Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Drive PLAY

[TW Staff]

Hi TW Playtesters,

For those of you who were selected for the Tennis Warehouse Babolat Pure Drive Play Playtest, you should have received your racquet last week. Please make sure to follow all directions from Babolat and download the app.

Once you have playtested the racquet and have been able to upload the data to the app, please use the following to write your review:

Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Current racquet/string:
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
How easy was the racquet to use (turning on/off, syncing with app)?
How did the racquet play (if you have used a Pure Drive in the past, did it play similarly)?
How easy was the app to use?
What did you like about the app?
What did you dislike about the app?
Was there anything you thought was missing?
How did you use the data you received from the app?


Please post your review by December 27, 2013. If you do not post a review or if your review is clearly lacking effort, you will be excluded from future playtests.


Sincerely,

TW Staff

 

[themitchmann]

Babolat Play Pure Drive Review

Tennis background: Teaching Pro, High School Coach, 4.5-5.0 NTRP
Playing Style: All court
Current Racquet: Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 (2012)
Current Sting: Solinco Tour Bite 18/Prince Premier Attack 17
How many hours did you play with the racquet: I only got in a total 2 hours with the racquet. However, these hours were broken into several difficult training sessions and matches. I would have liked to gotten in more time. The main issue, which was my fault, was that I was under the impression that the frame wouldn't store multiple seasons between syncing: I thought that I needed to upload immediately after each session, or I would love my data. So, for the entire period between the test app going offline to the release of the final app, I didn't play with the Pure Drive. Now, I realize that was stupid.

How easy was the racquet to use (turning on/off, syncing with app)?: For the most part, I did not have any issues with the hardware. After the release of the final app, I wasn't able to sync the racquet because I needed a firmware update. I then plugged the racquet into my computer for the update, and I was able to sync my sessions from there. I have received a few error messages, but syncing, from that point on, has been fine.

I did have an issue with the buttcap opening while hitting backhands, since my hand hangs slightly off the bottom of the handle.

How did the racquet play (if you have used a Pure Drive in the past, did it play similarly)?: I have limited experience with Pure Drives, as the frame is out of my preferred spec range. I felt the frame played pretty similarly. While playing with the Pure Drive, I noted why so many people like it, especially on serves.

How easy was the app to use?: I think the app is pretty easy to use, especially after a couple of sessions. There are a few things that are not quite as intuitive as I would like. For example, in "Analyze" section, clicking on "Forehand" or "Backhand" takes you to a more specific breakdown of the shot, including the number of topspin, flat, and slice strokes, and the spin level overall in each category. I think the information is excellent, but that many users that are unaware of the feature might miss it, as it is not very obvious that each stroke breakdown can be selected. I'm not sure the best way to remedy this, but I feel like it is a little hidden.

What did you like about the app?: It's polished and very aesthetically pleasing. The information it offers is pretty awesome. I think the whole "achievement" aspect of the app is a great way to motivate players to keep playing and improving. The community component is a great idea as well. I think those 2 features will keep the Play racquets in players hands. Otherwise, people might get bored with the analytics.

What did you dislike about the app?: Besides the few bugs I encountered early on, not much. I did experience a couple of crashes while syncing my racquet yesterday, but I didn't lose any data. I'm sure these issues will be resolved with a couple of software updates/patches.

Was there anything you thought was missing?: Many people have said they'd like to see to geo-location...I have to agree. Players could find other players in the area that have given Babolat permission to post their locations. I think it could be a great way to drive people to clubs/or Babolat dealers/pro shops.

I would also like to see a tag-along app for coaches to track/chart matches. After a match is over, Babolat could sync the data from each app to create a more accurate map of a match. Based on either a starting/ending time stamp, or with a stroke count, instead of only getting total number of shots, you could get more specific data. For example, you could see exactly when you record breaking forehand happened in the match, if it went over the net, where it landed in the court, and if it was a winner or forced an error. The coaches app could simply be a tennis court, and once a player was assigned to a side, the coach could tap on the location of each stroke. Once a point was over, the coach could enter how the point ended (unforced error, forced error, winner, or let). As a coach, I would love to see this. I would be happy to consult on the project, Babolat (Daniel, please take notice ).

