Wilson Blade 98 v9 and Babolat Pure Drive 100 are the two most-asked-about intermediate tennis rackets in the UK. They’re at the same price point and similar weight, but they play very differently — Wilson Blade is feel and control; Babolat Pure Drive is power and easy hitting.
We’ve just published a complete head-to-head comparison: Wilson Blade vs Babolat Pure Drive 2026, covering:
- The full spec comparison including the critical RA stiffness difference (62 vs 70)
- Which to choose if you have tennis elbow or arm sensitivity (it’s the Blade, every time)
- Pro user examples — Tsitsipas and Madison Keys use Blade; Sabalenka uses Pure Drive
- The right string for each frame and why
- Variants of each you should consider (Lite, Team, Super Lite, 18x20, 98S)
The full comparison includes a head-to-head spec table, stringing recommendations and our eight most-asked-about questions. Read the full comparison →
Compiled by the Central Sports racket-fitting team.