Pure Aero Rafa 2023

[futureverdasco]

Hi ya'll! I saw the new cosmetic for the 2023 Pure Aero Rafa. I know they are releasing a model with his specs, but I was curious if they are going to be releasing a lighter edition in that cosmetic like a pure aero light for example. Typically lighter editions of a Q1 cosmetic might come out by Q3 but I'm really hoping they release a Pure Aero Rafa light for heavy customization purposes. (silicone in handle, lead tape under grommets) Thanks!

For anyone interested in the seeing the new cosmetic, you can search up "tennishub2022" on Instagram for the new cosmetic.

Any thoughts on the new colors? Quite unique and pink

 

[Nostradamus]

is this really what RAFA is using ??

 

[Wilsonbro]

Looks pretty cool

 

[Wilsonbro]

I just don’t like t he yellow

 

[JEDI MASTER]

i'll pass.. and keep the previous version..

 

[futureverdasco]

is this really what RAFA is using ??

Yea pretty unique, I also know that Nadal personally chose the colorways for this new cosmetic. I heard him mention in an interview that he says he likes colors that are bright and happy. Makes sense

 

[futureverdasco]

If anyone’s gonna use a pink racquet on tour, it’s Rafa

 

[StefanosWillSaveTheWorld]

saw this baby in person. Its going to be a relatively heavy, raw graphite, high swingweight stick. No technology. painted with his cosmetic.

 

[JEDI MASTER]

saw this baby in person. Its going to be a relatively heavy, raw graphite, high swingweight stick. No technology. painted with his cosmetic.

No need for Tech.. like Rafa. I still play with the original '04 stick.. weighted down to Rafa's specs. and it plays great..

 

[StefanosWillSaveTheWorld]

I checked the swingweight. Absolute beast. 344 unstrung.... Yowza..

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

At least it will be easy to identify when I see someone with no business pushing the ball around with that SW, another RF97, lol.

 

[StefanosWillSaveTheWorld]

The surprising thing is that it is also coming in a lighter version. 290 gram unstrung. Did not get to check swingweight on that one. but i Imagine it, too, will be high..

 

[futureverdasco]

The surprising thing is that it is also coming in a lighter version. 290 gram unstrung. Did not get to check swingweight on that one. but i Imagine it, too, will be high..

Thank You so much! I was hoping they would make a lighter version. I would not personally get the new heavier cosmetic in his specs for two reasons: 1. Unstrung weight is too heavy for customization & 2. Rafa's actual racquet is about 300 grams/10.6oz unstrung before customization, then silicone in the handle and lead tape under the grommets weights it up to around 320~ grams/11.3oz unstrung. His final strung weight with strings is only 340~ grams. 12.0oz-12.3oz. The new Pure Aero Rafa will at least have a 360~ swingweight strung but it's hollow and too heavy for customization .

Similar marketing strategy for the Pro Staff RF97 and it sold well. Federer's actual stick before customization was a lot lighter before customization and he also had silicone in the handle as well as lead tape under the grommets.

 

[marceloriosfan]

that is loud. i love it. old people at the club will probably hate it.

 

[Dae18]

Love the tighter string bed and looks like the old APD woofer grommets too. Interested for sure..

 

[tennisandtennis]

that is loud. i love it. old people at the club will probably hate it.

I saw two older folks playing with the prior version just yesterday.

 

[marceloriosfan]

I saw two older folks playing with the prior version just yesterday.

they are instantly cooler than the old guys at my club

 

[Jessethedolan]

I asked my local tennis shop about this and he said the Rafa bag is very cool and "stands up on it's own like the older Nike bags".
He wasn't a fan of the cosmetic of the racquet but he did say that the bag and the racquet are apparently $300 each and releasing in March. I'm not sure how accurate that is though.

 

[Wilsonbro]

hopefully the bag is not gigantic. Most babaoalt bags are

 

[StefanosWillSaveTheWorld]

its accurate..

 

[Wilsonbro]

$300 dollar bag lol

 

[Wilsonbro]

I will probably buy it

 

[Deleted member 775108]

saw this baby in person. Its going to be a relatively heavy, raw graphite, high swingweight stick. No technology. painted with his cosmetic.

Is the 290 also free from tech?

I hope its not called Light or Lite or Team or whatever... Did you pay attention on the unit you saw?

 

[tennisandtennis]

I will probably buy it

stop

 

[Wilsonbro]

stop

Why

 

[StefanosWillSaveTheWorld]

Is the 290 also free from tech?

I hope its not called Light or Lite or Team or whatever... Did you pay attention on the unit you saw?

