PD vs APD

Bergboy123 · Jan 27, 2012

Hey. So I'm a total rookie at racket things.

In short, could someone provide me with a summary of pros/cons of the Babolat APD vs PD? And anything about the PD 2012 would be nice too!

Thanks!

Bartelby · Jan 27, 2012

the tw reviews basically say it all and there are numerous other threads that advance the argument somewhat more

Chyeaah · Jan 27, 2012

Point Proven. Babolat is overrated. O.P knows nothing about racquet then BAM he wants a babolat.

quest01 · Jan 27, 2012

There really isn't a huge difference between both racquets except for minor spec difference and the aerodynamic shaft on the apd. Personally I use the apdgt leaded up to around 12oz. I've tried many different racquets and I've found the apdgt to suit my game the best, but everyone's different.

Teski · Jan 27, 2012

Chyeaah said:
Point Proven. Babolat is overrated. O.P knows nothing about racquet then BAM he wants a babolat.

That has nothing to do with being overrated. It means that Babolat's marketing is top notch, and the fact that those two rackets are top sellers means that they show up at most clubs. When I came back after 9 years off tennis, I looked around my club and saw a ton of APD's and PD's, so naturally I asked about them and tested them.

Just because they aren't for you doesn't mean that they're overrated. That's like an Android user saying an iPhone is overrated or vice versa.

Chyeaah · Jan 27, 2012

Teski said:
That has nothing to do with being overrated. It means that Babolat's marketing is top notch, and the fact that those two rackets are top sellers means that they show up at most clubs. When I came back after 9 years off tennis, I looked around my club and saw a ton of APD's and PD's, so naturally I asked about them and tested them.

Just because they aren't for you doesn't mean that they're overrated. That's like an Android user saying an iPhone is overrated or vice versa.

They are actually overrated. They just have alot of pro's endorsing them. The Pure drive feels hollow and tinny. The APD is nothing good except for spin. The only good racquets they have is the Pure Storm line. Other than that, Dunlop, Head, Wilson, Prince (only like 2 frames) and Yonex are way better than Babolat. Without any pro's endorsing Babolat's no-one would use them, they have no feel and they feel very very stiff. Other racquets that have a high stiffness rating don't feel nearly as stiff

jorel · Jan 27, 2012

the difference is roddick uses one and nadal uses the other

its marketing to make money on two racquets rather than one

nadal actually grew up using the pure drive but when he made it big,...babalot gave him his own racquet

they already had andy using the pd

personally marketing aside...i would use the pd roddick

it gets some of the highest ratings in the reviews

Boricua · Jan 27, 2012

quest01 said:
There really isn't a huge difference between both racquets except for minor spec difference and the aerodynamic shaft on the apd. Personally I use the apdgt leaded up to around 12oz. I've tried many different racquets and I've found the apdgt to suit my game the best, but everyone's different.

What is the advantage of leading it up? Doesnt it feel slower and more sluggish?

Boricua · Jan 27, 2012

Aeropro is better for whipping type, fast aggresive topspin strokes. More maneuvarable. Pure Drive Roddick better serving racket, specially flat.

I prefer the Aeropro

Teski · Jan 27, 2012

Chyeaah said:
They are actually overrated. They just have alot of pro's endorsing them. The Pure drive feels hollow and tinny. The APD is nothing good except for spin. The only good racquets they have is the Pure Storm line. Other than that, Dunlop, Head, Wilson, Prince (only like 2 frames) and Yonex are way better than Babolat. Without any pro's endorsing Babolat's no-one would use them, they have no feel and they feel very very stiff. Other racquets that have a high stiffness rating don't feel nearly as stiff

I think Head and Wilson have more pros pimping their gear than Babolat does and I see far more overhype on these forums for 6.1's, Prestiges, and the like than I do for the APD. It's all about what works for you and customers eventually speak with their $$$. You clearly have a thing against Babolat, but that doesn't mean they make a bad product.

Yourtenniscoach · Jan 27, 2012

Chyeaah said:
They are actually overrated. They just have alot of pro's endorsing them. The Pure drive feels hollow and tinny. The APD is nothing good except for spin. The only good racquets they have is the Pure Storm line. Other than that, Dunlop, Head, Wilson, Prince (only like 2 frames) and Yonex are way better than Babolat. Without any pro's endorsing Babolat's no-one would use them, they have no feel and they feel very very stiff. Other racquets that have a high stiffness rating don't feel nearly as stiff

You are contradicting your own argument. How can something be overrated if they have a lot of professionals using them? Just becuase you don't like Babolat personally doesn't mean they're bad. They may not be your thing but that doesn't mean they aren't for someone else. To each his own with provolone!

Top Jimmy · Jan 27, 2012

I love my APD for groundies and volley's but I can't serve with it to save my life. Demo'd about 7 rackets over the last 3 weeks and I began bombing serves again but I can't seem to adjust my ground strokes to these other rackets.

Demo'd Head Prestige IG MP, Radical IG MP, Speed 300, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson 6.1 BLX, Yonex 95D, and a couple others. They all felt different in various ways, mostly good. Head's are the best serving rackets on the market IMO. I used to swear by Wilson most of my life, don't see me ever going back, don't like any of them anymore.

user92626 · Jan 27, 2012

Saying these rackets overrated in a way implies that the population are stupid. They overflate something beyond its worth. Are you smarter than a majority?