How did you use the data you received from the app?: I tried to test the the product in different ways. One session included trying to hit record power levels. The result was not as consistent as I would have liked on the impact locater (though my power score went up). The following session, I focused on smooth and efficient technique. Afterward, while checking the app, the impact locater results were greatly improved. I think this aspect of the app, though simply, is incredibly useful.

PS - Once this product is released in a Control or Strike, I might have to buy one. I really enjoyed this test, and I think the product has huge potential. Nice work, Babolat. Thanks to both Babolat and Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity. I'm happy to answer any other questions in the future if need be.

 

[palmerop]

Tennis experience/background:
I think I'm a 3.5 although I might have to revise that after seeing my "Technique" score and realizing how inconsistent I am:

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I used to play mostly from the baseline but I am forcing myself to be more of an all court player (with poor results) now. I am trying to move to the net more often where I usually shank most of my shots...

Current racquet/string:
Before the Babolat Pure Drive Play, I played with an AeroPro Team GT and a bit with a Volkl Organix 7. I have been experimenting with strings quite a bit but I tend to like ultra-thin soft co-polys at low tension. I am now trying out a few tensions with Babolat's Pro Hurricane 18 gauge: 48 lbs now but stringing to 50 tonight. It's a lot softer than the Co-Focus Soft I used to string my Aero Pro Team with. I'll probably try RPM Blast as well. I keep going back to MSV Co-Focus Soft 18 at 44-46 lbs.


How many hours did you play with the racquet?
So far I've played 34 hours with PD PLAY. It is now my main racquet and I haven't played with any other racquet since I received it.


How easy was the racquet to use (turning on/off, syncing with app)?
Very easy. I have used Android mostly, but iOS too. The android app works great on my Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy. I encountered only a known issue that Babolat had already solved on the forthcoming release of the app. I have also used the Windows widget to sync from my desktop computer. So far I have mostly used the mobile app since I just cannot resist the temptation to download my session soon after playing.


How did the racquet play (if you have used a Pure Drive in the past, did it play similarly)?
I have really enjoyed the racquet so far. It's so manouvrable on my 1 handed backhand. I was surprised I liked it so much even with the Excel multifilament it came with. I tested the regular 2012 Pure Drive before but with high (for me) tension poly and thought it was too advanced for my game.


How easy was the app to use?
Very easy. I have beta tested for software before and trust me this is definitely not a beta version but a rather polished piece of software.


What did you like about the app?
The app makes excellent use of screen real estate on mobile devices. It looks good on both my phone and 7" tablet and all the information the racquet collects is easily accessible.


What did you dislike about the app?
The iOS app on the iPad does not look optimized for the large screen. That's it not a big minus but if I had to write something in this section that would be it. Having said that, you can see the website from your table without any problem...


Was there anything you thought was missing?
Here are just a couple of things I would add:
1. Add the possibility to include notes with your sessions. Some days are more important then others and one might want to save a few words. I think tournament players might like that too. This option could be switched on and off with a control like the one used for singles/double.
2. As all smartphones now have GPS, add to the app the ability to "guess" where you played and select default court type and inside vs outside for you. Of course this could be manually changed. As not all people download their sessions on the court like I do This might not appeal to everyone. You could also save a list of names for the various locations where you play. These data could also be anonymised (after the users agree to it) and shown on the Babolat site as web map to highlight countries with more endurance, countries with more technique, among the many options.
There have been some very useful suggestions that I agree with since I started writing this review, see dgoran's review.

How did you use the data you received from the app?
The Pure Drive Play showed me things I already knew about my game like the fact that I just turn on my forehand too much:

But I actually know now that I hit 2 forehands for each backhand. That would not be a problem in itself if I were quick enough moving around the court. The problem is that often when I move on the forehand I have to hit a defensive shot since I am not in the right position and that defeats the purpose of hitting your best shot. I have been pushing myself to hit more backhands supported by the numerical evidence coming from the Pure Drive Play.
Improving your game in tennis is a long term project. Improvements generally come slowly but what this new technology gives is a powerful monitoring tool that can give you some instant gratification after each playing session. By showing your efforts pay off even if only with small increment in some metric you are interested in, I think it's easier to keep up your motivation to work on your game. This I think is working for me, at least.

