The Best Selling Racket of 2024 gets an update!! 2025 Babolat Pure Drive Review | Rackets & Runners

[@murilo3123]

Gravity Tour 98 and the new Tecnifibre iso305 are the nexts reviews i wanna see!! Happy new year, Luca!

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Happy new year! Yes, we'll be getting those out ASAP.

[@johnnacke4134]

How would you compare this to the new Ezone 100? Which one would you take to a tournament; and, which one would you recommend to a 4.0 old guy with a OHB, flat, slice, some top , medium stroke speed, compact strokes? And, which one makes the better sound when hitting!😀btw: You produce some real quality stuff…always look forward to your work..HNY, best, John

[@maximilianklein9290]

Im also wondering how it compares to ezone 100! Never played a puredrive, however I tested the old ezone 100 last week and absolutely loved it coming from a Wilson ultra.

[@zuh1902]

I'd love to see this comparison. However, I personally prefer the Ezone. But I doubt any of these power frame are suited for OHB

[@The4.0Guy]

Interesting, i would describe my game the same as yours and i really like the ezone 100, i find its power much more controllable, bigger sweet spot and way better to volley with.

[@stephenericwalsh]

Good question.

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Thank you! I haven't actually tried the new Ezone 100 so I can't say quite yet but I'll be doing a comparison of the two in the next few weeks.

[@danielmhm]

Luca, your reviews are the first ones that I sort out of all. They’re excellent and very informative. You have a great ability to communicate and your eloquence is exquisite. Keep up the good work!! PS: I think I’m going to stick with the 30th Anniversary edition!! Love that racket!!

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Thank you very much!

[@NickNeras]

Happy New Year Luca! First day of 2025 and all internet explode with new Babolat Pure Drive Congrats on another great video 👏👏👏

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Happy new year and thank you!

[@WaltKurtz68]

Two other use cases a Pure Drive makes life on court just that little bit easier 1. If you're getting a bit tired, so footwork starts to suffer, (or when your energy level is a bit low that day). 2. When facing a server who thinks he is Andy Roddick or Reilly Opelka. For me a Pure Drive blocks those cannonballs a lot better than my usual Prestiges and Phantoms. I keep a Pure Drive Plus in my bag for these situations. And sometimes a Pure Drive 98. NOW, thanks Luca! 😮😉, I want a 3rd Pure Drive. Namely this one!

[@user-be5qg7mr1s]

what string do you use and tension to control it? I used Hyper G 16GA at 52 lbs. But I always wondered if soemthing better out there to control the power

[@WaltKurtz68]

@@user-be5qg7mr1s My Pure Drive Plus was strung with Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable at about 25 kg (55 lbs). Worked wonderfully (Ultra Cable is a very elastic poly). The Pure Drive 98 is strung with Head Velocity MLT at 24 kg / 53 lbs, which is perfect. Even at that tension it's still plenty powerful. Ideal for facing big servers, for example. This is going to be the next string for the Pure Drive Plus as well. I have only ever used Hyper-G in a Prince TexTreme Tour 100-310 and I didn't like it that much. Felt a bit too mushy and soft. Could have been a mismatch with that frame.

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Exactly! I'll be getting that PD98 review out ASAP.

[@WaltKurtz68]

@@RacketsRunnersVancouver 🤞Fingers crossed you got a better one than Beckett did 😳

[@nemanjafilipovic8817]

Recommended strings for new model?

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

You can never go wrong with RPM Blast/Rough in a Pure Drive.

[@jonathanhahn1506]

Nice review. Waiting for the Pure Drive 98 and Gravity Tour 98 reviews!

[@kentaorozco1480]

This review made me realice that I really need to redevelop my game with a bit more consistency and forgiveness. I’ve been really stubborn with my next racket switch because I like Alcaraz so much I really wanted the aero 98 but I think the drive will be the one for me. Thank Luca for the great reviews that I love so much to watch. Happy new year and great wishes from Mexico

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Thank you very much! Good luck with the racket journey!

[@bf8876]

How did you string this racket (type of string and tension)?

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Babolat RPM Blast at 52 pounds.

[@rossimsc]

Any string recos? And what are your thoughts on the 98? Thanks!

[@zacattack5243]

I found Toroline Wasabi Pro Hybrid to be perfect with it if that helps. Comfortable and helps with spin to keep more shots in. I've had zero discomfort with it using both a 2003 pure drive and the 2021 model, and I found the PA98 to be too stiff with Hyper G for comparison

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

I always go for RPM Blast/Rough in the Pure Drive. I haven't tried the 98 yet but I'll be testing it in the next couple of weeks.

[@johnnacke]

Luca, is this the best racquet for a power flat serve? Or, are there others?

[@sebastiandomagala9233]

It's always good to know what to expect if my opponent shows up with one of these. That's the actual reason why I still watch racquet reviews despite having a racquet that I will never drop (as long as I can swing it).

[@murilo3123]

Wich racquet do you use?

