Executive Summary
The Babolat Pure Control is Babolat's most recent precision platform — a frame specifically engineered for advanced players who want directional control, flat power, and a connected feel without the spin-first identity of the Pure Aero or the outright power orientation of the Pure Drive.
Key Characteristic: A moderately flexible beam (~67–69 RA) combined with a 16x20 string pattern sits the Pure Control between the Pure Strike (stiffer, flatter) and traditional player's frames (more flexible, more feel). The 16x20 pattern provides one extra cross string versus the 16x19 — a tighter configuration that reduces free launch angle and adds precision without going to the full density of an 18x20.
Key Positioning: The Pure Control targets all-court and serve-dominant players who currently play the Pure Strike but want a slightly more flexible, comfortable alternative, or Pure Aero players who want to trade spin assist for control precision. It is a more modern, versatile design than either — neither purely spin-focused nor purely stiff-and-flat.
Performance Profile
The Pure Control Tour leads the range in control and stability. It sacrifices some power and free spin compared to the Pure Aero while offering more comfort and accessibility than the Pure Strike 98.
Performance Comparison: Pure Control Tour vs Pure Control 98
Control Tour leads in stability and plow-through · Control 98 offers more manoeuvrability
Model Context
The Pure Control range spans the tour-spec Tour variant through to lighter, more accessible options. All share the 16x20 string pattern identity and moderately flexible beam character.
Pure Control Tour
The heavy tour-spec flagship. At 315g unstrung, it offers the most plow-through and stability in the range — a demanding frame that rewards physical commitment and serves the Norrie-style all-court attack game particularly well. The extra weight above the 98 is the key differentiator.
Pure Control 98
The more accessible flagship. Lighter than the Tour by 10g, the 98 retains the same 16x20 pattern and moderately flexible beam while reducing the physical demands. A natural entry point into the Pure Control range for players who find the Tour's weight demanding.
Pure Control 100
A lighter, larger-head variant for players building toward the control range. The 16x19 pattern and 100 sq in head restore spin potential and forgiveness while preserving the Pure Control's core identity. A stepping stone for players transitioning from the Pure Aero or Pure Drive.
Technical Must-Knows
Who Plays With This?
The Pure Control attracts all-court players who want Babolat's build quality paired with precision rather than spin assist. Tour frames are customised — use these profiles to understand the playing style the Pure Control serves.
Norrie's consistent, high-mileage all-court game — built around exceptional movement, reliable groundstrokes, and a heavy left-handed forehand — is an excellent match for the Pure Control Tour. The Tour's 315g weight provides the stability his aggressive, full-swing baseline style demands, while the 16x20 pattern keeps his driving strokes precise and controlled over extended matches and gruelling seasons.
Beyond Norrie, the Pure Control attracts players with a clean, all-court game built around flat or moderate topspin driving rather than extreme spin generation. They typically have technically sound strokes, good serve-and-volley capability, and want a frame that is precise without being as unforgiving as the Pure Strike or as demanding as a full player's frame.
String Setup Guide
The Pure Control's moderate flexibility and 16x20 pattern produce a balanced, intuitive string setup experience — less tension-sensitive than the very flexible TF40, less demanding than the stiff Pure Strike. Reference range (Pure Control Tour): 47–59 lbs (21.3–27 kg).
Quick Start (Most Players)
- Start point (co-poly, 1.25mm, full bed): 50–54 lbs (22.7–24.5 kg) — the moderately flexible beam at mid-tension delivers the Pure Control's balanced feel: connected but crisp, precise but not wooden.
- If the ball is flying long: Add 2 lbs or move to a firmer poly (1.27mm). The 16x20 pattern provides good control geometry — small tension adjustments produce clear results.
- If you want more spin: Drop 2 lbs and use a shaped co-poly. The 16x20 allows moderate snapback; shaped strings add meaningful bite that the tighter pattern geometry limits somewhat.
- If your arm is struggling: Drop to 47–50 lbs and switch to a multifilament hybrid or softer co-poly. The ~68 RA frame is inherently more comfortable than the Pure Strike — this adjustment will produce a notably gentle impact sensation.
- Pure Control Tour (315g) note: The heavier frame generates more plow-through — string 1–2 lbs higher than your 98 equivalent to maintain similar control over the heavier frame's increased power output.
Pro Reference
Setup idea: Luxilon ALU Power 1.25mm full bed, at mid-50s lbs to match his consistent, high-volume baseline game.
