I completely agree. Pure Strike 98 16X19 V4 is a stunning stick. Coming to it from the PS Tour, I just did a simple alteration (mine had a 330 strung SW and was 305g static unstrung) I added a TW leather grip and 1 gram in the head, which brings it to 337 strung static, and 334 SW both my PS Tour and V4 Strike have around a 32.2 balance point. I have VS Touch 17 at 58 pounds and Sync 1.2 in the cross at 56 pounds and it's just freaking magical.
How does for you the tour fair vs lighter non tour v4 Strike? I read that on forum ppl adore the tour since its still very manuverable but gets you really heavy ball not like regular Strike 98. Im debatjng which one to buy xD
I love how the pure strike baso went from a stick I wasn’t starting to hear about anymore or least used out of the line to being a top 2024 frame it seems.
Excellent analysis, thank you. Massive fan of the 16x19 PS 98 Gen 3, my racquet of choice. Came over spec too in SW(mid 330s). Have added weight in the handle and using a thinner gauge soft poly to help get it moving. I'm now used to it as it's about 9-months since switching to it. Surprised more pros don't play/endorse this stick. Keep up the great work.
Thanks man! I agree, I think Babolat needs a top 10 ATP/WTA player using this line. I think Rune would have been perfect but he's pretty stuck with the Aero for now.
The thing about the RA is nonsense. I ordered 12 rackets from TW and all of them had a RA between 67 and 69. The PS hasn't gotten any softer and apart from that the SW of at least 330 is much too high. For me as a one hander, the new PS is unplayable! But Babolat is struggling anyway as they are losing a lot of customers right now!
Great video man! These are two of my favorite racquets out there right now (although I’m loving the strike 100 16x20). I guess it’s a sign of the times that you didn’t have a specific category for volleys however! 😜 “forecourt” lol
So to summarize it: the strike is more classic control, whereas the PA98 is point an shoot like a Fed style racquet? The SW of them both sounds a little like the beginning of "player's stick" territory. How much can an average player modulate the amount of spin at that SW?
100%, the PA98 is surprisingly Fed-like. The Strike does still have a ton of power and it doesn't really play like a classic racquet, more of like a modern control racquet I suppose.
“You approach up the line, hope your opponent misses his shot, you do your best to clean up whatever volley you may have, and you just pray to god the other guy doesn’t make you hit an overhead” damn bro didn’t have to call me out like that 😂
I would give a 10/10 for aero 98 feeling , so I cant wait to try the pure strike. Serve performance on aero 98 is great , specially 2nd kick serve , so again , I am pretty curious to try the strike
Just get one that is not over spec'd that much Balance max 32.5 unstrung 33.5 strung weight max 306 unstrung and 322 strung. That will keep the SW just below 330 For some reason the reviewers had gotten heavily overspec'd Pure strikes, both 3.gen and 4.gen, so they are reviewing hard to manuevre specimens which gives a warped review.
I have both percept 97 and Pure Aero 98, but I feel the percept has much more power than the PA with same string same tension (my coach said the same thing) which is against what they have been advertised: percept low power control racquet and PA suppose to be a power and spin racquet. the problem is, I like the PA 98 but my coach and friends said I played better with percept because my shot is more powerful and faster with it (I feel the same way) so I am wondering if I should sell the PA and get an extra percept. However, all the reviews said differently, this is why I am confused if my skill level is not enough to handle this racquet or the PA is indeed low powered (I’m a 4.0 - 4.5 player) thanks
My guess is that you are able to swing the Percept faster which gives you more ball speed and spin. It sounds like its a better fit for your game in general and I would recommend sticking with it for that reason. Trust what works for your game and have fun out there!
Mr. TennCom I was wonder what racquet and string set up to get as an extremely flat and hard hitter(both forehand, backhand, and service), most the time my problem is that the ball goes out maybe a couple inches to a foot, do you have any advice for me to get.
unfortunately, i am not mr. Tenncom but i might have some advice to help out. u might want to try a thicker guaged and round polyester and string it a just little bit higher than what u already do. maybe something like a hawk power or hyper g round 1.30 gauge? and if that's too stiff, u could always try hybriding the round poly with a multifilament to soften up the stringbed, just understand that will give u more depth than full poly and u will likely need to string it a tiny bit higher. if I'm wrong tho, anyone feel free to correct me :)
depending on what you play with now you can go with a softer racket in terms of RA plus tension your strings a bit higher... and/or a higher gauge/higher stiffness. Flat strong hitters can go with Head Prestige Line/Wilson Blade. I would avoid Babolat in this case...but maybe The Pure strike VS/97. Look at rackets with aprox 62-63 RA strung (66 unstrung) with tight pattern 18x20 32-33 balance, 305-315 Static weight unstrung 330 SW and strings with 220 stiffness.
I thought spin is due to 1. Wide string patterns (aka Aero) not dense (Strike = control) 2. Aero dynamic frame on the vertical side of the frame (Aero) vs thinner frame (Strike = drive)
1. Is true, holding all else equal, as you can generate more string movement with the open pattern. 2. I have not seen any tests that actually prove this. Hard to say if its marketing or real. At the end of the day, technique dominates spin. For me, its more about which racquets facilitate the brushing motion. The Aero has a very high twistweight (1.5kgcm^2 higher than the Strike) which is awesome for stability but tough on maneuverability. My personal experience is that higher twistweight racquets are better for flat shots and lower are better for spin. At the pro level, you'll see flatter hitters are more likely to have visible lead tape at 3 and 9 (Djoker, Murray, Wawa, Sinner) and spin players are less likely to have this (Rafa, Shapo, Berretini, Fed).
I want to switch to one of these racket I used a babolat pure drive 98 should I switch to one of these rackets, or do u have any other recoomendations?
Thank you so much for your content Beckett! Which if these would you say is the more forgiving racket? I’m trying to choose between aero 98 and ezone 100…do you believe the ezone 100 is that much easier to use and forgiving? I’m UTR 8 college player, but I want a racket that help me vs better player and return of serve!
Yeah I definitely think the EZONE 100 is more forgiving. One of the best racquets on the market for return of serve too. Its worth hitting them back to back if you can though. If you can't, and aren't sure, I'd lean Aero 98. I think at your level, you are more likely to be happy with it long term.
