The Babolat Pure Drive and Wilson Clash 100 are both great all round rackets that are very popular at the recreational level as they offer good power and spin on your shots without sacrificing too much in the way of control.
In my search for the perfect tennis racket for my game, I have played with both rackets so I am in the ideal position to do a comparison of the Pure Drive vs Clash 100.
Comparison of the Babolat Pure Drive and Wilson Clash 100
Racket Specs
In terms of similarities, both rackets have a 100in head size, a length of 27in, a 16 x 19 string pattern, and a graphite composition.
In terms of weight, the Babolat Pure Drive (or “PD”) is slightly heavier than the Wilson Clash 100 (or “C100”) with a strung weight of 318g versus the 312g strung weight of the C100.
The PD also has a heavier swing weight and is less headlight than the C100 so it will be slightly less maneuverable.
When it comes to stiffness rating, the PD has a much higher stiffness rating than the C100, which means it is likely to be a lot less arm friendly.
| Pure Drive | vs | Clash 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Version: | V2 |
 | Design: |  |
| 100in | Head Size: | 100in |
| 27in | Length: | 27in |
| 318g (11.2oz) | Strung Weight: | 312g (11.0oz) |
| 4pts HL | Balance: | 7 pts HL |
| 320g | Swingweight: | 313g |
| 71 RA | Stiffness: | 57 RA |
| 23mm / 26mm / 23mm | Beam Width: | 24.5mm |
| Graphite | Composition: | Graphite |
| Blue | Colors: | Black, Grey and Red |
| 16 Mains * 19 Crosses | String Pattern: | 16 Mains * 19 Crosses |
| 22-27kg / 50-59lbs | String Tension Range: | 21-26kg / 48-58lbs |
| Check Price on Amazon | Price: | Check Price on Amazon |
You can also check out our short video summarising our comparison below.
Recommendations
If you are not sure whether you should get the PD or the C100 as your new racket, then I have listed below some of my recommendations based on some typical player types.
Before purchasing either of these two rackets, I would recommend that you take advantage of one of the tennis demo programs provided by the big online tennis shops so that you can be sure that the racket suits your game.
Beginner-Intermediate Players
In my opinion, both the PD and the C100 would make great tennis rackets for beginners and intermediate tennis players as they both will help you generate good power and topspin on your shots.
If you were to push me to pick one, I would probably go for the Clash 100 as its low stiffness rating is a big plus for me.
Advanced Players
More advanced tennis players will probably opt for the PD as the extra bit of weight and control you get with it will be more suited to players who like a bit more control from their racket.
The Wilson Clash 98 may be a bitter fit for advanced players looking for a more arm friendly racket that still provides a good amount of control.
One Handed Backhand Players
I would not recommend either of these rackets to someone looking for the Best Tennis Racket for a One Handed Backhand as I found both rackets lacked the control needed to hit an effective and consistent single handed backhand.
Players with Tennis Elbow
If you are a player that has had tennis elbow issues in the past then I would definitely recommend the C100 over the PD as I found that my arm was more painful after playing two hours with the PD versus playing two hours with the Clash 100.