Recommend me a Pure Drive substitute

[BruceG]

My three question are
1) What other head light, about 100sq, 11-ish ounce racquets give you the same kind of serving power as the PD
2) Which ones of them have more feel ?
3) Does the AeroPro Drive give you the same serving power as the PD and if it doesn't, how much less does it give you?

 

[pow]

My three question are
1) What other head light, about 100sq, 11-ish ounce racquets give you the same kind of serving power as the PD
2) Which ones of them have more feel ?
3) Does the AeroPro Drive give you the same serving power as the PD and if it doesn't, how much less does it give you?

what would you like to improve from the PD? just more feel?

 

[BruceG]

what would you like to improve from the PD? just more feel?

More feel would be nice but I guess I can live without it. The main area Ive had troubles with the PD+ is when hitting my topspin groundstrokes. I have no trouble in driving the ball or hitting a slice approach but when I have to add topspin the racquet feels really sluggish. Because it's really stiff I can't feel myself spinning the ball so Ive got to rely on technique and I refuse to use poly strings to increase spin. I had a lesson to get a coach's opinion lesson and he said there was nothing wrong with my topspin forehand or backhand but I wasn't getting enough racquet head speed. Im a 3.5 now but have played several years at 4.0, only dropped down after a few injuries slowed me down and took away my time on court. Strokes are solid, Eastern grips off the ground (I am working on a semi-western on the forehand) Continental on everything else. Perhaps the extra length of the PD and the higher swing weight is causing the problem?

I had a very, very brief hit with the AeroPro Drive and straight away started getting the spin I was missing from the PD. Both racquets had the same string in them and were about the same tension, if anything the APD was looser. I didn't get a chance to serve with it so I don't know if it has the same power on serve as the PD. I'm not locked in to any one brand so long as I don't lose out in the serve department because that's one area where age and injuries beat technique and I really do need the extra help from the racquet.

 

[Punisha]

Rds002 .

 

[stormholloway]

002 is a good reco.

 

[[K]aotic]

kzen... the specs are really similar

 

[AndrewD]

Hang on, the RDS 002 is a relatively low powered racquet. Sure, it's easy to swing fast but you aren't going to get anything like a PD response, especially on serve. The RDS 003 is a much better option but even that one isn't going to give you the same power as the PD. They all make spinning the ball easy but that's onlya fraction of what the OP is looking for. He wants spin potential PLUS power on serve, not one at the expense of the other.

Better choices could be:
Wilson K Factor KZen
Wilson K Factor KSurge
Volkl DNX 8
Volkl DNX 7
Dunlop Aerogel 5Hundred

 

[Bottle Rocket]

This really doesn't make a lot of sense, in my opinion.

I have no trouble in driving the ball or hitting a slice approach but when I have to add topspin the racquet feels really sluggish. Because it's really stiff I can't feel myself spinning the ball so Ive got to rely on technique and I refuse to use poly strings to increase spin.

Why, if you're having trouble getting racket head speed, are you using an extended length racket? Quit using an extended length racket. Try the Pure Drive standard before switching rackets... An eastern gripper using a Pure Drive Plus is not something you come across everyday. I am just curious, what tension and strings are you using?

I am not sure I understand the remark about feeling the ball to impart spin or not. It sounds like something very similar to the PD's specs with some more flex might be what you're looking for, in which case the Pure Storm is a great choice. The Pure Storm is nearly as powerful as the Pure Drive standard, but flexier with more feel. It is definitely more communicative off the ground. It still serve extremely well.

I think you should try a standard length Pure Drive... If you already have and have the same problem, try the Pure Storm. The AeroPro isn't going to give you much of a difference compared with the PD.

Besides a few of the Wilson recommendations (good post by AndrewD), maybe the KSurge for example, I completely disagree. I don't think any of them are good "substitutes" for a PD. A good substitute is a powerful racket known to be extremely spin-friendly and serve-friendly.

 

[theRadical]

the microgel extreme? At least Head tried to make it another pure drive. And arent you suppose to get good spin with those?

 

[Micky]

My three question are
1) What other head light, about 100sq, 11-ish ounce racquets give you the same kind of serving power as the PD
2) Which ones of them have more feel ?
3) Does the AeroPro Drive give you the same serving power as the PD and if it doesn't, how much less does it give you?

Oh Darling BruceG,

You have the perfect racquet. You just need the perfect strings AND your Semi-Western forehand.

