Babolat Pure Drive vs Pure Aero vs Pure Strike vs Boost: The Full Range Compared (Australia 2026)
Babolat's racquet range is four families, and each one is built around a single idea. The Pure Drive is for power, the Pure Aero is for spin, the Pure Strike is for control, and the Boost range brings the same looks to a lighter, easier frame at under $210. Pick the family that matches how you hit, then pick the weight.
This guide compares the four families using the specifications from our own product pages, and lists the Babolat racquets we carry with what is in stock on 4 November 2026.
Table of Contents
- The short answer: power, spin, control or value
- The three Pure racquets on paper
- Babolat Pure Drive: power
- Babolat Pure Aero: spin
- Babolat Pure Strike: control
- Babolat Boost: easy power for new players
- Babolat junior racquets
- Which should you buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
- Come and see them in Epping
- More reading
The short answer: power, spin, control or value
| Pure Drive | Pure Aero | Pure Strike | Boost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Power | Spin | Control | Easy power |
| The feel | Crisp and explosive | Fast, heavy topspin | Solid and precise | Light and forgiving |
| Beam | 23 / 26 / 23mm | 23 / 26 / 23mm | 21 / 23 / 21mm | 23 / 26 / 23mm |
| Best for | Players who want free pace | Baseliners with a brushing swing | Players who make their own pace | New and returning players |
| Price | $302.58 to $343.58 | $327.18 to $359.98 | $389 | $154.98 to $171.38 |
The three Pure racquets on paper
The core 100 sq in model from each Pure family. The weights are almost the same, so the difference is in the beam and the stiffness.
| Pure Drive | Pure Aero (Gen 9) | Pure Strike 100 (Gen 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head size | 100 sq in | 100 sq in | 100 sq in |
| Strung weight | 318g | 318g | 318g |
| Balance | 32.99cm (4 pts HL) | 32.99cm (4 pts HL) | 320mm |
| Beam | 23 / 26 / 23mm | 23 / 26 / 23mm | 21 / 23 / 21mm |
| Stiffness (RA) | 66 | 66 | 68 |
| String pattern | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 |
| Price | $327.18 | $351.78 | $389 |
The Pure Drive and Pure Aero look identical on paper, same head, weight, balance, beam and stiffness. The difference is the frame shape. The Aero uses an aerodynamic beam that moves faster through the air, which adds racquet head speed and spin. The Pure Drive's box beam gives a crisper, more direct power. The Pure Strike uses a thinner 21 to 23mm beam, which gives more feel and control and less free power.
Babolat Pure Drive: power
The Pure Drive has been on sale since 1994 and is still the racquet most people picture when they think of Babolat. It is built for power and speed, and it is easy to play well with, which is why it suits such a wide range of players. The Pure Drive 98 is the precise version, with a smaller head and a denser 16x20 pattern, while the Team and Lite bring the weight down for improving players.
Babolat Pure Aero: spin
The Pure Aero is Babolat's spin racquet, and the Gen 9 is the latest version. Its aerodynamic frame moves fast through the air, so a brushing swing turns into a high, heavy ball that drops inside the baseline. The Pure Aero 98 is the most precise frame in the family with a 16x20 pattern, the Plus adds half an inch of length, and the Team is the lighter option for intermediate players.
Babolat Pure Strike: control
The Pure Strike is the control frame. Its thinner beam gives more feel and a more stable, solid response, so it rewards players who already generate their own pace. The 98 is the more precise and heavier-swinging of the two, with a 330 swingweight. The 100 is stiffer at 68 RA, which gives a little more help on off-centre hits. On 4 November 2026 both Pure Strike frames show no stock on hand, but the store still takes orders for them.
Babolat Boost: easy power for new players
The Boost range takes the look of the Pure racquets and puts it in a lighter, more forgiving frame. Every Boost has a 102 sq in head and weighs between 260g and 285g, so they are easy to swing and generate power without much effort. They suit players who are new to tennis or coming back to it, and at $154.98 to $171.38 in the Black November sale they are the best-value way into a Babolat.
Babolat junior racquets
For juniors, the Pure Drive Junior and Pure Aero Junior come in 25 in and 26 in lengths. As a rough guide, a 25 in suits around ages 9 to 10 and a 26 in suits around 10 and over, but height matters more than age, so bring them in if you can.
Which should you buy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Babolat Pure Drive and Pure Aero?
On paper the core models share the same head size, weight, balance, beam and stiffness. The Pure Aero uses an aerodynamic frame shape built for racquet head speed and spin, while the Pure Drive gives a crisper, more direct power.
Which Babolat racquet is best for control?
The Pure Strike. Its thinner 21 to 23mm beam gives the most feel and control in the range. Within the other families, the Pure Drive 98 and Pure Aero 98 are the most controlled options.
Is the Babolat Boost Drive good for beginners?
Yes. The Boost range is built for new and returning players, with a 102 sq in head and light weights from 260g, and it costs a fraction of a Pure racquet.
What is the difference between the Boost Drive, Boost Aero and Boost Strike?
They share a 102 sq in head. The Boost Drive and Boost Aero weigh around 260g, and the Boost Strike is a little heavier at 280 to 285g, which gives it a touch more stability.
What does Plus mean on a Babolat racquet?
Plus means an extended 27.5 in length, half an inch longer than standard, for more reach and leverage.
Do the racquets come strung?
Performance frames ship unstrung, so pick a string option when you add the racquet to your cart, or talk to the team in Epping about the string and tension that suit your game.
The Bottom Line
Choose the family by the shot you want to hit. Pure Drive for power, Pure Aero for spin, Pure Strike for control, and Boost if you are new to the game and want an easy, affordable frame. Then choose the weight and head size within that family.
The Pure Drive and Pure Aero are the ones people most often get stuck between, and the numbers will not settle it because they are nearly identical. A few shots with each will.
Come and see them in Epping
Racquet World in Epping carries the Pure Drive, Pure Aero, Pure Strike and Boost ranges, and the team will talk you through frame, weight and grip size properly.
| Visiting us | |
|---|---|
| Where | Racquet World, Shop 4/59 Willandra Drive, Epping VIC 3076 |
| What is in | 15 adult Babolat racquets plus four juniors, showing in stock at grip level on 4 November 2026. The two Pure Strike frames show no stock on hand but can be ordered |
| Sizes | Most frames are down to one or two grip sizes, so check the product page before you make the trip for a specific model |
| Delivery | Everything above ships Australia wide, and orders within 60km of the shop can go out the same day. See same day delivery |
