Good to know, I’ll demo again and hope it sounds good.
My Review of the Pure Aero VS (2020)
- Thread starter BabPlayer-JohnnyG
- Start date
Good to know, I’ll demo again and hope it sounds good.
Boubi
Professional
Strung around 23 kgs
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Has anybody been swinging the new Pure Aero VS 2020 lately? It's such a versatile stick. One of Bab's best sticks in my opinion.
WilsnGrpheneStrkeTour
New User
I've been hitting with the PAVS 2020 for the last 4-5 months. It does pretty much everything well for me, a perfect blend of feel, stability and maneuverability. I hit some very spinny serves/groundies with it, it's very easy to get into position and react with quickly when necessary, especially at net. Found that I like Luxilon ALU Power at 53lbs, did not like RPM Blast at all. Currently strung one with Luxilon 4G at 50lbs to see how it feels.
Serves are how I judge a racquet, and this is the area that I'm not quite as tuned in with: I can't get my flat serve consistent, it sails long a good majority of the time. On the other hand, my slice and kick serves are lethal weapons. I've found over time that I have to move my toss to be more over head vs. in front, or else I'm hitting net quite a bit. Smooth sailing since I figured that out, but it's a change from the other sticks I've used.
Comfort-wise, I find it to be well damped, and haven't had any painful results. My previous racquet, the PAVS Tour, was pinging my elbow on off-centered hits, so this new model definitely improves on that.
If I had to provide any detractions to this stick for me, it would be that it's whippy nature introduces a little variability into my shots. I think perhaps that's just me and my physiology though, a heavier racquet may be better suited for my game, so this isn't a knock on the PAVS at all. Lately I've been demo'ing the Yonex VCore 97 HD, a flexier ~12oz strung 18x20, and have been loving it for this exact reason, and a switch may be on the horizon because it "cleans up" my strokes due to having to be more deliberate with my prep and execution. The thing is, the heavier weight may get taxing the longer I hit, but I've been good w/ the PAVS for 2-3 hour matches, so there is that to consider. Small negatives out-weighed by a racquet that does just about everything well.
Serves are how I judge a racquet, and this is the area that I'm not quite as tuned in with: I can't get my flat serve consistent, it sails long a good majority of the time. On the other hand, my slice and kick serves are lethal weapons. I've found over time that I have to move my toss to be more over head vs. in front, or else I'm hitting net quite a bit. Smooth sailing since I figured that out, but it's a change from the other sticks I've used.
Comfort-wise, I find it to be well damped, and haven't had any painful results. My previous racquet, the PAVS Tour, was pinging my elbow on off-centered hits, so this new model definitely improves on that.
If I had to provide any detractions to this stick for me, it would be that it's whippy nature introduces a little variability into my shots. I think perhaps that's just me and my physiology though, a heavier racquet may be better suited for my game, so this isn't a knock on the PAVS at all. Lately I've been demo'ing the Yonex VCore 97 HD, a flexier ~12oz strung 18x20, and have been loving it for this exact reason, and a switch may be on the horizon because it "cleans up" my strokes due to having to be more deliberate with my prep and execution. The thing is, the heavier weight may get taxing the longer I hit, but I've been good w/ the PAVS for 2-3 hour matches, so there is that to consider. Small negatives out-weighed by a racquet that does just about everything well.
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Great insight. I found the Yonex HD 18x20 too soft, but it does have good weight and a decent balance point. Good luck!
WilsnGrpheneStrkeTour
New User
Thank you! I have my own 97 HD now, and will be hitting with it for the next few sets to see if it's the real deal, or if the demo I had just so happened to arrive when it was an "on" day for me. Since I've hit well with both the HD and PAVS, in the end it's going to come down to which one I feel most confidant with more often. Neither are bad racquets, it's simply that one will be "more better" than the other, and naturally we all are always trying to attain that last nth % of performance 
Biggest question for my comparison now will be how well I can handle the additional weight over a longer 2-3 hour match play, which I should discover this weekend. Also, I'm currently testing/playing in colder temps, I need to see how I hold up with it during sweltering summer hitting.
