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Spin, power, or control: Babolat builds its tennis rackets around three clear choices, so you can quickly see which series suits your game. The French brand started out in Lyon in 1875, making natural gut strings, and has grown into one of the best-known racket brands in the world. Rafael Nadal played his entire career with Babolat, and Carlos Alcaraz is carrying on that legacy. Below, we explain which Babolat racket series are available and what each one can do for your game.
Pure Aero, Pure Drive, or Pure Strike: Babolat’s Racket Series Explained
The three Pure series form the core of the Babolat lineup, each with its own focus. The Babolat Pure Aero is the brand’s spin racket family. Its aerodynamic frame helps you swing through the ball quickly, making it easy to generate heavy topspin. It is the series of Alcaraz, and of Nadal before him. Ideal if you like to play with plenty of spin.
The Babolat Pure Drive has been one of the most popular rackets ever since its introduction in 1994, and is known as Babolat’s power racket family. It lets you generate ball speed and depth effortlessly, while staying forgiving when you don’t hit the ball exactly in the sweet spot. That makes the Pure Drive a great fit for a wide range of players, from recreational to competitive. The Babolat Pure Strike is the more control-oriented series. Its boxy frame delivers plenty of feel and precision, so you can place the ball more accurately, especially if you already generate enough power on your own.
Alongside the Pure series, Babolat offers the more accessible Babolat EVO series. The EVO rackets are based on the Pure Drive and Pure Aero, but are lighter, more comfortable, and often feature a larger head size. They are designed for recreational players and those who are still developing their game.
Which Babolat Racket Is Right for Me?
Within the Pure series, you can choose from several versions, which mainly differ in weight, balance, head size, and beam width, and therefore also in racket group. Every Pure series includes at least one 98 version, such as the Pure Aero 98 that Alcaraz plays with. At around 305 grams, it is slightly heavier than the standard version and has a smaller head and a thinner beam. This gives you more control and feel, ideal for advanced and competitive players with long, full swings. The standard version has a 100 sq in head and weighs around 300 grams: maneuverable enough for quick exchanges, yet stable enough to handle heavy balls. That makes it a good choice for many intermediate to advanced players. The Team (around 285 grams), Lite (around 270 grams), and Super Lite (around 255 grams) become progressively more maneuverable and make it easier to generate racket head speed.
Not sure which weight or type of racket suits you best? Answer a few questions on our Racket Advisor page for a tailored selection, or read in our Racket Guide how weight, balance, racket type, and more affect your game. Each product page also lists all of the racket’s specifications, along with additional detailed information. Want to feel the difference before you decide? With our demo service, you can try out different rackets on court, and at our store, we’re happy to help you find the right racket, grip size, and strings. Have your new Babolat strung by us right away, so it arrives ready to play. Curious how Babolat compares to other brands? Browse our full selection of tennis rackets.