So hey Babolat. When um, are we gonna see the Nadal signature APD Drive?

[Morrissey]

I find it rather odd that Roddick gets his own signature frame despite having only one slam and that was back in 2003. While Nadal with a MUCH more prestigious resume has none. So Babolat, don´t ya think that it´s time to give Rafa his props?


Also re-release the Duralast string and mass produce them again, please.

[ayuname]

they could also make apdc signature for wozniacki too!

[aceroberts13]

I find it rather odd that Roddick gets his own signature frame despite having only one slam and that was back in 2003. While Nadal with a MUCH more prestigious resume has none. So Babolat, don´t ya think that it´s time to give Rafa his props?


Also re-release the Duralast string and mass produce them again, please.

I agree, for Roddick to have a signature racquet and Nadal not have his own is a shame.

Weren't the PDR's geared more towards the American market? That would explain its presence. If it wasn't then I don't know what they were thinking.

[jamesbond4]

roddick has pushed more rackets for babolat then nadal.

[Booyah]

yeah don't forget roddick did hit his fastest serve with a babolat racquet which is what many people know it for.

[Morrissey]

yeah don't forget roddick did hit his fastest serve with a babolat racquet which is what many people know it for.

Oh yeah, because hitting a 155mph serve once in your life is more important than winning 6 Grand Slams by the age of 22 and beating Federer with a Babolat.

BTW, Americans buy more the regular Pure Drive, not the Pure Drive Roddick. And then I´d say it´s dead even in terms of of sale for the Aero Pro Drive and Pure Drive. At least to all the places that I go to play here in NY and NYC.

[Dan007]

yea these days I hardly see pure drives like I use to see when pure drive team was around. Most of the babolats are APDC

[_mats_]

roddick has his signature shoes too.. I know, it feels like too much really.

I would like to have a non-signature propulse available for sale too.

[leonidas1982]

It should be customary that if you win more than 3 slams you are rewarded with an autograph racket.

[quest01]

The APDC is technically Nadals signature racquet even though obviously there isn't a signature on the racquet. What I mean by this is when people think of the APDC the first thing that pops in anyone's mind is Nadal. I'm curious to know when the new Pure Drive will be released...

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

The reason Roddick has a signature racquet is because when he was moving up in the tennis ranks, he attracted a lot of attention. After all, he was an American, and a lot of people put some very unrealistic expectations on his shoulders.

Well anyway, people saw that this young upstart American was playing with a very appealing-looking racquet. He had a lot of energy, a lot of passion, and a giant serve. People thought it was endearing back then (whereas now, his reputation is different with many) and wanted to be like him and find out what that cool-looking racquet was he was playing with.

Tons of people called the Babolat offices wondering what "the Roddick racquet" was and where they could buy it. Babolat saw their chance, and jumped on it later when Roddick became a household name and was a consistent top 3 in the world.

Nadal does not have a signature racquet, because he never received as much hype, at least not in the American market, and by the time he got some Slams under his belt, Federer was the center of the tennis world, and everyone thought he was pretty much invincible everywhere but Roland Garros. Now that Nadal has asserted himself as the top player in the world and there is now lots of hype over Nadal's future of the next several years, it is actually a perfect time for Babolat to pull out a signature Nadal frame. Although I'm not quite sure it would make that much of a difference. Everyone already knows what racquet Nadal uses, and people aren't pulling down the Babolat lines asking for "the Nadal racquet". They are already making bank of the Aeropro series, and while a Nadal signature racquet may be a nice tribute to the top player, I'm not sure how much extra revenue it would actually produce, especially at a time when that kind of thing is pretty-much out.

I mean, back in the day, racquets were named after players all the time---Martina Nav, Kramer, hell even McEnroe finally got one. But recently, it's become the exception, rather than the rule.

It's the same reason Wilson doesn't call the K-Factor the Fed-Factor. Everyone already knows it's his racquet, and they're already selling. No need for a signature---wouldn't supply much of a boost anyway.

[DarthMaul]

I find it rather odd that Roddick gets his own signature frame despite having only one slam and that was back in 2003. While Nadal with a MUCH more prestigious resume has none. So Babolat, don´t ya think that it´s time to give Rafa his props?


Also re-release the Duralast string and mass produce them again, please.

If I remember correctly, Roddick developped that type of racquet in association with Babolat. They shaped the way Roddick wanted and it resulted in a successful racquet, that's why they named that racquet by his name.
On the other hand if it's about slam record, yeah, Nadal MAYBE deserves a signature racquet but also Fed deserves at least one Wilson signature racquet, don't you think?

