Babolat first generation

[MarrratSafin]

Originally Posted by tototouri

I purchased these sticks in France in 1996, from a guy who had been playing with them for a little over a year. I believe this first generation Pure Control was never sold in the US.
I LOVE these racquets (in spite of the nasty paint job, which is a huge compliment coming from me). Unfortunately, they are massive (363 grams strung, no lead) and very head-heavy. I do not have the strength (or technique) to hit effectively with them for more than an hour!
http://picasaweb.google.com/tototour...K7Oq_fnndqgYg#

Wow, they look very interesting indeed. I'd love to try one, although I doubt I can handle them for too long as well! Please email me if you think of letting them go anytime. syforever87@yahoo.com

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by tototouri

I purchased these sticks in France in 1996, from a guy who had been playing with them for a little over a year. I believe this first generation Pure Control was never sold in the US.
I LOVE these racquets (in spite of the nasty paint job, which is a huge compliment coming from me). Unfortunately, they are massive (363 grams strung, no lead) and very head-heavy. I do not have the strength (or technique) to hit effectively with them for more than an hour!
http://picasaweb.google.com/tototour...K7Oq_fnndqgYg#

Great to see photos of that frame again, so they don't get taken out much?Were they really that head heavy, I don't remember that from testing them, just the next generation ones when they became more red.

[Xenakis]

Interesting stuff here thanks, I know very little about old Babolats.

Incidentally, does anyone know the history of the AeroPro Drive?

I've got two of the earlier ones without cortex, one without the Aero logo above the handle, were these the first APDs?

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Xenakis

Interesting stuff here thanks, I know very little about old Babolats.

Incidentally, does anyone know the history of the AeroPro Drive?

I've got two of the earlier ones without cortex, one without the Aero logo above the handle, were these the first APDs?

Yesmate, i think there have only been 3, there were some other aero rackets in the family of the black ones you have, but they were IIRC the Tour range.
THey ae basically an aerodynmic framed version of the Pure drive.(Nadal used them originally because of Moya)

[Xenakis]

^^^Cheers Dave

So in chronological order you've got..
APD
APDC
APDCGT

Right?

Any idea of years of manufacture?

There should be a website about racquet history with all the companies' models and years of production. I imagine if some of the more knowledgeable posters around here got their heads together it would be a possibility. Might even earn a bit of cash in advertising if it was done right.

[tototouri]

Originally Posted by MarrratSafin

Please email me if you think of letting them go anytime. syforever87@yahoo.com

I am afraid I am too attached to them, I take them out onto the court every now and then hoping I might manage them better.

[tototouri]

Originally Posted by Dave M

So they don't get taken out much?Were they really that head heavy, I don't remember that from testing them, just the next generation ones when they became more red.

They do not get taken out much, but they still do.
Well, as far as being head heavy, I'm not sure how they would compare with current racquet models. All I know is that they are not as maneuverable as, say, the Redondo I use now. They are very solid racquets, they can deliver the goods when needed, but they are also very demanding. I certainly prefer the feel of those early Pure Control to that of the most recent models. I tried a Pure Control in 2003 or so and did not like that version at all.

[ericsson]

Originally Posted by tototouri

I purchased these sticks in France in 1996, from a guy who had been playing with them for a little over a year. I believe this first generation Pure Control was never sold in the US.
I LOVE these racquets (in spite of the nasty paint job, which is a huge compliment coming from me). Unfortunately, they are massive (363 grams strung, no lead) and very head-heavy. I do not have the strength (or technique) to hit effectively with them for more than an hour!
http://picasaweb.google.com/tototour...K7Oq_fnndqgYg#

Thanks a lot to post these mate!, i never got my hands on these beauties, also first generation but these are the very early ones (double line logo)
They are not head-heavy, infact they are a little head light but what you probably mean is they are very solid, a lot of mass in the head and intire frame what makes it very difficult to get around, a beast of a racket, note that the specs are slightly different then the later ones, the very early ones were 335 grams unstrung, the ones i have are 330g unstrung, flex and balance were slightly different too, here the card board of my PC 1 gen:



Ps: take good care of them, they are extremely rare and very limited!

[MarrratSafin]

Originally Posted by tototouri

I am afraid I am too attached to them, I take them out onto the court every now and then hoping I might manage them better.

No worries. I hope to find one to try someday too. What grip did you put on it? Leather grip helps make heavier frames more HL and maneuverable for me. Just a suggestion, maybe you can try that too.

[MarrratSafin]

Great info ericsson, thanks. I always thought the 1st gen Pure Control is heavier than the 2nd gen, but they are actually the same, 330g unstrung? (I have owned many of the swirly's but no 1st gens, always thought they are 335-340g unstrung) So does the 1st gen actually have a similar swing weight to the swirly 2nd gen? The 2nd gen's swing weight is perfect for me. I'm guessing it'd be less maneuverable though with the 320mm balance.

