Kecmanovic - Aeropro Drive or Pure Aero?

Lavs

Hall of Fame
Watching him playing against Popyrin @ Citi Open (Washington) and it looks like he uses Aeropro Drive. At least based on tighter string pattern. At the same time, he used Pure Aero till now. Could anybody confirm he did switch to APD?
 
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tennisfan14

New User
Switched to a Pure Aero VS (or potentially an older Aero Storm variant) at the start of this year - hence the tighter string pattern. Previously used an Aeropro Drive, followed by the Pure Aero. Seems as though he also switched to RPM Rough (yellow) from PHT.
 
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Lavs

Hall of Fame
Yesterday he played definitely with bigger frame than Pure Aero VS, but it had tighter string pattern than normal Pure Aero
 

haqq777

Legend
He is very clearly using the VS at Citi Open. Hoop and string pattern is a dead giveaway.

mSruTgM.jpg
 
R

red rook

Guest
Just got a non-tour and weighted it up to 4 pts HL, 335 sw, 331 grams. Will see how it compares to my trusty Blade. Too many guys doing well w this mold not to take a peek. That said, it’ll take a monumental racquet to kick out my Blade, which has endured the challenge of many (10?) racquets for my bag.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Just got a non-tour and weighted it up to 4 pts HL, 335 sw, 331 grams. Will see how it compares to my trusty Blade. Too many guys doing well w this mold not to take a peek. That said, it’ll take a monumental racquet to kick out my Blade, which has endured the challenge of many (10?) racquets for my bag.
The aerostorm is a great stick. Feels like a hybrid of the pure storm and the aero pro drive because it is! :) probably won’t dethrone your Blade because Babolats don’t feel anything like Wilsons.
 

tennisfan14

New User
Just got a non-tour and weighted it up to 4 pts HL, 335 sw, 331 grams. Will see how it compares to my trusty Blade. Too many guys doing well w this mold not to take a peek. That said, it’ll take a monumental racquet to kick out my Blade, which has endured the challenge of many (10?) racquets for my bag.
Let us know how you go! I was hooked on the all black 2013 Blade 18/20 and couldn't find anything to trump it until I gave the VS a try. I have leather on mine and 3 grams at 3/9. Used to string my Blade with full poly in the mid 50s, but found the VS to work best with full poly in the high 40s.
 

Jouke

Professional
Curious to hear as well. I bought the non tour and beefed SW up to 330. Still dont like it. I really dont know how people make this frame work.
 

haqq777

Legend
What is a flat beam hoop?

uYlZC3E.jpg


I think what everyone means by flat beam hoop is the different hoop shape of the PA VS mold compared to regular PA. Do you see how the hoop is obviously more boxier from 10 to 2 (starts being boxier and 'flat' from even before 10 & 2) in this picture above? Makes it a bit obvious together with denser 16x20 pattern and a smaller hoop size that it is a VS.

Now see this:
FRHukoZ.jpg


This is a pic I Googled for a standard Pure Aero. Do you see how the hoop is angular and pointy as opposed to flat and boxy from pic above?
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Watching him playing against Popyrin @ Citi Open (Washington) and it looks like he uses Aeropro Drive. At least based on tighter string pattern. At the same time, he used Pure Aero till now. Could anybody confirm he did switch to APD?
looks like aero pro drive plus
 

jarko111

Hall of Fame
uYlZC3E.jpg


I think what everyone means by flat beam hoop is the different hoop shape of the PA VS mold compared to regular PA. Do you see how the hoop is obviously more boxier from 10 to 2 (starts being boxier and 'flat' from even before 10 & 2) in this picture above? Makes it a bit obvious together with denser 16x20 pattern and a smaller hoop size that it is a VS.

Now see this:
FRHukoZ.jpg


This is a pic I Googled for a standard Pure Aero. Do you see how the hoop is angular and pointy as opposed to flat and boxy from pic above?
Thank you for explaining that in a really easy to understand way!!!
 
R

red rook

Guest
Okay y’all, not that I am any authority but I have now played around 8 sessions (probably 12 sets or so) with the aero vs (4.5 aggressive baseliner). I now have four aero vs’s :) (these are the lighter, non-tour ones)

Having played the blade for so long (3-4 years) I am always interested those threads we always see: “blade-like with more spin/power.” Well, there are quite a few differences b/w the blade and vs. some good, some not so good, and some just different. I have 12 2015 18x20 blades. Yes, 12 (5 have cracked coming out of my sweaty hands on serves).

