Carlos Alcaraz is using a stock Pure aero vs

Cas

New User
mind sharing a photo or link, I looked at high res photos for a good while and come up empty.
Same here. How much I would like the Alcaraz frame be the same as the stock VS :) There just seem to be very slight differences when you look at the photo's up close.
 

moon shot

Hall of Fame
for instance I would expect to see the raised dot pattern in one of these:

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-reacts-to-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422906378

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422904959

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-forcing-a-tiebreak-third-set-of-picture-id1422900022

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-reacts-to-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422872586

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422871051


And in the previous paint

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-during-the-barcelona-open-banc-sabadell-conde-picture-id1393439284

carlos-alcaraz-during-the-final-match-of-the-barcelona-open-banc-de-picture-id1240225261

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-a-point-against-cameron-norrie-of-picture-id1395597170

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-reacts-against-juan-ignacio-londero-of-in-picture-id1398695885

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-looks-on-against-tallon-griekspoor-of-during-picture-id1405862297


All I see are shadows and reflections of the strings in the area around the stripes in the inner hoop
 

colan5934

Professional
The dimples/pimples are only on the retail models. Pro stock (babolat calls them competition) models, don’t have them. They’re current or old retail frames made to more stringent quality control standards. Often, no specs on them or slightly different graphics too. A friend used to work high up for babolat and has confirmed this to me and even gotten pro stock frames for me from them…

basically, nothing to see here folks. He’s using the new gen aero vs mold. They just don’t put pimples on the pro stocks.
 

pico

Hall of Fame
The dimples/pimples are only on the retail models. Pro stock (babolat calls them competition) models, don’t have them. They’re current or old retail frames made to more stringent quality control standards. Often, no specs on them or slightly different graphics too. A friend used to work high up for babolat and has confirmed this to me and even gotten pro stock frames for me from them…

basically, nothing to see here folks. He’s using the new gen aero vs mold. They just don’t put pimples on the pro stocks.
so then it goes back to the fact that we dont know his specs since he is using a pro-stock?
 

Cas

New User
so then it goes back to the fact that we dont know his specs since he is using a pro-stock?
Indeed, I think that is the right conclusion. "Based" on a current stock frame but certainly not the same. There are ever so slight differences on these photo's that just don't resemble my stock VS's. We have no idea of what is underneath the paint (that by the way also does not resemble the paint on my VS's, ever so slightly different in colour and gloss...).
 

iceman_dl6

Professional
for instance I would expect to see the raised dot pattern in one of these:

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-reacts-to-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422906378

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422904959

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-forcing-a-tiebreak-third-set-of-picture-id1422900022

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-reacts-to-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422872586

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-a-point-against-casper-ruud-of-picture-id1422871051


And in the previous paint

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-during-the-barcelona-open-banc-sabadell-conde-picture-id1393439284

carlos-alcaraz-during-the-final-match-of-the-barcelona-open-banc-de-picture-id1240225261

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-a-point-against-cameron-norrie-of-picture-id1395597170

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-reacts-against-juan-ignacio-londero-of-in-picture-id1398695885

carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-looks-on-against-tallon-griekspoor-of-during-picture-id1405862297


All I see are shadows and reflections of the strings in the area around the stripes in the inner hoop

Not convinced, from those angles, I believe it isn’t close enough to conclude if they are dimples or not. I personally have a PAVS and I think they aren’t very raised enough for a camera to fully capture them unless it is a couple of inches away. Otherwise, highlights or shadows can take it away from the picture. I use to do a lot of photography on my sparetime. On the OP’s pic, I think I see a hint of dimples on 3oclock and below that (4:30 (between the 2 stripes)).
 

colan5934

Professional
so then it goes back to the fact that we dont know his specs since he is using a pro-stock?
Babolat competition/pro stock models come at retail specs just with tighter qc. Not lighter like head racquets or some Wilson layups. Pretty safe to assume that’s what he has when considering the spec reports that are circulating. Of course, he could have lead under the bumper but honestly does it matter?
 

colan5934

Professional
It’s their “Pure Feel” dampening system. Also, it’s an “anti-counterfeit” too.
All the marketing material initially for the “pure feel” was that the cortex/Pure feel was internal and not related to the pimples. Unless this has changed…
 
D

Deleted member 781523

Guest
Someone should buy mine, I’ve had a post up on the for sale section at a good price for a while with barely any interest ;)
 

iceman_dl6

Professional
@Babolat Official

Could you please shed some light?

Is Alcaraz’s actual racquet really the same as retail or is it a prostock?

Judging from his match pictures, we don’t see the dimples at 3 & 9 that is usually found on the retail model.
 

iceman_dl6

Professional
This thread is hilarious.