Norrie's use of ALU Power in the Pure Control Tour reflects the classic pairing of a precision control frame with the tour's most reliable co-poly. At his swing speed and match volume — consistently among the ATP's highest in terms of games played per season — ALU Power's outstanding tension maintenance ensures a consistent feel across long match weeks. Tour setups vary by surface and conditions — use as a directional reference only.
Recommended Setups by Goal
| Goal | Recommended Setup | Starting Tension | What You'll Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | Co-poly (full bed), 1.25mm | 50–54 lbs (22.7–24.5 kg) | Clean, connected response — precise but accessible. The Pure Control at its intended best. |
| More spin | Shaped poly mains (1.25mm), optional soft cross | 48–52 lbs (21.8–23.5 kg) | Meaningful bite boost — shaped strings compensate for the tighter 16x20 geometry effectively |
| More control | Firmer poly or thicker gauge (1.27–1.30mm) | 53–57 lbs (24–26 kg) | Lower launch, surgical precision — for high ball-speed players; retains comfort better than the stiffer Pure Strike |
| More comfort | Hybrid: poly mains + multifilament crosses | Poly mains 48–52 lbs (21.8–23.5 kg) | Noticeably softer — the moderate RA frame amplifies the hybrid's comfort benefit well |
| Premium feel | Natural gut mains + ALU Power crosses | Gut 52–56 lbs / ALU 49–53 lbs | Outstanding comfort and touch — gut transforms the Pure Control's moderate stiffness into a refined, connected response |
Maintenance Rule
- The Pure Control Tour's high match-play usage demands proactive restringing. At 315g with consistent full-swing baseline play (Norrie's usage pattern), a poly will lose meaningful tension within 15–20 hours of play. Dead poly in a moderate-RA frame produces a flat, unresponsive feel — restring before you notice it rather than after.
Top 3 Recommended Strings
These strings consistently perform well in the Pure Control range based on tour usage and community feedback. The moderate flexibility rewards a range of string types — from tour-standard co-polys to hybrid setups.
Best for: Advanced players wanting Norrie's tour-level combination of precision, consistency, and tension maintenance.
The choice of Norrie in the Pure Control Tour and the natural pairing for players who want maximum directional control. ALU Power's aluminium-alloy composition creates a crisp, defined response that pairs well with the Pure Control's moderately flexible beam — not too stiff, not too soft. Outstanding tension maintenance ensures consistent performance across long match weeks and high-volume training sessions.
Best for: Players who want to restore some topspin to the Pure Control's 16x20 geometry using Babolat's factory co-poly.
RPM Blast's round co-poly composition provides clean snapback in the 16x20 pattern, generating meaningful topspin while maintaining the Pure Control's directional precision. A natural ecosystem pairing that balances the tighter pattern's control advantage against its modest spin reduction versus the 16x19 Aero. Excellent for players transitioning from the Pure Aero who want to preserve some spin capability.
Best for: Players wanting ALU Power's control and tension maintenance in a more arm-friendly formulation.
ALU Power Soft's softer formulation compared to standard ALU Power produces a more pocketed, comfortable feel that pairs naturally with the Pure Control's moderately flexible beam. For players who appreciate ALU Power's control characteristics but find the standard version too firm over extended play — particularly useful in the 315g Tour variant where the frame's own mass already provides plenty of stability.
Pro tip: The Pure Control Tour's 315g weight does significant work at contact — it doesn't need a very firm string to maintain control. Players who habitually string firm in lighter frames (54–57 lbs) can often drop 2–3 lbs in the Tour variant and find the heavier frame's mass provides the control they were relying on tension to deliver.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Pure Control Tour | Pure Control 98 | Pure Control 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size | 98 sq in (632 cm²) | 98 sq in (632 cm²) | 100 sq in (645 cm²) |
| Weight (Unstrung) | 315g / 11.1oz | 305g / 10.8oz | 300g / 10.6oz |
| Length | 27 in | 27 in | 27 in |
| Balance | ~318mm / 6–7 pts HL | ~320mm / 5–6 pts HL | ~323mm / 4–5 pts HL |
| String Pattern | 16x20 (semi-dense, precise) | 16x20 | 16x19 (open, more spin) |
| Stiffness (RA) | ~67–69 (moderately flexible) | ~67–69 | ~66–68 |
| Swingweight | ~335–342 | ~322–328 | ~312–318 |
| Beam Width | 23–25mm | 23–25mm | 23–25mm |
| Target Player | Advanced / All-Court (4.5+) | Advanced (4.0–5.0) | Intermediate–Advanced |