What the racquet showed me is also something I did not know quite as well about my tennis: the fact that I hit so high on the stringbed. I think i was aware of that for my serve:

But I wasn't quite as aware of how high I tend to hit balls on my groundstrokes (see second image from top). I am now monitoring this aspect too. I am trying to hit cleaner shots when I'm not well positioned and I would have higher chances of shanking it. In these cases I'm hitting flatter strokes and I'm already seeing dramatic improvements in the recorded location where I hit on the stringbed. My average power score has gone down a bit from my first sessions with the PD PLAY but my technique score has improved. This feature has been unexpectedly useful to me.


Overall, I am very impressed with this product and I would definitely buy it if someone took it away!

 

[palmerop]

The community tab is quite interesting. The ranking appears to be mostly based on how often and how much you play rather than how good your technique is...

So even if your strokes suck like mine, you can still be ranked above Chris Edwards! At least until he decides to hit with the Pure Drive Play again...

Notice the colour of the Pulse: mine is blue as I last played with the racquet on Sunday and Chris' is grey as he hasn't played since 2-Dec-13. But it might just be that it shows in blue only your own score.

 

[palmerop]

My peak technique score matches my lowest endurance score:

Maybe it's because I just shank them more when they make me run around a lot?

 

[juststrungout]

Thanks Paolo! So I'm assuming those screen caps are off of phones and tablets? Is the tablet version different? Or just larger?

I was curious about the long-term results as I'd like to track progress over time and changes - particularly with my kids.

Keep it coming!

-jamie

 

[palmerop]

Thanks Paolo! So I'm assuming those screen caps are off of phones and tablets? Is the tablet version different? Or just larger?

I was curious about the long-term results as I'd like to track progress over time and changes - particularly with my kids.

Keep it coming!

-jamie

The screenshots are a mix of Nexus 7, Galaxy 4s, iPad 2 and desktop. Currently the tablet app does not offer more functionality than the phone version. However, I forgot to mention this in the review, you can use the website from an ipad without any problems:

It looks like the web site will work very well with long series of data. Moreover there will be an export to excel option that might be very appealing to those who want to further their analysis with more advanced tools.

 

[mad dog1]

Thanks Paolo! So I'm assuming those screen caps are off of phones and tablets? Is the tablet version different? Or just larger?

I was curious about the long-term results as I'd like to track progress over time and changes - particularly with my kids.

Keep it coming!

-jamie

not sure about tablets but the screen caps between the smartphones and PC are a little different. i get more detail on my PC than i do on my smartphone.

 

[palmerop]

not sure about tablets but the screen caps between the smartphones and PC are a little different. i get more detail on my PC than i do on my smartphone.

I don't think there actually is a tablet version. And yes, there is more data to see on the desktop site. This chart is not available from the app for example:

 

[palmerop]

Thanks Paolo! So I'm assuming those screen caps are off of phones and tablets? Is the tablet version different? Or just larger?

I was curious about the long-term results as I'd like to track progress over time and changes - particularly with my kids.

Keep it coming!

-jamie

The download as xls option:

at the moment only exports play time and number of shots for a session:

 

[palmerop]

Another interesting page is the Records tab:

where you get a wide range of highest scores. This too is not available on the mobile app (where it is grayed out) but only on the website.

 

[juststrungout]

Cool.

So similar to the Nike FuelBand awards and such.

Can you have multiple user accounts? Just curious if my wife wanted to hit with it (instead of me for example) could it bin her data separately? I'm guessing no...

Can't wait till I can get my hands on one. We do app development around here and it will be fun to give some feedback and push for even more options.

Thanks again guys.

-jamie

 

[palmerop]

Cool.

So similar to the Nike FuelBand awards and such.

Can you have multiple user accounts? Just curious if my wife wanted to hit with it (instead of me for example) could it bin her data separately? I'm guessing no...

Can't wait till I can get my hands on one. We do app development around here and it will be fun to give some feedback and push for even more options.

Thanks again guys.

-jamie

When you first pair the racquet, you're asked whether you want to associate the stick with your account. I don't know though whether this precludes associating the racquet with other accounts... haven't tested this.

 

[djNEiGht]

I don't think you can have multiple users. When I synced my racquet, it said that this racquet belonged to someone else and will erase all data.

 

[palmerop]

Cool.

So similar to the Nike FuelBand awards and such.

