Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Aero VS 2020

joah310 said:
I have not tried hyper g, but considering how everyone uses it, maybe I should try it.
Click to expand...

I love Hyper G with frames on the stiffer side. The slightly muted nature of the string seems to tone down some of the “brassiness” some stiffer drakes exhibit. I string the 16g at 42lbs in my APD’s.

I also like Tier One Black Knight for similar reasons, although I think BK is a pinch softer, though maybe doesn’t offer as much bite.
 
am1899 said:
I love Hyper G with frames on the stiffer side. The slightly muted nature of the string seems to tone down some of the “brassiness” some stiffer drakes exhibit. I string the 16g at 42lbs in my APD’s.

I also like Tier One Black Knight for similar reasons, although I think BK is a pinch softer, though maybe doesn’t offer as much bite.
Click to expand...
I liked Black knight. it was a softer feeling poly that felt good for everything. I didn't get much time with it, as I strung it up in a prince CTS synergy 32, and man is that racquet just full of power. But if Hyper G is similar to black knight, I guess I could try it, but if I'm not mistaken, black knight is cheaper?
 
joah310 said:
I liked Black knight. it was a softer feeling poly that felt good for everything. I didn't get much time with it, as I strung it up in a prince CTS synergy 32, and man is that racquet just full of power. But if Hyper G is similar to black knight, I guess I could try it, but if I'm not mistaken, black knight is cheaper?
Click to expand...

Indeed, BK is cheaper - especially if you grab it during one of their sales. I’d probably use it instead of Hyper G, but I’ve gotten a fair bit of Hyper G at reduced or no cost as part of one of my jobs.
 
am1899 said:
Indeed, BK is cheaper - especially if you grab it during one of their sales. I’d probably use it instead of Hyper G, but I’ve gotten a fair bit of Hyper G at reduced or no cost as part of one of my jobs.
Click to expand...
Lucky....
 
Doesn't look like I got picked, but will continue reading as this seems like a good racket and I am interested in its reviews. have fun guys!
 
mad dog1 said:
Haven’t observed any of this at all. Wonder if we talking about the same frame?

have found a gram or 2 of lead at the top of the hoop makes the frame very stable.

perhaps you have a counterfeit?
Click to expand...

I'll try that in coming weeks. Already planning on adding a leather grip. I think this frame is primed for adding some weight.
 
My prediction is that playtesters will be split into two camps:

1) it's great because it's a smaller PA/APD
2) it's awful because it's a smaller PA/APD

Anyone experience stability issues should definitely add a gram or two somewhere between 10 and 2 before reaching a conclusion...although if it's awful because it is a smaller PA/APD, the added weight wont make it play less like one.
 
Attention playtesters!

Congrats to those who were selected! This was a very popular playtest and we were excited to see so many willing participants. Those who were selected please respond back to the email if you haven't done so already. For those who were not selected, fear not. We already have two shoes and two more racquet playtests lined up in the 6-8 weeks so there will be plenty of opportunities to playtest. Look for the next shoe playtest in about 2 weeks!

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 
Selected, thanks TW and Babolat! I had the previous generations pure aero and loved hitting with it but it was a bit too powerful for me to play matches with. Definitely looking forward to this one
 
Fortunate to be selected. Will hit with it per the instructions unmodified for 10 hours then add a Fairway and extend it to 27.5 inches like my Pure Aero+ frames.

"You can use it or use your own string and tension of choice. Additionally, please hit with the racquet in stock form. You can do customizations but your review should include both comments in stock and customized form."
 
samprasbackhand said:
Selected, thanks TW and Babolat! I had the previous generations pure aero and loved hitting with it but it was a bit too powerful for me to play matches with. Definitely looking forward to this one
Click to expand...
I didn’t like the original pure aero at all because it was too powerful and stiff. I love this new VS. Much improved control and comfort.
 
