Player Rackets from Babolat?

[got spin?]

Ive been playing with the Pure Storm LTD ever since the Yellow and black color way first came out. Ive been disappointed in Babolat's lack of true Player Rackets. When will we see a new line of Babolats and will there be any true players rackets other than the LTD, maybe a Mid headsize? instead of the midplus 'tweener' rackets that babolat is famous for (i.e. Pure Drive and Aero Pro Drive) these appeal to alot of younger, weaker or smaller players. I was just wondering if babolat would be coming out with a true players racket like the Six.One tour or a prestige or an EXO3 graphite 93, even a heavier smaller headsize version of the "closest to a players racket" Pure Storm line. I would love to see Babolat have one! Please comment if you have comments or agreements or even any info if babolat is scheduled to make a true Players racket.

 

[backatcha]

Ive been playing with the Pure Storm LTD ever since the Yellow and black color way first came out. Ive been disappointed in Babolat's lack of true Player Rackets. When will we see a new line of Babolats and will there be any true players rackets other than the LTD, maybe a Mid headsize? instead of the midplus 'tweener' rackets that babolat is famous for (i.e. Pure Drive and Aero Pro Drive) these appeal to alot of younger, weaker or smaller players. I was just wondering if babolat would be coming out with a true players racket like the Six.One tour or a prestige or an EXO3 graphite 93, even a heavier smaller headsize version of the "closest to a players racket" Pure Storm line. I would love to see Babolat have one! Please comment if you have comments or agreements or even any info if babolat is scheduled to make a true Players racket.

I completely agree. Although there will always be a place for those tweener racquets, Babolat continues to head in the wrong direction... case in point is the new Aero Storm line... too depolarized and very stiff, the tour swings like the leg of a piano; the Aero Pro and the Pure Drive lines have virtually no control and no feel... I haven't tried the new Extremes but the specs indicate that they are even more stiff than the previous version.

I personally love the Pure Storm Tour and the Ltd but if you go to the TW website, you find that there has been no reviews to promote this important line (since 2008)... Babolat has no top player (except Gonzales and thank goodness Stosur) promoting their only real player frames... I don't get it... As you said Wilson promotes and sells lots of the 6.1s, Head promotes and sells lots of the Prestiges... it just seems that Babolat could do the same with a least the Pure Storm line.

 

[eliza]

Oh, I did not know that my Babolats were NOT a players'racquets....Rats, another illusion gone in smoke.....

 

[Rorsach]

Oh, I did not know that my Babolats were NOT a players'racquets....Rats, another illusion gone in smoke.....

You we're making a mistake in thinking that Roddick, Nadal, Tsonga, Benneteau, Andreev, Clijsters, Schiavone, Na Li, Radwanska, etc were real players. They´re not, they´re just average clowns using tweeners.

 

[got spin?]

Backatcha,

I completely agree with you too, although I have seen the 20off coupon codes for the storm line and the free set of RPM deals on TW and TE. But that was an effortless attempt by Babolat to promote the good line that they have. I think Babolat's main problem is they have all of theses Pure Drive and Aero line rackets used by Klijsters and Nadal and Roddick and so on. Thats why they sell all the tweeners, people only want what the pros use. Thats why american tennis has taken a turn for the worse, they will only use a racket with a pros name on it. (i.e. Aero Pro Drive and Pure Drive) I have played with them and hate them with every bit of me. All of those technologies have ruined the feel upon contact. I would bet my life that their best selling racket would go from the Aero Pro Drive to the Pure Storm line if they would move Nadal from the Aero Pro Drive to the Pure Storm. I also cant stand the thick beams of the Babolat Tweener rackets. I cant brush up enough and I shank it on those 26 mm beams.

 

[eliza]

You we're making a mistake in thinking that Roddick, Nadal, Tsonga, Benneteau, Andreev, Clijsters, Schiavone, Na Li, Radwanska, etc were real players. They´re not, they´re just average clowns using tweeners.

To think I am allowed to "be in that number"eheheheheheheh

 

[Djokolate]

I'm dying to demo the Pure Storms (yes i do live in the uk but i have just found a demo service in the uk)
If it's a more comfortable Six.One then it's my racquet

 

[snoflewis]

so the aero storm tour, pure storm tour, and pure storm LTD aren't player's rackets?

@Djokolate - they're definitely more comfortable than any six.one. stability is another issue though.

 

[soyizgood]

I'm dying to demo the Pure Storms (yes i do live in the uk but i have just found a demo service in the uk)
If it's a more comfortable Six.One then it's my racquet

I think you'll like the Pure Storm GT. I tried it and have been looking to snatch a used one for cheap. And to think I'm a loyal Dunlop guy...

 

[Power Player]

You we're making a mistake in thinking that Roddick, Nadal, Tsonga, Benneteau, Andreev, Clijsters, Schiavone, Na Li, Radwanska, etc were real players. They´re not, they´re just average clowns using tweeners.

