Babolat raquets' real stiffness

[Bobo Lat]

Hi everyone. I'm new here. I got back into tennis after an absence of over 10 years. My current raquet is a Babolat NS Tour, which is supposed to be the same thing as a VS NCT Tour (Nanotube Technology), but with a different/newer paint scheme (red instead of yellow, in between other things). I want to replace the same with one from the "Aero" or the "Pure" series, but am confused about the differences in stiffness numbers detailed on the Babolat Catalogue versus the ones detailed on the Tennis Warehouse Website. For example:

1. VS NCT Tour: Babolat = 67 ra vs Tennis Warehouse = 71
2. AeroPro Drive Std.: Babolat = 72 ra vs Tennis Warehouse = 67
3. Pure Drive Std.: Babolat = 69 ra vs Tennis Warehouse = 70
4. Pure Control Std.: Babolat = 66 ra vs Tennis Warehouse = 70

To me, the numbers stated by Babolat make more sense, but what would I know. Someone, please, help me clarify this.

 

[Bobo Lat]

Aren't there any TW people here who'd like to defend their specs.?

 

[Cruzer]

TW's flex ratings do tend to be different from what the manufacturer publishes. I think the differences arise because TW has their own Babolat RDC machine and they do their own flex measurement when they receive frames from the manufacturer. The difference could also arise if flex is measured when the frame is strung versus unstrung.

 

[Bobo Lat]

Hummm... That could explain, in part, some of the differences. However, still, something's not quite right...

TW's flex ratings do tend to be different from what the manufacturer publishes. I think the differences arise because TW has their own Babolat RDC machine and they do their own flex measurement when they receive frames from the manufacturer. The difference could also arise if flex is measured when the frame is strung versus unstrung.

 

[Ash Doyle]

Most manufacters give specs of unstrung racquets. TW gives specs of strung racquets. I think Cruzer's explanation is the answer.

 

[Bobo Lat]

Yeah, but wouldn't a strung raquet be stiffer? Or not necessarily? If so, why does the AeroPro appear as less stiff, as per TW?

 

[ohcaptain]

well, comparing APD and PD, most people say than even if they are very similar racquets, APD tends to have a little less power and little more control.

So, maybe it's logical that PD is stiffer than APD, as TWs says.

Am i right?

 

[netman]

Unless racquet manufacturers have perfected the art of manufacturing, and are hitting 100% spec on every item made (not likely), I'm sure there are variances in all major characteristics of each frame. TW has stated before they sample more than one frame. Not sure what a statistically sound population is when it comes to tennis racquets, but I bet TW is probably closer to the average than the mfgs.

I've read many threads on these boards where folks have the same racquet but have pretty significant variances in major variables like weight and balance.

-k-