If you are a beginner or recreational player, or a junior just considering your first full-sized racket, you will be pleased to know that Babolat offer a range aimed squarely at you. Without some of the high-performance characteristics that mark out their tour models, the Boost range nonetheless incorporates the quality materials and design that you would expect from Babolat. Even better, most Boost rackets are available for less than $100. So, what are the best Babolat rackets under $100?

The top 3 best Babolat rackets under $100 are the Babolat Boost Drive 2021, the Babolat Boost Aero Yellow, and the Babolat Boost S (Strike). Each retains some characteristics from one of the more expensive rackets for advanced players for which Babolat are renowned, and each one can be a good fit for players with different playing styles.

1) Babolat Boost Drive 2021

The Boost Drive is fairly light, weighing 272g strung, and has a large 105 square-inch head. It has an open 16×19 string pattern, and a moderate stiffness rating of 65 on Babolat’s scale. The Boost Drive has a slightly head-heavy balance, giving it a swingweight of 312. So, what do all of these numbers mean in practice? The large head will mean that the racket is fairly forgiving of off-centre strikes. The head-heavy balance and open stringing pattern will enable a good level of power to be generated, although the lack of stiffness of the frame will prevent it from producing the same level of ferocity as the Pure Drive. There should be no problem generating a reasonable level of spin with a 16×19 stringing pattern, although the large head and head-heavy balance may limit racket head speed. Similarly, the large head of the Boost Drive may limit maneuverability during net play, although the light weight may compensate to some extent.

The Boost Drive is basically an affordable power racket, so if you want a little more pace in your shots it is certainly worth trying.

2) Babolat Boost Aero Yellow

The Boost Aero Yellow weighs in at 278g strung. It is head heavy, but not quite to the same extent as the Boost Drive, giving it a swingweight of 306. It has an open 16×19 string pattern, and is slightly stiffer than the Boost Drive, with a rating of 67. The Boost Aero has a fairly large 102 square-inch head. Essentially, the Boost Aero looks quite a bit like the pricier Pure Aero, and is similarly aimed towards spin. It is not the most powerful racket, but, if you are able to generate a reasonable amount of racket head speed, it will help you to produce plenty of rpms. The downside of the Boost Aero is probably its lack of stability, which could cause issues with precision and control, especially at the net. Also, if you do need a bit of extra power from your racket, the Boost Aero is probably not the best one to provide it.

The Boost Aero is a racket which can generate a lot of spin at a bargain price. If you do not aim to spin the ball heavily, you will probably be better off looking at other options.

3) Babolat Boost S (Strike)

The Boost S (Strike) features a 102 square-inch head and weighs 295g strung. Despite having a head-light balance, it has a swingweight of 312. It has an open, 16×19 string pattern, and is marginally stiffer than the other two rackets reviewed here, with a rating of 68. The Boost S (Strike) is designed to be more of an all-rounder’s racket than the Boost Drive and Boost Aero. It is not aimed specifically at generating power or spin, although it should produce reasonable levels of both thanks to the open string pattern. It offers higher levels of precision and control than the other Boost rackets, due to its greater stiffness and head-light balance. This means that it is also a more practical choice if you like to play a volleying game.

The Boost S (Strike) is the best of these options if you are a flexible, all-court player who wants to combine power and spin with precision and control. 

Final Thoughts

If your budget is limited, you are still learning the game, or you only play occasionally, the Babolat Boost range provides some excellent options that won’t break the bank. If you want power, try the Boost Drive 2021. If spin is your thing, the Boost Aero Yellow will get that ball rotating, at the expense of a little power. If you want a bit more control, and are prepared to compromise a little to find a good balance, try the Boost S (Strike).

If you are just starting to play tennis, you will want a racket that is, above all, easy to use. You may like the ones your favorite professionals play with, but these are designed for experienced players who develop a lot of racket head speed and power, and who generally strike the ball with the middle of the racket. An ideal racket for a beginner will be light and easy to swing, with a fairly large head making it forgiving of off-center contacts. So, what are the best Babolat rackets for beginners?

The top 5 best Babolat rackets for beginners are the Babolat Boost Aero Yellow, the Babolat Boost Drive 2021, the Babolat EVO Drive 115 Wimbledon, the Babolat Pure Drive 110 2021, and the Babolat Pure Aero. The first 2 are very budget-friendly, the following 2 are very easy to play with, and the last one is a great investment. 