Another thing to consider over time will be how opponents react to or handle my shots from each. I win a good amount of points on serve w/ PAVS because of the the spin and placement I can produce w/ it; same story w/ groundstrokes, last hitting session opponent said shots from PAVS were more top-spinny, while the Yonex hit a heavier, flatter ball. On the points I won with each, with the Yonex I was hitting more winners due to surgically-placed shots, while the PAVS was causing the opponent to send back easier put-away balls due to the variety of spin I was putting on my shots. Both viable methods, it'll take some time to see which method one I can sustain better against different kinds of opponents.
The PAVS 2020 is fantastic, a superbly well balanced racquet that doesn't have any glaring shortcomings that I haven't been able to adjust to for my style of play. I don't have to pull up on groundstrokes because I'm afraid of overhitting, or it hasn't been rattled at net while absorbing and redirecting a volley from a big hitter. When I'm on with my serve, it's a surgical instrument that often times wins me easy points/games. Having hit with it a good amount under stress, I can confidently say that it hasn't let me down in the slightest. Whatever the outcome of my Yonex 97 HD auditions, I'll be keeping the PAVS 2020 because its lighter weight and proven track record may prove to be beneficial in the long run.
On another topic: two months back, for fun I demo'd the EZone Tour 98, VCore 98 305, and the Clash 98. Here's how I felt they compared to the PAVS:
EZone Tour 98 - much heavier, yet more plush. Slower to wield. I served better with this racquet than the PAVS, but my groundstrokes were all over the place. I actually loved how this EZT felt, so much so that I brought one home for myself to see if I could work it into my hitting style, but for whatever reason the new one hits even worse, and doesn't at all feel like the demo unit, so that experiment is over.
VCore 98 - very, very similar to the PAVS. I could actually switch to this stick and not skip a beat. Didn't pursue any further than demo because the I'm already invested in PAVS, which hits just a tiny bit better for me. Yonex is a little more comfortable on the arm. Great stick though!
Clash 98 - a whole different bird, didn't do anything for me.
Biggest question for my comparison now will be how well I can handle the additional weight over a longer 2-3 hour match play, which I should discover this weekend. Also, I'm currently testing/playing in colder temps, I need to see how I hold up with it during sweltering summer hitting.Another thing to consider over time will be how opponents react to or handle my shots from each. I win a good amount of points on serve w/ PAVS because of the the spin and placement I can produce w/ it; same story w/ groundstrokes, last hitting session opponent said shots from PAVS were more top-spinny, while the Yonex hit a heavier, flatter ball. On the points I won with each, with the Yonex I was hitting more winners due to surgically-placed shots, while the PAVS was causing the opponent to send back easier put-away balls due to the variety of spin I was putting on my shots. Both viable methods, it'll take some time to see which method one I can sustain better against different kinds of opponents.
The PAVS 2020 is fantastic, a superbly well balanced racquet that doesn't have any glaring shortcomings that I haven't been able to adjust to for my style of play. I don't have to pull up on groundstrokes because I'm afraid of overhitting, or it hasn't been rattled at net while absorbing and redirecting a volley from a big hitter. When I'm on with my serve, it's a surgical instrument that often times wins me easy points/games. Having hit with it a good amount under stress, I can confidently say that it hasn't let me down in the slightest. Whatever the outcome of my Yonex 97 HD auditions, I'll be keeping the PAVS 2020 because its lighter weight and proven track record may prove to be beneficial in the long run.
On another topic: two months back, for fun I demo'd the EZone Tour 98, VCore 98 305, and the Clash 98. Here's how I felt they compared to the PAVS:
EZone Tour 98 - much heavier, yet more plush. Slower to wield. I served better with this racquet than the PAVS, but my groundstrokes were all over the place. I actually loved how this EZT felt, so much so that I brought one home for myself to see if I could work it into my hitting style, but for whatever reason the new one hits even worse, and doesn't at all feel like the demo unit, so that experiment is over.
