TW says they have different weights but the factory site says they weigh the same - 10.6 oz. Swing weights look about the same. I've read the TW reviews but they don't give a head-to-head. Do they generally play the same? I'd love to demo a PD Cortex locally but the store I frequent only had the APD cortex. Loved it and was able to absolutely crack the ball and put much more on shots hit behind me compared to my K90. I'm one of the posers referred to so affectionately by another member. Truth be told, I play fine against the 3.5 level player or softer hitting 4.0 with the K90 but I have a hard time consistently hitting with with enough depth and pace to finish points against hard hitting 4.0+ players (yes, I've read the 'racket' post). I can hit out with much more confidence and make vertical corrections prior to contact more easily with the lighter racket. So will the two Babolats in question in their stock form feel and play the same? I'm thinking about getting one of these in the next week or so.
APD Cortex vs. PD Cortex
- Thread starter need2bfit
- Start date
T
TennisandMusic
Guest
I'd say no not at all. Even though they are similar in construction, I dont think the PD hits anything like the APD. You just have to play both to get it. I hit a much flatter trajectory with the PDR for example, than I do with the APD, and this is utilizing the same swing. For my money, the PDR is a better overall playing stick...
I was thinking about the PDR but I wanted to have more flexibility to adjust up in weight as necessary. I tried the PDR yesterday too and, as you might imagine, it felt light compared to what I'm used to. Maybe I'm just enamored with lightness right now but I felt invisible with the APD. No joke, it was sort of shocking after playing with a K90 for almost a year.
The PD and APD have totally different feelings. Although they have similar weights and materials, the throat and hoop design in the APD, in my opinion, are much flexier perpendicular to the face and much stiffer in the plane of the face, and make that racquet better for ground strokes but worse for big flat serves.
Forehand Forever
Professional
I felt the APD had way more power than my PD.
Micky
Semi-Pro
Hola need,
The APDC is the racquet to go for if:
You like mega topspin (backhand or forehand), deep slices, powerful volleys, perfect overheads, killer drop shots and excellent net play. If you want to have flat serves... you have to go for at least two grams of lead @ 12.
The PDC is the racquet for you if:
You like crazy flat serve and baseline play.
Both racquets are awesome to play with. I just feel that the APDC lets me play more of an all round game. Just like I used to play table tennis. I do play in clay courts though.
My good friend plays with the PDC and he has lowered his string tension and he is having a great time with topspin as well. Now he can lift those slow short balls over the net (ala Nadal) jejeje. We both play with Pro Hurricane and Conquest.
Anyways... good luck to you, you will enjoy either racquet... and check the Alliance thread for some interesting posts and pictures regarding Babolats.
Thank you all for replying. OK, got a killer deal on the APDC and had to go for it. I can't believe what this thing can do. I almost feel like I'm cheating with it. It's insane. I would like a little more pop on serves but it's not bad stock. Time to experiment with some lead tape to dial it in. Thanks again and great tip about the other thread. I'll check it out.
D
Deleted member 19728
Guest
I hit last night with both my aerostorm and my pdr+, I noticed my slice with the aerostorm is terrible, it just hangs in the air and screams please put me away with a winner! But I can really hit a nice low bouncing slice backhand with the pdr or with the k90 (the k90 is near godly for this shot). I noticed the same exact thing with the apdc. What is it about the design of the aero racquets that seems to be causing me problems with my onehanded backhand slice? I think it has somethind to do with the balance of the racquets, but the aerosotrm is head light. I get great kick on kick serves though, so I am somewhat flabbergasted as to what it could be. But to be honest it is only a minor annoyance, as I tend to knock the tar out of the ball instead of hitting slice and drop shots when I play with the aero frames. Just my two cents- hahahaha
I agree that the K90 can pretty much slice the snot out of the ball and I can place the ball in a tea cup across the net, but I thought the APDC was pretty solid with the slicing too.
doctor dennis
Semi-Pro
I`ve just finshed demoing these two rackets and i hate the APDC. I play with lots of topspin but i could not control where i was putting the ball. Serving was also poor in my opinion. Its odd because this racket should really suit my game but it just didn`t. The PDC i thought i wouldn`t like but its possibly the next racket i will buy if i dont like the RDS 003 i have got to demo. Serving was awesome and in the month i have played with it i have hit with lots of power with great control and hit very few ue`s. I thought it would have been the other way round with these two prior to demoing them.
