Jo-Willy using Aeropro drive cortex!!!!!

[klementine]

I don't know what lay-up or mods Tsonga has... But the APDC is a perfect foundation for customization.

Tsonga must have been tinkering and practicing with this stick for the past year or so to make the switch final.

Wondering why wilson was using him to promote the cobra... Maybe they had a heads up that he was in talks with babolat.

Whatever the cost, hope he plays well this year.. he's a very exciting player to watch.

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

What was Tsongas racquet before? I know Nadals APD isn't very heavy at all, its 312g unstrung!

Thats basically a stock APD. Where did you hear this?

 

[KuanMaster]

his afro is gone :O

 

[Marshredder]

Thats basically a stock APD. Where did you hear this?

The website of a guy that strings for the professionals.

http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racquet_specs.html

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

The website of a guy that strings for the professionals.

http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racquet_specs.html

Thanks man, so his swingweight was at 355.

 

[everard104]

I don't understand what the big debate is about anyway. Wilson developed the Kobra for Tsonga to mimic the APDC anyway. The specs are nearly identical. It won't be that much of a change. The effects on his game with a Babolat racquet will be a psychological one.

 

[ollinger]

Nearly identical specs? I think the Kobra has a very different (lower) stiffness rating.

 

[Marshredder]

Thanks man, so his swingweight was at 355.

Yeah, although the racquets only slightly heavier, most of the weight is at 12 o clock, its head heavy with a high swingweight!

 

[everard104]

Well ya..'nearly' doesn't have the same meaning as 'identical.'
But the aero shape and design of the Kobra was Wilson's version of the APDC without it being identical. Jo-Willy apparently still wasn't satisfied and made the switch in the end.

 

[Cup8489]

Thanks man, so his swingweight was at 355.

yes. the APDC plays much, much better with significant amounts of lead added to it. gives it a solid feel, and if the higher swingweight doesnt bother you, it makes it a different frame entirely.

still, the KPS88 is my favorite racket, and in my case it seems more powerful than the aeropro drive, but also more precise. i dont get why everyone in this thread is making a big deal about the kps88 being a 'man stick' or whatever. IMHO, it's just a better racket, for how i play.

 

[Dgpsx7]

yea, i think this is weird. However, i don't really care for jo willy.

 

[Ross K]

Q... As I can't believe too many ppl play with it stock, what's the consensus of opinion re modding up an APD/C to give it some stability and solidness? Where do most put the lead and how much?

Cheers,

R.

 

[VGP]

Good to know Jo is using the same racket as me

Love the lead at 3 & 9.

Wonder what Chang's specs are.....

 

[Cup8489]

Q... As I can't believe too many ppl play with it stock, what's the consensus of opinion re modding up an APD/C to give it some stability and solidness? Where do most put the lead and how much?

Cheers,

R.

i believe i discussed this with you in another thread, that i'd polarized mine with lead on the handle and at 12 o'clock, and i put 10 grams at 12, 8 at the buttcap. I'm not sure what the swingweight was, i believe mid to high 350's, and it helped with solidity a great deal.

I have started to play with modded Wilson stings (the old, old 85" mids with a crossbar, modded with 12 grams of lead at 3&9, they're beasts to say the least), but I am actually about to sit down, strip the lead from my APDC, and start over with a more headlight balance, and also i'm going to add the majority of weight to 3&9, to help with twisting and stability.

I haven't decided for sure yet, but i plan on stripping it down to stock, remove the grip, and perform these modifications: 12 grams of lead under the handle (i may use fishing weights to save the grip from being built up too much), 10 grams @ 3&9, 4 grams just above the handle, and 4 grams @ 12 oclock. I will then be replacing the grip with a 1.5 mm TW Leather, with tournagrip over that and follow up with some SPPP string, tension not yet determined. should hit a fairly heavy ball, but more importantly i think this will help tremendously with some S&V, allow me to let the racket do its thing instead of worrying about whether it twists on me more not.

Hope this helps,

Cup

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

i believe i discussed this with you in another thread, that i'd polarized mine with lead on the handle and at 12 o'clock, and i put 10 grams at 12, 8 at the buttcap. I'm not sure what the swingweight was, i believe mid to high 350's, and it helped with solidity a great deal.