I got 2 Vcore 98s as well a few weeks ago. I'm starting with poly tour pro at 54 lbs and loving it so far. Serves are strong but my forehand needs some improvement not to shoot past the baseline. I might play around with something different in a few weeks.
I have 5 Pure Strikes 98 3. gen. I dont see a problem with socalled muted feel. I think that "problem" has been hyped up and problematised too much. If you play with hard strokes that muting is great. Theres enough sensation. If concerned with too muted feel then dont use an overgrip and dont use a vibro dampener and put lead at 3 and 9 and put in very stiff strings at high tension. I have seen reviewers use overgrip and dampener on the PS 98 3. gen. and that is what causes mostly the obliteration of any feel response. I apreciate that I know exactly when I have hit the center with the PS 98 3.gen its like an inverted form of feel. It easy to get used to. and now I miss that on other rackets. The power is better with 3. gen than 4. gen.
Mate I’ve got a one hander and can use the PA98 no problem…slightly different feel in the throat on your hand compared to a more traditional throat but after 2mins it’s like second nature to me
IMO PA98 pretty decent for 1HBH. I don't mind letting my F-Tier 1hbh fly from time to time when I've got the Aero in hand. Really easy to find the out-front contact point.
Great vid! Just ordered a PA98 yesterday after looking at the PS98 too so this is a very timely comparison! Coming from a percept 97 what do you think the biggest difference in overall feel will be? Felt like the percept was pretty under powered and muted and wanted some extra baseline power so glad you feel both are solid picks for that.
Pretty different frames, these Babs compared to the Percept. Tough to compared since everything is so different, but I think the Aero makes a little more sense if you are looking for something with similar swing-feel, but more power, forgiveness and consistency through flex (I felt the Percept was a bit noodley).
Hi! Your videos are really great. Could you share with us what customization you use on your Pure Aero 98 2023? I saw in other videos that you add some lead at 12 o'clock. Do you also add lead in other areas of the racket?
Currently I have 2g at 12 and 5g at 7 inches (top of the handle). This setup retains the general playing characteristics of the frame but just swings a bit heavier, so easier plow and more stable.
I've got a PS 98 and I'm still trying to figure out what strings to use. I demoed it with babo RPM Blast which I liked, but when i bought mine I used Zero x Sync hybrid setup. I'm still trying to play around and see what is best. Any suggestions? 3.5 player
Hey Beckett! Thanks for the comparison, real good video. I'd like to ask you something: I'm a beginner, probably 2.0 level or something. My serve is absolutely hideous and I have a lot of trouble keeping the ball in (I miss long a lot). Im planning on playing way more, probably every day. I'd say my game and the game I want to build is mostly based on spin. I just want deep spinny shots nonstop and an eventual angle to finish the point. Currently, I'm using a ezone 98 2022 with poly tour pro. Is it a good racket to grow into? Would an aero 98 be better? I used to play with an aero pro drive 2010 / head rip control and it worked well but I really did miss long a lot more. Im thinking of just sticking to the ezone 98 and throwing a spin string like hyper G 1.30 (dont have acess to zero) or confidential, maybe even head lynx tour
I'm not Beckett, but I'll chime in to help. I'd say at 2.0 level, it's hard to say what style of play you have right now. It's more of building good fundamentals. Ezone 98 is a good racquet, but it's still demanding for 2.0, PA98 is less forgiving than EZ98, you need to be at least 4.0 to effectively use it. Maybe consider Aero 100. I'd recommend you use a more neutral easier 100-inch racquet to have your technique set first. For example, Speed MP, Ezone 100, Boom MP. You're missing long now is not because of the racquets or strings, it's your technique, you're not hitting enough spin to keep the ball in. In order to train yourself to hit the correct spin, you probably should use round poly instead of shaped poly. So you can get the true trajectory of your shots. Your current setup Ezone 98 with PTP is already a fantastic setup, if you don't want to get a new racquet, you can use this racquet until you hit the ATP tour. Kyrgios uses the same setup as you.
IMO don't change racquets till you start plateauing a little bit with your game. Don't worry about being fancy with spin. That's how I tried to learn and I've spent the last 2 years training it out of my game. Stick with what you got and keep it simple. As a beginner, there's so much to learn, messing with equipment just makes things harder. Every time you play, you've got to relearn all the strokes, having to adapt to gear changes just makes that harder.
if 2.0 and not a big strong guy. Then dont go over 300 grams. Choose the L versions of the models and 100 inch frames. When still learning its imporatnt to not have heavy rackets with high tensions. Light version racket 100 inch (280-295 grams) with Babolat Syn Gut @ 55
Hi, I’ve just started playing tennis over the last couple of months, I’m enjoying it enough that I’m looking to buy my first proper racquet and these are the two I’ve been looking at; I’m happy to spend decent money if it’ll mean I won’t have to replace it any time soon, so would a 100” version of these be suitable in your opinion? For reference I’m 6’5, 210lb and have taken tennis up as a second sport to cricket (I’m also English), so I’m used to swinging something much heavier, if in a different context..
I think going to the Strike 98 would be fine since you are used to a heavier weight and a smaller hitting zone. If you can handle the weight, which usually taller players can more than shorter players, than you should go for it. Boom Pro would be another I'd look at. Honestly, it doesn't matter too much when you are learning the game because your technique changes a lot day-to-day. Going for something that makes you excited to play is my typical recommendation.
I have the PS 98 Gen 3 and looking to string with RPM Soft orange. I'm an intermediate player looking for a bit more comfort out the racquet. What string tension would you recommend?
