Babolat Pure Strike 100 16/20 Review

This Babolat Pure Strike 100 16/20 Review deals with a new model in the Pure Strike family. The regular 100 has 16/19 and a lower weight.

You can check out the Babolat Pure Strike 100 16/20 on Tennis Warehouse Europe, Tennis Warehouse and Tennis Only.

The Babolat Pure Strike 2024 review we published earlier deals briefly with all new Pure Strikes. This review is more in-depth after more time with the racquet.

Specs and tech

What is new in the 2024 Pure Strikes? This time Babolat has added NF2-tech (flax fibers) to both the handle and the hoop. This creates a more comfortable response, similar to the Babolat Pure Aero 2023.

Babolat also markets Control Frame Technology, which “lends square and elliptical cross sections to deliver a stable hitting experience with excellent ball feedback.” The denser string pattern of this racquet is called FSI Control technology.

How does it play?

The new Pure Strikes all offer the familiar crisp feel of their predecessors but with slightly better comfort and feel. The Pure Strike 100 has a popular spec that competes with racquets like the HEAD Speed MP, Dunlop CX 400 Tour, and Wilson Blade 100. Compared to these racquets, it is firmer and more powerful, which makes it more forgiving, but also more difficult to control.

It offers more control than racquets like the Pure Drive or Pure Aero, but is still not going to be pushed around or be too low-powered to finish points. It moves relatively fast through the air and the swing weight around 320-325 strung is perfect.

Don’t let the 16/20 pattern fool you, though. The launch angle is still relatively high, and you can get plenty of top spin on your shots. The power level is higher than the Pure Strike 98 racquets, so this is for you who want to get more help and forgiveness without going to extremes.

The power level on serve is not quite Pure Drive style, but very good. My main struggle was to get enough control, but I tend to prefer 98-inch racquets. My friends Adri and Zyad, who tested this racquet with me, enjoyed it with the right string setup. If you go too low in tension, I felt like the ball was flying a bit. But with Restring Sync at 53 lbs or 24 kg it played nicely (lower tensions will give you better comfort, though).

Who is it for?

The Babolat Pure Strike 100 16/20 works well for aggressive baseliners who like to take big cuts at the ball and control the rally from the back of the court. It does not have a fantastic feel on volleys, but it is very stable and can suit doubles players well. It does not need any customization and plays stable and solid in stock form.

The Pure Strike 98 and 97 are more controlled, but this one offers better forgiveness, spin potential and depth. And it is a bit more controlled and stable than the regular Strike 100.

Summary

Overall, this is an excellent racquet offering pace and spin in a balanced package. The specs are pretty much spot on for a player wanting something in between a power and a control racquet. However, I struggled a bit with control personally, but I have realized I need to stay in the 98 sq inch category for my game. But if you look for forgiveness and some power and spin, I definitely think you should demo this racquet.

I would say racquets like the Blade 100 are a bit more comfortable, so consider that when you string the racquet. It is all personal, so it depends on how sensitive your arm is. Overall, I would say that high-string tension and stiff strings tend to be worse for your arm than the racquet. So always consider this when you select a racquet for your game.

If you need help finding a racquet or a string, there is a racquet consultation service and the Tennisnerd Guide to Racquets and Strings.