dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
I've only tried Black Code so far. Worked great but 40% notching in about 1h of hitting is a not ideal so will try Zero next.
Pure Aero Rafa 2023
- Thread starter futureverdasco
- Start date
michael valek
Hall of Fame
Awesome frame but after 4 sessions it started to hurt my wrist because of the need to relentlessly hit with as much spin as possible. It’s the only way it works - I loved it, felt compact, fast, but my wrist said no.
turbojesus
New User
Late to the party. Picked one up on sale as a treat. Came in 296g unstrung, 33.5 balance.
String s/w was 342 with a 34.5 bal and 313 static. Going to chuck on a leather grip and weight at 7 to get the static around 333 (hopefully - before overgrip) and try get the balance closer to 32.5.
Initial hit without customizations using pure rush/gw at 52/50lbs was positive. The swing weight is deceiving it feels no different than my 326 sw vcore 98s. Moves through the air so nicely but the lack of static weight is noticable and had some timing issues.
String s/w was 342 with a 34.5 bal and 313 static. Going to chuck on a leather grip and weight at 7 to get the static around 333 (hopefully - before overgrip) and try get the balance closer to 32.5.
Initial hit without customizations using pure rush/gw at 52/50lbs was positive. The swing weight is deceiving it feels no different than my 326 sw vcore 98s. Moves through the air so nicely but the lack of static weight is noticable and had some timing issues.
turbojesus
New User
Small update: played in stock for around 10 hours and kept coming back, such a fun racquet with no arm issues I also don't use a dampener.
I have since added a leather grip and a few grams of lead at 7. With a heaven overgrip it sits at 330g strung static and a 33.5 strung balance. Did a lesson with my coach and focused on net play and felt super nice and stable. I think this setup is good for now I have a feeling if I add any more weight (with the insanely overspec swing weight) would make mine feel too clumsy.
Am using otoro green with enso carbon cross at 52/50. Next up I'll try otoro tour with gw cross. I can't wait for confidential soft I think that will play super nice in this and from what I hear will look really cool in this frame. Hopefully I can get hold of a pre release sample.
OslerWeber
Rookie
Anyone here maining the Rafa 290? Could you share specs? Especially interested in SW.
I’ve always played with control frames, currently blade v9 16m.
Just hit a casual set with a friends aéro 23 (300g) and wow, everything suddenly felt so easier.
Anyone transitioned from a control frame?
I asked about the 290 because it seemed more special and because of @dr. godmodes expérience, but info on the regular 300g is eelcome aswell
I’ve always played with control frames, currently blade v9 16m.
Just hit a casual set with a friends aéro 23 (300g) and wow, everything suddenly felt so easier.
Anyone transitioned from a control frame?
I asked about the 290 because it seemed more special and because of @dr. godmodes expérience, but info on the regular 300g is eelcome aswell
TwinCinema
Hall of Fame
My Rafa 290 is a 336 SW. Kind of insane, and maybe a little too much to wield over time -- but it doesn't "feel" that heavy to swing, and it really plows the hell out of the ball. It also feels remarkably stable for having such a light static weight.
Mine are in the low 330s (SW).
I used to have 6 g of lead in the throat, but switched to a leather grip recently - now static is spot on 320g.
Every now and then, i play with older oversize Head racquets.....Head Radical Tour, Ti.Radical...overall, it´s more fun with the Rafa.
Still, I like how the old Head racquets feel.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
Yes! Currently rockin a gut/poly hybrid.
OslerWeber
Rookie
Just bought one, Will try it out tomorrow.
Anyone add weight to it? Didnt want to add leather
Anyone add weight to it? Didnt want to add leather
Tension?
ChanterRacquet
Professional
First time stringing gut/poly so went with defaults, 54/48 on an alpha crank.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
I cannot generally play well with sw over 320. I measured the demo PAR 290 at 330 sw and knew I found my racquet, bought two and they are at 317 sw. I can’t tell a difference. This racquet just moves well regardless of sw.
FWIW I just picked up an Ezone 100 2025 for a softer experience when I think my arm needs it. It is similarly whippy, though here I believe it is indeed tied to the sw.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
Overlaying the PAR-290 with the 2021 Rafa paint job of the 2019 banana (300 g), they look identical to me.
OslerWeber
Rookie
Which strings have you guys been using on the 290?
I strung mine first with lynx tour but I think SW just went a bit too high.
Also, Anyone using lead in the handle? I might try 5g
I strung mine first with lynx tour but I think SW just went a bit too high.
Also, Anyone using lead in the handle? I might try 5g
believe the Rafa Origin got a string pattern like the original APD and the regular Rafa got the normal 2021/2019 Aero open string pattern
jayvy1710
New User
I have been using hyper g soft at 54 just to compensate for its open string pattern. I also had a leather grip plus 7g on the handle to make the balance more conventional! Final weight is 318g, and no clue on balance or SW
OslerWeber
Rookie
Just bought a second Rafalito Brand new (my first one was a used one) and noticed the new one has matte paint while the first one has a kinda glossy pj.
Is it normal? Anyone had something similar?
Is it normal? Anyone had something similar?
SupremeCourt
Rookie
Assuming the old one is mostly glossy in throat, it’s probably just from the oils in your hands etc. that happens to most of the slightly matte pjs
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I had a Pure Aero that was a different color yellow than others. I sent some pics to Babolat and they gave me a brand new racquet, which was pretty cool of them to do. So sometimes you may get some errors in the paint jobs.
Yep I have 8 of them and the first 3 that I bought during the first year were are glossy and rest were matte so I guess that was a change in production at some point
