Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Aero

[cknobman]

Ok its review time!
I have been looking forward to writing this review for a while now but wanted to wait and make sure I gave the play-test as much time as possible and use as many string combinations as possible.

Tennis experience/background:
I am currently 36 and an active USTA member since 2006. My current rating is 4.5. I started as a 3.0 in 2006 with a little prior experience from a few lessons and 1 semester of high school tennis. I play USTA leagues and tournaments along with taking the occasional private lesson and group drills.

Describe your playing style (e.g., serve & volley):
I am a primarily a baseliner who will attack the net when the opportunity arises. I have a one handed backhand and a semi-western grip for the forehand. I hit a big serve, forehand, and overhead. My volleys are not the strongest but get the job done. My backhand is consistent but not strong enough to consider an attacking shot. I rely a lot on my speed and reflexes to get short and angled balls opponents consider winners.

Current racquet/string: (since this playtest the Babolat Pure Aero has become my current racquet)
Wilson Pro Staff 95 4 1/4 grip - lead weight added @10&2, 1 overgrip, and a vibration dampener to give the racquet a static weight of 12oz.
String - Mains: Prince Synthetic Gut 16 strung @60lbs, Crosses: ISOSpeed Baseline Control 17 strung @55lbs

String set-up in test racquet:
I played with 3 string setups while play-testing this racquet.
Babolat RPM Blast 17 strung @50lbs
Luxilon Element (16L, 1.25) strung @50lbs
Babolat M7 strung @60lbs

How many hours did you play with the racquet?
Over 20 and still counting

Comments on racquet performance:
One thing you will find prevalent in each section below is SPIN, POWER, and COMFORT. This racquet excelled in these three areas.
I also found that for the first time ever in a racquet I could play with a full bed of poly without encountering any arm or shoulder pain. In fact I felt the M7 syn gut under performed compared to its poly counterparts. Due to the open string pattern I was only able to play 1 doubles match with the M7 before it broke.
-groundstrokes: 9/10
Groundstrokes seemed to require so much less effort compared to my Wilson. Power was easy and spin created excellent dive on the ball. I did not have to swing hard with this racquet to hit a powerful shot and instead focused on a quick swing speed to generate spin. The grommets, head size, and frame thickness created the power for me. It was a completely night and day experience from my thin beamed Wilson Pro Staff 95 where it takes effort to hit a powerful shot.
forehand - I could go big, really big, with my shots and keep the ball in play. Balls would dive and hit deep in the court close to the baseline. In singles I found success hitting angled spin shots that would push my opponents farther and farther off court. In doubles I found it easy to hit low dipping shots forcing attacking net opponents to often volley up.
backhand - I get a huge improvement on my one handed backhand with this frame. The thicker beam is what I believe helps me the most. Increased stability and great plow through allows me to hit a more commanding backhand than I am used to. With the larger head size the frame was more forgiving if I did not hit dead center and it felt like the sweet-spot was huge. My backhand slice did tend to float a tad more than it did with my Wilson where it felt like I could carve out a really low slicing shot.
-serves: 7/10
Comfort was huge on serves with this frame. With such a huge sweet-spot I never felt any jarring on off center hits. The power was great allowing me to put less effort into trying to hit big and more effort into putting action on the ball. The open pattern allowed me to hit a serve that was very active whether I sliced or kicked the ball, either option was easy to execute. There is a negative here though and I am currently working on adjusting to it. The frame has so much easy power that I have some trouble controlling my hard flat first serve. With the Wilson I can crush a hard flat first serve much more reliably.
-volleys: 9/10
Again comfy, comfy, comfy. Volleys just feel so plush with this racquet. I am sure much of this has to do with the extra square inches vs my regular frame but I found myself with far fewer mishits than normal. On hard shots from opponents I felt like there was less torquing of the racquet in my hand. I am not a natural net player and it is typically my least favorite place to be. With this racquet my willingness to be at net has increased. I feel more confident I will make solid contact with the ball.
-serve returns: 9/10
Absolutely amazing with this frame. Might sound like a broken record but the spin and comfort this frame gives me allows me to be more aggressive and confident on my returns. I swing out more freely with my forehand knowing that the ball will drop in and not sail long. On my backhand I normally get overpowered by big servers and have real trouble getting big serves back in play. With this frame and its huge sweet-spot I am having far fewer issues. My backhand is more stable and able to return these big serves more often. I am still working on trying to get my backhand slice return low like with my Wilson frame but right now if I had to pick I take the Babolat for the increased stability on hard serves when I am trying to come over the top of the ball.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: 9/10
First I will start by saying that historically I have not been a Babolat racquet fan. The Pure Drives felt like boards, I could never serve with the AeroPro Drive, never warmed up to the Pure Control line.
This frame has changed everything for me.
It is super comfortable, easy to swing, and offers easy power.

This frame, in my opinion, is designed to be strung and played with a polyester string. Its very odd for me to say this as I have historically had tons of arm issues when using full bed of polyester in this string. That is a testament to just how comfortable this frame is though. I used two full sets of polyester back to back without the slightest of arm/shoulder issues.
I found that with the M7 synthetic gut power was too high, spin suffered, and most importantly they break very very quickly.

The grommet system allows for a lot of string movement and the spacing of the strings is very open. I directly compared this with my teammates AeroPro Drive and even though they have identical head size and string patterns, the spacing on the Pure Aero was significantly bigger than the AeroPro.

This racquet will benefit anyone looking for easy power or players who like to hit with a lot of spin.
I found myself able to play longer without experiencing the arm fatigue I would on my Wilson Pro Staff 95.

Actually I like this frame so much I have switched to it full time and am looking to buy another.

Thank you Babolat and Tennis Warehouse for letting me participate in this play-test!

 

[djNEiGht]

@topspinlob - yes your back hand does seem like your stronger side.

I like a more headlight balance especially at the net. On the base line it was fine as well as my 1 hand bh.

 

[Korso]

What do you one-handed backhand players think of this racquet?

Love it. Nice stable shots. My offensive slice is nasty. Flat and topspin pretty good too, but the slice is very satisfying.

 

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Playtesters:

Your reviews for the Babolat Pure Aero are due by this Friday, September 25th. Failure to do so or a clear lack of effort will result in exclusion from future playtests. Hope everyone enjoyed the playtest! Look for more playtests coming up!

Thank you,
TW Staff

 

[Power Player]

Attention Talk Tennis Playtesters:

Your reviews for the Babolat Pure Aero are due by this Friday, September 25th. Failure to do so or a clear lack of effort will result in exclusion from future playtests. Hope everyone enjoyed the playtest! Look for more playtests coming up!

Thank you,
TW Staff

Pure Aero Tour please. I hope I can get on that one.

 

[JonnyAbs]

I have posted at least a dozen times in this thread on how the racquet played during this playtest, but my formal review is below.

Tennis experience/background: Started playing tennis at age 7 and played only during summers until high school, where I played spring and summers. Played division 3 tennis in college so I played during most of the year then. Taught some tennis during high school and college. After graduating college in 03, stopped playing until 2010, but have been playing seasonally since then. Currently a 4.5 USTA player.

