Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Aero 2023

I wasn’t sure about when the deadline was to sign up for the demo (last weekend/beginning of the week) so I missed out…Luckily I was able to demo one when it came right off the truck about two weeks ago. Eventually the demo string broke some how so I got it restrung with a 17g shaped soft poly at 55lbs which worked wonders. Anyway, here’s my first ever review (not sure if it would be relevant or not) on the frame from the PA ‘23 thread if you haven’t checked it out.

David Le said:
After two weeks (more like a few days in between due to weather) of hitting with the new ‘23 Pure Aero, here’s my review:

Specs-
Strung (demo string) 320g/11.2oz
Unstrung-301g/10.6oz (pretty good QC, close to listed spec)
Swingweight: N/A (forgot to measure)
Balance: N/A (forgot to measure)

Pros: Control from string bed, slightly raw feel, glossy paintjob and most importantly, NO CORTEX
Cons: Lower swingweight, stability, and paintjob

Intro: So a little about myself. Played tennis since I was 5 years old. Started off thbh on both sides (natural lefty but play right) Plays 4.5 league here and there. First adult frame-APDO. Starting off I got the demo right when they just got off the truck to test on August 5th and demoed it till the 19th. At first I wasn’t too sure on how it would play, but given the specs that was listed on here and other places, I was sold to test. I wanted L2 but gotten a L3 instead (my actual grip size but used to L2 as a junior), I pretty much had to go with was given.

How it plays:
Groundstrokes- Controllable spin/power. It took me a while to dial in to hit, but once I got the hang of it; it was pure (pun intended) magic. The tighter stringbed helped a lot as I could flatten out the ball for winner but also hit loopy topspin balls for an angle or DTL when needed for the forehand. In the beginning, my backhand couldn’t click like my forehand. I would hit flat too easily compared to if I wanted to hit topspin. Earlier adjustments could have help but I didn’t realized that till later. One issue I had was stability. The frame could use more weight (more so at 12) It felt whippy cause for the SW being low, but against harder hitters; it wasn’t as solid as I would like. The extra higher SW would do wonders for this frame.

Serves- As you know, serving with any APD or PA from the past is a no brainer. Easy to get spin and power to your serves, flat or kick. Given the tighter string bed, it was much improved for the flat serve department. You wouldn’t worry about the ball sailing long. Kick serves were my jam. I could kick it up in the corner with easw with the control it has. One advantage I would give the ‘16/‘19 PA is producing more spin, especially the kick serve, but the ‘23 PA still doesn’t lack it.

Feel- The feel was great. It has the raw feel you would get from a stiffer frame, but muted when needed. The NF2 tech is there but nothing like the Cortex from the previous gen. Touch volleys and drops were on a dime when executed right. The only knock I had with this frame is it felt kinda stiff when hitting off center, I’m sure it was due to the strings which wasn’t soft..

Overall- I would recommend this frame to anyone who wanted more control from the previous PAs. Any lovers from the old gen APDs would probably like this frame too given the string bed is similar with a lower launch angle. If you are a PAVS user but want more easy power without sacrificing control, definitely add it to your demo list. Last but not least to summarize it in one sentence; if the APDO and PAVS had a baby, it would be the ‘23 PA. Probably going to make the switch
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
StringStrungStrang said:
I admire the commitment to using the PA23 as your main racquet for sometime...I think that's the best way to get a true read on a racquet.
Too many people are speed dating with racquets and never find out what's really there! Fear of commitment?

I will stringing mine up later today and I'm looking at mid 40s (poly )for tension. I like those Yonex sticks too, Ezone and Vcore, incredibly stable from my experience - and they come in extended lengths which a plus for me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's really how I feel like I get the best perspective on what's going on. Go all in. No switching back and forth. Let my game acclimate to the new racquet. Then go back to my standard stick and see what the pros and cons are. And I have VCORE 100... the PA23 is so much softer and more comfortable at impact.
 
Okay, had my first hit with it this morning for about 2 hours. My hitting partner was a solid 4.5 and I'm a lower 4.5.

First Impressions- lower powered and flexible. It was a little unstable up toward the top but not harsh anywhere on the frame. It felt heavier than the weight and came around slower than the previous generation (in my opinion). Granted, I was hitting on a very slow clay (har-tru/ rubico) court, but I had to be on the gas most of the time. Trajectory was straighter and lower than previous gen. It had a big sweet spot and a hot spot that was sublime when you connected. I was more consistent with this racquet than any I've played before. It felt chunky and fat, but I had rallies that went over 15 balls with good pace. I think it would work ideal on a hard court with fast pace.

