pfrischmann
Professional
Hi Guys,
I thought I would give a quick comparison between these three sticks. I played with the APD-GT for a couple of years It's modified with lead and silicone and is roughly 11.9oz with a SW of 325. I switched to the PS-97 over six months ago. The Pure Aero was a friends.
Feel: I find the PS-97 to have the most feel followed by the APD-gt and lastly, the Pure Aero. The Pure Aero is so comfortable that I got a little lost in the sweet-spot. It was tough to tell how I was hitting because everything felt the same.
Accuracy. Again, I felt the order should be PS-97, APD, Pure Aero. To be fair, I've used the PS-97 the most recently, so I am going to be more accurate with it. I feel like I have to go for much bigger targets with the Pure-Aero than the others. It's interesting how my game changes when I change sticks. As much as I like the PS-97, it's just too clubby for me to whip forehands into extreme corners. Something I love doing. It seems to swing heavier than it's specs would indicate. As soon as I pick up the APD-gt, those strokes just come back.
Spin-Pure Aero, APD, PS-97. I noticed some difference between the PA and the APD but it wasn't huge. They both had more spin than the PS-97.
Comfort-Pure Aero. I was really surprised a how well the new internal cortex dampened the vibration. The PS-97 can be a little harsh on off-center hits but provides really good feedback in general. The APD-GT has a ping to it that is noticeably absent in the Pure-Aero. I realized, I counted on that ping to provide feed back as to how I am hitting...It's totally gone in the Pure Aero, which really makes it more comfortable but feel different than any other Babolat I've ever used. I'm not sure I liked it.
Groundstrokes- I loved getting my loopy forehand back when using the Babolats. It's so much fun to dip balls at peoples feet and push them back on the baseline or have them hang their head in disgust as my ball dips in at the last minute. On either wing, the Babolats do this well. The PS-97 is a bit more linear and has a better slice in my opinion, it has more drive to it. It was a little harder to control depth with the Pure-Aero. I was hitting long a bit more. As it was a borrowed stick, it could have been my friends tension.
Half volleys-Ps-97 is much better here, I've always had an issue with the Aero's returning half-volleys a little high. My guess is it's the launch angle of the string bed. I really didn't notice much of a difference between the APD and the Pure-Aero. They both floated the ball a bit if I could not come over the top.
Volley's-PS-97 by a wide margin. Same reasons as above. The PS-97 just has more control and feel.
Serves-PS-97 on flat serves. APD and Pure Aero on spins. I didn't have enough time to figure out if one Babolat was better than the other.
Conclusion:
These are great sticks and I feel they represent the modern game well. In some ways, I believe they also reflect the pro's that (sort of) endorse them. The PS-97 really is an interesting blend of old-school feel and new-school power and spin. It gives up a little of the bombastic spin and power for a certain amount of versatility. It's not really going to own any particular category but is going to show up well in all of them.
If I was a singles player only, I would never have left the APD. It can be such an awesome weapon from the baseline. I'm not sure the Pure Aero was a good update for me. By all reports, you give up control for more spin and power. It sounds like Babolat felt the pressure from Wilson's Steam 99s and built something to compete. I wish Babolat would have increased control with the FST like they did with the Pure Drive rather than use it to increase spin.
Just my $.02
FWIW
I thought I would give a quick comparison between these three sticks. I played with the APD-GT for a couple of years It's modified with lead and silicone and is roughly 11.9oz with a SW of 325. I switched to the PS-97 over six months ago. The Pure Aero was a friends.
Feel: I find the PS-97 to have the most feel followed by the APD-gt and lastly, the Pure Aero. The Pure Aero is so comfortable that I got a little lost in the sweet-spot. It was tough to tell how I was hitting because everything felt the same.
Accuracy. Again, I felt the order should be PS-97, APD, Pure Aero. To be fair, I've used the PS-97 the most recently, so I am going to be more accurate with it. I feel like I have to go for much bigger targets with the Pure-Aero than the others. It's interesting how my game changes when I change sticks. As much as I like the PS-97, it's just too clubby for me to whip forehands into extreme corners. Something I love doing. It seems to swing heavier than it's specs would indicate. As soon as I pick up the APD-gt, those strokes just come back.
Spin-Pure Aero, APD, PS-97. I noticed some difference between the PA and the APD but it wasn't huge. They both had more spin than the PS-97.
Comfort-Pure Aero. I was really surprised a how well the new internal cortex dampened the vibration. The PS-97 can be a little harsh on off-center hits but provides really good feedback in general. The APD-GT has a ping to it that is noticeably absent in the Pure-Aero. I realized, I counted on that ping to provide feed back as to how I am hitting...It's totally gone in the Pure Aero, which really makes it more comfortable but feel different than any other Babolat I've ever used. I'm not sure I liked it.
Groundstrokes- I loved getting my loopy forehand back when using the Babolats. It's so much fun to dip balls at peoples feet and push them back on the baseline or have them hang their head in disgust as my ball dips in at the last minute. On either wing, the Babolats do this well. The PS-97 is a bit more linear and has a better slice in my opinion, it has more drive to it. It was a little harder to control depth with the Pure-Aero. I was hitting long a bit more. As it was a borrowed stick, it could have been my friends tension.
Half volleys-Ps-97 is much better here, I've always had an issue with the Aero's returning half-volleys a little high. My guess is it's the launch angle of the string bed. I really didn't notice much of a difference between the APD and the Pure-Aero. They both floated the ball a bit if I could not come over the top.
Volley's-PS-97 by a wide margin. Same reasons as above. The PS-97 just has more control and feel.
Serves-PS-97 on flat serves. APD and Pure Aero on spins. I didn't have enough time to figure out if one Babolat was better than the other.
Conclusion:
These are great sticks and I feel they represent the modern game well. In some ways, I believe they also reflect the pro's that (sort of) endorse them. The PS-97 really is an interesting blend of old-school feel and new-school power and spin. It gives up a little of the bombastic spin and power for a certain amount of versatility. It's not really going to own any particular category but is going to show up well in all of them.
If I was a singles player only, I would never have left the APD. It can be such an awesome weapon from the baseline. I'm not sure the Pure Aero was a good update for me. By all reports, you give up control for more spin and power. It sounds like Babolat felt the pressure from Wilson's Steam 99s and built something to compete. I wish Babolat would have increased control with the FST like they did with the Pure Drive rather than use it to increase spin.
Just my $.02
FWIW