VCore 98 - very, very similar to the PAVS. I could actually switch to this stick and not skip a beat. Didn't pursue any further than demo because the I'm already invested in PAVS, which hits just a tiny bit better for me. Yonex is a little more comfortable on the arm. Great stick though!
Clash 98 - a whole different bird, didn't do anything for me.
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Boubi
Professional
Much better but equivalent to the MP Extreme (in terms of quality)
tlsmikey
Rookie
Thank you! I have my own 97 HD now, and will be hitting with it for the next few sets to see if it's the real deal, or if the demo I had just so happened to arrive when it was an "on" day for me. Since I've hit well with both the HD and PAVS, in the end it's going to come down to which one I feel most confidant with more often. Neither are bad racquets, it's simply that one will be "more better" than the other, and naturally we all are always trying to attain that last nth % of performance
Another thing to consider over time will be how opponents react to or handle my shots from each. I win a good amount of points on serve w/ PAVS because of the the spin and placement I can produce w/ it; same story w/ groundstrokes, last hitting session opponent said shots from PAVS were more top-spinny, while the Yonex hit a heavier, flatter ball. On the points I won with each, with the Yonex I was hitting more winners due to surgically-placed shots, while the PAVS was causing the opponent to send back easier put-away balls due to the variety of spin I was putting on my shots. Both viable methods, it'll take some time to see which method one I can sustain better against different kinds of opponents.
The PAVS 2020 is fantastic, a superbly well balanced racquet that doesn't have any glaring shortcomings that I haven't been able to adjust to for my style of play. I don't have to pull up on groundstrokes because I'm afraid of overhitting, or it hasn't been rattled at net while absorbing and redirecting a volley from a big hitter. When I'm on with my serve, it's a surgical instrument that often times wins me easy points/games. Having hit with it a good amount under stress, I can confidently say that it hasn't let me down in the slightest. Whatever the outcome of my Yonex 97 HD auditions, I'll be keeping the PAVS 2020 because its lighter weight and proven track record may prove to be beneficial in the long run.
On another topic: two months back, for fun I demo'd the EZone Tour 98, VCore 98 305, and the Clash 98. Here's how I felt they compared to the PAVS:
EZone Tour 98 - much heavier, yet more plush. Slower to wield. I served better with this racquet than the PAVS, but my groundstrokes were all over the place. I actually loved how this EZT felt, so much so that I brought one home for myself to see if I could work it into my hitting style, but for whatever reason the new one hits even worse, and doesn't at all feel like the demo unit, so that experiment is over.
VCore 98 - very, very similar to the PAVS. I could actually switch to this stick and not skip a beat. Didn't pursue any further than demo because the I'm already invested in PAVS, which hits just a tiny bit better for me. Yonex is a little more comfortable on the arm. Great stick though!
Clash 98 - a whole different bird, didn't do anything for me.
Just switched to this stick after my Ezone Tour 98 as well and have almost identical impressions that you had. I like the Ezone but it was a bit too heavy for me to swing and my western forehand and the launch angle of that racquet never gelled. This PAVS is really something special. It has a bit of a hollow or odd feeling near the hoop in stock form, but i'm slowly adding small amounts of lead to get rid of that. Even in stock form though, I have no issues with the control and and stability despite the head light nature of the stick. It's even comfortable for me to hit with which was a big surprise.
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BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Really great feedback! You mentioned some great sticks! Keep swinging away.Thank you! I have my own 97 HD now, and will be hitting with it for the next few sets to see if it's the real deal, or if the demo I had just so happened to arrive when it was an "on" day for me. Since I've hit well with both the HD and PAVS, in the end it's going to come down to which one I feel most confidant with more often. Neither are bad racquets, it's simply that one will be "more better" than the other, and naturally we all are always trying to attain that last nth % of performance
Another thing to consider over time will be how opponents react to or handle my shots from each. I win a good amount of points on serve w/ PAVS because of the the spin and placement I can produce w/ it; same story w/ groundstrokes, last hitting session opponent said shots from PAVS were more top-spinny, while the Yonex hit a heavier, flatter ball. On the points I won with each, with the Yonex I was hitting more winners due to surgically-placed shots, while the PAVS was causing the opponent to send back easier put-away balls due to the variety of spin I was putting on my shots. Both viable methods, it'll take some time to see which method one I can sustain better against different kinds of opponents.
