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Babolat Pure Strike Review: Compare Different Models & Other Tennis Racquets

Will Boucek · June 2, 2024

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The Babolat Pure Strike is one of the best tennis racquets for control on the market. Below, we’ll review the Babolat Pure Strike, including pros, cons, and different models of the racquet. Then, we’ll compare it to other tennis racquets to help you decide if the Pure Strike is right for you.

Review Summary & Ratings for the Babolat Pure Strike

The Babolat Pure Strike tennis racquet is not quite as well-known as Babolat’s other racquet lines. However, this racquet is one of the most balanced and popular player’s racquets in tennis today.

Used by Dominic Thiem, the Pure Strike is Babolat’s best racquet for players looking for better control and feel. Below, we will review the Pure Strike in detail, including the specifications, different versions, and the best alternative racquets. Our goal is to help you decide if the Pure Strike is the best tennis racquet for you.

See our ratings, plus the pros and cons of the Babolat Pure Strike below for a quick glance at how it performs compared to other tennis racquets.

Our Ratings for the Babolat Pure Strike

• Groundstrokes: 8
• Very balanced racquet for advanced players
• Great control and feel on both groundstrokes & volleys
• Generates spin easily (depending on the model)
• Very stable racquet against fast serves & volleys
• Good maneuverability at net
• Not great power on groundstrokes or serves
• Not a good beginner racquet

Different Versions of the Babolat Pure Strike Tennis Racquet

The Babolat Pure Strike tennis racquet comes in several versions that vary in weight and size. Below is a list of the different Babolat Pure Strike racquets on the market today.

• Babolat Pure Strike 16×19
• Babolat Pure Strike 18×20
• Babolat Pure Strike 100 16×20
• Babolat Pure Strike 100
• Babolat Pure Strike Team
• Babolat Pure Strike EVO
• Babolat Pure Strike 97

We’ll review each version in more detail below.

What did Babolat Update with the 2024 Pure Strike?

Overall, Babolat made subtle changes to the Pure Strike racquets for the 2024 versions.

• Babolat dropped the Pure Strike Tour from the lineup.
• New Pure Strike 100 16×20 added to the lineup.
• Babolat Pure Strike VS changes name to Pure Strike 97.
• Pure Strike 100 is softer and offers greater feel.

The main updates with the 2024 Pure Strike are the removal of the Pure Strike Tour and the addition of the Pure Strike 100 16×20. The new racquet offers a little more control than the regular Pure Strike 100, while also being more head light and softer. This makes the Pure Strike 100 16×20 move very fast through the air and more arm-friendly.

Other than the new racquet added to the lineup, Babolat didn’t change very much with this update. The specs are almost identical, with the exception of the Pure Strike 100 going down in stiffness. However, all of the racquets feature a slight increase in control and a more direct feel.

Babolat Pure Strike Review: A Control-Oriented Racquet

This is the 3rd generation of the Pure Strike, and Babolat has made some relevant updates you should know about. First, we’ll take a look at the specifications and show you how they will affect the performance of this tennis racquet.

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Babolat Pure Strike Racquet Specifications

The technical specifications of this 3rd generation are similar to previous versions. However, there are a few updates we will show you below.

There are several versions of the Pure Strike. We will be reviewing the most popular version (98 square inch, 16×19) here, and show you the other models below.

• Weight: 11.4 oz. strung
• Head Size:  98 square inches
• Length:  27 inches
• Stiffness:   64
• Balance:  330.2 mm
• String Pattern:  16 x 19

This racquet is slightly heavier than the other Babolat tennis racquets . It will offer better stability against pace and on your volleys.

The 98 square inch head makes this a high-performance racquet for advanced players who can generate their own power. If you need more help with control, the Pure Strike is a great choice.

This racquet has a 16×19 string pattern which will help players generate spin from the baseline and when serving. However, this racquet can’t offer the same spin or power as the Babolat Pure Aero . The Pure Strike makes up for that with better control and feel.

Other Sellers: Amazon.com

The Pure Strike Offers Excellent Control & Feel

Perhaps the biggest advantage you get with the Babolat Pure Strike is the control and feel on your shots. It is one of the best 8 tennis racquets for control .

The narrower beam, smaller head size, and frame technology all help to increase your ability to move the ball around the court with precision.

This 3rd generation incorporates a new dampening technology that helps you feel the ball on the racquet longer. This may sacrifice a bit of power, but improves your ability to place and control the ball. The frame design makes this racquet great for both groundstrokes and volleys.

This Racquet is Great for Returns, Groundstrokes, and Volleys

The added control mentioned above will help players change direction and feel confident in their shots.

However, the extra stability helps even more. Players will be able to defend more easily against fast-paced balls like returning big first serves or reflex volleys.

If you already have a good serve, but need help with the returns and groundstrokes, the Pure Strike can help. It’s also a great tennis racquet for doubles players seeking more control and stability on their volleys.

The Pure Strike is for Players Who Create Their Own Power

Advanced players with good technique and strength will get the most out of the Pure Strike. ATP player Dominic Thiem uses the Pure Strike 18×20 version. If you’ve watched him play, then you know that he has no problem hitting with pace.

Strong intermediate players should also consider the Pure Strike. It’s certainly one of the best tennis racquets on the market for this group of players.

While the Pure Strike does have good power for a 98 square inch racquet, it is not for beginner to intermediate level players who need help creating power. See the Babolat Pure Drive for Babolat’s best racquet for power.

This Racquet has Good Mobility & Spin

Because this racquet has a 98 square inch head with a narrower frame and isn’t too heavy, the Pure Strike is easy to handle. Singles and doubles players will have no issue moving around the court and recovering for the next shot with this tennis racquet.

The 16×19 string pattern will help generate extra spin as well. Babolat actually uses FSI Technology in the strings, which means there is added space in the crosses towards the end of the racquet. This extra space will grab the tennis ball more and help you create even more spin.

However, for an even more spin-friendly racquet, see the Babolat Pure Aero used by Rafael Nadal.

Reviewing the Different Models of the Babolat Pure Strike

There are several different versions of the Pure Strike 3rd Gen tennis racquet. Depending on your playing style and skill-level, one version might be better for you than another.

The table below outlines each Pure Strike model and its benefits.

For most players, the Pure Strike 16×19 is the best option.

• Only more advanced players should consider the Pure Strike 18×20 or the Pure Strike 97.
• Intermediate tennis players, or advanced players who don’t play too competitively, may consider the Pure Strike 100 or the Pure Strike 100 16×20. They are more forgiving racquets than the other versions, but will still offer excellent control and feel.
• Lower-level intermediate players who aren’t as physically strong and need something more lightweight can consider the Pure Strike Team.
• The Pure Strike EVO is for beginner or intermediate players on a budget. However, our best beginner tennis racquets and best intermediate tennis racquets have better choices.

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The Best Alternatives to the Babolat Pure Strike

Below are other tennis racquets similar to the Babolat Pure Strike that you may want to consider.

• Wilson Blade – Similar in terms of power and control with a bit more comfort due to a flexible frame.
• Head Radical – A racquet with slightly more control and stability, but a bit less spin than the Pure Strike.

Is the Babolat Pure Strike Tennis Racquet Right for You?

Ultimately, you have to decide if the Pure Strike is the right racquet for you.

If you’re a high level intermediate or advanced player who can generate power easily, this is a great tennis racquet. It’s a player’s racquet for people with big swings who play fast-paced, competitive tennis.

The Babolat Pure Strike has an excellent combination of control, feel, and stability making it a very popular tennis racquet among elite players.

My Experience with the 2024 Pure Strike

The Babolat Pure Strike has always been a mixed bag for me. I have always enjoyed getting the chance to hit with any racquet from the Pure Strike line, but something always feels a little off, so I have never purchased one.

This time around I was able to practice and play some matches with the 2024 Pure Strike 97, which is the new version of the Pure Strike VS. It is actually the same head size as my current racquet of choice, the Yonex Vcore Pro 97HD with a similarly dense string bed.

I enjoy the extra stability and easy depth I get when using the Pure Strike. It is particularly helpful on the serve return and on defense. It still provides above-average control as well, and offers a very direct feel.

However, I was left wanting a little more comfort and maneuverability.

At net and on serve, I found that the Pure Strike could use a little more maneuverability. It felt a little slow through the air, which made it difficult for me to find the sweet spot consistently. 

The direct feel gave me extremely crisp volleys that devastated my opponents. But that same feel made the racquet feel a little jarring when playing against big hitters. While I don’t like a racquet to feel muted, I do prefer a little bit of dampening technology to help increase comfort.

Overall, the Pure Strikes are great racquets, they just aren’t for me. I would recommend this racquet to intermediate to advanced players looking for a racquet with a great combination of control and stability that don’t mind sacrificing a little maneuverability.

About Will Boucek

Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of Tennis Tribe. With over two decades of experience playing & coaching tennis, Will now works as a doubles strategy analyst for ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. Will helps tennis players at every level play better doubles through smarter strategy. He also has expertise in tennis racquets & gear, testing the latest products from Wilson, Babolat, Head, Prince, and other tennis brands.

