Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Aero 2023

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

Another exciting playtest opportunity! We have the brand new Babolat Pure Aero 2023 that will be in stock by the end of this month. This playtest is open to USA Talk Tennis members only.

VERY IMPORTANT: Playtesters will be required to get their test racquet strung. Each racquet will be shipped with a set of Babolat Xcel 17 and RPM Blast 17 strings. Please note that we have two grip sizes available - grip size 2 and 3.

Application period is closed. Participants will be notified via email by Monday, August 29th by end of day (apologies for delay!).

We have a very limited quantity of racquets to playtest. We select playtesters based on a number of factors, including message board participation and performance on past playtests.

Your review is due by September 30, 2022 at 5 pm PST.

Posting a full review by the deadline is necessary to remain in good standing for future playtests. Reviews lacking sufficient effort will resort in disqualification from the playtest program.

Include the following in your review:

String and tension used for test:
Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Current racquet/string setups:
How many hours did you play with the racquet?

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
-Serves:
-Volleys:
-Serve returns:

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control-
Top Spin/Slice-
Comfort-
Feel-
Maneuverability-
Stability-

General reaction/comments on overall performance:


Thanks,
TW Staff

We will delete “request sent” emails, but encourage a lively “pre-game” discussion on the racquets.

 

[!<-_->!]

This will probably be the most applied for playtest I imagine.

 

[Matthew Lee]

Most definitely

 

[XFactorer]

Maybe I can do a direct comparison between this and the Osaka EZONE 100 I have on pre-order!

 

[Chairman3]

Definitely think they went in a good direction with the paintjob.
Makes the black and yellow look really plain by comparison

 

[shadow01]

2 needed adjustments - a bit more comfort and a bit more control - on paper looks to be a thoughtful upgrade!

 

[djNEiGht]

The colorway is growing on me

 

[Chairman3]

2 needed adjustments - a bit more comfort and a bit more control - on paper looks to be a thoughtful upgrade!

TW records the average stiffness at 65. Obviously how it feels can be quite different than the RA measurement, but at least it's going the right way

 

[Trip]

As a player of more player/tweener hybrid type frames, the new PA is peaking my curiosity as the test in the power and spin segment, especially now that they've returned back to the Aero Pro Drive string pattern for more control. Most definitely applied!

 

[vasuatgiet]

sent the email...awaiting apprval to test teh racket

 

[TennisHound]

Yeah! Here we go

I appreciate TW allowing us (TT members) on the Playtest. I agree with @Trip about the playability with the tighter string pattern. It shows that Babolat listens to players and tries to make common sense changes.

 

[Yamin]

Would recommend stringing this one lower. Hit one for a day and it could benefit from tension in the 40s

 

[austintennis2005]

Most definitely

TW records the average stiffness at 65. Obviously how it feels can be quite different than the RA measurement, but at least it's going the right way

where would you want it to end up?

 

[A_Instead]

back to school time.. some will get the perfect assignment.
Isn't education grand...!!!!

 

[Chairman3]

where would you want it to end up?

I don't have a specific RA in mind. But lower RA is typically correlated with more arm-friendliness.
Pure Aero isn't supposed to be a flexy, noodle but also shouldn't be an arm breaker.
It's a legitimate challenge for racquet companies. Too much dampening and it's "muted" not enough and it can be harsh. Too flexy and you have no power but too stiff (especially with poly string) and your elbow is toast

 

[Trip]

It's a legitimate challenge for racquet companies. Too much dampening and it's "muted" not enough and it can be harsh. Too flexy and you have no power but too stiff (especially with poly string) and your elbow is toast

Indeed. Racquet makers seem to be homogenizing around a mid-60's RA average, with a linear gradient of dampening (the lower the RA, the less dampening, and vice-versa). Seems logical.

 

[ne1410is]

Excited to see this Babolat with a denser string pattern. Curious to see if it blends the best of both worlds or if it takes away from the iconic spin of Babolat/Pure Aero. Fingers crossed but as mentioned above I think the applications will be through the roof!