Describe your playing style (e.g., serve & volley): Primarily a baseliner, but I come to the net on short balls. I mostly play singles, so volleys are not my strong point, but I have a decent overhead. I don't have the strongest serves, but they aren't weak either. I hit a flat first serve and a topspin second. I have a full western forehand and a two handed backhand. My forehand is definitely my stronger shot, and I try to hit a greater percentage of them by running around my backhand when it is practical.

Current racquet/string: I played the full 2014 season at 4.0 with a 2013 APD stringing with volkyl cyclone 16. Went undefeated until sectionals and was since bumped to 4.5 and started looking for a racquet with less of a loopy shot and more of a flatter trajectory. Played first half of 2015 season with blade 98, but didnt love it and finished the season with a variety of different racquets while demoing. Since I received this demo, I have been playing solely with it.

String set-up in test racquet: Used factory spiraltek until it snapped after 8-9 hours of court time. Then strung it with technifibre black code 18 at 55lbs in mains and cheap nylon crosses at 60lbs and used that setup for about 3 hours. This is still in the racquet.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 12 hours.

Comments on racquet performance: I love this racquet. I used the previous iteration but was looking for something with more plow through that could hit a faster ball while still maintaining that nasty topspin which suits my western forehand. Basically, I wanted a mix between the 2013 APD and the PDR, and I got it in the Pure Aero.

-groundstrokes: I get great topspin, depth and power with this racquet. I am able to control my forehands with spin to keep them inside the lines, and I still get some nice pop on my backhand. For me, a good test of a powerful racquet is one where I can hit a strong running forehand cross court, and I was able to do this with the Pure Aero.

-serves: This is a great racquet for serves. I was able to hit a high percentage of first serves with nice pace. This is just a guess because I don't have the means to clock my serves from a mph standpoint, but I think that I can hit them as fast as any other racquet I have tried, and I have likely demoed as many as 50 in the past 5 years.

Second serves were also great. For me, the the biggest necessities of a second serve are a lot of topspin and the ability to hit it confidently without fear of missing; and I had both of them in spades with this racquet. The first time I used it, I might have only had one double fault in two sets, and if I did in fact have one, it was in the first service game. That is huge to me.

-volleys: Although not my forte, I was able to hit good volleys with the PA, and even some nice drop volleys. Standard volleys have good depth, and although the racquet has a swingweight of 327, it does not feel sluggish. My 2015 Blade 98, on the other hand, has an identical swingweight, and with that I struggled with reflex volleys and other shots requiring a quick reaction. Not so with the PA.

-serve returns: Although beefier than the 2013 APD, I didn't have trouble getting this racquet around on tough serves. You can play great D with this stick, and I was able to crack some return winners on serves that landed right in my wheelhouse.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I will be using this for the foreseeable future as my racquet of choice. It fits my game well, and honestly, a very high percentage of players could use this stick. I did much better with the Spiraltek strings that came from the factory than I did with the hybrid that I strung myself. This is likely because it was the first racquet that I have strung in over 12 years, and honestly, this stick screams for a full bed of poly for added bite and control. This racquet is more powerful than the last iteration, as I have mentioned, so the poly helps to keep the shots in the court. The nylon that I currently have in the Pure Aero is old and cheap, and I did not have a whole lot of success with this setup in my match yesterday, but as I alluded to above, I am looking forward to playing with a full bed of poly because I know that will give me a lot more spin and control than this string. Regardless, give this racquet a try if it is within your spec range. I think you will like it!

 

[Fed Kennedy]

SHOUT OUT TO BABOLAT for understanding real tennis players and doing awesome playtests like this!!!


My review:


Tennis experience/background:

35+ years old self-taught ex-competitive athlete, started playing about 8 years ago. Play 3-4 times a week. I am a hacker/racaholic/tennis junkie. My sock tan is a part of my soul at this point and my house and car reek of discarded Vapors, tourna tac and clif bar fragments.


Playing style:

Typical middle-aged Federer wannabe. Righty, good serve, 1 hand backhand. My left arm is withered in full Fed tribute. I play 4.5 and gravitate towards doubles. Not a grinder, I like to try and end points off the serve and forehand. Slice most BHs but can hit the reverse blob pretzel winner.


Current racquet string:

Volkl V1 Classic customized to 12 oz. Tour Bite 16L @ 50#

Vcore 89 stashed in the bag in case of emergency.


String set-up in test racquet:

Tour Bite 16L @50#


How many hours did you play with the racquet?

20+


Comments on racquet performance:


Groundstrokes: 8/10

Pure Aero gives off a ton of spin as advertised. Topspin shots had that little extra dive to them. My balls were deep and arcing. The real standout shot was the slice. I was drawing so many errors off sliced balls, it seemed the more out of position I was the more surprising a shot I could hit. This rating would have been higher but I struggled to flatten out shots and didn’t have good solid feel when I did so. I prefer the Volkl V1 feel for flat hitting, but this racquet created heavier spin shots. Slice was off the charts though.


Serves: 7/10

I had to change my serving game plan with this racquet and just play the percentages. My second serve was effortless and my slice serves had good break. I have a good arm though and like to reach back for the fastball from time to time and I just couldn’t generate the big heater with this frame. I was using the serve as a setup shot. In point play I had good success, but I couldn’t get past the idea that the racquet was holding me back from my best serves.


Volleys: 9/10

Very surprised by how well I could volley with the frame. I have gotten used to volleying with tweeners and just cutting across the ball a little more aggressively to keep to ball in. I could really knife the ball away with pace. No stability issues. After a week or so I had the drop volleys dialed and felt very confident up at the net. At this point I think I prefer volleying with this kind of frame over a players frame. The slice approach combined with the volley was really sweet with this frame.


Serve Returns: 7/10

This is where I wish the racquet was heavier. Attacking second serves was fine but when pinned back by a hard server, it’s just harder to redirect the ball with 300g of weight. I experimented with a little handle weight but it still felt a little undercooked. If I got pulled way out by a slice serve I enjoyed the way I could get right back into the point with a crisp slice return. Overall though, I feel naked without 12oz. in hand.


General reaction/comments on overall performance: 8/10

This is an upgrade in the APD line in terms of comfort and solidity. Feel is subjective but I prefer the higher swingweight of this model. The buzzy harshness of older APD is gone and the racquet feels faster and slimmer despite having the decently high swingweight. The only thing that really separates the AERO line from all the 100 sq inch wannabes is the beam and they have refined it to feel fast while keeping that chunky weird aero throat. I also think the ball dips that little extra bit harder over previous versions. Basically: it does what they say it’s going to do.


Some thought on results:


My singles results with the frame were excellent and had me contemplating a switch. My ability to counterpunch from defensive positions was increased. I was frustrating opponents with moonballs and zippy slices and mixing in good droppers. I could not hit my biggest serves nor flatten out balls very well but it did not affect the scoreline much. Quite the contrary, I actually mauled a guy a couple times that usually plays me close. If I was a defensive specialist playing mostly singles I would switch to this frame. I can still run like a rabbit but I don’t like to .


