I realize that I may be the last person on earth to hit with a Babalot racquet, but it’s true. This is my first time. After hitting against a ball machine and under match conditions, here’s my review of the Babolat Pure Storm Tour+ GT:

 

 

 

 

 

Groundstrokes

Before I walked out on the court, I expected to have the feeling of always being a bit late on my groundstrokes, but I was surprised to have virtually no adjustment time from my Wilson ksix one 95. Perhaps it’s because the Wilson is heavier in the head than the babalot and the Babalot is just easier to swing. Whatever the reason, I was comfortable with timing from the start. I had excellent control on both sides as this racquet provided a very smooth hit. The head is a bit light for my liking but a bit of lead tape would cure that issue. After a very brief adjustment period, I felt like I could place the ball anywhere I wanted and with excellent spin. Grounstrokes are a winner!

 

Serves/Overheads

One word to describe this racquet on serves – wow! The extra length (1/2”) really makes a difference. Power, spin and placement were fantastic as I felt in complete control. As expected, overheads were a joy to hit. I was able to put away most every chance I had and the 98 square inch head gave me confidence to do it every time. I liked the spin I could generate and my kick serves were better than average.

 

Volleys

Although not outstanding, volleys were adequate and the extra length gave no particular problems. I didn’t feel cramped on either side and the extra reach was appreciated. I didn’t get a lot of stick on the volleys but, as stated above in the groundstrokes section, a bit of lead tape would aid my volleys as well.

 

Other

It felt good on returns but this is the only area I felt the extra length was a negative. It felt like I was jammed a few more times than usual. I wished for a bit more mass in the head but when I was able to connect well, it felt very nice. Ball direction and power was more than adequate. All-in-all, this is a very comfortable, spin over power stick, that with a piece of well placed lead tape could be a top racquet for me. Also, it’s a must for a vibration dampner because you can really feel and hear the buzz. Using my trusty rubber band cured the problem. The extra length worried me before I got on court but now I could worry my opponent using this racquet. Spin, control and extra pop on the serve makes this racquet a real winner.