I've never tried RPM Soft before so not totally sure but maybe try through a multifilament in the mains? Head Velocity MLT is a nice option at a decent price
Beckett, how are you? I've been commenting your videos while I'm trying to test, buy and sell rackets to find the perfect one. Could you help me? I TRY to be, mostly, an aggressive baseliner, I hit with a flat forehand (with a little spin to control the ball), I have a flat 2hbh, but I use a lot of slice and dropshots when the points are longer. I loved the head extreme tour with head lynx at 23kg but it ruined my arm almost for 2 weeks, it was an instant sell. I have no problems with the yonex muted feel (I played with yonex vcore 98, i hated the high launch angle, I missed every shot long), I want a racket that give me consistency and I don't have to give it all in every shot to cross the net (maybe an 70%), but when I hit with 100% power it can reach depth and a decent ball speed. My options are: Yonex ezone 2022 and wilson blade 98 (v8 because there is no v9 stock in chile, so sad). My concerns with the ezone are: I don't want to hold back any power when i'm trying to hit a winner or in a normal rally I don't want to hit with low power and find the ball too deep. I would like to have control of the depth of my shot. Also I don't want to get an injury, I've seen a lot of videos and some people say that ezones are super comfortable but I've also seen a lot of people talking about arm/wrist pain and TE with this racket. with the blade v8: I don't want to hit with all my power and feel that the racket is absorbing the speed or heaviness of the ball, or to see that all the balls are going to the net (problem that I had with the head radical MP). between the 2 options what was your favorite? did you have fun playing with any of the two rackets? what racket do you think would suit my gamestyle?
I prefer the EZONE, but for comfort and control, I think the Blade is a better solution for you. The EZONE feels undoubtedly stiffer than average IMO and it gets worse when you let the strings go dead. I've met several people who bounce between those frames, most prefer/play better with the EZONE, but the Blade keeps their arms happy so they stick with em. Especially for a flat hitter, I think the Blade is the natural choice. BTW thanks for all your views and comments, I defs recognize your name!
@@Estudio01deoctubre some weight at 12 if you need more plow and string it lower. I'd go for the 18x20 at 45lbs to start. Hawk Power would play pretty nice, but also Signum Pro FIrestorm which adds nice zip.
First time their was a disconnect from your words to the scores...comparing rackets with almost 15 sw points difference is a NONO.... STRIKE with 327sw is different racket compared to almost 340....which is what you like
Yeah tough to balance when you have such crazy specs with an outlier. The Aero had to be bumped up to 340g to keep the balance so I don't think it would have been fair to match the racquet's SW so I just decided to keep the Strike much higher than the Aero. Strikes do seem to be mostly coming over 330 anyway, but it's never going to be a perfect test until I get the luxury of cherry picking review units.
PA98 user here - I've weighted mine up to ~345g strung with a leather grip, some tungsten putty, and just enough lead tape at 12 to keep it at ~7 points HL. Currently loving Tour Sniper / Restring Zero blend (58lb) thanks to a certain someone's members-only poly blend video! Your point about the PA98 just wanting to drive the ball is so spot on, I've only recently started to embrace that focus over the Nadal-esque loopy forehand, and it's made a huge difference in terms of ability to play aggressive. As tempting as it is to try the Strike 98 for a bit better feel, I think I'm finally starting to fully mesh with my PAs and the style they love most - and I'm gonna resist trying anything else for the rest of the season.
@@VintageSecurePA98 is so muted. You can’t even feel a dead string bed. Even more muted than the regular PA However, it’s the greatest stick for baseline
Looking to find some more power in my sticks than my current TFight 305RS’s - any recommendations? I’ve got them leaded up with about 8 grams total in the hoop at 3&9 for extra plow through. I tend to hit flatter, especially on the 1 handed backhand. Thanks
Hey, unrelated to the video but I recently came across a sv95 for about 120us dollars in almost brand new condition. Should I pick it up? I play quite flat with a ohbh and thought it’d be fun to try out
Yeah I love the SV95. More of a spin frame, but it plays quite differently from modern frames in terms of feel, but still gives you a lot more power than you'd expect from a 95.
@@TennCom hey Beckett, thanks so much for your reply! I think I’ll go ahead and pick it up. Do you have any recommendations for a modern alternative to the sv95? As of right now it’s quite hard to find extra pieces for the sv. Thanks!
Hey Beckett! Despite switching to GPro, I still love my OG Project One Seven. Do you think the newest PS is different enough to get it for a collection?
Its been so long since I hit the P17, its hard to say. I remember not liking it back then, but I also didn't appreciate racquets in the same way. I think there is something special about the P17 though!
@@TennCom surprisingly it was the same for me: got it when I was rookie even by recreational level standards. Didn't even have a honeymoon period since it was way out of my league to play with. Left in a closet to collect dust and fell off with tennis altogether. Now years later I play again, feel much more confident, switched many sticks. And found this gem patiently waiting in the closet where I left it. And holy shet it plays and feels so good. I'm not planning to switch from Head anytime soon, but when I feel too tired or lazy to swing heavyass GPro I pick P17 and have fun. And I think it's the best line that describes the good oldie: fun to play with!
Pure strike is way too stiff for my like. It’s like hitting with a stick/bat. Is there something that provides similar power and spin but feels softer?
I like it, the feel is very old-school Babolat and I'd consider switching to it but the balance point is too high for me considering the swingweight. I've become a lot more sensitive to balance point lately and for whatever reason I just can't find my forehand. I've got a VS in the racquet behind me and I really spent time trying to make it work and failed because of the BP.
When you recieve an overspec'd racket. Are you not able to return or exchange it.? I think you get over spec Pure Strikes all the time. It gives a warped perspective when reviewing, bc warped playability. I also get overspec'd rackets but I send them right back to retailer for an exchange. These rackets are pretty expensive. I don't buy a car also that comes with two smaller wheels in front that not to specs ( if that makes any sense)
There are cases where I can, there are cases where, for business reasons, I would rather not increase friction. Further, since there are no published SW's, what are we to truly know what's over and what's underspec. Do we fully trust TW and take their measurements as gospel? What if 339SW is the target? I struggle to balance these things. I struggle to know whether I should try to replicate the customer experience or push the reviewer side.
@@TennCom ? Maybe you can let this response and thought sit without deleting it: SW specs unstrung is to be found at Babolat own web site. This indicates that 339 SW strung is far from the designers intention. Im not taking TW as Gospel but they only have interest in providing correct average info regarding Avereage strung SW, as this benefits their sales highly as that gives the customer something to expect and thus it makes returns of rackets much less. Also I think independent reviewer and retail customer interests are interlinked. A warped racket, gives a warped review which serves no one. You make great content. my 2 cents is just an expression of concern which is in my world the same as care.
