Pure Aero Launch Angle Woes

[am1899]

I’ve been playing with the Pure Aero for about 18 months. I probably should have gone with the tour right off the bat, because over time I found the racquet pretty impossible to control in stock form. So I started weighting it up.

The current setup is 4 grams in the butt cap, 3 grams 7” above the butt cap, and 3 grams at 12 o’clock.

The setup feels great, and I do just about everything well. Except lately, I’ve lost some confidence in my forehand. What usually happens is, I get a neutral ball I can step in to, and I try to hurt my opponent, only to send the ball to the fence on the fly. I know there’s something technical that is causing this. And I know it’s in my head now, so that only makes it worse. But, I wonder if the nature of this frame isn’t doing me any favors. Is there anything I can do? Would moving the weight from 12 o’clock down to 3 and 9 do anything to lessen the launch angle? I guess I could string the crosses tighter than the mains - haven’t tried that yet. Heck, I’m not entirely convinced I should stay with the frame at all at this point - even if I iron out my forehand.

For the record, I’m a former D1 collegiate player, and I teach and string for a living. So I’m keenly aware I need to address the technical issues with a coach (will end up asking a colleague to help). But thoughts on the racquet?

 

[Username_]

I’ve been playing with the Pure Aero for about 18 months. I probably should have gone with the tour right off the bat, because over time I found the racquet pretty impossible to control in stock form. So I started weighting it up.

The current setup is 4 grams in the butt cap, 3 grams 7” above the butt cap, and 3 grams at 12 o’clock.

The setup feels great, and I do just about everything well. Except lately, I’ve lost some confidence in my forehand. What usually happens is, I get a neutral ball I can step in to, and I try to hurt my opponent, only to send the ball to the fence on the fly. I know there’s something technical that is causing this. And I know it’s in my head now, so that only makes it worse. But, I wonder if the nature of this frame isn’t doing me any favors. Is there anything I can do? Would moving the weight from 12 o’clock down to 3 and 9 do anything to lessen the launch angle? I guess I could string the crosses tighter than the mains - haven’t tried that yet. Heck, I’m not entirely convinced I should stay with the frame at all at this point - even if I iron out my forehand.

For the record, I’m a former D1 collegiate player, and I teach and string for a living. So I’m keenly aware I need to address the technical issues with a coach (will end up asking a colleague to help). But thoughts on the racquet?

You already nailed all the main options in your post:

Lead at 3 & 9 decrease launch angle.
Stringing crosses tighter than mains decrease launch angle. (doesn't decrease it that much)
Maybe you should change racquets!

The only thing you haven't said is stringing with rounded strings (assuming you string with shaped strings, since they launch the ball higher too)

 

[Rafaboy]

if you can use 16g multi string will help.
racket is made to play with topspin. gravity is your friend.

otherwise you must posess excellent control
on flat shots.

 

[stephenclown]

I would stay away from lead at 3 and 9, maneuverability is already pretty crap on this frame, tried it and didnt like it at all. Twist weight is already at 15.

Crosses tighter. Maybe 1.35 string if your arm can handle it and restring frequently. Perhaps rpm blast would be a start and then some big boy luxilon 1.38. Go at your own risk, the pure aero is very stiff and the cortex is basically a joke, still feels hollow...

Alternatively move to a different frame, so many great options out there and the pure aero has a few glaring weaknesses but also some great advantages. At d1 you could control it fine but may be happier with something solid and classic feeling rather than changing everything in your game again. Guessing you already have the ability to generate enough pace regardless of your frame so it may be an option.

 

[hurworld]

How does lead at 3 and 9, instead of 12, reduce launch angle?

 

[Rafaboy]

How does lead at 3 and 9, instead of 12, reduce launch angle?

good question. unless hes thinking racket will not change trajectory angle as easy on off center hits?

 

[mhkeuns]

To me, it was a great rally frame just blasting the balls away with topspin. It was a weird frame for me honestly. It felt too head heavy to swing fast comfortably but needed to have it swung fast to control the balls with topspin. The head heavy feeling thick beamed frame was tiresome to swing hard at all times and often caused control problems if it wasn’t swung fast enough, or if I flattened out my stroke. I wasn’t confident in using it in the game situation. I just don’t have the skills to fully use it to what it’s capable of.

I do see some people using it really effective, even on touch shots. I know that it’s the player, not the frame.

 

[Dartagnan64]

If you are hitting fences, it's your technique not the racket. You need to really swing low to high with spin accentuated frames. And you need RHS. If you can't do that with technique, you probably need a different racquet since all Pure Aeros need a low to high swing path and RHS to work well. No matter how much lead you add or remove.

 

[am1899]

^^ Yup that’s what is kinda dawning on me now...albeit after 18 months - my technique nor game is conducive to the frame. I’m more of a flat ball hitter, than a heavy topspin guy.

 

[Dartagnan64]

^^ Yup that’s what is kinda dawning on me now...albeit after 18 months - my technique nor game is conducive to the frame. I’m more of a flat ball hitter, than a heavy topspin guy.

