akilbourne
New User
I have been demoing new rackets over the past few weeks and have a question about racket flex and string tension. First I grew up playing competitive tennis and played at least 3-5 times per week in my youth with a Dunlop Maxply. Since then, I pick up the game about every 10 years and play for about 5 years at a time. I am now 48. So I currently do not have a racket I would consider “my racket.” 10 years ago I played with a Wilson Hyper hammer 5.1, which sucks. So when I recently started back I started seriously demoing rackets. In the last 3 weeks I have demoed 4 rackets per week and each played about 6 hours of tennis) mostly Friday-Sunday). I have played with the following rackets:
Manufacturer Racket Headsize StrungWeight SwingWeight Balance Flex
Wilson KsixOne Team Mid+ 95 10.9 325 1 pt HL 59
Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 95 Stretch 95 9 301 8 pts HH 70
Babolat Drive Z Lite 100 9.8 312 6 pts HH 67
Babolat XS 102 Mid+ 102 10 322 4 pts HH 66
Babolat Aero Strike Mid+ 100 10.2 314 2 pts HH 61
Babolat Pure Storm 98 10.9 312 3 pts HL 62
Wilson Kpro Team FX 100 10.4 307 1 pt HL 66
Babolat AeroPro Drive Cortex 100 11.3 324 5 pts HL 67
Head MicroGel radical Team 102 10.7 311 1 pt HL 60
Wilson K Tour Team FX 102 10.3 315 1 pt HL 62
Out of these rackets I only like 2 Babolats – The Aero Strike and the AeroPro Drive both with Cortex. Both of these rackets play insanely well compared to the rest I have tried. I seem to play better with rackets that are more “player rackets.” Anything designed to give an edge goes way long and no control. The only Wilson I liked was the KsixOne team but it did not give the "pop" that the Babolats did.
The AerPro Drive crushes topsin shots that land at the service line and die. I can work any angle in the court from side to side and front to back. I can also hit shots that come in low or high and play them where I want them to go. The Aero Strike is almost as nice on my forehand but does not produce as much topspin. High Balls are hard to handle with this racket. I also tend to hit this racket very deep and sometimes long. It does play slightly better on my backhand which is nice and I am consistent with it. For medium pace shots this plays well but if someone is driving pace this racket does not handle it as well as the Aeropro Drive (not sure I need to worry given I will be playing in the 50 and up crowd in 1 ½ years).
No for the meat of my question, I am starting to feel a little arm pain and do not know if it is because I have been hitting 2000-3000 balls per weekend or is it one of the rackets. I have also demoed a ton of rackets that had heavy vibration although I recognized that quickly and stopped playing them. There is a slightly more vibration on the AeroPro Drive (67 flex) than the Aero Strike (61 flex). Because of the arm pain I am wondering if the AeroPro is too stiff. My estimated setup for these 2 rackets would be as follows:
I will play gut in either. I grew up on gut and just love it. That and it is better for the arm so I see it as 2 wins.
AeroPro Drive w/Cortex (flex 67). I hit this racket short so I would string it 2 lbs light of mid tension in the range. That would give me a tad more distance and should also reduce some vibration.
Aero Strike w/Cortex (flex 61). I tend to hit this racket long and if I am not paying attention balls will just fly to the fence. If I am concentrating hard and add a little more whip on my forehand I can control it well in the court, but cannot generate the topspin of the Aeropro Drive. So I am thinking this needs to be strung about 2 lbs heavy of the mid range to slow down the ball and add some control. This will however, increase the vibrations from the racket.
So my dilemma is if I get the stiffer racket (weighs more and is head light) and string it softer or the more flexible racket (weight less and is head heavy) and string it stronger are they becoming the same in terms of arm health. Or am I over thinking this and my arm is just hurting because I have playing some much, so quickly after a 10 year hiatus. My other thought is try the Aero Storm (flex 65), I will demo it next.
I am sorry for the long post but would really like some help. I have found many posts about the Babolat Pure Drive and arm problems but none on the Aeropro and no reviews at all on the Aero Strike, So I am looking for some advice.
Thx,
Drew
Manufacturer Racket Headsize StrungWeight SwingWeight Balance Flex
Wilson KsixOne Team Mid+ 95 10.9 325 1 pt HL 59
Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 95 Stretch 95 9 301 8 pts HH 70
Babolat Drive Z Lite 100 9.8 312 6 pts HH 67
Babolat XS 102 Mid+ 102 10 322 4 pts HH 66
Babolat Aero Strike Mid+ 100 10.2 314 2 pts HH 61
Babolat Pure Storm 98 10.9 312 3 pts HL 62
Wilson Kpro Team FX 100 10.4 307 1 pt HL 66
Babolat AeroPro Drive Cortex 100 11.3 324 5 pts HL 67
Head MicroGel radical Team 102 10.7 311 1 pt HL 60
Wilson K Tour Team FX 102 10.3 315 1 pt HL 62
Out of these rackets I only like 2 Babolats – The Aero Strike and the AeroPro Drive both with Cortex. Both of these rackets play insanely well compared to the rest I have tried. I seem to play better with rackets that are more “player rackets.” Anything designed to give an edge goes way long and no control. The only Wilson I liked was the KsixOne team but it did not give the "pop" that the Babolats did.
The AerPro Drive crushes topsin shots that land at the service line and die. I can work any angle in the court from side to side and front to back. I can also hit shots that come in low or high and play them where I want them to go. The Aero Strike is almost as nice on my forehand but does not produce as much topspin. High Balls are hard to handle with this racket. I also tend to hit this racket very deep and sometimes long. It does play slightly better on my backhand which is nice and I am consistent with it. For medium pace shots this plays well but if someone is driving pace this racket does not handle it as well as the Aeropro Drive (not sure I need to worry given I will be playing in the 50 and up crowd in 1 ½ years).
No for the meat of my question, I am starting to feel a little arm pain and do not know if it is because I have been hitting 2000-3000 balls per weekend or is it one of the rackets. I have also demoed a ton of rackets that had heavy vibration although I recognized that quickly and stopped playing them. There is a slightly more vibration on the AeroPro Drive (67 flex) than the Aero Strike (61 flex). Because of the arm pain I am wondering if the AeroPro is too stiff. My estimated setup for these 2 rackets would be as follows:
I will play gut in either. I grew up on gut and just love it. That and it is better for the arm so I see it as 2 wins.
AeroPro Drive w/Cortex (flex 67). I hit this racket short so I would string it 2 lbs light of mid tension in the range. That would give me a tad more distance and should also reduce some vibration.
Aero Strike w/Cortex (flex 61). I tend to hit this racket long and if I am not paying attention balls will just fly to the fence. If I am concentrating hard and add a little more whip on my forehand I can control it well in the court, but cannot generate the topspin of the Aeropro Drive. So I am thinking this needs to be strung about 2 lbs heavy of the mid range to slow down the ball and add some control. This will however, increase the vibrations from the racket.
So my dilemma is if I get the stiffer racket (weighs more and is head light) and string it softer or the more flexible racket (weight less and is head heavy) and string it stronger are they becoming the same in terms of arm health. Or am I over thinking this and my arm is just hurting because I have playing some much, so quickly after a 10 year hiatus. My other thought is try the Aero Storm (flex 65), I will demo it next.
I am sorry for the long post but would really like some help. I have found many posts about the Babolat Pure Drive and arm problems but none on the Aeropro and no reviews at all on the Aero Strike, So I am looking for some advice.
Thx,
Drew