[tennisguyak]

I started this thread a while back and got some good responses on it here it is:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=237008

[tennisguyak]

The reason Roddick has a signature racquet is because when he was moving up in the tennis ranks, he attracted a lot of attention. After all, he was an American, and a lot of people put some very unrealistic expectations on his shoulders.

Well anyway, people saw that this young upstart American was playing with a very appealing-looking racquet. He had a lot of energy, a lot of passion, and a giant serve. People thought it was endearing back then (whereas now, his reputation is different with many) and wanted to be like him and find out what that cool-looking racquet was he was playing with.

Tons of people called the Babolat offices wondering what "the Roddick racquet" was and where they could buy it. Babolat saw their chance, and jumped on it later when Roddick became a household name and was a consistent top 3 in the world.

Nadal does not have a signature racquet, because he never received as much hype, at least not in the American market, and by the time he got some Slams under his belt, Federer was the center of the tennis world, and everyone thought he was pretty much invincible everywhere but Roland Garros. Now that Nadal has asserted himself as the top player in the world and there is now lots of hype over Nadal's future of the next several years, it is actually a perfect time for Babolat to pull out a signature Nadal frame. Although I'm not quite sure it would make that much of a difference. Everyone already knows what racquet Nadal uses, and people aren't pulling down the Babolat lines asking for "the Nadal racquet". They are already making bank of the Aeropro series, and while a Nadal signature racquet may be a nice tribute to the top player, I'm not sure how much extra revenue it would actually produce, especially at a time when that kind of thing is pretty-much out.

I mean, back in the day, racquets were named after players all the time---Martina Nav, Kramer, hell even McEnroe finally got one. But recently, it's become the exception, rather than the rule.

It's the same reason Wilson doesn't call the K-Factor the Fed-Factor. Everyone already knows it's his racquet, and they're already selling. No need for a signature---wouldn't supply much of a boost anyway.

Fed's signature is on the K90.....

[master_stringer_mitchy]

babolat in the uk has sold more apdc than pdc since the new cortex pure drive came out they took the retail up to 120.00pounds from 100.00, this cost sales. i used to sell easy 3/4 pd a week in my shop

[mfischer]

Nadal sig apdc is not likely, it is more possible when the successor of it comes out

[cknobman]

NEWS FLASH!!!!!

There will be a signature APD raquet and it will be given away tomorrow night!!!

Go to babolat's website and register to chat with Rafa tomorrow night and have a chance to win a signed APD racquet from him.

[stician]

NEWS FLASH!!!!!

There will be a signature APD raquet and it will be given away tomorrow night!!!

Go to babolat's website and register to chat with Rafa tomorrow night and have a chance to win a signed APD racquet from him.

now why would you advertise this?

[Jonnyf]

It's also to do with the contracts. Roddick's was probably up for renewal, and Babolat saw a way of enticing him to stay.

[cknobman]

now why would you advertise this?

LOL true true just trying to give everyone a fair chance.

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

Fed's signature is on the K90.....

Yeah, but it's not called the "K90 Federer"

[NickC]

Ok, here's the deal.

Roddick was a newcomer. Babolat had ZERO presence in the American market. In fact, they had just started producing frames. So, when Roddick asked for a frame, Babolat saw it as a chance, as they were unknown in the states. When Roddick won 3 junior slams in one year, and then won the US Open 2 years later, Babolat gained popularity and a footing in the American market. Them releasing a signature frame for Andy was just their way of saying "thank you" because he was the main reason they're selling sticks in the US.

Nadal didn't, doesn't, and won't have that affect on American consumers. Thus, he doesn't get a signature frame.

[Don II]

Ok, here's the deal.

Roddick was a newcomer. Babolat had ZERO presence in the American market. In fact, they had just started producing frames. So, when Roddick asked for a frame, Babolat saw it as a chance, as they were unknown in the states. When Roddick won 3 junior slams in one year, and then won the US Open 2 years later, Babolat gained popularity and a footing in the American market. Them releasing a signature frame for Andy was just their way of saying "thank you" because he was the main reason they're selling sticks in the US.

Nadal didn't, doesn't, and won't have that affect on American consumers. Thus, he doesn't get a signature frame.

Well, I would think that another very good reason Nadal doesn't have a signature racquet was already mentioned above.

He already has one. Like was already mentioned, when you think of the APDC you think of Nadal. He is one of the only players that use it. It does not matter if a few other players nobody knows uses it. In the consumer's minds, the cool-looking black/white/yellow racquet is Nadal's.
There is no need for a signature raquet.

[sukivan]

the APD *IS* Nadal's signature racquet. It was made specifically for him. Prior to the APD, he was using a Pure Drive. Babolat made him the AeroPro Drive to capitalize on his success.

[goldenyama]

I agree he deserves one...but what would it be? A heavier APD with painted on cortex?

