Babolat Pure Drive Roddick 2012 REVIEW!

holytennis · 02-09-2012, 04:57 AM

Hello Everybody. Played with my friends new Babolat pure drive Roddick today. Only for about half hour though. First thing i notice is how much spin this racket can generate. It was also loaded with Power, and i felt the feel was WAY BETTER and softer than the older Pure Drive Roddick GT. Sweet Spot seemed a bit bigger. Serving with this was just amazing. My serves were definitely 10-12 Km faster with this than my current stick. Power was great on groundies and i did not over hit a lot, because the racket creates soo much spin. But one thing i noticed was my elbow was feeling a bit tender after serving. No pain while hitting Ground Strokes though. Volleys and Smashes were great too. I would have switched to this frame if my arm wasn't feeling tender. Anyway If the guy turns up tomorrow, i'll see if i can try it again.

BTW, Been looking at the Prince exo3 tour 100, can anyone post their thoughts on it here please?

Nostradamus · 02-09-2012, 05:10 AM

^^ What was your racket strung with ? I got some demos and i am going to playtest it this Saturday. but these are strung with babolat addiction.

holytennis · 02-09-2012, 05:17 AM

No idea, did not ask my friend.. will tell you tomorrow...

I'm guessing its RPM Blast.

Teski · 02-09-2012, 06:45 AM

Why would you distract this thread with EXO Tour comments? Let this one live as a PDR thread and go ahead and create an EXO Tour thread or read one of the many threads that already exist here. There's a ton on that stick already.

holytennis · 02-09-2012, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teski

Why would you distract this thread with EXO Tour comments? Let this one live as a PDR thread and go ahead and create an EXO Tour thread or read one of the many threads that already exist here. There's a ton on that stick already.

Good Point..

Yourtenniscoach · 02-09-2012, 08:33 AM

To the OP: the Prince EXO3 Tour is about a polar opposite of the PDR as you can get. I tried using the EXO3 Tour after playing with the APDGT and it literally felt like a noodle. I had a fresh bed of string and all and I could hardly hit the ball. Just felt like mush!

holytennis · 02-09-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourtenniscoach

To the OP: the Prince EXO3 Tour is about a polar opposite of the PDR as you can get. I tried using the EXO3 Tour after playing with the APDGT and it literally felt like a noodle. I had a fresh bed of string and all and I could hardly hit the ball. Just felt like mush!

Thanks for your feedback. I will most probably buy the pure drive roddick, and maybe get a TE strap to reduce the pain.

ollinger · 02-09-2012, 01:41 PM

^^ A study published last year found TE straps of no particular benefit, actually found better results for TE prevention if you wore a wrist splint all day.

Yourtenniscoach · 02-09-2012, 02:25 PM

Use much softer strings! Stay away from the polys!

holytennis · 02-10-2012, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollinger

^^ A study published last year found TE straps of no particular benefit, actually found better results for TE prevention if you wore a wrist splint all day.

Are kinesio tapes any good then?

holytennis · 02-10-2012, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourtenniscoach

Use much softer strings! Stay away from the polys!

Like which soft strings?

Yourtenniscoach · 02-10-2012, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holytennis

Like which soft strings?

Use Syn guts like Gosen OG Micro or a good multi like Babolat Xcel.

Dgdavid · 02-10-2012, 05:03 AM

So, is this a Tweener frame or a Players frame (and does that even matter?). Just got really into the new IG Prestige MP but notice a lot of attention on the PD Roddick (here and the internet in general). Lots of NRTP 5.0 comments seem to love it and obviously the Pros that use it. Intrigued by this, 4.5 myself. Can you go for hard flat winners with the PD Roddick?

Teski · 02-10-2012, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dgdavid

Can you go for hard flat winners with the PD Roddick?

Yes, you absolutely can. That's what I've been loving about this stick. While it is a powerful racket, I don't feel like I have to have Nadal-like spin to keep the ball in and yet I can flatten out and smash a nice winner when I want.

