Pure Drive Purist is a tennis blog for players, parents, coaches, and gear junkies who care less about hype and more about what actually works on court. Built from years inside the lines—as a competitive player and full-time coach—this site dives into racquets, strings, equipment, training habits, and player development with a practical, no-nonsense lens. The focus is simple: cut through marketing noise and share honest insights that help players improve, compete, and enjoy the game longer. Whether it’s breaking down why certain gear fits certain playing styles, implementing effective strategies, or sharing coaching lessons learned the hard way, Pure Drive Purist exists for people who love tennis and want real answers—not feel-good fluff. If you’re a junior or parent of a junior chasing improvement, a coach building better players, or an adult competitor who still cares deeply about their setup, you’re in the right place. Play smarter. Choose better. Boost your game.
For those new to tennis or just unsure of the structure of the pro tour, this post is for you. Tennis is basically a year-round sport. The first tournaments of the year start in January and the season typically ends in November, although there are some smaller tournaments between November and January as well. Most players have a 6-week off-season, which we could spend a whole post just talking about the schedule. But that's not why we're here now. If you're watching tennis on major TV networks, not the tennis channel, you are likely watching one of the four majors. Here's some info to help you become more well-versed at the nuances and significance of each tournament. Australian Open Dates: from mid-January through early February Location: Melbourne, Australia Court surface: hard court What makes it special: first slam of the year, extreme heat & humidity, party atmosphere French Open (Roland Garros) Dates: from mid-May through early June Location: Paris, France Cou...