Yes, also free from technology.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

"Have other Babolot pros hit with this?"

"No, it's made for Rafa"

Lol

 

[veelium]

I like that they put 0 dampening in.

 

[Dae18]

I like that they put 0 dampening in.

Ala APDO/G1 the best one out of all imo.

 

[bnjkn]

Nice. I wish I could hit Rafa's shots.

 

[innoVAShaun]

Pure Aero Rafa (not Origin) pics from the BAS

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

I've gotten hands on with the PA Rafa Origin, and compared with my Aeropro Drive, as well as compared with a set of replacement grommets.
Few things I found out. The mold of both rackets is pretty close to each other.
But here come the differences. Since I had an extra set of Aeropro Drive grommets, I popped out the RO grommets and tried to see where it can fit. The drill spacing throughout the entire racket is different between the two. I tried to swap the APDO throat grommets onto the Rafa Origin, and it was slight off, so couldn't fully push the grommet in. The side grommets spacing were also a little different, so could not be swapped. The spacing at the head guard of the racket was also different. if you take the RO head grommet insert, and try to fit it with the APD headguard, it can fit if the head guard holes are enlarged.

In conclusion, it looks like there is some differences between the Original Aeropro Drive, and this Rafa Origin. But it still looks like a fun racket to try out.

Specs with plastic and rubber band, 320g 32.9 SW331.

 

[mad dog1]

I've gotten hands on with the PA Rafa Origin, and compared with my Aeropro Drive, as well as compared with a set of replacement grommets.
Few things I found out. The mold of both rackets is pretty close to each other.
But here come the differences. Since I had an extra set of Aeropro Drive grommets, I popped out the RO grommets and tried to see where it can fit. The drill spacing throughout the entire racket is different between the two. I tried to swap the APDO throat grommets onto the Rafa Origin, and it was slight off, so couldn't fully push the grommet in. The side grommets spacing were also a little different, so could not be swapped. The spacing at the head guard of the racket was also different. if you take the RO head grommet insert, and try to fit it with the APD headguard, it can fit if the head guard holes are enlarged.

In conclusion, it looks like there is some differences between the Original Aeropro Drive, and this Rafa Origin. But it still looks like a fun racket to try out.

Specs with plastic and rubber band, 320g 32.9 SW331.

Great work. How naive of me to think I could buy a butt load of PARO grommets to use on my APD13s and PD12s.

 

[innoVAShaun]

Per TW Specs, looks like it almost has an even balance (Balance: 13.38in / 33.99cm / 1 pts HL) and 319 swingweight.

 

[innoVAShaun]

Looks like the Rafa has #1 grips available right away.

 

[Power Player]

Per TW Specs, looks like it almost has an even balance (Balance: 13.38in / 33.99cm / 1 pts HL) and 319 swingweight.

SW per Babolat is 297 unstrung. I think the TW spec was light, the Rafa should be around 330 strung with poly.

 

[innoVAShaun]

SW per Babolat is 297 unstrung. I think the TW spec was light, the Rafa should be around 330 strung with poly.

You’re in the Rafa Thread. Not origin

 

[naturalexponent]

You’re in the Rafa Thread. Not origin

He’s talking about the Rafa though?

 

[Power Player]

You’re in the Rafa Thread. Not origin

Very aware of that.

 

[Shangri La]

So the Pure Aero Rafa is not the regular Pure Aero 2023 with the Rafa paint job? TW is not linking the regular PA 2023 review on the PA Rafa page.

What racquet does the Pure Aero Rafa share the layup/mold with?

 

[Power Player]

So the Pure Aero Rafa is not the regular Pure Aero 2023 with the Rafa paint job?

No it's the APD original with the PA drill pattern and a spec meant to simulate how Rafa's racquet plays, just at a lower weight. I suspect they kept the PA pattern so you can get the heavy spin, high trajectory that Rafa gets with a tight pattern. It's a rather unique frame, and I suspect it could be a sleeper, which is why grabbed one.

 

[Shangri La]

No it's the APD original with the PA drill pattern and a spec meant to simulate how Rafa's racquet plays, just at a lower weight. I suspect they kept the PA pattern so you can get the heavy spin, high trajectory that Rafa gets with a tight pattern. It's a rather unique frame, and I suspect it could be a sleeper, which is why grabbed one.

So it shares the same mold/layup as the PA Rafa Orign then, just lighter. AKA the closest reproduction of the APD original. Very interesting. I'm usually not a PA player but might pick one up.

