This article will look at the racket specs of the Head Ti S6 and the Babolat Pure Drive to see how these two rackets compare to each other.
Both rackets have a long history in tennis, with the first Pure Drive being released in 1994 and the first Ti S6 being released in 1996.
For the below comparison, I have used the 2007 version of the Head Ti S6 and the 2021 version of the Pure Drive from Babolat
Head Ti S6 vs Babolat Pure Drive – Racket Specs Comparison
Main Differences: The Ti S6 has a much bigger head size (115in vs 100in), a longer racket length (27.75in vs 27in), a much lower strung weight (8.90oz vs 11.22oz), a slightly lower swing weight (318 vs 320), a more head heavy balance (8 pts HH vs 4 pts HL), a higher frame stiffness rating (75 vs 71), and a thicker beam width (27mm-28mm vs 23mm/26mm/23mm).
Similarities: Both rackets have a 16 x 19 string pattern.
| Specs: | TiS6 | PD |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | 2007 | 2021 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Head Size: | 115in | 100in |
| Length: | 27.75in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 252g (8.90oz) | 318g (11.22oz) |
| Swing weight: | 318 | 320 |
| Balance: | 8 pts HH | 4 pts HL |
| TW Stiffness Rating: | 75 | 71 |
| Power: | Medium to High | Low to Medium |
| Player Level: | Beginner | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Beam Width: | 27mm-28mm | 23mm/26mm/23mm |
| Colors: | Black and Silver | Blue and Black |
| String Pattern: | 16 x 19 | 16 x 19 |
| Grip Type: | Head Cushion Grip | Babolat Syntec Pro |
| Mains Skip: | 8T,7H,9H | 7T,9T,7H,9H |
Pros and Cons
| Racket: | TiS6 | PD |
|---|---|---|
| Pros: | A large sweet spot, with easy power. Good rackets for beginners | Good mix of power, control, and spin, a generous sweet spot, and easy power on serves |
| Cons: | Very little control with these frames so it will be very difficult to go for winners. | Relatively high stiffness rating |
Head to Head
Below are my recommendations in terms of which racket is better in terms of Power, Control, Spin, and Arm Friendliness.
| H2H | TiS6 | PD |
|---|---|---|
| Power |  | – |
| Control | – |  |
| Spin | – | |
| Arm Friendliness | – | |
Player Recommendations
Below are our recommendations for recreational players at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
| Player Level | TiS6 | PD |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner |  |  |
| Intermediate | | |
| Advanced | | |
Pro Player Endorsements
The Pure Drive is endorsed by Fabio Fognini, Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, and Sofia Kenin, while the Ti S6 is not endorsed by any pro tennis players.
Where can you buy these rackets?
The rackets are for sale in most good online tennis shops and on the Babolat and Head websites.