It felt completely different than my Pure Drive but in a good way. The Pure Drive is light and fast and the ball comes off the stringbed quickly. This one had some dwell time and it didn't fly. It didn't have quite as much spin as the PD or previous gen, but the balls just landed in.
 
Nice first impressions @TennisHound

How was string and tension? You feel like it had an impact on the spin or trajectory?
Since I don't have my racquet yet....I am endlessly thinking of how to string it.
 
Chairman3 said:
Nice first impressions @TennisHound

How was string and tension? You feel like it had an impact on the spin or trajectory?
Since I don't have my racquet yet....I am endlessly thinking of how to string it.
Click to expand...
The string and tension felt about right, however I think a livelier poly would work better, maybe Luxilon ALU Rough. I’ll bet gut would work well in it. The RPM felt a little dead. I’ll play a couple of hard court matches the week and see. Keep in mind, I was very consistent with it, and kind of wore my hitting partner down. He’s used to hitting with another guy who hits harder but their rallies are shorter.
 
It has arrived, all 302g and 294 SW of it

KxfJssK.jpg
 
Had my third hit today and some more positives. Again, really surprised at how good slices feel with this racket, they are just effortless. My first time serving with the racket was horrendous but it was the first time I'd served in a few weeks so I for the most part put it to that, today was different though. Much more solid and consistent, a few aces and had a lot of success in adding just a bit of spin to my first serve to increase the percentage if needed.

To my surprise I'm finding it a good all around racket at the moment. Not once has anything bad or negative happened on the court that I've felt has been any bit down to the racket. I know this can be a bad mindset to have as there's a lot that's to do with me and what I'm capable/incapable of doing, but in the past there may have been something that I'd felt hadn't been helped by any of my previous rackets (Gravity Pro, Blade V8 18 x 20, Pure Aero 2019, 2003 Pure Drive) , whether it be lack of power, too much power, not a great feeling on the backhand, not best to serve with etc. I've found nothing so far with this racket but I am in the early stages of using it so plenty of time for things to creep in really. I need to play different players who demand different things from me on the court to really get the full picture.
 
Ok strung it up ( easy to string) with some Solinco Hyper-G mains @46 and crosses are PP Nano Vendetta @ 48.
Weight w/ strings and vibration dampener @ 315 / 320 with overgrip. Can't wait to get out but excessive heat warnings have kept temps over 100 and still in the 90s throughout the evening. Can't wait to try it out!

pa9.jpg
 
Myself i have had three practices with the new PA (using the 2019 PA as a main) and so far i do like it. Good spin, decent power, really nice feel (better than the old version but not by much) and a lower launch angle but the old PA just give effortless power and depth compared to the new one. I tried 6g lead @ 12 o clock on my second practice but the thing became a rocket launcher. I stringed the new PA lower then my main because i heard that it had less power but a lower tension and added lead made the thing nuclear. I will restring soon and use the same tension as my old racquet and then add some weight because god damn. The new PA is a thing of beauty
 
Skendarn said:
Myself i have had three practices with the new PA (using the 2019 PA as a main) and so far i do like it. Good spin, decent power, really nice feel (better than the old version but not by much) and a lower launch angle but the old PA just give effortless power and depth compared to the new one. I tried 6g lead @ 12 o clock on my second practice but the thing became a rocket launcher. I stringed the new PA lower then my main because i heard that it had less power but a lower tension and added lead made the thing nuclear. I will restring soon and use the same tension as my old racquet and then add some weight because god damn. The new PA is a thing of beauty
Click to expand...

Lower launch angle? Lol im demoing the PA 23 it automatically has the highest launch angle ive ever seen on every forehand
 
Aestheticsaboveallelse said:
Lower launch angle? Lol im demoing the PA 23 it automatically has the highest launch angle ive ever seen on every forehand
Click to expand...

PA 2023 has a higher launch angle compared to the PA 2019?

I've been using the 2019 PA Tour for the past 3 years, but the new one looks tempting with its reportedly better control and lower launch angle, based on most of what I've read online.
 
