**The PURE DRIVE 2012 Forum (club)**

[JackB1]

Are all of you PD users pure baseline bashers? I hang at the baseline a lot but also mix in some all court game. I use lots of droppers and plays lots of dubs too. I am worried that the PD may not have enough touch and feel for me. But my Warrior is supposed to be the same class of racquet and I have no problems at all with touch shots, so I hope my worries are not warranted.

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by JackB1

Are all of you PD users pure baseline bashers? I hang at the baseline a lot but also mix in some all court game. I use lots of droppers and plays lots of dubs too. I am worried that the PD may not have enough touch and feel for me. But my Warrior is supposed to be the same class of racquet and I have no problems at all with touch shots, so I hope my worries are not warranted.

Jack, Warrior is better for drop shots for me especially those little backhand ones as you run in. I need to adjust still though. Slice is a little floaty for me too but again, might be a fine level of adjustment. About to play a Box League match with the PD in hand for the first time (all others with Prestige or Warrior).

[Power Player]

I can hit drop shots and lobs just fine with the pd. you can play any style with it.

[Nostradamus]

I am buying one for sure. Would you guys say, the vibration dampening is better with this new version or worse ?

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I can hit drop shots and lobs just fine with the pd. you can play any style with it.

I agree, my own comment is based on the relative strength vs the Warrior on drops - Warrior edges it for me but nothing in it.

Still liking the PD a lot. I don't think the PD has an actual weakness. I made a statement on the Warrior thread that I liked it because it was like a B+ in all areas. By comparison, the PD (for me anyway) is an A in a lot of areas (forehand, serve, return) and at least a B+ elsewhere (still getting used to lower plow through on BH slice with this category of rackets). I suspect my opinion of the PD will improve further from that in time. Both are damn fine rackets but PD is half a notch up in enough areas for it to be decisive.

ps. had my best ever win tonight with the PD. 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 against a player I was given no chance against...

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by BC1

I will be playing in a singles and doubles tournament this weekend.

How did it go? Did you and PD perform well?

[DrewRafter8]

Originally Posted by tennisnut09

DrewRafter, You must try it. It has very good control spin and power. The top spin serve is crazy. I can also flat it with this string when I need it. If you play a lot of single, BHB7 is the one. For double, I like the hybrid a little bit more/the volley. I may go for 54 full bed the next time. How is the tour bite on this PDR? What tension do you like the best? I still have a set 1.20 that I am going to try next. I've used to have the tour bite on my previous racket (prestige MP at 52) and I like it very much.

I tried a full set of 16L Tour Bite today. I strung it up too high though. Felt solid but I strung it up at 47/45 and probably went five pounds too high. I figure the next time I play the tension will have dropped enough for me to like it a bit better. I'm still looking for a string to wow me in this racquet. Twisted Razor and Typhoon were awesome in my APDC+'s but I didn't care for the Razor in the Black Drive+. I'm going to drop the tension in the next racquet I string then I'm going to try BHB7. I'm thinking I'll order it, Blue Typhoon, and maybe B5E or the PLII Evo to try.

On a side note, lead at 12 is the way to go on this thing. I'm at 329 grams and it's perfect. I've been able to click with all aspects of my game with this stick. The stability is excellent compared to the APDC+ that I came from. I've always put a good swing on the ball and this Black Drive+ certainly doesn't make me miss the hollow feel of the APDC+.

[Power Player]

Drew we have the exact same setup..lol. That's awesome. With that lead at 12 the stick feels like a hammer doesn't it?

Im guessing the swingweight is in the 330s but not sure.

[OTMPut]

Originally Posted by JackB1

Are all of you PD users pure baseline bashers? I hang at the baseline a lot but also mix in some all court game. I use lots of droppers and plays lots of dubs too. I am worried that the PD may not have enough touch and feel for me. But my Warrior is supposed to be the same class of racquet and I have no problems at all with touch shots, so I hope my worries are not warranted.

I play S&V and try and come to net all the time. PD was great in the sense that i manage to get weak returns on serves and that made my holding serves a bit easier. I think i hit some of the crispiest volleys with this racquet.