@@TennCom I dont know your attachment business wise, but I dont think they can be interested in anything but the truth and a review on what we should expect buying a racket, as this is going to influence buyers and the market . Babolat also give spec info on their website that we can expect or aim for when buying. I think SW actually can be calculated pretty good by knowing the length, the balance and the weight etc., and there is online calculators for that. Its not going to be super accurate but its good enough for most. and if that correlates pretty much with what TW writes up, I think they should be trusted. Also who else do an average meassurement through a larger sample, with pro tech equipment, on the retail market.
PS98 is rock-solid in the upper hoop, which is where I had issues with the PSVS/97. 97 retains much better ball pocketing and control at lower tensions, but feels more brittle at higher tensions. For example, 53lbs feels right for the 98, but was too tight for the 97. Because of the SW, prob the 97 is going to be easier to use and more accessible for the average player, but at quite advanced levels, I think most people will benefit from the extra power/SW of the 98.
@@TennCom I have Restring Zero at 52lbs in the mains and Toroline Wasabi X at 54lbs in the crosses. Do you think this is a good string setup and what are some other full poly string setups that’ll complement the BP?
Power : PS > BP > PA Control : PA > PS > BP Spin : PA > BP > PS Stability : BP = PS > PA Comfort : BP > PS > PA Feel : BP > PS > PA Sweetspot : BP > PS > PA Manoeuvrability : PA > BP > PS
Gotta hand it to you, making lemonade outa that lemon of a Pure Strike. I mean, the PS is supposed to be the ultimate tweener. 339sw is a whopping 10-points over spec, takes it way into player frame territory. What happened to Babo's QC? Luckily, yours was a demo, but imagine paying upwards of $250 for that brick?!
Its just got so much more of everything. More power, spin, stability, feels like an absolute truck. The ET is so dainty, swings way faster and feels more pure. Even when weighted, the ET can't really touch the Strike on big power baseline exchanges.
No because the endorsements aren't there. Ofner is pretty epic but not an S-tier endorsement and Thiem makes me depressed every time he steps on court.
I hit pretty much the same spin with both. For me, the spin score is less about max RPM's or even average RPM's, its about being able to choose the amount of spin I wanted to apply on each shot.
This video is completely utterly biased and also biased on Becketts swing path and skill level. The strike is just a much easier racket to use in general it's why he is so infatuated with it. A few points to point out is that the strike absolutely does not have the same control and spin as the aero 98. To control the ball the aero 98 needs a more vertical swing path to spin the ball in. While the strike let's you hit more linear because of its dense pattern in the center. Becketts swing path is extremely linear and that's why the ball sprayed so much. The string spacing on the aero 98 is much wider and actually allows you to hit more consistent power more often, ala Alcaraz. Who's swing path is not only linear but he also brushes alot. His rpm is actually very high. The opposite would be tisipitas who's swing path is actually linear. The serve is equally strong and more accurate with the aero 98 with the correct techique. Becketts left arm is not straight on his serve and contact point is late. In fact not only is the left arm not pointed to the sky it drops instantly as he tosses the ball. It's why he feels the strike is better because the strikes larger sweet spot compensates for poor techique. Really disappointed with this review being so biased. I personally played with these for 3 months each and do not find this review to be accurate. Overall the strike is a easier racquet for the average 3.5 since it sweet spot is so big. But advance players would extract more from the aero 98. I do not play with either of these as they are arm destroyers.
Opposite, I really like this review. Racquet reviews are supposed to be subjective, if every reviewer agrees on the same thing, why do we need so many reviews. It’s extremely important to hear different voices.
@@TennCom no I no longer play with these is the correct comment but I have play with the for 3 months each. While you have played with the strike for less than 2 months if the video posting time line is correct. Def still in an infatuation phrase of a new racquet.
I completely agree. Pure Strike 98 16X19 V4 is a stunning stick. Coming to it from the PS Tour, I just did a simple alteration (mine had a 330 strung SW and was 305g static unstrung) I added a TW leather grip and 1 gram in the head, which brings it to 337 strung static, and 334 SW both my PS Tour and V4 Strike have around a 32.2 balance point. I have VS Touch 17 at 58 pounds and Sync 1.2 in the cross at 56 pounds and it's just freaking magical.
How does for you the tour fair vs lighter non tour v4 Strike? I read that on forum ppl adore the tour since its still very manuverable but gets you really heavy ball not like regular Strike 98. Im debatjng which one to buy xD
I get it...
"Vacation" is code for; Simon driving away in the Corvette
for his life after Ale saw the last video 🏃🏎🌬
Bro is allergic to outros
I love how the pure strike baso went from a stick I wasn’t starting to hear about anymore or least used out of the line to being a top 2024 frame it seems.
Excellent analysis, thank you. Massive fan of the 16x19 PS 98 Gen 3, my racquet of choice. Came over spec too in SW(mid 330s). Have added weight in the handle and using a thinner gauge soft poly to help get it moving. I'm now used to it as it's about 9-months since switching to it. Surprised more pros don't play/endorse this stick. Keep up the great work.
Thanks man! I agree, I think Babolat needs a top 10 ATP/WTA player using this line. I think Rune would have been perfect but he's pretty stuck with the Aero for now.
@@TennCom Rune did try it pre-season and he uploaded a picture with it. Maybe when Thiem gets fully out of tour Rune will switch.
Would love if you did a similar vid but EZone 98 vs. VCore 98
The thing about the RA is nonsense. I ordered 12 rackets from TW and all of them had a RA between 67 and 69. The PS hasn't gotten any softer and apart from that the SW of at least 330 is much too high. For me as a one hander, the new PS is unplayable! But Babolat is struggling anyway as they are losing a lot of customers right now!
Great video man! These are two of my favorite racquets out there right now (although I’m loving the strike 100 16x20). I guess it’s a sign of the times that you didn’t have a specific category for volleys however! 😜 “forecourt” lol
Yeah idk how to volley at all so I figured I shouldn't even discuss it
Really channeling my inner Andy Murray on tweener. Didn't realise I should have been setting key matches. Congrats to the Big 3!
lol I traded Zverev for FAA and set a key match for him to beat Carlos... not my best pick
I'm sure you weren't alone. Who knows how many tricks are left up that sleeve.
So to summarize it: the strike is more classic control, whereas the PA98 is point an shoot like a Fed style racquet?
The SW of them both sounds a little like the beginning of "player's stick" territory. How much can an average player modulate the amount of spin at that SW?