 

[austintennis2005]

I don't have a specific RA in mind. But lower RA is typically correlated with more arm-friendliness.
Pure Aero isn't supposed to be a flexy, noodle but also shouldn't be an arm breaker.
It's a legitimate challenge for racquet companies. Too much dampening and it's "muted" not enough and it can be harsh. Too flexy and you have no power but too stiff (especially with poly string) and your elbow is toast

Yea if u want a flexible racquet you shouldn’t be looking at pure aero there’s about a million other racquets that aren’t as stiff

 

[Chairman3]

Yea if u want a flexible racquet you shouldn’t be looking at pure aero there’s about a million other racquets that aren’t as stiff

Don't think I was debating the Pure Aero should be a Prestige, but ok.

I think I was just making a comment to someone else who mentioned comfort.

 

[RafaBabolat]

I’ve been waiting for this thread to show up ahaha so excited!

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Looking forward to this. Looking back I've played several versions of the Babolat Aero Pro Drive, including extended length, and a couple versions of the Pure Aero - so curious to see where this one slots into the mix. Not even sure where to include the Aero Storm fits in !! Anyway new Pure Aero graphics are a bit edgier (catching up with Pure Strike) and like that they've adjusted the stringbed spacing and racquet flex - could be the best one yet ! The colors are string and definitely reminiscent of the great APDs (even the tennisnerd agrees
).

 

[pedrogcr]

I am also very excited to try this racquet! I've hit a few times with an older APD and loved how it plays, but my elbow started hurting a bit and I just wasnt open to trying new strings/tensions then.
Would love to try this new "more comfortable" Pure Aero now that I've been trying softer strings and loving messing with lower tension.

 

[TennisHound]

Edit

 

[A_Instead]

Saw quite a few of the new paint being used at Winston Salem open this week..

Best was
A. Mannarino in his over 3 hour 1st round match..

 

[mad dog1]

Saw quite a few of the new paint being used at Winston Salem open this week..

Best was Marinio in his over 3 hour 1st round match..

mannarino or marino or both?

 

[A_Instead]

Sorry...spell check..

 

[!<-_->!]

Would love to see the reviews from people who used the 2013 extensively. Besides the OG, hands down my favorite version. Copied the Verdasco style of modding with the long strips of lead at 3&9 back in the day, lol.

 

[mhkeuns]

From a brief online review of the new Aero made it sound like the older Aero Pro’s feel was back. I think the 2013 version had the best formula for an Aero, even though some felt it wasn’t stable enough. The next version became more stable and powerful, but it became a bit sluggish and didn’t play as freely as the Aero Pro 2013. The 2019 version was really a nice racket. It will be interesting to actually see the direction that Babolat is taking with the new Aero. I wonder how the string spacing would be compared to the APD 2013.

 

[dgoran]

I use to have APD Orig and 2013 but had a brief stint with every single version. I am very excited to try this one.

 

[TennisHound]

I think the real comparison will be with a Pure Drive.

 

[mad dog1]

I think the real comparison will be with a Pure Drive.

If I get a PA23 in my hands, I’ve got Pure Drives aplenty, the APD13 and Blackout to compare with.

 

[TennisHound]

I would guess and hope that the stiffness rating of 70 is unstrung. If that is the case, it is very similar to the Ezone 100 which is 69-70 unstrung. If the mentioned stiffness of 70 is for a strung racquet, I would not get anywhere close to it………

I may have to get an APD to compare to. I haven’t ever played with one. The ‘18 PD was the reference standard for me. I haven’t found one as good and easy to play with yet. I actually won quite a few matches with the previous PA, but I had to be on the gas all the time. This current PA should allow a little more freedom between relaxed and all-out. We’ll see …

 

[mad dog1]

I may have to get an APD to compare to. I haven’t ever played with one. The ‘18 PD was the reference standard for me. I haven’t found one as good and easy to play with yet. I actually won quite a few matches with the previous PA, but I had to be on the gas all the time. This current PA should allow a little more freedom between relaxed and all-out. We’ll see …

The APD13 is fantastic. Of all the PDs, the PD18 and PD21 are my least favorite. String pattern is too open. My faves are the PD12 and PD09 which have tighter string spacing. The original PD is slightly more open than the PD12, but it’s an excellent one as well.