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Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 Review

Some months back I created a Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 review on my YouTube channel. Now it’s finally available for sale.

I concluded my Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 review positively. It’s great that Babolat brings back the Pure Control with a new name. A thinner beam, lower flex, leather grip and a 16×20 pattern will surely please a lot of control racquet lovers. The racquet plays with great feel and control, but it’s not without decent power. It’s a pretty demanding frame and you need to have solid technique and be a pretty advanced (NTRP 4.0+) player to use it, but if you like this type of racquet, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022.

I tried the racquet with both Solinco Hyper-G Soft 1.20 and Solinco Outlast 1.20  at my usual reference tension around 51 lbs and enjoyed both setups. As expected, I got more spin potential with Hyper-G and more control from Outlast.

You can buy the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 from Tennis Warehouse  but it’s not yet available from Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only .

Pure Strike VS Specs

I felt like the racquet needed a little bit of weight in the hoop to play with more plow-through and power. 2-3 grams at 12 did the trick for me.

How does it play?

If you tried old Babolat Pure Control racquets, this one plays in the same vein. Good control and feel (a little bit firmer than most of the older ones, but not harsh by any means), great looks and playability for advanced players.

I felt like the weight at 310 grams unstrung is close to perfect. It allows you some customization and maintains a good balance of being maneuverable yet stable.

It’s a racquet to rival the HEAD Radical Pro  (and Boom Pro in a way), the Wilson Blade 98 18×20 and the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 .

For players who enjoy the Babolat Pure Strike 98 Gen 3 , but want a softer feel and more control, the Pure Strike VS is a must-demo.

Have you tried the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022?

Jonas Eriksson

Jonas has been known as "tennis nerd" mainly for his obsessing about racquets and gear. Plays this beautiful sport almost every day.

A Head of the Game – part 1

The most beautiful tennis racquet, you may also like, new head extreme 2024, tennis brand sponsorships among the top 200 rankings, prince phantom review 2024, choosing the best tennis grip for your playing..., the best light racquet on the market, head speed pro legend, tecnifibre tfx1 98 review, head prestige pro 16/19, wilson blade 100 review, why use heavier racquets.

Beautiful paintjob, from the pic it looks like it’s got an allover gloss finish as well (fingers crossed!). Specs are excellent as well. Unfortunately it is not (yet?) available in Europe, as the article mentions.

On TW it’s $269 that does not bode well for the price in EUROs. Which, for reasons I don’t get, is usually HIGHER than the price in dollars (1 EUR = 1.09990 USD atm (23-3) ).

Also I read rumors that the Pure Strike VS was going to be a Limited Edition (or ltd run). Is that true?

The specs look very interesting to me and definitely a frame I would like to test in 2022. I play with the latest version of the Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18×20 with quite some lead at 3 and 9 and some lead at 12. Frame is around 330 grams without strings My initial question is how does this Babolat Pure Strike VS compare to Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18×20 and do you think some extra lead is needed in this Babolat as well? Thanks!

Can you post the stringing pattern/instructions for this 16Mx20C racquet? Thanks.

The Pure Strike VS actually has broader spacing in the mains/horizontals…. and the crosses have same spacing as the 98 16×19… but the last two verticals in top/bottom… The size of the head/frame is really the same. You can see that when laying one over the other. They are both 98’s. VS is written to be 97 but that is not true….. on the racket is written 626 cm2=97 inch2….but its the same size as the PS 98. written on PS 98 is 630 which 97.5 inch2. laying them on top of eachother there is no difference. The broader spacing in the mains would in theory make the VS able to make smore spin and have in the sweetspot about the samme power/return of energy/sweetspot flex. The difference in the rackets mostly is the broader spacing in the mains in the VS, the stiffer frame in the 98 16×19 3rd gen. What I am saying is that the PS 98 16×19 has more control coming to the string spacing and the PSVS has more spin potiential. The VS’s beam is not 21-22-21 stated on most websites… but 21.5-22.5-21.5…….. and the Pure Strike 98 16 x 19 beam is has 21.5-23.5-22.5

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Product Comparison: Babolat Pure Strike vs Babolat Pure Strike Tour

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• Has a nice steady plow for its lighter-weight and is stable while volleying surprisingly!
• Great racquet, slightly stiff but gives good ball feel.
• I moved from the previous Pure Strike 18x20 and I'm absolutely loving it.
• Wife loves this racquet. I use a pro staff...i tried the pure strike...pretty sweet!
• I play varsity tennis at my local high school and I felt that I quickly mended into this racquet and was able to instantly improve my game.
• Love this racket. Its the perfect specs for my game. It might not be for everyone since its a little on the heavier side but great build and great access to power and spin.
• Lot of plow through and very good control. Although it's very hefty.
• A great racquet with excellent drive and spin...
• Good Racquet. A bit on the heavy side but i like it
• If you're a player with good technique, able to prepare for shots early and have good physical strength over long periods then i would definately suggest giving this a try.
• Flexibility
• Most likely strung to the upper range for control. Spin is satisfying. Great all court racquet.
• The racquet itself is very high quality. After using mid-price racquets for many years, I decided to splurge on a top-of-the-line racquet and this definitely fits the bill.
• I'm an intermidiate player and this raket improved my game by giving more power and control.
• My groundstrokes were much more accurate and felt much more powerful than my old racquet.
• I am in love with this one, I am a powerfull player and the Pure Strike 16/19 is the best buy I ever done.
• Chose the Pure Strike Tour due to the overall specification and was initially pleased with the performance.
• String this with RPM blast at mid tension and you'll be in near tennis heaven (if your technique is good!).
• Stability against big hitters was near perfect and serves gained more power.
• Very well balanced and feels solid even when striking off center.

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• babolat pure strike vs 2022 racket review

Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 Racket Review

The Pure Strike range from Babolat has been a welcome addition to their lineup over the past decade or so. Replacing the ever popular Pure Storm, the Strike blends control, power and spin to give players a classic feel with a modern twist. The VS model is branded as Babolat’s precision tool that aims to rival the likes of the Wilson Pro Staff and Head Prestige. This brand stick was sent to us from Babolat directly, so it was great to get out there and test the racket!

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Groundstrokes

8.5 out of 10

The new Pure Strike VS is a racket we have been very much looking forward to testing here at The Tennis Bros. This is the most performance focussed racket in the line up, sporting a smaller 97sq in head size and a more striking design.

Babolat have gone for a more stealthy look with the new version of the Pure Strike, which is a stark contrast to their signature white and orange design language.

It is still recognisable as a Pure Strike, but is more reminiscent of the Pure Control series of rackets that the French brand brought out over a short period of time.

The racket is a touch softer than previous versions, bringing it more in line with the old school Pure Storm that so many recreational and professional players loved in the early 2000s. That racket was famed for its unique blend of control and ball pocketing, which gave a plush feel.

This is not something that many other Babolat rackets have managed to nail since, and it is the hope that the new Pure Strike VS will bring back that pure, player focussed feel.

The VS comes with Control Frame Technology, which enhances the feedback without adding harshness. This gives you a closer connection to your shots and helps you feel the ball in a more tactile way.

Well, we can definitely report that the racket lives up to the hype! The VS brings a new dimension to the Pure Strike family.

The VS variant from Babolat typically denotes a more control focussed racket, and this is certainly the case with this racket. It is a pin point accurate scalpel that will allow you to carve up your slices and rip your forehands and backhands with a great deal of control.

In the hand, the Pure Strike VS feels solid but whippy. It is a racket that is pretty easy to swing and leans more towards head light control rather than being a head heavy clubbing machine.

It is particularly effective on approach shots, as you can whip up the back of the ball and get the racket brushing the ball nicely, giving you plenty of margin for error.

This is an area of the court I felt particularly comfortable in with this racket, and this tends to be a bit of a litmus test of a control oriented racket.

It is not the most powerful racket in the world and this is to be expected. Given that the Pure Strike line is more aimed towards players looking to tame their natural power, this is a great racket for someone that takes a big cut at the ball and wants to add some precision to their game.

The racket feels more supple than previous iterations of the Pure Strike. There is not a huge amount of difference between this and the Pure Strike Tour in terms of flex rating, but the VS is a lot easier to swing and as a result is more approachable.

This makes it more suitable for an all court player that likes to slice and dice the ball from the back of the court, but also feel comfortable being the aggressor and taking their chances to come into the net.

If you are predominantly a baseline groundie crusher, perhaps the Pure Aero or Pure Drive would be more up your street.

This is not a racket that is designed for clubbing ground strokes all the time, and it can come across a little underpowered and unforgiving if this is how you use it.

The racket does feel reassuringly stable on contact, but the fact that it is so easy to swing can leave it lacking a little in that ‘easy power’ or plough through department.

9 out of 10

Volleying with the new Pure Strike VS was an absolute joy. Short of being an ultra control focussed, under sized racket this is one of the best feeling rackets to volley with on the market today.

It just hits that perfect blend of feeling solid enough to give you confidence when swinging through the ball, whilst being light enough to get into position really easily.