I didn’t get in, but my friend did, so I can use his & give my own review! Looking forward to hitting with it. Specs are reminiscent of the Pure Control of years ago (albeit a little lighter...which a leather can fix in a heartbeat).
 
sanister said:
Will be joining other playtesters.Got my email earlier too.Thank you @TW Staff for the opportunity.Will give mine a fair shake and give detailed feedback to fellow posters to show a 50 something can play with Babolats too not just youngsters :)
Click to expand...

I'm in so how about an almost-60 year old? Am I the oldest?

Thanks so much to Tennis Warehouse for these fantastic playtest opportunities.
 
sanister said:
You've got me beat by a handful of years so seems you might be the oldest in the playtest indeed.And we're not even going to touch on how you hit the ball so much harder & heavier than I do too :X3:
Click to expand...

Yay for the old guy!

I dunno about the harder and heavier bit. The hard hit balls usually leave the court on the fly, never to be seen again, and the heavy balls are because they've just rolled through a puddle and are wet...

What string are playtesters going to use? I was on the RPM Power playtest and did not like that string because of the low launch angle and lack of bite on the ball. If I remember correctly, the coating wore through after one 90 minute hit and the string lost even more launch angle and spin capability. Although I guess that might have been partly due to the denser string pattern on my SW104. I'm thinking that because the RPM Power is being provided, I should start out with it before going to my normal string. Thoughts?
 
Injured Again said:
Yay for the old guy!

I dunno about the harder and heavier bit. The hard hit balls usually leave the court on the fly, never to be seen again, and the heavy balls are because they've just rolled through a puddle and are wet...

What string are playtesters going to use? I was on the RPM Power playtest and did not like that string because of the low launch angle and lack of bite on the ball. If I remember correctly, the coating wore through after one 90 minute hit and the string lost even more launch angle and spin capability. Although I guess that might have been partly due to the denser string pattern on my SW104. I'm thinking that because the RPM Power is being provided, I should start out with it before going to my normal string. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I was thinking about using some Hyper G since I have reels of that stuff sitting & I know playtesters liked that in this frame too. But in the low 50s like TW playtesters maybe is a bit high for me given that its also a 16x20.Maybe 45 lbs?I might try the RPM Power too but don't have much experience with it so wanted to try a familiar string first.
 
sanister said:
I was thinking about using some Hyper G since I have reels of that stuff sitting & I know playtesters liked that in this frame too. But in the low 50s like TW playtesters maybe is a bit high for me given that its also a 16x20.Maybe 45 lbs?I might try the RPM Power too but don't have much experience with it so wanted to try a familiar string first.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think I’m gonna start with Hyper G 16 @ 42lbs - like I’m stringing my APD’s now. I also have some Tier 1 BK laying around too, so that might be second in line.
 
Last edited:
I prefer a round poly in the PA VS. The pattern is pretty open and very spin friendly. a shaped or structured string was gripping the ball too much for me.
 
sanister said:
I was thinking about using some Hyper G since I have reels of that stuff sitting & I know playtesters liked that in this frame too. But in the low 50s like TW playtesters maybe is a bit high for me given that its also a 16x20.Maybe 45 lbs?I might try the RPM Power too but don't have much experience with it so wanted to try a familiar string first.
Click to expand...
am1899 said:
I agree. I think I’m gonna start with Hyper G 16 @ 42lbs - like I’m stringing my APD’s now. I also have some Tier 1 BK laying around too, so that might be second in line.
Click to expand...
Great! That will be at least 3 testers using Hyper-G as I'm going to be using the Hyper-G 17 myself too. It is my go-to string and I want to keep variables at minimum. I will try and hit with other sets afterwards as well and report findings here.
 
