Babolat has recently launched 2023 versions of the Pure Aero (or “PA”) and the PA Team so I thought it would be a good time to check out how these two rackets compare to each other.
The Babolat’s Pure Aero range of tennis rackets is endorsed by several top tennis pros including Rafael Nadal, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Danielle Collins, and Leylah Fernandez.
This article will look at the racket specs of both frames so you can see which one might suit your game better!
Babolat Pure Aero Team vs Pure Aero
For this racket comparison, we will compare the 2023 versions of the Babolat Pure Aero Team (or “PAT”) and the reuglar PA.
Both tennis rackets were released on the 25th of August 2022.
Racket Specs Comparison
| Specs: | PAT | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2023 | 2023 |
| Racket: |  |  |
| Release Date: | 25/08/2022 | 25/08/2022 |
| Head Size: | 100in | 100in |
| Racket Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 301g (10.6oz) | 318g (11.2oz) |
| Swingweight: | 302g | 322g |
| Balance: | 5 pts HL | 4 Pts HL |
| TW Stiffness Rating: | 67 | 65 |
| Power: | Low to Medium | Low to Medium |
| Beam Width: | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm |
| Colours: | White, Yellow, and Black | White, Yellow, and Black |
| String Pattern: | 16×19 | 16×19 |
| Main Skips: | 7T,9T,7H,9H | 8T,8H |
| Grip Type: | Babolat Syntec Pro | Babolat Syntec Pro |
Head Size and Length
The PAT and PA have a 100in head size and a 27in racket length.
Strung Weight, Balance, and Swing Weight
As you would expect, the PAT (301g) has a lower strung weight when compared with the PA (318g) so the PAT will feel a good bit lighter in your hand.
The PAT (302g) also has a much lower swing weight than the PA (322g) so the PAT will be much easier to swing and be less tiring on your arm.
Stiffness Rating
The PAT (67) has a higher stiffness rating than the PA (65) but the difference isn’t big enough for you to feel much of a difference.
To learn more about how a racket’s stiffness rating affects how arm friendly it is, check out my guide on the best tennis rackets for tennis elbow.
Power and Control
Both tennis rackets are low-medium powered frames with the PAT providing a little more power than the PA.
In terms of control, the PA gives you a bit more control over your shots.
Beam Width
Both of these tennis rackets have a 23mm / 26mm / 23mm beam width.
String Pattern
Both rackets have a 16×19 string pattern so they will be good at adding spin to your shots.
Design
The only difference in terms of design is that the PAT has a white colored grip while the PA has a black colored grip.
Recommendations
In my opinion, the PAT will be the best option for the vast majority of recreational players (especially beginner to intermediate players) as it has a lower strung and swing weight than the PA, which means the PAT will be a lot more comfortable to play with over a prolonged period of time.
I would only recommend the PA to advanced players who have developed a full swing and have good technique on all their groundstrokes.
In terms of what playing styles these rackets suit, I think they would suit players who like to like to play from the baseline and hit lots of spin on their shots.
The extra weight you get with the PA, makes it the better option for players who like to go to the net.