Nadal current racquet specs
- Thread starter Shaolin
- Start date
Shaolin
Talk Tennis Guru
No offense but like I said I searched. Didn't find anything current under "Nadal racquet" or "Nadal racquet specs". Maybe someone can post the specs so the next person that searches can find this thread.
I assume that Babolat.com wouldn't lie about the frame specs
https://www.babolat.com/insiders/pure-aero-rafael-nadals-fatal-weapon-0007/#.XNwAMxQza70
They say:
- The first adjustment took place in 2012. He added 3 grams. Actually later they say it was 2011. The goal, particularly desired by his uncle Toni, is twofold: to find length in volley and service, but also confidence in his game.
- Now five years later, another additional 2 grams were added to the same place, at the top of the frame
- Nadal uses a size 2, which is small, especially for a man of his stature. He adds an overgrip, to which he grants a particular importance
- RPM Blast string
Note that it is not mentioned how many overgrips and their weight. As nothing is mentioned about silicone in the handle, this is probably his way to balance the 5 grams of lead at 12 o'clock.
https://www.babolat.com/insiders/pure-aero-rafael-nadals-fatal-weapon-0007/#.XNwAMxQza70
They say:
- The first adjustment took place in 2012. He added 3 grams. Actually later they say it was 2011. The goal, particularly desired by his uncle Toni, is twofold: to find length in volley and service, but also confidence in his game.
- Now five years later, another additional 2 grams were added to the same place, at the top of the frame
- Nadal uses a size 2, which is small, especially for a man of his stature. He adds an overgrip, to which he grants a particular importance
- RPM Blast string
Note that it is not mentioned how many overgrips and their weight. As nothing is mentioned about silicone in the handle, this is probably his way to balance the 5 grams of lead at 12 o'clock.
Same source:
2005 - 2008 Aeropro drive, 311g, Pro Hurricane tour string (gauge 135, tension 25kg)
2010 - 2012 Aeropro drive, 311g, RPM Blast string (gauge 135, tension 25kg)
2013 - 2014 Aeropro drive, 314g, RPM Blast string (gauge 135, tension 25kg)
the article is dated 23.06.2017
2005 - 2008 Aeropro drive, 311g, Pro Hurricane tour string (gauge 135, tension 25kg)
2010 - 2012 Aeropro drive, 311g, RPM Blast string (gauge 135, tension 25kg)
2013 - 2014 Aeropro drive, 314g, RPM Blast string (gauge 135, tension 25kg)
the article is dated 23.06.2017
Shaolin
Talk Tennis Guru
I would assume the same.
Besides, as he plays with grip 2, you need to factor that he is probably using the grip + overgrips as counter-balance to the lead added at 12 oc'lock.
This article doesn't mention how much does it weight and how this affects the balance.
Also, SW is not mentioned.
moon shot
Hall of Fame
In my old thread titled search is your friend I have some specs and links to where I found them.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/search-is-your-friend.579634/
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/search-is-your-friend.579634/
Shaolin
Talk Tennis Guru
So according to your thread there's 337oz (wow pretty heavy
) 315g and 335g. Weights all over the map. I thought this guy hardly ever changed his specs.You wrote he used 315, I assume that's unstrung.
moon shot
Hall of Fame
So according to your thread there's 337oz (wow pretty heavy
You wrote he used 315, I assume that's unstrung.
315 is noted in the thread as unstrung. If the unstrung specs are put into the twu calculator the strung weight and balance point can be reached by just putting weight where the center of the stringbed would be.
Also listed is his 2015 swing weight which was 357 when strung, which was before he added a bit more to 12
indeed, they say 314, and then another 2gr were added, which is 316.
316 and 317 is quite close.
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
Aha, this isnt heavy at all!
An overgrip weights about 8 gr, so he adds only about 8gr of lead which isnt really very much.
This info shouldshut up all those "xperts" who proclaim that topplayers can only play with superheavy super swingweights, but appearantly they are wrong, lol, loll
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moon shot
Hall of Fame
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
318 unstrung plus 19gr strings makes 337gr. No big deal.
OldschoolKIaus
Hall of Fame
All world believes it's a Babolat Pure whatever.
Only we here on TTW knows it's a Pro Staff 85 with a paint job. 400 g, 14HL (and full bed gut) ^^
Only we here on TTW knows it's a Pro Staff 85 with a paint job. 400 g, 14HL (and full bed gut) ^^
D
Deleted member 746200
Guest
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lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
These were from 2016
So this seems very likely to be his legit specs as of last year
GenerationTennisElbow
Rookie
In case this isn’t sarcasm, those numbers mentioned are static weight and not swingweight. The distribution of the lead tape towards the top of the hoop means that the swingweight is ~360. Basically, it really is very heavy to swing. For evidence of that, check out one of the last couple of French opens, where Rafa hit a few balls with a ballboy after a win. Rafa gave the kid one of his racquets, and he had to heave his whole body weight into each stroke just to meet the ball out front at a reasonable speed, despite being physically fit with sound technique.
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ron schaap
Hall of Fame
The fact that a ball boy has trouble swinging a racquet does not directly mean that it is that heavy swingweight that you suggest. Isnt half of the extra weight in Rafas handle, so i doubt that he swings super heavy swingweight racquet.
