Pure Aero Rafa Origin 2023

RoarTT

Professional
What do you think of these specs? Found these with a pic of the frames. If i post the pic i suppose the thread gets deleted.

Pure Aero Rafa Origin:
«A head-heavy balance increases intertia, allowing players to generate and hit heavier spin. A racket defined by Rafa»

Headsize 100in^2
Weight 317 gram
Balance 330mm
Stiffness 73RA
String pattern 16/19
Length 27’’
Grip Syntec Pro
Grip size 2-4


Pure Aero Rafa:
«A lighter version of the Pure Aero Rafa Origin that is more maneuverable, while providing power and spin from a head-heavy balance and open string pattern»

Headsize 100in^2
Weight 290 gram
Balance 330mm
Stiffness 73RA
String pattern 16/19
Length 27’’
Grip Syntec Pro
Grip size 1-4


By the way, from the picture, the Pure Aero Rafa Origin is mains skip 8 and the Pure Aero Rafa is mains skip 7 and 9.
 
We’ve all seen pictures and even Rafa playing with the paint job already, not sure why they would delete pictures at this time.

Anyway, the 317 g weight + 5-6 g overgrip + ~ 17 g strings will bring it to ~339-340g, which is consistent with Rafa’s spec. The SW should be around 360. That 73 RA is concerning though.

I’d also like to confirm woofer grommets.
 
We’ve all seen pictures and even Rafa playing with the paint job already, not sure why they would delete pictures at this time.

Anyway, the 317 g weight + 5-6 g overgrip + ~ 17 g strings will bring it to ~339-340g, which is consistent with Rafa’s spec. The SW should be around 360. That 73 RA is concerning though.

I’d also like to confirm woofer grommets.
At least from the pic, woofer grommets is confirmed at the throat on both models. Can't say anything about the rest of the grommet.
 
This racquet seems like it would be a beast and a real weapon IF you can swing it!
Even though I prefer lower RAs usually, that number is sometimes deceiving and far from being the only thing that makes a racquet feel good!!
I definitely would like to give this one a try!! Probably not for people who don't want attention on the courts though!!!
 
What do you think of these specs? Found these with a pic of the frames. If i post the pic i suppose the thread gets deleted.

Pure Aero Rafa Origin:
«A head-heavy balance increases intertia, allowing players to generate and hit heavier spin. A racket defined by Rafa»

Headsize 100in^2
Weight 317 gram
Balance 330mm
Stiffness 73RA
String pattern 16/19
Length 27’’
Grip Syntec Pro
Grip size 2-4


Pure Aero Rafa:
«A lighter version of the Pure Aero Rafa Origin that is more maneuverable, while providing power and spin from a head-heavy balance and open string pattern»

Headsize 100in^2
Weight 290 gram
Balance 330mm
Stiffness 73RA
String pattern 16/19
Length 27’’
Grip Syntec Pro
Grip size 1-4


By the way, from the picture, the Pure Aero Rafa Origin is mains skip 8 and the Pure Aero Rafa is mains skip 7 and 9.

Thank you for posting! Been looking everywhere for more info about this racquet. My local tennis store said a March release date, I hope it's sooner than that.
 
We’ve all seen pictures and even Rafa playing with the paint job already, not sure why they would delete pictures at this time.

Let's see what happens.


GhVVoso.jpg
 
That 73 RA is concerning though.

While that is true - Swingweight couteracts RA very well.

Try it - if you dont beleive me. Keep adding 2g (2 x 4" strips) at a time to 12"to get to 360 from say your normal 320. So 40SW / 3SW/g @ 12 = 13.33 so approx 12 strips of 4" lead tape should get you close enough.

I would say for someone who has the ability to swing a 360SW stick this should feel like 64-66 (very rough guesstimate with my limited experience with adding 30 SW to a 290SW stick and difference I feel in flex - also confirmed with players considerably better than me)
 
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While that is true - Swingweight couteracts RA very well.

Try it - if you dont beleive me. Keep adding 2g (2 x 4" strips) at a time to 12"to get to 360 from say your normal 320. So 40SW / 3SW/g @ 12 = 13.33 so approx 12 strips of 4" lead tape should get you close enough.