I have started to play with modded Wilson stings (the old, old 85" mids with a crossbar, modded with 12 grams of lead at 3&9, they're beasts to say the least), but I am actually about to sit down, strip the lead from my APDC, and start over with a more headlight balance, and also i'm going to add the majority of weight to 3&9, to help with twisting and stability.

I haven't decided for sure yet, but i plan on stripping it down to stock, remove the grip, and perform these modifications: 12 grams of lead under the handle (i may use fishing weights to save the grip from being built up too much), 10 grams @ 3&9, 4 grams just above the handle, and 4 grams @ 12 oclock. I will then be replacing the grip with a 1.5 mm TW Leather, with tournagrip over that and follow up with some SPPP string, tension not yet determined. should hit a fairly heavy ball, but more importantly i think this will help tremendously with some S&V, allow me to let the racket do its thing instead of worrying about whether it twists on me more not.

Hope this helps,

Cup

Thats sounds great that you are leading it up so it is solid and all. But why would anybody want a fat azz 26 mm beam? Why not just get a Youtek Speed Pro with a slim 17mm beam?

 

[benasp]

I think he really like the stick otherwise Babolat would have made him endorse the Aero Storm since they don't sell very much aka: no men endorse them" and I don't think that APD cant sell more than they already do.

 

[OliverSimon]

Looks pretty legit to me.

Is he using Alu in there or the new black Pro Hurricane strings?

 

[origmarm]

I think he really like the stick otherwise Babolat would have made him endorse the Aero Storm since they don't sell very much aka: no men endorse them" and I don't think that APD cant sell more than they already do.

Strange that they didn't have him just play with a paintjob though. I would say it would be almost impossible to tell the difference given the frame shapes

 

[Buckethead]

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2010-01-11/201001111263182776765.html
here is another pic.

 

[OliverSimon]

Looks like he still has the flame dampener but is he using Alu or Pro Hurricane

 

[Kutchuk]

I would say it looks like the same string as Nadal. It would be logical to try to get him endorse that string too. It's easier when changing the frame as well.
But we would need better pictures to be sure !:shock:

 

[Cup8489]

Thats sounds great that you are leading it up so it is solid and all. But why would anybody want a fat azz 26 mm beam? Why not just get a Youtek Speed Pro with a slim 17mm beam?

b/c the yt speed pro, IMHO, is garbage. if i was gonna get a thin box beam frame, it'd be the KPS88 (which i am). The APDC was customized to do what it's expected to do, except better. booming heavy topspin groundstrokes, big serves, and not much else.

 

[phoenicks]

he 1na imitate Nadal to go 1 step further from his near miss to winning SLAMS !!!!

 

[dgoran]

Willy is using a cortex at least in its match against soderling last night.

Camera zoomed in on his stick while he was sitting in his chair right before the match and its showed cortex.

This of course brings questions if its APDC or APDC GT I could not see if it had tungsten obviously but it deffinitelly has cortex.

 

[ericsson]

Is he using Alu in there or the new black Pro Hurricane strings?

According to my source (someone @Babolat) it's the same string that Rafa uses, so no Alu power.

 

[cknobman]

why is this a surprise to anyone? we all saw Tsonga using a Wilson Kobra last year (yes he really was using it) which is an obvious wilson knockoff of the aeropro racquet anyways. Seems wilsons feeble attempt was not enough for Tsonga to stay.

 

[dgoran]

Not surprised here APD apd is an awesome racket. I am sure gt version is great if not better as well according to tw reviews on this boards

 

[raging]

According to my source (someone @Babolat) it's the same string that Rafa uses, so no Alu power.

ericsson, can you please ask if it is pht black or something else(custom for Rafa)??
I have spoken to contacts with babolat uk/france but info at the moment is a bit confused.??
One source said it was a new PHT black developed for Rafa and pro players(like Tsonga, Moya, Roddick etc (although he still hybrids with VS).
Another (Babolat UK) said it was exactly the same string/construction as PHT gold.
Maybe you can clarify?

 

[OliverSimon]

Interesting he also switched to the new hurricanes.

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

b/c the yt speed pro, IMHO, is garbage. if i was gonna get a thin box beam frame, it'd be the KPS88 (which i am). The APDC was customized to do what it's expected to do, except better. booming heavy topspin groundstrokes, big serves, and not much else.

Why is it garbage?

