Kim Clijsters Talks All Things Babolat Pure Drive Racquets | Talk Tennis Podcast

[@lucaappino4769]

It was me (Luca) the first to introduce to the Pure Drive. Actually you were 14 playing the Tennis Europe master in Prato. You were there with your coach (Carl). After seeing you playing I approached you and asked to try out the racquet. Then after you said to be fine with the racquet, with your dad we negotiated the quantity of natural gut strings to put in the sponsoring deal. 🤗🤗🤗

[@tenniswarehouse]

@lucaappino4769 This is so cool! Luca, I love that you found this vid and connected! Going to share with the Babolat Team! Or maybe you are still connected and working with them?! Such a fun story! I am guessing you have a lot of them :) Michelle, TW

[@lucaappino4769]

@@tenniswarehouse funny, it has been sent to me by the father of Canadian young girl I was coaching. Not working anymore for Babolat since 2006 when I restarted to coach on tour. In different ways I also scouted and signed for Babolat, when they were young, Nadal (12), Roddick (15), Safina (15), Wozniacki (14).

[@tenniswarehouse]

@lucaappino4769 So cool! Maybe you should be on the podcast next! Let me know if you have any interest in chatting and telling some fun stories! Michelle, TW

[@lucaappino4769]

@@tenniswarehouse yes. We can do it.

[@tenniswarehouse]

@@lucaappino4769 Shoot me an email please :) [e-mail] Michelle, TW

[@christianolsson834]

I hope Babolat listens to this and gives her a wall of pure drives. ❤

[@zeroelus]

If she's gonna be representing them in this sort of things it's the right thing to do :)

[@WinstonDu]

Great energy Michelle well done!

[@suckisucki5dollah]

Winston huge fan. Please recognize me🥺 but I'm expecting you to have the tick mark🤔😅

[@stephanmalin9675]

What a fun chat, just nerding out about racquets and the sport. So cool.

[@dannyyiu5971]

Such a genuine person. Respect.

[@kayanoreeves1949]

Nothing feels quite as amazing as a Pure Drive. I also knew from the first hit that it was special.

[@samackin6032]

PD user and recently saw Kim in an exho in my city. She was great to watch and yeah she can still powder the ball. Big fan.

[@HonkyMonky]

Kim was such a great competitor. I have loved watching her in the early 2000, brings back nostalgia

[@JovanniG678]

I think Michelle was more nervous in this interview than with Fed. Love to see an interviewer “Fan” out at the same time. Awesome job!!!

[@tenniswarehouse]

This was definitely a bucket list item! She was the best!💙 Michelle, TW

[@ckn711]

I always loved the way Kim played and her personality too. Such a nice person. Very fun interview.

[@RickOwensHeelDrag]

Pure drive “Swirly” & the subsequent “Team” are the best of the bunch (Pre “Cortex” technology reigns supreme)

[@JMag94]

This was Fantastic, what a great chat!

[@danieldangelo7937]

I met Kim Clijster coach in Toronto couple months ago He spoke quite highly of Kim.

[@nglfmark1]

Excellent and fun interview with Kim.

[@TheDeadlyKnight]

I think the 2nd-best pure ball-striker I ever saw on WTA. The fans loved ya Kim!

[@tenniswarehouse]

Gotta ask, who's the 1st?! Kim is definitely one of the BEST! LEGENDARY :)

[@TheDeadlyKnight]

@@tenniswarehouse Have to say Serena, all strokes (serve, fh, bh). Her shots, especially 20 yrs ago, seemed to knock opponents back on their heels more than any woman ever

[@Hakinman1]

Love the story! Love Kim!

[@Ahelow]

Oooh new pure drives look nice

[@JK-vc7ie]

That’s what I use. Love it.

[@garrydhintz8017]

Seeing them geek out on the pure drive that's how I feel about head prestige racquets.

