Sampras goes to Babolat! (pics incl.)

The Pure One

The Pure One

Rookie
Today I went to the see Agassi Farewell Tour. AA played Pete Sampras and lost 3-6, 6-3, 4-6. Very nice game. Pete service was incredible as always.

To my surprise, Sampras was not playing with his Wilson K Factor KPro Staff 88. He was playing with the Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT or the Babolat Pure Storm Ltd. GT. I really cannot see which one since I was not seated near. When the game ended Sampras made a clear statement about his new racquet: more power! The strings were kind of black. Do not know if he stayed with Lux/VS Gut combo or went full poly with the new RPM Blast. Here are some pics. In a few days I’m going to get some more. Enjoy!



vo5q4i.jpg


11w8rk3.jpg


672uzc.jpg


111neyo.jpg
 
Last edited:
norbac

norbac

Legend
Yeah, I just came back from the match too. It was good fun. Pete's game in general was great and I was especially impressed with his net game, still very good.

Was just about to start a thread on the racket switch, guess I got beat...
 
C

cy1126dragonamul

New User
it kind of looks like his prostaff 88 painted like pure storm....
but I don't see any pws and the frame looks thicker than his previous prostaff....
so my guess is that pete's finally changed his racket....
 
T

TennisandMusic

Guest
Wow, this appears to be an actual switch. I actually think this is awesome. So many of the Wilson diehards swear by the fact that Babolats are cheap crap, then you have one of the best players of all time (who was basically the face of the PS85 by and large) going from a custom-designed-for-him Wilson, to what appears to be a stock (but surely modified) Babolat.

As I always like to say, results matter! Babolats are great racquets.
 
Fee

Fee

Legend
I asked Justin to confirm this (he's sponsored by Babolat and he hits with Pete a lot) and he said 'Yep!'. No details on the model or anything like that.

I wonder if this whole conversation started when Andy, Pete and Justin were all in Atlantic City for that exo in April.
 
PeterFig

PeterFig

Professional
I think from the photo of Sampras and Andre at the net I am able to count a 16x20 string pattern - which assuming he's using a standard mold that would make it the larger 98sq in version of the Pure Strom Tour - not the Ltd (which is a 18x20)
 
T

TennisandMusic

Guest
PeterFig said:
I think from the photo of Sampras and Andre at the net I am able to count a 16x20 string pattern - which assuming he's using a standard mold that would make it the larger 98sq in version of the Pure Strom Tour - not the Ltd (which is a 18x20)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think you're right. Looks like a PSTGT. Also, the paint looks kinda shiny, not matte, which would also indicate this racquet.
 
W

WhiteStripes

Semi-Pro
It's definitely the Tour, not the Limited -- at least in terms of paintjob. You can tell by the color at the bottom hoop of the head. On the regular Storm and the LTD models, the color is black. On the Tour/Tour +, the color is grey.
 
F

forthegame

Hall of Fame
There was a similar thread not too long ago when he used Roddick's racquet during an EXHO.

However, this is a surprise, playing a whole match with a Babolat. How did Wilson let that happen?

Kids may flock to Babolat as this is sort of an endorsement! "Uh-oh" by Wilson, IMHO!
 
baseline_monster

baseline_monster

Professional
Nothing about it says its the LTD version, the string pattern is different and he has no reason to use a PJ. Its a regular storm tour, hopefully he will endorse the brand.
 
jimbo333

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
forthegame said:
There was a similar thread not too long ago when he used Roddick's racquet during an EXHO.

However, this is a surprise, playing a whole match with a Babolat. How did Wilson let that happen?

Kids may flock to Babolat as this is sort of an endorsement! "Uh-oh" by Wilson, IMHO!
Click to expand...

No, the kids won't flock to Babolat, but the 30 year olds might:-?

More interestingly how did Pete and Andre get on?

Any bad jokes or dangerous head serving:)
 
1

1540tennis

Guest
I have to say that I never saw this coming! As a Babolat player I am happy to see this, but it is also oddly unsettling to me as a Sampras fan...
 
ChopShot

ChopShot

Semi-Pro
Clay lover said:
Pete will make a comeback into the ATP and reclaim his GOAT title with a larger head.
Click to expand...

The frightening things is, with the way his serve and overall game still looks, I wouldn't be surprised if he could still be top 100 with some physical conditioning. He'd probably still be a monster on grass and fast HC. I think the Exo he won against Fed in Macau, 2007, said a lot. Given, Fed was playing at 70-80%, but even when Fed plays at 70-80%, he beats up on 95% of the ATP tour.
Hell, if Kimiko Date-Krumm can win tournaments at 40, and Navratilova stayed competitive in top doubles till 50+, Pete might still have at shot at some 250's.
 
D

Dave M

Hall of Fame
Pete's had contact with babolat through his whole career though,he was one of the few who didn't hav to pay for their strings so I suppose it makes a more logical switch then many would imagine.
 
THESEXPISTOL

THESEXPISTOL

Hall of Fame
Pete got a better deal with babolat and decided to switch.
I think that at this stage of his carrer the TW posters care more about what Pete uses than even himself. He isn't playing at professional competition level anymore.
 
