The Bottom Line
An exceptionally solid, arm-friendly racquet with an optimal mix of power and control for upper intermediate and advanced players.
Pros
- Exceptionally solid feel
- Arm-friendly weight and balance
- Optimal mix of power and control
Cons
- Not what most players are used to
- Not powerful or light enough for beginners
Description
- Weight: 11.7 ounces strung
- Balance: 5 points head-light
- Head size: 100 square inches
- Length: 27 inches (standard, not "plus")
- Beam width: tapered 22-26-23
- Materials: graphite and kevlar
Guide Review - The Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Cortex Tennis Racquet
The Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Cortex tennis racquet distinguishes itself with comfort and solidity that are markedly superior to most, if not all of its competition in racquets for upper intermediate and advanced tennis players. Many racquets in this class are too light or too head-light to adequately absorb shock and resist torsion, but even among those of comparable weight and balance, the Babolat stands out for its lack of flutter, the invisible, back-and-forth vibration of the end of the racquet following impact with the ball. If you're used to the typically flexible advanced racquet, you may be used to flutter, and you may also regard arm discomfort as an unavoidable part of playing tennis. Some players' arms are much more sensitive to flutter than others, but among the small, informal group of NTRP 3.5-5.5 play-testers I've had try the Pure Drive Roddick Cortex racquet, reactions have been unanimously positive, ranging from strongly liking the racquet to finding it, as I have after hundreds of hours using it, a major revelation in how good a racquet can feel. The Babolat's weight and balance lend solidity and stability while keeping the racquet quite maneuverable, and its stiffness and Cortex anti-vibration system further enhance its comfort. A few players have had to adjust to the racquet's greater power, as the more flexible racquets they were used to were absorbing more energy and thus returning less in the form of outgoing ball speed. Once adjusted, though, even the hardest-hitting of players seem to agree that the Babolat gives them plenty of control.
