2013 Babolat Aero Pro Drive

[srvnvly]

Specs are (sorta) up:
Head Size:
100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.3oz / 320.35g
Balance: 5 pts HL
Swingweight: 316
Stiffness: 69
Beam Width: 23mm / 26mm / 24mm /
Composition: Graphite/ Tungsten
Power Level: Low-Medium
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
Black/ Yellow/ White

Quite a difference in swing weight; I can't wait to demo.

[morandi]

Going to hit with it tomorrow. Can't wait. It has a really nice balance to it, feels good in the hands, but of course that means nothing.

[srvnvly]

Originally Posted by morandi

Going to hit with it tomorrow. Can't wait. It has a really nice balance to it, feels good in the hands, but of course that means nothing.

I'm jealous! Will you compare the swing weights, power and stiffness? Much appreciated.

[Irrelevant]

Stiffness of 69? What happened to the usual 70 that Babolats became known for?

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by srvnvly

Specs are (sorta) up:
Head Size:
100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.3oz / 320.35g
Balance: 5 pts HL
Swingweight: 316
Stiffness: 69
Beam Width: 23mm / 26mm / 24mm /
Composition: Graphite/ Tungsten
Power Level: Low-Medium
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
Black/ Yellow/ White

Quite a difference in swing weight; I can't wait to demo.

Bring on the feedback! Definitely one of many that interests me for 2013.

[morandi]

Hit with it this morning. This new version is awesome. All of the things I did not like about the previous version are addressed in this one. It feels faster through the air, yet is more solid and satisfying at contact. Gone is that weird toy like hollow feeling from the previous version. It took me all of two seconds to get comfortable with this racquet. You feel like you can just manipulate the ball anyway you want. Very easy to change up the pace. I found directional control better with this version, and better feel and pace on the backhand side. Just more solid feeling, yet lighter and faster through the air. It feels and plays more like a thinner beam racquet, the previous version always felt a tad clunky to me. Two big thumbs up, definite improvement over previous model. I was surprised.

[richsox]

I thought the RA I heard was 74 before--are you sure it is only 69?

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by morandi

Hit with it this morning. This new version is awesome. All of the things I did not like about the previous version are addressed in this one. It feels faster through the air, yet is more solid and satisfying at contact. Gone is that weird toy like hollow feeling from the previous version. It took me all of two seconds to get comfortable with this racquet. You feel like you can just manipulate the ball anyway you want. Very easy to change up the pace. I found directional control better with this version, and better feel and pace on the backhand side. Just more solid feeling, yet lighter and faster through the air. It feels and plays more like a thinner beam racquet, the previous version always felt a tad clunky to me. Two big thumbs up, definite improvement over previous model. I was surprised.

In the Aero GT version the only full copoly I can use is TCS as any other full copoly setup I find stiff. So, what string setup in the new Aero would you recommend, full copoly or hybrid?

[Filipinotennis]

Originally Posted by richsox

I thought the RA I heard was 74 before--are you sure it is only 69?

Yeah that's what I've heard as well... On another thread I read them mentioning a 74 stiffness

[srvnvly]

Originally Posted by Filipinotennis

Yeah that's what I've heard as well... On another thread I read them mentioning a 74 stiffness

Racquet Finder: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-APD13.html

[jcollura4]

aww, i just bought another 2012 one a week ago

[richsox]

Originally Posted by srvnvly

Racquet Finder: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-APD13.html

Thanks for the link. I find it intriguing though, as it surely seems to list what has to be the APD, But, when I click on it - it shows nothing but the spec, with zero description stated for the racket itself....although I am inclined to believe it is for the APD 2013 for sure

Also, I am pretty sure that Babolat has somewhere leaked it out as a 74 RA, but we all know from past experience that the way TW determines RA is sometimes different from the manufacturers, expecially Babolat (Babolat lists a Pure Storm GT as 69 RA, yet TW list it as 63 RA)

[ArliHawk]

And just when I thought I was ready to playtest a Dunlop M 6.0 and Donnay Formula, I may just evolve from the 2010 APD to the 2013 APD.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by morandi

Hit with it this morning. This new version is awesome. All of the things I did not like about the previous version are addressed in this one. It feels faster through the air, yet is more solid and satisfying at contact. Gone is that weird toy like hollow feeling from the previous version. It took me all of two seconds to get comfortable with this racquet. You feel like you can just manipulate the ball anyway you want. Very easy to change up the pace. I found directional control better with this version, and better feel and pace on the backhand side. Just more solid feeling, yet lighter and faster through the air. It feels and plays more like a thinner beam racquet, the previous version always felt a tad clunky to me. Two big thumbs up, definite improvement over previous model. I was surprised.

Sounding very good here.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Agree. Looks like I will be waiting til 2013 to make a decision

[Veninga]

Originally Posted by richsox

Thanks for the link. I find it intriguing though, as it surely seems to list what has to be the APD, But, when I click on it - it shows nothing but the spec, with zero description stated for the racket itself....although I am inclined to believe it is for the APD 2013 for sure

Also, I am pretty sure that Babolat has somewhere leaked it out as a 74 RA, but we all know from past experience that the way TW determines RA is sometimes different from the manufacturers, expecially Babolat (Babolat lists a Pure Storm GT as 69 RA, yet TW list it as 63 RA)

Babolat's stiffness numbers are unstrung. TW has strung RA numbers.

[MauRod]

On an italian forum i've read today that the stiffness value will be around 72 RA...
See below:

[rlau]

72 is the unstrung stiffness, which corresponds with 69 strung.

[jjl]

For me it's gonna come down to APD '13 vs. Head Extreme MP 2.0 vs. Wilson Steam 99S. may the best racket win.

[Boricua]

What is the new name given? Cortex, GT, what is the name now?