In this article, I will look at the racket specs of Babolat’s Pure Aero 98 (or “PA 98”) and Pure Drive 98 (or “PD 98”) tennis rackets to see how they compare to each other.
General Info
Below is some general information on these rackets including their brand, version, composition, and colors.
| General info | PD 98 | PA 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand: | Babolat | Babolat |
| Version: | V2 (2023) | 2023 |
| Composition: | HTR / Graphite | Graphite |
| Color(s): | Blue and Black | Yellow and Black |
Racket Specs
Below is a comparison of the technical specifications of the Pure Drive 98 and Pure Aero 98 tennis rackets.
Main Differences: The Pure Drive 98 has a less head light balance (4pts HL vs 6pts HL), a lower swing weight (315g vs 327g), a higher frame stiffness rating (67 vs 65), a slightly thinner beam width (21mm / 23mm / 21mm vs 21mm / 23mm / 22mm), and a different string pattern (16×19 vs 16×20).
Similarities: Both rackets have the same head size (98in), racket length (27in), and Strung weight (323g).
| Racket Specs: | PD 98 | PA 98 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size (sq cm) | 632 | 632 | 0.00% |
| Head Size (sq in) | 98 | 98 | 0.00% |
| Length (cm) | 68.58 | 68.58 | 0.00% |
| Length (in) | 27 | 27 | 0.00% |
| String Pattern | 16 x 19 | 16 x 20 | – |
| HL or HH1 | HL | HL | – |
| Strung Balance (cm) | 33.02 | 32.49 | 1.61% |
| Strung Balance (pts) | 4 | 6 | 50.00% |
| Strung Weight (grams) | 323 | 323 | 0.00% |
| Strung Weight (ounces) | 11.4 | 11.4 | 0.00% |
| Swing Weight | 315 | 327 | 3.81% |
| Unstrung Weight (grams) | 305 | 305 | 0.00% |
| Unstrung Weight (ounces) | 10.8 | 10.8 | 0.00% |
| Frame Stiffness | 67 | 65 | 2.99% |
| Beam Width (mm) | 21 / 23 / 21 | 21 / 23 / 22 | 5.00% |
1 Head Light or Head Heavy
Pros and Cons
Below are what I think are the main pros and cons of these two tennis rackets.
| Racket: | PD 98 | PA 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Pros: | More control orientated than the standard pure drive. | More control orientated than the standard pure aero while still providing good levels of spin |
| Cons: | You need to have a fast long swing to get the most out of this frame | A relatively heavy frame that is not suitable for beginners |
Head to Head
Below are my recommendations in terms of which racket is better in terms of Power, Control, Spin, and Arm Friendliness.
| H2H | PD 98 | PA 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Power |  | – |
| Control | – |  |
| Spin | – | |
| Arm Friendliness | – | |
Player Recommendations
Below are our recommendations for recreational players at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
| Player Level | PD 98 | PA 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner |  | |
| Intermediate | | |
| Advanced |  | |
Pro Player Endorsements
The Pure Aero 98 is endorsed by Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Holger Rune, while the Pure Drive 98 is not currently endorsed by any pro tennis player.
Where can you buy these rackets?
The rackets are for sale in most good online tennis shops and through Babolat.com.