Bonjour from Babolat

[db10s]

Originally Posted by Babolat Official

I don't know the specific names/models of the machines but we test flexibility, frame strength, spin, power, durability, swing weight, balance, etc. All the racquet companies do this to varying degrees with various machines.

This sounds so cool... May I ask "how" do you do it? I'm overly intrigued.

[db10s]

Originally Posted by 2handsbothsides

Hi Daniel,
We really need you on the string forum as some of us would rather focus on string. Maybe your response to this question can be posted there.

I saw your previous comments on BT7 where you acknowledge Babolats intent to improve durability and that there are many trade offs in life. Would you acknowledge that in this case Babolat took the worlds best playing production tennis string, increased durability a bit for the trade off of a stiffer string with less power and feel?

Look forward to your response!

In MY experience, durability is the same. I'm not the only one with that experience either.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by db10s

What do you mean by "cordage"? How does it play?

Cordage means String in French. It was good frame. Very stable, soft, with no vibration but good feel. It was never for sale. It was given out to certain people.

[Francis27]

I dont know if youve answered this question already but when is the release of the RPM Dual?

[AlfaAce]

Originally Posted by 2handsbothsides

Hi Daniel,
We really need you on the string forum as some of us would rather focus on string. Maybe your response to this question can be posted there.

+1. Daniel, there are countless negative posts within multiple string threads on this board regarding new Babolat VS gut (with BT7). Why doesn't Babolat offer the (non-BT7) original VS gut as an option for those that prefer it? I guess that if the rumor is true that Wilson natural gut really is made by and the same as Babolat original VS gut then Babolat is technically still offering it.

[babyhagrid]

Originally Posted by Francis27

I dont know if youve answered this question already but when is the release of the RPM Dual?

I've heard March mentioned once or twice, quite excited to try it.

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by HarryB-97

Would that happen to be RPM Dual?

You are correct

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

No, it's not. Here is a stencil on the first Babolat racquet I ever hit with. There were "VS" stencils in the 70's and 80's. There was even a VS stencil with the double lines at the bottom of the stencil.


This is the very first Babolat racquet I ever saw back in 1989. It was for testing cordage.

My apologies.

I should have said, this is our first time making a stencil since we began making racquets (1994).

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by 2handsbothsides

Hi Daniel,
We really need you on the string forum as some of us would rather focus on string. Maybe your response to this question can be posted there.

I saw your previous comments on BT7 where you acknowledge Babolats intent to improve durability and that there are many trade offs in life. Would you acknowledge that in this case Babolat took the worlds best playing production tennis string, increased durability a bit for the trade off of a stiffer string with less power and feel?

Look forward to your response!

This sounds like a loaded question...but here goes.

BT7 was added to make the string more durable without grossly changing the way gut plays. From your phrasing, I'm going out on a limb and guessing you feel it plays stiffer, with less feel, and less power. I hear you and if you read the thread, I've relayed this information to our string product team.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by Babolat Official

My apologies.

I should have said, this is our first time making a stencil since we began making racquets (1994).

Have you ever seen the Babolat VS Test Cordage racquet before?

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by AlfaAce

+1. Daniel, there are countless negative posts within multiple string threads on this board regarding new Babolat VS gut (with BT7). Why doesn't Babolat offer the (non-BT7) original VS gut as an option for those that prefer it? I guess that if the rumor is true that Wilson natural gut really is made by and the same as Babolat original VS gut then Babolat is technically still offering it.

I've heard the Wilson rumor before but no one in the company will confirm. Sorry.

Making one set of gut is an incredibly complicated and lengthy process. It takes over 60 days.

I am headed to France on Sunday. My first trip since I joined the forums. One of the topics I will be addressing is BT7. I hope to have some more information to report back to all of you the following week.

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

Have you ever seen the Babolat VS Test Cordage racquet before?

Nope. We don't even have one in the US office. I've been to the room in Lyon with every racquet we ever made, but have not looked at this one specifically.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by Babolat Official

Nope. We don't even have one in the US office. I've been to the room in Lyon with every racquet we ever made, but have not looked at this one specifically.

It was actually a very good racquet.

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by babyhagrid

I've heard March mentioned once or twice, quite excited to try it.

Exact dates very by country but it should be around there for UK.

Curious to hear what you think. I've tested the 16 in a full bed and didn't love it. Tried it in a hybrid with VS and it felt better.

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by db10s

This sounds so cool... May I ask "how" do you do it? I'm overly intrigued.

You can use a Babolat RDC to test swing weight, balance point, flexibility, and string bed stiffness.

For spin, we shoot a ball at the string bed at varying angles/spins/paces and use a special camera that shoots at 240 FPS (or something absurd like that, can't remember off the top of my head.) There also is a machine that is kind of like a radar gun that measures RPM (revolutions per minute).

When we (and most people) product test, the idea is to have as much of the test controlled, so you can tweak specifics variables to understand their effect.

Durability is less exciting, but involves putting stress on products until they break.

[richsox]

Originally Posted by Babolat Official

Nope. We don't even have one in the US office. I've been to the room in Lyon with every racquet we ever made, but have not looked at this one specifically.

Hi Daniel, I look for this thread every time I pop into the forum....thnak you! For the record, I am an aredent Babolat user since getting serious about tennis (Pure Drive users for 10 years-just bought the 2013 APD though-Love it, and always use VS Touch @ 57lbs.)

My question: is it true that the Pro's have their racquets made (possibly to their specifications) in Lyon, as opposed to us mere mortals that get the "Built to spec in China" racquets in the retail shops?

Viva La Babolat!

PS My all time favourite is still the PD Team! (Bab should re-launch it as a classic!)

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by richsox

Hi Daniel, I look for this thread every time I pop into the forum....thnak you! For the record, I am an aredent Babolat user since getting serious about tennis (Pure Drive users for 10 years-just bought the 2013 APD though-Love it, and always use VS Touch @ 57lbs.)

My question: is it true that the Pro's have their racquets made (possibly to their specifications) in Lyon, as opposed to us mere mortals that get the "Built to spec in China" racquets in the retail shops?

Viva La Babolat!

PS My all time favourite is still the PD Team! (Bab should re-launch it as a classic!)

I loved the PD team. Played with it for years. I also recently switched to the 2013 APD.

The pros racquets are customized versions of the consumer frames (some more than others). We have a team that adjusts swing weight, balance, etc. but they are built off the same frames you buy in a shop. Some pros constantly tinker with customization while others have the same specs for the entire season.

[Tennis888]

When will online stores start selling the new syntec pro grip?!?

[geekydeveloper]

Is there a authorized place to buy babolat products in israel?

[Sir Larry Wildman]

Is Babolat coming out with a replacement for the AeroStorm line? I know Jack Sock has long been using the AeroStorm, but this is a new look similar to the AeroPro 2013 paint job. Is this just an AeroStorm painted to look like the current line of AeroPro or a new racquet altogether?