The vs is probably on the edge for me for the power of racquet I like. It gives me much more power and spin (kick especially). The stringbed is still fairly tight, which still gives control. This is not the pure aero and shouldn’t really be compared to one. This is a power/control racquet for people who like to hit big serves and forehand, but not so big you lose control a la regular pure aero. This sharing a name with the pure aero is kind of a misnomer. I’m able to “hit out” with my forehand and the ball stays in. I can see why ceccinato, auger, sock, kecmanovic, Harrison etc like it. I actually like to string it lower 43 lbs with 16 gauge cyclone and 16 gauge hyper g. Higher launch angle observed which was to be expected.

Now the not so good. The blade has much better feel and touch. The blade’s stability and plow is way better. The blade is actually more forgiving. The blade’s whole stringbed gives a similar ball flight no matter where you hit. Volleys are much more reliable. The blade’s feel is just more solid. I tuned up the lead on the vs such that the “calculated” twistweiggt was supposedly higher than the blade but the blade is just more stable on off center hits, particularly on volleys, touch shots, and overheads. The blade is solid. The vs is comparatively stiff, hollow-feeling, and not very forgiving.

But the bottom line is that I’m undefeated with this vs. The help on my serve and forehand kind of outweigh the detractions from leaving the blade. The way I play I have to be aggressive to keep up with these defensive youngsters. So for the first time in a while I will have an extended play test.

I did have to lead it a lot. Many people will probably scoff at all the weight I put on here but it’s still absurdly light for the swing weight I could achieve. 3 grams at 12, 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 (1.75 g each side), and 3 grams at tail. This, plus the 5 or 5.5 grams overgrip and I’m around 329 grams static, 336 swing weight, 4 pts headlight. I might add more static weight to get to 332-333 grams or so.

The VS is not the end all be all but it has control while hitting a big ball. I haven’t fully made up my mind but am enjoying the vs more than I thought I would.
 
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haqq777

Legend
Okay y’all, not that I am any authority but I have now played around 8 sessions (probably 12 sets or so) with the aero vs (4.5 aggressive baselines). I now have four aero vs’s :) (these are the lighter, non-tour ones)

Having played the blade for so long (3-4 years) I am always interested those threads we always see: “blade-like with more spin/power.” Well, there are quite a few differences b/w the blade and vs. some good, some not so good, and some just different. I have 12 2015 18x20 blades. Yes, 12 (5 have cracked coming out of my sweaty hands on serves).

The vs is probably on the edge for me for the power of racquet I like. It gives me much more power and spin (kick especially). The stringbed is still fairly tight, which still gives control. This is not the pure aero and shouldn’t really be compared to one. This is a power/control racquet for people who like to hit big serves and forehand, but not so big you lose control a la regular pure aero. This sharing a name with the pure aero is kind of a misnomer. I’m able to “hit out” with my forehand and the ball stays in. I can see why ceccinato, auger, sock, kecmanovic, Harrison etc like it. I actually like to string it lower 43 lbs with 16 gauge cyclone and 16 gauge hyper g. Higher launch angle observed which was to be expected.

Now the not so good. The blade has much better feel and touch. The blade’s stability and plow is way better. The blade is actually more forgiving. The blade’s whole stringbed gives a similar ball flight no matter where you hit. Volleys are much more reliable. The blade’s feel is just more solid. I tuned up the lead on the vs such that the “calculated” twistweiggt was supposedly higher than the blade but the blade is just more stable on off center hits, particularly on volleys, touch shots, and overheads. The blade is solid. The vs is comparatively stiff, hollow-feeling, and not very forgiving.

But the bottom line is that I’m undefeated with this vs. The help on my serve and forehand kind of outweigh the detractions from leaving the blade. The way I play I have to be aggressive to keep up with these defensive youngsters. So for the first time in a while I will have will have an extended play test.