am1899 said:
I agree. I think I’m gonna start with Hyper G 16 @ 42lbs - like I’m stringing my APD’s now. I also have some Tier 1 BK laying around too, so that might be second in line.
Click to expand...
Good to see someone who strings in low 40s,I find most people like to string 50 lbs & above but for me,I can start feeling my arm complaining if tension is a bit too north of 50 lbs.How does Hyper G usually play at 42 lbs in your APD? Which version of APD do you use btw?And yeah, BK is a very good string no doubt.Will be curious to see how it plays!
 
sanister said:
Good to see someone who strings in low 40s,I find most people like to string 50 lbs & above but for me,I can start feeling my arm complaining if tension is a bit too north of 50 lbs.How does Hyper G usually play at 42 lbs in your APD? Which version of APD do you use btw?And yeah, BK is a very good string no doubt.Will be curious to see how it plays!
Click to expand...
I played the apd with full poly at 42/37. Worked very well for me. :)
 
sanister said:
Good to see someone who strings in low 40s,I find most people like to string 50 lbs & above but for me,I can start feeling my arm complaining if tension is a bit too north of 50 lbs.How does Hyper G usually play at 42 lbs in your APD? Which version of APD do you use btw?And yeah, BK is a very good string no doubt.Will be curious to see how it plays!
Click to expand...

I’m in the same boat - soon as the tension goes north of 50 (with poly) my arm starts objecting. I noticed that I can play with the bigger gauges strung lower, and it has several benefits - better control, holds tension longer, and feels softer on the arm due to the lower tension.

I play the 2013 APD GT.

The BK I have is 18g, which I’ll obviously have to string much higher - closer to 50 probably. So should make for an interesting contrast.
 
am1899 said:
I’m in the same boat - soon as the tension goes north of 50 (with poly) my arm starts objecting. I noticed that I can play with the bigger gauges strung lower, and it has several benefits - better control, holds tension longer, and feels softer on the arm due to the lower tension.

I play the 2013 APD GT.

The BK I have is 18g, which I’ll obviously have to string much higher - closer to 50 probably. So should make for an interesting contrast.
Click to expand...
How long does 18g last for you? I find it goes dead or breaks too quickly. For 16/19 racquets, I prefer to use a 1.30 poly main with a 1.25 poly cross.
 
mad dog1 said:
I played the apd with full poly at 42/37. Worked very well for me. :)
Click to expand...
I haven't tried going that low but sounds like it would work!I have the 2013 APD and l have gone is maybe 45lbs.I do have eastern grip and not very extreme grips so hope that low tension doesn't make ball fly on me.
 
am1899 said:
I’m in the same boat - soon as the tension goes north of 50 (with poly) my arm starts objecting. I noticed that I can play with the bigger gauges strung lower, and it has several benefits - better control, holds tension longer, and feels softer on the arm due to the lower tension.

I play the 2013 APD GT.

The BK I have is 18g, which I’ll obviously have to string much higher - closer to 50 probably. So should make for an interesting contrast.
Click to expand...
I have the 2013 APD also.Definitely makes sense what you said about benefits of thicker gauges.I look fwd to reading your impressions abt BK!
 
sanister said:
I haven't tried going that low but sounds like it would work!I have the 2013 APD and l have gone is maybe 45lbs.I do have eastern grip and not very extreme grips so hope that low tension doesn't make ball fly on me.
Click to expand...
I have the 2013 apd, too. I find that with STIFF rackets like the apd and 2012 pure drive, when strung in the high 40s, there was no pocketing because both the stringbed and frame are stiff. Ball comes off the strings too quickly. By lowering the tension, the strings create the pocketing sensation that i like and poly being so inelastic, the ball doesn’t fly.
 
Also in on the play test. Was thinking of hyper g as well but since so many others are using it I’ll probably try something else.

I think PTP would be a good fit also. Thoughts?
 
swfh said:
Also in on the play test. Was thinking of hyper g as well but since so many others are using it I’ll probably try something else.

I think PTP would be a good fit also. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I was just in the PTP playtest and really liked the string. I think it's a good fit for a stiffer racquet.

