Pure Aero vs Angell TC-100 Yin and Yang Comparison

[pfrischmann]

Hi guys,
I thought this would be a fun comparison. I have a Pure Aero 11.4 ounces, 4pts HL, 327 SW. and an Angell TC-100. 11.1 ounces, even balance, 322 sw. (the angell was bought used and I play with the weighting, this is how it exists at the moment). The PA has TB16L at 55 lbs. The Angell TB 17 at 54.


I was playing with my instructor today and thought I would compare the two.
In general, the PA is all about power and spin and the Angell is about feel, stability and consistency.
The PA is new to me, so I am still figuring out what string tension etc.. work.

The issue I'm having with the PA is it is exceptionally powerful. I find you can't really let off the gas on your strokes or balls will go flying. I'm more dangerous with the ball but haven't quite found my consistency with it yet. It's good on volleys but much more of a drive volley than a touch volley. Slice is O.K. but floats a little for me. Serve is powerful but I'm going long a little more than I'm used to. Kick serve is just wicked.
I am aiming for pretty big targets because I'm not always sure where the ball is going to land....all things that are expected with a new racquet.

The Angell is almost the complete opposite. I get more balls in play but the rallys last much longer. It doesn't have the same put-away power of the Pure Aero. It is a much more stable racquet, especially on volleys. It may be one of the most stable racquets I've ever played with. The Angell has a fair amount of weight on the tip, so it feels like it swings heavier than it is. The Pure Aero is the exact opposite. I feel at the current time, I can aim for smaller targets with the Angell. I feel much more connected to the ball with the Angell and I have much more predictable results...but I have to work harder for them.


FWIW.

 

[n8dawg6]

ive always wanted to develop a game as a baseline grinder. now that ive got it, it's wearing me out ...

 

[pfrischmann]

ive always wanted to develop a game as a baseline grinder. now that ive got it, it's wearing me out ...

Hi n8dawg6, I'm not sure I follow you..

 

[n8dawg6]

Hi n8dawg6, I'm not sure I follow you..

your talking about how the ball stays in play longer with the angell. my goal has always been to up my consistency with groundstokes, be able to carry on long protracted points from the baseline and outlast my opponents. im there now, and its wearing me out

i suppose ideally youre hitting hard heavy shots with 100% consistency, but the reality seems to be building points with 60-75% groundstrokes until one side flinches and gives up a short ball or goes for too much. anyway, ive noticed the same thing you described. more powerful racquets with more open patterns produce shots that are more difficult to return. they also seem to result in more UEs ...

 

[n8dawg6]

your talking about how the ball stays in play longer with the angell. my goal has always been to up my consistency with groundstokes, be able to carry on long protracted points from the baseline and outlast my opponents. im there now, and its wearing me out

i suppose ideally youre hitting hard heavy shots with 100% consistency, but the reality seems to be building points with 60-75% groundstrokes until one side flinches and gives up a short ball or goes for too much. anyway, ive noticed the same thing you described. more powerful racquets with more open patterns produce shots that are more difficult to return. they also seem to result in more UEs ...

*youre

 

[pfrischmann]

Gotcha, I'm in the same boat. It's tough to find that balance isn't it? One thing I noticed with the Pure Aero, possibly the most powerful racquet I ever played with, If I'm playing doubles and my opponent poaches..say I have to dig out a hard defensive (Oh S%&T) volley. I can't seem to loosen my hands up enough to keep the ball in play. It just shoots off the racquet like like a bullet. On the other hand, If I am hitting that same drive volley, it's a monster..

tricky..

 

[The_Racketeer]

I have a TC95 and I have a similar experience, my shots being very accurate and consistent with soft volleys. But I don't have raw put away power. Still if I move my opponent I can hit the corners and force him to stretch.

 

[n8dawg6]

I have a TC95 and I have a similar experience, my shots being very accurate and consistent with soft volleys. But I don't have raw put away power. Still if I move my opponent I can hit the corners and force him to stretch.

my other issue is that im mid-30s and my usta opponents are usually mid 20s rubber legs types. if im trying to move THEM around and win a war of endurance, i might be doing it bass ackwards ...

 

[Power Player]

I have a TC95 and I have a similar experience, my shots being very accurate and consistent with soft volleys. But I don't have raw put away power. Still if I move my opponent I can hit the corners and force him to stretch.

Whats your weight and SW again? I found adding 5 grams to mine with 2 of them at the tip made a big difference for me. It sounds minimal, but my SW was already around 330 so bumping it up 6 points was pretty impactful in terms of putting away shots.

