Baboloat AeroPro Drive
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LetsGoRoddick
Professional
its all up to preference. some people feel that the cortex and/or gt kill the feel of the racquet.
Bud
Bionic Poster
yeah, the original apd has much much better feel than the cortex and gt...so stay with your original..or you can sell it to me if you want and buy a gt)
I've used both at length, and disagree.
The GT feels more solid, is more comfortable and is definitely more stable in the head.
karophiteblu
Semi-Pro
rafael nadal uses the same racket you have. He just has his painted to look like the gt version. stay with your APD.
use a shock absorber.
some strings u can use are babolat VS natural gut (if u have the money), solinco tour bite (for spin), gosen og sheep micro (if ur cheap), and tecnifibre x-one biphase (if u can't afford gut)
use a shock absorber.
some strings u can use are babolat VS natural gut (if u have the money), solinco tour bite (for spin), gosen og sheep micro (if ur cheap), and tecnifibre x-one biphase (if u can't afford gut)
Off topic: Could you post pictures of what it looks like? im intrested in buying one but i cant find any good pictures of the racket so i can avoid buying a fake.
Ontopicepends. some people like cortex and some dont. iirc they say the first gen aerodrive has more raw power and feel.(thus why im looking for it)
Ontopic
epends. some people like cortex and some dont. iirc they say the first gen aerodrive has more raw power and feel.(thus why im looking for it)Yes, to the shock absorber; definitely...
I have the orig APD and it really does suit aggressive b-line topspin player... agree with others who say it's a bit overpowered, uncontrolled, thick beam, feel not fantastic - but what it does do, it does very well indeed imo. I'd also add that, like, say the PDR, it's a 'fun', addictive even frame to hit with.... (it's amazing how the 'fun' element can be overlooked eh?)
Last point: I have found it devilishly hard to settle on an accpetable lead set up. It's very 'leadable', if you know what I mean? But therein can lie a problem. How much lead exactly? And where?... on the handle?... @ 12 (a la Rafa)?... @ 10 and 2?... or 3 and 9?... you can slap it all over the place and experiment with tensions/strings forever with this rack imo...
I have the orig APD and it really does suit aggressive b-line topspin player... agree with others who say it's a bit overpowered, uncontrolled, thick beam, feel not fantastic - but what it does do, it does very well indeed imo. I'd also add that, like, say the PDR, it's a 'fun', addictive even frame to hit with.... (it's amazing how the 'fun' element can be overlooked eh?)
Last point: I have found it devilishly hard to settle on an accpetable lead set up. It's very 'leadable', if you know what I mean? But therein can lie a problem. How much lead exactly? And where?... on the handle?... @ 12 (a la Rafa)?... @ 10 and 2?... or 3 and 9?... you can slap it all over the place and experiment with tensions/strings forever with this rack imo...
kanjii
Semi-Pro
I have an APD, strung with basic Pro Hurricane Tour @56lbs and use a rubber band for a dampener because the other damps always pops out. Used the cortex and GT. Sold the cortex, feel wasn't there and not very stable. Playing with the GT, more stable and power than the APD, but muted and felt heavy for some reason.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
for what????
BobFL
Hall of Fame
for tennis??
This is the one, right?
Btw, the material used is graphite/kevlar not HMG afaik...
I'm sure this frame swings sweetly for most but anyone else prefer these more head-light? Say, by 2 more points?... Okay. I haven't hit loads with this, but I was surprised it seemed to swing a tad slower than anticipated... slower to come round... prob just me and lack of time with it, etc. All the same, I've had varying degrees of lead on the butt (and head) since the first hit.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
ah thanks, I thought for digging the holes in the ground...
Bud
Bionic Poster
My only complaints with the original was it was slightly more harsh on the arm... there was always this slight but annoying buzz from the stringbed (regardless of the strings uses and I tried many combinations) and the head stability is less than the current APD.
IMO, the current frame is clearly superior in virtually every category. IMO, many like the original APD simply because it was the original.
The GT version is MUCH stiffer than the original. So from a straight lab perspective, the original should actually be easier on one's arm. If you like that stiffness level, then the GT is great, if not, then the original will be preferable. Personal preference will rule.
As far as strings and vibration devices go, those are a matter of personal preference...neither will make the racquet better or worse for all players. Most people do seem to use a vibration dampener of some kind with these frames, though, since they "ping" a bit.
For people used to more traditional/players frames, the combination of a more head-heavy balance than usual, combined with the thick aero beam, can actually make it feel a bit bulky to swing. There's nothing wrong with putting a bit of weight in the handle...many people really like what that does to the frame, myself included.
Bud
Bionic Poster
The original bothered my arm a bit even with full natural gut. The GT, not at all (perhaps higher twistweight + cortex)
There's more to any frame's arm-friendliness than the stiffness number.
I've literally tried hundreds of frames and every frame pings without some sort of dampener.
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LP, actually I think you've hit the nail right on the head there... I have indeed found it strangely a tad slow and bulky, though the bigger head-size is probably a factor too (have been into 95 -98" head-size range for a while now.) Anyhow, I have decided to investigate a few Babs once again for the simple fact I think these kind of frames potentially would be a better fit for my game than what I've been using lately.
