Page 41 - Tennis Magazine April 2019

Babolat

An exciting new

Pure Drive and more
playable Pure Aeros

Babolat constantly surveys
its audience to find out what
improvements they want in an
update. For Aero players, it was
a racquet with the playability of
the 2013 Aero Pro Drive and the
power of the 2016 Pure Aero. For
the 2019 Aero, Cortex Pure Feel
dampening was added at 3 and BABOLAT BABOLAT
9 o’clock, the flex was lowered
for better feel and control, and a Pure Aero Pure Aero Tour
special carbon was added to the
• PRICE: $229 • PRICE: $229
yoke for improved torsional
• HEAD SIZE: 100 SQ. IN. • HEAD SIZE: 100 SQ. IN.
stability without raising rigidity.
• LENGTH: 27 IN. • LENGTH: 27 IN.
The company also felt it was
• WEIGHT: 11.3 OZ. • WEIGHT: 11.7 OZ.
time to add a VS model to the
• BALANCE: 4 PTS. HL • BALANCE: 7.5 PTS. HL
Pure Drive family. The smaller
• SWINGWEIGHT: 326 • SWINGWEIGHT: 325
head, thinner beam and lower
• RA RATING: 66 • RA RATING: 65
flex increase the control and
• BEAM WIDTH: 23MM / 26MM / 23MM • BEAM WIDTH: 23MM / 26MM / 23MM
precision of the frame, while
• STRING PATTERN: 16×19 • STRING PATTERN: 16×19
retaining some of the pop that
• NTRP: 3.0-5.0 • NTRP: 4.0+
has made the line so popular.
It also introduces a new sales How it tested: As expected, the Pure How it tested: The heftiest member of
model: the frames will be sold in Aero’s penchant for lively power, massive the Pure Aero clan packed extra stability
pairs, with a weight variance of
spin potential and grip-and-rip tactics and plow-through for advanced
1.9 grams to appeal to players
remained intact in this latest generation. ball-strikers preferring the benefits of a
who like to match their racquets.
The subtle wrinkles came in the form of a heavier frame. It wasn’t as quick as the
more comfortable response and lighter standard model, but the swing-
EXPLORING THE CATALOG heightened control courtesy of the weight and balance were favorable
slightly softer flex and improved enough to generate ample spin and pace
The latest update to the dampening. It’s still plenty firm, leaving a from aggressive cuts. It also doesn’t
Propulse shoe line, the Rage, mostly sturdy, solid impression at possess the firepower of the frame it
launched in early winter...The contact—returns of serve were replaces, which for most of our testers
JET shoe will be offered in new dependable and volleys had good punch, was an improvement. Big serves, heavy
colors, along with the Propulse with better-than-expected touch for this ground strokes and punishing volleys
Fury, which will also get a more class of frames. Some testers com- remained within its arsenal, yet the frame
flexible Power Strap…Special plained that abandoning the crisper proved to be more compliant. It’s never
editions of the Pure Aero and response resulted in inferior off-center going to be a precision instrument, and
Pure Strike will arrive for Roland stability but ultimately, the friendlier feel flatter shots can still be a challenge. But
Garros and Wimbledon, respec- and improved playability won out for a the updates have improved overall
tively…There will be luggage to majority of our users. The changes didn’t dependability and arm-friendliness, while
complement the new Pure Drive sacrifice what has made the Pure Aero an still delivering enough pace, spin and
VS…The next generation of Pure already successful all-around frame with backbone to satisfy skilled practitioners
Strike racquets is coming in the a varied range of followers, and made it of baseline aggression.
second half of the year. even more appealing.

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