Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 Review 2026: Who It Suits, vs Pure Aero and Pure Strike

The Babolat Pure Drive is the best known power racquet in tennis, and the Gen 11 is the current version. It is the racquet for players who want to hit hard and have the ball fly fast and deep. This review tells you who it suits, how the standard model differs from the Pure Drive 98, the Team and the Lite, how it compares with the Pure Aero and the Pure Strike 98, and how we string it. You can see the Pure Drive Gen 11 on our product page at any time, with today's price.

Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 tennis racquet — Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 Tennis Racquet. Tap the photo to open the product page.

Facts at a glance

Model: Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11, 2025 model year.
Price at Sturdy Racquets: $395.95, strung and ready to play.
Unstrung weight 300 grams, strung weight about 318 grams, swing weight about 320.
Head size 100 square inches, 16 by 19 string pattern, beam 23, 26 and 23 millimetres, 4 points head light, stiffness about 72 RA, length 27 inches.
Recommended tension 46 to 55 pounds, which is 21 to 25 kilograms.
Best for intermediate and advanced players who want power and easy depth. Not a first racquet.
Rated 4.3 out of 5 across 38 customer reviews on our site.
Grip sizes and availability are on the product page. Stringing from $19.95 with the racquet, usually ready the next day.

The short answer

Buy the Pure Drive Gen 11 if you are an intermediate or advanced player who likes to hit hard and wants the racquet to add pace and depth. It costs $395.95 strung and ready to play. It is stiff and lively, which is the point. It is not a beginner's racquet and it is not a feel racquet. Spin players should look at the Pure Aero first, and control players at the Pure Strike 98.

Price $395.95, strung and ready to play. Grip sizes and availability are on the product page. When the strings wear out we restring it in store, usually ready the next day.

See the Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 on our product page

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

You hit flat or with moderate topspin and want the ball to go through the court.
You want easy depth. The stiff frame and wide beam add pace without a bigger swing.
You serve big. The Pure Drive is a strong serving racquet.
You are an intermediate player who has outgrown a lighter frame and wants a racquet to grow into.
You play doubles and want power on returns and overheads.

Skip it if

You are new to tennis. Start on the Boost Drive and come back to this later.
You want spin above all. The Pure Aero is built for that.
You have a sore arm. At about 72 RA this is a stiff frame; choose a softer one or at least a softer string.
You want precision over power. The Pure Strike 98 or the Pure Drive 98 will suit you better.

How it plays

Power 9 / 10Spin 9 / 10Swing speed 9 / 10Control 7.5 / 10Comfort 7 / 10

Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11, head and string bed — Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 Tennis Racquet. Tap the photo to open the product page.

Power. We rate it 9 out of 10. The 26 millimetre beam and the stiff frame turn a normal swing into a deep ball. This is what people buy the Pure Drive for.

Spin. We rate it 9. The open 16x19 pattern and the fast swing mean plenty of spin is available if you brush the ball, even though this is not a spin racquet by design.

Control. We rate it 7.5. The trade for easy power is that a late or lazy swing sends the ball long. The Pure Drive rewards a player who commits to the shot.

Comfort. We rate it 7. It is the stiffest of the frames on this page. Most players are fine with it, but it is not the racquet for a sore elbow unless it is strung softly.

Specifications

Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11, throat detail — Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 Tennis Racquet. Tap the photo to open the product page.

Head size100 square inches

Unstrung weight300 g

Strung weightabout 318 g

Balance4 points head light

Swing weightabout 320

Stiffnessabout 72 RA

Beam23, 26 and 23 mm

String pattern16 x 19

Length27 inches, 68.5 cm

Recommended tension46 to 55 lb, 21 to 25 kg

SoldStrung, ready to play

Model year2025, Gen 11

Grip sizesSee the product page

The Pure Drive family

Babolat makes the Gen 11 Pure Drive in four adult weights and head sizes. They share the same stiff, powerful character. Here is how they line up.

	Pure Drive	Pure Drive 98	Team	Lite
Head size	100 sq in	98 sq in	100 sq in	100 sq in
Unstrung weight	300 g	305 g	285 g	270 g
Swing weight	about 320	about 325	about 308	about 300
Balance	4 pts head light	7 pts head light	4 pts head light	3 pts head light
Stiffness	about 72 RA	about 68 RA	about 71 RA	about 71 RA
Our control rating	7.5	9	8	8
Rating on our site	4.3 (38)	4.3 (13)	4.6 (70)	5.0 (1)
Our price	$395.95	$395.95	$365.95	$329.95

Babolat Pure Drive 98 Gen 11 tennis racquet — Babolat Pure Drive 98 Gen 11 Tennis Racquet (Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

The standard Pure Drive is the one most players should buy. The Pure Drive 98 is the control version for advanced players, with a smaller head, a thinner beam and a softer frame. The Team and the Lite keep the power and drop the weight for players who want a quicker swing.

We also still list the previous generation Pure Drive at $319.95. It is the same 300 gram, 100 square inch idea, and it is the cheaper way into the Pure Drive if you do not need the latest cosmetic.

Pure Drive or Pure Aero

This is the most searched comparison in tennis, and the answer is simple once you know how you hit. The Pure Aero is the spin racquet. The Pure Drive is the power racquet.