I'm going to try my go-to Silver 7 Tour in this frame. I used it when I had an extended demo of both the 16x19 and 18x20 v7 Blade 98's, and I have it in a v3 Pure Strike 100 as well. I can also try Cyclone 1.25. Should be very spin capable with either of these.
 
Injured Again said:
I was just in the PTP playtest and really liked the string. I think it's a good fit for a stiffer racquet.

I'm going to try my go-to Silver 7 Tour in this frame. I used it when I had an extended demo of both the 16x19 and 18x20 v7 Blade 98's, and I have it in a v3 Pure Strike 100 as well. I can also try Cyclone 1.25. Should be very spin capable with either of these.
Click to expand...

Oooo I have a set of that too. Decisions decisions....
 
Injured Again said:
I was just in the PTP playtest and really liked the string. I think it's a good fit for a stiffer racquet.

I'm going to try my go-to Silver 7 Tour in this frame. I used it when I had an extended demo of both the 16x19 and 18x20 v7 Blade 98's, and I have it in a v3 Pure Strike 100 as well. I can also try Cyclone 1.25. Should be very spin capable with either of these.
Click to expand...
am1899 said:
Oooo I have a set of that too. Decisions decisions....
Click to expand...
If you have the proper technique to generate topspin, I recommend going with a round poly first. I found diadem solstice pro 1.35 to grip the ball too much. The wide grommet holes and open string spacing already promote serious spin potential.
 
Last edited:
I was fortunate to be in both the Pure Drive VS and v3 Pure Strike playtests, so my plan is to revert all of those racquets back to stock and string them all up with Silver 7 Tour at roughly the same tension so the individual racquet characteristics could come through.

The only round poly I have in sufficient length for all three racquets is Isospeed Baseline Spin, which is a decided low-end string and probably not going to be that great in any of those racquets. The Baseline Spin is, however, great in vintage racquets.
 
Injured Again said:
I was fortunate to be in both the Pure Drive VS and v3 Pure Strike playtests, so my plan is to revert all of those racquets back to stock and string them all up with Silver 7 Tour at roughly the same tension so the individual racquet characteristics could come through.

The only round poly I have in sufficient length for all three racquets is Isospeed Baseline Spin, which is a decided low-end string and probably not going to be that great in any of those racquets. The Baseline Spin is, however, great in vintage racquets.
Click to expand...
Silver 7 might be fine cuz it’s not too grabby a string like TB or hyper G.
 
mad dog1 said:
If you have the proper technique to generate topspin, I recommend going with a round poly first. I found diadem solstice pro 1.35 to grip the ball too much. The wide grommet holes and open string spacing already promote serious spin potential.
Click to expand...

Been using Volkl Cyclone Tour 1.30mm for eight years, three years in a PA+.

Although I have several reels of smooth polys (Alu Power, Yonex Poly Pro Tour, Wilson Revolve, Head Hawk and Hawk Touch all in 1.25mm) VCT 1.30mm is my string of choice even in Pure Aero. Have a 4.5 buddy who uses the same string at 58M/54X in APD. Both spin friendly frames.

My thought is using the string I use daily in a frame would give me a better assessment of the frame as a direct comparison to my daily frame and string combo. I want to play test the frame as opposed to a new string. My .02
 
g4driver said:
Been using Volkl Cyclone Tour 1.30mm for eight years, three years in a PA+.

Although I have several reels of smooth polys (Alu Power, Yonex Poly Pro Tour, Wilson Revolve, Head Hawk and Hawk Touch all in 1.25mm) VCT 1.30mm is my string of choice even in Pure Aero. Have a 4.5 buddy who uses the same string at 58M/54X in APD. Both spin friendly frames.

