Babolat’s history dates to 1875, when Pierre Babolat and his family began working with natural gut. At that time, the material was commonly used for sausage casings, surgical ligatures and musical instrument strings. The emergence of lawn tennis created a new application for natural gut, leading Babolat to develop strings specifically for tennis racquets, followed shortly by strings for badminton. This specialisation became the foundation of the company and its defining area of expertise.4

Unlike many contemporary sporting-goods manufacturers that originated with racquets or apparel, Babolat began by producing the component essential to making a racquet playable: the string. The company has maintained this connection to string manufacturing for over 150 years.

A pivotal moment in the company’s history occurred in 1925 with the development of the VS natural-gut string. This product became associated with elite players of the early professional era, including the French “Musketeers”: René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon. Babolat continued to refine natural gut as tennis evolved, and the VS natural-gut string remains a reference product manufactured in France.5

Despite the historical term “catgut”, Babolat’s natural gut has never been made from cat intestines. Early racquet strings were produced from sheep gut, while modern natural-gut strings utilise cow gut.6 Today, natural gut is considered a premium material valued for its feel, elasticity, comfort, power and tension maintenance, and is frequently used in hybrid setups alongside polyester strings.7

For much of its early existence, Babolat was primarily recognised for strings and racquet preparation rather than complete racquets. Over time, the company broadened its technological scope:

• 1875: Natural-gut racquet strings
• 1925: Babolat VS natural gut
• 1955: Synthetic strings
• 1980: First electric stringing machine
• 1994: First Babolat tennis racquets
• 2001: Tennis balls and initial padel expansion
• 2003: Aero racquet family; high-performance tennis shoes developed with Michelin
• 2010: RPM Blast string
• 2012: Connected racquet
• 2014: Pure Strike
• 2019: First Babolat padel shoe
• 2020: Entry into pickleball8

This progression transformed Babolat from a string specialist into a comprehensive racquet-sports equipment manufacturer.

Pure Drive

The introduction of the Pure Drive in 1994 marked a significant strategic shift for Babolat. Positioned around power and versatility, the Pure Drive became a benchmark in the modern power-racquet category and established Babolat as a major racquet manufacturer rather than solely a string company.9 It remains one of the brand’s core product families.

Pure Aero

Launched in 2003, the Pure Aero family is strongly associated with spin and aggressive baseline play. Its identity became closely linked with Rafael Nadal’s heavy-topspin playing style.10

Pure Strike

Introduced in 2014, the Pure Strike line is oriented towards control, precision and aggressive shot-making.11

While individual models vary, these categories illustrate Babolat’s philosophy in tennis racquet design.

Strings remain a central pillar of Babolat’s expertise. The current tennis string portfolio encompasses several categories:

• Natural gut: The historic Touch VS serves as the flagship natural-gut string.
• Polyester / monofilament: The RPM family is renowned for spin-oriented polyester strings.
• Multifilament: Designed to offer enhanced comfort and elasticity.
• Hybrid setups: Combinations of different string types, such as natural gut and polyester, are common among advanced players.12

RPM Blast, launched in 2010, is one of Babolat’s most prominent modern strings, gaining recognition through professional players utilising heavy-spin configurations.13

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal’s relationship with Babolat is among the most significant in the brand’s history. Associated with Pure Aero racquets and RPM strings, Nadal’s success on clay, particularly at Roland-Garros, helped establish Babolat’s spin-oriented technology globally. He achieved his historic 10th Roland-Garros title in 2017 and his 14th in 2022.14 Nadal joined Babolat at age nine, and his heavy-topspin, high-racquet-head-speed style became synonymous with the qualities of the Aero family.15

Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz represents the next generation of Babolat athletes. Having partnered with the brand from a young age, he extended his contract through 2030.16 At the 2025 French Open, Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title using a Pure Aero 98 with RPM Team strings, marking Babolat’s 41st Grand Slam victory with one of its racquets.17 His versatile style continues the brand’s association with the Aero family while appealing to a younger demographic.

Other notable players

Throughout its history, Babolat equipment has been used by numerous professional players, including Suzanne Lenglen, René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet, Jacques Brugnon, Björn Borg, Yannick Noah, Kim Clijsters, Carlos Moya, Li Na, Juan Lebrón and Niels Vink. The company’s first Grand Slam victory with a Babolat racquet came in 1998 when Carlos Moyá won the French Open.18

Although tennis is its most visible sport, Babolat has a longstanding presence in badminton, dating back to its earliest production of natural-gut strings for the sport. In 1995, the company began developing dedicated badminton racquet ranges.19 Today, Babolat offers a comprehensive badminton portfolio including racquets, strings, shuttlecocks, shoes, apparel, bags and accessories. Badminton remains one of the company’s three principal racquet sports alongside tennis and padel.

Babolat entered the padel market in 2001 with its first padel racquet and has since expanded to offer a full range of padel equipment, including shoes, bags and accessories.20 The brand’s padel identity is closely associated with Juan Lebrón, who became the first Spanish world No. 1 in padel in 2017.21 In 2023, Babolat launched a dedicated women’s padel collection, further broadening its offering in this rapidly growing sport.

In 2020, Babolat expanded into pickleball, extending its reach beyond traditional tennis, badminton and padel markets.22 This move provides access to a fast-growing racquet and paddle sports audience, particularly in North America. The company’s modern sporting portfolio now spans tennis, badminton, padel and pickleball, with tennis remaining its strongest historical identity.