It just shows it pays to demo cos everyone has a different opinion on things.
It just shows it pays to demo cos everyone has a different opinion on things.
Micky
Semi-Pro
Hola doctor,
You might need to check the strings in the APDC. You are the only one that complained about topspin placement. REALLY. What is your rating? If Nadal can have killer spins...so do you.
doctor dennis
Semi-Pro
A solid 4.0. Its not that i have trouble adding spin to the ball, it was just keeping it in. I found it to be far too powerful and i had to adjust my strokes. It could have been the strings but i`m just not at all keen on it.
nickb
Banned
I really liked the APDC when I used it for a few sets....lots of power, spin, nice volleys/overheads and serves bombs. The power was always there but it didnt feel like the PDR (which felt like a rocket launcher to me). From what I could tell it is a big improvement over the old APD and plays better than the Pure Drive Cortex...it feels more solid.
Nick
Nick
Forehand Forever
Professional
I've tried the original APD and the APDC and both felt way too powerful on the serve. The APDC had way to much power on everything. My forehands were hitting the fence. Compared to my PDC where I have a much easier time hitting even though the properties of the racquets are similar.
PED
Legend
I own both PDR and apdc, and have to give the nod to the pdr. Dr Dennis, I would check your strings in the apdc-it was born to play with poly to tame the power. What grip are you using, the spin is really good on the apdc with an SW or W grip. I prefer the PDR in the end because of the extra weight gives a little more easy depth and the control is still good from the baseline. I even like it at net. The PDR seems to be that "perfect" weight just below 12 oz. I play with an aerostorm sometimes and I really like it but I can't whip it's 12.1oz weight around like I can with the PDR and it's 11.8oz. BTW, I've got my APDC leaded up to 11.8 but it's still not as solid feeling as my PDR at the same weight.
doctor dennis
Semi-Pro
PED, The strings in the APDC are the standard strings it is supplied with and have probably lost a lot of tension but this is the second time i`ve had this racket to demo for a month and i still didn`t like it. It just does not feel right. I feel like i have to think about my game more instead of just going out there and swinging away. I agree a higher tension and some poly`s would tone down the power but i still think i wont like it. I used my coaches PDR for an hour during training and that was a really good racket. It only took a few minutes to get used to but i found it suited my game well. I just cant find a local shop by me to demo one from.
PED
Legend
I know what you mean....you either like something or you don't. I probably would not play with a stock apdc either now,but you really should try the pdr some more. I really like that stick. I've got big ace poly mains at 55 and titan syn gut crosses at 57 and it's perfect. From your comments, I think you might be happier with the pdr. Let us know how it goes.
T
TennisandMusic
Guest
You like that Titan syn. gut PED? I was thinking of picking up a reel...is it pretty close to black?
PED
Legend
Jared: I love the titan. I use it to cross with everything. 2 things to remember: 1. Tne colour is nowhere close to black, it's def a grey shade and 2. It's a very soft syn gut, almost multi like. I prefer that kind of feel but I just wanted you to know that before you order. BTW, I got a PDR now as well. I'm as bad as you now 
We've got PDR, PST, Aerostorm, and APDC now in the house. Man, I just love that PDR!
We've got PDR, PST, Aerostorm, and APDC now in the house. Man, I just love that PDR!
T
TennisandMusic
Guest
Jared: I love the titan. I use it to cross with everything. 2 things to remember: 1. Tne colour is nowhere close to black, it's def a grey shade and 2. It's a very soft syn gut, almost multi like. I prefer that kind of feel but I just wanted you to know that before you order. BTW, I got a PDR now as well. I'm as bad as you now
Yeah I personally prefer the PDR to the Aeropro Drive by a wide margin. I just seem to have better overall control, and a greater sense of the fact that I get out what I put in...The PDR can really deliver some crushing blows.