Now regarding the strings...are you using 17 gauge? You should. You are not using Hurricane Pro in your mains? You should. You are not using a syn gut for your cross? You should. Here is the magic formula:

Hurricane Pro 17 @56~58 mains
Babolat Conquest or other syn gut 17 @ 58~60 cross

Second magic formula:

Brand new balls. Yes darling new balls. You need the bite.

Third magic formula:

Bend your knees. Yeah yeah yeah. Do it.

Anyways...I am sure you are deppressed. Buy yourself another racquet. Just don't sell the PD+. You will be back to it in no time. I guarantee you that.

 

[snoflewis]

a lot of the PD substitutes that i've treid have just been to jarring/harsh. the npro surge/microgel extreme/microgel extreme pro are incredibly harsh on the arm. actually, i'll go as far as to say that it makes the pure drive feel like a redondo. the PD's woofer system is obviously not available on these substitutes and it just makes it too stiff, no matter how soft you hit and no matter where you hit on the racket. i had the opportunity to demo the two microgels before they were available on TW and i literally hit with them for 5 minutes because they were too harsh on my arm, especially since they were strung with poly.

with that said, my favorite pure drive substitute is the yonex rds003. the racket is stiff, yet comfortable enough with a good amount of pop. the biggest strength was the spin potential and control. the racket, even though it had a powerful punch, had excellent control.

 

[BruceG]

Okay, where do I start?

Bottle Rocket, I started using the PD+ instead of the standard because the only one I could demo was the extended length version. I served so well with it I didn't want to take a chance on the standard length. It was only $100 so I figured if I couldnt adjust to the extra length I could cut it back or trade it. Because I could volley well with it, hit my backhand slice, approach shots and drive the ball well I figured my topspin shots would fall into place. They haven't. At the moment Im using Gosen JC 16 at 60lbs - a bad experiment. Tension is fine, control is good but I don't like the feel and after I play tomorrow I'm having it taken out. Originally it had Klip Warrior 15g and I preferred that, even though its such a thick string. I haven't tried the Pure Storm but I'll see if it's available.

Micky, thanks for the unsually expressed concern but I'm not the least bit depressed. I'm having trouble with my groundstrokes but I'm still serving well enough to win a lot more than I lose. Couldn't say that about my last couple of racquets so I'm still feeling pretty good. Unless I'm mistaken, Pro Hurricane is a poly and, as I said in my other post, I won't use a poly string.

theRadical, I tried the Extreme and thought it was okay but didnt serve near as well as the PD. It also felt a bit rougher on my arm.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

I think I can say this without much disagreement from the rest of the board. You are not going to find a stick that serves as well as the Pure Drive+ in the 11 ounce range.

If you can't demo, buy used off this board. Buy a racket for a decent price, try it out for as long as you'd like, and sell it for the same price. Sometimes you can break even and sometimes you lose the money for shipping.

If getting a full swing really is your problem, I can't recommend heavier rackets. For that reason, the Pure Storm is still the best thing that I can think of. It should also be a quick sell on this forum. If serves are the strong point of your game and that is what is winning you matches, you can't deviate too far from your current racket. You may never find what you're looking for... :sad:

I am not sure why you won't use a poly, but it is quite possible that could be the easy and cheap solution.

 

[Ronny]

head microgel extreme, fxp or lm instinct and maybe the 03 white or red

 

[dave333]

npro surge is a excellant sub in my opinion. The sweetspot could be bigger but when you get that sweetspot, you get some excellant results.

 

[ChaseD13]

npro open...similar weight, i like the feel better, less power on the serve, but it is still powerful

its the upgraded surge.

i like the feel alot compared to the pd series.

def something similar that isnt just a bad clone, demo it!

 

[haerdalis]

Try the PK type S or SX.

 

[kreative]

I think I can say this without much disagreement from the rest of the board. You are not going to find a stick that serves as well as the Pure Drive+ in the 11 ounce range.

If you can't demo, buy used off this board. Buy a racket for a decent price, try it out for as long as you'd like, and sell it for the same price. Sometimes you can break even and sometimes you lose the money for shipping.

If getting a full swing really is your problem, I can't recommend heavier rackets. For that reason, the Pure Storm is still the best thing that I can think of. It should also be a quick sell on this forum. If serves are the strong point of your game and that is what is winning you matches, you can't deviate too far from your current racket. You may never find what you're looking for... :sad:

I am not sure why you won't use a poly, but it is quite possible that could be the easy and cheap solution.