BTW, I think I'm also going to dip my toes in the waters of the plus-sized frame too... def the PST+, and maybe I'll even revisit my old PD+... LP, any thoughts on the PST+ yourself?... I've heard some excellent things about this frame and even heard favorable comparisons with the earlier Pure Controls...
R.
Bud
Bionic Poster
Poly is evil :evil: and I no longer use it. As soon as I (once again) re-switched to all natural gut on my APDGT's the minor elbow, shoulder and wrist issues mysteriously vanished. I also use the extended version which is a tad more harsh on the arm, historically. Poly = joint/muscle issues.
So, have never used RPM as my body can't take poly string.
Give the current APD+ a try. It's quite the racquet. My PD and PST are sitting around gathering dust since I bought them.
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Bud
Bionic Poster
Hahaha good for you Bud
Yeah, funny how people who have never used the frame think of it as some super special, overpowered rocket launcher. The APD has lots of control even with a full bed of natural gut. Stereotypes...
I have to say though that mine is not stock. It's 12 oz. and about 8 pts. HL.
BobFL
Hall of Fame
Hey Bud, nothing sinister What I meant to say is that NG is something very sophisticated and APD is kind of a 'raw material' if you know what I mean I have extensively tried APDGT and for me it was WAY better than APDC but I still think that APDO is the #1 with that "kevlar feel"
What I meant to say is that NG is something very sophisticated and APD is kind of a 'raw material' if you know what I mean I have extensively tried APDGT and for me it was WAY better than APDC but I still think that APDO is the #1 with that "kevlar feel" I've played with all the versions of the PST+, as I have long used an extended frame myself, and find that they're quite forgiving. The first generation PST+ was quite similar to the PC+, but a bit more flexible. The GT version of the PST+ is even a little more flexible, especially in the head. It has more "tip flex" than the first PST+, although it's quite stable in all other areas. Really it's just a matter of taste. My personal fave is still the swirly PC+, because I like its flex pattern, followed closely by more flexible examples of the Team version (2003 and after). But for those who like flex in the head, the PST's will be even better. Mostly a matter of taste. They're all from the same mold. As you know, the PD+ is quite a bit stiffer, and is a different animal, but a classic in its own right.
user92626
G.O.A.T.
I think Bud is right. I'm using something called kevlar (mains) and Polylon (crosses) and starting to feel a tiny minor ache in the shoulder/upper arm area. But it could be becuz I played for 5 hours last night. These strings on apdc can be unforgiving.
Bud, isn't natural gut very expensive?
Falloutjr
Banned
Yeah, a set of nat gut will run you $26-$43 on TTW depending on the strings you get. If you get a hybrid with a poly string, it'll be about 20-30 a string job, depending which strings you use (excluding stringer's fees of course).
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Poly will be evil until some people realize that they do not need 65lbs for more control
Yes Bob you are correct. It is shocking how low you can string poly.
BobFL
Hall of Fame
Yeah, I use Pure Drive strung at 49lbs on drop-weight machine (that would be cca. 45lbs on baiardo- type of a machine
) Some people refuse to believe that when they try my PD...Control is simply the crucial part of polys' 'character'. High tension just kills them prematurely...OK, some polys are simply too powerful because thay are engineered to perform like that but classic polys play best when strung low/er...
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Bud
Bionic Poster
I use Black Global Gut 16 (it's about $12 per set and I string myself)
Poly will be evil until some people realize that they do not need 65lbs for more control
I always played poly/copoly at 40-45#
Yup... I've strung it down to 25#
How about 35 lbs?!:shock:
Seriously... is this worth even looking at, or should I just forget about it, file it under 'ludicrous, comical trampoline effect', and get it off to be restrung ASAP?! :roll:
I ask because I just bought an APD/C which has come to me with this string set up.
R.
How about 35 lbs?!:shock:
Seriously... is this worth even looking at, or should I just forget about it, file it under 'ludicrous, comical trampoline effect', and get it off to be restrung ASAP?! :roll:
I ask because I just bought an APD/C which has come to me with this string set up.
R.
I'd suggest hitting with it at least once and seeing if you like it. Don't think about the numbers while you're hitting. Since poly is less elastic than nylon-based strings, drops in tension don't have the same impact as they do with a more resilient string. You may end up liking it. Even if you don't, it may not feel as loose as you think it will. And it's a rare opportunity to see what a major drop in tension feels like without paying for it.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
How about 35 lbs?!:shock:
Seriously... is this worth even looking at, or should I just forget about it, file it under 'ludicrous, comical trampoline effect', and get it off to be restrung ASAP?! :roll:
I ask because I just bought an APD/C which has come to me with this string set up.
R.
You need to not think so much because you could really like it. To say you would cut it out before trying it is really extreme. Worst case it sucks and you can not stand it. But if you do like it, I assure you that in the apdc, you want to string full poly as low as you can because that stifness is tough to take over time.
I am also currently hitting with the apd I picked up two of these frames about a year ago for $25 from a friend who was updating to the cortex version. I absolutely love this raquet the only way it could be improved would be if it was more stable. I wish they made a gt version without the cortex so it would gain stability without loosing that great feel.
$25 each I guess that might not have been clear but still even at that price it was a steel
BobFL
Hall of Fame
Actually, it was a graphite and kevlar...