The PAVS 2020 is fantastic, a superbly well balanced racquet that doesn't have any glaring shortcomings that I haven't been able to adjust to for my style of play. I don't have to pull up on groundstrokes because I'm afraid of overhitting, or it hasn't been rattled at net while absorbing and redirecting a volley from a big hitter. When I'm on with my serve, it's a surgical instrument that often times wins me easy points/games. Having hit with it a good amount under stress, I can confidently say that it hasn't let me down in the slightest. Whatever the outcome of my Yonex 97 HD auditions, I'll be keeping the PAVS 2020 because its lighter weight and proven track record may prove to be beneficial in the long run.
On another topic: two months back, for fun I demo'd the EZone Tour 98, VCore 98 305, and the Clash 98. Here's how I felt they compared to the PAVS:
EZone Tour 98 - much heavier, yet more plush. Slower to wield. I served better with this racquet than the PAVS, but my groundstrokes were all over the place. I actually loved how this EZT felt, so much so that I brought one home for myself to see if I could work it into my hitting style, but for whatever reason the new one hits even worse, and doesn't at all feel like the demo unit, so that experiment is over.
VCore 98 - very, very similar to the PAVS. I could actually switch to this stick and not skip a beat. Didn't pursue any further than demo because the I'm already invested in PAVS, which hits just a tiny bit better for me. Yonex is a little more comfortable on the arm. Great stick though!
Clash 98 - a whole different bird, didn't do anything for me.
have you hit with the 2019 Pure Aero? curious to hear what you think because i found it to be even better than the PA VS across the board
Boubi
Professional
I have a PA tour and it is much less accurate than the VS, less manœuvrable, less comfy etc
The PAVS hands down in all departments
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Hey. Yeah, I've hit the Pure Aero (2019), and I really like it. To be honest, I think it's a fantastic stick. My one little bother is how wide apart the mains are, especially in the middle of the string bed. Even the Pure Drive mains are slightly tighter than the Pure Aero mains. However, if you're using the write strokes, technique, and such, you can do some serious damage with the Pure Aero. To be honest, I really wish the Pure Aero would go back to the previous Aero Pro drill pattern, but you never know. I'm definitely looking forward to the release of the signature frame of Rafa in early 2021. I think it's pretty much an update to the 2019 version, probably with same 2019 drill pattern, but it will have the amazing starburst paint job Rafa has been swinging since March of this year. Cheers!
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
I’m still loving my 2020 Pure Aero VS. Anybody else enjoying it? I went back to my original set-up with a VS Original over grip wrapped over a syntec team replacement grip and still nothing like it! Keep swinging away!
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Hulger
Semi-Pro
Yeah, with good mental balance and physique you can win with a toy racquet but that doesn’t automatically qualify you to know too much about different frames.
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Hey All, I just wanted to add that I switched back to a Syntec Pro replacement grip (that comes stock on this stick), as compared to the Syntec Team (a little too thin) I was using, and then I complemented the Syntec Pro with the VS Original over grip. This feels perfect in a 4 1/4 grip. I'll be playing this stick for a very long time. Keep rockin' it!
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Alcaraz seemed to be okay with the switch, no?
Lendl
Semi-Pro
I recently switched to this racket. It was much better than I expected when I demoed and wish I had tried it earlier. I use Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17g and it plays crisp and is arm friendly. I am using it stock and it feels just right for all court tennis. Came from Blade v7 and that wasn’t as maneuverable as the VS.
. I use Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17g and it plays crisp and is arm friendly. I am using it stock and it feels just right for all court tennis. Came from Blade v7 and that wasn’t as maneuverable as the VS.After playing with wilsom pro staff for 20 years I decided to change to Bab PAVS. I needed a lighter and more manageable racket.
