Pure Aero VS or Prince ATS 98?

[patrickluvsoj]

Love to see if anyone can recommend the Pure Aero VS (PAVS) or new Prince ATS 98 based on my background. Open to other recommendations if you think something fits me better.

• Background: 30-ish 5'6 male. Decent court coverage/speed.
• Level: 4.0 NTRP in Northern Cali
• Play style: Good amount of serve and volley. At the baseline, I am more counter punch-y but looking to become more aggressive.
• Racket preference: Currently play Prince Textreme Tour 310. I like the racket but a bit launchy and slightly stiff. Looking for something w/ a bit more control without significant trade-off in power, spin, comfort.

Would either of these two rackets be too low powered? Looking at different threads etc I can see that the PAVS is much stiffer but if I string it with a natural/poly hybrid would it fit the bill?

 

[Pctopcool]

I've been using TT 310 and recently bought a ats 98. The power difference is quite noticable. The ATS 98 does provide better control especially for serve and DTL forehand.

 

[Trip]

If it doesn't have to be a 98, how about the Textreme Tour 100P? Same mold, 5g lighter, similar swing weight and 18x20, so it's more controlled and less launchy on more flat impact, yet also retains good access to spin and power as the 18x20 is fairly open. I would at least consider a demo if you haven't already.

 

[janelgreo]

If you don't have the funds to purchase both for long term testing, demo. I haven't tried the PAVS, always wanted to, but I have tried the ATS 98 and man it's a nice racquet. I really enjoyed playing with it and it felt excellent for my playstyle and also a one handed backhand... it just got slightly outshined by the VCore Pro 97D. If the 97D didn't exist or I never tried it, I would've went with the ATS 98, it does EVERYTHING well and is very control oriented but still has a good amount of power.

 

[patrickluvsoj]

If it doesn't have to be a 98, how about the Textreme Tour 100P? Same mold, 5g lighter, similar swing weight and 18x20, so it's more controlled and less launchy on more flat impact, yet also retains good access to spin and power as the 18x20 is fairly open. I would at least consider a demo if you haven't already.

I did order a demo of the 100P as well! How would you compare power for 100P vs 98?

 

[Trip]

I haven't tried the ATS 98, so I can't comment definitively, but I would imagine power level will be similar, with perhaps a slight edge in additional power to the 100P.

 

[beltsman]

Love to see if anyone can recommend the Pure Aero VS (PAVS) or new Prince ATS 98 based on my background. Open to other recommendations if you think something fits me better.

• Background: 30-ish 5'6 male. Decent court coverage/speed.
• Level: 4.0 NTRP in Northern Cali
• Play style: Good amount of serve and volley. At the baseline, I am more counter punch-y but looking to become more aggressive.
• Racket preference: Currently play Prince Textreme Tour 310. I like the racket but a bit launchy and slightly stiff. Looking for something w/ a bit more control without significant trade-off in power, spin, comfort.

Would either of these two rackets be too low powered? Looking at different threads etc I can see that the PAVS is much stiffer but if I string it with a natural/poly hybrid would it fit the bill?

PAVS with natural gut would be nuclear power...you would absolutely need good spin technique on every shot. I haven't tried it though, just speculating. Let us know if you do try!

 

[Sughaclef]

I own both. Recently I strung the PAVS with a multi cross (volkl) and Black Widow main.this took out some of the stiffness. I find it a very rewarding racquet. Killer spin, lots of energy for speed/power, and after a period of time to get acquainted, the accuracy (control) does improve greatly. The stiffness does make it feel more solid for net play and serves. It is slightly more demanding than the ATS, but rewardingly so. The PAVS is quite string sensitive, and the hybrid multi /poly is the best set up I have had to date.

The Prince is comfortable. It plays like an extension of my arm. However it is less powerful, and the control is not massively better than PAVS. Though it is quite powerful with a gut hybrid and less vibrationing on the arm than the PAVS, whole letting you use nearly ant string.

I've gone back and forth for about a month and just this week decided the PAVS is better for me that ATS. I play in Taipei, it is between 15-30C here.

 

[Brando]

@Sughaclef, did you end up demoing them both. If so, what happened?

 

[TennisHound]

Love to see if anyone can recommend the Pure Aero VS (PAVS) or new Prince ATS 98 based on my background. Open to other recommendations if you think something fits me better.