The racket is in the goldilocks zone when it comes to stiffness too. Sometimes a racket that is really flexible can feel a little mushy, whilst a racket that is too stiff can be void of any real connection or feeling.

This strikes a really nice middle ground that left me feeling great after I had come into the net. There is a great amount of feedback from the Pure Strike VS, and the smaller head size gives this racket a level of accuracy that no other model in this family of rackets can match.

7.5 out of 10

The VS version of the Pure Strike was a pinpoint accuracy stick to serve with. The open 16×20 string pattern also added to my ability to generate spin on second serves.

It wasn’t the most forgiving racket when looking for power on first serves however, and this is somewhere that it was let down ever so slightly.

I am the sort of player that relies on my first serve to set up my points. Given that this is a control focussed racket, it is clearly not going to offer the last word in easy power on the serve.

But, the fact that it performed so well in other areas around the court set my expectations high! This is clearly down to the lack of swing weight that this racket carries.

However, the Pure Strike VS more than made up for this lack of easy power with its solid feel, comfortable flex and impressive control of the ball.

This is the sort of racket that you can trust in your second serves when using, as the amount of spin and control you have gives you a level of confidence that many other rackets don’t.

If you are a player that likes to use finesse and chip balls back into play with accuracy, this racket could well be the perfect match for you.

It performs in a similar way to the Wilson Pro Staff in that it is a control focussed racket that will not give you much in the way of power, but will allow you to place the ball wherever you want.

One of the best assets of the Pure Strike VS is its ability to nullify pace when returning big first serves.

You just need to stick the racket out and block a return back and you can easily knife through the ball to produce an awkward return for your opponent to deal with.

It is also refreshing playing with an underpowered racket that you feel you can use without having to hold back on your returning swings.

This is something that actually gives you a bit more margin for error, as you can take a slightly larger cut at the ball and get away with it, allowing you to generate more angles and height over the net.

You can happily sit back in the court and rip the ball to smaller targets with this racket, as it gives you the reassurance that the ball will land safely, well inside the court thanks to the open string pattern and low levels of power.

Overall, the Babolat Pure Strike VS has been a real hit with us at The Tennis Bros. It is a fantastic control focussed addition to the Pure Strike lineup.

The pure, tactile feel of the racket will appeal to all court players that like to get to the net at any opportunity and use their hands rather than just out and out power to win their points.

This racket rivals the likes of the Wilson Pro Staff, Yonex VCORE and Head Speed lines. Babolat have done a great job in creating a more accessible, yet performance focussed version of the Pure Strike.

The racket is easy to swing and allows you to create plenty of racket head speed, but also rewards accuracy and clean hitting. The clue is in the name!

If you are still looking for more rackets to try and would like to find out about accompanying string and tension combinations, take a look at our custom fitting service . We work with you to take the stress and hassle out of finding your perfect racket!

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Jan 4, 2024 • Babolat Pure Strike

Babolat Pure Strike Tour 3rd Gen Tennis Racket Review

A Powerful and Precise Weapon for Advanced Players Babolat's Pure Strike is one of our favorite racket families, celebrated for delivering exceptional control and the potential to unleash tremendous power. During our playtest, we experienced firsthand how this racket is tailor-made for advanced players with aggressive, full swings who want…

Nov 7, 2023 • Babolat Pure Aero

Babolat Pure Aero 98 (2023) Review

Looking for a high-performance tennis racket that will take your game to the next level? The Babolat Pure Aero 98 (2023) might just be the answer. In this review, we'll dive into the features and benefits of this popular tennis racket, helping you make an informed decision before your next…

Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour Racquet Review

• Directional control
• Lack of feel

Even though the Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour sports a cosmetic that closely resembles the Pure Strike 16x19, players should note that this racquet feels and plays quite differently from its popular cousin. As a replacement for the Pure Control Tour, this Pure Strike VS Tour has a lower-powered response and a denser string pattern that offered good directional control and good stability on our playtesters' shots. However, our playtesters thought the the Pure Strike VS Tour had a stiffer feel than the Pure Control Tour, and they didn't feel as connected to the ball as they did with the previous version, which reviewed quite favorably, mind you. Most of our testers also struggled to generate the spin they needed to keep the ball within the lines consistently. Ultimately, the Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour is a control-oriented racquet with a crisp, modern feel and enough heft to keep experienced big hitters happy.

Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour Scores

Groundstrokes - score: 75.

It took a bit of time for our playtesters to adjust to the Pure Strike VS Tour when hitting from the baseline, but once they did the control and maneuverability it offered turned out to be our favored attributes. However, almost everyone noted a lack of feel. "I liked the fast, whippy feel as soon as I picked this racquet up and began swinging away from the baseline," Troy explained. "The weight and balance of this racquet felt similar to the previous iteration, the Pure Control Tour, but with the Pure Strike VS Tour I found a crisper and more modern feel. When I started hitting with it my timing was off on my groundstrokes because the swingweight is about 10-15 points lower than my usual racquet, and I was noticing a lack of plow through. Once I adjusted to the swingweight I was getting loads of spin due to the easy maneuverability, and I thought the 16x20 string pattern allowed for good bite on the ball. As I did with the Pure Control Tour, I was finding good precision, and I felt like I could place the ball where I wanted within the court. I was able to hit my slice backhands with lots of backspin to keep the ball skidding low, although I would have liked more weight in the head of this racquet to help generate easier depth. Overall, I enjoyed the performance of this racquet from the baseline, but I think it would benefit from some added weight in the head to help with put away power and easier depth of shots."

Chris thought this Pure Strike VS Tour felt more similar to prior iterations than its direct predecessor. He shared, "With the Pure Strike VS Tour, Babolat has resurrected the feel of the old Pure Storm Tour GT. I wish they'd cosmetically updated the Pure Control Tour instead. Let me explain. Just like the Pure Storm Tour GT, this Pure Strike VS Tour provides a classic low powered player's racquet response, but both also lack feel. The response of the Pure Strike VS Tour left me feeling disconnected from my shots. On the other hand, the recently discontinued Pure Control Tour offered superb control, more power, and most importantly, tons of feel for touch shots. I found the Pure Strike VS Tour to play a little better at the bottom end of the tension range and with a very soft poly or a multi/poly hybrid to improve comfort. When strung at anything close to or above mid tension, the Pure Strike VS Tour lacked comfort and was very underpowered for its weight. My spin production was OK, but nothing approaching what I get from my Pure Drive Plus. I did like the response of the racquet on my slice backhand, and the controlled response worked well on approach shots and short put-aways."

Michelle took a bit of time to adjust to the racquet as well, but she preferred it over another VS Tour racquet that she recently playtested. She offered, "First, I have to say that the paint job of this racquet confused me a bit because it played much differently than the Pure Strike 16x19 (Project One7) that we tested. Second, something about the VS Tour racquets have messed with my swing a bit. I've been whipping up through the ball instead of extending out, which is a problem for my game, so I didn't love that it has thrown my game off a bit. That said, I did enjoy this VS Tour much more than the Pure Aero VS Tour. I felt more connected to my shots with this racquet, and the ball felt more solid at contact. The racquet was whippy and fast but still had enough plow through to allow me to hit deep and attack. The tight string pattern helped me with accuracy and pinpointing targets. There were times when balls I hit should have gone out but instead landed inside the baseline because of the extra spin and lack of plow through."

Although there were aspects of the Pure Strike VS Tour that Andy appreciated, he never really felt at home with it from the baseline. He critiqued, "I had a hard time dialing in my groundstrokes during this playtest. I found the feel of the Pure Strike VS Tour to be very stiff, and at times uncomfortable. I also didn't feel much connection to the ball. The modern feel did lend itself to good power when I hit inside the sweetspot, but I was feeling some discomfort from off-center contact all through my arm. I also thought the string pattern provided some decent directional control but not much spin potential, so I couldn't really get the ball moving and diving down at the baseline on my topspin shots. When I was going for more spin I struggled to control the depth, either sending the ball sailing long when I caught it in the sweetspot or dropping it short if contact wasn't just right. I appreciated the racquet's stability (though not its comfort) on off-center contact, but I wasn't a fan when hitting from the baseline."

Volleys - Score: 77

The TW playtesters enjoyed the head light and maneuverable feel of the Pure Strike VS Tour around the net, but they would've liked a little better connection to the ball as it left the stringbed. "It was easy to get the Pure Strike VS Tour around at net," Chris remarked. "I enjoyed the head light balance, and the racquet felt solid and stable. The ample control let me punch volleys aggressively, but I would have liked a better connection with the response on touch shots. I also found the racquet to play a tad harsh if I caught the ball toward the tip of the hoop."

Andy appreciated the racquet's directional control and solid feel on his volleys, but he shared Chris' laments when it came to feel and comfort. He said, "I had a little better experience volleying with this racquet. I enjoyed the racquet's stability and solid feel. It was easy to punch volleys deep in the court with a short, simple swing. However, I once again struggled with the feel, and I didn't feel all that connected to my shots. This especially came into play when I was going for a shot that required softer hands and more finesse. The net was my favorite place to be during this playtest, although I can't say that this was a great racquet to volley with."