I play dubs mostly and I need to be able to hit flat, serve hard and hit into tight windows. I prefer a heavier control oriented frame for this purpose and get better results this way. Topspin shots are easier to track down when there’s two people on 1 side of the court Most of the guys I play with are savvy veterans who serve hard and hit flat and accurate. I need mass and predictability. Although this frame is solid for an AERO frame, it still feels stiff.


I don’t think I will switch to this frame but I am excited to check out the TOUR version as well as the PLUS. Based on my singles results alone I will probably give both a test drive. Very intriguing refinements from Babolat and I think I read that the APD is now the most widely used mold on tour? What a trip. As far as the paint job I prefer the 2010 APD with the matte/gloss mix. Black and yellow, black and yellow. Uh, you know what it is.


Any more questions, holler at me


PEACE OUT

FED K

 

[Lack]

Tennis experience/background: I started tennis when I was in high school, was Varsity Singles MVP, and I am a singles specialist. I am currently 21 years old and played tennis for 6 years. I am working as a high school tennis coach and a racquet stringer.

Describe your playing style (e.g., serve & volley): I am right handed and use a western forehand grip and a western one handed backhand grip. I often play as an aggressive topspin baseliner. I have very strong flat and kick serves and I rely them the most during matches.

Current racquet/string: Babolat AeroPro Drive, 1/8 grip size, full silicone inside the handle, no replacement grip, one overgrip / RPM Blast 16 at 50 lbs

String set-up in test racquet: RPM Blast 16 at 50 lbs

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 25+

Comments on racquet performance:

-groundstrokes: 8/10. This racquet generates incredible power and spin. Hitting topspin forehand and backhand groundstrokes provided easier access to spin and better net clearance than the previous version. Backhand slice went very deep and low to the baseline with tons of sidespin on the ball. The racquet was very stable and comfortable on returning heavy shots. First off, control on flat groundstrokes didn't work well for me, since it had heavy swingweight and a lot of power, some of the balls went a bit out. However, after the adjustment, it played amazinglyI found that Pure Aero suited best for aggressive topspin hitters like myself.

-serves: 9/10. Serving shined the most during this playtest. The power and control on my flat serve dramatically increased. Slice serve got very consistent and produced great sidespin on the ball. I really enjoyed acing with slice serves during matches. My second serves, topspin/kick, got extremely consistent and popped up very high with speed.

-volleys: 8/10. Even though serve and volleying isn't one of my strongest playing style, I was able to come up with great first serve and execute the volley with accuracy. Thanks to the racquet's improved stability, volleying fast paced balls were solid and easy. This helped me feel very confident in the net. Coming up to the net with short volley and swing volley playing wonderfully. The ball went exactly where I predicted for me to finish the point with ease. Unfortunately, I had an issue setting for a point with a drop shot. It popped up for the opponent to execute.

-serve returns: 9/10. I was very impressed on serve returns. With solid balance and short swing on powerful flat serves produced strong and deep return. Chipping the ball back in play went in depth for me to safely transition my position to offense. I was able to blast the ball on receiving second serves to the corners effortlessly. Even if I framed the ball, the racquet didn't give harsh vibration on the arm.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: 9/10. Babolat racquets have been my first racquets since I started playing tennis. I've tried Babolat Aeropros, Pure Drives, Pure Controls, and Pure Strikes, but this stick was the best of all of them. I've used Spiraltek, Origin, and RPM Blast on this racquet so far, but RPM Blast played the best. I really hope Pure Aero comes out soon, because I prefer heavier weight on the handle.

Overall, It was the best racquet I've used so far. I really loved playing with this racquet, since it suits my playing style very well and I will be using this racquet as my usual setup with Babolat RPM 16 string.

 

[pfrischmann]

SHOUT OUT TO BABOLAT for understanding real tennis players and doing awesome playtests like this!!!


My review:


Tennis experience/background:

35+ years old self-taught ex-competitive athlete, started playing about 8 years ago. Play 3-4 times a week. I am a hacker/racaholic/tennis junkie. My sock tan is a part of my soul at this point and my house and car reek of discarded Vapors, tourna tac and clif bar fragments.


Playing style:

Typical middle-aged Federer wannabe. Righty, good serve, 1 hand backhand. My left arm is withered in full Fed tribute. I play 4.5 and gravitate towards doubles. Not a grinder, I like to try and end points off the serve and forehand. Slice most BHs but can hit the reverse blob pretzel winner.


Current racquet string:

Volkl V1 Classic customized to 12 oz. Tour Bite 16L @ 50#

Vcore 89 stashed in the bag in case of emergency.


String set-up in test racquet:

Tour Bite 16L @50#


How many hours did you play with the racquet?

20+


Comments on racquet performance:


Groundstrokes: 8/10

Pure Aero gives off a ton of spin as advertised. Topspin shots had that little extra dive to them. My balls were deep and arcing. The real standout shot was the slice. I was drawing so many errors off sliced balls, it seemed the more out of position I was the more surprising a shot I could hit. This rating would have been higher but I struggled to flatten out shots and didn’t have good solid feel when I did so. I prefer the Volkl V1 feel for flat hitting, but this racquet created heavier spin shots. Slice was off the charts though.


Serves: 7/10

I had to change my serving game plan with this racquet and just play the percentages. My second serve was effortless and my slice serves had good break. I have a good arm though and like to reach back for the fastball from time to time and I just couldn’t generate the big heater with this frame. I was using the serve as a setup shot. In point play I had good success, but I couldn’t get past the idea that the racquet was holding me back from my best serves.


Volleys: 9/10

Very surprised by how well I could volley with the frame. I have gotten used to volleying with tweeners and just cutting across the ball a little more aggressively to keep to ball in. I could really knife the ball away with pace. No stability issues. After a week or so I had the drop volleys dialed and felt very confident up at the net. At this point I think I prefer volleying with this kind of frame over a players frame. The slice approach combined with the volley was really sweet with this frame.


Serve Returns: 7/10

This is where I wish the racquet was heavier. Attacking second serves was fine but when pinned back by a hard server, it’s just harder to redirect the ball with 300g of weight. I experimented with a little handle weight but it still felt a little undercooked. If I got pulled way out by a slice serve I enjoyed the way I could get right back into the point with a crisp slice return. Overall though, I feel naked without 12oz. in hand.


General reaction/comments on overall performance: 8/10

This is an upgrade in the APD line in terms of comfort and solidity. Feel is subjective but I prefer the higher swingweight of this model. The buzzy harshness of older APD is gone and the racquet feels faster and slimmer despite having the decently high swingweight. The only thing that really separates the AERO line from all the 100 sq inch wannabes is the beam and they have refined it to feel fast while keeping that chunky weird aero throat. I also think the ball dips that little extra bit harder over previous versions. Basically: it does what they say it’s going to do.


