Has anyone else noticed that special edition racquets do not feel the same as the regular ones? I have pure drive lites and pure aero lites, and Wimbledon edition PD lite and french open PA lite. Both the special editions feel less firm, both on ball contact and when I bend them over my knee. Not only that, the PD lite Wimbledons (I have 2, and two regular version PD lite) are definitely shorter, by about 1/8 inch
Babolat special edition racquets different specs
- Thread starter bageldog
- Start date
projectone7
Rookie
Babolat Official
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@bageldog Where did you purchase your racquets? Have you tested each on a Babolat RDC machine? We do have an allowed variance of +/- 7 grams in weight and +/- 1 RA in stiffness level. The lengths of the racquets is what concerns me as there shouldn't be any variances among the models.
tennis warehouse europe
no haven't tested on machine, but I noticed a difference in feel so I tested them bending over my knee, its very noticeable (but maybe its just a single RA, I guess that's possible since all rackets available basically fall into a 15 point span (57-72), so a single point difference is a 6% (100% over 15 points) relative difference. comparing them length wise. the regular pure drive lites are 27 1/16, the wimbledon ones are 26 15/16. weight and balance wise they were definitely within spec, just a few grams and 2 balance points between all four.
DJ-
Hall of Fame
Funny, I just got a new project going after a successful pure aero junior project last year year where I made a junior 26 a 27inch frame. That had a strung flex of 61 as I recall. I got a pure aero lite F.O edition and it is 26.8 inches. I measured some others at a club and also at a respected tennis shop and they were all around the same length. The ra is 68 on my one, other's in the shop were 69 strung. I was going to make it a 27.5 length, but after seeing the short length it reminded me of my childhood frames that were the same length! So I added 2 grams @ 10/2, 15grams or so of blutac in the handle, and the frame is now 320 strung 323 sw 32,5cm balance, and plays like a worn in bab, not an arm killer. very powerful frame indeed!
I like lite frames only because I can polarize them to more headlight specs than the regular versions for similar total weight including shock absorbers and grips.
Yup that's basically what I've got. Been playing lately pure drive lites that I cut down to 26 7/8, worms at 10/2 instead of lead. Love itFunny, I just got a new project going after a successful pure aero junior project last year year where I made a junior 26 a 27inch frame. That had a strung flex of 61 as I recall. I got a pure aero lite F.O edition and it is 26.8 inches. I measured some others at a club and also at a respected tennis shop and they were all around the same length. The ra is 68 on my one, other's in the shop were 69 strung. I was going to make it a 27.5 length, but after seeing the short length it reminded me of my childhood frames that were the same length! So I added 2 grams @ 10/2, 15grams or so of blutac in the handle, and the frame is now 320 strung 323 sw 32,5cm balance, and plays like a worn in bab, not an arm killer. very powerful frame indeed!
Zoolander
Hall of Fame
Sure i remember @teachingprotx doing that because junior frames are often more flexy than standard length adult versions. He does like playing with noodles though!
I have done half an inch but not a full inch, i should try it one day.Funny i have been doing the opposite lately.... buying older 90's sticks that weigh a ton but have a nice feel and pulling lead out of the handle and trimming bumpers until theyre down around 320-330g. A lot of those older racquets only weigh so much because they have a ton of lead in the handle, which i guess they did to get the static weight high without increasing SW too much.
Almost bought a PD lite a while back because on TWU they have the power level rated as low, which means i could put gut in it. Does that seem the case with yours? Pretty well all adult racquets made today are just too powerful to put gut in, which is a tad depressing...
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DJ-
Hall of Fame
Sure i remember @teachingprotx doing that because junior frames are often more flexy than standard length adult versions. He does like playing with noodles though!
Funny i have been doing the opposite lately.... buying older 90's sticks that weigh a ton but have a nice feel and pulling lead out of the handle and trimming bumpers until theyre down around 320-330g. A lot of those older racquets only weigh so much because they have a ton of lead in the handle, which i guess they did to get the static weight high without increasing SW too much.
Almost bought a PD lite a while back because on TWU they have the power level rated as low, which means i could put gut in it. Does that seem the case with yours? Pretty well all adult racquets made today are just too powerful to put gut in, which is a tad depressing...
That's a good idea also, I use revolving leather hole punches with various hole sizes and evenly punch holes around the top of the bumpers and sometimes sides. The swingweight can reduce drastically, depending how many grams you shave of. Shorter frames for taller players work just as well as XL frames for shorter players IMO
Did you measure the length with the strings?
Both strung
It's very powerful. Stock any lack of power would just be because of lack of mass. But gram for gram it's the most powerful racket I haveSure i remember @teachingprotx doing that because junior frames are often more flexy than standard length adult versions. He does like playing with noodles though!
Funny i have been doing the opposite lately.... buying older 90's sticks that weigh a ton but have a nice feel and pulling lead out of the handle and trimming bumpers until theyre down around 320-330g. A lot of those older racquets only weigh so much because they have a ton of lead in the handle, which i guess they did to get the static weight high without increasing SW too much.
Almost bought a PD lite a while back because on TWU they have the power level rated as low, which means i could put gut in it. Does that seem the case with yours? Pretty well all adult racquets made today are just too powerful to put gut in, which is a tad depressing...
Test without, and you will see that the length of both will be the same
I had your own problem with two PD (300gr.) Same string and tension but no very good stringing job has been done...You should see if a frame is more ovalized than the other
n8dawg6
Legend
thats what she said
DJ-
Hall of Fame
Yep same! They are %100 shorter strung and unstrung than all my other holic collection from various makers... I'm sure it's all the lite models not just special editions...
teachingprotx
Legend
I can agree that they are shorter 100 %!
There's something about shorter sticks . I think they play better than standard 27 . Zoolander is spot on I love a wet noodle flexy frame
26 is my fave length too
Wish the pure strike 26 was a flex of 30 ra!
There's something about shorter sticks . I think they play better than standard 27 . Zoolander is spot on I love a wet noodle flexy frame
26 is my fave length too
Wish the pure strike 26 was a flex of 30 ra!
DJ-
Hall of Fame
So your S.E edition PD lites are shorter like the Aeros ? Awesome, never really gelled with the pd's, but I admit I am enjoying the PA lite F.O 27.8....
DJ-
Hall of Fame
Wow, it looks like all the special ones are shorter! How do you like the pd vs pa ?
The PD lite doesn't swing as easily and is harsher, but better power and control. I put in some gamma worm dampener at 10/2 (instead of lead) and normal place under first cross (3 works total). Plus a bunch of tail weight to get 7 headlight. Now I love it, feels similar to DR 98, but way more power, spin, stability, and easy to swing. The PA lites I like better for singles, but for doubles I like the ability to hit low and hard and have better control. Serves are about the same, little more spin with PA, little more control with PD, speed seems similar
DJ-
Hall of Fame
Awesome sounds like the two compare like their big brother pa/pd counterparts. Good idea to test with worm damps... I just went ahead and put 2gr each side at 10/2 hidden under the bumper guard and it is a great location for shorter frames...
DJ-
Hall of Fame
Yeah the twistweight is solid on them so 3/9 not needed imo...
