Babolat Pure Strike 100 16x19 Tennis Racquet Review

The Babolat Pure Strike 100 16x19 brings the control line's DNA to a bigger, more forgiving 100 head. It is the lighter and more powerful of the two Strike 100s, an open-patterned control frame that adds easy depth and a larger sweet spot for a developing player who wants the Strike feel without the demands of a 97 or 98.

Control DNA in a bigger head

The Pure Strike is Babolat's control line, and the 100 16x19 is the model that makes it accessible. It keeps Babolat's Control Frame Technology, the square-and-elliptic beam blend, and the precise, connected feel that define the Strike, but wraps them around a 100 square inch head instead of the 97 or 98. That extra head size does two things: it enlarges the sweet spot, and paired with the frame's weight, it gives the 100 more finishing power than any other Strike. It is the control player's frame for someone who is not ready for a small head.

At 10.6 ounces, it is one of the lighter Strikes, and at four points head-light it feels even and stable rather than whippy. Gen 4 brought it the carbon grey cosmetic that now runs across the family.

The open pattern, and where the power comes from

The defining feature of this 100 is its open 16x19 string pattern. Where the rest of the control-minded Strikes run tighter beds, the 16x19 opens things up, which gives you easy clearance over the net and natural, free depth. Combined with the 100 head and the frame's weight, it is the most powerful frame in the Strike family, even though the beam itself is built for control.

It is also the crispest of the 100s. At a 66 RA it plays a touch firmer than the 16x20, and Babolat pairs SWX Pure Feel, a viscoelastic dampener, with the flax-fibre NF2 system to keep that crisp response comfortable rather than harsh. That SWX layer is the piece the heavier, feedback-focused Strikes leave out, and it is a big part of why the 100 is the friendliest of the family on the arm.

Playing the 16x19

The 16x19 plays like a control frame that has been made easy. It gives you depth and clearance for free, and a crisp, lively response when you find the middle.

Easy depth and clearance

The open pattern is the story. It launches the ball with more natural power and net clearance than a tighter Strike, so a developing player gets easy, reliable depth without having to swing out of their shoes. That built-in help is what makes the 100 such a friendly way into the control line. It is a genuinely versatile frame from there as well, steady on serve and easy to redirect at the net, so a developing player is not left short anywhere on the court.

Crisper than the 16x20

Of the two 100s, this is the firmer, crisper one. The stiffer 66 RA gives it a sharper, more direct response, which suits a player who wants clean feedback and does not mind a slightly firmer feel. It is the one to pick if you like a crisp Strike rather than a plush one.

Alex, on the Pure Strike 100 16x19

A forgiving step up

The 100 head and the SWX Pure Feel dampening make this the most forgiving, most comfortable 100 in the line, and an easy step up from a lighter or junior frame for a player who likes the control spec. Be honest about the flip side, though: the open pattern and the extra launch can send the ball long for a big, loopy spin hitter, which is exactly the player the 16x20 is built for.

Lateef, on the Pure Strike 100 16x19

Sam, Tennis Express playtester, on the Pure Strike Gen 4 line

Strings and setup

Because the open 16x19 and the 100 head already supply power and launch, string the 16x19 to keep the ball in rather than to add pop. A control co-poly reins in the launch and sharpens the response, and stringing toward the top of the 48 to 57 range, with 53 the recommended starting point, tightens it further. Since SWX Pure Feel and NF2 handle comfort, you can string a touch firmer without punishing your arm.

16x19 or 16x20?

The 16x19 is the lighter and more powerful of the two 100s, the one for a developing player who wants easy depth and a forgiving head. If you take big cuts and want more control, or you find the open pattern launches the ball too much, the 16x20 is the one to read about next. And if you want a smaller head and a more traditional control feel, the Pure Strike 97 and 98 are the tighter, more demanding options.

Who the 16x19 is for

The Pure Strike 100 16x19 is for higher beginners and lower intermediates who want a control-oriented frame in a forgiving 100 head with a little natural power. The control-frame beam keeps it precise, the open pattern and big head give easy depth, and SWX Pure Feel with NF2 keeps a crisp frame comfortable. For a player moving off a lighter or junior racquet who likes the control spec, it is a crisp, easy step up. It is a capable doubles and all-court option too, quick enough to handle the net and forgiving enough to build a game around.

If you are an advanced player who wants the tightest control, or a big loopy spin hitter who finds the open pattern sends the ball long, this is not the one, and the 16x20 or the smaller 97 and 98 will suit you better. But as a forgiving, powerful entry into Babolat's control line, the 16x19 does its job well.