 

[Aniruddha Phukan]

ive always wanted to develop a game as a baseline grinder. now that ive got it, it's wearing me out ...

Ditto here! Over the past year, my college team's coach has coaxed me into toning down my aggression (hyper-aggression, in his words) and moving to a baseliner grinder's game. I've become way more consistent, but matches have gotten longer and more tiring. A 7-6 7-6 match on a HC took over 2.5 hours in our last fixture.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Ditto here! Over the past year, my college team's coach has coaxed me into toning down my aggression (hyper-aggression, in his words) and moving to a baseliner grinder's game. I've become way more consistent, but matches have gotten longer and more tiring. A 7-6 7-6 match on a HC took over 2.5 hours in our last fixture.

the real trick is being able to switch between the two

 

[Aniruddha Phukan]

the real trick is being able to switch between the two

You're right. I should be focusing on that a lot more

 

[AMGF]

I'd just turn the sw up on the Angell. If the racquet is stable and precise but lacks power, that is a solution.

What ra is the TC100? My gf developed a TE with the PA+ and we're thinking of buying a TC100 to help her elbow. Can you comment on the perceived stiffness between these frames?

 

[sma1001]

Can anyone compare the TC100 with the Prince Tour 100 16/18? I really liked that stick from a comfort and consistency perspective but found it weak on serves especially.

 

[topspn]

Granted the specs of my TC100 and TC95s are totally different with much more weight and HL. Feel, consistency, precision all there but when I want to, i also have plenty put away power. So my experience doesn’t relate well that I have to grind out points from the baseline and I don’t.

 

[rlau]

Can anyone compare the TC100 with the Prince Tour 100 16/18? I really liked that stick from a comfort and consistency perspective but found it weak on serves especially.

I have played both, and the TC100 had more power and better feel. Spin, comfort and consistency were about equal. My TC100 was definitely not weak on serves, but I did not play long enough with it to really dial in my serve. My reason for selling it was that I did not have enough confidence with it (as a result of a SW and gut/poly string job that was too powerful for me). I probably did not give it enough time. I should have tried a less powerful setup to tone down the power. What I also wasn't a fan of with the TC100 was its open pattern. It was really open, compared to a Pure Drive or Aero Pro Drive, leading to less control.

 

[sma1001]

It was really open, compared to a Pure Drive or Aero Pro Drive, leading to less control.

So the pattern is even more open than those? More like the Pure Aero?

 

[pfrischmann]

I'd just turn the sw up on the Angell. If the racquet is stable and precise but lacks power, that is a solution.

What ra is the TC100? My gf developed a TE with the PA+ and we're thinking of buying a TC100 to help her elbow. Can you comment on the perceived stiffness between these frames?

I will likely add weight to the TC-100 if just to get the balance a little more head light. the TC-100 is somewhere around 64 when strung. Even with full poly and a pretty light weight, it is extremely comfortable.
That's the trade off. The PA is a stiff rocket launcher, the TC-100 is a softer stick with let put away power, great placement though.

 

[pfrischmann]

So the pattern is even more open than those? More like the Pure Aero?

It's not. I just measured with a micrometer. I measured the middle square and it is 13.6X12.4 mm on the tc-100, The PA-100 is 14.1X 11.8 an. The tc-100 is slightly tighter. Where it really changes is when you check the distance between multiple crosses. If you measure from cross 5-11 on the PA, you 83.3mm, on the TC-100, its 79.5 MM. That's how they mate the PA-100 more powerful and comfortable by opening up the spacing on the crosses.

 

[pfrischmann]

On the APD( 2010GT), the middle square is 13.3x11.1 and the spaces from crosses 5-11 are 74.9mm.

 

[JackB1]

I have played both, and the TC100 had more power and better feel. Spin, comfort and consistency were about equal. My TC100 was definitely not weak on serves, but I did not play long enough with it to really dial in my serve. My reason for selling it was that I did not have enough confidence with it (as a result of a SW and gut/poly string job that was too powerful for me). I probably did not give it enough time. I should have tried a less powerful setup to tone down the power. What I also wasn't a fan of with the TC100 was its open pattern. It was really open, compared to a Pure Drive or Aero Pro Drive, leading to less control.

That was the same thing that turned me off. You can't really do anything about that other than using a thicker guage string and that will only close up the pattern slightly. Both the Pure Aero and the TC100 are super open racquets...similar to the Head G Instinct in that respect.