I strung with Dunlop synthetic gut 25/24 and it was a bad choice. The ball doesn't seem to come out of the strings. I cut the strings and put in Babolat 1.3 RPM 21/21. Now it is much better, I have more power and it feels softer to hit.
I'm slowly getting used to it. Some of the shots I hit better than the Wilsom, mainly back slice and slice serve. I still have trouble with balls where I don't hit the middle of the string. I often hit the top of the racket and when that happens I feel the vibration in my arm. I'm thinking of putting some weight on it make it more massive. What do you guys think?
Thank you
Daniel
I strung with Dunlop synthetic gut 25/24 and it was a bad choice. The ball doesn't seem to come out of the strings. I cut the strings and put in Babolat 1.3 RPM 21/21. Now it is much better, I have more power and it feels softer to hit.
I'm slowly getting used to it. Some of the shots I hit better than the Wilsom, mainly back slice and slice serve. I still have trouble with balls where I don't hit the middle of the string. I often hit the top of the racket and when that happens I feel the vibration in my arm. I'm thinking of putting some weight on it make it more massive. What do you guys think?
Thank you
Daniel
As much as I like the VS I stopped playing it for this reason... BAAAAAD vibrations and sore forearm!! Switched back to my Regna 98 and problem solved!
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Who is still using the 2020 Pure Aero VS? I'm curious on your current set-ups and if you play it customized or not. Lately, I've been stringing RPM Blast 16g at 50 pounds, Bab dampener with no insert, and using the regular Syntec Pro replacement grip and Pro Tour Over grip. I don't add weight, but I think the stick is perfect for customization. It's really my favorite racquet that I've ever used, but I'm interested on your thoughts as well, pros and cons. I know it's not for everyone, but just wanted to inquire. Keep swinging away!!!
DJTaurus
Hall of Fame
Are you a 1HB or 2HBer ? I am trying to purchase this stick again but babolat is having supply issues. I believe it played best with 3-4gr at 12 in order to bring balance from 31,5 to 32 unstrung…. cause it felt that all the weight was on the handle/throat area…. despite that it was pretty stable. My favourite babolat since aero pro drive by far. Keep enjoying it mate.
I've been using it for about 6 months now and I'm really enjoying it. I use Babolat Xcel 1.25 strings at 45 pounds. Super soft as I like it. Good for spin and slice and you can also push it flat if you want.
I am likely switching after several weeks of hitting with it. Been on a journey with Ezone Tour, RF97, Radical Pro 360+ and Extreme Tour.
They are all amazing racquets but the PAVS has the best combo of being lightest and heaviest spin shot. I've been hitting with the latter 2 Head racquets and I love the control of the radical, and I will keep them for now. I am moving on from the EZT because the balance is too sluggish but it had amazing control with Hyper G.
The extreme is similar to the PAVS but softer and gentler on the arm. But it lacks the plow, my ball seems to be sitting instead of penetrating, and harder to flatten while the 16x20 feels like it gives me the best penetrating spin similar to the Vcore 95 Red. I think 16x20 is where I am going now. If there is a 16x20 Vcore 98 instead of 16x19 i think that would be my sweetspot.
PAVS felt powerful and addictive on my forehand altho I would still prefer a bit more control. The forehand is what put it over above all others for me except for the RF97/EZT but I have to work harder with the heavier racquets over long match.
I was surprised the mid tension rec is 50-60 given the stiffness. My setup is Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable at 54 with a round soft tourna poly I had left over. I will likely try 56 or 57lb on the main with a syn gut cross I have leftover to see how it feels before using multi. I used 2 grams at 10/2 as the best combo so far. Trying 5 grams total in the throat and tailedweight to make it about 12oz.