• Background: 30-ish 5'6 male. Decent court coverage/speed.
• Level: 4.0 NTRP in Northern Cali
• Play style: Good amount of serve and volley. At the baseline, I am more counter punch-y but looking to become more aggressive.
• Racket preference: Currently play Prince Textreme Tour 310. I like the racket but a bit launchy and slightly stiff. Looking for something w/ a bit more control without significant trade-off in power, spin, comfort.

Would either of these two rackets be too low powered? Looking at different threads etc I can see that the PAVS is much stiffer but if I string it with a natural/poly hybrid would it fit the bill?

Simple. The ATS98 is not low powered. In my opinion, the ATS98 edges the PAVS in playability by a pretty big margin, and should fit what you’re looking for. (As good as the ATS98 is, the TW review is slightly inflated).

 

[ariwibowo]

I like TT 100 310 more than ATS 98. ATS 98 is more head heavy and produce less spin than TT 100. I have sold my ATS 98. I am currently also using Artengo TR960 control tour 16x19, easier transition from TT 100.

 

[Nojoke]

Any comparisons between the ATS 98 and the new Pure Aero 98?

 

[pico]

I currently play with the PAVS and enjoy it. I did find a good price on the Prince ATS 98 and it should come in next week. I will be able to compare the two. If there is one thing that I am hoping the Prince ATS 98 can offer slightly more, it would be a more penetrating cross-court shot. I find the PAVS gives me this but with an inherent top-spin that often takes away from the "sting" of the shot.

 

[Sughaclef]

@Sughaclef, did you end up demoing them both. If so, what happened?

I used the ATS for a few months, stringing it with gut cross and rpm main. But oddly, I developed arm pain, which I now put down to technique (lack thereof) from over-arming/shouldering when using the ATS and pushing for power instead of good body flow for power. But at the time I couldn't figure out why I was getting pain (shoulder cuff and forearm below the elbow). I put a multi/poly on the PA98 (a replacement to the PAVS which cracked after a bad (but legit not angry) hit). The strings are Dunlop Touch (x) and BlackWidow (m). After an hour or so the bed really softens up and gets cush, no arm pain. The topspin is better (balls just fall in at the line) and thbh are impressive. I don't find a major power difference, but accuracy is lower, comparatively. However that crosscourt shot Pico mentions is a favorite of mine with the PA98, less sting but a great and almost cinematic arc. Shots with the PA have great pace. Also, and perhaps naive to say, but the PA responds well to changing the handling including gripping modern forehand, to bring the ball flatter and with more sting (more of a flat pull swing than an arced swing). I can change grip styles in play and see the effect more readily.

Your may tell by now the PA is getting more time in my bag despite the Investment into gut for the ATS.



Also of note, a friend sold me a Blade 98 v.8 (19x16) and it is worth considering if you like both the ATS and PA and seek an arm friendly stick. It has less spin, more accuracy and is soft on the arm with reasonable power but also good touch. Similar to the ATS, it feels like an extension of my arm, but more user friendly (by example on days with bad technique). The right word may be reliable for the Blade.

BTW I play largely doubles due to the nature of the courts here. For that reason I'd prefer PA or the Blade.

If in singles against intermediate players (giving me more time to prepare) I'd use the PA or ATS, but against higher levels I'd use the Blade or PA to offset lower time for preparing g shots or hitting cleanly. I'm an intermediate level player. Were I more advanced the ATS would shine more.



Note also, I find the strings in the PA notch more (I had to add spacers) but retain movement longer in the ATS and Blade. Also I have found mishits in the PA have twice broken strings (usually hitting a lower corner, oddly).



Hope that helps.

 

[Brando]

Yes, that DOES HELP, @Sughaclef! I couldn't have asked for a clearer breakdown of the differences between the PA98 and the ATS98. And I dig how you threw in the Blade for context.

 

[pico]

I currently play with the PAVS and enjoy it. I did find a good price on the Prince ATS 98 and it should come in next week. I will be able to compare the two. If there is one thing that I am hoping the Prince ATS 98 can offer slightly more, it would be a more penetrating cross-court shot. I find the PAVS gives me this but with an inherent top-spin that often takes away from the "sting" of the shot.

So i tried out the ATS 98. I was let down. Not sure if the one I got was overspec'd but felt heavy in the head. I strung it with poly mains and a multi cross at 53lbs. The power level was low. It didnt feel as plush as I expected either. I will stick to the PAVS over it.