100%, the PA98 is surprisingly Fed-like. The Strike does still have a ton of power and it doesn't really play like a classic racquet, more of like a modern control racquet I suppose.
I’ve got the v3 Strike 18x20 and the PA98…I find that strike an absolute boom stick, great power. PA98 is so easy to use and is sexy as hell
“You approach up the line, hope your opponent misses his shot, you do your best to clean up whatever volley you may have, and you just pray to god the other guy doesn’t make you hit an overhead” damn bro didn’t have to call me out like that 😂
I would give a 10/10 for aero 98 feeling , so I cant wait to try the pure strike. Serve performance on aero 98 is great , specially 2nd kick serve , so again , I am pretty curious to try the strike
The swingweight on the Strike is a deal-breaker.
Just get one that is not over spec'd that much
Balance max 32.5 unstrung 33.5 strung weight max 306 unstrung and 322 strung. That will keep the SW just below 330
For some reason the reviewers had gotten heavily overspec'd Pure strikes, both 3.gen and 4.gen, so they are reviewing hard to manuevre specimens which gives a warped review.
If you’re a pussy yes
6/10 for spin on the aero….. naaaaaah you lost me there
I dont believe Synch is the best string of choice for spin. 😉
I have both percept 97 and Pure Aero 98, but I feel the percept has much more power than the PA with same string same tension (my coach said the same thing) which is against what they have been advertised: percept low power control racquet and PA suppose to be a power and spin racquet. the problem is, I like the PA 98 but my coach and friends said I played better with percept because my shot is more powerful and faster with it (I feel the same way) so I am wondering if I should sell the PA and get an extra percept. However, all the reviews said differently, this is why I am confused if my skill level is not enough to handle this racquet or the PA is indeed low powered (I’m a 4.0 - 4.5 player) thanks
My guess is that you are able to swing the Percept faster which gives you more ball speed and spin. It sounds like its a better fit for your game in general and I would recommend sticking with it for that reason. Trust what works for your game and have fun out there!
@@TennCom Thanks a lot for your reply!
Mr. TennCom I was wonder what racquet and string set up to get as an extremely flat and hard hitter(both forehand, backhand, and service), most the time my problem is that the ball goes out maybe a couple inches to a foot, do you have any advice for me to get.
unfortunately, i am not mr. Tenncom but i might have some advice to help out. u might want to try a thicker guaged and round polyester and string it a just little bit higher than what u already do. maybe something like a hawk power or hyper g round 1.30 gauge? and if that's too stiff, u could always try hybriding the round poly with a multifilament to soften up the stringbed, just understand that will give u more depth than full poly and u will likely need to string it a tiny bit higher. if I'm wrong tho, anyone feel free to correct me :)
I would take a look at Grapplesnake Paradox Pro, RPM Power or Lux 4G
depending on what you play with now you can go with a softer racket in terms of RA plus tension your strings a bit higher... and/or a higher gauge/higher stiffness.
Flat strong hitters can go with Head Prestige Line/Wilson Blade. I would avoid Babolat in this case...but maybe The Pure strike VS/97.
Look at rackets with aprox 62-63 RA strung (66 unstrung) with tight pattern 18x20 32-33 balance, 305-315 Static weight unstrung 330 SW and strings with 220 stiffness.
add a tiny bit of topspin instead of chaging your setup??
Analyze Beckett's biases towards the Pure Strike 98 over the Aero 98. Use PEE paragraphs for your explanation.
I thought spin is due to
1. Wide string patterns (aka Aero) not dense (Strike = control)
2. Aero dynamic frame on the vertical side of the frame (Aero) vs thinner frame (Strike = drive)
1. Is true, holding all else equal, as you can generate more string movement with the open pattern.
2. I have not seen any tests that actually prove this. Hard to say if its marketing or real.
At the end of the day, technique dominates spin. For me, its more about which racquets facilitate the brushing motion. The Aero has a very high twistweight (1.5kgcm^2 higher than the Strike) which is awesome for stability but tough on maneuverability. My personal experience is that higher twistweight racquets are better for flat shots and lower are better for spin. At the pro level, you'll see flatter hitters are more likely to have visible lead tape at 3 and 9 (Djoker, Murray, Wawa, Sinner) and spin players are less likely to have this (Rafa, Shapo, Berretini, Fed).
I want to switch to one of these racket I used a babolat pure drive 98 should I switch to one of these rackets, or do u have any other recoomendations?
Thank you so much for your content Beckett!
Which if these would you say is the more forgiving racket? I’m trying to choose between aero 98 and ezone 100…do you believe the ezone 100 is that much easier to use and forgiving? I’m UTR 8 college player, but I want a racket that help me vs better player and return of serve!
Yeah I definitely think the EZONE 100 is more forgiving. One of the best racquets on the market for return of serve too. Its worth hitting them back to back if you can though. If you can't, and aren't sure, I'd lean Aero 98. I think at your level, you are more likely to be happy with it long term.
Hey beccket just bought 2 vcore 98s. What string and tension do you reccomend.
Confidential at 52lbs is where I'd start
I got 2 Vcore 98s as well a few weeks ago. I'm starting with poly tour pro at 54 lbs and loving it so far. Serves are strong but my forehand needs some improvement not to shoot past the baseline. I might play around with something different in a few weeks.
I have 5 Pure Strikes 98 3. gen. I dont see a problem with socalled muted feel. I think that "problem" has been hyped up and problematised too much. If you play with hard strokes that muting is great. Theres enough sensation.
If concerned with too muted feel then dont use an overgrip and dont use a vibro dampener and put lead at 3 and 9 and put in very stiff strings at high tension.
I have seen reviewers use overgrip and dampener on the PS 98 3. gen. and that is what causes mostly the obliteration of any feel response.
I apreciate that I know exactly when I have hit the center with the PS 98 3.gen its like an inverted form of feel. It easy to get used to. and now I miss that on other rackets.
The power is better with 3. gen than 4. gen.
how is the PA98 for the one- hander Beckett? is it easy to manage?
Mate I’ve got a one hander and can use the PA98 no problem…slightly different feel in the throat on your hand compared to a more traditional throat but after 2mins it’s like second nature to me
I have 100 and Play with one hander BH and it's fine. Nothing great but it doesn't stop me from loosing league matches.
