Are the Hoops of Aeropro drive and Aeropro Lite THE SAME?

[user92626]

In term of weights?

I think they are the same. They just remove the weight from the handle to make it light. As a result the lite is only 1 point HL.

My friend sold me the lite for cheap but I'm always a regular aeropro drive guy. Can I customize the lite's handle to achieve the regular's weight and feels? 90% similar is fine.

 

[esgee48]

Pretty sure it is more than removing weight from the handle to make an APD become an APD Lite. I suspect that the layups used in making the frames are slightly different. You could try adding a thin leather grip to see what happens. Also try entering the average specs for the APD Lite into TWU's racquet customizer and point it towards the APD. See if it can come up with lead placements. However, I suspect that the frames will not feel the same.

 

[robbo1970]

There's quite a bit of difference in weight.

You'd need about 4.5g of lead at 12 to get the swing weight up to that of the APD and then still need to add around 30g towards the handle to reach the static weight and HL balance.

However, you could actually consider this as your 'pro stock' APD and have a play around with a few different lay-ups to get the spec where you like it.

Have you tried it in stock form?

 

[RalphJ]

I think one of the hoops is lighter than the other.

 

[user92626]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Well I have come out and hit extensively with my new Aeropro Lite which has 8 grams of lead tape fashioned on top of the handle (under the Babolat rubber band) and a big chunk of putty inside the buttcap to make it weigh 321 grams total. I put a pencil thru the necks of the Lite and my regular aeropro drive and they tilt the same degree!!!

Strung the Lite at 148lbs vs my usual 52lbs on the regular.

The Lite hits A LOT stiffer (and more uncomfortable) than my aeropro drive cortex!! However it does offer a bit more power.

There's not enough performance gain to justify the purchase. It's just a newer looking Aeropro. I guess that is that!!!!!

Now I need to update my bag to a Babolat.

 

[Zielmann]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Well I have come out and hit extensively with my new Aeropro Lite which has 8 grams of lead tape fashioned on top of the handle (under the Babolat rubber band) and a big chunk of putty inside the buttcap to make it weigh 321 grams total. I put a pencil thru the necks of the Lite and my regular aeropro drive and they tilt the same degree!!!

Strung the Lite at 148lbs vs my usual 52lbs on the regular.

The Lite hits A LOT stiffer (and more uncomfortable) than my aeropro drive cortex!! However it does offer a bit more power.

There's not enough performance gain to justify the purchase. It's just a newer looking Aeropro. I guess that is that!!!!!

Now I need to update my bag to a Babolat.

148 lbs tension would certainly make it play a lot stiffer

Interesting exercise nonetheless. Sometimes I have wondered if the Lite versions of frames (where the physical dimensions are identical) are actually any different in the hoop. Generally, I've just assumed they probably were and left it at that. Good experiment!

 

[user92626]

Ooopsss. it's 48 lbs.

The lite is 2 HH whereas my cortex is 7 HL. I figure more wt at the handle would make things alike.

Lite is 300 sw and the regular is 315 sw. Question is ...can you increase SW by adding weights at the handle beyond the midpoint? I think so.

 

[RanchDressing]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Well I have come out and hit extensively with my new Aeropro Lite which has 8 grams of lead tape fashioned on top of the handle (under the Babolat rubber band) and a big chunk of putty inside the buttcap to make it weigh 321 grams total. I put a pencil thru the necks of the Lite and my regular aeropro drive and they tilt the same degree!!!

Strung the Lite at 148lbs vs my usual 52lbs on the regular.

The Lite hits A LOT stiffer (and more uncomfortable) than my aeropro drive cortex!! However it does offer a bit more power.

There's not enough performance gain to justify the purchase. It's just a newer looking Aeropro. I guess that is that!!!!!

Now I need to update my bag to a Babolat.

When you say it hit's stiffer, that's just because the recoil weight is so much lower. That's the difference you feel. If you put the same sw on both, balance and static, you probably would barely feel the difference. As they would have the same recoil weight.

For a period I looked for a 2012 APD Team GT, as that frame has a low twistweight, similar to the apdC. Twistweight changes power, and maneuverability. So in some cases the team is a better idea than others, even for advanced players looking for 340+Swingweights.

 

[user92626]

Ranch,

Can you explain this recoil weight? I am not sure I understand what it is and how its role in the swing. Thanks.