Troy liked the crisp, solid feel but prefers the response of some more traditional-style racquets. He said, "The weight and balance of this racquet made it easy for me to manipulate it at the net. When I was off balance and didn't quite have my weight behind the ball I could use my wrist to hit an effective volley. I found a nice crisp feel on contact when I was able to set my feet and punch my volleys. The response and feedback of this racquet were good on touch/drop volleys, but not quite at the same level as my preferred Wilson Six.One 95 or the Volkl Power Bridge 10 Mid. The downside for me was the slight lack of stability that I found when volleying against hard hit shots. I wasn't able to get the easy depth on my volleys that I would've liked. Overall, though, I was pleased with the command I had over the ball at net."

Michelle would have liked a little more mass through the hoop, but ultimately she grew to enjoy the control and maneuverability the Pure Strike VS Tour offered for her net game. She said, "Initially this racquet felt really head light when I was at the net, which I don't like because I have a tendency to let my wrist flop back at contact. Once I got used to the weight the Pure Strike VS Tour became a good volleying racquet. I found some good touch, and I was effective hitting deep, aggressive or swinging volleys."

Serves - Score: 79

Our playtesters had a mixed bag of opinions after serving with the Pure Strike VS Tour . Some testers found plenty of power while others found it under-powered. Half our team found it spin-friendly while others struggled to get enough rotation on the ball. Andy found the Pure Strike VS Tour to be powerful and controllable, but he was one of the testers that struggled to generate enough spin. He offered, "The racquet's power and directional control worked great for hitting big flat first serves. I could generate a lot of pace and get the ball going at my intended targets pretty consistently. However, I had issues with generating spin, so my kick and slice serves weren't as effective as they normally are. I relied on going for flatter first serves and aiming for big targets with my second serves."

Chris had a similar experience. He expounded, "I struggled to find enough spin to serve consistently with the Pure Strike VS Tour. I liked the way its weight came through contact, and my pace was decent. However, I struggled to get any bite on the ball. I tested this racquet with two very spin-friendly co-poly strings but was unable to get the spin I expected, which was a shame. I was getting good pace, and with some additional spin I think I could have served at a higher percentage."

Michelle , who is normally a fan of heavier racquets, liked how easy it was to generate racquet head speed and spin. She explained, "When I first started serving with this racquet it was coming through too fast because it's so maneuverable. I felt like I was making contact way too far in front of my body, resulting in some careless errors. Once I got used to the weight and adjusted my timing I was able to take advantage of the movement I was getting off my serve. Kick and slice serves were effective, and my flat serve was pretty precise after I dialed it in."

Troy and Michelle have similar taste in racquets, and not surprisingly, they had similar experiences serving with the Pure Strike VS Tour . Troy shared, "My serve was free flowing with this racquet in my hand. I found easy maneuverability that provided some relief to my shoulder compared to some of the heavier racquets I typically keep in my bag. Spin serves came with ease, especially my kick serve. I was able to generate a lot of racquet head speed, and it helped me kick the ball off the court. The racquet's control had me feeling confident locating my targets, too. Furthermore, I was getting good pop on my first serves when I hit flat down the 'T'. The only thing that I would change/add is a little bit of tip weight to increase the power of my serves."

Returns - Score: 76

Our testers were generally pretty pleased with how the Pure Strike VS Tour worked for their return games. Michelle praised, "This racquet felt pretty forgiving on returns. Sometimes when I didn't make clean contact with the ball I still hit an effective return. There were also a few moments of instability on my return when the racquet wobbled at contact. Again, I was rewarded by the whippiness of this racquet. It gave my balls good arc or movement through the court."

Short, simple returns worked better for Chris than bigger cuts at the ball. He explained, "My block and chip returns worked well with this racquet. It felt stable, and I was able to push the ball back with depth. I would have liked more feel on my drive returns and slice backhands. I found enough pace, but I didn't feel totally dialed in."

Andy had a similar experience to Chris. He shared, "The racquet's directional control and stability worked well for my return game. If I took a short swing I could get the ball back deep in the court pretty consistently. Chipping back defensive returns was also easy because of the Pure Strike VS Tour's overall mass. I had to be careful not to take to big a swing, though, because then I could easily lose control."

Troy appreciated the fast feel, but once again, he would have preferred a little more heft and swingweight to help him get more consistent depth on his shots. He said, "I felt comfortable stepping in and being aggressive on my returns with this racquet. The fast feel allowed me to take big cuts at the ball whenever the server left the ball sitting in my wheelhouse. I also found it easy to flick the racquet and pop up a lob return to keep me in the point when I needed to be more defensive. The low swingweight of the Pure Strike VS Tour was a downside for me whenever I had to slice or block a return. If I couldn't take a big swing the lack of plow through made it hard for me to land the ball deep in the court."

Overall - Score: 74

Chris - "I liked the stability, and the low powered response made it tough to overhit."

Andy - "Good stability and directional control."

Troy - "Good control. Easy access to spin. I preferred the Pure Strike VS Tour over the Pure Aero VS Tour."

Michelle - "Good depth, quick and great precision. I felt more connected to the ball and preferred the Pure Strike VS Tour over the Pure Aero VS Tour."

Chris - "There wasn't much feel, and the response wasn't very comfortable up toward the tip of the racquet."

Andy - "Stiff, and at times, uncomfortable feel. Erratic power. Lack of spin potential. Difficult to maneuver."

Troy - "The Pure Strike VS Tour could benefit from some added weight in the hoop to increase the power and stability."

Michelle - "I just prefer a bit more mass in the head. I felt like I got away with shots I shouldn't have (I guess I shouldn't be complaining about that!)."

Comparing the racquet to others they've tried, our testers said:

Chris - "The Pure Strike VS Tour played very much like a Pure Storm Tour GT. I much prefer the response of the outgoing Pure Control Tour, though. It had tons more feel and easier access to power. Compared to other brands, I'd say the low powered response of the Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro is similar to the Pure Strike VS Tour ."

Andy - "While the Pure Strike VS Tour is the update to the Pure Control Tour, which I really liked, this didn't feel very much like it. The Pure Strike VS Tour is much stiffer, much less controllable and much harder to swing. This felt somewhat similar to the Dunlop Biofibre F3.1 Tour and Head Graphene XT Prestige MP, although those two racquets offered more control than the Pure Strike VS Tour ."

Troy - "I found a similar level of control and spin with the Pure Strike VS Tour as I did with its predecessors (Pure Control Tour and Pure Storm Tour). The main difference, though, was the feel. The Pure Strike VS Tour felt stiffer and crisper than I recall the previous versions being. I found the Pure Control Tour to be responsive and very comfortable while the Pure Storm Tour was comfortable, but very muted and lacking response. Other similar racquets that come to mind are the Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro and the Wilson Six.One 95 (16x18)."

Michelle - "The Pure Strike VS Tour should be similar to the Pure Control Tour, but it just didn't feel as solid to me. I did prefer the Pure Strike VS Tour over the Pure Aero VS Tour. I felt more connected to the ball, I could hit better depth, and although it played whippy and fast, it wasn't as whippy or as fast as the Pure Aero VS Tour."

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

Playtester Profiles

Chris: 5.0 all-court player currently using the Babolat Pure Drive Plus. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.

Andy: Open level all court player with a semi-western forehand grip and a two-handed backhand. Andy currently using a Yonex EZONE DR 98.

Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two-handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a Wilson Blade 98 18x20.

Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph.

Review date: January 2017. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us. All content copyright 2017 Tennis Warehouse.

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Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour Tennis Racquet

Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour Tennis Racquet 

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Free stringing, babolat pure strike vs tour tennis racquet (model #101281-149).

BABOLAT PURE STRIKE VS TOUR 16x20 PERFORMANCE TENNIS RACKET - THE BEST RACQUETS FOR SPIN, COMFORT, AND CONTROL The  Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour 16x20 tennis racquet offers the ideal balance of both response and precision for one's attacking baseline style of game - just like Dominic Thiem. It has square frame construction and features a slightly thicker beam than its predecessor, which provides for a more powerful and stable racquet. Babolat's new Woofer Dynamic String System works like pulleys - instead of only a few strings working per ball strike, all of the strings are free to move, so the entire stringbed reactions upon impact.  The result is increased sweetspot and ample power, even on off-centered shots.

The Pure Strike VS 16x20  has a 21mm/21mm/21mm tapered beam and a 98 square inch headsize.  It is ideal for advanced players, especially for those looking for a control-minded frame without sacrificing swing speed.  It separates itself from the popular Pure Drive line because of its thinner beam, which makes it slightly less powerful and geared towards players really looking to hit out on the ball, and the frame is also not as stiff as the Pure Drive, which helps with ball feel and arm issues.  It's a powerful weapon in the hands of a count technician who can hit winners with ease, yet plays the game like they're on a chess board. The 11.9 ounce tour weight (thus its namesake) gives it plenty of plow-through on off-centered shots so that the trajectory of the ball is still predictable, while the 7 point head light balance  makes it incredibly easy to whip the head of the racquet through the zone.  This, along with the 16x20, uniquely dense (not quite a 16x19, nor quite an 18x20) string pattern, help with players looking for deep, penetrating ground strokes, ample spin when necessary, while still maintaining precise control.  There are no frames on the market today, by any brand, that quite match up with this amazing unicorn of a true player's stick.  You HAVE to play with it to understand its full potential!