Some thought on results:


My singles results with the frame were excellent and had me contemplating a switch. My ability to counterpunch from defensive positions was increased. I was frustrating opponents with moonballs and zippy slices and mixing in good droppers. I could not hit my biggest serves nor flatten out balls very well but it did not affect the scoreline much. Quite the contrary, I actually mauled a guy a couple times that usually plays me close. If I was a defensive specialist playing mostly singles I would switch to this frame. I can still run like a rabbit but I don’t like to .


I play dubs mostly and I need to be able to hit flat, serve hard and hit into tight windows. I prefer a heavier control oriented frame for this purpose and get better results this way. Topspin shots are easier to track down when there’s two people on 1 side of the court Most of the guys I play with are savvy veterans who serve hard and hit flat and accurate. I need mass and predictability. Although this frame is solid for an AERO frame, it still feels stiff.


I don’t think I will switch to this frame but I am excited to check out the TOUR version as well as the PLUS. Based on my singles results alone I will probably give both a test drive. Very intriguing refinements from Babolat and I think I read that the APD is now the most widely used mold on tour? What a trip. As far as the paint job I prefer the 2010 APD with the matte/gloss mix. Black and yellow, black and yellow. Uh, you know what it is.


Any more questions, holler at me


PEACE OUT

FED K

Hi Fed K,
I play dubs mostly and switched to a PS-97 from the 2013 APD as I found the "players frame" style of the PS to be a little more predictable and stable on volleys and half-volleys. I've never liked the flat serve with the APD. I decided the APD just didn't have enough mass. So, similar results. Did you find the launch angle on volleys a little high or was it an easy adjustment? I find "spin" sticks great for top-spin but bad for flattening out shots.

 

[cluckcluck]

Tennis experience/background:

4.5 All court player

Describe your playing style (e.g., serve & volley):

Mostly baseline grinder, but will come to net to finish points when opportunity arises. One handed backhand and big topspin forehand. Big first serve with kicking second serve.


Current racquet/string:

Yonex EZONE Ai 98 (added leather grip and 10 grams at 10&2)

Diadem Solstice Power 17 @ 42lbs


String set-up in test racquet:

Replaced synthetic from Babolat with RPM Blast 17 @ 46lbs – full bed – two piece.



How many hours did you play with the racquet?

Total hours played 8 (mixed with groundstrokes, points, and sets)


Comments on racquet performance:

-groundstrokes:

I found that the Pure Aero was a little too lite for my style of play. I didn’t quite feel enough mass behind my forehand or backhand. However, the depth and control made up the difference.

I was very much able to hit with depth and placement was a breeze. I was easily able to control where I put the ball and how deep I wanted it to go. It was easy to swing because it was lite enough that I didn’t have to labor when swinging.

The spin, which was very nice, only was noticeable when making contact in the sweetspot…hitting anything outside of that the spin wasn’t as impressive (I’m no pro so hitting the sweetspot every single time is non-existent).


-serves:

Because the Pure Aero is so lite, getting the racquet through impact was effortless. I was truly able to get some good timing on my service motion. While I was able to get the timing, the mass wasn’t behind the racquet to hit really hard serves. I adapted and ended up hitting mostly kickers or slices when serving. That was something else!

The amount of spin I was getting off my kickers was incredible. They would jump off the court with velocity and angle almost every time! I think the frame rewards the faster swingspeed from the service motion more than my groundstroke swingspeed.


-volleys:

Volleys were decent. I found that the Pure Aero was very easy to maneuver at the net but was hard to absorb a big passing attempt. The stability was so-so, fast volleys were a challenge to keep the racquet stable through the motion. Drop volleys were fun though, the spin added a little extra something to my game.


-serve returns:

Similar to the volleys, the stability of the frame was an issue for me. I would struggle with big servers because the racquet would twist in my hand, even when holding a tight grip (which is away from my normal grip). I wasn’t really able to “crack” a return back because I was having a hard time timing the weight of the frame to get it where I needed it to be (I was early way too often). I was a little disappointed.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

Unlike the previous, Cortex, models of the Aeros, I found that this Pure Aero line was significantly more comfortable than the previous generations. I didn’t have any elbow pain or any jarring from a stiffer frame like the Babolat line.

I was very impressed with the cosmetics as well. Really is something that stands out on court and gives you something to look at.

 

[133bp004]

Tennis experience/background: I’m currently 56 and have been playing tennis since my early teens. Played in high school, took a break in my 20’s, started again in my 30’s when I played leagues/tournaments, mostly play recreational now.

Describe your playing style (e.g., serve & volley): Primarily a baseliner, but will venture to net when needed. Topspin off both sides with a stronger forehand and a one-handed more consistent backhand.

Current racquet/string: Usually Volkl PB 10 Mid with Cyclone 17. Played with the Head Prestige Tour Mid for a number of years, still my favorite racquet. Aging moved me to the PB10 Mid for added forgiveness. To get a little more forgiveness I recently started tinkering with the Head MG Radical MP adding lead to both the hoop and handle.

String set-up in test racquet: Started with the factory strung Spiraltek, it broke after about 8 hours. Next strung it up with RPM Blast 17 at 50 lbs. I preferred the RPM in this racquet, but looking back would have strung it higher.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? Around 20.

Comments on racquet performance:

-groundstrokes: Surprisingly solid (for a racquet this light) and full of topspin. My regular hitting partner commented on the added spin in my groundstrokes. There is noticeable mass in the head which contributes to both power and plow through. At times strokes seemed almost effortless and the light weight made shots on the run easier. I felt the added spin came more from the open string bed and grommets rather than the aerodynamic properties of the frame. The lighter weight and added power did result in some drop in control. However, I feel this might have been corrected with a modification in the string and/or tension. In general, I would prefer a spec with a little additional weight.

-serves: I thought serves were good with racquet, again easy to generate spin. Overall, my 1st serves were not as hard as my regular heavier racquet, but I was getting more spin and was a bit more consistent on my 2nd serve.

-volleys: Volleys are not my strong suite, however I really enjoyed volleying with this racquet. The weight made it easy to maneuver and I could often “let the racquet do the work” on volleys.

-serve returns: Very quick and generally solid on returns. No major issues with stability on hard serves, but again would have liked a bit more weight. It did allow me to easily take the offensive on weak serves.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: This racquet really surprised me. As I’ve been getting older naturally my athletic ability, reaction time, etc. have slowed down. In reaction, I’ve occasionally demoed racquets looking for something lighter with a larger sweet spot, more power and forgiveness. However, the hollow and stiff (at times elbow punishing) feel associated with many of these racquets eventually turns me off and I resort back thinner more flexible frames. With the Pure Aero I found a more solid and surprisingly comfortable feel; it’s stiffness not being an issue. I’m looking forward to further tweaking this racquet with a little lead and some different string combinations to see how it’s playing characteristics react. One last note, while I generally prefer a glossy finish, I really liked the cosmetics on the Pure Aero.

