sounds like I'll just have to get one myself and experience it.
Pure Aero Rafa 2023
- Thread starter futureverdasco
- Start date
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Any reviews fellow TTWers?
Bought and Tested the new RAFA ORGIN. I am not a Babolat hater. Anways this stick is a tennis player worst nightmare. It will damage your arm and the paint scheme makes look like a Women Racket. Control also lacks same with topspin. The only positive i can think is that is extremely stable and great on volleys. I will put mine on sell. But playing with this stick made me respect RAFA more .
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
How is it on the arm? You indicated that it's stable - is it comfortable as well?
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Very comfortable and stable. 370SW wins the collision against every type of ball as long as you can manage the heft.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm coming fro 386 SW so this would probably feel light.
naturalexponent
Legend
+1. Super comfy, doesn't get pushed around, and forces me to prepare earlier. Unsurprisingly I don't play my best tennis with it but it's not the unplayable monster some people say it is.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
Troy replied to my questions on it and he likes to hit with it from time to time. The TW Playtesters were showing that they can play with it though I don't know how much time they spent getting used to it.
It will destroy you will probably need medical insurance . I am pretty strong too . only Rafa can handle it
Snipe
Rookie
I kinda feel like everyone always needs medical insurance
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Any TTWer reviews on the Pure Aero Rafa 2023 (non-Origin) 290?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I posted a lot about it in this thread I think one page back.
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Yes, thank you. Good review. Just looking for more opinions. Also, if anyone transitioned from a PA23 Team to PAR23.
D
Deleted member 775108
Guest
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
Another TTW Avenger has been located.
Contact S H I E L D quick before he disappears!
I handed this to my regular hitting partner to try out and he actually hit quite well with it. He did complain that it was heavy.
TennisNerd did a video with him and several others playing with the Origin and they have some interesting comments about it.
Justin_Henin
New User
Hi
I wonder if the grommets for 23PA 100 will fit the Rafa Origin version？If not ,any grommets could fit？
Thanks！
ChanterRacquet
Professional
Coming from a nominally 295 g CX 200 OS, the 290 PAR was a really nice hit. Told the demo strung with a hybrid, felt a little heavy but didn't have any problems today with any shots nor serve. To buy one though...I need to sell off some unused racquets.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
Anyone else measuring specs? I was surprised to find my demo at 334 swingweight as I didn’t have too much trouble coming over the ball, though I think I would struggle against a harder hitter. I’m used to 315-ish sw.
307 g
34.6 cm balance
307 g
34.6 cm balance
I’m not that great… utr touched 7 when I was playing a lot of singles. I just had back surgery (5weeks prior) then hit with it for a week every day for 6 days averaging 2-3 hours of doubles and a good 45 min of crushing it singles rally after. It doesn’t destroy your arm it’s fun to hit with and it delivers a punishing ball. I’m in decent shape 220Lb and 70 inches.
reading this thread I think most people hating don’t want people to use it or need to change their lifting regime or start one
reading this thread I think most people hating don’t want people to use it or need to change their lifting regime or start one
FastLane47578
New User
Those of you who have tried this racket what string and tensions have you found to work best?
FastLane47578
New User
I appreciate the reply. What gauge are you thinking?
I wouldn't say over a period of time, but I hit with one for about 12 hours over a week. It wasn't harsh at all, and the ability to feel the ball is pretty great. I am playing the PDVS and not planning to switch, but this is a great frame.
JEDI MASTER
Professional
Solinco confidential 16L @ 48 on the mains and 45 crosses.
plays really great for me.. after 3 sets - 2-3x a week.. no arm issues.
with headtape, og. and dampener mine comes in at:
wt: 325.8gr.
sw: 342
Bal: 34
plays really great for me.. after 3 sets - 2-3x a week.. no arm issues.
with headtape, og. and dampener mine comes in at:
wt: 325.8gr.
sw: 342
Bal: 34
ChanterRacquet
Professional
I’m a recovering tennis elbowaholic so my Rafa 290 is strung with NXT Duramax at 55 lbs.
307.6 g
33.55 cm
317 sw
Harder on my arm than my Black Ace 300, but there aren’t many racquets farther apart on the RA scale, and it’s barely more noticeable the day after than having hit with the BA300. Glad I bought it and it’s a great, easy to use power frame.
307.6 g
33.55 cm
317 sw
Harder on my arm than my Black Ace 300, but there aren’t many racquets farther apart on the RA scale, and it’s barely more noticeable the day after than having hit with the BA300. Glad I bought it and it’s a great, easy to use power frame.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Don't know about PAR23 but PAR21 which is similar to PA19 is not too good nd has a bulky grip, one more reason to sell it fast. Power yes. The rest not so much.
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Do you mean PAR20?