I did have to lead it a lot. Many people will probably scoff at all the weight I put on here but it’s still absurdly light for the swing weight I could achieve. 3 grams at 12, 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 (1.75 g each side), and 3 grams at tail. This, plus the 5 or 5.5 grams overgrip and I’m around 329 grams static, 336 swing weight, 4 pts headlight. I might add more static weight to get to 332-333 grams or so.

The VS is not the end all be all but it has control while hitting a big ball. I haven’t fully made up my mind but am enjoying the vs more than I thought I would.
Excellent review/feedback on VS. But perhaps Racquet section is a more appropriate place for this.
 

jarko111

Hall of Fame
Miomir has that beautiful “Serbian” backhand. It’s almost surgical and you just see him smack it with so much confidence.

I don’t know what’s in the water there but when it comes to top players Serbia probably has the best two-handlers per capita.
There’s just so much ease to it. Novak and JJ made it an art form often hitting it for inside out winners on return of first serves.
Tipsarevic too. Ana always had the bigger forehand line Viktor but I mean she always seemed to have a way of hitting her backhand and serve in such a bad position that it weirdly made it spin so difficultly and would get shanks back. Yes, you can hit a shot so very badly that it actually is good.

I think of Dementievas dropshot serves and how It used to drive players nuts. Capriati and Rubin particularly.
 

ron schaap

Hall of Fame
Okay y’all, not that I am any authority but I have now played around 8 sessions (probably 12 sets or so) with the aero vs (4.5 aggressive baseliner). I now have four aero vs’s :) (these are the lighter, non-tour ones)

Having played the blade for so long (3-4 years) I am always interested those threads we always see: “blade-like with more spin/power.” Well, there are quite a few differences b/w the blade and vs. some good, some not so good, and some just different. I have 12 2015 18x20 blades. Yes, 12 (5 have cracked coming out of my sweaty hands on serves).

The vs is probably on the edge for me for the power of racquet I like. It gives me much more power and spin (kick especially). The stringbed is still fairly tight, which still gives control. This is not the pure aero and shouldn’t really be compared to one. This is a power/control racquet for people who like to hit big serves and forehand, but not so big you lose control a la regular pure aero. This sharing a name with the pure aero is kind of a misnomer. I’m able to “hit out” with my forehand and the ball stays in. I can see why ceccinato, auger, sock, kecmanovic, Harrison etc like it. I actually like to string it lower 43 lbs with 16 gauge cyclone and 16 gauge hyper g. Higher launch angle observed which was to be expected.

Now the not so good. The blade has much better feel and touch. The blade’s stability and plow is way better. The blade is actually more forgiving. The blade’s whole stringbed gives a similar ball flight no matter where you hit. Volleys are much more reliable. The blade’s feel is just more solid. I tuned up the lead on the vs such that the “calculated” twistweiggt was supposedly higher than the blade but the blade is just more stable on off center hits, particularly on volleys, touch shots, and overheads. The blade is solid. The vs is comparatively stiff, hollow-feeling, and not very forgiving.

But the bottom line is that I’m undefeated with this vs. The help on my serve and forehand kind of outweigh the detractions from leaving the blade. The way I play I have to be aggressive to keep up with these defensive youngsters. So for the first time in a while I will have an extended play test.

I did have to lead it a lot. Many people will probably scoff at all the weight I put on here but it’s still absurdly light for the swing weight I could achieve. 3 grams at 12, 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 (1.75 g each side), and 3 grams at tail. This, plus the 5 or 5.5 grams overgrip and I’m around 329 grams static, 336 swing weight, 4 pts headlight. I might add more static weight to get to 332-333 grams or so.

The VS is not the end all be all but it has control while hitting a big ball. I haven’t fully made up my mind but am enjoying the vs more than I thought I would.
i ve bought a few Aerom storm successors of the Pure aero vs before it came under the attention again. I find even the tour version of this frame to be lower powered than the older Pure control (team) series. However because it so fast swinging it makes you think sometimes it has some power and spin potential. Thats why Sock probably strings so low, which i did not do yet. Maybe the update VS has more power, that i dont know.
 

cyanide43

Rookie
Miomir using the ultra predictable modern spec range:

335sw, 335g, 32.3 bal. Via prostocktennis

A lot of today's players get their swingweight into acceptable pro range--low to mid 330s and then tweak the balance to their preference. Really not any extra "dead" weight added.
 
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