I am struggling a bit with the too much power on fh and a tad sloppiness (seems like a lot of racquet on the hand) on the 1hbh.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by OTMPut

I play S&V and try and come to net all the time. PD was great in the sense that i manage to get weak returns on serves and that made my holding serves a bit easier. I think i hit some of the crispiest volleys with this racquet.

I am struggling a bit with the too much power on fh and a tad sloppiness (seems like a lot of racquet on the hand) on the 1hbh.

How is yours strung?

[keithfival]

Originally Posted by DrewRafter8

I tried a full set of 16L Tour Bite today. I strung it up too high though. Felt solid but I strung it up at 47/45 and probably went five pounds too high. I figure the next time I play the tension will have dropped enough for me to like it a bit better. I'm still looking for a string to wow me in this racquet. Twisted Razor and Typhoon were awesome in my APDC+'s but I didn't care for the Razor in the Black Drive+. I'm going to drop the tension in the next racquet I string then I'm going to try BHB7. I'm thinking I'll order it, Blue Typhoon, and maybe B5E or the PLII Evo to try.

On a side note, lead at 12 is the way to go on this thing. I'm at 329 grams and it's perfect. I've been able to click with all aspects of my game with this stick. The stability is excellent compared to the APDC+ that I came from. I've always put a good swing on the ball and this Black Drive+ certainly doesn't make me miss the hollow feel of the APDC+.

How would you rate the comfort level of the Black Drive vs the APDC+? The APDC+ is always wearing on me one way or another, wrist, shoulder, neck. The new PD felt much more solid/cushy when I hit for 20 minutes but I wonder if in the long run it would be the same. What's your experience?

[Federerkblade]

guys quickie lead at 12 , how much have you addded and in what length strips and what effect has it had on the raquet, increased swingweight plus power ?

[Power Player]

Add 2 grams of lead at 12 every week. Don't do it all at once. It gives a sledgehammer feel and awesome power.

[JackB1]

why the need to add lead? Does the racquet feel too light and "whippy" in stock form?

[ArliHawk]

So excited to pick mine up tomorrow, just hope I don't like it so much more than my APDGT that I feel like I need to pick a 2nd one up.

After replacing the 3/8 syntec on my APDGT with skin feel, I went with the 1/4 on the PD and will use my trusty gamma overgrip. Does anyone else size down on this racquet?

[CBORNANCINI]

Well, I have played with the PDR. The racket is great, I have control and power in full measure. I agree that the paintjob is the best of all time and versions, as well as the racket. And it provides much spin. As I play on clay courts, it is a dream!

[OTMPut]

Originally Posted by JackB1

How is yours strung?

PHT17 @ 50 lbs. Been about 6-8 hrs of play, so should be looser.
I have 2g lead at 12 and roughly equivalent on the handle near the buttcap.

Initially i had full bed of vs gut at 50.

Next trial is with a hybrid.

I was on the verge of giving this up. But i think i will give it a fair try.

[dkent]

#Aril hawk_ I bought my regular size #3 grip but took off that spongy syntax grip for a leather one. The racket seems to be a true fit with this. So you are on the right track but I wouldn't down size it unless you are prepared to add a couple layers to it.

How many ppl are playing the reg PD compared to the PDR

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by dkent

#Aril hawk_ I bought my regular size #3 grip but took off that spongy syntax grip for a leather one. The racket seems to be a true fit with this. So you are on the right track but I wouldn't down size it unless you are prepared to add a couple layers to it.

How many ppl are playing the reg PD compared to the PDR

I have found the Babolats to be 1/2 a grip size larger than others. So if you remove the Syntec for a Skin Feel grip, it should be true to size. If you want to keep the Syntec then it might be better to go down 1 size, then to stay with your normal size.

[ArliHawk]

Originally Posted by JackB1

I have found the Babolats to be 1/2 a grip size larger than others. So if you remove the Syntec for a Skin Feel grip, it should be true to size. If you want to keep the Syntec then it might be better to go down 1 size, then to stay with your normal size.

That's what I did. Going to with the 1/4 and add my Supreme Grip.

With my APDGT's, I need up swapping out for skin feels and put an over grip on it. Think keeping the syntec and putting on my over grip will be about the same size.