Babolat Pure Strike Gen4 Carbon Tennis Racquets: Precision Made Simple

Babolat has redesigned its popular Pure Strike tennis racquet line with the new Gen4 Carbon Grey collection. These racquets focus on control and accuracy, giving players five different options to match their playing style and skill level.

New Look, Better Performance

The Pure Strike Gen4 gets a bold new look with dark grey, red, and black colors. This design takes inspiration from performance and competition in other sports. Babolat switched from the old white base color to a more technical, premium appearance that showcases the racquet's competitive spirit.

Beyond looks, Babolat built several smart technologies into these racquets. Control Frame Technology mixes the solid feel of a square beam with the lively response of an oval shape. This gives players both power and precision.

The NF² Tech puts natural flax fibers in the racquet head. These fibers reduce vibration and create a better sound when you hit the ball. The lighter models also feature SWX Pure Feel Technology, which utilizes a special material inside the frame to dampen vibrations when players hit outside the sweetspot, making the racquets more comfortable.

Pure Strike 97 Gen4: For Precision Players

The Pure Strike 97 gives you the most control in the lineup. Its smaller 97-square-inch head and thin frame design put accuracy first. The 16x20 string pattern helps you place shots exactly where you want them.

What You Need to Know:
- Weight: 10.9 oz (without strings) / 11.5 oz (with strings)
- Head Size: 97 square inches
- String Pattern: 16x20
- Balance: Headlight (easier to swing)
- Flexibility: 65 (medium flex)
- String Tension: 48-57 pounds

This racquet features a leather grip and is best suited for advanced players seeking maximum precision. Its headlight balance makes it easy to move quickly around the court.

Pure Strike 98 Models: Control with Options

Babolat makes two 98-square-inch models. Both give you great control, but with different string patterns for different playing styles.

Pure Strike 98 18x20 Gen4

This version has more strings packed together (18x20 pattern), which gives you maximum control. Former top-3 player Dominic Thiem uses this racquet. It's perfect for players who hit hard and want pinpoint accuracy.

What You Need to Know:
- Weight: 10.8 oz (without strings) / 11.4 oz (with strings)
- Head Size: 98 square inches
- String Pattern: 18x20 (more control)
- Balance: Headlight
- Flexibility: 66 (medium flex)

Pure Strike 98 16x19 Gen4

This model has fewer strings (16x19 pattern), which helps you hit with more spin while keeping good control. It's great for aggressive players who want power and spin.

What You Need to Know:
- Weight: 10.8 oz (without strings) / 11.4 oz (with strings)
- Head Size: 98 square inches
- String Pattern: 16x19 (fewer strings = more spin)
- Balance: Headlight
- Flexibility: 66 (medium flex)

Pure Strike 100 Models: More Forgiving

The 100-square-inch models are easier to play than the smaller sizes. They still give you good control but are more forgiving when you don't hit the ball perfectly.

Pure Strike 100 16x20 Gen4

This model uses a 16x20 string pattern that gives you a nice mix of spin and control. The bigger head size makes it easier to hit good shots consistently.

**What You Need to Know:**
- Weight: 10.8 oz (without strings) / 11.4 oz (with strings)
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- String Pattern: 16x20
- Balance: Headlight
- Flexibility: 64 (medium flex)

Pure Strike 100 16x19 Gen4

The regular Pure Strike 100 is lighter and gives you good ball speed with solid control. It's a 16x19 string pattern that helps with spin, while the bigger head gives you more power than the smaller Strike models.

**What You Need to Know:**
- Weight: 10.6 oz (without strings) / 11.2 oz (with strings)
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- String Pattern: 16x19
- Balance: Head light
- Flexibility: 66 (medium flex)

Pure Strike Team Gen4: Easy to Play

The Pure Strike Team is the lightest and most forgiving racquet in the line. At just 10.1 ounces without strings, it's easy to swing. Even though it focuses on control, this racquet still gives you surprising power. This model is also a good racquet to consider when wanting to customize by changing the weight and balance point.

What You Need to Know:
- Weight: 10.1 oz (without strings) / 10.7 oz (with strings)
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- String Pattern: 16x19
- Balance: Nearly neutral
- Flexibility: 68 (more flexible)
- Power Level: Medium

Which One is Right for You?

Here's a simple guide to help you pick the right Pure Strike Gen4:

Pure Strike 97: Advanced players who want maximum precision and quick movement

Pure Strike 98 18x20: Control experts who hit hard and want pinpoint accuracy  
Pure Strike 98 16x19: Aggressive players who want both control and spin
Pure Strike 100 16x20: Players who want control but with more forgiveness
Pure Strike 100: Players who wish for lighter weight with good control and moderate power
Pure Strike Team: Intermediate players or anyone who wants easy swinging with control

Design and Build Quality

All Pure Strike Gen4 racquets feature the new dark grey, red, and black color scheme that looks more technical and premium than the old white design. This competitive look reflects the serious nature of these control-focused racquets.

Babolat made these racquets tough with an extended head guard that protects against wear when you hit low balls or accidentally scrape the court. The solid graphite construction gives you consistent performance match after match.

The grip varies by model - the 97 comes with a traditional leather grip, while the others use Babolat's Syntec grip for different feel preferences.

Try Before You Buy

Tennis Express lets you demo Pure Strike Gen4 racquets before buying. Demo racquets come pre-strung with either hybrid strings (polyester mains with multifilament crosses) or full beds of one string type, usually strung around 55 pounds. This lets you test how the racquet feels and plays before making your decision.

Bottom Line

The Babolat Pure Strike Gen4 line gives control players exactly what they want: precision, good feel, and modern technology. The new dark grey, red, and black design looks sharp and shows these racquets mean business.

From the surgical precision of the 97 to the user-friendly Team model, there's a Pure Strike Gen4 for every type of control player. The technologies like NF² Tech and SWX Pure Feel make these racquets feel great while keeping the crisp feedback that serious players expect.

With different head sizes, string patterns, and weights, you can find the perfect Pure Strike Gen4 to match your playing style. These racquets prove that control doesn't have to mean sacrificing modern performance and comfort.