I love my PAR20s. That is what my family and I use now. My wife and older son ended up taking two each for themselves.
My younger son wanted to be different and asked for the PAR23 but it was only 5 grams heavier than his current racquet.
Reviews on Babolat's website for the PAR23 are still good though.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
I think mine was PAR21, I wanted PAR23 but a Quebec seller tricked me and I wasn't paying attention...It is kinda of crappy though at least relative to the competion. All the racquets in my sig + TF40 are way better.Do you mean PAR20?
I love my PAR20s. That is what my family and I use now. My wife and older son ended up taking two each for themselves.
My younger son wanted to be different and asked for the PAR23 but it was only 5 grams heavier than his current racquet.
Reviews on Babolat's website for the PAR23 are still good though.
Hi! Reviving kind of an old post but I noticed you ended up selling your 290, did you end up not liking it as much after more time with it? Or was it just a trying it out thing and moved on to other racquets? Or other?
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
Interesting cause I picked one of these up recently when they were on sale in December, and I’m surprisingly really loving the rafaelito with a leather grip and a little lead in the hoop. Very stable and super fun to play with, great on volleys and can pound from the baseline. Control also isn’t that bad! Did not expect it to be so good.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah the thing that got me was the open pattern. I played a match with a new string job, played great. Next match it was like a completely different frame. The strings were a lot lower and already dying. I was really struggling to hit the ball with control and consistency.
Loved the frame though. It just was not for me. I really prefer the older, tighter patterns on babolats. I may grab an origin though at some point.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
I’m still loving the 290. Natural Multifeel mains, lux element 1.25 or lux eco 1.25 crosses both seem pretty good. Plays great all the way through breaking the mains.
Power, power, and control.
Power, power, and control.
JEDI MASTER
Professional
you looking for the Orange and Yellow version? if so.. i have 2.. PM me.
The 2023 pink version... should be going on sale soon right
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
I just want to say the the 290g Rafa might be the most overlooked racquet on the market for big hitting spin players.
The 290g makes it seem like a baby racquet, but it's absolutely unreal. I think top juniors or college players could wreak havoc with this thing. I can't believe how much control there is at full chat. I felt like I couldn't miss as long as I swung out pretty hard. I don't think there's any other racquet out there that lets me hit harder or with more spin than this thing. Holy moly this might be a post for Racketaholic but I am honeymooning so hard.
Playing with it absolutely exudes the ethos of an APDO leaded up to Rafa's spec but in a package we can manage. The feel is surprisingly direct, it demands that you rip every single ball, counter punching is absolutely S-Tier, returns are utter garbage, its tricky at net, but manageable and serves are a pain but... IMO its all worth it from the ground.
Despite the neon pink, this is a high T-levels racquets and its so fun, so unique, so Rafa.
VAMOS Paris 2024!
The 290g makes it seem like a baby racquet, but it's absolutely unreal. I think top juniors or college players could wreak havoc with this thing. I can't believe how much control there is at full chat. I felt like I couldn't miss as long as I swung out pretty hard. I don't think there's any other racquet out there that lets me hit harder or with more spin than this thing. Holy moly this might be a post for Racketaholic but I am honeymooning so hard.
Playing with it absolutely exudes the ethos of an APDO leaded up to Rafa's spec but in a package we can manage. The feel is surprisingly direct, it demands that you rip every single ball, counter punching is absolutely S-Tier, returns are utter garbage, its tricky at net, but manageable and serves are a pain but... IMO its all worth it from the ground.
Despite the neon pink, this is a high T-levels racquets and its so fun, so unique, so Rafa.
VAMOS Paris 2024!
ChanterRacquet
Professional
The 290 PAR is the best racquet I’ve ever hit with. I love everything about it from serve to groundstroke. The stiffness just gets to my tennis elbow quick.
It’s also surprisingly swingweight agnostic. My demo was 334 and I still bought one even though I’m a solid 315 and can’t go much higher for any length of time. Bought A_instead’s both about 318 and played the same as the 334 demo as far as I could tell.
That’s not something I can say for the other 290g floating around the house: my wife’s Blade 104 v7. Those with 313 sw are great, but go up to 318-320 and they swing like clubs, my PS 100 16x20 at 330 isn’t much harder to swing.
It’s also surprisingly swingweight agnostic. My demo was 334 and I still bought one even though I’m a solid 315 and can’t go much higher for any length of time. Bought A_instead’s both about 318 and played the same as the 334 demo as far as I could tell.
That’s not something I can say for the other 290g floating around the house: my wife’s Blade 104 v7. Those with 313 sw are great, but go up to 318-320 and they swing like clubs, my PS 100 16x20 at 330 isn’t much harder to swing.
