Strike 98 vs. Aero 98: Battle of the Babolats! 

Bro is allergic to outros

I get it... "Vacation" is code for; Simon driving away in the Corvette for his life after Ale saw the last video 🏃🏎🌬

I completely agree. Pure Strike 98 16X19 V4 is a stunning stick. Coming to it from the PS Tour, I just did a simple alteration (mine had a 330 strung SW and was 305g static unstrung) I added a TW leather grip and 1 gram in the head, which brings it to 337 strung static, and 334 SW both my PS Tour and V4 Strike have around a 32.2 balance point. I have VS Touch 17 at 58 pounds and Sync 1.2 in the cross at 56 pounds and it's just freaking magical.

Excellent analysis, thank you. Massive fan of the 16x19 PS 98 Gen 3, my racquet of choice. Came over spec too in SW(mid 330s). Have added weight in the handle and using a thinner gauge soft poly to help get it moving. I'm now used to it as it's about 9-months since switching to it. Surprised more pros don't play/endorse this stick. Keep up the great work.

Great video man! These are two of my favorite racquets out there right now (although I’m loving the strike 100 16x20). I guess it’s a sign of the times that you didn’t have a specific category for volleys however! 😜 “forecourt” lol

I love how the pure strike baso went from a stick I wasn’t starting to hear about anymore or least used out of the line to being a top 2024 frame it seems.

PA98 user here - I've weighted mine up to ~345g strung with a leather grip, some tungsten putty, and just enough lead tape at 12 to keep it at ~7 points HL. Currently loving Tour Sniper / Restring Zero blend (58lb) thanks to a certain someone's members-only poly blend video! Your point about the PA98 just wanting to drive the ball is so spot on, I've only recently started to embrace that focus over the Nadal-esque loopy forehand, and it's made a huge difference in terms of ability to play aggressive. As tempting as it is to try the Strike 98 for a bit better feel, I think I'm finally starting to fully mesh with my PAs and the style they love most - and I'm gonna resist trying anything else for the rest of the season.

Mr. TennCom I was wonder what racquet and string set up to get as an extremely flat and hard hitter(both forehand, backhand, and service), most the time my problem is that the ball goes out maybe a couple inches to a foot, do you have any advice for me to get.

Thank you so much for your content Beckett! Which if these would you say is the more forgiving racket? I’m trying to choose between aero 98 and ezone 100…do you believe the ezone 100 is that much easier to use and forgiving? I’m UTR 8 college player, but I want a racket that help me vs better player and return of serve!

I want to switch to one of these racket I used a babolat pure drive 98 should I switch to one of these rackets, or do u have any other recoomendations?

What strings do u reccomend for these rackets? rpm blast 17 g

Great vid! Just ordered a PA98 yesterday after looking at the PS98 too so this is a very timely comparison! Coming from a percept 97 what do you think the biggest difference in overall feel will be? Felt like the percept was pretty under powered and muted and wanted some extra baseline power so glad you feel both are solid picks for that.

I've got a PS 98 and I'm still trying to figure out what strings to use. I demoed it with babo RPM Blast which I liked, but when i bought mine I used Zero x Sync hybrid setup. I'm still trying to play around and see what is best. Any suggestions? 3.5 player

Looking to find some more power in my sticks than my current TFight 305RS’s - any recommendations? I’ve got them leaded up with about 8 grams total in the hoop at 3&9 for extra plow through. I tend to hit flatter, especially on the 1 handed backhand. Thanks

Hey Beckett! Thanks for the comparison, real good video. I'd like to ask you something: I'm a beginner, probably 2.0 level or something. My serve is absolutely hideous and I have a lot of trouble keeping the ball in (I miss long a lot). Im planning on playing way more, probably every day. I'd say my game and the game I want to build is mostly based on spin. I just want deep spinny shots nonstop and an eventual angle to finish the point. Currently, I'm using a ezone 98 2022 with poly tour pro. Is it a good racket to grow into? Would an aero 98 be better? I used to play with an aero pro drive 2010 / head rip control and it worked well but I really did miss long a lot more. Im thinking of just sticking to the ezone 98 and throwing a spin string like hyper G 1.30 (dont have acess to zero) or confidential, maybe even head lynx tour

I’ve got the v3 Strike 18x20 and the PA98…I find that strike an absolute boom stick, great power. PA98 is so easy to use and is sexy as hell

Would love if you did a similar vid but EZone 98 vs. VCore 98

Hey beccket just bought 2 vcore 98s. What string and tension do you reccomend.

