The Wilson Blade 100 and Babolat Pure Drive are good all round rackets that are ideal for intermediate tennis players looking for a frame that offers good power and spin.
This article will look at the specs of both rackets to see how they compare to each other.
Racket Specs Comparison – Pure Drive vs Blade 100
Below is a comparison of the technical specifications of the Babolat Pure Drive (2021 Version) and the Wilson Blade 100 V8, which you can use to get a better idea as to which may be a better suit for your game.
Main Differences: The Blade 100 has a slightly lower swing weight (320 vs 318), a lower frame stiffness rating (60 vs 71), and a thinner beam width (22.5mm vs 23mm / 26mm / 23mm).
Similarities: Both rackets have the same head size (100in), length (27in), strung weight (11.2oz), and balance (4 pts HL).
| Racket Specs: | Pure Drive | Blade 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2021 | V8 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Composition: | Graphite | Graphite |
| Head Size (sq cm) | 645cm2 | 645.16cm2 |
| Head Size (sq in) | 100in2 | 100in2 |
| Length (cm) | 68.58cm | 68.58cm |
| Length (in) | 27in | 27in |
| String Pattern | 16 x 19 | 16 x 19 |
| HL or HH1 | HL | HL |
| Strung Balance (cm) | 33cm | 33cm |
| Strung Balance (pts) | 4 pts HL | 4 pts HL |
| Strung Weight (grams) | 318g | 318g |
| Strung Weight (ounces) | 11.2oz | 11.2oz |
| Swing Weight | 320 | 318 |
| Unstrung balance (cm) | 32cm | 32cm |
| Unstrung balance (pts) | 7 pts HL | 7 pts HL |
| Unstrung Weight (grams) | 300g | 300g |
| Unstrung Weight (ounces) | 10.58oz | 10.58oz |
| Frame Stiffness | 71 | 60 |
| Beam Width (mm) | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm | 22.5mm |
1 Head Light or Head Heavy
Pros and Cons
The Pure Drive has a good mix of power, control, and spin, a generous sweet spot, and gives you easy power on your serves with the main drawback being its high stiffness rating and lack of control.
The Blade 100 has a nice design, a manageable weight, with good spin but more advanced players may find it lacks a little in terms of control.
Head to Head
The Blade 100 offers more control and is more comfortable to play with, while the Pure Drive gives you more power and spin potential.
| H2H | Blade 100 | PD |
|---|---|---|
| Power | – |  |
| Control |  | – |
| Spin | – | |
| Arm Friendliness | | – |
Player Recommendations
Both rackets are best used by intermediate to advanced tennis players who have developed medium to full swings.
| Player Level | Blade 100 | PD |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner |  | |
| Intermediate |  | |
| Advanced | | |
Pro Player Endorsements
The Pure Drive is endorsed by Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Fabio Fognini, and Sofia Kenin, while the Blade range of tennis rackets is endorsed by a number of different pro players including Stefanos Tsitsipas and Emma Raducanu.
Where can you buy these rackets?
The rackets can be purchased in most good online tennis shops like Tennis Warehouse and Racquet Guys.