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
Absolutely — criminally underrated, I almost made this stick my main squeeze. Unlike you though I found that it was super stable and solid at the net.
Agree that serving is good but not fantastic - why do you think that is? Head heavy nature of it makes it slower to get around for slice and kick serves?
The feel is much more raw and addictive compared to the new regular pure aero, and I too didn’t have an issue with control.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I'd love to try it but that's my big worry. I had a severe injury in 2010 and was out for 6 months and the IG Prestige has been my goto since then. I've playtested the RF97 and I can play with that but I don't have to worry about arm health with the Prestige. I'm never going to hit with the level of spin that you have today with stiffer racquets - that's something to enjoy when you're younger.
codonnell
Semi-Pro
I would love to try the 290, I would still really like to try the original aero too. I feel like it could be really fun to load up the blue tac in the handle of the 290 and get that balance and static weight up. If the swing weight is already so high it will have an extremely solid hoop already.
JEDI MASTER
Professional
I have both the origin and 290 and original '04 APD weighted up to Rafa's spec..
even with the heavier SW.. the APD plays so much better... and i can play 3 sets with no arm issues...
for me.. the Origin was only good for a set.
My hitting partner (NTRP < 4.0) has used pa 2019 rafa, blade v7 100 16x19, pa rafa 2023 290g. As his partner, I have also tried these and felt the difference between these rackets. In my opinion, the biggest advantage of rafa 290 compared to blade v7 and pa 2019 is that when forced, rafa 290 can pull up and pull out some unexpected return shots over the net. In this case, the pa 2019 will go out of bounds, and the blade v7 will go into the net.
Here is my evaluation of the three of them:
1. Flat serve: Rafa 2019>V7>Rafa 290
2. Spin serve: Rafa 2019>V7>Rafa 290
3. Direction control: V7>Rafa 290>Rafa 2019
4. Depth control: Rafa 290>V7>Rafa 2019
5. Comfort: V7>Rafa 2019>Rafa 290
6. Feel: V7>Rafa 290>Rafa 2019
6. Power: Rafa 2019>Rafa 290>V7
7. Overall threat from the baseline: Rafa 290>Rafa 2019>V7
In general, the advantage of Rafa 290 over PA 2019 is that it provides direction and depth control, but it is at a disadvantage in serving and at the net. In my opinion, pa 2019 needs NTRP>>4 to ensure that it does not turn into a rocket when exerting force during the game. Compared with v7, the advantage of rafa 290 is that the racket has greater power, better endurance, better rotation, and greater overall threat at the baseline. The disadvantage is comfort. In my opinion, v7 needs NTRP>>4 and people with sufficient physical strength to maintain high racket speed to exert its power.
Therefore, for weekend warriors like my companions, rafa290 is the most suitable destination.
Here is my evaluation of the three of them:
1. Flat serve: Rafa 2019>V7>Rafa 290
2. Spin serve: Rafa 2019>V7>Rafa 290
3. Direction control: V7>Rafa 290>Rafa 2019
4. Depth control: Rafa 290>V7>Rafa 2019
5. Comfort: V7>Rafa 2019>Rafa 290
6. Feel: V7>Rafa 290>Rafa 2019
6. Power: Rafa 2019>Rafa 290>V7
7. Overall threat from the baseline: Rafa 290>Rafa 2019>V7
In general, the advantage of Rafa 290 over PA 2019 is that it provides direction and depth control, but it is at a disadvantage in serving and at the net. In my opinion, pa 2019 needs NTRP>>4 to ensure that it does not turn into a rocket when exerting force during the game. Compared with v7, the advantage of rafa 290 is that the racket has greater power, better endurance, better rotation, and greater overall threat at the baseline. The disadvantage is comfort. In my opinion, v7 needs NTRP>>4 and people with sufficient physical strength to maintain high racket speed to exert its power.
Therefore, for weekend warriors like my companions, rafa290 is the most suitable destination.
I added an overgrip and about 5grams of weight to the handle and love the racquet. There is no issues w/ stability when faced w/ big serves or passing shots upto the 4.5 level. SW is 322-325 depending on string and guage. I have not hit w/ the V7, but I believe the Pure Aero 2019 is the same that Rafa 2019 (just cosmetic differences). In your comparison of the two, I place spin serves and comfort higher w/ the Pure Rafa than the 2019. It's weird that although the Pure Rafa has less dampening technology than the 2019, the frame just feels so smooth and easy to use. My One handed BH's been a work in progress so I can't blame (or credit) the racquet, but w/ the Pure Rafa I'm hitting it the best I have in my life... the stability and the way the frame cuts through the air is excellent. Even better than w/ 97" Angel or the 95" Prestige...
TwinCinema
Hall of Fame
Which strings are you using in it?