	Pure Drive Gen 11	Pure Aero Gen 9
Head size	100 square inches	100 square inches
Unstrung weight	300 g	300 g
Swing weight	about 320	about 324
Balance	4 points head light	4 points head light
Stiffness	about 72 RA	about 67 RA
Our power rating	9	8.5
Our spin rating	9	10
Our control rating	7.5	8
Rating on our site	4.3 (38 reviews)	4.7 (40 reviews)
Our price	$395.95	$419.95

Babolat Pure Aero Gen 9 tennis racquet — Babolat Pure Aero Gen 9 Tennis Racquet (Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

If you hit through the ball and want it to go fast and deep, buy the Pure Drive. If you hit up the back of the ball and want it to dip, buy the Pure Aero. We have a full Pure Aero versus Pure Drive guide if you want the long version.

Pure Drive or Pure Strike

The Pure Strike 98 is Babolat's control racquet and the choice of players who place the ball rather than hit through it.

	Pure Drive Gen 11	Pure Strike 98 16x19
Head size	100 square inches	98 square inches
Unstrung weight	300 g	305 g
Balance	4 points head light	4 points head light
Swing weight	about 320	about 325 to 330
Our power rating	9	6.8
Our control rating	7.5	9.2
Our price	$395.95	$359.95

Babolat Pure Strike 98 Gen 4 tennis racquet — Babolat Pure Strike 98 Gen 4 16x19 Tennis Racquet (Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

The Strike is for a player with a complete swing who wants precision. The Drive is for a player who wants help with pace and depth. If you are unsure, the Drive is the more forgiving of the two.

Strings and restringing

The Pure Drive comes strung from the factory, so you can play the day you buy it. When the strings go dead, usually after a season of weekly play, bring it in, because on a frame this powerful the string is what keeps the ball in the court. When you buy the racquet from us, stringing is added at the discounted prices below and it is usually ready the next day.

Most players: Ultra Premium, $49.95 with the racquet. Babolat RPM Blast, Luxilon ALU Power or Solinco Hyper-G at 50 to 52 pounds. A firm polyester tames the power and adds spin.

Sore arm: Premium, $39.95 with the racquet. Babolat RPM Team or Tecnifibre Multifeel at 48 to 50 pounds, or a hybrid with a multifilament cross.

Maximum control: Ultimate Performance, $59.95 with the racquet. A hybrid of Babolat Addixion or Tecnifibre Razor Soft with a natural gut or multifilament cross at 52 to 54 pounds.

Your own string: $15.95 labour when you buy the racquet from us.

All four packages are explained on our racquet stringing page.

Try it before you buy

We have demo racquets at the Brooklyn shop, including Pure Drive frames, so you can hit with one before you commit. See the demo racquets we have available, or come in and ask.

Questions players ask

Is the Babolat Pure Drive good for beginners?

Not as a first racquet. It is a 300 gram, stiff frame built for players who already swing with pace, and a beginner will struggle to control it. A beginner who wants the Pure Drive look and feel should start on the Boost Drive, which is lighter and more forgiving, or on the Pure Drive Lite at 270 grams.

What is the difference between the Pure Drive and the Pure Aero?

Both are 300 gram, 100 square inch Babolat racquets with a 16x19 pattern. The Pure Drive is the power racquet, stiffer at about 72 RA, and the ball comes off fast and flat. The Pure Aero is the spin racquet, a little softer at about 67 RA, with a frame shape designed for brushing up the ball. If you hit through the ball, choose the Drive. If you hit over it, choose the Aero.

What is the difference between the Pure Drive and the Pure Strike?

The Pure Strike 98 is the control racquet. It has a smaller 98 square inch head, weighs 305 grams and is balanced further toward the handle. The Pure Drive has more power and more forgiveness. The Strike has more precision and asks for cleaner technique.

Which Pure Drive should I buy: the standard, the 98, the Team or the Lite?

The standard 300 gram Pure Drive suits most intermediate and advanced players. The Pure Drive 98 is for advanced players who want a smaller head and more control. The Team at 285 grams and the Lite at 270 grams are for players who want the same power with less weight to swing.

Does the Pure Drive come strung?

Yes. The Gen 11 Pure Drive is sold strung and ready to play, so there is nothing to add on the day you buy it. When the strings go dead, we restring it in store, usually ready the next day, and the string advice below applies then.

What tension should I use on the Pure Drive?

Babolat lists 46 to 55 pounds, which is 21 to 25 kilograms. We suggest 50 to 52 pounds with a polyester string. On a stiff, powerful frame like this, a polyester at the middle of the range keeps the ball in.

Is the Pure Drive stiff, and is that a problem?

Yes, it is stiff, about 72 RA, which is the stiffest of the main Babolat frames. That stiffness is where the power comes from. It is not a problem for most players, but if you have elbow or shoulder trouble, choose a softer string, such as a multifilament or a hybrid, or look at a more flexible frame.

Our verdict

Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11, full view — Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 Tennis Racquet. Tap the photo to open the product page.

The Pure Drive Gen 11 is the power racquet to buy if you hit hard and want the frame to add to it. It is stiff, fast and forgiving on a full swing, and it costs $395.95. Buy the standard model unless you know you want the smaller head of the Pure Drive 98 or the lighter swing of the Team. Beginners should start with the Boost Drive, which we cover in its own review.