Can you have multiple user accounts? Just curious if my wife wanted to hit with it (instead of me for example) could it bin her data separately? I'm guessing no...

Can't wait till I can get my hands on one. We do app development around here and it will be fun to give some feedback and push for even more options.

Thanks again guys.

-jamie

I think this is a similar concept:

I think your "level" progresses as you hit more shots. You need a certain number of shots of each type to advance a level. I don't know whether it counts clean shots only or shanks too.

 

[the_faceless_player]

I think it counts number of shots regardless of point of impact.

However, there is a bug with the SKILLS section. If you earn your way to the next level mid session, the shot that gets you to 100% completion and every subsequent shot is not counted toward progress on the next level. I started last night at 99.58% of my current level and after 90 minutes I had moved to the next level but with 0.00% completed. My 90 minutes only netted me 0.42% of progress.

Babolat confirmed this morning that it is a bug they know exists and they are working to get it fixed.

 

[palmerop]

I think it counts number of shots regardless of point of impact.

However, there is a bug with the SKILLS section. If you earn your way to the next level mid session, the shot that gets you to 100% completion and every subsequent shot is not counted toward progress on the next level. I started last night at 99.58% of my current level and after 90 minutes I had moved to the next level but with 0.00% completed. My 90 minutes only netted me 0.42% of progress.

Babolat confirmed this morning that it is a bug they know exists and they are working to get it fixed.

Thanks for sharing this! Since I play these things called drill and play where you often change activity I tend to record a number of sessions per day of play so I didn't notice it...

 

[rdis10093]

nice, very nice.

 

[palmerop]

Here is another example of the data you get from the Babolat Pure Drive PLAY:

The balls I hit during drill are easier than the ones I have to deal with during matches but the difference is just too large at the moment...

 

[swfh]

Had another hit tonight with the Play. I noted that my previous sessions showed little accuracy towards he center. Around 35%. I made a concerned effort to be a little closer to the ball this time around and got my overall center accuracy to be 43% for the session. Needless to say, I hit my forehands harder than ever before and with more control. There is something to be had here...

I may be switching from my Dunlops too.

 

[palmerop]

There loads of things to see in the Analysis tab:

These break points in average shots per unit time probably match games pretty well in singles

 

[seekay]

Tennis experience/background:
Recreational player (4.0 NTRP), local stringer

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Baseline

Current racquet/string:
Wilson K Six.One 95 16x18, gut/poly hybrid

How many hours did you play with the racquet?
As of this review, the app tells me I'm at 10 hours, 3 minutes, and 2468 shots.

How easy was the racquet to use (turning on/off, syncing with app)?
Very easy. I used Bluetooth to pull the data onto my phone and tablet (both Android).

The only problem I had was that the butt cap doesn't snap all the way down (unless I use an awl to push at the base) and trying to push it down is recognized as a press of the larger button. A number of my sessions probably have spurious session breaks from my fussing with it, but the app doesn't yet reflect them, so it didn't affect my data.

That makes me better appreciate the Bluetooth radio. I can get the buttcap snapped in and leave it until I need to recharge the racquet.

How did the racquet play?
It's notably stiffer and lighter than my usual setup, but it's easy to see why it's a popular frame. I felt like it made it easy to hit hard heavy groundstrokes, even with a short, late swing. The other side of that coin is that the Pure Drive seems to allow bad habits to continue. I also found a lack of precision and control compared to my usual frame.

How easy was the app to use?
Some UI elements didn't work like I'd expected (more below), but after a few minutes, I had it working. It's honestly better than I'd expected for pre-release software.

What did you like about the app?
For the most part, it's easy to use. The data is presented in a simple way.

The graphic design is well done; it's a stylish app. The racquet has garnered a lot of interest in the various clubs I've played at, and I can see that people are impressed by how cool the app looks.

What did you dislike about the app?
Some of the translations are off, but I'm assuming that's already fixed for the public version of the app.

I'd really like to know what's being estimated by the number of energies per session. Most of the other metrics I can figure out, but that one merits some explanation.

I really only had one UI issue. When analyzing a session, I can swipe down and see a 2x2 grid showing shot counts. I found that I wanted to tap forehand or backhand on that screen to get to the topspin/slice/flat breakdown screen. It's not necessarily wrong, but it defied my expectations.