Pure Strike Technology:

Learn more about babolat tennis racquet technologies here, specifications.

Customize your Babolat Pure Strike VS Tour Tennis Racquet

Please complete all steps before adding to cart. Questions? Speak With A Racquet Specialist Toll-Free At (866) 900-3648 .

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Recommended Tension: 50-59 pounds

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• Tennis Equipment

Pure strike tour 16x20?

• Thread starter gatorbait
• Start date Jan 8, 2021

• Jan 8, 2021

Any idea when babolat will come out with a replacement for the pure strike tour in the 16x20 pattern? What I really want is the replacement for a pure control tour racquet. I know they came out pure strike vs tour in the 2nd gen w/ the 16x20 pattern but when they went to 3rd generation it wasn't a option. Anyone have any idea?  

The Pure Strike Tour Gen 1 introduced in 2014 was a new racquet with a brand new mold and it did not resemble any previous racquets made by Babolat. The Pure Strike line had more power than the Pure Control, but much more control than the Pure Drive - the Pure Strike Tour was the 12 oz players racquet model of the Pure Strike line. It has been replaced last year by the Gen 3 PST when they also changed the string pattern from 18x20 to 16x19. However, it plays very similar to the Gen 1 but it is more comfortable as there is some dampening material integrated into the frame. The Pure Control Tour was replaced by the Pure Strike VS Tour a few years ago at the same time they introduced the Gen 2 Pure Strikes. It was basically the same mold as the PCT with a new paint job and name. It was obviously completely different from the other Pure Strikes and it is a mystery why Babolat released it as part of the Pure Strike family branding. Players who like Babolat’s Pure Storm and Pure Control lines are hoping that they will release a new version in 2021 whether they call it the next gen Pure Strike VS Tour or go back to the Pure Control or Pure Storm branding. Whether it will still be based on the old Pure Control mold or whether it will be a brand new mold remains to be seen. What I would like to see is a more flexible layup of the Pure Strike Tour with a RA of 62 or 63. I have grown to like the Pure Strike Tour mold more than the old PCT as it is still a thin beam, but with a much bigger sweet spot. It would also be nice if they introduced both an open and dense string pattern.  

jmacdaununder2

• Jan 9, 2021

From memory the PCT was integrated into the Strike family to obfuscate the fact that some of the Babolat sponsored pros were continuing to use the PCT despite it being a slow seller at retail and headed for discontinuation; this move also gave the Strike some apparent tour exposure/publicity.  

Professional

I just got a new pure strike tour 16x19 and it’s the best frame I’ve hit with since the old babolat pure control tours from the early 2000s. I really miss that frame. Stiff but solid and not harsh. The tour 2020 version is way more comfortable than the project one 7 16x19.  

socallefty said: The Pure Strike Tour Gen 1 introduced in 2014 was a new racquet with a brand new mold and it did not resemble any previous racquets made by Babolat. The Pure Strike line had more power than the Pure Control, but much more control than the Pure Drive - the Pure Strike Tour was the 12 oz players racquet model of the Pure Strike line. It has been replaced last year by the Gen 3 PST when they also changed the string pattern from 18x20 to 16x19. However, it plays very similar to the Gen 1 but it is more comfortable as there is some dampening material integrated into the frame. The Pure Control Tour was replaced by the Pure Strike VS Tour a few years ago at the same time they introduced the Gen 2 Pure Strikes. It was basically the same mold as the PCT with a new paint job and name. It was obviously completely different from the other Pure Strikes and it is a mystery why Babolat released it as part of the Pure Strike family branding. Players who like Babolat’s Pure Storm and Pure Control lines are hoping that they will release a new version in 2021 whether they call it the next gen Pure Strike VS Tour or go back to the Pure Control or Pure Storm branding. Whether it will still be based on the old Pure Control mold or whether it will be a brand new mold remains to be seen. What I would like to see is a more flexible layup of the Pure Strike Tour with a RA of 62 or 63. I have grown to like the Pure Strike Tour mold more than the old PCT as it is still a thin beam, but with a much bigger sweet spot. It would also be nice if they introduced both an open and dense string pattern. Click to expand...

RoarTT said: Do you know the specs for your PST 3rd gen and the 1st gen when you used that one? I Click to expand...

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• The new Babolat Pure Strike VS – maximum control with full confidence

The new Babolat Pure Strike VS – maximum control with full confidence

The set is now complete! The launch of the Babolat Pure Strike VS means that all three of Babolat’s signature racquets – Pure Drive, Pure Aero, and Pure Strike – now have a specialist ‘VS’ version, offering enhanced advantages to those best suited to playing with them.

The VS series is designed to take the regular model of the racquet but make subtle changes that performance players will benefit from. The series began with the Pure Drive VS in 2019, the Pure Aero VS followed in 2020, and now the set is completed with the Pure Strike VS, aimed at high-skilled attacking players whose game is built around taking the ball early and looking for maximum control and precision.

Compared with the Pure Strike, the VS model has a slightly smaller head size. The head is 97 square inches instead of 98, which brings the extra precision, but it is better protected from scrapes with the court surface.

Babolat’s Tennis Group Marketing Manager Olivier Carlier says, “Every racquet has a protective ‘bumper’, a piece of plastic that protects the frame from damage if the player plays a low shot and the racquet scrapes against the ground at high speed. If you think of a racquet frame as a clockface, most bumpers are fitted from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock, but on the Pure Strike VS we have extended it to running from 9 to 3 o’clock, to protect more of the frame and strings from abrasions, and maintain a high performance level.

“We worked on the stability of the racquet to offer maximum responsiveness,” he adds. “Responsiveness is the capacity of the ball to fly off the string, so the increased stability compensates for the small reduction in the sweet spot. The Pure Strike VS is the racquet in the Babolat range that gives most control, and with these adjustments, attacking players who hit with large swings will be able to play with full confidence.”

Added benefit for competitive players

The ‘VS’ label emerged over the first 50 years of Babolat’s history. The French family-owned company began making strings for racquet sports in 1875, and each experiment at improving the gut was accompanied by two letters to denote the material and the trial number. In 1925 the VS emerged as the highest quality of gut string, and Babolat has used the name ever since, mainly for its original product of high-quality gut strings, but more recently for other top-of-the-range products, like racquets.

The Babolat Pure Strike VS has a recommended retail price of €279.95. It comes with a leather grip for greater feel, and players wanting to buy two racquets can buy them in pairs with a guaranteed maximum weight difference of 1 gramme between the two – most tennis racquets (from all makers) can have a 7g variance across the same model, so the 1g guarantee helps the player know that if a string breaks during a match, the replacement racquet will be effectively identical.  

“Obviously we hope that players at all levels will adopt the Pure Strike VS,” says Olivier Carlier, “but during the two years we researched and tested it across the world, we realised we needed it in our range mainly for the competitive players. We have the three main Babolat models – the Pure Drive for baseliners who need to call on explosivity, the Pure Aero for those who play with a lot of spin, and the Pure Strike for attacking players who like to make the most of the opponent’s power to generate their own.

“By making the frame more flexible, we have given the Pure Strike VS a bit more precision than the standard Pure Strike by enhancing the responsiveness. We call it ‘sharp control’ as it gives even more precision with a perfect power/control balance.”

Babolat’s ‘most beautiful racquet’?

Visually, the Pure Strike VS will be as striking as its stablemates. Like the Pure Drive and Pure Aero VS models, it is a shiny chrome, but with the distinctive red of the standard Pure Strike colour scheme appearing as two stripes on the chrome. One brand ambassador has described it as “the most beautiful racquet Babolat has developed for many years.”

Another visual feature is the string pattern. Whereas the standard Pure Strike has either 16 main and 19 cross strings, or 18 mains and 20 crosses, the Pure Strike VS has a 16/20 pattern which Babolat’s research and testing showed was the best combination to create the optimum balance between control and power.  

So what kind of player will most benefit from the latest addition to Babolat’s range of quality racquets? Olivier Carlier sees a very clear spec: “If you play frequently, compete in tournaments, want a high level of performance and precision from your racquet, then you should certainly look at our VS range. And if you play with a large swing, hit generally flat, stay close to the baseline in order to take the ball on the rise, and often want to go to the net, the Pure Strike VS is the racquet that will allow you to hit freely with full confidence.”

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Omsk city, Russia

The capital city of Omsk oblast .

Omsk - Overview

Omsk is one of the largest cities in Russia, a major scientific, cultural, sports, transport, and industrial center. The administrative center of Omsk Oblast, it is the second most populous city in Siberia.