Also it felt very weighty in the tip...moreso than the specs would suggest. If the TC100 had a more "normal" 16x19 pattern and felt less head heavy, I would be a fan. It did
have good power though and a soft feel for a stiff racquet.

 

[pfrischmann]

I really like the weight in the tip of the Angell. It reminds me of the venerable Wilson 6.1 16X18. One of the greatest serving racquets I've ever used. If I get some time, I will post more micrometer measurements of other racquets.
Just for fun.

 

[pfrischmann]

PS-97 13.1mmX12.3mm Crosses 5-11: 76.7. Volkl 8 Super G 315. 14mmX11mm Crosses 5-11 74.6

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

I really like the weight in the tip of the Angell. It reminds me of the venerable Wilson 6.1 16X18. One of the greatest serving racquets I've ever used. If I get some time, I will post more micrometer measurements of other racquets.
Just for fun.

agreed... that comparison does hold.

 

[pfrischmann]

Update> I put a little more weight in the base of the TC-100. It's a serving monster now. Roughly 11.7 ounces. SW should be roughly the same. Boom, goes the dynamite!
I haven't had a chance to do anything else..

 

[tennistomcat]

Hi Pfrischman,
glad to hear this stick is working out well for you.
can u compare the launch angle on this racket to any other popular frames? is it easy to flatten out your shots?

 

[n8dawg6]

played the pure aero tonight for the first time in a loooong time. i disappointed, but the racquet did not. it really is in a good sweetspot in terms of weight and swing weight, and i just dont have the control issues with it that others claim to. it even volleys with confidence. strung with pro hurricane @52 lbs.

 

[pfrischmann]

Hi Pfrischman,
glad to hear this stick is working out well for you.
can u compare the launch angle on this racket to any other popular frames? is it easy to flatten out your shots?

It's not as easy to flatten out my shots as my PS-97 or the Pure Drive. The launch angle is not that high for me but I may have already adjusted to it. For some reason I do not have to cut under the ball on volleys like I feel I have to with the Wilson Spin 99S or other spin sticks...or the APD for that matter.

The one thing I will say is that you have to actively manage this stick. What I mean is that it is so powerful, if you let off the gas, it can be a rocket launcher. My PS-97 and the TC-100 are much more forgiving in this way. On the other hand, if you keep your RHS up, it hits a really wicked ball.

 

[koozy614]

played the pure aero tonight for the first time in a loooong time. i disappointed, but the racquet did not. it really is in a good sweetspot in terms of weight and swing weight, and i just dont have the control issues with it that others claim to. it even volleys with confidence. strung with pro hurricane @52 lbs.

IMO the more I play with the PA the more I believe that the unbridled beastly power of the frame does not lack control but the user does...I think most people, including myself, aren't aware of how much less juice they personally have to provide in order to rip heavy controlled shots with it. The PA almost begs you to over-cook every shot because you almost know what it's capable of without actually doing it. Once I give in and just ride the PA's wave of power and spin without trying to force things, the magic really begins to happen.

 

[n8dawg6]

IMO the more I play with the PA the more I believe that the unbridled beastly power of the frame does not lack control but the user does...I think most people, including myself, aren't aware of how much less juice they personally have to provide in order to rip heavy controlled shots with it. The PA almost begs you to over-cook every shot because you almost know what it's capable of without actually doing it. Once I give in and just ride the PA's wave of power and spin without trying to force things, the magic really begins to happen.

compact, controlled groundstrokes are the way to go. spinny kick serves with plenty of margin are so easy to hit. this frame really makes tennis easier, IMO.

 

[pfrischmann]

Interesting day today. We played a really good pair of players in doubles today. The first set I used the Pure Aero, a stick I am still learning. We lost 6-4 and my serve was coming back way too often. I was also finding mid-court shots a little tricky. These guys were too good to beat from the baseline. So, I switched to the weighted up Angell. Short story, we won 6-0 (we had played a set on Saturday that we won 6-4). My serve was a weapon again. More balls in and much meaner. I found this stick at this weight to be a better all around stick. I lost all of that spin on my forehand but gained significant confidence everywhere else. More importantly, I felt I knew where the ball was going. There was a certain predictability I felt I was lacking with the Pure Aero. I'm not making a judgement, just an observation.

For now, more weight on the Pure, Aero.

This is probably my biggest issue. I play doubles very different than singles. I'm not sure I can find a stick that suits my doubles game (serve and volley) and my singles game (more baseline) It seems like in doubles, I like a heavier softer stick but it's a challenge to use that same stick through three sets of singles.

