Babolat VS NCT Tour
PRICE: $199
BALANCE: 3/10 in. head light
HEAD SIZE: 100 sq. in.
FLEXIBILITY: Stiff
LENGTH: 27 in.
IDEAL SWING: Medium to long
WEIGHT: 10.5 oz.
NTRP: 3.0–4.5
FIRST TAKE:
Despite the word “tour” in the name, this racquet is too light and powerful for professionals, or even most advanced players. But it’s well-suited to intermediates.
COMPARE TO:
Babolat Pure Power Zylon
HOW IT TESTED:
Babolat [...]

Babolat VS NCT Power
 

PRICE: $199
BALANCE: 3/5 in. head heavy
HEAD SIZE: 118 sq. in.
FLEXIBILITY: Very stiff
LENGTH: 28 in.
IDEAL SWING: Short
WEIGHT: 9.4 oz.
NTRP: 2.0–3.5FIRST TAKE:
It’s common for game-improvement racquets to have a lot of weight in the head in order to add power to short strokes. The trade-off: You sacrifice maneuverability. But Babolat’s latest frame delivers plenty [...]

Babolat VS Nanotube Drive
 

Length: 27.5 in.
Weight: 9.3 oz.
Ideal Swing - Short: No
Ideal Swing - Medium: Yes
Ideal Swing - Long: No
Maneuverability: Low
Control: Low
Power: High
Comfort: MediumThis is tennis’ version of a rocket launcher. To increase power, Babolat blended ultra-stiff carbon fibers into the throat of the Nanotube Drive frame (so called because of a manufactuaring process that [...]

Babolat Pure Drive Roddick
 

PRICE: $189
BALANCE: 5/8 in. head light
HEAD SIZE: 100 sq. in.
FLEXIBILITY: Stiff
LENGTH: 27 in.
IDEAL SWING: Long
WEIGHT: 11.5 oz.
NTRP: 4.5–7.0SALES PITCH:
Babolat will have you know two things: First, relax, because the hugely popular Pure Drive isn’t being discontinued; second, if you like that racquet but wish it were a little heavier, check out this [...]

Babolat Pure Drive OS
 

Length: 27.5 in.
Weight: 10.2 oz.
Ideal Swing - Short: No
Ideal Swing - Medium: Yes
Ideal Swing - Long: Yes
Maneuverability: High
Control: Medium
Power: High
Comfort: HighWith dozens of pros like Andy Roddick, Carlos Moya, and Kim Clijsters using the blue Babolat Pure Drive, it’s become one of the most recognizable racquets on tour. Now comes the mortal’s [...]

Babolat Pure Drive 107
 

PRICE: $185
HEAD SIZE: 107 sq. in.
LENGTH: 27.2 in.
WEIGHT: 11.0 oz.
FLEXIBILITY: Stiff
BALANCE: 3/5 in. head light
IDEAL SWING: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.5-5.0SALES PITCH
Another entry into the Babolat Pure Drive racquet line. This offering has a bit more length and hitting area than the standard version, but is not quite as big as the oversized.
COMPARE [...]

Babolat AeroPro Drive with Cortex
 

PRICE: $185
HEAD SIZE: 100 sq. in.
LENGTH: 27 in.
WEIGHT: 11.1 oz.
FLEXIBILITY: Very stiff
BALANCE: 3/5 in. head light
IDEAL SWING: Long
NTRP: 4.0SALES PITCH
The flat, aerodynamic throat helps serious players get more racquet-head speed and action on their shots.
COMPARE TO
Babolat AeroPro Drive
HOW IT TESTED
When we put the original AeroPro Drive through its paces in 2005, [...]

Babolat Aero Blast/Drive Z-OS
 

Babolat Aero Blast (pictured left)Price: $219
Head Size: 112 sq. in.
Length: 27.5 in.
Weight: 10.1 oz.
Flexibility: Stiff
Balance: 3/5 in. head heavy
Ideal Swing: Short to medium
NTRP: 2.5-4.0
Babolat Drive Z-OS (pictured right)
Price: $199
Head Size: 110 sq. in.
Length: 27.5
Weight: 9.9 oz.
Flexibility: Stiff
Balance: 1/2 in. head heavy
Ideal Swing: Short to medium
NTRP: 2.5-4.0
SALES PITCH
Both the Drive Z-OS and Aero [...]