IMO PA98 pretty decent for 1HBH. I don't mind letting my F-Tier 1hbh fly from time to time when I've got the Aero in hand. Really easy to find the out-front contact point.
Great vid! Just ordered a PA98 yesterday after looking at the PS98 too so this is a very timely comparison! Coming from a percept 97 what do you think the biggest difference in overall feel will be? Felt like the percept was pretty under powered and muted and wanted some extra baseline power so glad you feel both are solid picks for that.
Pretty different frames, these Babs compared to the Percept. Tough to compared since everything is so different, but I think the Aero makes a little more sense if you are looking for something with similar swing-feel, but more power, forgiveness and consistency through flex (I felt the Percept was a bit noodley).
@@TennCom 100% very different. Felt like I needed to switch it up (aka I’m a racquet addict) so I’m excited to see how it goes.
Hi! Your videos are really great. Could you share with us what
customization you use on your Pure Aero 98 2023? I saw in other videos
that you add some lead at 12 o'clock. Do you also add lead in other
areas of the racket?
Currently I have 2g at 12 and 5g at 7 inches (top of the handle). This setup retains the general playing characteristics of the frame but just swings a bit heavier, so easier plow and more stable.
Great ! Thanks
I have been saying the new Strikes are underrated. Just find the right spec, they are out there, but lots on them are high high spec wise.
And Toro Toro on the 98 Strike is insane. Pocketing is lovely, returns are silky smooth. But unfortunately that string did aggravate my arm.
I've got a PS 98 and I'm still trying to figure out what strings to use. I demoed it with babo RPM Blast which I liked, but when i bought mine I used Zero x Sync hybrid setup. I'm still trying to play around and see what is best. Any suggestions? 3.5 player
I liked the blast with the racket. That being said I had version 2 of the pure strike.
Hey Beckett! Thanks for the comparison, real good video.
I'd like to ask you something: I'm a beginner, probably 2.0 level or something. My serve is absolutely hideous and I have a lot of trouble keeping the ball in (I miss long a lot). Im planning on playing way more, probably every day.
I'd say my game and the game I want to build is mostly based on spin. I just want deep spinny shots nonstop and an eventual angle to finish the point.
Currently, I'm using a ezone 98 2022 with poly tour pro. Is it a good racket to grow into? Would an aero 98 be better? I used to play with an aero pro drive 2010 / head rip control and it worked well but I really did miss long a lot more.
Im thinking of just sticking to the ezone 98 and throwing a spin string like hyper G 1.30 (dont have acess to zero) or confidential, maybe even head lynx tour
I'm not Beckett, but I'll chime in to help.
I'd say at 2.0 level, it's hard to say what style of play you have right now. It's more of building good fundamentals. Ezone 98 is a good racquet, but it's still demanding for 2.0, PA98 is less forgiving than EZ98, you need to be at least 4.0 to effectively use it. Maybe consider Aero 100.
I'd recommend you use a more neutral easier 100-inch racquet to have your technique set first. For example, Speed MP, Ezone 100, Boom MP. You're missing long now is not because of the racquets or strings, it's your technique, you're not hitting enough spin to keep the ball in. In order to train yourself to hit the correct spin, you probably should use round poly instead of shaped poly. So you can get the true trajectory of your shots.
Your current setup Ezone 98 with PTP is already a fantastic setup, if you don't want to get a new racquet, you can use this racquet until you hit the ATP tour. Kyrgios uses the same setup as you.
IMO don't change racquets till you start plateauing a little bit with your game. Don't worry about being fancy with spin. That's how I tried to learn and I've spent the last 2 years training it out of my game. Stick with what you got and keep it simple. As a beginner, there's so much to learn, messing with equipment just makes things harder. Every time you play, you've got to relearn all the strokes, having to adapt to gear changes just makes that harder.
if 2.0 and not a big strong guy. Then dont go over 300 grams. Choose the L versions of the models and 100 inch frames.
When still learning its imporatnt to not have heavy rackets with high tensions.
Light version racket 100 inch (280-295 grams) with Babolat Syn Gut @ 55
Hi, I’ve just started playing tennis over the last couple of months, I’m enjoying it enough that I’m looking to buy my first proper racquet and these are the two I’ve been looking at; I’m happy to spend decent money if it’ll mean I won’t have to replace it any time soon, so would a 100” version of these be suitable in your opinion? For reference I’m 6’5, 210lb and have taken tennis up as a second sport to cricket (I’m also English), so I’m used to swinging something much heavier, if in a different context..
I think going to the Strike 98 would be fine since you are used to a heavier weight and a smaller hitting zone. If you can handle the weight, which usually taller players can more than shorter players, than you should go for it. Boom Pro would be another I'd look at. Honestly, it doesn't matter too much when you are learning the game because your technique changes a lot day-to-day. Going for something that makes you excited to play is my typical recommendation.
@@TennCom cheers pal, much appreciated 👍
I have the PS 98 Gen 3 and looking to string with RPM Soft orange. I'm an intermediate player looking for a bit more comfort out the racquet. What string tension would you recommend?
I've never tried RPM Soft before so not totally sure but maybe try through a multifilament in the mains? Head Velocity MLT is a nice option at a decent price
Beckett, how are you? I've been commenting your videos while I'm trying to test, buy and sell rackets to find the perfect one. Could you help me? I TRY to be, mostly, an aggressive baseliner, I hit with a flat forehand (with a little spin to control the ball), I have a flat 2hbh, but I use a lot of slice and dropshots when the points are longer. I loved the head extreme tour with head lynx at 23kg but it ruined my arm almost for 2 weeks, it was an instant sell.
I have no problems with the yonex muted feel (I played with yonex vcore 98, i hated the high launch angle, I missed every shot long), I want a racket that give me consistency and I don't have to give it all in every shot to cross the net (maybe an 70%), but when I hit with 100% power it can reach depth and a decent ball speed.
My options are: Yonex ezone 2022 and wilson blade 98 (v8 because there is no v9 stock in chile, so sad).
