babolat: aeropro drive GT vs pure drive

[BobFL]

Originally Posted by Ross K

How does the APD compare in your opinion with the Pro Open on serve and generally? TIA

May I answer the question? Had both frames.

No comparison (in favor of APD). Much more solid, huge serve, super stable and hits heavier ball, better slice. IMO, APD>>>>>>>PO

[YesTennis]

Originally Posted by BobFL

May I answer the question? Had both frames.

No comparison (in favor of APD). Much more solid, huge serve, super stable and hits heavier ball, better slice. IMO, APD>>>>>>>PO

While you're comparing, are you able to compare the APD to the Wilson Juice?

[BC1]

Imo all of these four (pd, apd, pro open, and juice) are good racquets and although in the same class, they are all different. It is pretty much an individual preference and depends onxwhich brand and feel you like. If you can play well with one, chances are you can play well with any of them.

Ive been back and forth with all of them. Right now after extensive demoing the four with different types of opponents, I can confidently say the apd is my favorite. Main reason being consistency, control, and solid feeling. The pd gives me more power and a better serve but the balls have been flying lately and it lacks the solid feeling of the apd or pro open or juice. The pd is sounding and feeling hollow to me lately. Needs string job.

The pro open is a great all around racquet. And I think anyone can pick it up and do very well with it. It has no faults and is the most comfortable out of the four. At times it feels under powered due to lack of mass, but still powerful enough. My only problem is that it doesn't excite me enough, and there just seems to he something lacking. But great racquet.

The juice has moments of greatness but I can't get consistent with it. At times I have loved it and at times I have hated it.

If I had to put them in order, my personal preference, right now, would be : apd (first), pd and pro open (tie), then the juice.
I will try to give a better comparison later. No time now.

[BobFL]

Originally Posted by YesTennis

While you're comparing, are you able to compare the APD to the Wilson Juice?

Anything for YesTennis just please tel me which Juice are you referring to - Pro or 100?

[YesTennis]

Originally Posted by BobFL

Anything for YesTennis just please tel me which Juice are you referring to - Pro or 100?

I was asking about the Juice 100. Thanks in advance!!

[BobFL]

Originally Posted by YesTennis

I was asking about the Juice 100. Thanks in advance!!

OK so here is my take: the 100 is BY FAR the best slice machine I have ever used. Period. It is clearly designed with PD in mind but imho it is much better frame because it is MUCH more comfy. Now compared to APD, the 100 is more HL hence it is super maneuverable and I could serve with it 2 days in a row. However, it does hit a bit lighter ball in comparison. The string pattern (or drill pattern) is considerably more open than on APD. Yep, the same head size and one cross less but the drill pattern is different (for example the lowest cross is much closer to the bridge on the 100). APD serves a bit bigger and hits heavier ball (yeah one of those duh! moments) simply because of the sw. I used to have the 100 and I sold them but I am still dreaming about that slice Really really good frame and I could play with either. APD does feel a bit more solid, again, due to higher sw. I use multis in APD but I used the 100 hybridized. No polys for APD but the 100 played superbly with the Bite/NVY combo.

[BC1]

Take this for what what it is worth, but here is how I would rank these 4 racquets in the following categories:
POWER: pd>apd>juice>po
CONTROL: apd>po>pd>juice
COMFORT: po>pd>apd>juice
STABILITY: apd>pd>po>juice
FORGIVENESS: pd>juice>apd>po
TOPSPIN: apd>juice>po>pd
SERVES: pd>po>apd>uice
GROUNDSTROKES: po>apd>pd>juice
OVERHEADS; juice>pd>po>apd
VOLLEYS: apd>pd>po>juice

At times all of them are capable of excelling in most of these areas with the right player. These were just my most recent findings. Part of me is now realizing the brand marketing has had more of an influence on me then I care to admit. I find myself really wanting to like the pds and apds more then I should. I simply want to play with a Babolat. I got many Babolat bags, merchandise, and miscellaneous babolat stuff all over the house from over the years. Plus See all the pros playing with babs on the tennis channel and watch nadal win French open. It makes me want to be a superficial part of that. Silly and stupid I know, but I like the brand. Marketing at its best (or worse)! And i realize many people are the oppossite and refuse to like a babolat for those same reasons. Another observation: If federer or even fish where playing with and endorsing the pro open (or a version of it) and wilson marketed it as a top tier frame, i think the pro open would be right up there with the pd and apd as far as sales and many would say it is better. So with that said, I'm throwing out a disclaimer that my views may be a little biased. But not by much. And hopefully not at all.

