Executive Summary
The Babolat Pure Drive Team is the 285g lightweight version of the world's most popular power frame. It retains the Pure Drive's identity — effortless pace, high launch, open string bed — while reducing the physical demand of swinging it.
Key Characteristic: At RA 72 and 285g, this is one of the most powerful frames in the lightweight category. The stiff beam and open 16x19 pattern combine to generate pace with minimal swing effort — ideal for recreational players, women's intermediates, and juniors who want to hit with authority without needing a full swing.
Key Positioning: This is the Pure Drive for players who can't or don't want to swing a 300g frame. The trade-off versus the standard Pure Drive is clear: less stability, less plow-through, and less touch. But for a 3.0–3.5 player who wants to feel like they're hitting hard, the Team delivers that more readily than any other frame at this weight.
Performance Profile
The Team edges the standard Pure Drive in raw power and maneuverability, while sacrificing control, stability, and touch.
Performance Comparison: Pure Drive Team vs Pure Drive
Team leads in maneuverability · Pure Drive leads in stability, control, and touch
On-Court Playtest
We took the Babolat Pure Drive Team through a full hitting session strung with a co-poly in the mid 50s. Here's how the lighter Pure Drive plays, shot by shot.
Groundstrokes
Off the ground the Team delivers the Pure Drive's hallmark easy, explosive depth, but in a 285g frame that is noticeably quicker to swing. Club players and lighter swings get free pace and a forgiving sweet spot without the effort of the 300g frame. As with the standard Pure Drive the ball flies easily, so you commit to topspin to keep it in; the lighter mass also means a little less plough-through against heavy balls.
Serve
Serving is a highlight. The light, maneuverable frame is easy to accelerate and the stiff power platform gives free pop, so first serves come off fast for minimal effort and the Team adds cheap pace for club-level servers.
Volleys & Net
At net the low weight makes the Team fast and easy to handle, and the big forgiving sweet spot helps punch volleys deep. It is less planted than a heavier frame against real pace, so firm hands help on hard-hit passing shots.
Return & Defence
On the return the easy power lets you block big serves back deep with a short swing. On defence the quick frame flicks recovery balls easily, though the lighter mass means the biggest hitters can push it around — you lean on the easy depth rather than plough-through.
Comfort & Feel
It is a stiff frame, and the lighter layup only slightly softens that, so the Team can be firm on the arm. String a soft poly or a gut hybrid at a sensible tension and it stays playable; a firm poly cranked high is best avoided if your arm is sensitive.
Pros & Cons
The quick scannable summary of what we liked — and what to be aware of.
Pros
- Easy, explosive power in a lighter, quicker-to-swing frame
- Very forgiving 100 sq in sweet spot
- One of the easiest frames to generate free serve pace with
- Light and maneuverable for club players and lighter swings
- Plenty of natural spin from the open pattern
Cons
- Stiff — can be firm on the arm if strung hard
- Less stable and planted than the 300g Pure Drive
- Easy power can launch long until you add topspin
- Advanced hitters will likely prefer the standard Pure Drive
Model Context
The Pure Drive family covers multiple weight and head size options. The Team sits at the lighter, more accessible end.
Pure Drive Team
Maximum power with minimum effort. The most accessible entry into the Pure Drive family for players who want to hit big without the physical demands of a heavier frame.
Pure Drive
The standard. Adds 15g for better stability and plow-through while keeping the same power geometry. The step-up when you're consistently outpacing opponents and want more control.
Pure Drive 100
The most forgiving Drive variant with a larger 105 sq in head. For players who prioritise the largest sweet spot over any precision. Similar weight to the Team but more forgiving off-center.
Technical Must-Knows
Who Plays With This?
The Pure Drive Team is one of the most popular recreational frames globally, particularly among women's intermediates, older recreational players, and juniors stepping into adult frames.
The core demographic for the Team. Women's club players at the 3.0–3.5 level consistently choose it for its effortless power, which reduces the strength differential versus male opponents and makes baseline hitting feel authoritative without demanding a heavy swing.
Players who've been playing for years but whose physical strength and swing speed have declined often find the Team gives them back the pop they've lost. The combination of light weight and high RA keeps the game feeling competitive.
Juniors aged 14–17 transitioning from junior frames to adult equipment often start on the Team. It bridges the gap — adult geometry and feel without the 300g commitment their developing bodies aren't ready for.
String Setup Guide
The Pure Drive Team's high stiffness and open pattern already deliver significant power. String choices should prioritise control and arm protection. Reference range: 48–58 lbs (21.5–26.5 kg).
Quick Start (Most Players)
- Start point (soft poly, 1.25mm, full bed): 52–55 lbs — this stiff frame needs controlled tension to avoid flying balls. Don't string low thinking it "adds comfort" — it will remove control.
- If the ball is flying long: Go up 2–3 lbs. The combination of open pattern + RA 72 + light weight makes this frame launch high — tension is your primary control tool.
- If your arm is sore: Switch to a multifilament or RPM Soft at 50–53 lbs. RA 72 is punishing on arm issues; a softer string is essential for pain-free play.