 

[dgoran]

Interesting...that your impressions are exactly opposite of mine (minus serving since I did not try to serve with it at all). I wonder if its string sensitive. Which strings did you use while trying Aero? My demo was strung at 57 with some multi and it felt like a board...Do you have access to RDC to measure flex? My was flexing at 71-72 if i remember correctly.

OK I think I figured out why this play-test is receiving such a mixed reviews and why my initial impressions were negative while they are very positive second time around ad why for example some are reporting amazing serving while some just were not impressed:

!!!This frame comes in wide range of stiffness (RA rating) as measured on Babolat RDC!!!

My first time visit to the pro shop I had them measure 2 rackets one strung one unstrung and results were 72 unstrung and 71 strung. I ended up demoing one of them (71 RA strung with multi at 55 frame) and hated it largely due to the fact that it felt like a board even when strung with multi.

Second time around I decided to do a long term playtest (and sell it if I dont like it as usual) and had the pro shop measure all 3 of them they had in stock that were in my grip size and guess what all 3 were 68 UNSTRUNG. With 2 of them being way out of specs with 308 and 309 grams unstrung (little plastic on the handle is around 2 grams) so they would be 306 and 307 unstrung (still in babolats +-7 but in my book that is not acceptable). 3rd one thankfully was right on with 32cm bal and 302grams I got that one

After I got it strung with rpm blast 16 it we tossed it on rdc and final strung specs (with 2 gram plastic on handle) came up to 320gr 33cm bal and 321 SW AND 66RA...that is Original APD territory so I cant wait to compare it to my Originals I still have in my closet.

I did some hitting and serving and I can already tell you guys that it totally different PureAero I tried that had RA of 71. Even with RPM it felt comfy and almost muted. Sweet spot provides even more comfort and extra spin and although I did find it slightly less powerful on serves but it is a light racket so I cant complain too much...Ill post more when i compare it to my Original.

I am not sure how do I feel about this Babolat manufacturing tolerances. I mean 71 to 66 is a huge difference and it totally effects how the racket plays. On one end its kind of need that I can pick one that I like but on the other hand that sis really ****ty quality control.

 

[Devil_dog]

OK I think I figured out why this play-test is receiving such a mixed reviews and why my initial impressions were negative while they are very positive second time around ad why for example some are reporting amazing serving while some just were not impressed:

!!!This frame comes in wide range of stiffness (RA rating) as measured on Babolat RDC!!!

My first time visit to the pro shop I had them measure 2 rackets one strung one unstrung and results were 72 unstrung and 71 strung. I ended up demoing one of them (71 RA strung with multi at 55 frame) and hated it largely due to the fact that it felt like a board even when strung with multi.

Second time around I decided to do a long term playtest (and sell it if I dont like it as usual) and had the pro shop measure all 3 of them they had in stock that were in my grip size and guess what all 3 were 68 UNSTRUNG. With 2 of them being way out of specs with 308 and 309 grams unstrung (little plastic on the handle is around 2 grams) so they would be 306 and 307 unstrung (still in babolats +-7 but in my book that is not acceptable). 3rd one thankfully was right on with 32cm bal and 302grams I got that one

After I got it strung with rpm blast 16 it we tossed it on rdc and final strung specs (with 2 gram plastic on handle) came up to 320gr 33cm bal and 321 SW AND 66RA...that is Original APD territory so I cant wait to compare it to my Originals I still have in my closet.

I did some hitting and serving and I can already tell you guys that it totally different PureAero I tried that had RA of 71. Even with RPM it felt comfy and almost muted. Sweet spot provides even more comfort and extra spin and although I did find it slightly less powerful on serves but it is a light racket so I cant complain too much...Ill post more when i compare it to my Original.

I am not sure how do I feel about this Babolat manufacturing tolerances. I mean 71 to 66 is a huge difference and it totally effects how the racket plays. On one end its kind of need that I can pick one that I like but on the other hand that sis really ****ty quality control.

You should post your findings in the Babolat Official thread and see what he says about racquet tolerances. I know they have a +/- tolerance for static weight but I'm not sure about RA rating. Good post.

 

[DrewRafter8]

OK I think I figured out why this play-test is receiving such a mixed reviews and why my initial impressions were negative while they are very positive second time around ad why for example some are reporting amazing serving while some just were not impressed:

!!!This frame comes in wide range of stiffness (RA rating) as measured on Babolat RDC!!!

My first time visit to the pro shop I had them measure 2 rackets one strung one unstrung and results were 72 unstrung and 71 strung. I ended up demoing one of them (71 RA strung with multi at 55 frame) and hated it largely due to the fact that it felt like a board even when strung with multi.

Second time around I decided to do a long term playtest (and sell it if I dont like it as usual) and had the pro shop measure all 3 of them they had in stock that were in my grip size and guess what all 3 were 68 UNSTRUNG. With 2 of them being way out of specs with 308 and 309 grams unstrung (little plastic on the handle is around 2 grams) so they would be 306 and 307 unstrung (still in babolats +-7 but in my book that is not acceptable). 3rd one thankfully was right on with 32cm bal and 302grams I got that one

After I got it strung with rpm blast 16 it we tossed it on rdc and final strung specs (with 2 gram plastic on handle) came up to 320gr 33cm bal and 321 SW AND 66RA...that is Original APD territory so I cant wait to compare it to my Originals I still have in my closet.

I did some hitting and serving and I can already tell you guys that it totally different PureAero I tried that had RA of 71. Even with RPM it felt comfy and almost muted. Sweet spot provides even more comfort and extra spin and although I did find it slightly less powerful on serves but it is a light racket so I cant complain too much...Ill post more when i compare it to my Original.

I am not sure how do I feel about this Babolat manufacturing tolerances. I mean 71 to 66 is a huge difference and it totally effects how the racket plays. On one end its kind of need that I can pick one that I like but on the other hand that sis really ****ty quality control.

66RA??? I'll take two or three when the 27.5 model comes out. It'll be really nice with some silicone shot in the handle to get the weight up...

 

[Soundbyte]

I did what @Hankenstein did in the other thread - added 8g from 9 to 3 and 8g in the throat. I definitely enjoy the extra plow. It knocks the SW up near 350 but is still easy to swing. Definitely a worthwhile mod to consider if you normally like slightly heavier frames.

 

[pfrischmann]

I tried one of these for a solid 45 minutes. It feels like my old 2013 APD, a little softer but all-in-all, it feels like an APD to me. It's so much fun to get that spin back. BUT, it needs more weigh and really does not have much feel at all. I'll be interested to see what the tour version feels like. BTW, is it me or does the grip feel a little smaller on the newer version?

 

[cheaplikeafox]

I tried one of these for a solid 45 minutes. It feels like my old 2013 APD, a little softer but all-in-all, it feels like an APD to me. It's so much fun to get that spin back. BUT, it needs more weigh and really does not have much feel at all. I'll be interested to see what the tour version feels like. BTW, is it me or does the grip feel a little smaller on the newer version?

The grip does feel smaller to me on the Pure Aero as well.