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Lukhas
Legend
His SW for 2016 is literally in the picture: 322 unstrung, and 330 in 2018 according to Babolat, with an unstrung balance of 32.6cm/32.8cm. You'd need to add around 30 points at the very least considering he's playing with a thick 15L poly. The balance would be around 33.2 to 33.5cm strung. That said, the original Aero Pro Drive had quite low twistweight, especially for a 100in² racquet. You cannot argue he doesn't use a SW over 350 if not around 360 with that evidence, unless you're assessing that you don't believe in the evidence shown above. Therefore, I'm asking you: do you believe that evidence to be wrong? If so, why?
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jmacdaununder2
Legend
It's Nostraschappus, logic is useless...
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
this is from Babolat official during last year’s French open finale
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You posted a picture of the racket Rafa endorses.
Here is a photo of the racket Rafa uses (the photo was taken at Roland Garros yesterday):
D
Deleted member 746200
Guest
You posted a picture of the racket Rafa endorses.
Here is a photo of the racket Rafa uses (the photo was taken at Roland Garros yesterday):
We all know Rafa uses the original APD not the pure aero. The picture just showing the specs, not the actual frame.
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Shangri La
Hall of Fame
I wonder where lead is placed on his APD, other than the 3g+2g added at 12 after 2012. Nothing visible at 3/9.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
'In 2018, the Spanish player will defend his title with a new racket in his hands: the Pure Aero Decima. While anyone can find this racket model in stores...'. (Should be a capital 'T' after the colon btw.) This excerpt and the words which follow are a blatant falsehood which clearly imply that he is using a modified Decima, not a modified APDO: I suppose we should be greatful that he actually tried using the Pure Aero albeit briefly.
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
Furthermore im interested in the swingweight calculations of the experts on this forum. I only Read unstrung weight of 314gr and sw 322 on sticker on Nadals 2016 racquet. So that should be accurate. Normally strings add 15gr, but Nadals are bit thicker so a few gr heavier probably extra. So now i want the see the calculation which results in a sw of 350 to 360, otherwise i stay sceptical.
Lukhas
Legend
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customizationReverse.php
54cm from the handle is roughly the middle of the string bed of a racquet like an APD. Just add 15 grams to that location and lo and behold, miracles happen. And as you've pointed out, nevermind RPM Blast in 15L gauge strung in four knots which is likely even heavier. Regardless of that, it's actually rather common knowledge for the nerds of this forum that you can expect to add 30 SW points to a frame after you've strung it with 15 grams strings, more or less depending of a few factors (material, gauge, string pattern, head size/shape...). The worst offender I've experienced was 4G in 16 gauge. It's absurdly heavy. So yeah, it can be even worse. Reminder to also add the extra weight of Nadal's dampener, because that will be an extra 3.3g according to this thread right here. After all, no addition of weight reduces SW...
Anyway, I hope this will be (one of?) my last message(s) on this topic. Usually I simply don't reply to that stuff, I just grab popcorn.
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
Babolat obviously wants him to play with the La Decima racquet.
Take it how you will but according to Babolat's instagram account, "Rafa feels very connected to his Decima during the clay court season"
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
Rafa is very superstitious. He has already about 50 routines he performs during match play. So 1 extra is no big deal for him.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
More OCD than superstition.
Shangri La
Hall of Fame
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customizationReverse.php
54cm from the handle is roughly the middle of the string bed of a racquet like an APD. Just add 15 grams to that location and lo and behold, miracles happen. And as you've pointed out, nevermind RPM Blast in 15L gauge strung in four knots which is likely even heavier. Regardless of that, it's actually rather common knowledge for the nerds of this forum that you can expect to add 30 SW points to a frame after you've strung it with 15 grams strings, more or less depending of a few factors (material, gauge, string pattern, head size/shape...). The worst offender I've experienced was 4G in 16 gauge. It's absurdly heavy. So yeah, it can be even worse. Reminder to also add the extra weight of Nadal's dampener, because that will be an extra 3.3g according to this thread right here. After all, no addition of weight reduces SW...
Anyway, I hope this will be (one of?) my last message(s) on this topic. Usually I simply don't reply to that stuff, I just grab popcorn.
That's about right, except I'd put 17g in the calculator which is about another 4 sw. My silverstring 1.20 adds a bit over 16g to a 100 sq in 16x19 frame. So for Nadal's 1.35 string 17g would be a closer estimate. Could be even heavier.
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
I’ve been gone too long, Fedace has another new account? Lol
Lukhas
Legend
Not really. But the same way you have people insisting on using high SW racquets and that (most) pros use high SW, you have people arguing the exact opposite. You can just read the thread and forge your own opinion.
PS: Left a question in the gut/poly thread.
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
That means if you are a Rafa fan, you have to buy the La Decima too! Makes total sense to me! Borg had two racquets too, Bancroft Borg that he played with in North America and a Donnay Borg he played with everywhere else!
Supertribe
New User
Has he always used standard length 27"?
Just found this...lol
https://www.merchantoftennis.com/blogs/strings/104350919-rafa-nadal-changes-strings-for-2016 so did he change back
https://www.merchantoftennis.com/blogs/strings/104350919-rafa-nadal-changes-strings-for-2016 so did he change back
Alexh22
Professional
Funny they showed the so called real spec on a completely different racquet.
this is from Babolat official during last year’s French open finale
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