The main issue for me is the vibration and hollowness on offcenter shots, volleying or blocking the ball. My 2 backhand needs time to adjust also. There's just not enough weight for me to feel the head drop when I use 2 hands but the slices have tons of weight and stay low. The EZT and Radical gave me more control and consistency on the backhand in comparison but my forehand with the PAVS makes me feel like I can hit corners or through people for a short ball despite less weight. I am still either early or late on my 2 hander since it's so whippy but my 1h is good enough with slices deep crosscourt to get easy balls to attack on forehand but I need my 2hbh back against good players to finish points. As mentioned, I am thinking about adding more weights at the top and silicone or just with cotton balls and weight first.
I also played with the APD13 and this vibration feel is similar but the APD13 just didn't take well to customization when I wanted more weight.
If I rank them now,
PAVS (power and spin)
Ext Tour/Radical Pro (spin vs control)
EZT (control but sluggish if not hitting often)
RF97 v11 (amazing but heavy and stiff, hard to match pair, no room for customization)
They are all amazing racquets but the PAVS has the best combo of being lightest and heaviest spin shot. I've been hitting with the latter 2 Head racquets and I love the control of the radical, and I will keep them for now. I am moving on from the EZT because the balance is too sluggish but it had amazing control with Hyper G.
The extreme is similar to the PAVS but softer and gentler on the arm. But it lacks the plow, my ball seems to be sitting instead of penetrating, and harder to flatten while the 16x20 feels like it gives me the best penetrating spin similar to the Vcore 95 Red. I think 16x20 is where I am going now. If there is a 16x20 Vcore 98 instead of 16x19 i think that would be my sweetspot.
PAVS felt powerful and addictive on my forehand altho I would still prefer a bit more control. The forehand is what put it over above all others for me except for the RF97/EZT but I have to work harder with the heavier racquets over long match.
I was surprised the mid tension rec is 50-60 given the stiffness. My setup is Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable at 54 with a round soft tourna poly I had left over. I will likely try 56 or 57lb on the main with a syn gut cross I have leftover to see how it feels before using multi. I used 2 grams at 10/2 as the best combo so far. Trying 5 grams total in the throat and tailedweight to make it about 12oz.
The main issue for me is the vibration and hollowness on offcenter shots, volleying or blocking the ball. My 2 backhand needs time to adjust also. There's just not enough weight for me to feel the head drop when I use 2 hands but the slices have tons of weight and stay low. The EZT and Radical gave me more control and consistency on the backhand in comparison but my forehand with the PAVS makes me feel like I can hit corners or through people for a short ball despite less weight. I am still either early or late on my 2 hander since it's so whippy but my 1h is good enough with slices deep crosscourt to get easy balls to attack on forehand but I need my 2hbh back against good players to finish points. As mentioned, I am thinking about adding more weights at the top and silicone or just with cotton balls and weight first.
I also played with the APD13 and this vibration feel is similar but the APD13 just didn't take well to customization when I wanted more weight.
If I rank them now,
PAVS (power and spin)
Ext Tour/Radical Pro (spin vs control)
EZT (control but sluggish if not hitting often)
RF97 v11 (amazing but heavy and stiff, hard to match pair, no room for customization)
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My main concern with the VS is that I don't feel confident with my shots whenever I swing big. I need to shorten my strokes or try to put a lot of spin, sometimes the ball end in the middle of the court where I am an easy target. Not sure if increasing the tension will help, currently at 46pounds, will try, hopefully, does not hurt my arm.
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
That's great to hear. I'm a 2-hander on the backhand. The backhand is my strongest wing, and probably my favorite shot to hit with the pure aero vs. What about you? What's your fave shot? You got a 1-hand or 2-handed bh? All the best!
