In 2016, Babolat introduced the Babolat Pure Aero as the next evolution of the popular AeroPro Drive, which had been endorsed and used by Rafael Nadal. Dubbed the spin machine, and claiming “the best just got better,” the Pure Aero has become extremely popular.
Lightweight, elegant, and designed for speed and spin, this aerodynamic racquet is highly responsive and optimized for a solid yet comfortable feel. If you’re a serious player with a fast-paced playing style, this is a racquet you definitely want to check out.
- Tons of Spin
- Lightweight
- Great Feel
- Attractive Design
- Lofty price tag
The Pure Aero is one of our top picks on our list of best tennis racquets. Let’s take a look at the factors that determine how this racquet plays.
Features & benefits
Excellent spin and power are two strong points of the Babolat Pure Aero 2019. In 2016, when the AeroPro Drive was rebranded as the Pure Aero, it was dubbed the Spin Machine by Babolat.
Power – 9.5
The power of this racquet is largely facilitated by its lightweight design, as well as the beam style construction that keeps the head aerodynamic and reactive. This particular racquet debuts a technology that the company refers to as the “Babolat Cortex Pure Feel”—a feature that dampens vibration for responsiveness without the arm strain that typically results.
The result is more power and less effort—a combination that players of almost every variety stand to benefit from. Granted, there are racquets out there with a little bit more oomph but the average player is not likely to find much to complain about.
It is the light bodyweight that cuts ever so slightly against the power factor. Heavier racquets tend to have more juice, but they also suffer from baggage that this unit doesn’t have to deal with.
Control – 8.5
Babolat uses a CPLY Carbon insert towards the top of the racquet to help ensure control. Reactive though the face may be, ball and string interactions are rarely more than the average user will be able to handle.
In fact, the Babolat is more user-friendly than most racquets of its ilk, making it a good option for buyers that have less experience, but who still want to start outfitting themselves with elite gear.
Maneuverability – 8.0
The lightweight design lends considerably to the maneuverability of this racket. When strung, the unit comes in at approximately 11 ounces.
Undoubtedly, this is a high energy piece of equipment, and the lightweight aerodynamics makes it easy to handle, especially for players that really tend to attack the ball from the baseline.
Stability – 8.0
Babolat’s recent partnership with a company known as SMAC has gone a long way towards enhancing their racquet’s performance in many of the key categories that we look at today—including stability. SMAC is an aerospace company that has engineered this racquet to be sleek, lightweight, and response, while also benefitting from very reliable stability.
Comfort/ Feel – 8.5
As mentioned previously, this racquet is specifically designed to dampen vibration. The ensuing result is a very soft feel that doesn’t reverberate up the forearm—a problem found frequently with clunkier racquets.
Naturally, the previously mentioned lightweight design also facilitates comfort and feel. At only 11 ounces, the majority of players shouldn’t have much of any trouble using the racquet for long periods of time.
Spin – 9.5
The Pure Aero really thrives in the department of spin. The entire design seems to be engineered with the intention of putting loads of zip on the ball. The 100 square inches head and a 16×19 string pattern are enhanced with oblong grommets that further enhance your ability to put some movement into your shots.
Consequently, the skilled player will find that they also enjoy an enhanced level of control on the court.
Overall – 8.7
Overall, this racquet looks really good. While it doesn’t tip the scales at every single category, it accomplishes something many products don’t: it manages to perform consistently across every consideration.
While there are racquets out there with a little bit more power, the resulting maneuverability and aerodynamics of the product establish it as an option that is hard to beat.
Alternatives to the Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racquet
Here are two alternatives that might suit you.
- Lighterweight
- Easier to handle
- Lower cost
- A little bit less power
The Aero Lite is similar to the product we’ve looked at today. Same manufacturer, same keen emphasis on spin. It does differ in a couple of key ways, though.
For one thing, it’s a good deal more affordable, making it a compelling choice for the budget-minded buyer. It’s also lighter, coming in at 10 ounces when strung.
- Extremely powerful
- Speed-oriented
- Great for spin
- Some complaints of arm/wrist issues
Characterizing the difference between the Pure Aero and Pure Drive most simply, you could say the Pure Aero offers more spin, while the Pure Drive offers more control. Other than that, these are two very comparable racquets.
Conclusion
The nice thing about the Babolat Pure Aero is that it is solid enough for the expert, but it is also workable enough for intermediate players to feel very comfortable. Though the price is not insubstantial the consistency of the performance may justify the cost for buyers that are very serious about their game.
We hope you have enjoyed our review of the Babolat Pure Aero 2019 tennis racquet. For your own look at this product, click here to view it on Amazon!
Post last updated on May 28, 2020