Very well said. You should be able to generate more racquet head speed w/ the PD standard since it's more maneuverable. Pure Storm is also a solid racquet w/ more feel than the PD, but won't give you the same serving power. AeroPD gives more spin on serve, but not as much pop imo. Also, the aerodynamic profie of the AeroPD makes it more suitable for western grippers or spinny shots.

 

[Tikiman53]

I've been told that the ProKennex Ki-10 PSE is very similar to the pure drive.

 

[PED]

I used the pure drive standard length for about a year before switching to an aero. If you don't want a full poly string job you can always try a hybrid. I used a combo of big banger rough with sensation in the crosses and it's easy on the arm. My aero hits totally different with that setup than one with a full poly job. My friend has his aero with a full hurricane string job and I just don't like the way it feels. Having said all that, I'm using a pure storm myself now after my 13 year decided he wanted the aero. It took a while to change over but I really like the storm. It's much more comfortable than the PD and you should get the feel you're looking for. I find that I can string it much higher without a loss in comfort as well. Give it a shot

 

[rabidcow]

for a PD replacement I would take a look at the Pro Kennex type S. similar specs with more feel in it. Also it costs a lot less because it is not from one of the big brands. Plus it got good reviews and was editors choice in tennis magazine when it came out

 

[DANMAN]

The Volkl DNX 8 may be a great bet for you. Check it out.

 

[dunlopfan]

This is funny because that is the same problem that I ran into with my PD. It came to the point that the more that I played with it, the more I hated it. I started demoing again and found the Dunlop M-Fil 300. I feel it is perfect for former PD users that want a little more control and better volleys. I also like the flexiblility of the Dunlop. I strongly suggest that you demo it before they're all gone.

 

[HappyLefty]

Volkl DNX 8
Volkl DNX V1
Yonex RDS003

 

[Final_Match_Point]

I tried both the pure drive team+ and the pd roddick extensivly while demoing, I loved the pd Roddick because of the added stability, along with more control and easy manuverability

 

[DrewB]

A question. Would gut help give you the heavier spin feeling you want with your current PD+?

fwiw, I agree with snoflewis and AndrewD comments about the rds 003 from the Yonex line-up. I think it would be worth a try. Stiff but comfy. And at 27.25 it would be a compromise as far as length.

 

[squints]

i would have to say o3 tour

 

[AndrewD]

An eastern gripper using a Pure Drive Plus is not something you come across everyday. I am just curious, what tension and strings are you using?

Actually, I'm predominantly Eastern with my grips and also use the PD Plus. I play serve-volley first and second serve, chip-charge on returns and hit a flatter ball. That mightn't be the norm but I have been getting exceptionally good results ever since switching to the PD. I'm still toying with the idea of going to the standard length but I'm not sure whether the bonus of the extended length on serve outweighs any negatives on groundstrokes.

 

[ivan987]

Maybe try with Wilson's Surge model? It is quite similar to Pure Drive

 

[Firestarter]

the wilson npro open have almost the same serving power as PD

 

[ivan987]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCWILSON-KSURGE.html
KSURGE is out, maybe try one of those?

 

[70sSanO]

Bruce,

You may want to try a ProKennex KI-15PSE. It it a powerful serving racquet in the mid 11's.

It has a nice open string pattern, but it can be a little tough to tame. Most reviewers find it too powerful.

Just a thought.

John

 

[Jr.]

i would just use PDR standard size.
i think that you are using one handed backhand.
if not, forget about this post.
i found PDR to be more powerful than PD, so PDR standard may serve as powerful as PD+.
standard size would probably increase your racquetspeed enough to give you topspin.

Don't sell the PD+.
Work out like crazy, become jacked, go back to PD+, get some hybrid strings...
and go kick ass!

Btw, try using extreme eastern grip before fulling changing to semi-western grip.

 

[Micky]

i would just use PDR standard size.
i think that you are using one handed backhand.
if not, forget about this post.
i found PDR to be more powerful than PD, so PDR standard may serve as powerful as PD+.
standard size would probably increase your racquetspeed enough to give you topspin.

Don't sell the PD+.
Work out like crazy, become jacked, go back to PD+, get some hybrid strings...
and go kick ass!

Btw, try using extreme eastern grip before fulling changing to semi-western grip.

Hola Jr,

People that are deppressed one way or another and living in denial. But don't worry. He will be back to reality.