Was there anything you thought was missing?
More than anything, I'm interested in how else the data could be presented and analyzed. I've got a few wish list items that may or may not be possible:

1. Differentiate volleys and groundstrokes - May not be possible, but I'd prefer if they weren't all counted as groundstrokes.
2. String recommendations - This is a reach, but there are a lot of people stringing their racquets wrong. If the sensors can detect that the stringbed is behaving outside of a recommended range, it would be nice to inform the user and recommend a change in tension or string.
3. String tension monitoring - Along the same lines, if I were able to inform the app that the strings are fresh, I would get value out of its estimate of how string performance changes over time.
4. Shot-by-shot dump - There's not a lot of direct value, but it would be fun to go over a session and see individual shots and their individual stats.
5. Trends - I'd like to see how and when my performance falls off during a long session. It would be nice to see whether I'm getting better over weeks and months as well.

How did you use the data you received from the app?
I most appreciated the shot counters, specifically slice vs. topspin since that pretty directly correlates to defense vs. offense on my backhand side. It showed that after I've won a match, I remember a lot more of the offensive shots that defensive. It's useful to me to see what works (instead of what made me feel skillful).

The ability to display impact location on the stringbed is also interesting. Play's measurements line up pretty nicely with the fraying gut on my usual frames. If I weren't already getting that information from my strings, I'd find that really useful.

I'm excited about the technology, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Babolat can extend/enhance/refine the data that's being gathered. Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Babolat for the opportunity to test!

 

[swfh]

LOVE these strings in this frame. They add a measure of feel to the stick, making it less hollow.

Iontec hexa 1.25 mains
Iontec black 1.20 crosses

 

[mad dog1]

LOVE these strings in this frame. They add a measure of feel to the stick, making it less hollow.

Iontec hexa 1.25 mains
Iontec black 1.20 crosses

What tension?

 

[swfh]

What tension?

52/50
10 char

 

[mad dog1]

52/50
10 char

Lock out or CP?

i am going to try full poly at 45-47# on a CP.

 

[swfh]

Lock out or CP?

i am going to try full poly at 45-47# on a CP.

constant pull klippermate

 

[McNasty]

After hearing there is more information on the PC than the app I held off on two matches to upload on the PC. I synced to the PC and it uploaded the info and its not there. I have two questions, are there still issues with uploading the data and how come I cannot access any info on the PC(windows xp). I cannot access the website unless I have something to upload.

 

[mad dog1]

After hearing there is more information on the PC than the app I held off on two matches to upload on the PC. I synced to the PC and it uploaded the info and its not there. I have two questions, are there still issues with uploading the data and how come I cannot access any info on the PC(windows xp). I cannot access the website unless I have something to upload.

doesn't matter if you download the info from the racquet to you Smartphone or PC. all of the same data gets transferred and stored to the cloud server.

in other words, if you download your data to your Smartphone at the tennis court, you can still access the same data from your PC when you get home. i've tested this both ways. i've downloaded via iPhone and am able to see the sessions on my PC. i've also downloaded via PC and am able to see the sessions on my iPhone and Galaxy S3. this is because the sessions are all downloaded and saved to the cloud.

the difference is in the user interface. the Smartphone interface only displays about 80% of the total data recorded. the PC user interface displays all of it. for example, there's trending data that doesn't display on Smartphone, but displays on PC.

 

[McNasty]

doesn't matter if you download the info from the racquet to you Smartphone or PC. all of the same data gets transferred and stored to the cloud server.

in other words, if you download your data to your Smartphone at the tennis court, you can still access the same data from your PC when you get home. i've tested this both ways. i've downloaded via iPhone and am able to see the sessions on my PC. i've also downloaded via PC and am able to see the sessions on my iPhone and Galaxy S3. this is because the sessions are all downloaded and saved to the cloud.

the difference is in the user interface. the Smartphone interface only displays about 80% of the total data recorded. the PC user interface displays all of it. for example, there's trending data that doesn't display on Smartphone, but displays on PC.

I'm aware of this but my problems are:

1. I cannot access the site off of the PC unless I upload something
2. The two sessions I uploaded on the PC did not show up at all.

 

[mad dog1]

I'm aware of this but my problems are:

1. I cannot access the site off of the PC unless I upload something
2. The two sessions I uploaded on the PC did not show up at all.