 

[Toyo]

OK I think I figured out why this play-test is receiving such a mixed reviews and why my initial impressions were negative while they are very positive second time around ad why for example some are reporting amazing serving while some just were not impressed:

!!!This frame comes in wide range of stiffness (RA rating) as measured on Babolat RDC!!!

My first time visit to the pro shop I had them measure 2 rackets one strung one unstrung and results were 72 unstrung and 71 strung. I ended up demoing one of them (71 RA strung with multi at 55 frame) and hated it largely due to the fact that it felt like a board even when strung with multi.

Second time around I decided to do a long term playtest (and sell it if I dont like it as usual) and had the pro shop measure all 3 of them they had in stock that were in my grip size and guess what all 3 were 68 UNSTRUNG. With 2 of them being way out of specs with 308 and 309 grams unstrung (little plastic on the handle is around 2 grams) so they would be 306 and 307 unstrung (still in babolats +-7 but in my book that is not acceptable). 3rd one thankfully was right on with 32cm bal and 302grams I got that one

After I got it strung with rpm blast 16 it we tossed it on rdc and final strung specs (with 2 gram plastic on handle) came up to 320gr 33cm bal and 321 SW AND 66RA...that is Original APD territory so I cant wait to compare it to my Originals I still have in my closet.

I did some hitting and serving and I can already tell you guys that it totally different PureAero I tried that had RA of 71. Even with RPM it felt comfy and almost muted. Sweet spot provides even more comfort and extra spin and although I did find it slightly less powerful on serves but it is a light racket so I cant complain too much...Ill post more when i compare it to my Original.

I am not sure how do I feel about this Babolat manufacturing tolerances. I mean 71 to 66 is a huge difference and it totally effects how the racket plays. On one end its kind of need that I can pick one that I like but on the other hand that sis really ****ty quality control.

A 66/67RA flex rating suits me just fine, but I wonder what else doesn't meet the quoted specs. It's too bad about the quality control

 

[ArliHawk]

The grip does feel smaller to me on the Pure Aero as well.

I bought 2 from a local dealer, both in 4 3/8 size. One feels like the old Babolat grip that runs large, the other true to size. I think my solution will be to leave the syntec grip on the smaller one, and replace the larger one with skin feel.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Hi Fed K,
I play dubs mostly and switched to a PS-97 from the 2013 APD as I found the "players frame" style of the PS to be a little more predictable and stable on volleys and half-volleys. I've never liked the flat serve with the APD. I decided the APD just didn't have enough mass. So, similar results. Did you find the launch angle on volleys a little high or was it an easy adjustment? I find "spin" sticks great for top-spin but bad for flattening out shots.

Really liked it once i adjusted to cutting harder across the ball but maintaining a very short stroke. Hit some brutal change up stop volleys.

 

[Soundbyte]

So I'm giving up on the Pure Aero. Had a good several outings with it, played better with it leaded up a bit, but I got my first twinge of elbow pain while playing tennis ever. So I'm done with it. There are other options out there that I'm interested in trying out, but for the time being I'm playing with the Textreme Tour 95. Not worth me risking pain for the game of tennis. I listed both of my in the classified section for sale. Hopefully they'll end up in someone's hands with stronger joints than I.

 

[roger presley]

Yesterday I've tried Pure Aero and I felt my elbow.The fact is that I'm playing with Pure Drive Tour and nothing like that ever happened.Same set up,RPM Blast at 24/23kg. I thought that Aero will be less stiff than Drive,guess I was wrong.

 

[Karma Tennis]

Yesterday I've tried Pure Aero and I felt my elbow.The fact is that I'm playing with Pure Drive Tour and nothing like that ever happened.Same set up,RPM Blast at 24/23kg. I thought that Aero will be less stiff than Drive,guess I was wrong.

If you are comparing stock versions of both ...your Pure Aero is at least 15g lighter (static weight) AND it is more Head Heavy (PDT 6pts HL, PA 4 Pts HL).

Those differences could contribute to more impact shock on your arm leading to more elbow "pain" - depending on your stroke technique.

 

[richardc-s]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a Pure Aero since its release but I finally bit the bullet and got one! I'll first be playing with it on Saturday so I'll post my initial thoughts then.

Mine is being strung with RPM Blast at 55lbs, let's hope the frame feels softer than my current 2012 Pure Drive as this sometimes gives me elbow pain when strung with RPM Blast.

 

[dgoran]

Yesterday I've tried Pure Aero and I felt my elbow.The fact is that I'm playing with Pure Drive Tour and nothing like that ever happened.Same set up,RPM Blast at 24/23kg. I thought that Aero will be less stiff than Drive,guess I was wrong.

Certain ones are less stiff...its just poor quality control I have seen them as stiff as 74 or as soft as 68 unstrung you most likley lucked out with stiffer one

 

[roger presley]

Certain ones are less stiff...its just poor quality control I have seen them as stiff as 74 or as soft as 68 unstrung you most likley lucked out with stiffer one

Thanks for information,I never thought that was possible!

 

[DrewRafter8]

I hit with one today. Nice stick, but way too light for me. I've played with an APD+ at 335-340 grams for years. I found myself struggling because it didn't have the weight I crave. In the light hitting we did to start with, I was impressed with the spin and accuracy I found with the different string pattern. It does seem to change the angle of contact, but very slightly. Overall, I'll look forward to the 27.5 brother coming out, but I'm disappointed there is not a tour plus. I'll probably pick up a Pure Aero+ and weigh it up to 340 with silicone. If I can get two matched with lower flex... I might be on to something!

 

[mscream]

I hit with the Pure Aero yesterday (coming from an APD). It definitely feels more solid and heavier than it actually is due to the higher swing weight, which I think is a good thing. It also is quite a bit more powerful compared to the previous model and took a while to adjust to it. The improvement in plow through is certainly noticeable. Serves and overheads felt pretty great although it took me quite a while to dial in the former. Returns were great as well and this is where the added swing weight really shines, eating big serves and turning them into even bigger returns. The strings the demo racquet from TW came with were definitely not my thing, Pro Hurricane 1.30 at 51 lbs (or lower) I think, which was definitely too low for me. There is certainly no sluggishness unless you just started to play Tennis or are just wimpy in general. In fact, I rather wait for the Tour version to be available because I also demoed a couple of heavy racquets (PDT, PST) and I actually preferred the feel of those heavier ones in general. Overall an improvement of the APD and the aspects I didn't like such as very lightweight feel, which doesn't really work out for the playing style you should have to benefit from those racquets (aggressive from the baseline, heavy top spin and fast, full swings). The APD is just too flimsy for heavy hits and felt more like a kids racquet whereas the Pure Aero addresses those issues.

 

[richardc-s]

I played with my new Pure Aero for the first time today, mine being strung with RPM Blast at 55lbs.

Overall thoughts are good. I thought the 'added spin' was all sales talk but I really noticed it when serving, my kick serves had some wicked spin on them. Same with my slice serve. I also managed to hit very solid flat serves so for me this racket really improved my serve game.

