For many years, the Speed Pro and Pure Drive have been two of the most popular tennis rackets produced by Head and Babolat.
In this article, I will be looking at the racket specs of the Speed Pro and the Pure Drive to see how these two tennis rackets compare to each other.
Head Speed Pro vs Babolat Pure Drive – Racket Specs Comparison
In the comparison below, I have used the 2024 version of the Head Speed Pro and the 2021 version of the Babolat Pure Drive.
| Specs: | Speed Pro | Pure Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2024 | 2021 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Head Size: | 100in | 100in |
| Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 326g (11.50oz) | 318g (11.22oz) |
| Unstrung Weight: | 310g (10.93oz) | 300g (10.58oz) |
| Swing weight: | 333 | 320 |
| Balance: | 6 pts HL | 4 pts HL |
| TW Stiffness Rating: | 60 | 71 |
| Power: | Low | Low to Medium |
| Player Level: | Advanced | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Beam Width: | 23mm | 23mm/26mm/23mm |
| Colors: | Black and White | Blue and Black |
| String Pattern: | 18 x 20 | 16 x 19 |
| Main Skips: | 8T,10T,8H,10H | 7T,9T,7H,9H |
| Grip Type: | Head Hydrosorb Pro | Babolat Syntec Pro |
Head Size
Both tennis rackets have a 100in midplus head size, which is pretty standard nowadays.
Length
Both rackets have a standard length of 27 inches long.
Strung Weight
The strung weight of the Speed Pro (326g/11.50oz) is 8g heavier than the strung weight of the Pure Drive (318g/11.22oz), so the Speed Pro will feel slightly heavier to play with.
However, neither racket would be considered to be light to play with.
Unstrung Weight
The Speed Pro has an unstrung weight of 310g (10.93oz), while the Pure Drive has an unstrung weight of 300g (10.58oz).
Swing Weight
The Speed Pro has a swing weight of 333, which is 13 more than the swing weight of the BPD (320) so the Pure Drive will be slightly easier to swing.
Balance
The Speed Pro has a 6 pts Head Light (HL) balance, while the Pure Drive has a 4 pts HL balance, with the more head light balance of the Speed Pro helping it be more maneuverable at the net.
Stiffness Rating
The Speed Pro (60) has a lower stiffness rating when compared with the Pure Drive (71) with the HSP being the more arm friendly of the two rackets.
Power and Control
In terms of power, you get more free power from the Pure Drive when compared with the Speed Pro, but in terms of control, you get more from the Speed Pro.
Recommended Player Level
The Pure Drive is best suited to intermediate to advanced tennis players, while the Speed Pro is best suited to advanced tennis players.
Beam Width
The Speed Pro (23mm) has a thinner beam width when compared with the Pure Drive (23mm/26mm/23mm), which means you will get more control from the Speed Pro but more power from the Pure Drive.
String Pattern
The Pure Drive has a 16 x 19 string pattern, while the Speed Pro has an 18 x 20 string pattern with the 18 x 20 string pattern proving more control and the 16 x 19 string pattern providing more spin.
Grip Type
The Speed Pro comes with a Hydrosorb Pro grip, while the Pure Drive comes with a Syntec Pro Grip.