My thought is using the string I use daily in a frame would give me a better assessment of the frame as a direct comparison to my daily frame and string combo. I want to play test the frame as opposed to a new string. My .02
Click to expand...
I’m not a fan of VCT but I really like cyclone 1.30 and 1.25. Very predictable. Having tried VCT before, I didn’t find it to grip the ball the same way TB or Hyper G does. VCT doesn’t have the same sharp edges that bite the ball like the square or triangular string does. TB and Hyper G tear the felt off the ball. Cyclone and VCT don’t do it as bad.
 
mad dog1 said:
I’m not a fan of VCT but I really like cyclone 1.30 and 1.25. Very predictable. Having tried VCT before, I didn’t find it to grip the ball the same way TB or Hyper G does. VCT doesn’t have the same sharp edges that bite the ball like the square or triangular string does. TB and Hyper G tear the felt off the ball. Cyclone and VCT don’t do it as bad.
Click to expand...

The beauty of having choices. [emoji4] I have reels of Hyoer G and have strung many reels of it and Tour Bite. No clients currently use Tour Bite so I stopped buying it.

You can hit spin with syn gut with a Pure Aero. [emoji23] VCT is soft enough not to hurt and more durable than multis.

VCT is the string of choice for many of the 4.5 / 5.0 guys I string for and they picked VCT over Hyoer G and ALU Power in the blind playtest (they give me three frames snd they get three setups they know nothing about). They pick which string they like best knowing nothing about cost, name of string or who else used it. Had over a dozen players pick VCT 1.30 and five of them were later bumped to 5.0 using it.

Choices are a great thing to have
 
g4driver said:
The beauty of having choices. [emoji4] I have reels of Hyoer G and have strung many reels of it and Tour Bite. No clients currently use Tour Bite so I stopped buying it.

You can hit spin with syn gut with a Pure Aero. [emoji23] VCT is soft enough not to hurt and more durable than multis.

VCT is the string of choice for many of the 4.5 / 5.0 guys I string for and they picked VCT over Hyoer G and ALU Power in the blind playtest (they give me three frames snd they get three setups they know nothing about). They pick which string they like best knowing nothing about cost, name of string or who else used it. Had over a dozen players pick VCT 1.30 and later get bumped to 5.0 using it.

Choices are a great thing to have
Click to expand...
I tried VCT 1.25. Is 1.30 a lot different (better)?
 
mad dog1 said:
I tried VCT 1.25. Is 1.30 a lot different (better)?
Click to expand...

Yes. 1.25mm VCT Is so bad I threw a mostly new reel of it in the garbage after a good buddy bought it when I told him to only buy 1..30mm

He was complaining about the strings moving and tension loss and I told him he bought 1.25mm not 1.30mm

Told him it is worthless to me as a stringer. He gave me the reel anyway. I tossed it in the garbage in front of him to prove my point. That I will not buy it or string it in any frame. It is that bad.

VCT 1.30mm is a complete different string. And yes he left the reel in trash and we are still friends and he uses VCT 1.30mm [emoji28]
 
g4driver said:
Yes. 1.25mm VCT Is so bad I threw a mostly new reel of it in the garbage after a good buddy bought it when I told him to only buy 1..30mm

He was complaining about the strings moving and tension loss and I told him he bought 1.25mm not 1.30mm

Told him it is worthless to me as a stringer. He gave me the reel anyway. I tossed it in the garbage in front of him to prove my point. That I will not buy it or string it in any frame. It is that bad.

VCT 1.30mm is a complete different string. And yes he left the reel in trash and we are still friends and he uses VCT 1.30mm [emoji28]
Click to expand...
Thanks. Will need to try VCT 1.30. I actually have a few sets that I haven’t used because my experience with 1.25 was so awful. Assumed 1.30 was just more of the same. Lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Aero 2023
12 13 14
Replies
690
Views
48K
Deleted member 798581
D
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
23K
ClaudTT
ClaudTT
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Drive 2021
7 8 9
Replies
401
Views
37K
BBender716
B
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse: Babolat Pure Drive VS Playtest
2 3
Replies
111
Views
11K
A_Instead
A_Instead
Back
Top