DJTaurus
Hall of Fame
All my shots were top notch with aero vs except my one hand backhand. This is probably due to the HL balance. I also didn’t have confidence on drop shots. I loved the racquet because i managed my best result against a 5.5 player…. great energy return. Even better than pure aero. But when i wanted to drive my 1HB down the line flat shot was difficult to control…. outside sweet spot ball could easily fly away. Maybe i should have tried it with lead at 3/9 and 12 to give it more mass on the head…..
hi
I also prefer the thicker original Syntec Pro base grip, tried thinner babolat team, and yonex retail racquets' one, but thick, dense and heavy original syntec pro absorbs some vibrations and feels best to me. that's probably why they put such a thick base grip on their racquets, because they are stiff. wanted to try leather, will try in the future.
best string so far is babolat rpm power both 1.25 and 1.30, still haven't decided between them, but I'll buy a reel. fabulous string on volleys, a total surprise. on serves too. 24/23kg (~53/51lb) seems best, which is a bit low for me, probably because the SW is low so higher tensions don't suit so well, will experiment more.
fighting for 1st place is also yonex poly tour rev, needs very fast swinging though, but it's great. I'm 1.91/6'3 and I hit as hard as I can, flatter drive shots with some covering and dip on the forehand, I try to punch through the court. I only brush up when I need to pick the ball from my ankles, and even then only as much as I need while maintaining as much punch through as I can. hitting sessions, points play, serve actions, sets etc. my strings don't last, but both rpm power and rev are good the second time, rev maybe even the third. I'll be trying more strings soon, was first experimenting with base grip size and lead.
lead on 12 goes perfectly, racquet is calm and balanced with almost full bumper length of lead on both sides, ~5g I think. I didn't measure the SW but I'd say around 335max with it, maybe less. it was great, on one handed backhand, on serve etc, but I lost the speed the racquet provides when stock, that's its biggest advantage. even when stock balls never drop short, I can keep depth and pace with any kind of ball really. so I took off all the lead and I just play a stock racquet, it's on spec almost exactly. but will experiment more, I think I need just a bit, 1 or 2g max at 12, I first wanted to see whether I'll get more racquets in grip size 4 or maybe 3, but I've decided on grip 4. it's big, compared to other brands, because the base grip is so thick. when with yonex base grip it was thick exactly like yonex grip 4 racquets.
my forearm is also a bit tired, but nothing I won't get used to, I hope. I swing with a very loose arm, so it shouldn't bother me too much. VS needs string that has some give and dampening though, when I stretch my arm fully on the forehands and blast them as hard as I can, something's got to give, it best be the string. it seems it was developed together with rpm power, so I'm not surprised they go so well together.
I have high hopes for the upcoming alu power vibe as well, will try and see.
as for the one handed backhands down the line, mine are fine, it's more my footwork than the racquet, but cross court goes better, I can really blast it 110%. slices are great, returns are fabulous. as soon as I demoed it I said wow this is it, and my opinion hasn't changed. full swings great, wristing the ball great, blocking great, trajectory and depth great, flat shots great, bend and dip great. what's not to like?
it isn't for defenders though, attacking players only, contact fully in front of the body, no shoveling and unloading late contacts. very unlike other babolats I've ever tried..
I also prefer the thicker original Syntec Pro base grip, tried thinner babolat team, and yonex retail racquets' one, but thick, dense and heavy original syntec pro absorbs some vibrations and feels best to me. that's probably why they put such a thick base grip on their racquets, because they are stiff. wanted to try leather, will try in the future.
best string so far is babolat rpm power both 1.25 and 1.30, still haven't decided between them, but I'll buy a reel. fabulous string on volleys, a total surprise. on serves too. 24/23kg (~53/51lb) seems best, which is a bit low for me, probably because the SW is low so higher tensions don't suit so well, will experiment more.
fighting for 1st place is also yonex poly tour rev, needs very fast swinging though, but it's great. I'm 1.91/6'3 and I hit as hard as I can, flatter drive shots with some covering and dip on the forehand, I try to punch through the court. I only brush up when I need to pick the ball from my ankles, and even then only as much as I need while maintaining as much punch through as I can. hitting sessions, points play, serve actions, sets etc. my strings don't last, but both rpm power and rev are good the second time, rev maybe even the third. I'll be trying more strings soon, was first experimenting with base grip size and lead.
