New string for Babolat Aero Pro Drive

[ShockFly]

Last year I bought a Babolat Aero Pro Drive and decided to go with the allround Toalson TOA Gold 1.30 string with default tension (don't know the exact tension applied to it to be honest).

I really like the racquet, although I initially had trouble catching up since the strung weight of 320 grams was much different than my previous Dunlop racquet (a head heavy 270 grams strung weight racquet).

However, I notice that I need to keep my swing shorter than I want. When I grab my old Dunlop which is strung with a Big Banger, I can make full swings with all the power I have in my arm and place near perfect balls. But it causes injuries to my wrist and easily tends to twist around the handles axle when I don't hit the sweetspot. I'm also unable to place precise balls with it, which I can with my Babolat.

So I want to restring it and was thinking of the same string Nadal uses, the Babolat RPM Blast 1.25. I've read that it gives me more spin control and control in general and also more ball feel due to the construction of the string.

I'm not sure if I should go with that string however, since it might be too difficult for me to play with? Basically I'm still a recreational player, but I've surely outgrown basic stuff like the Dunlop racquet and the Toalson TOA Gold string. I also spent a lot of time looking for technique improvements and had some lessons, that's how I know I would be able to compete in club competitions. It's just that I rather play with friends, since I only have time to tennis once or twice a week and if I have lessons, I have no time for a match anymore.

Would the RPM Blast be a good option? If so, which tension should be good for me when you keep in mind the TOA Gold was strung on default.

 

[kchau]

I'll be honest with you, I dont think you should be playing with poly, because it sounds like you are having trouble taking full swings.

i will almost bet that you would see better results if you switched to a multifilament like nxt or livewire.

if youre having trouble generating spin with a aero pro drive, the problem isnt strings. its your swing.

 

[Motherwasp]

^^^Agreed, If you're having any kind of arm/wrist issues then I would avoid Poly full stop, even the 'more comfortable' ones. If you do go for Poly, I would start around 50lbs and see how you feel with that.

 

[ShockFly]

Thanks for your responses. To be clear: I have no issue at all with the Toalsen TOA Gold string and generally not with the Big Banger in the Dunlop, it's just when swinging hard and not hitting the sweetspot, I feel the racquet trying to twist my wrist. Which in the long run (after a good hour or two) makes my wrist hurt a little. Nothing major and when switching to the Babolat it's gone quite soon.

The reason why I cannot make a full swing with the Babolat is purely power based. I have too much power in my arms for the current string. When I hit a full swing it almost always ends up after the baseline or just on it. I know for sure that this has to do with the Toalson TOA Gold string, since I never had this issue before with other racquets and strings.

 

[ShockFly]

Some more info on kchau's reaction: I can perform spin with my Babolat, but since the string is so powerful at the moment, I cannot be precise enough. So I'm not seeking for more spin, but more control overall. Which automatically will give me more control over spin I suspect.

 

[Up&comer]

Wait a second.

Have you had the babolat restrung since you bought it?

 

[eliza]

Wow, I have to re-string every two-three months....BTW, why do not you start with multis like Babolat Ex-cel, or similar and work your way to poly, if you really like it?
I have the same racquet, and agree on the spin: review your swing.

 

[ShockFly]

Wait a second.

Have you had the babolat restrung since you bought it?

Depends how you look at it. I bought it unstrung and chose (on the shops advice) the Toalson TOA Gold string on default tension. Since then I did not have it restrung.

Wow, I have to re-string every two-three months....BTW, why do not you start with multis like Babolat Ex-cel, or similar and work your way to poly, if you really like it?
I have the same racquet, and agree on the spin: review your swing.

I don't know how often you play, but for me it is once every week. Sometimes twice, but there are also weeks I simply cannot play, which evens it out to once a week. Is it then really necessary to re-string it as often as you do? I've noticed that my current string has no life left in it, so I really need to have it restrung, but every 6-9 months sounds more like the advice I was given in the shop.

The shop advices me to use Toalson TOA Gold, so that's why I went for this one. By the way, I'm not really into the types of string available. I heard you say multis, poly and I've also heard about natural gut. Natural gut I know is not something for me, but what's the difference between the rest?

If I'm not mistaken by the Learning Center article here, then there are 4 types of string:
Nylon
Natural Gut
Polyester
Kevlar

The TOA Gold is Nylon, RPM Blast is Polyester and Big Banger is also Nylon, right?

If I have the RPM Blast at 50lbs (advice earlier in this thread) in my mind as a poly, which multi would compare as a good alternative?

If I read correctly multifilament is more arm friendly than poly, but what are the differences during play between a multi and a poly?

