The Babolat Pure Aero and Pure Aero VS are tennis rackets that are aimed at intermediate to advanced players.
At first glance, both rackets may look very similar but they are actually very different to play with.
The Pure Aero is the more popular of the two rackets as it has been endorsed by Rafael Nadal for many years.
However, the VS may see some more sales now that it is the tennis racket of choice for Carlos Alcaraz.
Babolat Pure Aero vs Pure Aero VS Comparison
For this racket comparison, we will be using the 2023 Version of the Pure Aero (or “PA”) and the 2019 Version of the Babolat Pure Aero VS (or “VS”).
NB: The 2023 version of the VS is due to be released in January 2023.
Racket Specs
| Racket Specs: | PA | VS |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2023 | 2019 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Head Size: | 100in | 98in |
| Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 318g (11.2oz) | 320g (11.3oz) |
| Swingweight: | 322g | 321g |
| Balance Point: | 4 pts HL | 6 pts HL |
| Frame Stiffness: | 65 | 67 |
| Power: | Low-Medium | Low-Medium |
| Beam Width: | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm | 21mm / 23mm / 22mm |
| Composition: | Graphite | Graphite |
| Colors: | Yellow and Black | Yellow and Black |
| String Pattern: | 16 x 19 | 16 x 20 |
| Grip Type: | Babolat Syntec Pro | Babolat Syntec Pro |
Head Size and Racket Length
The PA has a bigger head size (100in) when compared with the VS (98in) and therefore the PA will have a slightly bigger sweet spot.
However, both of these tennis rackets have a racket length of 27 inches which is pretty standard nowadays.
Strung Weight and Swing Weight
Both tennis rackets have very similar strung weights with the Pure Aero VS being only two grams heavier than the Pure Aero.
In terms of swing weight, the VS (321g) is slightly lighter than the PA (322g) but the difference is very small.
Balance
Both tennis rackets have a head light balance with the VS having a 6 pts Head Light balance and the PA having a 4 pts Head Light balance.
The VS is definitely the more maneuverable of the two tennis rackets but not by much.
Frame Stiffness Rating
The PA (65) has a lower stiffness rating when compared with the VS (67) but you are not going to feel much of a difference in terms of arm friendliness.
Beam Width
As you would expect from the more control-focused VS, it has a thinner beam width than the PA.
Power
Both the PA and the VS are low to medium powered tennis rackets so you will need to have good technique and be able to hit with a full swing if you want to get the most out of these tennis rackets.
String Pattern
The PA has a 16 x 19 string pattern while the VS has a 16 x 20 string pattern.
The extra cross string on the VS helps to add a bit more control to your shots.
If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of the different string pattern options, check out our article on tennis racket string patterns.
Design
Both of these rackets look good and have very similar designs so it’s unlikely it will be a deciding factor when choosing between the two frames.
Recommendations
Both the PA and VS are better suited to players who are either strong intermediate or advanced players as both rackets are relatively heavy and require good technique in order to get the most out of them.
If you are this type of player then I would recommend the PA if you have a two handed backhand and the VS if you have a one handed backhand.