The men ARE using tweeners with lead tape, so they are converted to players sticks that way. So you can go that route . The pd roddick is also a players stick as well.

 

[got spin?]

so the aero storm tour, pure storm tour, and pure storm LTD aren't player's rackets?

@Djokolate - they're definitely more comfortable than any six.one. stability is another issue though.

Im not saying that, the pure storm line is the only line of actual players rackets. the LTD being the closest and is a true players racket.

 

[snoflewis]

ok, but my question is, what makes the LTD more of a player's racket than the PST or AST?

on paper, PST is heavier and has a higher SW.

 

[got spin?]

ok, but my question is, what makes the LTD more of a player's racket than the PST or AST?

on paper, PST is heavier and has a higher SW.

The LTD: smaller head size, more flexible, more headlight, thinner beam

The PST: 2/10ths heavier and a slightly heavier swingweight, thats it. Its stiffer, larger head size, More head heavy and a thicker beam

 

[sc0tt2288]

i bet i can whoop you with my so called Tweener stick aka AERO PRO DRIVE + then your so called player stick.

really i mean if people are playing better with those sticks then why sell "player sticks"?

 

[Recon]

Haters gon' Hate.

The purestorm LTD is probably the most underpowered racquet out right now, has buttery feel, and is very much so a TRUE players stick. Just face it, babolat is enjoying extreme success and yet they still try to please you with a players frame, and even still, people are still going to hate. They incorporate cortex ( even though it failed, some people like it, majority hate it...still trying to improve feel) and they struck gold with GT, everyone agrees its more solid, less hollow. Babolats doing well, the only people who are are unsatisfied is those who are unsatisfied with their home companies (Wilson,Head etc etc) have hit with a babolat, acknowledged they have played better, but are letting their ego get in the way of their progress.

 

[ace0001a]

Well, I guess it depends on your perspective or perception on what a "player's" frame is defined by. The fact that the game of tennis allows for equipment variance and change means the definition for a player's racquet should change or vary based on application. Just like when I find it funny how grown people consider 12oz racquets heavy these days when I clearly remember not so long ago that even kids using racquets of such weight without complaining. The best response I got to that is that the game has changed, which I do agree to be a very valid reason for the equipment that is used these days. Going by what the OP says or believes, a player's frame should be low powered, thin beamed with a small head size. The reality is that having such a frame is realistically putting yourself at a disadvatage in today's game...moreso for the majority of course. Sure there are the few that can play well or win consistently in today's game with such a frame, but for most (even in the pros), the reality is that "tweeners" and midplus sized frames are the player's frames with how tennis is played these days. That is the reality of the tennis racquet in today's game whether you want to believe or not...though I will say that perception is reality and therefore people will believe what they want to believe.

 

[snoflewis]

The LTD: smaller head size, more flexible, more headlight, thinner beam

The PST: 2/10ths heavier and a slightly heavier swingweight, thats it. Its stiffer, larger head size, More head heavy and a thicker beam

lol. it's interesting you think that way. as if a 3 sq in head size, flexibility and beam width (which have nothing to do w/ how demanding a racket is) make something more of a "player's racket" than a racket that is, like you said, 0.2 oz heavier and 20 points different in SW. but hey, to each his own.

head size, stiffness, beam width, none of that have anythign to do w/ whether a racket is a player's racket or not. it's more of matter of balance, weight, and SW. you can't tell me the POG OS isnt a player's racket because the head size is big, or a wilson 6.1 95 is less of a player's racket than something lighter with a thinner beam and more flex. especially with negligible differences you mention like beam width and balance. bottom line is, a PS LTD is gonna be much easier to swing than the PST. i'm not advocating the PST or hating on the PS LTD, but it's just a matter of fact that the points you mention dont really determine whether something is more of a player's racket or not.

anyway, to answer your question, babolat has had tons of success selling their tweener frames. no matter how many more demanding rackets they make, it seems that the more demanding it is to consumers, the less it sells. start from the PD and APD, if you go to any junior tournament most the kids are using them. then you go to the storm line, it seems to sell less and you see less around. babolat pretty much struck gold w/ rackets that are good for beginners, but also can be used by competitive players because they are so light, yet stable enough to handle harder shots.

 

[jkang909]

youre making me think that if the racket's headsize is larger than 95 sq inches, then its not a players racket...? roger federer is one of the only top 10 pros who use lower/equal to a 95 sq inch. any racket can be a players racket... as long as you know how to use it well enough

players rackets are definitely overrated

nadal - 100 sq inch
federer - 90
djokovic - 100
soderling - 98
murray - 100
ferrer - 100
berdych - 98
roddick - 100
verdasco - 98

 

[J_aces]

I demoed the Pure Storm GT and liked it a lot but Im definitely afraid of what would happen if I took it to a tournament. Im not particularly strong so I would probably get pushed all over the place by some of the bigger guys. Thats why Ill be staying with my APD

 

[Steve Huff]

From what I've read, Nadal's stick is pretty much stock. Agassi mentioned once that he'd felt Nadal's racket and said he couldn't get the ball over the net with a racket that light. I think it's 11.5oz.