[@Nahtanos]

great video!!! great job to all

[@vijaynarsapur147]

What a sorted woman...kim🙏

[@maxwouters8641]

This is such a cool video

[@icefalcon2243]

Man I really need one. I’ve got some affordable rackets that I love but I’ve never had a real high quality pro racket. I know it would take some getting used to but I’m about ready

[@icefalcon2243]

Also, both of the girls are so sweet.

[@paolomoro4665]

@Paolo Moro I have been working in tennis for more than 40 years.. the history and success of Babolat in pro tour , owes a lot to the ability and professionalism of Luca Appino 🔝. Happy birthday 🎂 Pure Drive 30th

[@wickedandbadful]

Legend.

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

Came back to tennis after 20 years, tried a few different brands then tried a Babolat Boost Drive 105 slightly head-heavy - it literally blew me away as my game started to come together. It may be the cheaper version of the PD but so stunning for me at least.

[@tenniswarehouse]

Sounds like a good switch to me! Love that it is working so well for you! Happy Hitting :) Michelle, TW

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

@@tenniswarehouse My forehand top spin is still a bit shaky but I’m hoping a few lessons will cure that - gear can only get us so far

[@zlzhao1104]

30th Anniversary version: the exact same racquet that has been on the market for 3+ years, just a different paint? Good job Babolat.

[@pojola]

The people that work there are really lazy😮

[@rogersliu1200]

the pure drive is a great allrounder but the funny thing is that the top 10 men are all highly specialized in some way and that's why you don't see PD in top men's games which power racket is less of a priority for those people

[@devpatel7154]

Not top 10 necessarily but so many pros use the Pure Drive lol

[@iamshadowbanned699]

Oh my God Kimmie I miss her so much.

[@Syntha11]

Hi @Tennis Warehouse, which racket do you suggest for someone who hits flat and has a good serve I really need advice.

[@Dejan254]

Original is Pro Kennex Destiny! Babolat bought that mold from them. Rest is the history

[@Wallebm]

They should try to make The pure drive softer, keep the RA under 70 and do more to soften the frame then it would be awesome

[@weyman4317]

So many Pure Drives- versions and weights. Still think they’re too stiff and not elbow friendly. Not sure about quality control either but great marketing and best seller.

[@josephszymanik9609]

Was the original pure drive made on the mold from the prokennex destiny graphite. I had one of those in the 1990s, interested to know if that's true.

[@cp4christo]

Pretty sure that is correct, I also had the PK, great stick. PK really dropped the ball selling that mold

[@Official.tadiwa]

Michelle which brand sponsored you?! Donnay? Fischer? Yomaha?

[@tenniswarehouse]

PRINCE! I used the Prince Precision Equipe Longbody :) Michelle, TW

[@emjay2045]

Too bad those PD’s are so Bleepin STIFF… because I love the BLUE!

[@brazy1892]

Kim has 5 kids!!

[@danielfuerguth]

OK, so did she changed Racquets or paint jobs?

[@ryvo43]

Actually she changed the racquets for the most part. She started with the Original model and used it until the first time she retired. Then when she came back she used the GT Cortex version and progressively moved on changing the frame with each one that came out until she retired again. Then when she came back the third time she used the 2018 version and changed the paint when the 2021 version released, keeping the 2018 frame though. So of the 9 versions, she actually used 5 of them. You can tell by looking closely at the grommets in pictures from each year

[@barts6353]

They talk about the appearance because not much else has changed. 😉

[@danschannel169]

Hopefully Chris will start saying Babolat properly after this. 😂

[@troyroy01]

Do pros change frames with each new iteration? Me thinks no….

[@tedneanderthal7373]

Great racquet but way too stiff for me.

[@Anton.Arkhipov]

Did Kim really change from version to version, or was using paintjobs?

[@lucaappino4769]

No paint jobs

[@goggleboy2464]

Yeah if u dont use natural gut maybe you will ruin your arm with the pure drive.

[@Bakugo24]

I’m not going to lie I think Kim gave some of the worst advice for picking a racket I’ve ever heard 😂