Quick question about the Babolat AeroPro Drive
- Thread starter Urip
- Start date
The current (at least 2014) French Open version of the Aeropro Drive looks like this.
The part right above the handle on the racquet you are showing makes it look like more like a 2010.
The current French Open edition is just a regular Aeropro Drive with a different paint job.
The racquets Nadal plays with are "customized" so while they should be like the current Aeropro Drive I don't know how alike they are.
The part right above the handle on the racquet you are showing makes it look like more like a 2010.
The current French Open edition is just a regular Aeropro Drive with a different paint job.
The racquets Nadal plays with are "customized" so while they should be like the current Aeropro Drive I don't know how alike they are.
torpantennis
Legend
Nadal plays with the original APD, 10+ years old, painted to look like the current model. Also, he has weighted up his racquet to much higher swingweight, and a bit higher static weight.
Interesting to know Nadal has his own customized racquet.
But the issue here is: I'm being offered to buy this red "French Open" APD, and I'm trying to understand how different it is from the current regular APD.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=444645
It's a discussion about the Aeropro Drive GT (2010) and the new Aeropro Drive with cortex (2013).
Those two racquets are essentially the two you are comparing.
Is that really 2010?
Are you sure the APD French Open doesn't have the cortex system? In this link, for example, it says it does (remove space between racquet-depot):
http://racquet depot.com/babolat-aeropro-drive-french-open-100-tennis-racquets-p-16944.html
Are you sure the APD French Open doesn't have the cortex system? In this link, for example, it says it does (remove space between racquet-depot):
http://racquet depot.com/babolat-aeropro-drive-french-open-100-tennis-racquets-p-16944.html
Lukhas
Legend
The Cortex between the 2010 and 2013 version is different. Both frame have "Cortex" but the Cortex each use is not the same. Other than that, consider the French Open paint a celebratory paint for the 2010 model. So it is indeed true that you're essentially comparing the 2010 APD to the 2013 one.
Thanks for the correction, just a little confusion based on the different look of the shafts.
LapsedNoob
Professional
Interesting to know Nadal has his own customized racquet.
But the issue here is: I'm being offered to buy this red "French Open" APD, and I'm trying to understand how different it is from the current regular APD.
FWIW many if not most top 100 pros use a different racquet painted to look like the one they endorse. In some cases like Nadal's it is because he likes the older model. In other cases, like many Head players, their racquets are specialty made replications of entirely different older models painted to look like what the endorse.
And all of them modify swing weight and such from standard.
I won both racquets you are asking about!
I like the feel of the 2014 with the updated Cortex system better. But in general terms they racquets are almost identical.
I feel like the 2014 Model (I have 3 French open Aeropro's a 2010, 2012 & 2014)
It feels more solid and less annoying vibrations.
All 3 of mine weigh slightly different amounts and have slightly different swing weights. This is just manufacturing variations. But thet 2010 is the lightest and the 2014 is the heaviest.
Recently I have been hitting mostly with my 2010 with some weight added at 10 O'clock and 2 O'clock with the New Head Gravity string, strung at 52 Lbs.
In fact I am going to string my 2014 with Gravity today! I have been hitting with RPM Blast 17 at 60 Lbs.
Gravity is a much stiffer feeling string than Blast so I had to lower the tension. Amazing combo of spin and power with this string!
I like the feel of the 2014 with the updated Cortex system better. But in general terms they racquets are almost identical.
I feel like the 2014 Model (I have 3 French open Aeropro's a 2010, 2012 & 2014)
It feels more solid and less annoying vibrations.
All 3 of mine weigh slightly different amounts and have slightly different swing weights. This is just manufacturing variations. But thet 2010 is the lightest and the 2014 is the heaviest.
Recently I have been hitting mostly with my 2010 with some weight added at 10 O'clock and 2 O'clock with the New Head Gravity string, strung at 52 Lbs.
In fact I am going to string my 2014 with Gravity today! I have been hitting with RPM Blast 17 at 60 Lbs.
Gravity is a much stiffer feeling string than Blast so I had to lower the tension. Amazing combo of spin and power with this string!
I own both racquets you are asking about!
I like the feel of the 2014 with the updated Cortex system better. But in general terms they racquets are almost identical.
I feel like the 2014 Model (I have 3 French open Aeropro's a 2010, 2012 & 2014)
It feels more solid and less annoying vibrations.
All 3 of mine weigh slightly different amounts and have slightly different swing weights. This is just manufacturing variations. But thet 2010 is the lightest and the 2014 is the heaviest.
Recently I have been hitting mostly with my 2010 with some weight added at 10 O'clock and 2 O'clock with the New Head Gravity string, strung at 52 Lbs.
In fact I am going to string my 2014 with Gravity today! I have been hitting with RPM Blast 17 at 60 Lbs.
Gravity is a much stiffer feeling string than Blast so I had to lower the tension. Amazing combo of spin and power with this string!
I like the feel of the 2014 with the updated Cortex system better. But in general terms they racquets are almost identical.
I feel like the 2014 Model (I have 3 French open Aeropro's a 2010, 2012 & 2014)
It feels more solid and less annoying vibrations.
All 3 of mine weigh slightly different amounts and have slightly different swing weights. This is just manufacturing variations. But thet 2010 is the lightest and the 2014 is the heaviest.
Recently I have been hitting mostly with my 2010 with some weight added at 10 O'clock and 2 O'clock with the New Head Gravity string, strung at 52 Lbs.
In fact I am going to string my 2014 with Gravity today! I have been hitting with RPM Blast 17 at 60 Lbs.
Gravity is a much stiffer feeling string than Blast so I had to lower the tension. Amazing combo of spin and power with this string!
