In this article, I will be comparing Babolat’s Pure Drive and Pure Drive Team tennis rackets, by looking at the specs of each racket, which will help you decide which is the best frame for your needs.
Babolat Pure Drive vs Team Comparison
In the comparison below I have used the 2021 version of the Pure Drive and the Pure Drive Team.
Racket Specs Comparison
Main Differences: The Pure Drive has a heavier strung weight (318g vs 301g), a heavier swing weight (320 vs 313), a less head light balance (4 pts HL vs 5 pts HL), and a higher stiffness rating (71 vs 69).
Similarities: Both rackets have the same head size (100in), racket length (27in), beam width (23mm/26mm/23mm), and string pattern (16×19).
| Pure Drive | vs | Pure Drive Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Version: | 2021 |
 | Design: |  |
| 100in | Head Size: | 100in |
| 27in | Racket Length: | 27in |
| 318g (11.22oz) | Strung Weight: | 301g (10.62oz) |
| 300g (10.58oz) | Unstrung Weight: | 285g (10.05oz) |
| 320g (11.29oz) | Swing weight: | 313g (11.04oz) |
| 4pts HL | Balance: | 5pts HL |
| 71 | TW Stiffness Rating: | 69 |
| Low to Medium | Power: | Low to Medium |
| Intermediate to Advanced | Player Level: | Beginner – Intermediate |
| 23mm/26mm/23mm | Beam Width: | 23mm/26mm/23mm |
| Blue | Main Color: | Blue |
| 16 x 19 | String Pattern: | 16 x 19 |
| 7T,9T,7H,9H | Main Skips: | 7T,9T,7H,9H |
| Babolat Syntec Pro | Grip Type: | Babolat Syntec Pro |
Head Size
Both tennis rackets have a 100in Midplus head size, which is probably the most popular head size used by recreational players.
Length
Both have a standard racket length of 27 inches long.
If you want a racket with an extended length, then the Pure Drive has a Plus Version that is 27.5 inches long.
Currently, there is no extended version of the Pure Drive Team.
Strung Weight
The strung weight of the Pure Drive (318g/11.22oz) is 17g heavier than the strung weight of the Pure Drive Team (301g/10.62oz), so if you are looking for a lightweight frame then the Team will be the better option for you.
Unstrung Weight
The Pure Drive has an unstrung weight of 300g (10.58oz), while the Pure Drive Team has an unstrung weight of 285g (10.05oz).
Swing Weight
The Pure Drive has a swing weight of 320g (11.29oz), which is 7g heavier than the Pure Drive Team (313g/11.04oz), so beginner to intermediate players will find the Team easier to swing and manoeuvre at the net.
Balance
The Pure Drive has a 4 pts Head Light (or “HL”) balance, while the Pure Drive Team has a 5 pts HL balance.
Stiffness Rating
The Pure Drive (71) has a slightly higher stiffness rating when compared with the Pure Drive Team (69), with both rackets having a relatively high stiffness rating so they would not be considered particularly arm friendly or comfortable to play with.
Power and Control
Both rackets are low to medium powered tennis rackets with the Pure Drive Team having more power and the Pure Drive having more control.
If you struggle to get power on your groundstrokes or serve then the Team will be the better option for you.
Recommended Player Level
The Pure Drive is best suited to intermediate tennis players, while the Pure Drive Team is best suited to beginner to intermediate tennis players.
Advanced players will want to go with the Pure Drive as it has more control but in my opinion, most advanced club players will want a racket that gives them more control like a Pure Strike or a Pure Aero VS.
Beam Width
Both rackets have a beam width of 23mm/26mm/23mm which helps you generate power on your groundstrokes.
String Pattern
Both rackets have a 16 x 19 string pattern, which will help you add some topspin to your shots.
If you want to learn more about string patterns and how they affect the playability of a racket, you can check out this guide.
Grip Type
Both rackets come with a Babolat Syntec Pro Grip as standard.