 

[Power Player]

So it shares the same mold/layup as the PA Rafa Orign then, just lighter. AKA the closest reproduction of the APD original. Very interesting. I'm usually not a PA player but might pick one up.

Yeah same mold, different drill pattern. Its real interesting. I have always wanted the raw feel of the APDO just not at the used prices, especially since grommets are pretty much gone.

I suspect the open pattern may lend itself to a little more comfort too so it could work out really well. I am also very intrigued to try a 290 gram frame with a high SW. It's a setup I have not ever used, but I can see it being awesome for a 2 handed BH potentially, and a beast on serve. I guess I will find out this weekend.

 

[JEDI MASTER]

i have the original APD weighted to Rafa Specs... i have both demo versions coming shortly..
hope to measure all 3 and see how they compare..

 

[Shangri La]

Yeah same mold, different drill pattern. Its real interesting. I have always wanted the raw feel of the APDO just not at the used prices, especially since grommets are pretty much gone.

I suspect the open pattern may lend itself to a little more comfort too so it could work out really well. I am also very intrigued to try a 290 gram frame with a high SW. It's a setup I have not ever used, but I can see it being awesome for a 2 handed BH potentially, and a beast on serve. I guess I will find out this weekend.

Different drill pattern between the PA Rafa and PA Rafa Orign? I thought they share the same, no? Then what racquet does the PA Rafa share the drill pattern with?

 

[Dae18]

Different drill pattern between the PA Rafa and PA Rafa Orign? I thought they share the same, no? Then what racquet does the PA Rafa share the drill pattern with?

The PAR has the ‘16/‘19 PA pattern 7T 9T, 7H, 9H where the PARO has the APD pattern at 8T, 8H which the ‘23 PA also has.

 

[Power Player]

Different drill pattern between the PA Rafa and PA Rafa Orign? I thought they share the same, no? Then what racquet does the PA Rafa share the drill pattern with?

That is what makes this whole thing wild. The Rafa has the drill pattern of the PA 2019, but it is an APDO mold. It has a SW close to 300 unstrung and the weight is only 290. So it's basically like Babolat made a frame that plays and feels like Rafas except it's for normal people. You get the plow of a high SW, the much lighter static weight and the almost even balance except the frame will probably weight 310 strung with an overgrip. A few people who have already gotten it say it is a valid competition frame at high levels in stock form.

The Rafa origin has arguably the same drill pattern as the APDO but some people say it's a hair wider. It looks pretty similar to me though.

 

[Shangri La]

That is what makes this whole thing wild. The Rafa has the drill pattern of the PA 2019, but it is an APDO mold. It has a SW close to 300 unstrung and the weight is only 290. So it's basically like Babolat made a frame that plays and feels like Rafas except it's for normal people. You get the plow of a high SW, the much lighter static weight and the almost even balance except the frame will probably weight 310 strung with an overgrip. A few people who have already gotten it say it is a valid competition frame at high levels in stock form.

The Rafa origin has arguably the same drill pattern as the APDO but some people say it's a hair wider. It looks pretty similar to me though.

Just noticed 290g of the PA Rafa is strung weight... interesting stuff. Really look forward to more user feedback on the racquet. Is PA 2019 string spacing wider than the 2023 PA, and how does it compare to APDO/Rafa origin? Dont know why Babolat decided to make all these different combination/permutation. But whatever the reason, they got someone like me who's usually not a PA user interested, they are doing something right.

 

[Soundbyte]

Just noticed 290g of the PA Rafa is strung weight... interesting stuff. Really look forward to more user feedback on the racquet. Is PA 2019 string spacing wider than the 2023 PA, and how does it compare to APDO/Rafa origin? Dont know why Babolat decided to make all these different combination/permutation. But whatever the reason, they got someone like me who's usually not a PA user interested, they are doing something right.

Nope 290 is unstrung weight

 

[codonnell]

That is what makes this whole thing wild. The Rafa has the drill pattern of the PA 2019, but it is an APDO mold. It has a SW close to 300 unstrung and the weight is only 290. So it's basically like Babolat made a frame that plays and feels like Rafas except it's for normal people. You get the plow of a high SW, the much lighter static weight and the almost even balance except the frame will probably weight 310 strung with an overgrip. A few people who have already gotten it say it is a valid competition frame at high levels in stock form.

The Rafa origin has arguably the same drill pattern as the APDO but some people say it's a hair wider. It looks pretty similar to me though.

I honestly wish they would have kept the original apd pattern in the 290. It would be cool to hit with the original apd, but it will play a bit different I’m sure with FSI.