 

[A_Instead]

At times...we must go backwards to come forward...
This new Pure Aero could be a blast from the past..
Time will tell once its available to the masses..
Can't wait to time travel...

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Getting back to it's AeropProDrive roots?

 

[taydbear7]

Good luck Staff selecting the playtester. I imagine y'all got a ton of applications.

 

[Chairman3]

Good luck Staff selecting the playtester. I imagine y'all got a ton of applications.

I'll bet even Rafa wanted in on this one....
Too bad it's for US members only

 

[Trip]

I'll bet even Rafa wanted in on this one....
Too bad it's for US members only

I can almost guarantee you Rafa was involved in the design and development of this frame (among a bunch of other pro's and rising juniors), and likely played all iterations through to completion (which, according to Olivier Carlier, was three in total -- per his answer at about 9:50 on this TW video interview). So if anything, I bet Rafa has had more than enough time with it, and is most keenly interested in refocusing his energy on maxing out his current APD Original, or whatever the real pro stock equivalent may be that he's actually playing with.

 

[!<-_->!]

I'll bet even Rafa wanted in on this one....
Too bad it's for US members only

But he is in the US currently so technically he could qualify? Lol

 

[XFactorer]

Good luck Staff selecting the playtester. I imagine y'all got a ton of applications.

The new notification date is now Friday (tomorrow). I was holding my breath for a bit, but now I can relax and wait to check my inbox tomorrow!

 

[StringStrungStrang]

A group picture for everyone! My question is, how popular would this racquet line have been IF there was NO RAFA?

 

[!<-_->!]

A group picture for everyone! My question is, how popular would this racquet line have been IF there was NO RAFA?

How are you liking the '23 compared to the VS?

 

[StringStrungStrang]

How are you liking the '23 compared to the VS?

Regrettably not my racquets, I do have an APD 13 and APD + , so wondering how the 23 version will fare.

 

[!<-_->!]

Just watched the "Our Take" vid. Britt mentions NF2 makes it more plush. Hope that doesn't mean super muted.

 

[XFactorer]

Just watched the "Our Take" vid. Britt mentions NF2 makes it more plush. Hope that doesn't mean super muted.

But did she switch away from her ezone 100?? @TW Staff

 

[!<-_->!]

But did she switch away from her ezone 100?? @TW Staff

I think it was just for that particular ad vid and her thoughts as a playtester. But who knows.

 

[XFactorer]

I think it was just for that particular ad vid and her thoughts as a playtester. But who knows.

Agree. There are a lot if similarities between the two… someone should do a comparison.

 

[TW Staff]

But did she switch away from her ezone 100?? @TW Staff

I did not. The Yonex EZONE 100 is still my racquet of choice. If I had to choose between the Babolar Pure Drive and Babolat Pure Aero, I would pick the Pure Drive. It better suits my game.

Brittany, TW

 

[ajspurs]

Yeah I had a play with mine the other day, didn't get to try many different shots as I had a session of just forehands but it definitely had a softer feeling than the 2019 Pure Aero. I'm really intrigued to see how much I prefer it to the 2003 Pure Drive I've been using as I was having a lot of fun with that. On first impressions I'm definitely able to hit out more with the Pure Aero and everything was falling inside the lines. I only really hit long on the odd wild/mishit shots. Felt like there was really good control there though in comparison with the 2019 one and I definitely prefer it for that reason. I remember having to use dull polys strung quite high to get the control I wanted from that. If anything I just need to adjust and get used to controlling the depth with it as although a fair share fell just inside the baseline, a fair share also fell around the service box. That is also very much a personal issue too though. Strung with RPM Blast at 53lbs.

Oh and pictures almost don't do it full justice, the racket looks so good in the hand! The glossy finish also feels really good.

 

[TennisLogic]

The racquet does look better in person, but I disagree about the feel. 2019 feels softer