Ground strokes, when connecting with them properly, felt very good and had a nice zip to them. This racket is lighter than I'm used to so my timing was a bit off, therefore I did hit a few duff shots. I'm sure after a few more hours play I'll be used to it a bit more and play much better with it.

In summary I'm happy with the racket and I'm glad I decided to buy it. Like any racket it's going to take a little while to get used to but I think my game will be improved by this racket. The added spin it offers is really nice and being a lefty it should help me in frustrating right handed opponents!

 

[Hww]

When I first played with this, it was strung with Head Extreme 17. It was light, easy maneuverability and great with my serves. I was playing with the 2011 Pure Drive GT prior but could never get a good feel as it felt bulky and I couldn't control the power. I have to say that the Pure Aero felt pretty good...until I restrung it with RPM Blast 17 @ 45lbs. The full bed of poly made it more head heavy. I strung my other one with Tour Bite 17 @ 48lbs and had the same feeling but because of the string I lost power. I might have to go back to a multi or add some weight to the handle to get back to where it was before. I do like the RPM Blast but will make some mods to get the balance back to maybe a 5-6HL. In general, it provides good spin and power. It is pretty unforgiving on off center volleys so you will need to dialed in there.

 

[roger presley]

When I first played with this, it was strung with Head Extreme 17. It was light, easy maneuverability and great with my serves. I was playing with the 2011 Pure Drive GT prior but could never get a good feel as it felt bulky and I couldn't control the power. I have to say that the Pure Aero felt pretty good...until I restrung it with RPM Blast 17 @ 45lbs. The full bed of poly made it more head heavy. I strung my other one with Tour Bite 17 @ 48lbs and had the same feeling but because of the string I lost power. I might have to go back to a multi or add some weight to the handle to get back to where it was before. I do like the RPM Blast but will make some mods to get the balance back to maybe a 5-6HL. In general, it provides good spin and power. It is pretty unforgiving on off center volleys so you will need to dialed in there.

I'm going away from RPM Blast,had a same situation as you. Going back to Alu Power Soft , which is the best poly for Pure Aero that I was able to try.

 

[topspinlob]

I'm going away from RPM Blast,had a same situation as you. Going back to Alu Power Soft , which is the best poly for Pure Aero that I was able to try.

how's the Pure Aero working out with you one-handed backhand? just curious..

with this racket. I have to use 16g string it gives a little more control with out sacrificing power and spin.. 17g is too thin for this open pattern..

 

[roger presley]

how's the Pure Aero working out with you one-handed backhand? just curious..

with this racket. I have to use 16g string it gives a little more control with out sacrificing power and spin.. 17g is too thin for this open pattern..

I have been playing for a long time with Wilson Blade H22 and I wanted something with more forgiveness,something that could help me when I'm not good with my legs or just tired. Backhand was not easy at first. Control and accuracy were missing . After a while ,I get used to it and it's now like I have been playing with Pure Aero for a long time. I found power ,more spin that keeps my ball in court ,I can even hit flat bombs with my backhand.It's much easier to use than my H22, but H22 has much better slice and much,much better control.All in all,it works solid for my backhand.As much spin you put in your backhand,the better your backhand will be.

 

[roger presley]

how's the Pure Aero working out with you one-handed backhand? just curious..

with this racket. I have to use 16g string it gives a little more control with out sacrificing power and spin.. 17g is too thin for this open pattern..

Forgot to mention that for one handed backhand, the Pure Drive Tour is much better option.I've tried PDT also.

 

[djNEiGht]

how's the Pure Aero working out with you one-handed backhand? just curious..

with this racket. I have to use 16g string it gives a little more control with out sacrificing power and spin.. 17g is too thin for this open pattern..

For me with the PAT I have been able to get decent control with 1HBH and the Spiraltek. Next string might be Boris Becker Pulse/Head Rip Control/Dunlop Hexy all in 17g

 

[Altav]

I've read that the PA is similar to DR100. Have you tested the new PureAero and DR100? How this two compare? Spin, power, groundstrokes, volley, backhand slice, ...

Thanks.

 

[richardc-s]

how's the Pure Aero working out with you one-handed backhand? just curious..

with this racket. I have to use 16g string it gives a little more control with out sacrificing power and spin.. 17g is too thin for this open pattern..

I hit a single handed backhand and so far I really liking hitting it with this racket. I find the racket is very powerful though so I have to consciously add more topspin or else the ball tends to sail long.

 

[n8dawg6]

I realize everyone has moved on to the "Tour" thread at this point, but I thought I would update my previous review. I have continued to play off and on with the Pure Aero but also picked up a sale previous model APD for comparison. Bear in mind that I play at a 3.5-4.0 level of mediocrity so my perceptions may or may not be useful to you based on your level of play.

First off, I have both racquets strung with Babolat synthetic gut, mainly because I've been trying to reduce strain on my elbow. (also a little frustrated with soft poly tension loss). amazing how much spin these racquets gin up with such cheap strings.

The major differences between the two are that the APD has tighter string spacing and a lower swing weight. the PA also has those oblong grommets for the mains to allow a little more string bending. The PA has a noticeably more comfortable feel to me. The APD, on the other hand, seems to have more control.

The PA feels like butter on groundstrokes. Like it is the perfect scientific machine designed to hit topspin baseline rallies. The APD isn't quite as stable from the baseline, due the lower swingweight. But, it's also quicker to swing, which can gin up spin more easily.

At the net, the APD is quicker. but, they're both more suited for punching volleys and slapping overheads than touch shots. Either one makes a great forgiving powerful doubles stick.

I serve about the same with either one. Can get a little more RHS with the APD, but again the PA has a little more stability and plow. I honestly haven't figured out how to get the most out of either one on serve, but there's a lot of potential.

Finally, the beam on the PA seems less bulky than the beam on the APD. nevertheless, the APD is a little more maneuverable because of the lower swingweight.

Both are very unique racquets that deserve the popularity they enjoy.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

I have actually been watching this thread. So I am glad it is alive, and people are still playing with the racquet. I played well with Spiraltek too (I saw you liked it), and will probably end up getting a couple sets to try in a few frames. What year APD did you pick up? My friend got an '08 APD and I was able to hit some crazy spin with it, and it is strung with Prince Synthetic gut 16 at 55lbs. I always avoided the APD, because of all the "arm issues" you hear about, but I can now see why it is such a popular frame. They seem really easy to pick up and pull off some amazing groundstrokes.

 

[n8dawg6]

I got the 2013 APD that everyone is vacating from their inventories. Intermediate players have a lot of trouble with the spin I can generate with this racquet. I can see their groundstroke mishits happening in slow motion as the ball bounces away from them. you watch the instant confusion on their face when the kick serve hits and goes a different direction. a 4.5 wouldn't be fazed for 2 seconds, but 3.5's are confounded.

the only issue is that the APD leaves my elbow pretty tender. I don't know if I could switch to it as a full time stick for that reason. I'm thinking about trying a PA Team with a little lead at 12, just to waste some more money.