My concerns with the ezone are: I don't want to hold back any power when i'm trying to hit a winner or in a normal rally I don't want to hit with low power and find the ball too deep. I would like to have control of the depth of my shot. Also I don't want to get an injury, I've seen a lot of videos and some people say that ezones are super comfortable but I've also seen a lot of people talking about arm/wrist pain and TE with this racket.
with the blade v8: I don't want to hit with all my power and feel that the racket is absorbing the speed or heaviness of the ball, or to see that all the balls are going to the net (problem that I had with the head radical MP).
between the 2 options what was your favorite? did you have fun playing with any of the two rackets? what racket do you think would suit my gamestyle?
I prefer the EZONE, but for comfort and control, I think the Blade is a better solution for you. The EZONE feels undoubtedly stiffer than average IMO and it gets worse when you let the strings go dead. I've met several people who bounce between those frames, most prefer/play better with the EZONE, but the Blade keeps their arms happy so they stick with em. Especially for a flat hitter, I think the Blade is the natural choice. BTW thanks for all your views and comments, I defs recognize your name!
@@TennCom I appreciate a lot your answer! In that case which strings and modifications would you do to the blade v8 to deal with the low power?
@@Estudio01deoctubre some weight at 12 if you need more plow and string it lower. I'd go for the 18x20 at 45lbs to start. Hawk Power would play pretty nice, but also Signum Pro FIrestorm which adds nice zip.
First time their was a disconnect from your words to the scores...comparing rackets with almost 15 sw points difference is a NONO.... STRIKE with 327sw is different racket compared to almost 340....which is what you like
Yeah tough to balance when you have such crazy specs with an outlier. The Aero had to be bumped up to 340g to keep the balance so I don't think it would have been fair to match the racquet's SW so I just decided to keep the Strike much higher than the Aero. Strikes do seem to be mostly coming over 330 anyway, but it's never going to be a perfect test until I get the luxury of cherry picking review units.
PA98 user here - I've weighted mine up to ~345g strung with a leather grip, some tungsten putty, and just enough lead tape at 12 to keep it at ~7 points HL. Currently loving Tour Sniper / Restring Zero blend (58lb) thanks to a certain someone's members-only poly blend video!
Your point about the PA98 just wanting to drive the ball is so spot on, I've only recently started to embrace that focus over the Nadal-esque loopy forehand, and it's made a huge difference in terms of ability to play aggressive. As tempting as it is to try the Strike 98 for a bit better feel, I think I'm finally starting to fully mesh with my PAs and the style they love most - and I'm gonna resist trying anything else for the rest of the season.
PA's are just so good for winning matches... hard to put down
Doesnt your elbow or wrist hurt that's a high tension
@@VintageSecurePA98 is so muted. You can’t even feel a dead string bed. Even more muted than the regular PA
However, it’s the greatest stick for baseline
Looking to find some more power in my sticks than my current TFight 305RS’s - any recommendations? I’ve got them leaded up with about 8 grams total in the hoop at 3&9 for extra plow through. I tend to hit flatter, especially on the 1 handed backhand. Thanks
Might be time to look at a 100 then. Maybe a modified EZ100 like SirMuzz?
Try maybe Prestige MP
Just as a benchmark, I would be interested to know where your WO18x20 compares in these categories!?
loosely, and more importantly, after my customizations:
Feel: 9
Baseline: 8
Control: 9
Spin: 10
Serves: 6
Returns: 9
Forecourt: 8
@@TennCom So more spin and control? Because of your customizations-skill?
Have you tried the Pure Strike 100 16x20? Hoping to demo one soon
no sadly, im interested in it but not avail in Canada
hmm I have the old and new strike, not sure about the feel of the new strike, it like the new tech has sucked the power of the frame.
What strings do u reccomend for these rackets? rpm blast 17 g
Hey, unrelated to the video but I recently came across a sv95 for about 120us dollars in almost brand new condition. Should I pick it up? I play quite flat with a ohbh and thought it’d be fun to try out
Yeah I love the SV95. More of a spin frame, but it plays quite differently from modern frames in terms of feel, but still gives you a lot more power than you'd expect from a 95.
@@TennCom hey Beckett, thanks so much for your reply! I think I’ll go ahead and pick it up. Do you have any recommendations for a modern alternative to the sv95? As of right now it’s quite hard to find extra pieces for the sv. Thanks!
What is the best string of aero98
Hey Beckett! Despite switching to GPro, I still love my OG Project One Seven. Do you think the newest PS is different enough to get it for a collection?
Its been so long since I hit the P17, its hard to say. I remember not liking it back then, but I also didn't appreciate racquets in the same way. I think there is something special about the P17 though!
@@TennCom surprisingly it was the same for me: got it when I was rookie even by recreational level standards. Didn't even have a honeymoon period since it was way out of my league to play with. Left in a closet to collect dust and fell off with tennis altogether.
Now years later I play again, feel much more confident, switched many sticks. And found this gem patiently waiting in the closet where I left it. And holy shet it plays and feels so good.
I'm not planning to switch from Head anytime soon, but when I feel too tired or lazy to swing heavyass GPro I pick P17 and have fun. And I think it's the best line that describes the good oldie: fun to play with!
@@dreamphoenix000 If you can find a not overspec'd version of 3.gen... it plays simular to the P17 but with a bit more muted feel.
Pure strike is way too stiff for my like. It’s like hitting with a stick/bat. Is there something that provides similar power and spin but feels softer?
Clash 98 maybe? Not much can hang with the Strike IMO. Stiffness is key for power.
what do you think about the pure drive 98? Is it anywhere as good as these rackets?
I like it, the feel is very old-school Babolat and I'd consider switching to it but the balance point is too high for me considering the swingweight. I've become a lot more sensitive to balance point lately and for whatever reason I just can't find my forehand. I've got a VS in the racquet behind me and I really spent time trying to make it work and failed because of the BP.
When you recieve an overspec'd racket. Are you not able to return or exchange it.? I think you get over spec Pure Strikes all the time. It gives a warped perspective when reviewing, bc warped playability. I also get overspec'd rackets but I send them right back to retailer for an exchange. These rackets are pretty expensive. I don't buy a car also that comes with two smaller wheels in front that not to specs ( if that makes any sense)
There are cases where I can, there are cases where, for business reasons, I would rather not increase friction. Further, since there are no published SW's, what are we to truly know what's over and what's underspec. Do we fully trust TW and take their measurements as gospel? What if 339SW is the target? I struggle to balance these things. I struggle to know whether I should try to replicate the customer experience or push the reviewer side.