 

[Up&comer]

Big banger is a polyester.

Why don't you just try to restring your racket. It's probably lost alot of tension in a year. That probably explains the lack of control you feel.

 

[ShockFly]

I agree partly, but I was never fully satisfied with this string. That's why I want a new string for sure.

If Big Banger is a polyester and I have no issue with that, then RPM Blast shouldn't be too far off, right? Or am I mistaken?

 

[Up&comer]

I agree partly, but I was never fully satisfied with this string. That's why I want a new string for sure.

If Big Banger is a polyester and I have no issue with that, then RPM Blast shouldn't be too far off, right? Or am I mistaken?

Sure. You seem set on rpm. But I would suggest something like weisscannon black5edge over rpm.

 

[MambaT]

Why do you think that Natural Gut is not for you? If you are only planning to restring every 6-9 months, it may be the ONLY thing for you. And the cost would not be prohibitive at that frequency.

 

[ShockFly]

Why do you think that Natural Gut is not for you? If you are only planning to restring every 6-9 months, it may be the ONLY thing for you. And the cost would not be prohibitive at that frequency.

I thought I read somewhere that mostly only pro players play with it, but I didn't know it was so durable.

But what is the normal restring period vor poly or nylon then?

@Up&comer
It's not that I'm fully set on RPM Blast, it's just that my personal preference is this string based on the small amount of info and knowledge I have. I just keep it as a reference point for questions. Btw... The Weisscanon is not available through my tennis shop, so that's unfortunately out of the question.

 

[ben123]

I thought I read somewhere that mostly only pro players play with it, but I didn't know it was so durable.

But what is the normal restring period vor poly or nylon then?

@Up&comer
It's not that I'm fully set on RPM Blast, it's just that my personal preference is this string based on the small amount of info and knowledge I have. I just keep it as a reference point for questions. Btw... The Weisscanon is not available through my tennis shop, so that's unfortunately out of the question.

actually gut holds its playability longest and its the most arm friendly string on the market. if u dont restring for 6 months, gut is a good solution (in the case your are not a stringbreaker)

on the other side poly has the best durability BUT durabilty =| playability bc poly dies within hours n usually u should restring it every 10 hours. furthermore its not arm friendly

 

[Up&comer]

actually gut holds its playability longest and is the most arm friendly string on the market if u dont restring 6 months gut is a good solution if ur not a stringbreaker

on the other side poly has best durability BUT durabilty =| playability bc poly dies within hours n usually u should restring it every 10 hours. furthermore its not arm friendly

I hate to say it but could you please use at least full words and maybe some sentences, just so that we can actually grasp what you are saying?

 

[ShockFly]

I hate to say it but could you please use at least full words and maybe some sentences, just so that we can actually grasp what you are saying?

To be honest, I thought it was me since I'm not native English. But what I do seem to understand from his words is that polyester strings need to be restrung every 10 hours of play? That would mean at least every 3-4 weeks for me.

What if I just ignore what my preferences are and just go with the advice from you guys? Natural gut? Multifilament? Which string and for what reason?

 

[Up&comer]

To be honest, I thought it was me since I'm not native English. But what I do seem to understand from his words is that polyester strings need to be restrung every 10 hours of play? That would mean at least every 3-4 weeks for me.

What if I just ignore what my preferences are and just go with the advice from you guys? Natural gut? Multifilament? Which string and for what reason?

If you don't break strings, I would highly advise paying the up front cost of gut because it doesn't die for years, but is more expensive. Multis don't have the benefits of gut such as spin and longevity, but they are cheaper. Polys go dead at about the 10hr mark. I used full multi for a long time, and if gut isn't for you, I would try out babolat addiction or babolat excel. If you do use multi, I would go up about 2 pounds from what you strung your poly with.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[JanusB]

Shockfly, where would you, honestly, place yourself on this NTRP rating? Found here: http://tennisclub.gsfc.nasa.gov/tennis.ratings.html

It's of course a rough guideline, but if you're not 4.0 or above I don't think you'll really get a whole lot out of a poly compared to natural gut or a good nylon.

 

[eliza]

Depends how you look at it. I bought it unstrung and chose (on the shops advice) the Toalson TOA Gold string on default tension. Since then I did not have it restrung.


I don't know how often you play, but for me it is once every week. Sometimes twice, but there are also weeks I simply cannot play, which evens it out to once a week. Is it then really necessary to re-string it as often as you do? I've noticed that my current string has no life left in it, so I really need to have it restrung, but every 6-9 months sounds more like the advice I was given in the shop.