Azzurri

Azzurri

Legend
seems as if Pete is more on these boards than we think..he is starting to be a GEARHEAD. Think about it, this is the 4th racquet he has used since he retired. He used the PS 85 from 86(ish) to 2002. Poor Pete, now he is racquet limbo like the rest of us shlubs. Next EXO he will be playing the Prestige Mid.
 
Spin-A-Lot

Spin-A-Lot

Rookie
Azzurri said:
seems as if Pete is more on these boards than we think..he is starting to be a GEARHEAD. Think about it, this is the 4th racquet he has used since he retired. He used the PS 85 from 86(ish) to 2002. Poor Pete, now he is racquet limbo like the rest of us shlubs. Next EXO he will be playing the Prestige Mid.
Click to expand...

Pete with a Prestige...now that I'd love to see :)
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
Great stuff. Surprising he went all the way to a 98 head instead of a PS Ltd or a Dunlop 200 tour.

It's funny, when I got my first Babolat PS Ltd, I felt it was a better, more comfortable version of the Original Pro Staff. I just assumed it would sell like hotcakes to advanced players in their 30s and up (not just me and a handful of others). Now, it will, all of a sudden.

It does look like Pete's using a PS Tour, given the string pattern and the glossy finish (the Limited is more matte, and is more narrow in the upper hoop like a PUMA Becker).

Well, I wonder what's up with the lifetime Wilson deal.
It would be funny to see Pete use an AeroStorm Tour with the Rafa-esque paintjob....carrying a bright yellow bag, whipping that eastern gripped forehand!

Allez/Vamos Pete!
 
A

Ansh_vamos

New User
This is blasphemy and i love every bit of it...i was going through the entire thread and would like to ask the same question " How could Wilson let that happen?"..maybe Wilson is too happy just having Federer..Pete has been an all time favourite and he was the primary reason i started playing with Wilsons.. am glad that he moved to Babolat coz i shifted to Babolat a couple of months back am also sad that He didnot pick the AeroPro series(i use aeropro drive cortex)..but then he is THE Pete Sampras..The man who did it all and its a High 5 for Babolat..


The Pure One said:
Today I went to the see Agassi Farewell Tour. AA played Pete Sampras and lost 3-6, 6-3, 4-6. Very nice game. Pete service was incredible as always.

To my surprise, Sampras was not playing with his Wilson K Factor KPro Staff 88. He was playing with the Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT or the Babolat Pure Storm Ltd. GT. I really cannot see which one since I was not seated near. When the game ended Sampras made a clear statement about his new racquet: more power! The strings were kind of black. Do not know if he stayed with Lux/VS Gut combo or went full poly with the new RPM Blast. Here are some pics. In a few days I’m going to get some more. Enjoy!



vo5q4i.jpg


11w8rk3.jpg
Click to expand...
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
I feel for Wilson...with their whole pseudo-purist Pro Staff - advanced player ethos.

But yeah, high five to Babolat.
I think it would be even funnier if Pete gave away his Nikes and put on a pair of Propulses, LOL.
 
baseline_monster

baseline_monster

Professional
THESEXPISTOL said:
Pete got a better deal with babolat and decided to switch.
I think that at this stage of his carrer the TW posters care more about what Pete uses than even himself. He isn't playing at professional competition level anymore.
Click to expand...

Probably the most accurate view tbh. Everyone on here is just saying he should do this and he should do that. The guy knows better than anyone of us what is best for him. Fair play to the guy.
 
PeterFig

PeterFig

Professional
And all of a sudden you'll see:

- even more K88's going for sale in the TW Classifieds
- a lot of "is this frame still for sale?" responses to PST GT for sale posts

:)
 
T

TennisandMusic

Guest
I really wonder what certain posters on this board think about this. Pete Sampras, all time great, with completely classic strokes playing with a 98" babolat in his 30's.

We have guys older than that here that SWEAR by mid's. Guys who couldn't even tie his shoes (this is what we call a euphemism here) in any aspect of the game, basically saying they NEED a 90 (or less). What now? Not that I criticize people for their choices, I just find certain things funny.
 
grimmbomb21

grimmbomb21

Professional
PeterFig said:
And all of a sudden you'll see:

- even more K88's going for sale in the TW Classifieds
- a lot of "is this frame still for sale?" responses to PST GT for sale posts

:)
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing when I read about this. "My kps88's are getting a little bit demanding for me." Then ask a leading question with the inevitable answer being "Try the x racquet, x racquet, or the Pure Storm Tour." (3 days later) "I tried the PST and it's the best blah blah blah". It's always the same pattern. Maybe it won't be as funny as the "I use a Kblade Tour and was wondering if the Head Speed MP would be a good upgrade", but funny nontheless.:)
 
Gaab

Gaab

Rookie
... and all of a sudden the price of the Bab PST skyrockets to $179. It was around $129 when I ckecked three or four weeks ago.
 
Gaab

Gaab

Rookie
I'm fairly certain it was, but I could be mistaken. I checked the specs and price of the frame (normal and + version) when Giraldo beat Ferrero in Barcelone, iirc.
 
T

TennisandMusic

Guest
Gaab said:
I'm fairly certain it was, but I could be mistaken.
Click to expand...

No, the PSTGT (which is what Sampras is using) has not been marked down to 129 in recent weeks. Perhaps you saw the previous version marked down.
 
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