Are you getting the pop up log in prompt for username and pw? Username is babolatplay and pw is beta2013.

I had issues during the 4 day server outage but it's been working fine for me since.

 

[WhyNotLetItFly]

I'm aware of this but my problems are:

1. I cannot access the site off of the PC unless I upload something
2. The two sessions I uploaded on the PC did not show up at all.

Same for me. Test Flight has never let me download the app so for now I only use the PC program. First session synced and posted fine but the last several have not shown up on my profile after the data is taken off the racquet. I was thinking that perhaps you have to be logged on to the site while the data is downloaded but that shouldn't make a difference.

 

[McNasty]

Are you getting the pop up log in prompt for username and pw? Username is babolatplay and pw is beta2013.

I had issues during the 4 day server outage but it's been working fine for me since.

Yes, all of that worked perfect when I hooked up to the PC, I hit the orange upload sessions button and it synched and uploaded the sessions, but then they never showed up. I'm bummed, but I guess that's why we are beta testing this software.

 

[palmerop]

Yes, all of that worked perfect when I hooked up to the PC, I hit the orange upload sessions button and it synched and uploaded the sessions, but then they never showed up. I'm bummed, but I guess that's why we are beta testing this software.

Weird are you assessing the preproduction site? It works perfectly for me...

 

[anubis]

I too am unable to download the software to my phone. I have contact Babolat support about this, have yet to hear back.

 

[Babolat Official]

I too am unable to download the software to my phone. I have contact Babolat support about this, have yet to hear back.

who did you email? I've yet to see anything come through.

 

[McNasty]

Weird are you assessing the preproduction site? It works perfectly for me...

I can go into the pre production site but not by the desk icon. When I click on the desk icon(Windows XP) the Babolat Connect screen comes up asking me to synch my racket and then click the orange " Download played sessions" button. If I do not have new info it will not bring me to the site.

I did this on Sunday when i had two two hour sessions to upload, it all went smoothly but the information never showed up. I have had no issues at all uploading via my iPhone 5.

In the future i guess i will stick to synching with the iPhone.

 

[Out?]

isnt the preorder for this suppose to be up today?

 

[McNasty]

Just banged some shots against the wall and tried uploading via the PC again. Everything synched and i watched it upload, it then asked me to view my sessions and its not there. Can anyone explain whats going on with this?

Thanks

 

[palmerop]

Just banged some shots against the wall and tried uploading via the PC again. Everything synched and i watched it upload, it then asked me to view my sessions and its not there. Can anyone explain whats going on with this?

Thanks

screenshots would help.

 

[palmerop]

I have scored my "Technique" record during a drill trying to hit a bit flatter and generally following mad dog1's suggestions:

Not sure I can keep that up during a match with faster shots coming at me and more running to do though. The racquet is definitely recording this information correctly though...

hit/drive through the contact zone instead of brushing up or across the contact zone. alot of people try to generate more spin by making a conscious effort to brush up on the ball which can lead to more shanks.

if you watch michelle hitting in the playtest videos, she hits through the contact zone and doesn't have an exaggerated brushing up or pulling the racquet across her body through the contact zone. by this, i mean her racquet is swinging forward into the court. her strokes are also flatter which makes it easier to achieve cleaner ball contact.

here's a great example of her hitting through the contact zone on her FH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7GhfJD8s3lY#t=42

 

[anubis]

who did you email? I've yet to see anything come through.

What is your email address? I can forward it to you.

 

[BLX_Andy]

Was this a public sign-up playtest like most others? So mad I missed out on this...

 

[LanEvo]

Was this a public sign-up playtest like most others? So mad I missed out on this...

There was that, and TW selected certain people from the forums as well. I was lucky enough to be selected by TW and am very grateful for the opportunity. I did not even know about the Babolat online sign-up application. Did I mention that we get to keep the racquets too?

 

[LanEvo]

Tennis experience/background: 3.5 Recreational Player and Play University Intramural Tennis in Singles and Doubles as well, local stringer

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Baseliner all the way

Current racquet/string: Babolat Pure Storm Tour Ltd./2012 Babolat PDR

How many hours did you play with the racquet?: I have about 10-15 hours on it, with about 5 hours of recorded time. I would have more, but when school ended for the Holiday in the beginning of the December, tennis stopped for me as well (no tennis scene in my home area away from school).

