This is the reason the Pure Drive has attracted players of all stripes. It helps the game improvement crowd succeed and grow, while more advanced players appreciate not having to work as hard or as precisely to be productive. Even for those players who balk at the looser control and stiffer response, hitting with a Pure Drive is still a guilty pleasure.
Compared to the prior version, this latest model doesn’t present much difference in terms of playability. Pace and spin come easily, and off-center contact is often excused. The most noticeable change comes from the addition of the Flax Tape 2.0. The natural fibers positioned in the throat are arranged in one direction to better filter out vibration to give the frame a touch softer and more comfortable feel. It’s still a firm-feeling racquet, but the feedback is more muted and enjoyable at contact.
Which is appreciated, because it’s the frame’s chunky, stiff elliptical beam that helps deliver its sturdiness. It remains rather light and maneuverable yet still manages to be potent and unwavering. If you want to bomb a serve, crank a forehand or get yourself out of trouble with one quick swipe, few can match its prowess at this weight.