 

[Grieeegoorr]

"I'm not sure I can find a stick that suits my doubles game (serve and volley) and my singles game (more baseline)"

That's ok, there is no holier than thou standing at an altar telling us that we have to choose one racquet for life. Even if there was you could bet your bottom dollar that they'd have a 12 pack stuffed full of the right racquet for the right occasion, all under the same paint job of course.
I've got racquets I like to play singles with, racquets I like to play doubles with, racquets I play mixed doubles with, racquets I like to use when playing older and more wirily players, racquets I like to use when I just want to belt the crap out of the ball, racquets that I think are easier to play with in the wind, racquets I use in the rain, racquets I like to use on hot days and racquets I think play better in the cold, racquets to hit with the kids and a racquet that I have a hit with my wife with(I try to use the same one every time, she knows I have a lot of racquets, but it is safer not to flaunt the fact in her face).
I just love racquets and I don't think there is anything really wrong with that, I don't really listen to anyone telling me otherwise anyway.

 

[Anton]

compact, controlled groundstrokes are the way to go. spinny kick serves with plenty of margin are so easy to hit. this frame really makes tennis easier, IMO.

Do you consider Nadal's strokes compact?

 

[n8dawg6]

Do you consider Nadal's strokes compact?

well, his shorts are a little too compact in that pic.

think i'm mainly talking about backswing with the PA. bringing the racquet waaaay back robs you of timing and control. its just a core/shoulder turn, then rotate and let the racquet follow thru. i think that's true for any racquet but it's really apparent with the PA.

 

[Anton]

well, his shorts are a little too compact in that pic.

No doubt

think i'm mainly talking about backswing with the PA. bringing the racquet waaaay back robs you of timing and control. its just a core/shoulder turn, then rotate and let the racquet follow thru. i think that's true for any racquet but it's really apparent with the PA.

Ok thats what I figured you mean - compact take back.

 

[pfrischmann]

Played doubles again, I ended up switching to the Angell when things got tight. It was hot and for some reason, I felt too many balls were flying on the PA. I feel much more comfortable volleying with the Agnell. It also has much better feel.

 

[tennistomcat]

I feel much more comfortable volleying with the Agnell. It also has much better feel.

That's the thing I love about the Angell also - the flex, touch, & control are better than any racket I've hit with in a long time - probably my lm radical was the only other racket I can think of that's similar. But the Angell trumps it in almost every category except volleys & flat shots. This thing volleys well but it seems like the tighter 18X20 gave me much better precision & crispness - I can't hit flat as easily but the topspin is making me much more consistent with fewer errors.

I've never hit with the Pure Aero but have owned the last 2 versions of the AeroPro & can make comparisons to them although I hear the Pure Aero is like a totally different racket.
I like my TC100 much better. It doesn't give me the easy power of the Babolats & doesn't let me play lazy tennis but that's a good thing as I find my form coming around again because I can't cheat on shots & have to commit.

I feel very comfortable with the launch angle on it - I could never adjust to how much loop I had to hit with the Babolats. I am playing more of a modern game with the medium to heavy topspin shots, especially on the forehand. I could never dial in my down the line backhand with any of the Aeropros, but it's so easy now that it's my go to shot if anyone leaves any opening - most ppl do because it's not a shot that many ppl can hit consistently - it opens up the court so much on the next shot if I catch them leaning crosscourt.

I took my beloved POG OS graphite out with me the other day to compare with my Angell - I have been holding onto them for so long because of the nostalgia of high school days & because you can't find many rackets with that solid graphite flexy feel anymore. It was a mistake because I thought I could never let these guys go but the Angell put it to shame. I can't even go back to hitting with them anymore - it seems like such a letdown.

The Angell has prompted me to unload so many rackets that I've held on to for so long - I know I'll never touch them again. These POGs are going onto the chopping blocks as well. Pretty soon, I'm only gonna have the TC100 left.

 

[Pleb123]

IMO the more I play with the PA the more I believe that the unbridled beastly power of the frame does not lack control but the user does...I think most people, including myself, aren't aware of how much less juice they personally have to provide in order to rip heavy controlled shots with it. The PA almost begs you to over-cook every shot because you almost know what it's capable of without actually doing it. Once I give in and just ride the PA's wave of power and spin without trying to force things, the magic really begins to happen.

This ^^^
Also, I had to inject a fist-sized lump of silicone for comfort.