1) Budget-Friendly: Babolat Boost Aero Yellow

The Boost Aero Yellow weighs 278g strung, which is a fairly modest weight. It is slightly head heavy. It has an open 16×19 string pattern, and has a medium level of stiffness, with a rating of 67. It has a larger than average 102 square-inch head. For a beginner, the Boost Aero is a good choice if you aim to play with spin. If you learn to swing the racket fairly quickly, with good technique, you will be rewarded with plenty of rotations on the ball. The Boost Aero is not especially powerful, and lacks stability, which means that it will not help you to play with great pace or precision. 

The Boost Drive is a racket which can produce a lot of spin at a bargain price. As a beginner, if you are not planning to learn to spin the ball heavily, you will probably be better off looking at other options.

2) Budget-Friendly: Babolat Boost Drive 2021

The Boost Drive is also fairly light, weighing 272g strung, and has a large 105 square-inch head. It has an open 16×19 string pattern, and a medium stiffness rating of 65 on Babolat’s scale. The Boost Drive has a slightly head-heavy balance. The large head will mean that the racket can help you to get away with a few off-center strikes. The head-heavy balance and open stringing pattern will enable a reasonable amount of power to be generated, despite its light weight and lack of stiffness.  

The Boost Drive is aimed primarily at power, although its light weight means that it can only provide a modest amount of help. Nonetheless, if you want some assistance with putting more pace in your shots it is certainly worth testing.

3) Easy To Play: Babolat EVO Drive 115 Wimbledon

If you feel that the Boost Drive does not offer enough power for you, you might want to step up to the EVO Drive 115 Wimbledon. With its significantly larger 115 square-inch head and open 16×17 string pattern, the EVO Drive 115 will unquestionably provide something extra. It has a head-light balance, a weight of just 240g, and a Babolat stiffness rating of 68, making it slightly stiffer than the other two rackets considered so far.

It is also 0.6” longer than a standard racket to give added leverage when serving. For a beginner, a racket with a head of this size can be less easy to maneuver than a smaller one. Some might therefore find that the EVO Drive 115 helps them to hit the ball hard but makes it hard to control, although its light weight could help with any fast adjustments.

For a beginner who has not yet developed fast strokes, the EVO Drive 115 can offer a significant boost in power. 

4) Easy To Play: Babolat Pure Drive 110 2021

The Pure Drive 110 features a still-relatively-large 110 square-inch head which allows the required forgiveness of off-centre hits. It is fairly light, at 255g unstrung. It has an open 16×19 stringing pattern and a head-light balance. A stiffness rating of 70 means that the Pure Drive 110 is a little stiffer than the other rackets reviewed so far, which allows it to provide a good level of power- as long as you are able to develop a moderate amount of swing speed. The Pure Drive 110 also has the same extra 0.6” of length boasted by the EVO Drive 115, in order to boost your serve. For a beginner, the Pure Drive 110 can enhance power, and features a large sweetspot, but control may prove tricky for some. 

The Pure Drive 110 is a racket with significant potential for power, which also offers the forgiveness required by beginners. 

5) If You Want To Invest: Babolat Pure Aero 

The Pure Aero is endorsed by Rafael Nadal, which basically tells you that it is aimed at players who want to put a lot of spin on the ball. Weighing in at 300g unstrung, and featuring a 100 square-inch head, the Pure Aero is a little heavier and smaller than the other rackets reviewed here. It has an open 16×19 string pattern, and has a fairly flexible frame, measuring 67 on Babolat’s stiffness scale. The Pure Aero is widely liked by players, and you can continue to use it however proficient you become. For a beginner, however, this is a very lively racket. If you learn to impart a lot of spin on your groundstrokes, the Pure Aero will offer plenty of assistance. If you hit flat shots, control can be an issue.

If you aim to learn to spin the ball a lot, the Pure Aero is a great choice. Nonetheless, it is a fairly big investment for a beginner, so you need to be sure that that is how you want to play.

Final Thoughts

It is not easy to select a racket when you do not have much experience of the game. Try all of these, consider your budget, and simply buy the one you like best!