How easy was the racquet to use (turning on/off, syncing with app)?: The racquet is easy to use, just plug to charge, on/off by pushing the button. Synching was very easy as well, just plug it in and it automatically transfers the data. Although I would love it if it could have stored session, and have the app allow the user to update and download data at will and pick which session they would like.

How did the racquet play (if you have used a Pure Drive in the past, did it play similarly)?: Having used (and owned most of) every generation of Pure Drives since the Cortex came out, I found it very similar to the current 2012 Pure Drive Roddick, just weighted exactly like the regular 2012 PD. I have owned the regular 2012 PD, and I found that the racquet, while just as light did not feel as solid and tiny as the current Play version. It is similar to the 2012 PDR in feel abeit not as heavy. The racquet feels more solid all around, the whole racquet is like a solid sweetspot. Compared to the regular 2012 PD, it was just more solid all around, the regular version felt tinier and some hollowness around the frame on off-center hits. Maybe it is just a slight difference in weight or some variance from the one I owned or something, but it just feels different from the 2012 regular, non-Play, PD that I owned a used at one point and more towards the PDR.

How easy was the app to use?: It is very easy, plug it in, it uploads and syncs, set the details for the session, and everything is automatically calculated for you (you do have to make an account first with Babolat to upload and share your info.)

What did you like about the app?: I like how accurate and simple the app is, it uploads and automatically calculates allt he data for you and gives you a score/rating.

What did you dislike about the app?: If I had to give it a dislike, it would be the accuracy, while it is very minimal, it registered some of my shots as "smashes" and I don't know how I ever hit a smash, aside from that, I did not really find any dislikes. Well, except the splitting the set function, I will need to try out the feature since the new "official" app came out, but when I take it out, I will provide an update.

Was there anything you thought was missing?: It would be nice if the app showed/explained how all the formulations of scores were calculated. Also, another nice feature would be if they had each individual input our skill levels, then provide in app recommendation/tips to improve our game. That would be a nice idea to motivate players who use the racquet and have them go out to improve and play more.

How did you use the data you received from the app?: I took it as a means for me to improve my game, it showed me my weak areas and areas where I need to work on such as placement on the racquet, power, etc. For example: I need to hit more backhands, my forehand ratio is so much higher than hitting my backhands and I need to hit with more power behind my shots.

Basic overall layout once you get on and click around on the side menu:

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8725/3ml2.png

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/1260/sp6a.png

In depth of one of my hitting sessions:

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5049/eml4.png

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4047/2xro.png

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8126/uz21.png

Please refer to the links of the images, there is a limit to the number of pictures I can put onto a post.

 

[aced_Tezuka]

There was that, and TW selected certain people from the forums as well. I was lucky enough to be selected by TW and am very grateful for the opportunity. I did not even know about the Babolat online sign-up application. Did I mention that we get to keep the racquets too?

Wait, so was there a thread to sign up? Or did TW choose people? Pretty disappointed I missed out on this one because this tech sounds very helpful but I was super busy with school for a while.

Well at least I get to participate in the other Babolat playtest!

 

[mad dog1]

Wait, so was there a thread to sign up? Or did TW choose people? Pretty disappointed I missed out on this one because this tech sounds very helpful but I was super busy with school for a while.

Well at least I get to participate in the other Babolat playtest!

There was no sign up for this one. TW contacted us.

 

[aced_Tezuka]

There was no sign up for this one. TW contacted us.

Oh alright, that's great for you guys! I wish to build up a rep like that in the future.

 

[LanEvo]

Wait, so was there a thread to sign up? Or did TW choose people? Pretty disappointed I missed out on this one because this tech sounds very helpful but I was super busy with school for a while.

Well at least I get to participate in the other Babolat playtest!

Do you get to keep that racquet too?

 

[mad dog1]

Do you get to keep that racquet too?

i don't think so. the Strike/Control playtest is a typical TW racquet playtest.

the PDP playtest was more of a beta test for Babolat rather than a typical TW playtest. we were supposed to find bugs, suggest enhancements, etc. in exchange for our time and efforts, babolat was generous and kind to let us keep them.