BTW, I'm a 3.5 on the verge of 4.0 and don't have any problem handling this one.

Dgdavid · 02-10-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teski

Yes, you absolutely can. That's what I've been loving about this stick. While it is a powerful racket, I don't feel like I have to have Nadal-like spin to keep the ball in and yet I can flatten out and smash a nice winner when I want.

BTW, I'm a 3.5 on the verge of 4.0 and don't have any problem handling this one.

Bah! Now I'm gonna have to get one. Another £145. Why oh why did I unwrap the Prestige Mid when I knew it wasnt for me? Could have sent that back, kept my Midpluses and got a Pure Drive without guilt. Is the PD Roddick the best of the new ones (Rod GT and the two standards).

holytennis · 02-10-2012, 08:20 AM

@dgdavid There are tons of rackets that keep coming out all the time. Be happy with your ig pretige mp, it is a real solid frame. The babolat may have more power and spin, but the feel from the prestige is heaven(not that the feel from the babolat is bad, its awesome!)

holytennis · 02-10-2012, 08:28 AM

dgdavid, are you seriously a MD of a software company? No wonder you buy every new racket thats coming out..

Dgdavid · 02-10-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holytennis

dgdavid, are you seriously a MD of a software company? No wonder you buy every new racket thats coming out..

And a terribly impulsive personality. Must. Have. Newest. Shiny. Thing.
If it wasn't a smallish company, I'd feel less guilty! All I need now is an Apple iRacket and I'm in sorted!

holytennis · 02-10-2012, 08:40 AM

Haha, since your at it anyway, try the new wilson blx six one. But i strongly suggest you stick to a racket, and not try anything else for the next 1 year at least.

Dgdavid · 02-10-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holytennis

Haha, since your at it anyway, try the new wilson blx six one. But i strongly suggest you stick to a racket, and not try anything else for the next 1 year at least.

Good advice. I do like it a lot. One step and a time....no new rackets until after Easter and see how I go!

02-09-2012, 04:57 AM	#1
holytennis New User Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 90	Babolat Pure Drive Roddick 2012 REVIEW! Hello Everybody. Played with my friends new Babolat pure drive Roddick today. Only for about half hour though. First thing i notice is how much spin this racket can generate. It was also loaded with Power, and i felt the feel was WAY BETTER and softer than the older Pure Drive Roddick GT. Sweet Spot seemed a bit bigger. Serving with this was just amazing. My serves were definitely 10-12 Km faster with this than my current stick. Power was great on groundies and i did not over hit a lot, because the racket creates soo much spin. But one thing i noticed was my elbow was feeling a bit tender after serving. No pain while hitting Ground Strokes though. Volleys and Smashes were great too. I would have switched to this frame if my arm wasn't feeling tender. Anyway If the guy turns up tomorrow, i'll see if i can try it again. BTW, Been looking at the Prince exo3 tour 100, can anyone post their thoughts on it here please?

02-09-2012, 05:10 AM	#2
Nostradamus Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: In the future Posts: 4,157	^^ What was your racket strung with ? I got some demos and i am going to playtest it this Saturday. but these are strung with babolat addiction. __________________ Babolat Pure drive 2012, 55 lbs, Kirschbaum Proline X / X-1 biphase. Nalbandian backhand and Nadal forehand.

02-10-2012, 05:03 AM	#13
Dgdavid Professional Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 801	So, is this a Tweener frame or a Players frame (and does that even matter?). Just got really into the new IG Prestige MP but notice a lot of attention on the PD Roddick (here and the internet in general). Lots of NRTP 5.0 comments seem to love it and obviously the Pros that use it. Intrigued by this, 4.5 myself. Can you go for hard flat winners with the PD Roddick? __________________ Contemplating next move... Last edited by Dgdavid : 02-10-2012 at 05:13 AM.

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