour gen 3 frames up to 370g with tail weighting and they are more maneuverable than the PS98 out of the box.
Stability: the PS98 is incredibly stable out of the box. The mid/upper hoop can handle pace and redirect the pace with interest. Really a gem of a frame in terms of stability, especially given the thin beam and 98 headsize. I found blocking heavy balls back with pace easy while still managing to hit with considerable depth.
Additional category - SOUND: I think the tone of a frame is important to consider. It can play a role in the tactile perception of a frames comfort. I think the Gen 3 was really dull in terms of sound but Gen 4 I feel a more bass/low-end frequency when I strike the ball. Check the end of my video for a sound test where I use Gen 3 and Gen 4 in consecutive alike shots with the same conditions (same string, tension, grips, weight, etc). Have spent some considerable time with other pure strike-truthers like @socallefty analyzing this notion relative to the pure strike tour.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: see above video for more in depth general comments. This frame is a great modern players option, something with controllable power & ample spin production. Highly recommended for the attacking player coming from the pro staff, prestige, or alike players frame lineage.
Concluding remarks: the pure strike 98 is a special frame to me personally. I switched back in 2017 to this frame full-time after years/decades of using classic player's sticks like the Wilson 6.1 95, HEAD Prestige Microgel - Youtek, HEAD Speed IG, and Wilson RF97. I've used the Gen 3 strike 98 tour competitively in men's opens & even had the privilege to take to Europe and use on the legendary Foro Italico (Rome Open) clay courts - see below pics.
To me, the pure strike 98 is the perfect well-rounded player's stick. Controllable power but also a lot of things I like in a player's frame (thin beam, 98 inch head, etc). The gen 3 pure strike tour is an all-time frame for me. Gen 4 Pure Strike 98 picks up right where Gen 3 left off. Offering a comfy soft layup with all of the benefits of a modern Babolat frame. The sound/tone of the Gen 4 is more of a pronounced "thud" - I think that will be a welcome change for a lot of people who wanted to use a pure strike 98, but didn't love the tactile experience of Gen 3.
I'm glad somebody else brought up the sound. I said it earlier but when hitting ground strokes, I notice the sound was different than most racquets. I wasn't sure if it was the frame or the strings.
gino
Legend
@Nastase @SinneGOAT
Nice right ups guys, love hearing additional thoughts and some cross-over between our thoughts
Nice right ups guys, love hearing additional thoughts and some cross-over between our thoughts
SinneGOAT
Legend
Definitely, the plow/power and stability was really the highlight of the playtest for me. Made me realize how anemic the extreme tour is.
gino
Legend
I think that comes from that really consistent response in the stringbed coupled with the weight distribution, which I think is perfect for the modern attacking player. Enough plow to have free power and block most balls back with some weight of shot. Sounding a probable switch for you mate?