Skendarn said:
Myself i have had three practices with the new PA (using the 2019 PA as a main) and so far i do like it. Good spin, decent power, really nice feel (better than the old version but not by much) and a lower launch angle but the old PA just give effortless power and depth compared to the new one. I tried 6g lead @ 12 o clock on my second practice but the thing became a rocket launcher. I stringed the new PA lower then my main because i heard that it had less power but a lower tension and added lead made the thing nuclear. I will restring soon and use the same tension as my old racquet and then add some weight because god damn. The new PA is a thing of beauty
Click to expand...
From 0 added weight to 6g at 12? That seems like a crazy amount to add at a location that increases the swingweight the most! Why so much lead right away?
 
gsung said:
PA 2023 has a higher launch angle compared to the PA 2019?

I've been using the 2019 PA Tour for the past 3 years, but the new one looks tempting with its reportedly better control and lower launch angle, based on most of what I've read online.
Click to expand...
Maybe it could be because of the string hybrid they used on it, but yes. Its automatically a high trajectory after hit but in a good way a spin loaded one that drops the ball in the court, with Pure Aero 2019 its vulnerable to just sailing long with a lower trajectory. Very spinny its much more automatic and easier to load the ball with spin with the PA 2023 too, just like Jason at tennis warehouse said they increased the spin on this model I see what he meant. This one is much better control that PA 2019
 
Didn’t make the review but was able to get my hands on a aero. Currently strung up with tier one ghost wire 17g at 50 and also replaced the original grip with a kimony leather and over grip.

Will be playing a match later on in the evening and hopefully it’ll cooldown here in the Bay Area. More to come!
 
Finally got a chance to hit with this beautiful racquet...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS - I LOVE IT !!
Most racquets I try (and I confess I've tried a bunch) don't impress me BUT ... this one is different. Very impressive for my first time out with the Pure Aero 23. Just got back and still trying to find words to describe it or why I liked it so much. Well for starters I think the tension I strung it at was close to spot on for me , poly at 46# mains / 48# crosses. Simple things like grip size was just right, swing weight was in my sweet spot too, not too light and not too heavy (322). I immediately felt pretty comfortable getting around on my shots, ground strokes, serves and overheads. Didn't hit many volleys but the ones I did felt pretty good.

It definitely felt like it had more power and spin than most racquets I've been hitting with lately and it was kind of intoxicating ( is that a tennis term?). It felt solid and had enough plow through to stand in on big shots or serves. It is solid and feels solid, much more so than my Pure Strike 98 16 x19. It did not feel harsh, but it was definitely crisp. If I had to criticize one thing it would be the beam 23/26/23mm is much taller / wider than most racquets I play with and the design is Aero, so no lucky mis-hits for me off the frame!
 
Last edited:
So just came back from real court time not just wall time and it's not as good as I had hoped to be. Feel is 100% improved but in a weird way. It's like not enough pop or not enough comfort. It's like middle of the road. Really disappointing. Serves are usually my weapon and it felt anemic. Felt the loss of pop like when one goes from hard to clay courts. Except I was playing on freaking hard court.
Matter of fact this is perfect analogy the whole time I was playing felt like impossible to hit hard and finish the point just like on clay.

So to sum it up this racquet makes everything play like clay court. If you like that great if not look elsewhere.
 
dgoran said:
So just came back from real court time not just wall time and it's not as good as I had hoped to be. Feel is 100% improved but in a weird way. It's like not enough pop or not enough comfort. It's like middle of the road. Really disappointing. Serves are usually my weapon and it felt anemic. Felt the loss of pop like when one goes from hard to clay courts. Except I was playing on freaking hard court.
Matter of fact this is perfect analogy the whole time I was playing felt like impossible to hit hard and finish the point just like on clay.

So to sum it up this racquet makes everything play like clay court. If you like that great if not look elsewhere.
Click to expand...
The racquet of the clay god turneth everything to clay. Touché
 
Had another session against a better player who hits harder so was wondering how well the racket would hold up, was fantastic... Was really feeling my forehand so hitting the ball with lots of racket head speed and top spin was a dream, very enjoyable. Also, I'm not saying this because the person who endorses this line is known for doing so, but the racket above the head forehand shot (which I only when on the back foot, when running to the side and reaching or when hitting a cross court approach or put away shot) is so comfortable with this racket. It's strange as it's not even a type of shot that I've ever found to feel different from racket to racket. Anyone else play that shot and feel the same?

