sixone90
Hall of Fame
The APD has always had that
Rafa testing a new racquet?
- Thread starter estigma2001
- Start date
The APD has always had that
torpantennis
Legend
Still looks sharper than any APD. It could be the slightly off-center viewing angle though.
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Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
NEW 2016 Aeropro drives ?
So Can you guys Confirm that this is the BRAND NEW 2016 Aeropro Drives that he is testing ???????????
So Can you guys Confirm that this is the BRAND NEW 2016 Aeropro Drives that he is testing ???????????
torpantennis
Legend
Let me guess: They'll rebrand Pure Drive Tour as APD in 2016. So Pure Drive Tour is Rafa's new real racquet?
Kid Carlos
Semi-Pro
The 2016 APD will have PSI technology like the 2015 Pure Drive does. That is the string pattern that Nadal is using here. It will also have cortex but Nadal does not use cortex. The cosmetics will likely lean toward more black with a bit of yellow/lime on it. So, Nadal will be using a "new" racket but not the one that will be sold in stores. New string pattern, no cortex and PSI.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
AGree, I am just afraid this NEW PSI tech will make him lose control somewhat due to different location of the sweet spot which is higher up in the string bed.
but it will give him more Accuracy and Power on his serves which will help him win another Wimbledon title.
torpantennis
Legend
OK, so PSI (different drilling pattern) is the key difference?
As comparison, here's an old PDR 2012, with a drilling pattern similar to Nadal's old racquet:
sixone90
Hall of Fame
It's not similar, it's the same
RanchDressing
Hall of Fame
If the cosmetic is good, this thing will sell incredibly well.
Let's just hope it won't come out only in a play version.
Let's just hope it won't come out only in a play version.
JMacdaununder
New User
Babolat: How to make a motza for two decades with one racquet.
Babolat have really only ever successfully marketed one and a half racquet models in twenty years. Remember the Aero Tour, Aero Tour+ and Aero Tour Pro Limited from the early noughties? Not many would! They simply put the aero shaft from these completely aero racquets onto the Pure Drive head - Pure Drive being the only model they've ever really had, with little change to the racquet Moya used in the 90s apart from releasing a heavier model when it was revealed Roddick's racquet was heavier than retail and the addition of the woofers almost 20 years ago - gave them to a (very) young Nadal a bit before the Aussie Open one year and the rest as they say, is history. Oh I forgot, the Pure Strike! Eyeah - nuf said. They were, to me, so incredibly lucky that their one racquet was the perfect accoutrement for the new wizbang poly strings. So very doubtful Rafa has a whole new racquet. But who knows; desperate times may call for desperate measures. Vamos!
Babolat have really only ever successfully marketed one and a half racquet models in twenty years. Remember the Aero Tour, Aero Tour+ and Aero Tour Pro Limited from the early noughties? Not many would! They simply put the aero shaft from these completely aero racquets onto the Pure Drive head - Pure Drive being the only model they've ever really had, with little change to the racquet Moya used in the 90s apart from releasing a heavier model when it was revealed Roddick's racquet was heavier than retail and the addition of the woofers almost 20 years ago - gave them to a (very) young Nadal a bit before the Aussie Open one year and the rest as they say, is history. Oh I forgot, the Pure Strike! Eyeah - nuf said. They were, to me, so incredibly lucky that their one racquet was the perfect accoutrement for the new wizbang poly strings. So very doubtful Rafa has a whole new racquet. But who knows; desperate times may call for desperate measures. Vamos!
JMacdaununder
New User
Oh yeah, Pure Control; never really took off, never really died either - ok 2 1/2 models. lol. (Here come the haters!!)
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Let's just HOPE PLEASE this new 2016 model will also have very low Swing weight as well..............
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
MORE powerful and Lighter Swing weight of about 10 points makes this racket the Perfected blade or New Aero pro. Can't wait.......
McLovin
Legend
torpantennis
Legend
So Babolat is following the route of what Wilson did with RF97. Black out the new racquet, and make some noise of Rafa switching to new racquet, and then release it after Nadal wins enough with the new racquet. As sales of RF97 are so high, maybe they should follow that route till the end, and release APD with a weight closer to real Nadal's racquet. So something like 335SW and 12oz.