I played with a guy last night using a Pure Aero and he doesn't hit topspin at all. His balls come 90 mph and flat. So either the ball is going long or just clears the net and bounces at the baseline. No room for error on a normal ball. On a high ball he can swat down on it and cause some damage, but its just the totally wrong racket for his style.

If you are a flat hitter and don't want to change your style, moving to a lower powered players frame might be the better option. Lots of great rackets to choose from in that realm: Head Prestige, Wilson ProStaff, Babolat Pure Strike, Prince Textreme Tours and Phantoms, Yonex VCore

 

[TennisHound]

It doesn’t need lead at 12. I used a little lead at 3&9. Try your strips about 3” long. I agree about going with a 15ga string in the mains.

If you decide to switch racquets, I would try to find an APD+. And then there’s always the new PD, it’s an awesome racquet.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Depressing to believe a former div 1 could get the yips on a shot like that; guys at that level usually miss by inches more than yards - I feel my confidence draining away in real time lol (I'd either smother the ball in topspin to make sure it stays in, or more likely slice it deep and low into a corner; either way I'd probably get passed on the next shot these days - doubles rules!!)

 

[am1899]

Depressing to believe a former div 1 could get the yips on a shot like that

For real. Tell me about it.

 

[34n]

I’ve been playing with the Pure Aero for about 18 months. I probably should have gone with the tour right off the bat, because over time I found the racquet pretty impossible to control in stock form. So I started weighting it up.

The current setup is 4 grams in the butt cap, 3 grams 7” above the butt cap, and 3 grams at 12 o’clock.

The setup feels great, and I do just about everything well. Except lately, I’ve lost some confidence in my forehand. What usually happens is, I get a neutral ball I can step in to, and I try to hurt my opponent, only to send the ball to the fence on the fly. I know there’s something technical that is causing this. And I know it’s in my head now, so that only makes it worse. But, I wonder if the nature of this frame isn’t doing me any favors. Is there anything I can do? Would moving the weight from 12 o’clock down to 3 and 9 do anything to lessen the launch angle? I guess I could string the crosses tighter than the mains - haven’t tried that yet. Heck, I’m not entirely convinced I should stay with the frame at all at this point - even if I iron out my forehand.

For the record, I’m a former D1 collegiate player, and I teach and string for a living. So I’m keenly aware I need to address the technical issues with a coach (will end up asking a colleague to help). But thoughts on the racquet?

Try different strings.
When I was looking for strings for my racquets I noticed that different brands have a very different launch angle , such as TB < HyperG < Cyclone. The difference is noticeable.

 

[stahlee]

Depressing to believe a former div 1 could get the yips on a shot like that; guys at that level usually miss by inches more than yards - I feel my confidence draining away in real time lol (I'd either smother the ball in topspin to make sure it stays in, or more likely slice it deep and low into a corner; either way I'd probably get passed on the next shot these days - doubles rules!!)

This is just in your head. If you're a former D1 player you should be able to pick up any racquet and play. I'm not saying you'll be perfect with every racquet, but this doesn't sound like your problem. You're not helping yourself by not swinging away on the forehand. Get out on the court with a ball machine and groove a few thousand balls. Certainly try different racquets if you feel the need, but a ball machine could do some wonders here. A constant ball so you can work on technique and confidence.

Also, don't just add lead to your racquet. You're going to constantly change the characteristics which is just going to make matters worse. Keep it constant and work on that swing. If you do decide to add lead, then do it properly to calculate swing and twist weights. I have a swingweight that I like for almost all my racquets, but I add them in a calculated fashion.

I sometimes lose confidence in shots, but it exacerbated when I work around it. I'm sure you can get your forehand back with some practice time!

 

[am1899]

Thanks @stahlee for the encouragement. I know the forehand will come around with some work. And my thanks to all of you who offered your own thoughts and suggestions.

 

[Rafaboy]

i have two identicle PA, same strings, and one of them launches high, but the other doesnt.

gets frustrating because the one that launches has a very narrow margin of error, when you try to keep it low over the net. seems to either go to high or to low.

 

[am1899]

The plot thickens. First, I gave a private lesson to a client this morning. My forehand was abysmal (nothing new there). Knowing I had a USTA match this evening, I had hoped to achieve some semblance of rhythm during the private lesson. Nope.

So, I did something a little crazy, especially considering I was about to play a competitive match later in the evening. On one of my frames, I removed the lead from the 12 oclock position. Then I put 4 grams total at 3 and 9 o’clock.

Result? Seemed to me the launch angle on the forehand was reduced. Matter of fact, launch angle seemed reduced elsewhere too - I missed a fair number of first serves in the tape, and a couple high volleys. Still, I thought I played better overall tonight than I had been - definitely better than I hit in the lesson earlier.

All in my head? Entirely possible. I’ll have a few opportunities to practice more this week. Will be interesting to see what shakes out.

 

[Rafaboy]

interesting that you should mention that.
i did have weights at 2/10. and when i removed them, is when it started to launch, now that i think of it.

but my other PA has no weights, and doesnt launch

 

[am1899]

^^ Interesting. It hasn’t been my experience with my 2 frames, that they are that different from each other. So either I’m incapable of distinguishing any difference between them (possible), or I got lucky when I purchased them, and they are similar in spec. Possible it’s a little of both, too.