Babolat entered the footwear market in the early 2000s. In 2003, it launched a line of high-performance tennis shoes developed in collaboration with Michelin, combining Babolat’s understanding of court movement with Michelin’s expertise in rubber compounds and traction.23 Key models include the Propulse and Jet families. This expansion reflects a strategy to provide equipment covering the complete player experience rather than focusing solely on racquets.

Babolat maintains a significant relationship with Wimbledon, having become an official partner and supplier of racquets, strings, footwear, bags and accessories in 2013. In 2022, it was appointed Wimbledon’s official racquet service provider.24 During the tournament, Babolat’s stringing team services nearly 6,000 racquets across three sites.25 This partnership highlights the company’s competency in professional racquet preparation and parallels its own founding in 1875 with Wimbledon’s inaugural championships in 1877.

Babolat’s approach to innovation rests on three pillars:

1. Strings and materials: Continuous experimentation with natural gut, synthetic materials, polyester formulations and string construction.
2. Racquet engineering: Development of technologies influencing spin, power, stability, aerodynamics and control.
3. Player feedback: Collaboration with professional players, coaches, stringers, clubs and tournaments to understand equipment performance in real-world conditions.26

The company articulates its philosophy through values such as audacity, excellence, perseverance and curiosity.27

Babolat has remained a family business for five generations, distinguishing it from many sporting-goods brands absorbed into multinational groups. It positions itself as one of the few independent companies in the racquet-sports sector.28 The fifth generation is currently represented by CEO Éric Babolat.29 The legal entity is Babolat VS S.A.S., headquartered in Lyon.30 This continuity is integral to the brand’s identity, framing its history as an ongoing family relationship with racquet sports.

Babolat’s identity is defined by several key attributes:

• Heritage: Over 150 years of history beginning with natural-gut strings.
• Performance: Strong association with professional tennis and elite competition.
• Innovation: Continuous development across strings, racquets, footwear and equipment.
• Player-centric design: Emphasis on observing players and adapting equipment to diverse playing styles.
• Specialisation: Deep focus on racquet and paddle sports rather than general athletics.
• French identity: Origins in Lyon with continued French manufacturing and technical expertise, particularly in natural gut.

In August 2026, Babolat received France’s Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) label, recognising its rare expertise in natural-gut strings and its industrial and artisanal heritage.31

In the tennis equipment market, Babolat is often compared with brands such as Wilson, Head, Yonex, Tecnifibre, Prince and Dunlop. Its distinct position derives from a combination of string heritage, racquet technology and elite player relationships.

These are broad brand associations rather than strict technical classifications.

As of 2026, Babolat operates as a 150-year-old company continuing to expand its portfolio. Its business encompasses:

• Tennis: Racquets, strings, shoes, balls, bags, apparel, grips, accessories and stringing equipment.
• Badminton: Racquets, strings, shuttlecocks, shoes, bags, apparel and accessories.
• Padel: Racquets, shoes, bags and accessories.
• Pickleball: Paddles and related equipment.

Having celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2025, Babolat continues to operate as an independent, family-run racquet-sports company.32

Babolat’s history mirrors the evolution of racquet-sport equipment itself. Entering the sport in 1875 through the fundamental component of the racquet string, the company has tracked the sport’s development from natural gut to synthetic strings, stringing machines, racquet frames, aerodynamic designs, spin technology, connected equipment, footwear, padel and pickleball. This trajectory positions Babolat not merely as a tennis-racquet brand, but as a company that has helped shape the technical evolution of racquet sports.

1. Our expertise | Babolat official website
2. Babolat | Equipement de tennis, badminton et padel (raquettes, chaussures, sacs)
3. Babolat: 150 years of youth, passion, and innovation | Babolat Official Website
4. Credits
5. ABOUT US | Babolat Tennis India
6. Babolat natural gut string, a living legend made in France | Babolat Official Website
7. Natural Gut Tennis Strings | Babolat Official Website
8. 150 years of history | Babolat Official Website
9. History
10. Tennis Strings | Babolat Official Website
11. Tennis Strings | Babolat Official Website
12. Carlos Alcaraz defends his title in Paris and celebrates Babolat’s 150th anniversary | Babolat Official Website
13. Babolat x Wimbledon 2025 | Babolat Official Website
14. Our values | Babolat official website
15. Terms & Conditions
16. Living Heritage Company | Babolat Official Website
17. About Babolat – babolatksa.com
18. Conditions générales
19. バボラ：ラケットスポーツファンを魅了し続けてきた | バボラ公式サイト
20. Babolat, 150 ans de jeunesse, de passion et d’innovations | Babolat Site Officiel
21. Babolat: 150 anos de juventude, paixão e inovação | Babolat Site Official
22. Babolat, 150 años de juventud, pasión e innovación | Sitio Web Oficial de Babolat
23. 150 years of history – Babolat
24. Babolat, by Rafa’s side since 1995 a unique story that lives on | Babolat Official Website
25. Club Med & Babolat | Babolat Official Website
26. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and BABOLAT, the world leading tennis brand, announce partnership extension for 7 years until 2030 | Babolat Official Website
27. Home – Babolat
28. Home – Babolat
29. Babolat, partner of the first automated sports shoe factory in France | Babolat Official Website
30. Babolat: 150 jaar jeugd, passie en innovatie | Babolat Officiële Site
31. Historia firmy | Babolat Polska
32. Our expertise | Babolat official website