I otherwise enjoyed the stability, comfortable feel and power. Someone with a faster swing and who uses more topspin would likely find this racquet to be very precise on a more consistent basis. However, when I was late my shots would be errant because the racquet was too heavy for me to flick to compensate for the lag. When I got my timing right, the mass of the racquet created a solid, penetrating shot. The plow through and the point-and-shoot response allowed me to hit some winners, which is not typically how I win points. Mix together the direct response, my flatter strokes and the higher swingweight, and I was left with little margin for error. However, getting everything right proved tricky. The ball went wherever the racquet face was pointed, and I could hit a big shot when I got everything right. She said, "I love a good 18x20 string pattern, and I got a very direct response with this Pure Strike 98 18x20. This frame was demanding for Tiffani, but she did hit a few impressive shots with it. However, I still had enough mass behind the ball to hit heavy spin, knife the ball on my slices and redirect pace." This frame felt a bit more powerful than my Tecnifibre TF40 305 because I could swing it quicker, but it was nowhere near as powerful as the Babolat Pure Drive I played with in my college years. I didn't have issues changing the pace either. In terms of feel, crisp doesn't usually go along with comfort for me, but in this case, I definitely enjoyed the quick response from the stringbed and the crisp feel. I was impressed with the comfort level as well. The higher swingweight kept me from overhitting and helped me place the ball with precision. I had issues with comfort, stability and overhitting, but this Pure Strike 18x20 had everything I needed to place the ball where I wanted. I recently shifted toward low-powered 18x20 string pattern racquets, and this Pure Strike happened to fall right into my new spec range. She explained, "From my forehand to my backhand slice, I enjoyed this frame on every baseline shot. Julie has been leaning toward control-oriented frames lately, so she found herself right at home with this updated racquet. Flattening out my groundstrokes does not come naturally for me, but I felt I could easily shape my shots from the baseline and aim them pretty much wherever I wanted." As long as it was strung with a textured or shaped polyester string, the 18x20 pattern provided a nearly perfect combination of launch and topspin. As expected, my backhand slice was predictable and effective, and directional control was outstanding. After spending some time at the baseline with this stick, I have to name the third generation of the Pure Strike 18x20 as one of the best backcourt racquets I have tested. Armed with both the new and second-generation Pure Strike 18x20s, which were strung similarly, I noticed that the updated racquet swung a bit heavier and provided better feel at impact. Mark opened the conversation, saying, "Initially, I wondered how the good people at Babolat were going to improve on such an already proven recipe. The control lovers on our team definitely enjoyed playing with this stick. Our playtesters noticed the heftier nature of the new Babolat Pure Strike 18x20 from the first swing. Advanced players who place a premium on control will find what they need in the Pure Strike 18x20, and because style is important too, the racquet's cosmetic is a nice bonus. Some of the testers were delighted with these characteristics, while others were left wishing for more maneuverability and more free power off the stringbed. Our playtesters agreed that the dense string pattern of the Pure Strike 18x20 offered outstanding control. This stick also offers access to spin and pace with some nice pop off the stringbed. A higher swingweight on this version puts extra mass behind the ball to redirect pace, surprise opponents with malicious droppers, or hit powerful shots on fast strokes. The 98-square-inch head size and 18x20 string pattern combine all the characteristics needed for optimum control. This racquet was updated with Babolat's C2 Pure Feel technology for better ball pocketing and extra dwell time. The third generation of the Babolat Pure Strike 18x20 gets an injection of control and plow through, making it a dream for advanced players with aggressive games.
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