As for Duralast...no normal human being who doesn't restring every day can handle that barbed wire!

Anything resembling Rafa's true setup would be a bad idea for mere mortals...

I am convinced that he is an android after seeing him beat Fed at the AO after having a heavyweight title fight with Verdy two days before. *******.

edit: damn they even censor bas-tard? That's not even a swear word!

[Morrissey]

Thing is, Roddick got a signature racquet well after his peak was gone. He got that frame sometime in 2006 or 2007. He was no longer the same force in tennis as he was in 2003-2004. So I figured that it was kind of late to give the guy a sig frame. Especially when you consider that Pure Drives sell on their own. They don't need to have Roddick's name on it to increase or sustain sales. Besides, more people are buying Aeropro Drives in the last 2 years and given Nadal has entered his peak and won the AO sales of the APDC will only go up. So it's a good time to take advantage of that.

[Morrissey]

I agree he deserves one...but what would it be? A heavier APD with painted on cortex?

You mean like the painted cortex that Roddick plays with on his heavier Pure Drive?


As for Duralast...no normal human being who doesn't restring every day can handle that barbed wire!

You mean that no normal human being plays with Pro Hurricane or Luxilon in the public parks? Duralast is no worse than those strings. I have the strings and they're actually less harsh than Luxilon. So I don't see what you're even b1tching about.

Anything resembling Rafa's true setup would be a bad idea for mere mortals...

Not any worse than playing with Fed's racquet which is even harder to play with for mere mortals. So your argument is holding little water.

I am convinced that he is an android after seeing him beat Fed at the AO after having a heavyweight title fight with Verdy two days before. *******.

What's this got to with Pro Racquets & Gear section?
It's obvious you don't like Nadal so I don't even know why you bothered to post in this thread outside of just putting him down and just critisizing his equipment.

[JRstriker12]

I would think a singature APD would require an increase in Nadal's sponsorship money. Wonder if Babalot could afford it?

With the new paint jobs on the PD and PDR, I wouldn't be too surprised if we do see a re-branded APD, signature APD.

[knasty131]

Anyone who played high school tennis when Roddick was first coming on the scene and well afterwards, can attest to all the Roddick junkies who were around and who bought EVERYTHING that he wore and used...At least in the US, it was advantageous for Babolat to give him a signature frame.

[martini1]

I'd love to have a heavier ADP no cortex, with Rafa's name on it.

If I were the president of Babolat I will release a new limited edition frame every time Rafa wins a another slam, with those color coded stars like his bag.

[Andyk028]

the APD *IS* Nadal's signature racquet. It was made specifically for him. Prior to the APD, he was using a Pure Drive. Babolat made him the AeroPro Drive to capitalize on his success.

no it isnt.

and no they didnt.

[kanjii]

babolat should think about making four different colored APDC. One for each slam Nadal wins. Of course still using the original colors, but each as a main color, like the original apd ( black) as the French open racquet, the white for Wimbledon, a yellow for Australian , and a red for US. Sweet marketing, same racquet and design, different colors.

[dnutzunlimited]

babolat should think about making four different colored APDC. One for each slam Nadal wins. Of course still using the original colors, but each as a main color, like the original apd ( black) as the French open racquet, the white for Wimbledon, a yellow for Australian , and a red for US. Sweet marketing, same racquet and design, different colors.

Haha, that would be pretty cool.

But yeah, I think Rafa deserved his own sig racquet when he ended #1 in the world. Perhaps the next APD will have his sig on it.

[NickC]

the APD *IS* Nadal's signature racquet. It was made specifically for him. Prior to the APD, he was using a Pure Drive. Babolat made him the AeroPro Drive to capitalize on his success.

Absolutely false. The APD came out before Nadal had even cracked the top 100. Why would a company create a brand-new frame for a 17-year old who hadn't even cracked the top 100?

[Andyk028]

Absolutely false. The APD came out before Nadal had even cracked the top 100. Why would a company create a brand-new frame for a 17-year old who hadn't even cracked the top 100?

word. 10chars

[Court Valkyrie]

If babolat made a "heavier" aero pro drive, all the little kids on here would knut in their pants over another reason to have a 19oz racquet with 10oz of lead tape and a 6 3/4 in grip. Pro's are stronger than 99% of people on here and still most of them probably don't use racquets over 13oz. Why should little 120lb highschool kids use a 15oz racquet with 90sq in head? As for the Nadal signature racquet, it would be nice...but should only be allowed for lefties...hahahahahahahaha:):)

[Nanshiki]

Absolutely false. The APD came out before Nadal had even cracked the top 100. Why would a company create a brand-new frame for a 17-year old who hadn't even cracked the top 100?

For the same reason that F1 teams sign champion karters 5-10 years before they ever start in an Grand Prix.