Lateral Epicondylitis, or ‘tennis elbow’ is the scourge of many club players, although even the professionals are not immune. It is basically inflammation and swelling of the tendons that bend your wrist backwards, and it is very painful. It can take months for tennis elbow to subside sufficiently to allow you to play tennis again, and there is always a concern that it might return.

Physiotherapy, exercises, improved backhand technique, and supports can all help, but it is important that your racket is not making the condition worse. Typically, a racket that is on the heavier side is more stable, and will absorb shock better, which will protect against tennis elbow. In addition, larger heads tend to absorb shock well and offer a softer feel. So which Babolat rackets are best for tennis elbow?

The best Babolat tennis rackets for tennis elbow are the EVOKE 105 2021, the EVOKE 102 2021, and the Boost Drive 2021 – which are more affordable – and the Pure Strike VS 2022, the EVO Drive 115 Wimbledon, and the Pure Strike Tour 3^rd Gen (which are more expensive).

1) Babolat EVOKE 105 2021

The EVOKE 105 is a budget model, coming in at well under $100. Nonetheless, it fulfills the main criteria for avoidance of tennis elbow. It has a significantly larger than average 105 square-inch head, and a solid weight of 289g strung, with a slightly head-heavy balance. It has an open, 16×19 stringing pattern, which helps in the development of power and spin, although with a flexibility rating of 57 this is far from being a stiff frame.

The key to using a racket like this to protect against tennis elbow is to ensure the grip size is not too small, and to replace the original string with a high quality, fairly soft, option at a lower tension than you might typically use. Whilst this racket would not meet the needs of a tour pro, it could certainly serve the purposes of a typical club player with a sore arm.

2) Babolat EVOKE 102 2021

The EVOKE 102 is similarly priced to the EVOKE 105, rendering it extremely affordable. It is also almost identically specified to the EVOKE 102, but it features a slightly smaller 102 square-inch head and a flexibility rating of 56. Once again, with an appropriate grip size, and restrung with good string at a reduced tension, this could be a good protective option. The lack of stiffness will not help control, but it should protect against jarring of the elbow.

3) Babolat Boost Drive 2021

The Boost Drive is a third budget-friendly option.  It is a little lighter than the EVOKE rackets, weighing 272g strung, but it does have a large 105 square-inch head. It has an open 16×19 string pattern, and a medium stiffness rating of 65 on Babolat’s scale, along with a head-heavy balance, giving it a swingweight of 312.

The head size is certainly good for tennis elbow, although the racket could possibly ideally be a little heavier. The additional stiffness could lead to the transmission of more vibration, although Babolat’s Woofer grommet system is incorporated to add comfort. The Boost Drive is fairly powerful for a budget racket, but with a change of string and tension it could still be an option for tennis elbow sufferers.

4) Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022

The Pure Strike VS is a control-oriented racket for advanced players. Although it has a fairly compact 97 square-inch head, it weighs in at 332g, giving it the desired solidity for tennis elbow protection. It has a distinctly head-light balance, making it easy to maneuver, and a 16×20 string pattern, with the additional cross string contributing to control. The frame is fairly flexible, with a rating of 63, which should help to protect against shock. Once restrung at a lower tension, the Pure Strike VS is generally regarded as a very playable racket, and would be ideal for intermediate and advanced players wanting to protect against tennis elbow.  

5) Babolat EVO Drive 115 Wimbledon

The most notable features of the EVO Drive 115 are its large 115 square-inch head and very open 16×17 string pattern. It has a head-light balance, a weight of just 240g, and a Babolat stiffness rating of 68. It is 0.6” longer than a standard racket to give added leverage when serving. The large head should help with tennis elbow, and, once restrung, if you are a player with compact swings, you might just find that the EVO Drive 115 reduces the amount of force you need to apply. Although it is not the most solid or weighty racket it could still bring benefits.

6) Babolat Pure Strike Tour 3^rd Gen

The Pure Strike Tour is a solid 340g racket with a head-light balance to aid maneuverability. Compared to its sister racket the VS, it has a slightly larger 98 square-inch head and a more open 16×19 string pattern. The Pure Strike Tour is slightly stiffer than the VS, with a rating of 65, but still only moderately so. For advanced players, the racket offers a blend of power and precision, without being as control-oriented as the VS. Nonetheless, it is a solid frame which, once restrung, should protect reasonably well against tennis elbow.

