Babolat Tennis Rackets
Contents
Babolat is a French company (official history) founded in Lyon in 1875. It is credited with making the first tennis strings from natural gut, and it was a string and stringing specialist for more than a century before its first racket.
Babolat timeline
- 1875 Founded in Lyon. First tennis string.
- 1925 Perfects natural gut and creates "VS".
- 1955 First synthetic string.
- 1980 First electric stringing machine.
- 1994 First racket line: Pure Drive.
- 2001 First padel racket and tennis balls.
- 2003 Aero range for spin.
- 2012 First connected racket.
- 2013 Official Wimbledon partner.
- 2014 Pure Strike range.
- 2020 Enters pickleball.
Main tennis ranges
| Range | Aimed at | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Drive | Intermediate to advanced players | Power and easy depth |
| Pure Aero | Topspin baseliners | Aerodynamic beam for racket-head speed and spin |
| Pure Strike | Advanced players wanting control | More precise, connected feel |
For padel players: Babolat has made padel rackets since 2001. Its tennis heritage in strings and stringing doesn't transfer directly, because padel rackets have no strings. Judge a Babolat padel frame on shape, balance and core (see padel rackets explained), as with any other brand. See our padel racket shapes guide.
Frequently asked questions
When did Babolat start making tennis rackets?
In 1994, with the Pure Drive. For more than a century before that, Babolat made strings and stringing equipment.
Does Babolat make padel rackets?
Yes. Babolat’s own timeline dates its first padel racket to 2001.