The population of Omsk is about 1,126,000 (2022), the area - 567 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 3812, the postal codes - 644000-644246.

Omsk city flag

Omsk city coat of arms.

Omsk city map, Russia

Omsk city latest news and posts from our blog:.

10 November, 2019 / Tomsk - the view from above .

3 July, 2016 / Omsk - the view from above .

20 October, 2012 / The bear at the gate .

2 August, 2012 / Omsk city from bird's eye view .

14 December, 2011 / Time-lapse video of Omsk city .

More posts..

History of Omsk

Foundation of omsk.

The need to build a Russian fortress on the banks of the Irtysh at the mouth of the Om River arose in connection with the steppe nomadic peoples. In particular, with the Oirats, whose tribes in the first decades of the 17th century began to appear within the borders of the Russian state being under the onslaught of their external enemies and as a result of internal civil strife. However, various foreign and domestic political problems of Russia hindered the development and defense of the South Siberian borders.

The situation changed only at the beginning of the 18th century, when the Russian conquest of Siberia intensified. Since Peter I paid great attention to geographical research in the south, the expeditions of that time combined socio-political tasks and tasks of scientific research.

One of such expeditions was led by the Russian military and statesman, associate of Peter I, Major General Ivan Bukhgolts. The goals of the expedition, numbering about 3,000 people, were to search for ore and gold deposits, the discovery of trade routes to India and China, as well as the construction of towns on the Irtysh River.

The expedition left Tobolsk to the south along the Irtysh in July 1715. In the spring of 1716, after a conflict with the Dzungars in the north of today’s Kazakhstan, the remnants of the expedition (about 700 people) withdrew to the mouth of the Om River, where they laid a new fortress named Omsky ostrog (fortified settlement).

According to the census of 1725, 992 people lived in the fortress, in 1742 - 1,092 people. From the first years of its existence, it served as a place of exile for prisoners. After serving hard labor and imprisonment, a lot of them stayed in Omsk for permanent residence.

More Historical Facts…

Omsk in the second half of the 18th century

The ethnic composition of the region’s population was formed in the process of settling the territory. Russians, Germans, Ukrainians, Poles, Belarusians, and representatives of many other nationalities were sent here to serve or were exiled. The indigenous people of the region were the Siberian Tatars and Kazakhs, who switched to a sedentary lifestyle.

The foundation of the second Omsk fortress took place in 1762. The first fortress, although it occupied a favorable geographical position, was wooden and, by the middle of the 18th century, it was dilapidated. In 1765, new stone fortifications were constructed. The first stone structure of the fortress was the Resurrection Military Cathedral, built in 1773 and preserved to this day.

In the end of the 18th century, the Omsk fortress was one of the largest structures in the eastern part of the Russian Empire, its area was more than 30 hectares. In 1782, it was transformed into a town named Omsk within the Tobolsk Governorate. In 1785, the coat of arms of Omsk was approved.

Omsk became the center of management of the Siberian transport routes and the Siberian Cossack army, which not only guarded the South Siberian borders, but also made a huge contribution to the economic development of the steppe expanses of Kazakhstan, the annexation of Central Asia to the Russian Empire.

Omsk in the 19th century

The fire of 1819 destroyed almost half of the town including the archive and the magistrate of Omsk with all the first archival documents. Therefore information about the life of Omsk in the 18th - early 19th centuries is scarce and fragmentary. In 1825, the population of the town was about 9,000 people.

In 1829, the town’s development plan was approved. It was made by the famous Petersburg architect V.I. Geste, who took the city of St. Petersburg as a model with its wide avenues, huge neighborhoods, fountains, cast-iron bridges, and an abundance of green spaces.

The composition of the population of Omsk was not quite usual. In the middle of the 19th century, since Omsk was the center of the military and civil administration, the proportion of the military in the local population reached about 60%.

Fyodor Dostoevsky (one of the greatest psychological novelists in world literature), who served a term of hard labor in the Omsk prison in 1850-1854, in a letter to his brother gave Omsk the following description: “Omsk is a disgusting town. There are almost no trees. In summer, heat and wind with sand, in winter, a snowstorm. I have not seen nature. The town is dirty, military and highly depraved.”

By the second half of the 19th century, Omsk in its development outstripped many steppe towns and became not only an administrative, but also a commercial and industrial center. In 1861, in Omsk, there were 2,122 houses (31 stone houses), 34 factories and plants, about 20 thousand residents.

In 1892, the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway began, which gave a new impetus to the economy of Siberian towns and positively influenced Omsk. The development of the Trans-Siberian Railway caused an increase in the urban population due to migrants who came to work from the central part of the Russian Empire. According to the 1897 census, 37.3 thousand people lived in Omsk. The town had 14 streets with a total length of more than 140 km and 13 squares.

Omsk in the first half of the 20th century

The beginning of the 20th century was a time of great changes for Siberia. Mass peasant colonization caused a sharp leap in the development of the region’s economy, primarily its agrarian sector, and the Trans-Siberian Railway ensured the inclusion of the local economy in the system of the All-Russian and European markets.

Due to its favorable economic and geographical position - at the intersection of the railway and the Irtysh River, in the middle of a vast agricultural territory - Omsk quickly turned into a large transport, trade and industrial center of Western Siberia and Governor-Generalship of the Steppes (Eastern and Central Kazakhstan).

Wholesale trade in bread, butter and other agricultural products was concentrated here. Omsk also became one of the industrial, social and cultural centers of Western Siberia. By 1903, the city’s population grew to 60 thousand people. In 1914, it had about 134.8 thousand residents. Omsk became the most populous city in Siberia.

During the Civil War on the territory of the former Russian Empire, from June 1918 to November 1919, Omsk was the residence of the Supreme Ruler of Russia, Admiral Alexander Kolchak, who declared this city the capital of white Russia opposing red Russia of the Bolsheviks. Soviet power was finally established in the city in 1920.

In the summer of 1921, an event took place that had a decisive impact on the cultural and economic life of Omsk. The functions of the administrative center of Siberia were transferred from it to the city of Novonikolaevsk (future Novosibirsk). In 1934, Omsk became the administrative center of a separate Omsk Oblast.

Over the years of industrialization, Omsk became one of the largest centers for agricultural engineering in the USSR. The metal-working industry also developed at a rapid pace. In 1939, Omsk numbered more than 288 thousand people.

During the Second World War, about 200 industrial enterprises were evacuated to Omsk, as well as 60 hospitals, dozens of educational institutions, theaters, museums, and hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Omsk after the Second World War

In the post-war years, new enterprises were put into operation in Omsk, all existing factories and plants were reconstructed and expanded. The industrial potential of the city was also strengthened by the Omsk oil refinery, the largest in the country. In connection with the rapid development of industry, especially petrochemical enterprises, the ecological situation deteriorated. The concentration of harmful substances in the air sharply increased. In 1964, the population of Omsk was about 702 thousand people.

In the 1970s-1980s, Omsk developed rapidly. In 1975, the city’s population exceeded 1 million. The most pressing problem was the ecological situation. Omsk was in the top 10 cities of Russia in terms of environmental pollution. Another problem that required an immediate solution was the development of passenger transport. The capacity of Omsk streets was exhausted, and therefore the construction of the subway became an urgent issue.

The economic crisis that gripped Russia after the collapse of the USSR had a negative impact on the economy of Omsk and the region as a whole. There was a significant decline in industrial production, construction volumes fell, and unemployment rose. A lot of organizations of the defense complex, research institutes, and design bureaus found themselves in a deep crisis without the state defense order.

The share of mechanical engineering and metalworking, light industry, and, to a lesser extent, chemical and petrochemical, forestry and woodworking industries decreased. At the same time, the share of the fuel industry, energy, and construction materials industry began to grow.

In the 2000s, Omsk again became one of the most important economic centers of Western Siberia with a developing mechanical engineering, petrochemical industry, various branches of the woodworking, construction industry, and a highly productive agro-industrial complex. In recent years, Omsk has also acquired the features of one of the largest Siberian centers of entrepreneurship and banking/financial activities.

Architecture of Omsk

On the street in Omsk

Author: Tim Brown

Yak-9 fighter aircraft in front of the aerospace engineering company Polyot in Omsk

The Omsk Cadet Corps

Author: Stanislav Katsko

Omsk - Features

Omsk is located in the south of the West Siberian Plain at the confluence of the Om River into the Irtysh, about 150 km from the border of Russia with Kazakhstan. About 60% of all residents of Omsk Oblast live in Omsk. The City Day of Omsk is celebrated on the first Saturday of August.

The city’s coat of arms is very similar to the first coat of arms of Omsk approved by Empress Catherine II in 1785. It depicts a part of the brick fortifications, which symbolizes the reason for its foundation as a fortress and the center of the Siberian defensive line.

Omsk belongs to the temperate climatic zone with a continental climate of the forest-steppe of the West Siberian belt. It is distinguished by an abundance of sunlight. The average air temperature in January is minus 16.3 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19.6 degrees Celsius. The highest wind speeds are observed in winter and spring, which is the reason for frequent snow and dust storms.