 

[JerrYMeeE]

I just think alot of us can't fathom him with a 100sq inch raquet and it suiting his style of game. The guy isn't a pushing, windshield wiping Wozniacki type of player.

Or Fed for that matter. Well thats an entirely different story.

:-?

this is true. oh well.

 

[Djoker_69]

Nadal, Wozniacki, Tsonga, these ARE ****ty players, you're right. What are they doing with this chick stick?

well if there so bad would you like to share how many gs finals youve been in?

how many atp/wta titles youve won?

how many millions of fans around the world you have?

 

[martini1]

Tsonga is using the Aeropro GT: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/95680850/Getty-Images-Sport

It's gotta be one of the most popular, easiest to play stick on the planet. Come on, even Michael Chang and a bunch of retired pro with minimum or no sponsorship on their rackets plays with APDC.

 

[Mr.Brightside]

Tsonga is using the Aeropro GT: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/95680850/Getty-Images-Sport

I know. But it still says on TW he's using Aeropor cortex

 

[martini1]

Love the lead at 3 & 9.

Wonder what Chang's specs are.....

It's stock APDC, no pj for sure

 

[martini1]

Well ya..'nearly' doesn't have the same meaning as 'identical.'
But the aero shape and design of the Kobra was Wilson's version of the APDC without it being identical. Jo-Willy apparently still wasn't satisfied and made the switch in the end.

It's more about the contract switch than the stick. Babo probably paid him a good deal of money to snatch him from Wilson. I am sure there are many companies will to pay big buck to snatch Delpo as well.

 

[Marshredder]

Nadal, Wozniacki, Tsonga, these ARE ****ty players, you're right. What are they doing with this chick stick?

well if there so bad would you like to share how many gs finals youve been in?

how many atp/wta titles youve won?

how many millions of fans around the world you have?

Epic sarcasm comprehension fail.

I was arguing against those saying its a chicks stick by pointing out a number of great players using it.

And anyway, I bet my tennis "e-weiner" achievements are more profound than yours.

 

[nalbandian]

I think he is using the gt.

 

[Mr.Brightside]

I think he is using the gt.

and i think we all know that already.

does anyone know whether his cortex is real?

 

[Buckethead]

I saw his match against Verdasco yesterday,and you can already see that he lost control.Many shots out of the doubles line,his volleys aren't the same since he changed to Kobra,and now even worse and it has to do with the string as well,but he is playing with a lot more spin now,probably one of the reasons he changed to the type of racket.
I hope he gets better.

 

[benasp]

I hope it won't mess with his wonderful drop volley he did against Nadal two years ago

 

[baseline_monster]

I hope it won't mess with his wonderful drop volley he did against Nadal two years ago

yeah, he managed to do that shot about 10 times in that semi, love it. i dont think ive seen nadal beated so comfortably ever

 

[JoelDali]

I saw his match against Verdasco yesterday,and you can already see that he lost control.Many shots out of the doubles line,his volleys aren't the same since he changed to Kobra,and now even worse and it has to do with the string as well,but he is playing with a lot more spin now,probably one of the reasons he changed to the type of racket.
I hope he gets better.

The effects are indisputable.

This is not the right stick for Chaka.

He looks utterly confused.

 

[raging]

The effects are indisputable.

This is not the right stick for Chaka.

He looks utterly confused.

Good one!

Yes, Jo-Willy looks really confused, all the way to last 16!

He has got the whole thing...APDC GT! The strings are new prototype (source is Babolat UK) which Tsonga, Nadal and Roddick are all using . Other Babolat string contract players are considering...Still not confirmed is that Jo-Willy is using 1.25 gauge. I guess the stringing room will have to verify...??

 

[madmanfool]

Forgive my ignorance, but what does GT mean? Or what racquet are you referring to when you say GT? Not exactly an expert an the babolat racquets, sorry.

 

[dexian]

GT is Babolat's newest technology knows as Graphite Tungsten which "increases" racquet stability.

 

[mmaster]

it means gimmick technology

 

[JStar7]

I wonder if his AeroPro Drive GT is extended like his KBlade used to be....anybody know?

 

[klementine]

Wasn't Tsonga using a HPS 6.1 95 stretch 18x20 (euro-version) prior to this switch? (all pj's)

Saw his match against Haas today... I don't care if he's holding a frying pan... his serve is deadly.

 

[dgoran]

I am little surprised but i think its real cortex gt