Babolat Pure Aero Racket Review
| Overall | 86 |
| Groundstrokes | 89 |
| Volleys | 82 |
| Serves | 87 |
| Returns | 82 |
| Power | 89 |
| Control | 80 |
| Maneuverability | 78 |
| Stability | 81 |
| Comfort | 83 |
| Touch/Feel | 81 |
| Topspin | 96 |
| Slice | 83 |
Summary
Spearheaded by Rafael Nadal, the Aero movement created a class of aggressive baseline tennis that has taken the tennis world by storm. The newest addition to this family, the updated Pure Aero, was the perfect candidate for one of our global playtests. There have been some subtle improvements, including a classy new cosmetic. This update features a slightly lower RA stiffness rating of 67, and with a relocation of the Cortex dampening system to 9 and 3 o'clock, it offers a more comfortable and controlled response than the previous generation. But fear not longtime Aero users, this comfort didn't come at the cost of the effortless spin and power diehard fans have come to expect from this line. In fact, whether our testers were bashing groundstrokes or cracking serves, this version is still a lively weapon for players of all levels. That's the beauty of this line; it doesn't matter if you're an aspiring beginner or a skilled expert, the benefits of the Pure Aero transcend playing ability and appeal to anyone looking to add a little Rafa to their game.
Upsides
- Power
- Spin
- More comfort and better feel than previous generation
Downsides
- Still hard to control flat shots
Bottom Line
The updated Pure Aero features a softer, more comfortable feel and offers better control while still retaining the Aero's hallmark easy power and spin.
Ability
Strong beginner to advanced
Groundstrokes - Score: 89 / 100
The Aero line has long been known for its user-friendly power and spin, which have made a great choice for aggressive baseliners or anyone looking for a little extra pop on their groundies. This Pure Aero update features a slightly less stiff response, which provides more comfort and better feel without sacrificing the power and spin. Longtime Aero user Valerie added, "The Pure Aero helped me get more spin on my groundstrokes, which I usually hit pretty flat. I could get my balls deeper in the court and really push my opponent behind the baseline. I also had great touch with this new racquet and hit nice drop shots."
Volleys - Score: 82 / 100
With the lowered RA, the Pure Aero's feel was sure to shine here. Never shy to move toward the net, Chris recalled, "The Pure Aero felt fast and easy to maneuver at net. I had a tad more touch and feel with it compared to the older model and the current Pure Drive. I liked how I could line up the strings with my intended target and get the ball to zip right to it. Any ball above the height of the net could easily be volleyed away with this racquet."
Serves - Score: 87 / 100
The Pure Aero is as good a tool as any to get the confidence going from the first strike. Zśofia found this racquet to be better suited to spin serves than flat ones. She said, "I struggled a bit with my first serves, which I like to hit more flat and heavy. I felt like I didn't have the desired control with those shots. On the other hand, the Pure Aero was perfect for my slice second serves."
Serve Returns - Score: 82 / 100
When returning serves, our playtesters noticed the same benefits they found from the baseline: easy pace, spin, maneuverability and depth. This consistency translated into more balls in play, and it underscores how deadly the Pure Aero was off the ground throughout this playtest. No matter what serve Valerie was dealt, it seemed she had all the answers with the Pure Aero. She described, "With this racquet I was able to find the right answer for any serve: big, slow or kick. Thanks to the extra spin, I could take big swings at second and flat first serves. "
Overall - Score: 86 / 100
Dislikes:
Valerie - "There's not much to dislike about this racquet — maybe the yellow color? I do prefer the neon yellow from the previous version."
Chris - "None. This was a fun playtest."
Zśofia - "The Pure Aero is not as stable as I would like, and it's missing some control on flat shots."
Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:
Valerie - "This updated Pure Aero is great. It's got the same great feel that I loved in the AeroPro Drive way back in 2006, and the same mighty power level as the previous Pure Aero, but it's much more stable and easy to control. The new Pure Aero also generates way more spin than the previous version."
Chris - "This version of the Pure Aero feels more stable than the previous one, with better vibration dampening and more access to spin and power. Overall, I think the new update does everything the older version did, but better."
Zśofia - "I think players who felt that the outgoing Pure Aero was too much of a departure from the AeroPro Drive will find the new Pure Aero a better fit. Those looking for just a tad more feel and control than the old Pure Aero should definitely give this new one a try."
Playtester Profiles:
Valerie: Open level player with an aggressive game style featuring a two-handed backhand. She currently plays with the Babolat Pure Aero Plus.
Zśofia: Open level all court player with a semi-western forehand and a one-handed backhand. She currently plays with a Wilson Steam 100 BLX.
Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Tecnifibre TFlash 300 PS. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Likes:
Valerie - "I love the power and control, especially on my forehand and serve. The Pure Aero has a large sweetspot, which makes the racquet very forgiving."
Chris - "I thought this was a solid update to the Pure Aero. For me, it bridges the gap between the older AeroPro Drive and the outgoing Pure Aero. I think fans of both will like what this version has to offer."
Zśofia - "TOPSPIN! I also like the power level, updated vibration dampening and cool style."