[remarks]

Remember both are good racquets. Subtly different weighting and flex. So close, that most any player that uses one can quickly adapt to the other.

But remember the Aero Storm line, which really is to the APD as what the Pure Drive Roddick is to the PD.

[Ross K]

Bob and BC1,

Thanks gentlemen for replies to my query.

I've just retained a slight harboring curiosity about the Pro Open since Power Player and Fed K were posting about it not that long ago on the Diary thread. Wouldn't mind hitting with one some time (I like FK's description of it being a very "intuitive racket".) From what you say though, seems no reason really for me to venture from my APDs.

For my requirements and game, having checked out a load of rackets over a few years, looks like the APD "Original" is the numero uno.

[BC1]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Bob and BC1,

Thanks gentlemen for replies to my query.

I've just retained a slight harboring curiosity about the Pro Open since Power Player and Fed K were posting about it not that long ago on the Diary thread. Wouldn't mind hitting with one some time (I like FK's description of it being a very "intuitive racket".) From what you say though, seems no reason really for me to venture from my APDs.

For my requirements and game, having checked out a load of rackets over a few years, looks like the APD "Original" is the numero uno.

Intuitive is a great way to describe it, as it is very easy to play with. You don't have to hit with as much topspin like the apd and balls don't fly on you like they sometimes do with the pd or apd or other power tweeners. The flex of the pro open is definitely noticeable and helps with control.

The po just lacks something to me. I seem to play just as well with it as the others, and at times better. It is very consitent. But for some reason I just enjoy playing with the apd more.

[BC1]

Originally Posted by remarks

Remember both are good racquets. Subtly different weighting and flex. So close, that most any player that uses one can quickly adapt to the other.

But remember the Aero Storm line, which really is to the APD as what the Pure Drive Roddick is to the PD.

I take it you use the aero storm gt? Or aero storm tour? How do you compare it to the apd? Advantages?

[Hi I'm Ray]

In regards to the PD, APDGT, Pro Open, Juice discussion:

When weighted up to very similar specs, these four play extremely similar to each other. The differences imo are:

Pro Open - most flexible, slightly lower power than APDGT
APDGT - more flexible and slightly lower power than PD
PD - stiffer feeling and hits bigger serves than previous two
Juice - hard to tell apart from the PD and hits the same big serves except vibrations are more dampened and feel is a bit different

If you like or play well with one, you will probably like or play well with the others. In stock form there is a bigger difference between them, but that is easily addressed with a bit of lead tape.

[BC1]

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ray

In regards to the PD, APDGT, Pro Open, Juice discussion:

When weighted up to very similar specs, these four play extremely similar to each other. The differences imo are:

Pro Open - most flexible, slightly lower power than APDGT
APDGT - more flexible and slightly lower power than PD
PD - stiffer feeling and hits bigger serves than previous two
Juice - hard to tell apart from the PD and hits the same big serves except vibrations are more dampened and feel is a bit different

If you like or play well with one, you will probably like or play well with the others. In stock form there is a bigger difference between them, but that is easily addressed with a bit of lead tape.

^^^ Good summary. I pretty much agree.
The only other main difference would be the SWs. I have a demo of an apdgt right now that has a lower sw then others I've owned. And for me, that is a good thing. The specs on it are perfect. Others APDs have had higher SWs and the felt sluggish to me. As with any of these racquets, a change in the balance, weight, or sw can make a big difference.

[YesTennis]

Originally Posted by BobFL

OK so here is my take: the 100 is BY FAR the best slice machine I have ever used. Period. It is clearly designed with PD in mind but imho it is much better frame because it is MUCH more comfy. Now compared to APD, the 100 is more HL hence it is super maneuverable and I could serve with it 2 days in a row. However, it does hit a bit lighter ball in comparison. The string pattern (or drill pattern) is considerably more open than on APD. Yep, the same head size and one cross less but the drill pattern is different (for example the lowest cross is much closer to the bridge on the 100). APD serves a bit bigger and hits heavier ball (yeah one of those duh! moments) simply because of the sw. I used to have the 100 and I sold them but I am still dreaming about that slice Really really good frame and I could play with either. APD does feel a bit more solid, again, due to higher sw. I use multis in APD but I used the 100 hybridized. No polys for APD but the 100 played superbly with the Bite/NVY combo.

Thank you very much Bob. That was really helpful information.