- For beginners: Multifilament at 52 lbs is the safest start. Forgiving, comfortable, and gives enough control at lower swing speeds.
Recommended Setups by Goal
| Goal | Recommended Setup | Starting Tension | What You'll Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | Soft poly full bed, 1.25mm | 52–55 lbs (23.5–25 kg) | Power with manageable control — the default setup for most players |
| More control | Firmer poly or 1.27mm gauge | 54–57 lbs (24.5–26 kg) | Tighter trajectory — recommended for players consistently long |
| Arm comfort | Multifilament or natural gut full bed | 50–54 lbs (22.5–24.5 kg) | Much softer impact — essential for arm sensitivity at this RA |
| Max power | Soft poly, low tension | 48–51 lbs (21.8–23 kg) | Maximum launch and pace — for players wanting a truly effortless hitting experience |
Top 3 Recommended Strings
These strings work consistently well in the Pure Drive Team, balancing its natural power with enough control and arm-friendliness for recreational use.
Best for: Most Pure Drive Team players seeking a balance of power, control, and arm comfort.
RPM Soft is the natural upgrade from standard RPM Blast in this frame. It retains the control and durability of a polyester while reducing the harshness that RA 72 amplifies. The result is a setup that feels controlled without punishing your arm — the safest default for the Team.
Best for: Players with arm sensitivity or beginners wanting maximum comfort and feel.
NRG2 transforms the Pure Drive Team's feel — from a powerful but stiff package to a lively, arm-friendly experience. The slightly higher tension (vs poly) is needed to control the Team's natural power. Excellent for players who find poly too harsh but still want decent durability.
Best for: Intermediate players (3.5+) wanting added spin and trajectory control.
The textured surface of ALU Power Rough adds spin bite that the open 16x19 pattern amplifies. Pairing it with a lower tension offsets the stiffness of both frame and string. A good choice for players developing a topspin game who want the Team's effortless power with a more controlled launch angle.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Pure Drive Team | Pure Drive | Pure Drive 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size | 100 sq in (645 cm²) | 100 sq in (645 cm²) | 105 sq in (677 cm²) |
| Weight (Unstrung) | 285g / 10.1oz | 300g / 10.6oz | 285g / 10.1oz |
| Length | 27 in | 27 in | 27 in |
| Balance | ~325mm / 4–5 pts HL | ~320mm / 5–6 pts HL | ~330mm / 3–4 pts HL |
| String Pattern | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x20 |
| Stiffness (RA) | ~72 | ~72 | ~70 |
| Swingweight | ~295 | ~321 | ~290 |
| Target Player | 3.0–3.5 / Lighter Swing | 3.5–4.5 Players | Beginner / Max Forgiveness |
Our Verdict
The Pure Drive Team is the accessible version of the world's best-selling power frame — the same effortless pop and forgiving sweet spot in a lighter, faster-swinging 285g package.
It's the frame we'd recommend to club players and lighter swings (3.0–4.5) who want the Pure Drive's free power without the effort of the 300g frame. You give up some stability and plough-through, and the stiffness still asks for a sensible string setup, but for accessible power with minimal fatigue the Team nails its brief. Strong, advanced players who want maximum stability should choose the standard Pure Drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Babolat Pure Drive Team good for beginners?
Yes — the Pure Drive Team (285g) is one of the more beginner-and-improver-friendly power frames, with easy depth, a forgiving sweet spot and a light, manageable swing. Just mind the stiffness: string it with a softer poly or multifilament at a sensible tension to keep it comfortable while you develop.
Pure Drive Team vs Pure Drive — which should I buy?
Choose the Pure Drive Team if you want the Pure Drive's effortless power in a lighter, easier-to-swing 285g frame. Choose the standard 300g Pure Drive if you generate your own pace and want more stability and plough-through against heavy balls. The Team is the accessible version of the same power platform.
Is the Pure Drive Team arm-friendly?
It is a stiff frame, and while the lighter layup softens the response slightly it can still be firm on sensitive arms. Make it friendlier by dropping tension to the low 50s lbs and using a soft poly, a multifilament, or a natural-gut hybrid rather than a firm poly at high tension.
What string and tension is best for the Pure Drive Team?
A co-polyester in the mid 50s lbs is the default that controls the easy power. For more comfort drop to the low 50s and use a softer poly or a gut hybrid; for more control go up a couple of pounds or use a thicker gauge; for more spin use a shaped poly. Because the frame is stiff and lively, most players sit in the 52–58 lb range.
Is the Pure Drive Team good for intermediate players?
Very much so. The Pure Drive Team is squarely aimed at club and intermediate players who want free power and a forgiving sweet spot without the physical demand of a heavier frame. It is an easy, confidence-inspiring frame to swing all match.
Is the Pure Drive Team a power or control racquet?
It is firmly a power racquet — the lighter sibling of the benchmark Pure Drive. It delivers easy, explosive depth and a forgiving sweet spot rather than the pinpoint precision of a control frame.