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Babolat Pure Drive 98

The Pure Drive with a smaller 98 sq in head, for players who make their own pace.

First published 15 September 2026 · Last updated 6 October 2026

Who should try it?

Try it next to the standard Pure Drive if you like a 98 sq in head and want to see whether your placement tightens up.

What to watch for

The smaller head asks for cleaner contact. And at 305 g it’s actually heavier than the standard Pure Drive, not lighter.

How to demo it

Aim at targets: ten balls to each corner, then ten serves. Finish with returns off a first serve, where a smaller head is less forgiving.

Worth comparing

From published reviews

What reviewers say

These are other reviewers’ findings, not our own play tests. Their strings, tension and playing style may differ from yours.

Pure Drive pop with more control and stability, but firmer and more demanding than the 100.

They liked

  • A good balance of control and power
  • More stable than the standard Pure Drive
  • More spin than the 16×20 pattern suggests

Watch out for

  • Several testers called it stiff
  • Less forgiving than the 100, so you need sound technique
  • Less free power when you're defending

Where they differ: Tennisnerd found it softer-feeling with his string setup than the previous 98; several Tennis Warehouse testers still felt it played firm.

Suits: Confident players who want controlled power rather than help.

Summarised from reviews by Tennis Warehouse and Tennisnerd, read October 2026.