Babolat Pure Strike 97 Review

Product Reviewed

Babolat Pure Strike 97 VS (97 sq in) — reviewed as a modern-feeling, control/feel-oriented tennis racket, with testing emphasized on grass courts at the Wimbledon Club.

Key Specs / Setup Mentioned

• Head size: 97 sq in
• String pattern: 16x20
• Weight: 310 g
  • Described as slightly head-light, maneuverable, and “whippy”
• Grip: Leather grip included (praised for feel)
• Strings: Babolat Xcel multifilament at 54 lbs (chosen for comfort)

Main Features Highlighted (From the Video)

• Control-first / feel-first frame: positioned as more “real player” than typical Babolat power/spin models.
• Low launch angle / consistent arcs: attributed to the 16x20 pattern and the racket’s control design.
• Slice and net play confidence: praised for keeping the ball low and for digging returns/slices out of corners.
• Maneuverability: easy to get the racket to corners quickly; relies on quick hand/arm skills.
• Feel on grass: described as “absolute beauty for feel,” with even off/near-off-center hits staying predictable enough.
• Smaller sweet spot (tradeoff): rewards clean contact heavily; less forgiving when you miss.

Pros (Unique Points Mentioned)

• Exceptional control — called an “absolute weapon for control”
• Very high feel — “phenomenal,” ranked up with the best 97s; feel compared favorably to the Pro Staff
• Comfort — multifilament strings contribute; not stiff and described as pretty soft
• Good consistency / confidence on baseline defense and when redirecting pace
• Strong slice returns and easier “getting back into the point”
• Serves and returns as a “do it all” match-play frame
• Leather grip feel praised
• Workable spin for a 97 — “easier than Pro Staff,” though not as easy as more spin-focused options

Cons (Unique Points Mentioned)

• Not a power racket: not “crazy powerful”; requires taking control rather than relying on raw pop
• Limited margin for error: smaller sweet spot from the 97 size
• Stability criticized slightly: reviewer wants more weight around 3 and 9 o’clock (and/or in the throat) because it can feel a bit lightweight on some shots
• Off-center timing less forgiving: especially on grass where ball behavior can be unpredictable
• Spin generation not effortless versus higher-spin frames (e.g., Pure Drive / Aero)
• One speaker notes the frame can feel lighter when you counter, unless it’s “specked up”

Scores / Ratings Given

• Power: 7/10
• Control: 9/10
• Spin: 8/10
• Feel: 9/10
• Stability & maneuverability: 8/10
  • (customization potentially 9–10/10)
• Comfort: 8/10
• Match play overall: 8/10

Comparisons Made to Other Rackets

• Against typical Babolat “power/spin on tap” frames: Positioned as rarer in feel/control, more like a player’s racket.

• Against Pro Staff:

  • Pure Strike is slightly more powerful, while Pro Staff has a more stable/weighted feel
  • Spin: easier/more manageable than Pro Staff, but still not as easy as Pure Drive / Aero
  • Feel: Pure Strike feel is considered up there with Pro Staff

• Against Pure Drive / Pure Aero (benchmarks): Spin is less effortless than these power/spin-oriented models.

  • Aero 98 is mentioned as another “between” option depending on preference.

• Against the Percept: Reviewer says the Pure Strike ranks higher than the Percept in comfort/feel context.

User Experience / Play Characteristics

• Grass court testing emphasized: slice returns, one-handers, and dinks/net approaches fit the frame well.
• Confidence factor: described repeatedly as trust + direct control, especially on defense and when resetting points.
• Serving: becomes precise after settling in.
• Miss-hit behavior: if not struck cleanly, the ball can sit up, giving opponents an opportunity to press—particularly in wind or tough conditions.

Overall Recommendation (Verdict)

Recommended for advanced-to-strong intermediate “player” types, especially:

• single-handers
• players who want control and feel over raw power

Best with customization: adding weight/stability (e.g., around 3 & 9) is encouraged to reduce stability/margin-for-error downsides tied to the smaller sweet spot.

Speaker Breakdown (Views at End)

• Main reviewer (Andy / “Andy” referenced):

  • Focuses on ratings, frame behavior, and customization advice (add weight 3/9 for stability)
  • Frames Pure Strike 97 as a feel/control weapon with comfort from the multifilament setup
  • Notes moderate power and good but not effortless spin compared to Aero/Pure Drive

• Toby Martin (guest player):

  • Emphasizes match impact: praises slice/return ability
  • Comments on power/weight feel on counters (“a bit lightweight” unless specced up)
  • Reinforces the caveat: smaller sweet spot and need to spec/customize for stability and consistency