[tototouri]

Originally Posted by ericsson

They are not head-heavy, in fact they are a little head light but what you probably mean is they are very solid, a lot of mass in the head and entire frame what makes it very difficult to get around, a beast of a racket, note that the specs are slightly different then the later ones, the very early ones were 335 grams unstrung, the ones i have are 330g unstrung, flex and balance were slightly different too, here the card board of my PC 1 gen:

Very interesting stuff here. The specs on my Pure Control are as follow:
P42 C58 M65
335g unstrung
Flex. 63
Equ. 31
Swing 300

It is a 16x18 string pattern.

You are probably right about the mass of the racquet being what makes it so hard to get around.
I did have leather grips on them and I'm sure that helped a bit.

[ericsson]

Originally Posted by MarrratSafin

Great info ericsson, thanks. I always thought the 1st gen Pure Control is heavier than the 2nd gen, but they are actually the same, 330g unstrung? (I have owned many of the swirly's but no 1st gens, always thought they are 335-340g unstrung) So does the 1st gen actually have a similar swing weight to the swirly 2nd gen? The 2nd gen's swing weight is perfect for me. I'm guessing it'd be less maneuverable though with the 320mm balance.

Well like i said, there are two different first generations Pure Controls; the early ones are 335gr unstrung and the "later" ones are 330gr, both essentially the same stick and yes they are less maneuverable then the 2nd gen's controls. I had both the 335g and 330g in the exact same paintjob, i also had a Pure Control 1nd gen in + (extra length)
(the first gen PC comes from the famous Pro One mold by Donnay)

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by ericsson

(the first gen PC comes from the famous Pro One mold by Donnay)

I've just realised that!
I wasn't aware they used their own frames for any of the first gen but i did not realise it was a donnay mold.Thanks Ericsson

[flashfire276]

Originally Posted by ericsson

Thanks a lot to post these mate!, i never got my hands on these beauties, also first generation but these are the very early ones (double line logo)
They are not head-heavy, infact they are a little head light but what you probably mean is they are very solid, a lot of mass in the head and intire frame what makes it very difficult to get around, a beast of a racket, note that the specs are slightly different then the later ones, the very early ones were 335 grams unstrung, the ones i have are 330g unstrung, flex and balance were slightly different too, here the card board of my PC 1 gen:



Ps: take good care of them, they are extremely rare and very limited!

What the?? There was a Soft Control??? I knew about Soft Drive, but never saw that before?
Anyone ever seen that racquet before?

[Dave M]

Originally for each family there (control, Drive and power) was a soft and a pure frame.They added to this as the year went by, one of my favourite and I havent seen one other than the ones i had was the VS family the drive looked a bit lik a pd but was lighter and had interchangeable bumpers for more weight.

[MarrratSafin]

Originally Posted by Dave M

Originally for each family there (control, Drive and power) was a soft and a pure frame.They added to this as the year went by, one of my favourite and I havent seen one other than the ones i had was the VS family the drive looked a bit lik a pd but was lighter and had interchangeable bumpers for more weight.

LOVE the paintjobs on both the VS Drive and Control. The VS Drive is a good way lighter than the VS Control though.

[MarrratSafin]

Originally Posted by ericsson

Well like i said, there are two different first generations Pure Controls; the early ones are 335gr unstrung and the "later" ones are 330gr, both essentially the same stick and yes they are less maneuverable then the 2nd gen's controls. I had both the 335g and 330g in the exact same paintjob, i also had a Pure Control 1nd gen in + (extra length)
(the first gen PC comes from the famous Pro One mold by Donnay)

Thanks ericsson, I don't think I will be able to handle even the lighter (330g) first generation Control consistently. Maybe on a good day! The plus length first generation must be an absolute beast. I seen one before and it is 28.5 inches IIRC, not like the later plus lengths which are only 0.5 inch longer!

[ericsson]

Originally Posted by flashfire276

What the?? There was a Soft Control??? I knew about Soft Drive, but never saw that before?
Anyone ever seen that racquet before?

Yes, a soft control, soft drive and soft power, pics will follow as soon i have the time...

[raging]

Originally Posted by ericsson

Yes, a soft control, soft drive and soft power, pics will follow as soon i have the time...

Thanks for pics and thread...great to see rackets from the past.
Do you know if the original Pure Drive was based on a Donnay Pro One or the Pro Kennex Destiny series?
If so, which factory/company made the first Babolat rackets?
The history is interesting...

[ericsson]

Originally Posted by raging

Thanks for pics and thread...great to see rackets from the past.
Do you know if the original Pure Drive was based on a Donnay Pro One or the Pro Kennex Destiny series?
If so, which factory/company made the first Babolat rackets?
The history is interesting...

Hi Raging, you're welcome.
I am VERY sure that the mold used for the first Pure Drive was a Pro Kennex Destiny, for the Pure Control a Donnay Pro One Supermidsize.
Like i've mentioned i have first generations made in Taiwan, Thailand and China, i don't know in which order though...