Blade vs Pure Strike would make more sense?
I understand one is 16 x 19 and the other is 16 x 20. I actually like both string patterns with a slight preference for 16 x 20. Both have almost similar stiffness and both are 98 sq inches. Hence, why I was asking for a comparison.
Vs is much faster to swing, since it is more HL. So i found it better on serves and at net. Like said above, Blade is more stable, has more control and a better feel. VS ir more powerfull and higher launch angle
VS has higher launch angle? Wow it must be a super open string pattern, I would've expected the other way without seeing the bed. Likely be more space between strings on the 16x20 aero VS than the 16x19 on the blade?
Or a possible alternative is the significant headlight balance makes shots naturally loopier causing higher launch angle?
I just came from the blade to the pure aero vs. Anyone else have issues adjusting to babolat grips? I noticed if I'm not careful my grip slants more eastern with the babolat. I'm normally semi western.
So my switch from the blade was a desire for more spin primarily. And I think I'm at an awkward transition phase from the switch.how do you compare them?
I noticed the same with the PAVS grip. I was over hitting a lot cos the grip runs bigger than other brands and the racquet face opened up. Here is what I did - i took out the stock grip and replaced it with Wilson Featherthin. I then wrapped 6g of lead or so at the bottom. I also play with an overgrip. That brought the grip size down a little for me. I also switched from a full bed of 1.25mm Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour to 1.30mm Signum Hextreme on mains and Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25mm on crosses, both at 54lbs. I finally added 1g of lead on 3 and 1g on 9. I really like the feel now and the launch and slice is more lower and predictable.So my switch from the blade was a desire for more spin primarily. And I think I'm at an awkward transition phase from the switch.
The blade is very stable and the control is the best I've had for a modern racket. Those two things in my opinion gave me confidence to take full cuts generating good amounts of natural spin and power. The feel was really good at the net also. But as a topspin based playstyle I always wondered if I needed a racket to compliment that more. Always felt my shots could do more damage from the baseline.
Switching to the pure aero VS there has been some growing pains but I think that is kind of expected with such a transition between opposite frames. For one as I mentioned the grip feels large and has been throwing me off a little on how I hold my grip naturally. It is a stiffer frame and coming from the buttery blade my elbow has noticed the difference. I used 55lbs tourbite 17 gage in my blade very little issue with the elbow. In the VS Currently 50lbs with rpm blast 16 gage my arm is tender and in the long run this will be an issue. Looking into other strings (grapple snake) to hopefully remedy this else might have to sell the aero vs.
One of my friends said my shots were more penetrating with the VS but this was early and during the honeymoon phase. If I have to be honest with myself. I feel like I have to be more tentative with my shots to keep from sailing or really loop my balls with spin to stay in. I have to be more conscious of aiming for larger targets and my volleys have not been the same. But my volleys were always trash.
May sound very negative so far for the VS but here is what I'm thinking for the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully keeps my Alcaraz dream alive.
1) RPM is a crap string. Stiff on the arm and after a few hours tension is lost and so is control/ confidence. I really hope the right string fixes this.
2) once I found my out my grip was skewed and adjusted more towards the western side shots felt much cleaner again. This also may have attributed to my elbow pain.
The power and spin is there. But you lose a little bit of that pin point control and feel. Compared to the blade.
The extreme tour which was the racket I tried for a couple months before the VS might be a good middle ground.
Switching to the pure aero VS
It is a stiffer frame and coming from the buttery blade my elbow has noticed the difference.
I used 55lbs tourbite 17 gage in my blade very little issue with the elbow.
In the VS Currently 50lbs with rpm blast 16 gage my arm is tender and in the long run this will be an issue.
Yes! This is exactly what I noticed. On slower shots was fine I could close the face with my wrist but when it was a fast shot or when i try to ramp up my swing it would naturally open up because of my grip not going around further.I noticed the same with the PAVS grip. I was over hitting a lot cos the grip runs bigger than other brands and the racquet face opened up.
My pleasure. Appreciate the feedback. I'm for now bagging the blade but still on standby if the PAVS ends up being a no go. I still may try that set up though. Like I said don't think RPM is working out and if it's better then tourbite then must be pretty solid. I just put in the Lynx spin2 st 52lbs and going to try a few grapple snake options afterwards first.@Leen
good summary, thank you!
I had the VS for a month when it came out almost two years ago I guess.
I hated the hollow feel and the way my wrist felt.
why don't you try a soft co poly like ytex protour 17L in the blade, but at 50 lbs
the control is still going to be there, you will just get a little more pop (to do more damage)
and it won't bother your joints.
the 17L will give you a tiny bit more spin, I would think, vs. the 17 you had in there before.
tourbite is crap anyway, when you see how long protours lasts in your racquet, please come back and thank me, it's truly insane.
good luck and please keep us posted.