I would say for someone who has the ability to swing a 360SW stick this should feel like 64-66 (very rough guesstimate with my limited experience with adding 30 SW to a 290SW stick and difference I feel in flex - also confirmed with players considerably better than me)
Absolutely. The extra frame weight increases the amount of force being absorbed into the stringbed, because the frame now has more momentum to keep its forward motion. The stringbed has to give more. Much softer experience because of this.
 
While that is true - Swingweight couteracts RA very well.

Try it - if you dont beleive me. Keep adding 2g (2 x 4" strips) at a time to 12"to get to 360 from say your normal 320. So 40SW / 3SW/g @ 12 = 13.33 so approx 12 strips of 4" lead tape should get you close enough.

I would say for someone who has the ability to swing a 360SW stick this should feel like 64-66 (very rough guesstimate with my limited experience with adding 30 SW to a 290SW stick and difference I feel in flex - also confirmed with players considerably better than me)

I was going to ask this question but you basically answered it already!
But just to clarify, I have the 2019 PA and I've experimented with adding lead tape at 3 and 9 before. But I want to modify my racquet now to see how this one would feel.
So you're suggesting adding lead strips at only 12' of the racquet to get a somewhat similar feel? And I would probably have to use 12 strips of 4" to get the result?

Thanks so much for the help!
 
I was going to ask this question but you basically answered it already!
But just to clarify, I have the 2019 PA and I've experimented with adding lead tape at 3 and 9 before. But I want to modify my racquet now to see how this one would feel.
So you're suggesting adding lead strips at only 12' of the racquet to get a somewhat similar feel? And I would probably have to use 12 strips of 4" to get the result?

Thanks so much for the help!

Just 3 and 9 would be only 2SW/g so you will need approximately 50% more lead.

Ax3 + Bx2 + Cx1*= Total SW added

*Corrected

A = grams at 12
B = grams at 3 and 9
C = grams at 6

Personally I would spread weight and 12, 9, 3.

12 only will be easiest way to increase SW with less impact on overall weight

Not exact but close based on my experimentation with varied rackets and a swingweight machine
 
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Just 3 and 9 would be only 2SW/g so you will need approximately 50% more lead.

Ax3 + Bx2 + Cx3 = Total SW added

A = grams at 12
B = grams at 3 and 9
C = grams at 6

Personally I would spread weight and 12, 9, 3.

12 only will be easiest way to increase SW with less impact on overall weight

Not exact but close based on my experimentation with varied rackets and a swingweight machine

Thanks so much! Will work on this tonight. May have to order more lead tape by the looks of it!
 
Thanks so much! Will work on this tonight. May have to order more lead tape by the looks of it!

If you just want to feel the different experiment put a 2 x 3g dampeners at 12. You can also layer multiple layers of head guard tape if you have that readily available.

This guy is sorta all over the place but here is a video where he approximately replicates Rafa's racquet. With proper calcs he wouldn't have needed so many experiments to figure it out..

 
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Thank you for this! This is a good template too. I've always been a little hesitant about adding weight in the handle, even with a cotton ball.
Do you think I would have to in order to compensate for all the weight in the head of the racquet?

A long time ago I tried adding lead tape around the handle of the racquet but it felt weird to me.
 
paintjob is sick but head heavy balance, 73 RA, and then you factor in the weight that will come with strings and whatnot...can't wait for folks on here to pretend they can swing it. if someone can dust off some 15L Duralast and have their elbow and arm live to tell the tale, you will have my respect.

I'm curious about the stiffness for sure. I switched to a soft poly like Cyclone Tour and it's helped me a lot with any elbow issues. I'll have to string it low I imagine too.
 
Why are they advertising it as having a “head heavy” balance? 330mm balance point is still a balance point of 13in, which is 4pts HL. Is it less head light than the regular frames? Sure, but it’s still considered “head light”.
 
Why are they advertising it as having a “head heavy” balance? 330mm balance point is still a balance point of 13in, which is 4pts HL. Is it less head light than the regular frames? Sure, but it’s still considered “head light”.
I think the 330 balance is unstrung, strung will be around 1pt headlight or even.
 
Best believe that the PARO will be the APD G1/OG mold, but what makes the PAR though since it has mains skip 7 and 9 which indicates the ‘16/19 PA drill pattern. Hopefully not the same ‘16/19 mold, but could be the APDO mold with the ‘16/19 PA drill pattern which would be unfortunate imo.
 