@@TennCom ? Maybe you can let this response and thought sit without deleting it:
SW specs unstrung is to be found at Babolat own web site. This indicates that 339 SW strung is far from the designers intention.
Im not taking TW as Gospel but they only have interest in providing correct average info regarding Avereage strung SW, as this benefits their sales highly as that gives the customer something to expect and thus it makes returns of rackets much less. Also I think independent reviewer and retail customer interests are interlinked. A warped racket, gives a warped review which serves no one.
You make great content.
my 2 cents is just an expression of concern which is in my world the same as care.
@@TennCom I dont know your attachment business wise, but I dont think they can be interested in anything but the truth and a review on what we should expect buying a racket, as this is going to influence buyers and the market .
Babolat also give spec info on their website that we can expect or aim for when buying.
I think SW actually can be calculated pretty good by knowing the length, the balance and the weight etc., and there is online calculators for that. Its not going to be super accurate but its good enough for most. and if that correlates pretty much with what TW writes up, I think they should be trusted.
Also who else do an average meassurement through a larger sample, with pro tech equipment, on the retail market.
Do you think confidential at 52lb is good PA98 setup
48lbs or lower unless you have a steel arm or just like stiffer setups
Is aero more faster than strike? I think my aero in denfense is too slowe
Strike is slower imo
Witch the rackets is the in maneurability?
aero
does babolat come out with new rackets every year?
How does the PS98 compare to the PS VS?
PS98 is rock-solid in the upper hoop, which is where I had issues with the PSVS/97. 97 retains much better ball pocketing and control at lower tensions, but feels more brittle at higher tensions. For example, 53lbs feels right for the 98, but was too tight for the 97. Because of the SW, prob the 97 is going to be easier to use and more accessible for the average player, but at quite advanced levels, I think most people will benefit from the extra power/SW of the 98.
How do the PA98 and PS98 compare to the 2024 Head Boom Pro?
I only hit the BP briefly, but overall I felt it had less power, more control than both, but it plays more similar to the Strike across the board.
@@TennCom I have Restring Zero at 52lbs in the mains and Toroline Wasabi X at 54lbs in the crosses. Do you think this is a good string setup and what are some other full poly string setups that’ll complement the BP?
Power : PS > BP > PA
Control : PA > PS > BP
Spin : PA > BP > PS
Stability : BP = PS > PA
Comfort : BP > PS > PA
Feel : BP > PS > PA
Sweetspot : BP > PS > PA
Manoeuvrability : PA > BP > PS
@@nakmuay5034 This is helpful, thanks
Gotta hand it to you, making lemonade outa that lemon of a Pure Strike. I mean, the PS is supposed to be the ultimate tweener. 339sw is a whopping 10-points over spec, takes it way into player frame territory. What happened to Babo's QC? Luckily, yours was a demo, but imagine paying upwards of $250 for that brick?!
i think you would like it hahaha
how does the strike compare to head extreme tour 360?
Its just got so much more of everything. More power, spin, stability, feels like an absolute truck. The ET is so dainty, swings way faster and feels more pure. Even when weighted, the ET can't really touch the Strike on big power baseline exchanges.
@@TennCom Cool, now I wonder, whats the difference between Pure Strike 2024 and T-fight iso?hahahaha
good. now ezone 98 vs vcore 98
ua-cam.com/video/bc0VDiS4RHE/v-deo.html
Will this new Pure Strike move up to the S tier on your Tennis Racquet Tier List? 😀
No because the endorsements aren't there. Ofner is pretty epic but not an S-tier endorsement and Thiem makes me depressed every time he steps on court.
After using both the PS98 and PA98, the PA98 generates soooo much more spin in my opinion. Interesting we’re on different pages
I hit pretty much the same spin with both. For me, the spin score is less about max RPM's or even average RPM's, its about being able to choose the amount of spin I wanted to apply on each shot.
@@TennCom that fair, definitely more variable with the strike. I’d agree
Aero. Spin 6 of 10? It's nonsense. It's 10 of 10.
Strike is too, but a little bit less.
❤❤❤
Hey Beckett, we should all send 15% of our annual income. For your racket wisdom.
Does Babolat know how much you guys just butchered the poor Aero?😂❤
no i shadow banned them from the channel
@@TennComthat's a great approach 😅 we can even curse at them here, it's like a sandbox, nananana Babo french 🥖
Beckett possibly switching from whiteout to PS98? hmmmmmmm
no i want a 100
strike color design is shit. Other than that its a great racquet.
First
This video is completely utterly biased and also biased on Becketts swing path and skill level.
The strike is just a much easier racket to use in general it's why he is so infatuated with it.
A few points to point out is that the strike absolutely does not have the same control and spin as the aero 98. To control the ball the aero 98 needs a more vertical swing path to spin the ball in. While the strike let's you hit more linear because of its dense pattern in the center. Becketts swing path is extremely linear and that's why the ball sprayed so much. The string spacing on the aero 98 is much wider and actually allows you to hit more consistent power more often, ala Alcaraz. Who's swing path is not only linear but he also brushes alot. His rpm is actually very high. The opposite would be tisipitas who's swing path is actually linear.
The serve is equally strong and more accurate with the aero 98 with the correct techique. Becketts left arm is not straight on his serve and contact point is late. In fact not only is the left arm not pointed to the sky it drops instantly as he tosses the ball. It's why he feels the strike is better because the strikes larger sweet spot compensates for poor techique.
Really disappointed with this review being so biased. I personally played with these for 3 months each and do not find this review to be accurate.
Overall the strike is a easier racquet for the average 3.5 since it sweet spot is so big. But advance players would extract more from the aero 98. I do not play with either of these as they are arm destroyers.
Opposite, I really like this review. Racquet reviews are supposed to be subjective, if every reviewer agrees on the same thing, why do we need so many reviews. It’s extremely important to hear different voices.
"I do not play with either of these." Important part of this comment for future readers.
@@TennCom no I no longer play with these is the correct comment but I have play with the for 3 months each. While you have played with the strike for less than 2 months if the video posting time line is correct. Def still in an infatuation phrase of a new racquet.
@@ulunxtns while that is true. One should use correct techiques before judging something that requires it.
@@tomk5238 I disagree. I don’t recall Babolat said who can’t play their racquets.