In the past, the ecological situation in Omsk was very unfavorable. Since 2011, the city’s environmental development rating has increased significantly. This was the result of large-scale modernization of many large industries (including the Omsk oil refinery). Today, road transport is the main source of air pollution in the city.

The level of pollution of the Omsk rivers - Irtysh and Om - remains consistently high. Swimming in them is prohibited. While industrial effluents are becoming more environmentally friendly, sewers are releasing waste products including diesel fuel and petroleum products into the rivers. Dust raised by dust storms is also a serious problem for the city as it contains a lot of harmful substances including lead.

The city’s industry is based on oil refining, petrochemistry, chemical industry, mechanical engineering (production of aerospace equipment, armored vehicles, agricultural equipment). Omsk is a major transport junction - the Trans-Siberian Railway runs through the city from west to east, and the navigable Irtysh River crosses it from south to north. Omsk Airport offers regular flights to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Surgut, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Salekhard, Kazan, Krasnodar, Sochi.

The unfinished subway of Omsk has become famous in Russia thanks to its only one fully built station. Its construction began back in 1992. However, due to funding problems, the completion of the first line was postponed numerous times. In 2019, it was finally decided to permanently stop construction. For local residents, because of the long wait for the completion of the construction, the Omsk metro symbolizes unrealizable hopes, they talk about it with irony.

In Omsk, there are practically no buildings higher than 50 meters, according to this parameter it is one of the lowest cities with a population of over one million. 130 architectural monuments are concentrated in the central part of the city, almost half of the total number.

Main Attractions of Omsk

Dormition Cathedral - the largest church in Omsk located in the very center of the city. The original church was built in 1891-1898. In 1935, it was completely destroyed. In 2005-2007, an exact copy of the building was restored in its original place. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Omsk. At night, the building is illuminated and looks especially majestic. Tarskaya Street, 7.

Irtysh Embankment - the main walking street of Omsk with a picturesque view of the Irtysh River. Built in the middle of the 20th century, the embankment was reconstructed in the 2000s. You can walk along the alley on foot, ride rollerblades or a bike.

Merchant Batyushkin’s Mansion (1902). This architectural monument is located on the Irtysh Embankment. It is also known as the Kolchak’s House because Alexander Kolchak, the Supreme Ruler of Russia, lived in this building in 1919. One part of the building is occupied by the registry office of the Central District of Omsk. The Center for the Study of the History of the Russian Civil War is also open here. Irtyshskaya Naberezhnaya Street, 9.

Omsk State Museum of History and Local Lore - one of the oldest museums in Siberia and Russia founded in 1878. In total, this museum has over 200 thousand various objects of cultural, historical and artistic value. The museum is especially proud of such exhibits as the cast-iron figures of the Chinese lions Shi-Tzu, presented to the museum from China in 1895, as well as the skeleton of a woolly mammoth almost 3 meters high. Lenina Street, 23?.

Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts named after M.A. Vrubel - one of the largest museums of fine arts in Siberia. It has collections of foreign and Russian art from antiquity to the present day. In total, there are over 22 thousand works by painters, graphic artists and sculptors, as well as more than 1.5 thousand rare folios.

Walking through the exhibition halls, you can admire the canvases of Shishkin, Aivazovsky, Surikov, Repin, Serov, Vereshchagin. The exhibition of rare icons dating from the 17th-20th centuries is of constant interest among visitors, as well as a unique collection of jewelry made of precious metals found in the Scythian and Sarmatian burial mounds. Two buildings of the museum are located at Lenina Street 3 and 23.

In November 2019, a new exhibition was opened in a historical building at Muzeynaya Street, 4 - the exhibition of art of the 20th-21st centuries. The Hermitage-Siberia Center is located here too - the first representation of The State Hermitage Museum (the second-largest art museum in the world) beyond the Urals.

Chokana Valikhanova Street - a pedestrian street located in the historic part of Omsk. The street is decorated with abstract architectural forms, flower beds, wrought-iron lanterns. The walking area ends with an observation deck with a picturesque view of the Irtysh River.

Museum of Kondraty Belov . The museum of this landscape painter born in Omsk can be found in a picturesque wooden house, which is considered one of the most interesting architectural monuments of Omsk. The exposition tells about the life and work of Kondraty Belov, as well as about the history of the building itself.

In total, this museum has about 700 exhibits. The permanent exhibition also includes works by Kondraty Belov’s son Stanislav and paintings by some other local artists. In addition, temporary exhibitions of contemporary Omsk artists are regularly held here. Chokana Valikhanova Street, 10.

Plumber Stepanych Monument - an unusual sculpture located in the center of Omsk, which you can literally stumble upon while walking along Lenin Street between the houses #12 and #14. Leaning out of the hatch, the plumber is depicted as realistic and life-size as possible. It is among the most photographed monuments in Omsk. There is a similar sculpture in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Lyuba Monument . This sculpture, located on the opposite side of Lenin Street from the monument to the plumber Stepanych, is especially loved by Omsk residents and tourists, who love to be photographed against its background.

This beauty in a lace dress with a neckline and a crinoline sitting on an openwork bench and reading a novel had a real prototype - Lyubov (diminutively Lyuba or Lyubasha) Gasford, the wife of the Governor-General of Siberia, who lived in Omsk in the 19th century and died at a young age due to illness. One of the streets of Omsk and the park are named in her memory. She is a local symbol of femininity and beauty.

Omsk Fire Tower - a picturesque architectural monument built at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the tower there are museum expositions dedicated to the local fire brigade and the history of tower construction. Internatsionalnaya Street, 41?.

Park of Culture and Rest named after the 30th anniversary of the Komsomol - a popular place for walks, recreation and entertainment of Omsk residents and tourists, which has retained “the spirit of the Soviet era” in its name. Today, on an area of 73 hectares, several zones have been organized, various types of recreation are presented. There are walking alleys, ponds, water activities, for example, riding on hydro-scooters.

The ice town is open in winter, the Return of the Dinosaurs exhibition - in summer. The “House Upside Down” exposition is also popular with tourists. This park is a place for mass festivities, city celebrations and events. Maslenitsa, Christmas, City Day, and other holidays are celebrated here. Maslennikova Street, 136.

Natural Park “Bird Harbor” - a specially protected area located on the path of bird migration in the central part of Omsk. During autumn flights, up to 3 thousand birds stop here for rest. It is a great place to enjoy nature, walk along the eco-trail, and observe the life of birds. The park is situated in the floodplain on the left bank of the Irtysh River next to the Victory Park on Yeniseyskaya Street.

Omsk city of Russia photos

Pictures of omsk.

Bogdan Khmelnitsky Monument in Omsk

Lenin Monument in Omsk

Churches of Omsk

Chapel of St. George in Omsk

Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Omsk

Cathedral of the Nativity in Omsk

Sights of Omsk

Fountain with frogs in the park next to the main building of the Agricultural Academy in Omsk

Author: Alexey Pavlov

Church of St. Nicholas in Omsk

Exaltation of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Omsk

Author: Stanislav Vosinsky

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Omsk: Garrison city on the Irtysh

Omsk. Irtysh River, morning panorama with rainbow. Foreground: K. A. Batiushkin mansion (residence of Admiral Alexander Kolchak in 1919). September 19, 1999

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russian chemist and photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky developed a complex process for vivid color photography. His vision of photography as a form of education and enlightenment was demonstrated with special clarity through his images of architectural monuments in the historic sites throughout the Russian heartland.

Yalutorovsk. Construction of Tobol River railroad bridge leading to Omsk. Summer 1912

In June 1912, Prokudin-Gorsky ventured into western Siberia as part of a commission to document the Kama-Tobolsk Waterway, a link between the European and Asian sides of the Ural Mountains. The town of Tyumen served as his launching point for productive journeys that included Shchadrinsk (established in 1662 on the Iset River) and Yalutorovsk (on the Tobol River).

Omsk origins

Omsk. Cossack Cathedral of St. Nicholas, southwest view. September 15, 1999

Founded in 1659 at a former Tatar settlement, Yalutorovsk was the construction site of a massive railroad bridge across the Tobol River, part of the new Tyumen-Omsk rail link that opened on the Trans-Siberian Railway in October 1913 (Before then, the railroad to Siberia went through the southern Urals town of Chelyabinsk ).

Omsk. Cathedral of the Elevation of the Cross, south view. September 15, 1999

Although Prokudin-Gorsky did not travel to Omsk, his photographs of Yalutorovsk show the making of a crucial rail link to the “capital” of western Siberia. I, however, reached Omsk in the late Summer of 1999.

Cathedral of the Elevation of the Cross. Interior view southeast toward icon screen. September 15, 1999

Omsk (current population around 1,110,000) was founded in 1716 as a fort on the middle reaches of the Irtysh River. During the 18th century, its primary purpose was to protect Russia’s southern border and establish authority over the aboriginal steppe tribes.             

