Babolat

Pure Drive Team review

Pure Drive power in a 285g frame. Hit big without the heavy swing.

Racquet product shot
Recommended
Head 100 Pure Drive: 100
Weight 285g Pure Drive: 300g
Pattern 16×19 Pure Drive: 16×19
Stiffness 72 RA Pure Drive: 72 RA
Swingwt 295 Pure Drive: 321
Balance HL Pure Drive: HL
Full specsPure Drive Team · Pure Drive · Pure Aero Team
Pure Drive TeamPure DrivePure Aero Team
Head size100 sq in100 sq in100 sq in
Weight (unstrung)285 g300 g285 g
Weight (strung)308 g325 g308 g
Swingweight295321300
Stiffness72 RA72 RA70 RA
String pattern16×1916×1916×19
BalanceHead LightHead LightHead Light
Fit check

Is it for you?

Level (NTRP)
Swing
Arm
Your match Strong fit
Strong fit. Free power and a forgiving sweet spot for the swing you have.

    Performance

    Pure Drive Team Pure Drive

    Playtest

    Easy, explosive depth.
    Full notes

    The Pure Drive's free pace in a quicker frame. The ball flies easily, so commit to topspin to keep it in; there is a little less plough-through against heavy balls.

    + Pros

    • Effortless power, quick to swing
    • Very forgiving sweet spot
    • Easy free pace on serve
    • Plenty of spin from 16×19

    − Cons

    • Stiff at RA 72
    • Less stable than the 300g Pure Drive
    • Easy power can fly long
    • Advanced hitters will outgrow it

    String for

    52–55 lbs 23.5–25 kg Soft poly, full bed, 1.25mm Pick: Babolat RPM Soft

    Recommended strings

    1. 1
      Babolat RPM Soft Soft poly Control without punishing the arm: the safest default.
      52–55 lbs 23.5–25 kg · 1.25mm
    2. 2
      Tecnifibre NRG2 Multifilament Lively and arm-friendly for sensitive arms.
      53–57 lbs 24–26 kg · 1.30mm
    3. 3
      Luxilon ALU Power Rough Textured control poly Adds spin bite and a lower launch for 3.5+ players.
      50–53 lbs 22.5–24 kg · 1.25mm

    Who plays it

    Tour frames customised

    No player in our database uses this frame.

    Verdict: 8.0

    The accessible version of the world's best-selling power frame: the same effortless pop and forgiving sweet spot, lighter and quicker to swing. More stability: Pure Drive. More spin: Pure Aero Team.

    Related racquets

    FAQ

    Is the Pure Drive Team good for beginners?

    Yes: easy depth, a forgiving sweet spot and a light swing. Mind the stiffness and string it with a soft poly or multifilament.

    Pure Drive Team vs Pure Drive: which should I buy?

    The Team for the Pure Drive's power in a lighter 285g frame. The 300g Pure Drive if you make your own pace and want stability against heavy balls.

    Is the Pure Drive Team arm-friendly?

    It is stiff, and the lighter layup only softens it slightly. Low-50s tension with a soft poly, multifilament or gut hybrid helps.

    What string and tension is best for the Pure Drive Team?

    A co-poly in the mid 50s lbs controls the power. Go lower with a softer string for comfort, higher or thicker for control.

    Is the Pure Drive Team good for intermediate players?

    Very much so. It is aimed squarely at club and intermediate players who want free power without a heavy frame.

    Is the Pure Drive Team a power or control racquet?

    Power. It is the lighter sibling of the benchmark Pure Drive, built for easy depth rather than pinpoint precision.