The shop advices me to use Toalson TOA Gold, so that's why I went for this one. By the way, I'm not really into the types of string available. I heard you say multis, poly and I've also heard about natural gut. Natural gut I know is not something for me, but what's the difference between the rest?

If I'm not mistaken by the Learning Center article here, then there are 4 types of string:
Nylon
Natural Gut
Polyester
Kevlar

The TOA Gold is Nylon, RPM Blast is Polyester and Big Banger is also Nylon, right?

If I have the RPM Blast at 50lbs (advice earlier in this thread) in my mind as a poly, which multi would compare as a good alternative?

If I read correctly multifilament is more arm friendly than poly, but what are the differences during play between a multi and a poly?

If you go with Poly, please remember to post HOW OFTEN you will re-string....

 

[ShockFly]

Shockfly, where would you, honestly, place yourself on this NTRP rating? Found here: http://tennisclub.gsfc.nasa.gov/tennis.ratings.html

It's of course a rough guideline, but if you're not 4.0 or above I don't think you'll really get a whole lot out of a poly compared to natural gut or a good nylon.

I would say 3.5 sums up my abilities the best.

Reason why, to justify my decision, is because I am fairly sure of where most balls are going to end up and I am able to place the ball reasonably precise, but certainly not on all my shots and especially not when I need to return a difficult shot from my opponent. On the other hand, I do (or at least try to) have variety in my game, am not afraid to attack and go to the net and my serve is my strongest point. I rarely make a double fault and even get quite some aces against evenly matched opponents. I also try to play my own game and not follow the opponent by getting the opponent out of position, playing short and long balls mixed and looking for the weak spot and hammering on that to force errors. So I am quite aware of the game, my own abilities and my opponent.

If you go with Poly, please remember to post HOW OFTEN you will re-string....

Currently my plan was to restring only once a year, but if needed I can make this twice a year. Thing is that I just don't have the option at the moment for a quick restring. My tennis shop takes a week (yeah, I know...) to restring it, since they just handle it in order of request and it's not a big shop. Other bigger shops are quite far away from me, so that's also not an option for me. When I join the brand new tennis club in my neighborhood that will be opened later this summer, I will probably be able to have it restrung over there. But for now I would say once or twice a year.

By the way, I am willing to pay the higher price for natural gut if that really suits my need the best. But what would the other option be? Multifilament?

 

[Up&comer]

at a 3.5 level, you should probably just try some middle of the line synthetic gut before you pay for gut.

And yes, multis are the next best thing if you don't want to pay for gut.

 

[ShockFly]

at a 3.5 level, you should probably just try some middle of the line synthetic gut before you pay for gut.

And yes, multis are the next best thing if you don't want to pay for gut.

I seem to get the picture. So let me sum it up to see if I understand correctly, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Natural gut might be very suitable for me, but I'd be best off trying synthetic gut like multifilament first, since that is as well durable.
Polyester is completely not suitable for me, since it's lifespan is only around 10 hours of play after which it needs to be restrung.
Nylon is also still suitable for my level of play, but primarily aimed at beginners.

If I'm right (thanks to you guys), the Babolat Xcel Premium 17 would be a nice string for me, right?

If so, what tension should you recommend? The Toalson TOA Gold 17 is way too powerful for me and I need something less than that, so that's why I didn't mention Xcel Power 16, but the Xcel Premium 16. My racquet says 55-62lbs and I currently have the TOA Gold 17 on 58lbs if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Up&comer]

Multis don't last AS long as gut, but they are a good indicator or what you would think of gut.

I gotta say, you're more open minded than most people that come here that just want to look like rafa.

So yes. Xcel premium is the best multi on the market, so it's a great string. I would string it at 60 if you thought 58 was too powerful. If you really like the feel of that, you can try some gut. But xcel premium is very nice.

You hit the nail on the head with the poly. Just don't get it. You need to restring every 10 hours, so it's not for you.

So in summary. Xcel premium is a good choice. String it about 58-60, if you really like that and don't break a string for a while, gut would be the next option.

Good luck!

 

[ShockFly]

I will completely forget about poly from now on. Yes, of course I wanted to look like Rafa. Who doesn't. ;-) But since I don't have his talent and will never get it, I'm luckily still realistic enough to know that I cannot just copy his equipment one on one.

Thanks to all the advise here, I finally start to realise the pros and cons of different kinds of strings and it's good to hear that Xcel Premium is a very well choice. I think I'll go with 60lbs tension.

However, I am wondering if multis generally generate the same amount of power as nylon or less/more? I know that I cannot compare two different strings directly and each string is different, but I mean the basic differences between these two materials.

 

[Up&comer]

Nylon is about like a very cheap synthetic. I never really liked it.