Rising regional importance 

Omsk Fortress. Tobolsk Gate (originally built in 1792), the only one of the historic Omsk fortress gates to have survived. September 15, 1999

Although administratively subordinate to Tobolsk throughout the 18th century, Omsk gained increasing power in the 19th century. From 1808 until 1917, Omsk served as the headquarters of all Siberian Cossack troops and, in 1822, a separate Omsk Province was formed.  

Headquarters of Omsk Fortress (Taube Street), originally built in 1810s, modified in 1997. Red brick building on right (1915-17): Staff of Omsk Military District. September 15, 1999

Shortly thereafter, construction began on the Cossack Cathedral of St. Nicholas (1833-1840), based on a plan by the noted Russian architect Vasily Stasov. The St. Nicholas Cathedral was severely disfigured during the Soviet period, but has now been restored. It is, once again, the repository of one of the area’s great relics, the banner of Yermak , the late 16th-century Cossack leader who first established Muscovy’s presence in Siberia.

Siberian Cadet Corps building (Lenin Street 26), built in 1820s. In the prerevolutionary period, the street was known as Chernavin Prospekt, after a popular progressive mayor. September 15, 1999

In 1865-1870, Omsk witnessed the construction of another cathedral, dedicated to the Elevation of the Cross. It, too, survived the devastation of the 1930s and was reopened for worship in November 1943. In addition to its Orthodox churches, Omsk has mosques (the administration of the Iman of Siberia is located in Omsk), a remarkable wooden synagogue and a large Baptist church built in 1907.            

Omsk’s dark history

Residence of Governor-General of Western Siberia (Lenin Street 23), built in 1859-62 by Friedrich Wagner for Governor Gustav Gasford. Now one of the three buildings of Omsk Museum of Art. September 18, 1999

Its pervasive military presence linked Omsk with the Siberian exile system. The most famous of the fortress’ exiles was the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, condemned in 1849 for associating with intellectual “radicals” in St. Petersburg. In January 1850, Dostoevsky arrived under guard at the Omsk fort and, for the most part of three years (1850-54), he lived the harrowing existence of a convict sentenced to hard labor, which included unloading barges on the Irtysh River. 

City Trade Building (Lenin Street 3), built in 1914 by Andrei Kriachkov. Now the main building of Omsk Museum of Art. September 16, 1999

When his health broke down under the physical and psychological strain, Dostoevsky was hospitalized under the care of a sympathetic medic. It was during his stay in the infirmary that Dostoevsky began the writing of one of his seminal works, ‘Notes from the House of the Dead’. A few buildings still survive from that time, including one of the fortress gates.          

Railroad revolution

"Salamander" Insurance Company building, K. Liebknecht (formerly Gasford) Street 3, built by Nikolai Verevkin in 1913-14. Now one of the three buildings of Omsk Museum of Art. September 15, 1999

During the latter part of the 19th century, Omsk began a period of heady expansion, as the town became a transportation center for Russia’s vast interior. Regular steamboat service along the Irtysh River to Tobolsk began in 1862.  

Omsk Drama Theater, Lenin Street 8A. September 15, 1999

But, it was the railroads that made Omsk a boomtown. In 1894-1895, Omsk was linked by the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Chelyabinsk in the west and Novonikolaevsk (later Novosibirsk) in the east. In 1913, another rail line was completed from Omsk to Tyumen in what would become the new Siberian mainline. By the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Omsk had tripled to over 60,000 inhabitants.

"Rossiya" Hotel (Lenin Street 18). Built by Iliodor Khvorinov in 1905-07; expanded in 1915. September 15, 1999

This development as a transportation nexus led to a surge in the city’s commercial district.  What had formerly been a provincial garrison town consisting primarily of wooden structures punctuated with large churches, now became a preeminent site for banks, educational institutions, industry and retail trade in Siberia.  

International appeal

Brothers Ovsiannikov-Ganshin & Sons building (Lenin Street 12), originally completed in 1906 for a major textile company. Now the Omsk Medical Academy. September 15, 1999

In addition to branch offices for major banks and firms in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Omsk received investment from companies in the United States, Germany and Great Britain. The central part of Omsk had buildings whose design rivaled Moscow’s business district. Many of the new commercial projects were built in styles derived from the Florentine Renaissance.

Russo-Asiatic Bank (Gagarin Street 34), built in 1915-17 by Fyodor Chernomorchenko. Now Omsk City Hall. September 16, 1999

Cultural institutions also took root. In 1901-05, a large theater was built in a florid Beaux Arts style designed by the architect Iliodor Khvorinov. The theater still stands as an object of civic pride. Wooden houses with decorative detailing also grace the city, but their number has steadily decreased under the pressures of urban development and inadequate maintenance.

Soviet era…

"Treugolnik" (Russian-American Rubber Co.) Building, K. Liebknecht (formerly Gasford) Street 4, built by Nikolai Verevkin in 1914-15. September 15, 1999

During World War I, the then strategically located Omsk grew still further and, by 1917, the city’s population had reached 100,000. Following the October Revolution, Bolshevik power was proclaimed almost immediately in Omsk, but, with little local support, the Bolsheviks were driven from the city in June 1918. 

Omsk Railroad Administration (Karl Marx Street 35), de factor headquarters of western Trans-Siberian Railway. Built in 1914-16 by Fyodor Lidval. September 18, 1999

Opposition to the Bolsheviks was fatally divided and, in November 1918, a military coup installed a dictatorship headed by Admiral Alexander Kolchak (1874-1920), a renowned polar explorer and gifted naval commander, but incapable of dealing with the chaos of the Russian civil war (The mansion where Kolchak had his headquarters is a prominent landmark).

Omsk Synagogue (Marshal Zhukov Street 53). Known as "Soldiers Synagogue," built in 1855. September 18, 1999

For almost a year, Omsk could be considered the “capital” of the White forces in the Russian Civil War. In November 1919, Kolchak’s forces were driven from Omsk. In 1921, Omsk became one of the centers of the American Relief Agency during the terrible famine that afflicted vast territories in the Volga basin.

Hodja Akhmed Mosque (Marshal Zhukov Street 97). September 18, 1999

With its economy shattered and the countryside still recovering, Omsk struggled through the 1920s and achieved renewed industrial growth in the 1930s. Like many Siberian cities, it expanded rapidly during World War II as an evacuation haven and as a center of transportation and production. 

…and beyond

Philip Shtumfp house (Valikhanov Street 10), built at turn of 20th century for a prominet agronomist, entrepreneur, civic activist. September 19, 1999

Development of the city’s military-industrial complex continued after the war and, by the end of the 1970s, the population exceeded 1,000,000 – a benchmark of major significance. Omsk also became a center of the oil and gas industry.

Omsk River Station & Hotel "Mayak". Excellent example of "neo-Constructivist architecture, built on site of original Omsk fortress in 1958-64 by Leningrad architect Timofei Sadovsky. September 15, 1999

The city’s major cultural institutions include a leading state university, established in 1974 and, since 2004, named in honor of Fyodor Dostoevsky. Omsk also has one of the largest regional libraries in Siberia and a major art museum--named in honor of painter Mikhail Vrubel, an Omsk native – that now occupies three landmark buildings in the center of the city.            

Omsk Regional Library. Built in 1986-95 by Omsk architects Galina Naritsina & Yury Zakharov. September 18, 1999

In the early 20th century, Russian photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky developed a complex process for color photography. Between 1903 and 1916, he traveled through the Russian Empire and took over 2,000 photographs with the process, which involved three exposures on a glass plate. In August 1918, he left Russia and ultimately resettled in France, where he was reunited with a large part of his collection of glass negatives, as well as 13 albums of contact prints. After his death in Paris in 1944, his heirs sold the collection to the Library of Congress. In the early 21st century, the Library digitized the Prokudin-Gorsky Collection and made it freely available to the global public. A few Russian websites now have versions of the collection. In 1986, the architectural historian and photographer William Brumfield organized the first exhibit of Prokudin-Gorsky photographs at the Library of Congress. Over a period of work in Russia beginning in 1970, Brumfield has photographed most of the sites visited by Prokudin-Gorsky. This series of articles juxtaposes Prokudin-Gorsky’s views of architectural monuments with photographs taken by Brumfield decades later.

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261st Reserve Motorised Rifle Division

261-я запасная мотострелковая дивизия

Military Unit: 00000

Activated 1980 in Omsk, Omsk Oblast, as a mobilisation division.

Organisation 1987:

• 000 Motorised Rifle Regiment (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 Tank Regiment (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 Artillery Regiment (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 0000 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Missile Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 0000 independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Communications Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 000 independent Medical Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)
• 0000 independent Material Supply Battalion (Omsk, Omsk Oblast)

Disbanded 1987.

Storage Areas:

• Omsk, Omsk Oblast, 1980 - 1987

Subordination:

• Volga Military District , 1980 - 1987

Divisional coordinates:

• Omsk storage: 54 51 29N, 73 23 58E - co-located with the 71st Reserve Tank Division

The division was maintained as a Mobilisation Division (US terms: Mobilisation Division) - manning was 0%. Equipment set present, older types, substantial equipment shortfalls.