These rackets are great and product of genius ideas. They accommodate the widest range of levels, and Babolat is gutsy to pay out so much for pro's endorsement. Why couldn't other companies do the same?

quest01 · Jan 27, 2012

Boricua said:
What is the advantage of leading it up? Doesnt it feel slower and more sluggish?

The apd stock weight is a little too light for so I have it leaded up to 12oz with 2 layers of 4 inch strips at the 3 and 9. The feel is enhanced by quite a bit with this setup, there is more feel and touch on ground strokes and volleys.

MLB_MOB · Jan 27, 2012

if you are a rookie at racquets don't use a babolat. Use either the wilson pro open/juice series or head instinct or extreme. They are the same racquets but much easier on the arm and they have a good amount of feel. Babolats really are crap, the ones you see pros using aren't the same as the retail racquets. They are A LOT SOFTER!!!

Teski · Jan 27, 2012

MLB_MOB said:
Babolats really are crap, the ones you see pros using aren't the same as the retail racquets. They are A LOT SOFTER!!!

And your evidence and proof is? I always love these 'x is crap' and 'I know exactly what the pros use' statements.

BobFL · Jan 27, 2012

Teski said:
And your evidence and proof is? I always love these 'x is crap' and 'I know exactly what the pros use' statements.

I do have Moya's personal frame and it truly is considerably softer than any retail PD I tried (swirly, team, cortex, gt...)

OnyxZ28 · Jan 27, 2012

Wasn't Moya's frame a modded Soft Drive?

BobFL · Jan 27, 2012

OnyxZ28 said:
Wasn't Moya's frame a modded Soft Drive?

Not sure. You can check it out here. I also had Roddick's PD and it also was a lot softer than retail...

ArliHawk · Jan 27, 2012

Top Jimmy said:
I love my APD for groundies and volley's but I can't serve with it to save my life. Demo'd about 7 rackets over the last 3 weeks and I began bombing serves again but I can't seem to adjust my ground strokes to these other rackets.

Demo'd Head Prestige IG MP, Radical IG MP, Speed 300, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson 6.1 BLX, Yonex 95D, and a couple others. They all felt different in various ways, mostly good. Head's are the best serving rackets on the market IMO. I used to swear by Wilson most of my life, don't see me ever going back, don't like any of them anymore.

Weird, I absolutely love mine for serving. It's always fun to see what everyone's different experiences are. To me, that's what it is so neat about this board.

MLB_MOB · Jan 27, 2012

Teski said:
And your evidence and proof is? I always love these 'x is crap' and 'I know exactly what the pros use' statements.

BobFL said:
Not sure. You can check it out here. I also had Roddick's PD and it also was a lot softer than retail...

Yup! And roddicks frame is a lot softer idk the user's name but they got 2 of roddicks personal racquets and did a review on them. They had a stiffness of 52 and felt a lot different than the retail version. If babolat sold racquets that were like andy's I wouldnt have any complaint. But for your money there are better racquets out their than babolats.

Gracias BobFL

Chyeaah · Jan 27, 2012

Yourtenniscoach said:
You are contradicting your own argument. How can something be overrated if they have a lot of professionals using them? Just becuase you don't like Babolat personally doesn't mean they're bad. They may not be your thing but that doesn't mean they aren't for someone else. To each his own with provolone!

Go to a highschool team and you will see. All the bad people play with babolats. The good team doesn't have any PDs/APDs among them. One of them has a PST.

All the players in the D Team just think that buying an APD will increase your spin 3 times, when they buy it they rage that they always airswing and time their hit wrong.

Bergboy123 · Jan 27, 2012

I didn't really intent for this to turn into this debate about Babolat or anything.. Haha sorry

Forgot that this place is full of TWers rofl

MLB_MOB · Jan 27, 2012

Chyeaah said:
Go to a highschool team and you will see. All the bad people play with babolats. The good team doesn't have any PDs/APDs among them. One of them has a PST.

All the players in the D Team just think that buying an APD will increase your spin 3 times, when they buy it they rage that they always airswing and time their hit wrong.

I dont agree with that, plenty of great college players use stock babolats, but they always b!tch about how they break all the time and then go buy more :-?
I was just saying there are better racquets out there in terms of quality

Chyeaah · Jan 27, 2012

MLB_MOB said:
I dont agree with that, plenty of great college players use stock babolats, but they always b!tch about how they break all the time and then go buy more :-?
I was just saying there are better racquets out there in terms of quality

I agree that plenty of college players use babolats. APD's and PD's don't break as much as Pure Storms. So the college players are using more Pure storms since they complain about breaking. The Pure Storms is a very good line from babolat. The APD's on the otherhand are overrated and called the "best" stick by highschool players, maybe when you get older their not overrated but in highschool everyone's like, PDR = Instant bomb serves. APD = super topspin, however this is not the case, technique is more important.

Miso · Jan 28, 2012

Chyeaah said:
Go to a highschool team and you will see. All the bad people play with babolats. The good team doesn't have any PDs/APDs among them. One of them has a PST.

All the players in the D Team just think that buying an APD will increase your spin 3 times, when they buy it they rage that they always airswing and time their hit wrong.

Nah, not true. There is a national ranked player (100s) at a nearby high school and he uses the PD. He's really good too. So, no. Not exactly true.

Chyeaah · Jan 28, 2012

find the other 90% of highschool kids who want to play like Nadal so they buy a APD. It is definately overated in highschool.

I'm not saying their bad, I'm just saying that their not the "best" as all the highschoolers perceive them to be.

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