Final Thoughts

No racket will provide complete protection against the dreaded tennis elbow. Nonetheless, with the insertion of good quality string at a reduced tension, any of these rackets could help a club player. For more advanced players, the Pure Strike rackets would be the best choices.

The general perception among players is that Babolat rackets are primarily great for boosting power and spin, but in fact they make some excellent control-oriented rackets too. This is particularly important for advanced players with a lot of power, who may not need assistance with hitting the ball hard, but who do want a little help with keeping it inside the court.

Control rackets typically have fairly dense stringing patterns, to discourage an excessive ‘trampoline’ effect, and modest-sized heads to support maneuverability. They will not be excessively stiff. So, what are the best Babolat rackets for control?

In general, the 3 Babolat rackets that offer the best control are the Babolat Pure Strike 18×20 3^rd Gen, the Babolat Pure Drive VS – the control version of the mighty Pure Drive – and, finally, the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022.

1) Babolat Pure Strike 18×20 3^rd Gen

The Pure Strike 18×20 offers a 98 square-inch head size, and weighs a solid 323g. It has a stiffness rating of 66, putting it close to the middle of the range, and combines a head-light balance with an 18×20 string pattern. The Pure Strike 18×20 is particularly suitable for players who generate high levels of racket-head speed, as it offers a good combination of power and control.

The dense string pattern and compact head help players to reduce inaccuracy. There is another benefit of a dense string pattern for players who are prone to frequent (expensive) string breaks: string life is substantially enhanced. This may not matter to players on the main tours, but for aggressive players at lower levels the saving can be substantial! The swingweight of the racket, measured at 334, probably makes it more suitable for physically stronger players: some female testers have found that the Pure Strike 18×20 feels a little underpowered.

If you want a solid racket which offers a combination of power, spin and precision, the Pure Strike 18×20 may be just what you are looking for,

2) Babolat Pure Drive VS

The Pure Drive is Babolat’s flagship power racket. For those who find it a little too difficult to play accurately with the Pure Drive, Babolat have created the more control-oriented 318g Pure Drive VS . The VS has a reduced 98 square inch head, compared to the 100 square inches of the Pure Drive, which aids maneuverability.

It retains the same head-light balance and open 16×19 stringing pattern, so it will still allow a lot of power and spin to be generated, despite a slightly reduced stiffness rating of 68. The smaller head enhances control, which may be a significant benefit for bigger hitters, given the power produced by the standard Pure Drive. The Pure Drive VS is slightly lighter than the Pure Drive and features a thinner beam, which some reviewers feel affects its stability.

Aggressive baseliners who find that the Pure Drive lacks the control they need will definitely benefit from trying the Pure Drive VS. The power has been toned down a little, but playability is a real strength for the VS.

3) Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022

The Pure Strike VS is another control-oriented member of the Pure Strike family. It is heavier than the Pure Strike 18×20 at 332g, and has a slightly smaller 97 square-inch head. It has a markedly head-light balance for added maneuverability, meaning that it actually has a lower swingweight of 322.

The frame is more flexible than the Pure Strike 18×20 with a Babolat stiffness rating of 63. The Pure Strike VS has an unusual 16×20 string pattern, with the additional cross string contributing to control without substantially reducing power.

Reviewers suggest that, whilst the Pure Strike VS is not as powerful as some other rackets, its precision leads to players having the confidence to attack the ball and possibly therefore hitting even more heavily. Testers gave the racket good scores across the board, with the only real reservations being expressed concerning inconsistency of response across the racket face, which can be addressed by restringing with alternative string at a different tension.

The Pure Strike VS is a racket that offers precision and control along with good all-round performance. It would certainly be worth testing.

Final Thoughts

Any of these rackets would represent a good choice for an advanced player who would value the confidence that a racket with high levels of control and precision can give. All three are solid performers across the board, so the only real way to decide is to test them all and see which suits you best.

As a beginner, you will have wanted a racket that made the game as easy as possible. It may have had a large head and offered plenty of power to assist your shots. Now, however, you have progressed to the ‘intermediate’ stage.

Your shots are becoming more technically correct and consistent, and you are likely to be looking for a more maneuverable racket, offering what coaches like to call ‘playability’. There is no single correct choice, as rackets are designed to suit different styles of play, but in this article we will look at some of the best Babolat rackets for intermediates.

