Happy New Year, everybody! 2025 is going to be a very exciting year for tennis equipment — brands have hit the ground running in January with a number of iconic racquet lines and court shoes already receiving an update.
Today, we’re going to go over everything you should expect to see on the tennis side of things in the first couple of months this year, starting with a new version of the best-selling racquet of the last several years: the Babolat Pure Drive.
2025 Babolat Pure Drive
That’s right, all you Pure Drive users can get excited!
Babolat takes their time to update racquets, but 2025 is the year of the Pure Drive, and it’s an awesome new stick. The last Pure Drive was immensely popular, topping the sales charts every year since it was released back in 2021, so naturally, Babolat went for a subtle update instead of a drastic overhaul.
NF2 Tech 2.0 replaces SWX Pure Feel as the frame’s main dampening material, which makes the overall hitting experience a little more comfortable without sacrificing any of the Pure Drive’s magic. They’ve also marginally lowered the flex (71 RA) and swingweight (315 strung) to further add to that overall “easier” theme they’re going for. You can check out our full review of the 2025 Pure Drive below — it’s a phenomenal frame.
Now, if the Pure Drive 100's is a subtle update, the new Pure Drive 98 certainly isn’t. Instead of the full elliptical beam used on the previous one, they’ve opted for a more traditional “box beam” in the hoop. It then blends back into the elliptical beam in the throat, which creates a unique mix of a more classic hoop with a sturdy throat. I haven’t tested the Pure Drive 98 yet but can’t wait to take it out to the court. Stay tuned for the full review.
Wilson Clash V3
While the Pure Drive works for many players, some can find its stiffer feel slightly uncomfortable; that’s where the Wilson Clash comes in.
When this racquet first launched back in 2019, it piggybacked off the Pure Drive’s success with a forgiving, thick, powerful design. However, instead of a stiff flex, Wilson engineered the Clash to be super soft in hopes of eliminating discomfort.
It became an instant hit and the go-to option for players wanting a racquet that was both forgiving and comfortable. The V2 was also a hit, although not quite as successful as the V1, and now we’ve made our way to the V3. It’s slightly stiffer than the previous two but still an extremely comfortable, stable, and forgiving frame, so if it’s time to retire your V1 or V2, this will be the perfect update.
It’s worth noting that Wilson has removed the Clash 98 from the lineup but kept the very popular 100 Pro and 108. Go for the Pro if you want even more power and stability, and the 108 if you want an ultra-forgiving comfort frame and aren’t looking to develop a modern, full stroke.
We’ll get the new Clashes tested as soon as possible. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on all our latest reviews!
Yonex Ezone V8
The iconic racquets keep rolling in, this time with the Yonex Ezone line. The Ezone, particularly the Ezone 98, has developed a cult-like following over the last decade, with fans falling in love with the frame’s unique blend of modern power and spin and great control. The previous Ezone 98 was one of the most forgiving and powerful 98s on the market, and they’ve taken it one step further with the V8.
They’ve changed the shape to be a little more squared off in the upper hoop, which expands the sweet spot and amplifies power. They’ve also softened it up — the V7 was already quite comfortable, but with this new 59 RA, it slots right into the category of the most comfortable racquets.
We’re also getting a new Ezone 100, 98 Tour and, of course, the lighter 100L and 100SL, which are great options for beginners. Fair warning: the new paint job is out there but actually looks great (and certainly unique) in person. I am a big fan of the update Yonex made to the 98, and I’ll be testing the rest of the line in the coming weeks.
Head Gravity 2025
When Head introduced the Gravity back in 2019, it started off as a slow burner, but as more and more players tried it, it became extremely popular. There’s something for everyone in the Gravity line — intermediates and advanced players have the Gravity MP, which is comfortable, forgiving, and quite good for control, while the flagship Gravity Pro has reached legendary status among high-level players due to its rock-solid stability and classic feel and control. I’ve been particularly vocal about my love for the Gravity Pro, and that’s still very much the case with the updated Auxetic 2.0 version for 2025. The new tech makes it that little bit more stable, and Head also lowered the balance point to quicken up the frame’s slightly sluggish swing pattern.
They haven’t stopped there, though. New for 2025 is the Gravity Tour 98, which fans of the line have been begging Head to release for years — and they finally did. A 98-square-inch teardrop head shape just makes sense, and while I’d like to spend a little more time on court with the racquet before solidifying this statement, I’m not scared to say this is one of the best racquets I’ve tested in years. Power, spin, control, and a highly addictive factor — the Gravity Tour 98 has it all.
Technifibre Racquets
We’re also bringing in some brand-new Technifibre racquets to the store this January. Both the T-Fight and TF 40 lines are getting an update, and while I haven’t heard much about the actual changes, we’ll be receiving our demo fleet soon for testing. Both these lines have been popular among advanced players looking for classic control and especially that elusive foam-filled feel that’s becoming more and more rare.
Head Radical 2025
You Radical fans will have to wait until March for this one, but the new Radical is coming, and the update is what you would expect from Head in 2025. They’re replacing Auxetic with Auxetic 2.0, offering a bit more easy stability and a slightly more muted feel overall. We’ll get a review out to you soon.
Asics Gel Resolution X
It’s not just racquets that are coming in hot this January. We are going to see a couple of iconic shoes refreshed for 2025, and there’s none more iconic than the Asics Gel Resolution. Like the Pure Drive, the Resolution 9 was our best-selling tennis shoe since it was released — it’s a line that never disappoints. It represents the industry standard in terms of support, stability, and durability, as well as more modern characteristics like speed, energy return, and comfort.
Asics has been methodically improving the Gel Resolution over the last nine versions, but they’ve gone for a more visually striking update with the X. As different as it looks, Asics is known for never messing up the Resy, so I’m sure they’ve come up with something good. We’ll get it tested as soon as possible — here’s to hoping it’s as good as the 9!
Nike Vapor 12
I decided to go in order of “iconicness” for tennis shoes, and while I do think the Gel Resolution edges that contest, the Nike Vapor is not far behind.
Whereas the Resolution represents old-school support and stability, the Vapor is the opposite: it represents all things modern in tennis shoes. Lightweight, comfort, speed — these are all words we associate with the Nike Vapor. Unfortunately, the last couple of versions didn’t live up to the name. The NXT and Vapor 11 were certainly daring releases, but their playability didn’t match the flashy tech specs, and many dedicated Vapor users actually preferred the takedown Vapor Pros (including pro players themselves).
One look at the new Vapor 12, and I can almost guarantee that we won’t be disappointed this time. Gone are the bizarre silhouettes of the previous two versions — this shoe looks much more like the super popular Vapors 9, X, and the original Vapor Pro. We’ll get it tested ASAP, but I’m pretty sure the theme of that review will be: “the Nike Vapor is back!”
It’s going to be a busy January.
This amount of new product is rare, and lining up the new Gravity, Pure Drive, Ezone, Vapor, and Resolution in the same month feels like a once-in-a-blue-moon situation. These are some of the most iconic lines in tennis right now, which means I’m going to have a whole lot of fun getting these reviews out.
Follow us on Instagram or keep an eye on our Coming Soon page to get notified as soon as the product makes its way into the store.
Happy New Year!