lead on 12 goes perfectly, racquet is calm and balanced with almost full bumper length of lead on both sides, ~5g I think. I didn't measure the SW but I'd say around 335max with it, maybe less. it was great, on one handed backhand, on serve etc, but I lost the speed the racquet provides when stock, that's its biggest advantage. even when stock balls never drop short, I can keep depth and pace with any kind of ball really. so I took off all the lead and I just play a stock racquet, it's on spec almost exactly. but will experiment more, I think I need just a bit, 1 or 2g max at 12, I first wanted to see whether I'll get more racquets in grip size 4 or maybe 3, but I've decided on grip 4. it's big, compared to other brands, because the base grip is so thick. when with yonex base grip it was thick exactly like yonex grip 4 racquets.
my forearm is also a bit tired, but nothing I won't get used to, I hope. I swing with a very loose arm, so it shouldn't bother me too much. VS needs string that has some give and dampening though, when I stretch my arm fully on the forehands and blast them as hard as I can, something's got to give, it best be the string. it seems it was developed together with rpm power, so I'm not surprised they go so well together.
I have high hopes for the upcoming alu power vibe as well, will try and see.
as for the one handed backhands down the line, mine are fine, it's more my footwork than the racquet, but cross court goes better, I can really blast it 110%. slices are great, returns are fabulous. as soon as I demoed it I said wow this is it, and my opinion hasn't changed. full swings great, wristing the ball great, blocking great, trajectory and depth great, flat shots great, bend and dip great. what's not to like?
it isn't for defenders though, attacking players only, contact fully in front of the body, no shoveling and unloading late contacts. very unlike other babolats I've ever tried..
thenakeddude
New User
Just wanted to send an update from Europe about the grip size. My new 4 1/4 PAVS is true to size (10,8 cm) https://ibb.co/PxGNKsv
Good idea I have reels of blue RPM Power 125 and Hyper G soft 120
In your experience this frame works best with round or shaped strings??
I use racquet head tape instead of lead tape, so I’m not sure exactly how much. The tape weighs about 1 gram per 3 inches and I put about 4 inches, so about 1.3 grams at 10 and another at 1.3 grams at 2. I also use an over grip which helps keep the frame from getting too head heavy.
I like 10 and 2 because it raises the sweet spot and increases stability. Since I tend to hit serves higher on the racquet face, the higher sweet spot definitely helps with that.
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Anybody recently notice that Leo Borg (though not quite the prolific player that his father once was, to say the least, ), but he's swinging the Pure Aero VS right now. Still pretty cool!!!
), but he's swinging the Pure Aero VS right now. Still pretty cool!!!
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
Non advanced player who has just realized round & slick is king checking in
BabPlayer-JohnnyG
Rookie
Hey All, Do you grip up higher on the handle for your forehand grip, a la Jack Sock, or do you like to grip down on the handle, like Rafa? I think I fall somewhere in between. I recently think it feels better to grip lower on a dryer grip like with the vs original over grip, like Rafa (He's pretty extreme with like a pinky close to hanging off.), versus doing the same thing with a tackier over grip. I know it's a random topic. The syntec pro and vs original over grip combo is hard to beat no matter what. I'm still loving the Pure Aero VS, and it keeps picking up more followers, especially on the ATP.
thenakeddude
New User
Do you guys have any wallpaper with the PAVS?
Saitamaxpunch1
Rookie
I've been trying really hard to like this racquet with multiple different string setups and my conclusion is that the sweet spot feels small (might be a stability issue). My main racket is Pure Strike 16x19 Gen 3, so overall am a big fan of Babolat. On a pure strike, with my groundstrokes 2/3 land in the sweet spot on average, with PAVS it's about 1/4. Not sure if anyone has experienced this as well. I'm an aggressive baseliner and would love to have a 'Pure Strike with more top spin', but I may need to go the Pure Strike 100 for that instead.
Hulger
Semi-Pro
Ok thank you for your input. I guess it has too thin beam for that swing weight on stock form. Other option is that your racquet is underspec. Haven't you tried to add some weight on it?
Saitamaxpunch1
Rookie
Yes, I've tried putting 2 grams each on 3 and 9. Made it less manoeuvrable for me and didn't help with the 'sweet spot' access
