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.
Both the Pure Aero and the Pure drive are very popular rackets amongst recreational players, which may be down in part to the pro players that endorse the two rackets.
The Babolat Pure Aero is endorsed by Rafael Nadal, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and the Babolat Pure Drive is endorsed by tennis pros Garbine Muguruza and Fabio Fognini.
This article will compare the two rackets (Babolat Pure Aero 2023 and Pure Drive 2021) so you can decide which of these two rackets will be better for your game.
What is the difference between Babolat Pure Aero and Babolat Pure Drive?
To see what is the difference between the Babolat Pure Aero and Babolat Pure Drive, I looked at the racket specs of both rackets and summarised the main differences below.
Racket Specs – Babolat Pure Aero vs Pure Drive
After completing this comparison I was surprised by just how similar these two rackets are in terms of specs, as the two tennis rackets 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 Pure Aero having a swing weight that is just 2g heavier than the Pure Drive.
The only real big difference between the two rackets 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.
| Racket Specs | Babolat Pure Aero | Babolat Pure Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2023 | 2021 |
| Picture: |  |  |
| 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 |
| Racket Colours: | 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 |
| Racket Price: | Check at Amazon | Check at Amazon |
Babolat Pure Aero vs Babolat Pure Drive FAQ
Is the Babolat Pure Aero Good for Beginners?
I wouldn’t recommend the Babolat Pure Aero to beginners as I think the racket is too heavy for beginners and is more suited to intermediate to advanced tennis players.
Is the Babolat Pure Aero Good for One Handed Backhand Players?
I wouldn’t say the Babolat Pure Aero 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.
Is the Babolat Pure Aero a Stiff Tennis Racket?
Yes, the Babolat Pure Aero is a relatively stiff racket with a stiffness rating of 65.
What Tennis Pros use the Babolat Pure Aero and Pure Drive?
The Babolat Pure Aero 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 Babolat Pure Drive 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.
Is the Pure Aero Head Light or Head Heavy?
Both the Pure Aero and Pure Drive 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 Babolat Pure Drive as the better all round racket as it has a slightly lower swing weight.