[@sebastiandomagala9233]

@@murilo3123 Yonex Regna 98 What´s yours?

[@murilo3123]

@ nice!!! Nowadays i am playing with Tecnifibre Iso305

[@sergeykouptsov]

Nice review. What difference between drive and pure aero? Specs is very close

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

The Aero is a much more aerodynamically and spin optimized racket. The Pure Drive has a more standard feel to it and is way more solid when you're hitting flat.

[@horaciogarcia2843]

Have you tried the 98? Thoughts in comparison to the 100 regarding power, control and overall feel?

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

I haven't yet, unfortunately but I will be in the next couple of weeks.

[@MithTang]

I keep a 2015 Pure Drive for years. It's a signature version of Li Na, but the signature isn't really the reason. I'm a baseliner, but I always try to mix up my shots (maybe to hard). In other words, I do play around (therefore get kind of inconsistent) with my swing techniques all the time. Sometimes it's like everything feels wrong and all my tricks fail, but PD has always been the "safe net" in those moments. I pick it up, I head back to the court, then I feel I get rescued out of the bad day in 5 minutes 95% of the time. This is what PD is all about to me.

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

I'm not sure, sorry. I never actually tried those rackets.

[@MithTang]

@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I've tried the 2021 roughly. It tweaks only on the feel and stays mostly the same on its core performance if I have to sum.

[@MithTang]

@@RacketsRunnersVancouver The "if I need a hand I got PD" spirit is always there.

[@edisalomon4822]

can you pls. review the new babolat pure drive 98 (2025). thnx

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Yes, will definitely get that review done ASAP.

[@riivoelmat8011]

Hi, how do you test the rackets flex RA? And what does the number show? Is it in millimetres or in what? Thanks and happy new year! 🙂

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

We have a Wilson Baiardo Tune Pro diagnostic machine which flexes the frame and then gives a rating. I actually don't know what that RA means.

[@dmf30]

i am a 4.5 plating with the 2022 model of pure drive plus. string with VS on mains and Velocity MLT on crosses. is it worth going to the new pure drive? recommendation for strings to not exacerbate a bad shoulder

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

For one, I would stick to the same string set up. I think it may be worth getting the new one in your case because it sounds like you want the most comfort possible out of your Pure Drive. Again, small difference from the last one but that comfort is what has improved the most.

[@brunis_m]

What’s the comfort like versus an ezone 100?

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

I haven't tried the new 100 yet but if it's anything like the 98 I would expect it to be quite comfortable.

[@MrHitthespot]

The Problem with the Babolat racquets is comfort. I love all three of their top racquets. However after using the pure aero for a year my elbow started killing me. Love hitting with all the Babolats, but they hate me. I love for Babolat to get a Racquet down to an RA in the low 60’s, and keep their present attributes. Probably impossible.

[@The4.0Guy]

What string/tension were you using?

[@MrHitthespot]

@ low 50’s. I might have tried middle 40’s. I can’t remember. I’m using the Percept now at 54 lbs and very little elbow problems.

[@The4.0Guy]

@MrHitthespot cool, i went vcore 98 with a full bed of multi at 45 lbs, no elbow irritation for months

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

It would be kind of cool for them to release a new soft drive but I don't think they will any time soon. I understand, though, these high stiffnesses are not for everyone but they are so much more comfortable than they used to be.

[@svlagonda7417]

Whats the difference between the 2025 version of the PD98 and Aero98??

[@andrewseung2692]

For me, the difference would probably be mostly due to feel and stability. Although the power and spin levels are relatively similar (with how I swing), the pure drive does edge out slightly. In terms of the stability, I personally think that the PD98 needs a little bit of weight towards 3 and 9 in order to get it up to the point of the pure aero. Feel wise they are different but not worlds apart different. Its more like a different view of the same feel if that makes sense.

[@vamostimow]

We neeed this video

[@tesladiesel2420]

Luca, please move this comparison to the top. Need your feedback thank you!

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

Good question. I'll be testing it ASAP.

[@stephenericwalsh]

Does new dampening tech cause any power loss at all? Even slightly?

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

No, I really didn't think so. Still very very high power.

[@stephenericwalsh]

@@RacketsRunnersVancouver this is good news to me. Love the power of the 2021 PD but love the dampened feel of the 2023 aero. Now I can have both.

[@TajuKadi]

The video content is carefully crafted!I'm a little confused:I have a wallet address with usdt in it and I have a recovery phrase.:(laugh nominee buzz game expose field wash shoe world sadness bicycle grain).:How should I transfer them into my own wallet?

[@tedneanderthal7373]

Is this new Babolat technology similar to the Organix technology used by Volkl years ago? The Babolat tech uses flax; the Volkl Organix uses cellulose. Thughts/comments?

[@RacketsRunnersVancouver]

I'm not sure, sorry. I never actually tried those rackets.

[@AlexIsUber]

I hate the stiffness of PD and I play with Head Extrme 2031

[@ERVIN-UJKA]

First