 

[Karma Tennis]

The major differences between the two are that the APD has tighter string spacing and a lower swing weight. the PA also has those oblong grommets for the mains to allow a little more string bending. The PA has a noticeably more comfortable feel to me. The APD, on the other hand, seems to have more control.

The PA feels like butter on groundstrokes. Like it is the perfect scientific machine designed to hit topspin baseline rallies. The APD isn't quite as stable from the baseline, due the lower swingweight. But, it's also quicker to swing, which can gin up spin more easily.

At the net, the APD is quicker. but, they're both more suited for punching volleys and slapping overheads than touch shots. Either one makes a great forgiving powerful doubles stick.

I serve about the same with either one. Can get a little more RHS with the APD, but again the PA has a little more stability and plow. I honestly haven't figured out how to get the most out of either one on serve, but there's a lot of potential.

Finally, the beam on the PA seems less bulky than the beam on the APD. nevertheless, the APD is a little more maneuverable because of the lower swingweight.

Both are very unique racquets that deserve the popularity they enjoy.

@n8dawg6, Firstly a big Thank You for this wonderful review. It's pretty much what I expected in a comparison between these two racquets.

I am assuming you are comparing stock raquets. Yes?

 

[mhkeuns]

Just played with the Pure Aero today. Honestly, I didn't find it any more comfortable than the APD 2013 version. It did feel more HH, but I had my APD with 2 layers of protection tape all around the head, so the difference was not too noticeable. The HHeaviness feel, to me, work against this spin monster. I noticed higher launch angle and heavy spin that brought the ball down. But I think this frame would have performed better with less swing weight and/or more HL balance. I can see the players who liked the APD may not like how the PA swings.

From the reviews, I expected the frame to feel much more solid than the APD, but to me, that really wasn't the case. Will definitely play more with it. But definitely, my first impression of the APD 2013 was more favorable.

 

[n8dawg6]

@n8dawg6, Firstly a big Thank You for this wonderful review. It's pretty much what I expected in a comparison between these two racquets.

I am assuming you are comparing stock raquets. Yes?

correct, stock racquets.

 

[n8dawg6]

Just played with the Pure Aero today. Honestly, I didn't find it any more comfortable than the APD 2013 version. It did feel more HH, but I had my APD with 2 layers of protection tape all around the head, so the difference was not too noticeable. The HHeaviness feel, to me, work against this spin monster. I noticed higher launch angle and heavy spin that brought the ball down. But I think this frame would have performed better with less swing weight and/or more HL balance. I can see the players who liked the APD may not like how the PA swings.

From the reviews, I expected the frame to feel much more solid than the APD, but to me, that really wasn't the case. Will definitely play more with it. But definitely, my first impression of the APD 2013 was more favorable.

definitely hear you there. To me the main distinction is the wider mains spacing of the PA, and the heavier swingweight of the PA. just about everything is a tradeoff. Both frames are good, they're just different. and at least in my playing, both frames generate all kinds of spin.

 

[mhkeuns]

I think the PA needs leather grip and some weight on the handle to get the most out of its spin potential. I think the HHeaviness reduces its full capabilities.

The paint job... Wow!

 

[Karma Tennis]

I think the PA needs leather grip and some weight on the handle to get the most out of its spin potential.

Curious to hear from you why you think those changes would increase the spin potential of this racquet?

 

[mhkeuns]

Curious to hear from you why you think those changes would increase the spin potential of this racquet?

I may be wrong, but I thought it would help the playing characteristics of the frame if it was more HL balanced and easier to swing faster. There is so much spin potential with the stick, I think having the lower SW of the APD would actually make the PA play better. Just my .02.

 

[JonnyAbs]

I realize everyone has moved on to the "Tour" thread at this point, but I thought I would update my previous review. I have continued to play off and on with the Pure Aero but also picked up a sale previous model APD for comparison. Bear in mind that I play at a 3.5-4.0 level of mediocrity so my perceptions may or may not be useful to you based on your level of play.

First off, I have both racquets strung with Babolat synthetic gut, mainly because I've been trying to reduce strain on my elbow. (also a little frustrated with soft poly tension loss). amazing how much spin these racquets gin up with such cheap strings.

The major differences between the two are that the APD has tighter string spacing and a lower swing weight. the PA also has those oblong grommets for the mains to allow a little more string bending. The PA has a noticeably more comfortable feel to me. The APD, on the other hand, seems to have more control.

The PA feels like butter on groundstrokes. Like it is the perfect scientific machine designed to hit topspin baseline rallies. The APD isn't quite as stable from the baseline, due the lower swingweight. But, it's also quicker to swing, which can gin up spin more easily.

At the net, the APD is quicker. but, they're both more suited for punching volleys and slapping overheads than touch shots. Either one makes a great forgiving powerful doubles stick.

I serve about the same with either one. Can get a little more RHS with the APD, but again the PA has a little more stability and plow. I honestly haven't figured out how to get the most out of either one on serve, but there's a lot of potential.

Finally, the beam on the PA seems less bulky than the beam on the APD. nevertheless, the APD is a little more maneuverable because of the lower swingweight.

Both are very unique racquets that deserve the popularity they enjoy.

I agree with you on basically everything you wrote.

What does 'gin up' mean and how do you pronounce that? Is it a western or nevada phrase?

I played very well with the spiraltek until they snapped, which only took about 8 hours. String movement with syn gut strings really irritates me though, probably more so than tension loss does with polys. Dont get me wrong, I hate when polys become uncontrollable, but they are nice while they last, and they are tough to snap, so I can restring them when I choose, not when they unpredictably break.

 

[Karma Tennis]

I may be wrong, but I thought it would help the playing characteristics of the frame if it was more HL balanced and easier to swing faster. There is so much spin potential with the stick, I think having the lower SW of the APD would actually make the PA play better. Just my .02.

I would agree with your sentiments if we were comparing racquets that have the same static weight. The SW of the racquet that was more HL would be lower, increasing the spin potential because it would be easier to generate higher RHS.

Adding weight to the handle of a racquet increases it's static weight and makes it more HL. But increasing static weight also increases SW making a racquet harder to swing for many, Doesn't it? (Some will say that depends on where you actually add weight to the handle. But I am firmly in the camp that believes adding any weight, anywhere on a racquet, will increase its swing weight and make it harder to swing faster.)

 

[mhkeuns]

I would agree with your sentiments if we were comparing racquets that have the same static weight. The SW of the racquet that was more HL would be lower, increasing the spin potential because it would be easier to generate higher RHS.

Adding weight to the handle of a racquet increases it's static weight and makes it more HL. But increasing static weight also increases SW making a racquet harder to swing for many, Doesn't it? (Some will say that depends on where you actually add weight to the handle. But I am firmly in the camp that believes adding any weight, anywhere on a racquet, will increase its swing weight and make it harder to swing faster.)

I'm sure you are right, and it can feel heavier, but can it also feel easier to swing because the weight is more on the handle? I have been playing with the ancient Pro Staff St. Vincent, and it does feel easier to swing than the modern player's frames which are a bit lighter but have less HL balance.
I will update after the grip change to see if there would be any difference.