Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 (3rd Gen.)
Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 3rd Gen Tennis Racquet Specs:
- Head Size: 98 sq. in. / 632 sq. cm,
- Length: 27 in.
- Strung Weight: 11.3 oz. / 320 g.
- Unstrung Weight: 10.8 oz. / 305 g.
- Strung Balance: 4 Pts. Head Light
- Swingweight: 320
- Flex: 67
- Beam Width: 21 mm / 23 mm / 21 mm
- Composition: Graphite
- String Pattern: 16 Mains x 19 Crosses
- Recommended String Tension: 50 - 59 lbs.
- Grip: Babolat Syntec Feel
- Product Code: 101406
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First racquet
I recently picked up tennis with my wife and friends. I have a 30+ years old Prince CTS Synergy 26 Oversize my parents bought for me when overseas. The racquet is in very great shape, unfortunately, my parents bought one grip size too big (L4 - 4-1/2"), and it is a bit too heavy (it was considered a light racquet at the time). It was okay when I played once every 10 years or so. Since we got more serious lately, my arm cannot handle the ill-fitted racquet anymore. Thanks to the Racquet Guys demo program and help from Peter selecting the string and tension to suit my game. I was able to pick up my very first fitted racquet, the Pure Strike 16x19 (L3 - 4-3/8")with Head Velocity MLT 17G at 50lbs. The only thing was I picked up the wrong gauge size (17G instead of 16G) of the string from the display. The racquet feels even better than the demo with the suggested string and tension. The racquet measured at 323g strung (326g with overgrip installed), fairly close to the factory specs. Not sure about the balanced point. The demo weighed 331g with an overgrip (5g heavier). I didn't notice too much of a difference, maybe due to my inexperience. You may want to check the racquet weight and balance point before if that matters to you. Highly recommend Racquet Guys if you are looking for a new racquet or tweeting your current racquet for improvement of feel/performance!
Cannot go wrong
The racket is wonderful at the net for volleying, especially in doubles play! As a senior, the racquet can get heavy and often I will switch it up for a Babolat Pure Drive.
Poor quality control from factory
I bought this racquet strung with hybrid Excel 16 and RPM power 17 strings. It came with a static weight of 330 grams, measured on a postal scale. This is 7 or 8 grams heavier than specifications from Babolat. Most of this extra, off spec weight was tilted towards the head, giving it a more a head heavy balance than factory specs. The higher weight and off spec head heavy balance make the swing weight quite high (I estimate over 340). You need to be an advanced player who normally uses heavy swing weights to enjoy this. If you are an intermediate or advanced player who likes whippy racquets with swing weights below 330, you will struggle and be late in the timing of your strokes. I have also have the same racquet, but the previous version (project one 7), and off spec weight and heavy head balance made the new version a completely different racquet. Other than the poor quality control from factory, the racquet plays as expected. It is solid, has power, spin, control, and it is feels less stiff than the previous version. However, the feel is more dampened. I have heard from other players similar complaints about unacceptable variances in weight and balance from Babolat. I am not sure how you can minimize this unless you ask the racquet to be weighed and have its balance checked before you buy it.