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Does babolat think that the only reason people like their raquets is because they are stiff? Absolutely incredible how people get te all the time from these boardy planks and babolat never gets that maybe som folks would prefer something softer. Personally i was really looking forward to a frame with similar specs to rafas aero pro drive that has a stiffnes of about 63 i recal. This torture device was a dissapointment to say the least...
 
I think the 330 balance is unstrung, strung will be around 1pt headlight or even.
That may be, but they’re listing unstrung specs. If you used 19g poly, you might be even balance. If you add an over grip, now you’re 2pts HL again (and pretty much everybody uses an over grip).

Point being, they don’t know where it will end up, other than when it leaves the factory (and let’s be honest…they probably don’t even know that given their QC), so their advertising should stick to what they can control.
 
Best believe that the PARO will be the APD G1/OG mold, but what makes the PAR though since it has mains skip 7 and 9 which indicates the ‘16/19 PA drill pattern. Hopefully not the same mold, but could be the APDO mold with the ‘16/19 PA drill pattern which would be unfortunate imo.
Agreed. Not putting the 8 mains skip (denser) string pattern in the PAR just feels like a missed oppurtunity to me. Anyone here that would say they prefer the recent Aeros more open string pattern compared to the older Aeros more controlled ones? I haven't heared anyone say that, but that might of course be the case.
 
Best believe that the PARO will be the APD G1/OG mold, but what makes the PAR though since it has mains skip 7 and 9 which indicates the ‘16/19 PA drill pattern. Hopefully not the same mold, but could be the APDO mold with the ‘16/19 PA drill pattern which would be unfortunate imo.

so when it comes to the drill pattern are you referencing the PARO having that open pattern as well?
 
so when it comes to the drill pattern are you referencing the PARO having that open pattern as well?
Definitely not. The PARO has mains skip 8 which indicates the APD drill pattern. It still have an open string bed cause it being 16x19. But now that I think about it, the ‘23 PA has that same mains skip but slightly different drill pattern (at 10/2 where the grommets are at and 5/7 near the side-bottom of the throat.
 
Agreed. Not putting the 8 mains skip (denser) string pattern in the PAR just feels like a missed oppurtunity to me. Anyone here that would say they prefer the recent Aeros more open string pattern compared to the older Aeros more controlled ones? I haven't heared anyone say that, but that might of course be the case.
For sure. They already have the ‘23 PA team for that so no need for another one. But this is a marketing strategy from Babolat, so I’m not surprised given they made that colorways to target juniors/women.
 
If you just want to feel the different experiment put a 2 x 3g dampeners at 12. You can also layer multiple layers of head guard tape if you have that readily available.

This guy is sorta all over the place but here is a video where he approximately replicates Rafa's racquet. With proper calcs he wouldn't have needed so many experiments to figure it out..

Harry is the goat of YT. Worth a follow for the jokes and gear updates.
 
Definitely not. The PARO has mains skip 8 which indicates the APD drill pattern. It still have an open string bed cause it being 16x19. But now that I think about it, the ‘23 PA has that same mains skip but slightly different drill pattern (at 10/2 where the grommets are at and 5/7 near the side-bottom of the throat.

great, thank you for the clarification!
 
If you just want to feel the different experiment put a 2 x 3g dampeners at 12. You can also layer multiple layers of head guard tape if you have that readily available.

This guy is sorta all over the place but here is a video where he approximately replicates Rafa's racquet. With proper calcs he wouldn't have needed so many experiments to figure it out..


I've met this buy. .his Name is Harry.. very knowledgeable person.

i have the original '04 Pure Aero.. and weighted down to the same Rafa specs..
Best Raquet i've ever played with.. and still play with it.

fyi.. 1 head guard tape is around 3-4gr. each.
 
I wonder if the additional 17g of weight will be extra graphite, or a few slabs of lead dotted around the frame. I suppose the latter would be more accurate to Rafa's set-up. 12g at 12 o'clock and 5g in the handle would increase the SW by about 36 and shift the balance approx. 3pts.
 
Can anyone confirm what the drill pattern on the PAR will be? Really hoping it will be the mains skip 8
Nothing confirmed as of yet. But as you can see from the pics futher up, the PARO has 8 mains skip and the PAR 7, 9 skip. So i would say it's as close to confirmed as you can get without it actually coming from Babolat themselves.
 
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