The Babolat Pure Aero and Babolat Pure Drive are two of Babolat’s best selling tennis rackets and are also quite popular amongst club players.
The Pure Aero is endorsed by Rafael Nadal, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, while the Pure Drive is endorsed by tennis pros Garbine Muguruza and Fabio Fognini.
This article will compare the two rackets so you can decide which may be a better suit for your game.
What is the difference between Babolat Pure Aero and Babolat Pure Drive?
To see what is the difference between the Pure Aero (or “PA”) and Pure Drive (or “PD”), I looked at the racket specs of both rackets and summarised the main differences below.
Racket Specs
After completing this comparison I was surprised by just how similar these two frames are in terms of specs, as they both have the same head size (100in), racket length (27in), strung weight (318g), balance (4pts HL), and String Pattern (16×19).
They also have very similar swing weights with the PA having a swing weight that is just 2g heavier than the PD.
Main Differences: The only real big difference between the two frames is their stiffness rating with the Pure Aero having a stiffness rating of 65 and the Pure Drive having a slightly higher stiffness rating of 71.
| Specs | Pure Aero | Pure Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2023 | 2021 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Head Size: | 100in | 100in |
| Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 318g (11.2oz) | 318g (11.2oz) |
| Unstrung Weight: | 300g (10.6oz) | 300g (10.6oz) |
| Balance: | 4pts HL | 4pts HL |
| Unstrung Balance: | 7pts HL | 7pts HL |
| Swingweight: | 322g | 320g |
| Stiffness: | 65 | 71 |
| Beam Width: | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm |
| Composition: | Graphite | Graphite |
| Colors: | White, Yellow, and Black | Blue and Black |
| String Pattern: | 16 Mains * 19 Crosses | 16 Mains * 19 Crosses |
| Grip Type: | Babolat Syntec Pro | Babolat Syntec Pro |
| Price: | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
FAQ
Are these rackets good for beginners?
I wouldn’t recommend the PA or PD to beginners as I think they are too heavy and are more suited to intermediate to advanced tennis players.
Would they suit one handed backhand Players?
I wouldn’t say the PA or PD is a bad racket to use if you have a one handed backhand but I definitely think there are rackets out there that would suit one handed backhand players more e.g. Wilson Clash 98 or Babolat Pure Strike Tour.
Which Tennis Racket is more Arm Friendly?
Both rackets have relatively high stiffness ratings so neither is likely to be very arm friendly.
Are they stiff tennis rackets?
Yes, the PA and PD are relatively stiff rackets with a stiffness rating of 65 and 71.
What tennis pros use these rackets?
The PA is endorsed by the following tennis pros on the ATP and WTA Tours: Rafael Nadal, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jennifer Brady, Danielle Collins, Leylah Fernandez, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Elise Mertens. The PD is endorsed by the following tennis pros on the ATP and WTA Tours: Amanda Anisimova, Fabio Fognini, Sofia Kenin, Karolina Pliskova, Lucas Pouille, and grand slam winner Garbine Muguruza.
Are they head light or head heavy?
Both the PA and PD are Head Light Rackets with a balance of 4pts HL when strung.
Which is the better all round racket?
Although both rackets are very similar, I would just give the edge to the PD as the better all round racket as it has a slightly lower swing weight, which will suit more players.