More people play with a Babolat Pure Drive than any other racket on earth. That is not marketing — it is what walks through the door of a tennis shop. The reason is simple: it gives you free power, and free power is what most club players are short of.
The Gen 11 range covers seven frames plus juniors, and the differences between them matter more than the shared name suggests. Here is how to pick.
What a Pure Drive actually does
The Pure Drive has a stiff, thicker beam that returns energy quickly. Balls come off fast with very little effort from you. That is the whole point — and it is also the trade-off. You get depth and pace almost for free, but a firmer feel through the arm and less of the ball-pocketing sensation you'd get from a Wilson Blade or Yonex EZONE 98.
Choose a Pure Drive if you want the racket to add pace. Choose a Pure Aero instead if your priority is spin — the Aero is the same idea with a more open pattern and an aerodynamic beam built to swing faster.
⚡ The core frames
Pure Drive 100 · 300g · 100 in² · £179
The one. Best for the club player who wants more free depth without changing their technique.
- 300g is heavy enough to stay stable, light enough to swing all match
- Enormous serve speed for the effort involved
- The default recommendation for improvers moving off a beginner frame
Verdict: the best-selling racket in the world for good reason. Start here.
Pure Drive 98 · 305g · 98 in² · £208
The tighter, more controlled Pure Drive. Best for stronger players who like the Pure Drive engine but keep hitting long.
- Smaller head reins in the power and sharpens placement
- Slightly heavier for extra stability against pace
- A genuine option for advanced players who find the 100 too lively
Pure Drive Team · 285g · £168
Same character, 15g lighter. Best for doubles players and anyone who wants quicker hands at the net.
Pure Drive Lite · 270g · £156
Easier again. Best for improvers, lighter-framed players and anyone playing twice a week who wants to finish fresh.
Pure Drive S Lite · 255g · £155
The lightest in the family. Best for players returning after injury or a long break, and for juniors on their first adult frame.
Pure Drive Wimbledon 2026 · £230
The white-and-black Championships edition. Same frame, limited colourway. Best for anyone who wants the Pure Drive they were always going to buy, in the version people ask about on court.
🌱 Junior Pure Drives
Pure Drive Junior 25 · from £83.99 | Pure Drive Junior 26 · £75.99
Scaled-down versions of the adult frame for competitive juniors around 8–12. Size by height, not age: a 25" frame suits roughly 125–135cm, a 26" suits 135–145cm, and most players move to a 27" adult racket beyond that.
Quick comparison
| Model | Weight | Head | Power | Control | Manoeuvrability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Drive 100 | 300g | 100 in² | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | The default choice |
| Pure Drive 98 | 305g | 98 in² | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Power with more control |
| Pure Drive Team | 285g | 100 in² | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Doubles, net play |
| Pure Drive Lite | 270g | 100 in² | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Improvers |
| Pure Drive S Lite | 255g | 100 in² | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Returning players |
A word on comfort
The Pure Drive is a stiff frame. If you have any history of tennis elbow, that stiffness is worth taking seriously — but it is very manageable. Drop the tension a couple of kilos, string it with a multifilament rather than a full polyester bed, and most of the harshness disappears. We'll set that up for you as part of the free restring; just say when you order.
Why buy your Pure Drive from Central Tennis?
- Free restring on adult frames — and we'll advise on string and tension for comfort
- In-house professional stringing, fast turnaround
- Demo rackets including the Pure Drive 98
- Grip fitting in store — the single most overlooked part of buying a racket
- Free UK delivery on qualifying orders
Shop the full Babolat Pure Drive range →
Shop the Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 range at Central Tennis
In stock now at Central Tennis. Expert stringing and racket fitting available in store.
Browse more: Babolat Pure Drive rackets · Power rackets · Junior rackets
Not sure what suits your game? Talk to our team — we fit, string and demo rackets every day.