What is the best string of aero98

Hi, I’ve just started playing tennis over the last couple of months, I’m enjoying it enough that I’m looking to buy my first proper racquet and these are the two I’ve been looking at; I’m happy to spend decent money if it’ll mean I won’t have to replace it any time soon, so would a 100” version of these be suitable in your opinion? For reference I’m 6’5, 210lb and have taken tennis up as a second sport to cricket (I’m also English), so I’m used to swinging something much heavier, if in a different context..

Hey Beckett! Despite switching to GPro, I still love my OG Project One Seven. Do you think the newest PS is different enough to get it for a collection?

Hey, unrelated to the video but I recently came across a sv95 for about 120us dollars in almost brand new condition. Should I pick it up? I play quite flat with a ohbh and thought it’d be fun to try out

how is the PA98 for the one- hander Beckett? is it easy to manage?

what do you think about the pure drive 98? Is it anywhere as good as these rackets?

I would give a 10/10 for aero 98 feeling , so I cant wait to try the pure strike. Serve performance on aero 98 is great , specially 2nd kick serve , so again , I am pretty curious to try the strike

Really channeling my inner Andy Murray on tweener. Didn't realise I should have been setting key matches. Congrats to the Big 3!

Beckett, how are you? I've been commenting your videos while I'm trying to test, buy and sell rackets to find the perfect one. Could you help me? I TRY to be, mostly, an aggressive baseliner, I hit with a flat forehand (with a little spin to control the ball), I have a flat 2hbh, but I use a lot of slice and dropshots when the points are longer. I loved the head extreme tour with head lynx at 23kg but it ruined my arm almost for 2 weeks, it was an instant sell. I have no problems with the yonex muted feel (I played with yonex vcore 98, i hated the high launch angle, I missed every shot long), I want a racket that give me consistency and I don't have to give it all in every shot to cross the net (maybe an 70%), but when I hit with 100% power it can reach depth and a decent ball speed. My options are: Yonex ezone 2022 and wilson blade 98 (v8 because there is no v9 stock in chile, so sad). My concerns with the ezone are: I don't want to hold back any power when i'm trying to hit a winner or in a normal rally I don't want to hit with low power and find the ball too deep. I would like to have control of the depth of my shot. Also I don't want to get an injury, I've seen a lot of videos and some people say that ezones are super comfortable but I've also seen a lot of people talking about arm/wrist pain and TE with this racket. with the blade v8: I don't want to hit with all my power and feel that the racket is absorbing the speed or heaviness of the ball, or to see that all the balls are going to the net (problem that I had with the head radical MP). between the 2 options what was your favorite? did you have fun playing with any of the two rackets? what racket do you think would suit my gamestyle?

So to summarize it: the strike is more classic control, whereas the PA98 is point an shoot like a Fed style racquet? The SW of them both sounds a little like the beginning of "player's stick" territory. How much can an average player modulate the amount of spin at that SW?

Analyze Beckett's biases towards the Pure Strike 98 over the Aero 98. Use PEE paragraphs for your explanation.

Is aero more faster than strike? I think my aero in denfense is too slowe

Do you think confidential at 52lb is good PA98 setup

Have you tried the Pure Strike 100 16x20? Hoping to demo one soon

Witch the rackets is the in maneurability?

Just as a benchmark, I would be interested to know where your WO18x20 compares in these categories!?

How do the PA98 and PS98 compare to the 2024 Head Boom Pro?

how does the strike compare to head extreme tour 360?

How does the PS98 compare to the PS VS?

I have both percept 97 and Pure Aero 98, but I feel the percept has much more power than the PA with same string same tension (my coach said the same thing) which is against what they have been advertised: percept low power control racquet and PA suppose to be a power and spin racquet. the problem is, I like the PA 98 but my coach and friends said I played better with percept because my shot is more powerful and faster with it (I feel the same way) so I am wondering if I should sell the PA and get an extra percept. However, all the reviews said differently, this is why I am confused if my skill level is not enough to handle this racquet or the PA is indeed low powered (I’m a 4.0 - 4.5 player) thanks

I thought spin is due to 1. Wide string patterns (aka Aero) not dense (Strike = control) 2. Aero dynamic frame on the vertical side of the frame (Aero) vs thinner frame (Strike = drive)

does babolat come out with new rackets every year?