Agreed, honestly, I actually don’t give a ***** , as I like my PAVS for MY game and anyway, I always customize any racquet to MY liking. But, in another perspective, I hate that racquet companies are often dishonest to their customers. If Babolat admits that CA uses a prostock, I’d be 100% fine with it, it’s HIS racquet. Another example is FAA’s “Pure Aero” where it is VERY obvious he is using a 2016 Pure VS under the paint.
 

mtommer

Hall of Fame
But, in another perspective, I hate that racquet companies are often dishonest to their customers. If Babolat admits that CA uses a prostock, I’d be 100% fine with it, it’s HIS racquet.
This thread is exactly why they don't. This frame was barely selling and now, it will sell like crazy. Big money in "marketed perception".
 

Lambsscroll

Hall of Fame
In the January 2023 release of the Pure Aero 98 (a replacement of the Pure Aero VS), the grommets are more cylindrical-shaped, so the string does not move as much. This allows for a focus on precision for the "fast spin" player. this was in a Forbes article
 

Rob209

Rookie
Following on my post above, adding the lead at the inner v throat (4 grams), made the racquet more difficult to handle and gave me some wrist discomfort, has anyone added lead at 12 only, like 4 grams? How was the racquet feeling?
I have three PAVS. I found that I sometimes lost the feel of where the top of the racket was when returning serve.
I added 4g at 12 and 4g of putty inside the trapdoor. I think it’s a big improvement. Definitely more feel of where the racket tip is and inevitably a little more pop. Still nice and whippy. Overall, I’m very happy with the change.
 

iceman_dl6

Professional
For those wondering about the Babolat “dimples” , per link below, post #1623, the 2019 PA did have them while the RG version didn’t and both are retail versions. I believe both versions still had the dampening system (which is internal) and per Babolat Official, they didn’t bother adding those dimples on the RG version.

Therefore, I have a feeling the dimples are there for esthetic purposes to show where is the dampening system is at and for anti counterfeit purposes.

 

TennisCJC

Legend
Here's some food for thought. I currently have 2 Pure Aero VS, both uncustomized. They are currently strung with a Tecnifibre poly. One racket is SW328, the second racket is SW304. Keep in mind these are strung measurements.

It's most likely that he does have lead at 12 on his racket, not necessarily to increase the SW very high, but instead to at least match each of his racket to one another. So some rackets will have slightly more lead, some slightly less lead. It is much easier to add 2 in. of lead tape to match up the specs, than it is to manufacture the rackets all with the same exact specs.

geez, that is extremely bad QC. I have had rackets that differed by as much as 9 SW units but your rackets have a difference of 24 SW units. I agree though that it is highly likely that he is customizing his rackets. The premier stringing services used by the pros have customization and matching services and the top tier of ATP and WTA are using them.
 
All these questions on pro stock, dimples pimples, paint, etc, and TW is still putting Alcaraz under the regular Pure Aero section and not the VS?
 

McGradey

Hall of Fame
All these questions on pro stock, dimples pimples, paint, etc, and TW is still putting Alcaraz under the regular Pure Aero section and not the VS?

He is now endorsing the Pure Aero 98, which is not yet released to the consumer market. But he doesn't use the Aero VS paintjob any more, so that's probably why they have him in the main Aero section.
 
He is now endorsing the Pure Aero 98, which is not yet released to the consumer market. But he doesn't use the Aero VS paintjob any more, so that's probably why they have him in the main Aero section.

maybe this was discussed before, but is there going to be more than a cosmetic difference between the “98” and the current VS for the retail market?
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
This thread is hilarious.
I see this thread constantly pop-up in the pro player gear section and wonder to myself..
"What could there be left to discuss, the title says it all"
And yet it piques my curiosity and I click in to find out that....nothing
Just confirmed speculation
 

jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
If Force = Mass x Velocity, if you have less mass you will need more velocity/RHS.
Force = Mass x Acceleration

What this also means is that with the same force, a lighter object will accelerate faster. Intuitively you know this, the heavier the object, the more force you need to accelerate it
 

staryugi

Rookie
All pure aero vs in stock form have DIMPLES, Alcaraz's Pure aero VS has no DIMPLES, SO the answer of that big question is simple, maybe he's using a pure aero vs with lower specs ( or not ) etc etc etc...., but guys he's not using the pure aero vs we find in stores !
 

Lambsscroll

Hall of Fame
All pure aero vs in stock form have DIMPLES, Alcaraz's Pure aero VS has no DIMPLES, SO the answer of that big question is simple, maybe he's using a pure aero vs with lower specs ( or not ) etc etc etc...., but guys he's not using the pure aero vs we find in stores !
yep, not anymore but back in 2020 when he was 17 years old he was.
 
Force = Mass x Acceleration

What this also means is that with the same force, a lighter object will accelerate faster. Intuitively you know this, the heavier the object, the more force you need to accelerate it
With heavy racquet you use the inertia of it, not force...
 
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