(whether or not they actually did is another story... although just looking at the racquet, you'd almost think they did. flashy colors and designed to cut through the air sideways)

[ckledzepplin]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-JNAD145.html

[NickC]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-JNAD145.html

Your point being.......?

[zeratul90]

I dunno about you guys, but when I was watching the tryouts for my hs team this year, out of roughly 45 people (I'm not kidding), about 25 of them had PD/PDR's. Out of the 20 or so guys trying out for the JV team, I saw like 10-15 PD/PDR's. Seems like the most used racquet between the guys right now in school.

[ilikephobo]

i bet if they do make a signature nadal racquet he'll just use a PJ and will still use the old Aeropro Drive..
well doesnt matter to me. i just cant wait to see how the new Aeropro Drives will look like. heck they got GTs for all their racquets cept for the APD

im glad they made the PDR though, best stick for me

...how would you guys react if nadal started playing with the k90

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

What's up with people pulling out old threads all of a sudden?

[ztennis002]

I think both of them should have a sig. raquet. Roddick becuse he hit his fastest sereve with one and Nadal because hes nadal.

[quest01]

The Babolat APDC is the best racquet I have ever used. (so far)

[gunnd5000]

What's up with people pulling out old threads all of a sudden?

You complain when people dont search you complain when people bring up old threads you just cant win with soem people

[jackson vile]

You guys are nuts, the signature racket is recent ie 2 years? So no it had nothing to do with an up and coming Roddick and no it had nothing to do with Andy helping produce a particular frame (not sure if that is even true).

[sanchino]

Roddick is popular here in America, and he sells racquets, shoes etc.......he's popular internationally actually.....maybe if Nadal had a personality to go with his playing ability he'd sell more racquets.....if Babolat thought he'd sell more frames, his signiture would have already been on the APDC

[sanchino]

I mean, back in the day, racquets were named after players all the time---Martina Nav, Kramer, hell even McEnroe finally got one. But recently, it's become the exception, rather than the rule.

It's the same reason Wilson doesn't call the K-Factor the Fed-Factor. Everyone already knows it's his racquet, and they're already selling. No need for a signature---wouldn't supply much of a boost anyway.

I don't recall a Navratilova signature or autograph racquet......someone refresh my memory......

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

You complain when people dont search you complain when people bring up old threads you just cant win with soem people

I've done no such thing. And bringing up old threads for seemingly no reason sometimes causes confusion on the boards (b/c a lot of people don't realize a thread is several years old). By the way, I wasn't complaining, as you say. It was a simple question, as I've noticed a lot of old threads popping up lately.

[Tennis_dude ^_^]

they could also make apdc signature for wozniacki too!

OMG
that would be my dream
and when she signs it
it ssould say love wozniacki

[ChuDat]

Babolat is meant for power so Roddick is the best choice to advertise Babolat

[quest01]

Babolat is meant for power so Roddick is the best choice to advertise Babolat

Babolat is also meant for spin. I use the Babolat APDC and honestly I don't think its very powerful. The Pure Drive is more powerful then the APDC but not that powerful.

[deltox]

Babolat is also meant for spin. I use the Babolat APDC and honestly I don't think its very powerful. The Pure Drive is more powerful then the APDC but not that powerful.

i use it as well and it has terrible power compared to the other babolats. i love the head weight and swing speed though, and the touch is nice as a bonus

[deltox]

I find it rather odd that Roddick gets his own signature frame despite having only one slam and that was back in 2003. While Nadal with a MUCH more prestigious resume has none. So Babolat, don´t ya think that it´s time to give Rafa his props?


Also re-release the Duralast string and mass produce them again, please.

they gotta pay rafa to put his name on the racquet. its not an honro thing, its a financial thing.

[CarverV15]

new aero pro drive coming out in march! with the new GT technology!

[Mansewerz]

Sampras did not get his signature racquet until 7 years after retiring!

Just like with the Pro staff and pete, the APD is an unwritten signature frame.

[The Don]

new aero pro drive coming out in march! with the new GT technology!


Can you find any pics of this new Aeropro drive I wanna see what it looks like because ive been wanting to get the APD for awhile but ive been holding off because i hered of this new APD. I wanna see specs and etc and if its worth waiting for this new one. what do you guys think? you think its worth waiting for this new raquet? or simply buy the one nadal uses now

[Power Player]

Buy the current apdc. Thats what I would do. I have 3 and they are incredible sticks. Why wait on the new one? If it is amazing, ill buy a couple, but I am hoping it is similar to what is out now. Babolat thankfully makes their sticks pretty similar each remake, so if you had an APD and an APDC in your racquet bag, you could switch during a match and not have an issue.