The swingweight on the Strike is a deal-breaker.

“You approach up the line, hope your opponent misses his shot, you do your best to clean up whatever volley you may have, and you just pray to god the other guy doesn’t make you hit an overhead” damn bro didn’t have to call me out like that 😂

I have 5 Pure Strikes 98 3. gen. I dont see a problem with socalled muted feel. I think that "problem" has been hyped up and problematised too much. If you play with hard strokes that muting is great. Theres enough sensation. If concerned with too muted feel then dont use an overgrip and dont use a vibro dampener and put lead at 3 and 9 and put in very stiff strings at high tension. I have seen reviewers use overgrip and dampener on the PS 98 3. gen. and that is what causes mostly the obliteration of any feel response. I apreciate that I know exactly when I have hit the center with the PS 98 3.gen its like an inverted form of feel. It easy to get used to. and now I miss that on other rackets. The power is better with 3. gen than 4. gen.

I have been saying the new Strikes are underrated. Just find the right spec, they are out there, but lots on them are high high spec wise.

Pure strike is way too stiff for my like. It’s like hitting with a stick/bat. Is there something that provides similar power and spin but feels softer?

When you recieve an overspec'd racket. Are you not able to return or exchange it.? I think you get over spec Pure Strikes all the time. It gives a warped perspective when reviewing, bc warped playability. I also get overspec'd rackets but I send them right back to retailer for an exchange. These rackets are pretty expensive. I don't buy a car also that comes with two smaller wheels in front that not to specs ( if that makes any sense)

❤❤❤

After using both the PS98 and PA98, the PA98 generates soooo much more spin in my opinion. Interesting we’re on different pages

hmm I have the old and new strike, not sure about the feel of the new strike, it like the new tech has sucked the power of the frame.

good. now ezone 98 vs vcore 98

First time their was a disconnect from your words to the scores...comparing rackets with almost 15 sw points difference is a NONO.... STRIKE with 327sw is different racket compared to almost 340....which is what you like

Will this new Pure Strike move up to the S tier on your Tennis Racquet Tier List? 😀

Gotta hand it to you, making lemonade outa that lemon of a Pure Strike. I mean, the PS is supposed to be the ultimate tweener. 339sw is a whopping 10-points over spec, takes it way into player frame territory. What happened to Babo's QC? Luckily, yours was a demo, but imagine paying upwards of $250 for that brick?!

Beckett possibly switching from whiteout to PS98? hmmmmmmm

Hey Beckett, we should all send 15% of our annual income. For your racket wisdom.

6/10 for spin on the aero….. naaaaaah you lost me there

Does Babolat know how much you guys just butchered the poor Aero?😂❤

First

strike color design is shit. Other than that its a great racquet.

This video is completely utterly biased and also biased on Becketts swing path and skill level. The strike is just a much easier racket to use in general it's why he is so infatuated with it. A few points to point out is that the strike absolutely does not have the same control and spin as the aero 98. To control the ball the aero 98 needs a more vertical swing path to spin the ball in. While the strike let's you hit more linear because of its dense pattern in the center. Becketts swing path is extremely linear and that's why the ball sprayed so much. The string spacing on the aero 98 is much wider and actually allows you to hit more consistent power more often, ala Alcaraz. Who's swing path is not only linear but he also brushes alot. His rpm is actually very high. The opposite would be tisipitas who's swing path is actually linear. The serve is equally strong and more accurate with the aero 98 with the correct techique. Becketts left arm is not straight on his serve and contact point is late. In fact not only is the left arm not pointed to the sky it drops instantly as he tosses the ball. It's why he feels the strike is better because the strikes larger sweet spot compensates for poor techique. Really disappointed with this review being so biased. I personally played with these for 3 months each and do not find this review to be accurate. Overall the strike is a easier racquet for the average 3.5 since it sweet spot is so big. But advance players would extract more from the aero 98. I do not play with either of these as they are arm destroyers.