JMacdaununder
New User
Touché McLovin!!
JMacdaununder
New User
An Aeropro with a 'Roddick' like static weight would certainly be a long overdue and from what people tell me popular racquet. The marketing re the racquet's verisimilitude might be somewhat problematic as apparently Nad's racquet is similar to a retail APD with 15 grams added to the head and 5 grams to the handle, creating a somewhat unconventional balance and swingweight. These specs would be unlikely to make it to retail.
torpantennis
Legend
So we know that Nadal used Babolat PLAY on his APD earlier this year. Maybe they looked the data and it turned out Nadal was making contact with the ball high in the stringbed? So that's why they try a switch to the new drilling pattern?
LapsedNoob
Professional
This is a good theory.
Sometimes a little hard data can change even a stubborn mind. (Sometimes.)
torpantennis
Legend
Different drilling pattern. Read the thread.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I read it. I can't see it. And we are just looking at bad pictures.
It seems to me that they may have just moved the Babolat stripes further up the racquet hoop giving the impression of a different drilling pattern.
But you really need to see the object itself or have very good comparative photopgraphs.
It seems to me that they may have just moved the Babolat stripes further up the racquet hoop giving the impression of a different drilling pattern.
But you really need to see the object itself or have very good comparative photopgraphs.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
They may have just moved the two Babolat stripes further up the hoop so that one cross now appears below the stripe, whereas before it was not.
Again, for those who still believe Rafa uses his old APD (PJ'ed as new one) on those pics, take a look and find clear difference.
Two absolutely different rackets.
And I do think that besides different drilling patterns, they have different mold.
torpantennis
Legend
Outermost main is supported by TWO less crosses on old racquet, and all other main strings by all crosses. In comparison, on new racquet the outermost main is supported by FOUR less crosses and the 2nd outermost by TWO less crosses and then all other mains by all crosses. That's the key difference.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
You certainly got this wrong because the throat looks quite similar even allowing for the bad photos.
I've seen the new Pure Drive in person and the photos I've seen of the new APD do not look like that string pattern to me.
I've seen the new Pure Drive in person and the photos I've seen of the new APD do not look like that string pattern to me.
torpantennis
Legend
I think the frame is still the old APD Original, but the drilling pattern is the new 2015 version. Pure Drives already got that kind of drilling pattern update.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
That's the first time you or anyone else has been reasonably specific about the change, altough I'm not sure I entirely follow your argument.
I think you're saying that the mains are spread slighly wider, which may be possible.
I think you're saying that the mains are spread slighly wider, which may be possible.
El_Yotamo
Hall of Fame
Just with no woofer.
Herdsman76
Rookie
Getty Images.
Practice.
R1.
I dig the "Stealth" or subdued graphics on this racquet.... Too bad we can't get this paintjob on the next frame...
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
It's a bit hard to tell that from photos and a Babolat without a woofer would be a bit like a Yonex without an isometric headshape.
LapsedNoob
Professional
I agree with this assessment. At the very least the drill pattern has changed.
torpantennis
Legend
I could even consider buying that APD. Normal APD paintjob looks way too teen! :twisted:
torpantennis
Legend
We have this similar drilling pattern change in Pure Drives already, so APD (and Nadal) seems to be following.
Pure Drive 2012:
Pure Drive 2015:
L
leohaegger
Guest
That's what i say in an older thread.
torpantennis
Legend
Maybe they should introduce APD and RND (Rafa Nadal Drive), a bit like PS97 and RF97?
Tennis Rules
Semi-Pro
they have to get rid off that orange...the black yellow paintjob was good.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
That's a much better picture with a clear shift to the FSI style pattern.
New pic from Getty Images. Cropped for comparison.
[/IMG]
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Fakin Silly Invention
torpantennis
Legend
New 2015 version of the Babolat string pattern, already introduced in PD. Essentially more open 16x19...
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=9235559
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=9235478
lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
Interesting grommet? part of the racket?
Also, the two lines on the sides are painted half way up the racket
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Tennis_monster21
Rookie
Interesting grommet? part of the racket?
Also, the two lines on the sides are painted half way up the racket
What the hell are you talking about?
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Previous racquet: 1 main skip.
Prototype racquet: 2 mains skips.
Same string pattern, no? :|