Have been really impressed by the stability myself. The stability from the Gravity Pro was one of my favourite things about it and I would often use another racket to eventually really miss that from the GPro but I don't feel that at all with this.

Will probably be my final update on it as I think I've tested most of what I've wanted from it but will comment back if anything changes after increased use!
 
Update: First impressions

I know people might be 50/50 when it comes to this racket. But i feel like there are a lot of positives when it comes to the new update. Just like I mentioned earlier, the only mods I have done was changing to a kimony leather grip, and stringing with Ghostwire 17g. I think the combo with the low tension plus the updated feel has been a big improvement from last gens.

Coming from a TF40 First gen, the change with headsize and pattern really stood out. I also brought out my old APD GT to compare, but the only difference is that with the GT it is a 1/2 compared to the 1/4 ive switched down into. The racket to me swung really quick which helped me generate more spin as well as getting power. With this racket I ended up winning a 8.5 combo league match with my partner and he even said the amount of spin and pop im getting was able to set him up a lot easier.

Right now my racket is hovering around 321g strung and with dampener, but I will be looking to add a smidge of weight as I continue using.

Coming from someone who has used a lot of babolats, (aero, pure storm/control, PD, strike) I can say that this new update is one of my favorites.
 
Had a match on clay/ rubico, where I dominated a guy who usually beats me. I won 6-2 6-2. Then I had a match on hard court against a junior kid 15yo (who I beat once 6-3 6-2). However, I barely won the match 3-6 6-3 10-8. I had zero energy and did not feel like playing at all. It was one of those days.
It was a good test today. You can tell a lot about a racquet when you aren’t playing well, and when you have to generate your own power.
 
Nice preliminary updates and observations guys. I received my PA '23 today. Nice looking frame; a little busy on the paint job, but not too bad. All first world problems, as they say. I think I'll be putting T1 Black Knight 16 in it, in the low-mid 50's with a lockout (so roughly equivalent to the upper 40's with an eCP).

@TennisHound - Well done. Was it basically only a frame change? (same strings, relative tension, etc.)
 
Trip said:
Nice preliminary updates and observations guys. I received my PA '23 today. Nice looking frame; a little busy on the paint job, but not too bad. All first world problems, as they say. I think I'll be putting T1 Black Knight 16 in it, in the low-mid 50's with a lockout (so roughly equivalent to the upper 40's with an eCP).

@TennisHound - Well done. Was it basically only a frame change? (same strings, relative tension, etc.)
Click to expand...
Same racquet and strings for the hard and soft court. I was practiced up and felt good for the match on clay. Felt tired and not ready for the hard court match. But I made it through it and gained insight on how the racquet performed on a good and not-so-good day.
 
Last edited:
Finally!!
Hope no one is tired of this yet...
ZYQlhb.jpg


Small detail that I like, not sure why...
HlR8Bg.jpg

Just seems like a good way to put the specs on, maybe it's a pleasing font, maybe it's the angle, I don't know but it looks good.

My racquet was 302g with plastic still on handle, so likely 300g without. I'll weigh again after I take it off. Getting strung tomorrow, came too late today..
 
Racquet finally arrived last night, and I was able to string it up this morning with my orange Lynx Tour 17g at 54#. I don't have a scale or swingweight machine, but based on past experience as well as the racquets I currently have on hand - I would say it's very close to being on-spec - it weighs a little less than my Radical MP, a little more than a Booom MP. Feels lighter to swing than the Radical MP, somewhere close to 320ish sw.

Had an opportunity to do some lower level hitting with it today, and I was really pleased right off the bat. It's just super easy to use and control. Definitely has far more power than my recent racquets, but I didn't find it difficult to control. The launch angle seems pretty comparable to my Radical MP, and the density of the string patterns on the two seems pretty darn close, so that makes sense. It's definitely a bit easier to get spin with the PA rather than the Rad, but not by a ton. Definitely not as much spin and a much lower launch angle than my Extreme Tour.
Interestingly enough, my biggest takeaway from hitting today is that I really love hitting my one-handed backhand with this frame. It didn't take much effort at all to block the ball back when I was hitting at a slower pace with one of my students, but when I was hitting on a ball machine a little later, I was able to rip the ball off that wing and it felt really comfortable. The handful of volleys and serves I hit felt decent (super maneuverable and stable at the net, which is super promising), it'll just take some time to dial in timing on the serve. Didn't hit my slice backhand much, but I should have an opportunity tomorrow to do some higher level hitting and I'll use the slice a bit more there. Looking forward to more hitting!
 