 

[snoflewis]

From what I've read, Nadal's stick is pretty much stock. Agassi mentioned once that he'd felt Nadal's racket and said he couldn't get the ball over the net with a racket that light. I think it's 11.5oz.

i've heard soething similar except w/ a bit of lead at the head. something about it being close to evne balance with racket around 11.7 or 11.8 oz. i might be wrong though.

 

[got spin?]

I understand why there is so much controversy on this topic. A player frame really depends on the players opinion. For me, since I'm bigger and stronger and much slower, I take big cuts at the ball, therefor I need a heavier racket with more plow-through and takes more pace of the ball to keep it in the court. A lighter, weaker faster player would benefit more with a lighter racket with more pop to get the ball deeper, therefor, most of the time the lighter smaller players will use a higher powered racket, while us slower stronger players will use a hefty racket with less pop. Alot of the companies nowadays just pay their players big bucks to use a racket that looks like the stock just to promote the frame. The pros sometimes will use stock rackets, but a majority use a custom frame from anywhere to a bit of lead tape, to a look alike paint job of the stock racket.

 

[canadad]

I actually took about ten years off of tennis and when I came back, I was surprised at how many racquets were so much less powered than the ones I used to used. As I have been getting back into things, I have been demoing alot of sticks. The ones with the most power have been the most fun. Interesting article Jim Courier switching to a 100 head size with more power(Donnay Red X-99):
http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/gear.aspx?articleid=10183&zoneid=24

Perhaps Babolat has their finger on the pulse more people should think about getting sticks with more power a larger head-size.

 

[Consolation]

I understand why there is so much controversy on this topic. A player frame really depends on the players opinion. For me, since I'm bigger and stronger and much slower, I take big cuts at the ball, therefor I need a heavier racket with more plow-through and takes more pace of the ball to keep it in the court. A lighter, weaker faster player would benefit more with a lighter racket with more pop to get the ball deeper, therefor, most of the time the lighter smaller players will use a higher powered racket, while us slower stronger players will use a hefty racket with less pop. Alot of the companies nowadays just pay their players big bucks to use a racket that looks like the stock just to promote the frame. The pros sometimes will use stock rackets, but a majority use a custom frame from anywhere to a bit of lead tape, to a look alike paint job of the stock racket.

Generalizations suck.

Of the players I know, a far greater percentage of intermediate players use 'players' sticks compared to good players.

I think there are genuinely some players that truly benefit from heavier, classic 'players' sticks. I think that group is pretty small. There's a larger group of players that use them because that's what they've always used and their games and timing are built upon it. There's an even larger group of players that use them with the false belief that if they use such a racquet it will force them to improve their game.

And in terms of sucky generalizations, here's another. My core group of players has 5 people in it. The smallest is 160# or so, the rest of us are 180-200. We all have, or have had, ATP points (some quite a few, some not so much). We've all used low powered 12+oz sticks in the past, and none of us do now.

 

[Power Player]

From what I've read, Nadal's stick is pretty much stock. Agassi mentioned once that he'd felt Nadal's racket and said he couldn't get the ball over the net with a racket that light. I think it's 11.5oz.

No. Nadal's stick has a SW of over 350. It is not that light, and is not stock in any way. Agassi is one of the best tennis players of all time, and was very strong as well. For him, 12.5 and up with a high tension is how he liked to roll.

What I love about the PSTGT is that it is not super heavy, but you can do anything you want with the ball. It is a players racquet, but it has power as well. It is just very controllable, and allows you to crush the ball with accuracy.

 

[user92626]

I understand why there is so much controversy on this topic. A player frame really depends on the players opinion. For me, since I'm bigger and stronger and much slower, I take big cuts at the ball, therefor I need a heavier racket with more plow-through and takes more pace of the ball to keep it in the court. A lighter, weaker faster player would benefit more with a lighter racket with more pop to get the ball deeper, therefor, most of the time the lighter smaller players will use a higher powered racket, while us slower stronger players will use a hefty racket with less pop. Alot of the companies nowadays just pay their players big bucks to use a racket that looks like the stock just to promote the frame. The pros sometimes will use stock rackets, but a majority use a custom frame from anywhere to a bit of lead tape, to a look alike paint job of the stock racket.

It's really pointless to talk about a racket's weight or a player's strength. Why don't you discuss whether a particular weight racket could produce good shots with statistic and such?

I have seen all combinations of stronger/weaker players using tweeners/"player rackets" playing very crappy games and all. So, what's the point?