Babolat Pure Strike 97
- Price: $279
- Head Size: 98 sq. in.
- Length: 27 in.
- Weight: 11.7 oz.
- Balance: 7 pts. HL
- Swingweight: 322
- RA Rating: 62
- Beam Width: 21mm / 22mm / 21mm
- String Pattern: 16x20
What’s New
The 97 replaces the VS in the Pure Strike family. It has a new name, but the dimensions and design directive remain the same. For this next installment of the racquet, Babolat addressed the frame’s stability issues and feel at contact. NF2 Tech—natural flax fibers placed at strategic points in the racquet—has been added to filter out unwanted vibration and give the racquet a more enjoyable response. And the string pattern is tighter—dubbed FSI Control—to produce more predictable hitting and combines with the Woofer system to extend dwell time. The extended contact between the ball and the strings provides greater connection to better manipulate shots. The color scheme of the racquet has also been changed—where the VS had a distinctive look, it now matches all the other Pure Strikes.
What Works
Sometimes updates are clear upgrades. Right from the first hit, the PS 97 has a noticeably improved response compared to the outgoing VS. Impact in the sweet spot is plusher and more comfortable, yet the thin and flexible beam never feels overmatched or flimsy. Off-center shots make themselves known with unfavorable results, but the frame doesn’t have the tinny and anemic feel in the top of the hoop that hampered the VS. It’s just more solid overall, which makes it a superior hitting experience, with superior results. This goes whether seeking ultimate control with full bed of poly (RPM Power), or more power and comfort from a hybrid (VS gut/RPM Blast).
The racquet handles smoothly with near perfect balance of heft to speed; it’s got just enough mass behind the ball to feel substantial, but not too much that it weighs down the swing. The 16x20 string pattern also brings an attractive blend of spin and control. The response off the string bed is highly predictable, allowing you to move the ball around the court into tight spaces. In other words, tons of control. It does take polished technique and acceleration to get consistent depth and action on the ball, making it more appropriate for accomplished players. But the racquet does possess some “sneaky” power when going for a winner.
Serving is a good example. It won’t naturally add as much pace to your delivery as a thicker and stiffer frame like the Pure Strike 98 might do. However, once you get the 97’s head moving through contact with some speed, it can fuel flat and slice serves to go with superb command. Even with the more modest string configuration, kick serves have plenty of life. You may not overwhelm your opponents, but you can certainly put them on their heels.
At net, not many frames combine the 97’s blend of handling, solid feel and cottony touch. The racquet seems in control of virtually any volley, even those pesky knee-high and shoe top testers. It disposes of anything soft with ease, and is a whiz at taking pace off incoming shots to play volleys short in the court. In fact, the clear connection to the ball when it’s on the strings makes producing creative and cunning shots a real strength of the frame.
Your mileage may vary on leather grips, but it’s a rarity for one to come stock on a racquet. It accentuates the feel of the bevels—even with an overgrip—and adds to the precise nature of the frame.