Got mine - 330g 5hl with og, 16g RS Lyon, rubber band.

Impressions after 4 sets today - SOLID.

I think this iteration has gone closer to how Original played, but with much more solid/muted feel. It's less crisp than 2019, more controlled with more heft. Add the gloss paintjob and overall it feels less toy-ish, more like a solid tool in hand.

For me thats great, finally an APD I could actually play without adding any lead....having said that, I will probably add weight at 12, my knees were shot by set 4 trying to pump out the spins ala Rafa. :p


AL9nZEWM7n92qPjO1kuRXXh9Oc4s6lq3jLQJlpSw7RJEUBBK1YvcdIlxOmMXzJvlrldi-_fAsVZO5R1oWkfntzYxWtjxBG-FjSnA1TvBrOHRv2EXDRQi_f7AZB4b-SHABg6RhYbELj6Ksa8nT40mAERhOAieMw=w1449-h1038-no
 
Last edited:
300g on the nose unstrung, forgot to check balance.
319g strung with 16g synthetic gut (at 52lbs) and overgrip
Don't have a balance board so used table and tape measure. Seems to be right at or just under 33cm strung, so dead on spec.
Nice QC Babolat (y)
Rained all day here, so no hitting...but here's a picture for your viewing pleasure
5zRgum.jpg

It matches my new shoes, so this may be a keeper....:unsure:
 
Anton said:
Got mine - 330g 5hl with og, 16g RS Lyon, rubber band.

Impressions after 4 sets today - SOLID.

I think this iteration has gone closer to how Original played, but with much more solid/muted feel. It's less crisp than 2019, more controlled with more heft. Add the gloss paintjob and overall it feels less toy-ish, more like a solid tool in hand.

For me thats great, finally an APD I could actually play without adding any lead....having said that, I will probably add weight at 12, my knees were shot by set 4 trying to pump out the spins ala Rafa. :p
Click to expand...

Played 4 more sets today with 2g at 12 (332g tot) - D A A M - a total beast of a frame.

Sometimes a free lunch like this happens, you add weight to the tip and instead of getting heavier swinging you get swifter action through the stroke.

With more carry on the tip I just want to lasso this thing 24/7, sooo easy. The *POP* of the impacts are thundering and there is tons of action on the ball to show for it.

With extra oomph on tap I shortened my take back and moved further back on the return to make sure I'm not sailing balls.

Serves have gotten vicious - just auto-serving bombs. Both of my opponets had difficulty returning.


Don't want to gush, but this is promissing, very promissing.
 
Last edited:
Anton said:
Played 4 more sets today with 2g at 12 (332g tot) - D A A M - a total beast of a frame.

Sometimes a free lunch like this happens, you add weight to the tip and instead of getting heavier swinging you get swifter action through the stroke.

With more carry on the tip I just want to lasso this thing 24/7, sooo easy. The *POP* of the impacts are thundering and there is tons of action on the ball to show for it.

With extra oomph on tap I shortened my take back and moved further back on the return to make sure I'm not sailing balls.

Serves have gotten vicious - just auto-serving bombs. Both of my opponets had difficulty returning.


Don't want to gush, but this is promissing, very promissing.
Click to expand...
What strings do you use? Edit, u use RS Lyon.

Want to try Luxilon ALU power or ALU power rough.

I added 2 grams at 12 as well.
Babolat VS overgrip and it’s almost perfect.

Strung with RPM blast 25/24KG.

Missing still a little penetration on court tough..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse: Babolat Pure Aero 98
4 5 6
Replies
275
Views
25K
CroPlayer
C
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022
7 8 9
Replies
401
Views
22K
ClaudTT
ClaudTT
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Drive 2025
10 11 12
Replies
596
Views
34K
Chairman3
C
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Drive 2021
7 8 9
Replies
401
Views
36K
BBender716
B
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Strike 2024 (98 16x19 and 100 16x20)
7 8 9
Replies
445
Views
42K
Cowboy
C
Back
Top