In general, the top 5 best tennis rackets for intermediate players are the Babolat Pure Strike 16×19, Babolat Pure Drive 2021, Babolat Pure Aero, Babolat Pure Strike 18×20 and the Babolat Pure Drive VS. These rackets offer a good combination of power, control, and maneuverability.

1) Babolat Pure Strike 16×19

The Pure Strike 16×19 is a racket that tries to give you a little bit of everything. It is powerful, due to its open stringing pattern and solid 323g weight, but it is not as stiff as the most powerful options, with a Babolat flex rating of 66.

Its 98 square-inch head size and head-light balance help with maneuverability and, in conjunction with the open stringing pattern, developing plenty of spin.

It has been designed to offer more cushioning and feel than some other powerful rackets, so it can benefit players who like to play at the net and need control. Reviewers generally praise this racket, although some feel that it is aimed more at aggressive players, as switching to softer, floaty shots was tricky for them.

If you are developing an attacking, all-court game, the Pure Strike 16×19 may be exactly what you need. 

2) Babolat Pure Drive 2021

The Pure Drive features a larger 100 square-inch head size and an open 16×19 string pattern. It has a fairly high stiffness rating of 71, an unstrung weight of 318g, and a head-light balance.

Reviewers remark upon the power it provides, and note that players with the right technique can also generate a lot of spin. On the other hand, the sweetspot is not as large as some, the racket can feel a little stiff, and it is sometimes possible to lose control.

Nonetheless, overall, the racket is very well liked. For an intermediate player, the first thing to keep in mind is that this is a powerful racket. If you are developing a game-style that is going to be all about big groundstrokes, the Pure Drive is designed to help with this. It will also aid you in developing a big serve. However, if you want to introduce touch and subtlety into your game, or a significant amount of net play, you might want to look at other options.

If you are working on building a big game from the back of the court, the Pure Drive will help you to add that little bit of extra power.

3) Babolat Pure Aero

If you enjoy putting plenty of spin on the ball, the Babolat Pure Aero is the racket which will give you the most help. It is, after all, endorsed by Rafael Nadal, who spins the ball more than virtually anyone else.

Slightly lighter at 300g unstrung, and featuring a 100 square-inch head, the specifications of the Pure Aero are nonetheless fairly similar to those of the Pure Drive. The Pure Aero has an open 16×19 string pattern, but combines its slightly lighter weight with a more flexible frame, measuring 67 on Babolat’s stiffness scale.

Reviewers generally agree that the Pure Aero is great for spin and power, although some question its stability. For an intermediate player, you need to keep in mind that this is a pretty lively racket. If you are able to impart a lot of spin on your groundstrokes, the Pure Aero will offer plenty of assistance. If, however, you tend to hit flatter, you may find control an issue.

If you are modelling your game on Rafa’s, or at least enjoy putting heavy spin on the ball, the Pure Aero is certainly worth trying.

4) Babolat Pure Strike 18×20

The Pure Strike 18×20 has an almost identical specification to the 16×19 version, but features a more dense 18×20 string pattern. Reviewers note that this version provides reasonable power in conjunction with good levels of control.

The relatively dense string pattern helps players to reduce inaccuracy, and it will address some of the control issues which users identified with the 16×19 version. The swing weight of the racket makes it more suitable for physically stronger players: some female players have said that they do not obtain as much power from the Pure Strike 18×20 as they would like.

If you are strong enough to generate good racket head speed with a racket of this weight, and value control, the Pure Strike 18×20 is definitely worth looking at.

5) Babolat Pure Drive VS

The Pure Drive VS is essentially a slightly more maneuverable, control-oriented version of the powerful Pure Drive. It has a smaller 98 square-inch head, compared to the 100 square inches of the Pure Drive.

It offers an identical balance and open stringing pattern, so it will still support you in generating a lot of power and spin. The smaller head allows more maneuverability and control, which could be very helpful for many intermediate players given the power produced by the Pure Drive. The Pure Drive VS is slightly lighter than the Pure Drive and offers a thinner beam, which some reviewers have suggested reduces its stability. 

If you love the idea of the Pure Drive, but find it difficult to play consistently with it, the Pure Drive VS may be just the compromise you need.

Final Thoughts

These are five great rackets, so you just need to consider which is best suited to the way you aim to play. Don’t be afraid to try them all.