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About Pure Drive Purist

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.
Recent posts

How to Win at Doubles

Want to win more doubles matches? You're not alone. The problem is, we watch tennis on TV and what do they show? Singles. We go to a tennis tournament and what is on the main courts? Singles. Doubles is played more than singles recreationally, but it does not get the love and attention on the pro tour. Very simply, singles and doubles are two completely different games with significantly different strategies. Here are a few strategies to help your doubles game next time you get on court. Stop worrying about getting passed down the line. When you're at net, you can essentially give up your alley. If an opponent is able to hit it there time and time again, then adjust your strategy and positioning. Too often, though, there are shots that pass through the middle that are not hit by the net player because that person is too busy guarding his/her half of the court. Forget my side and your side. Start thinking that if the net player can get it, they need to. Will you make some errors...

The Four Majors

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...

Best Rackets for Aggressive Baseliners

In the market for an upgrade to your current racket? Do you consider yourself an aggressive baseliner in today's game? Here are some of the best rackets for your game. Rackets that suit an aggressive baseliner's game will typically be in one of two categories: power or spin. Babolat Pure Drive (Power) The Pure Drive is a great choice for aggressive baseliners with fast swing speeds. The launch angle will be slightly lower and the string pattern is less spin-friendly than some other rackets here (like the Pure Aero), but still a great option for aggressive baseliners who want a combination of spin and pace. The 98 model will be slightly less powerful than the 100, and younger players can look at the Team for a solid, light-weight option. Babolat Pure Aero (Spin) The Pure Aero is Babolat's spin-friendly racket of choice. This is great for baseliners who are looking to generate significant spin and are comfortable with a higher launch angle from the open string pattern. Simi...