Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
110+ MPH serves were easy with those
The Aeropro Drive Original will arguably go down as the best modern racquet of all time...here's why
- Thread starter shapovalovnextgoat
- Start date
mattlikovich
Rookie
I still use the apdo+ I have 3 of them but sometimes wonder if after all these years the integrity can deteriorate.
With Cortex?
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Yes, the one with the "Active Cortex". Nice racquet, but too low of a swingweight in stock form. That is one stick which just begs for customisation. Lead tape and silicone in the handle, and you're good to go.
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Hey if you like the way they currently play, I see no reason to worry.
I don't like it with Cortex. Agree with the topic - the original is the best one.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Cortex does reduce the vibration, I personally like that cause it is easier on the arm. This is a very stiff racket afterall. But some people like that crisp clean feel without the cortex. you really feel that POP with the original aeropro.
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Did it increase the grip size? Have you tried the APDO with a leather grip?
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
I just hit with the APDO for the first time and it is amazing. Solid, stable, easy yet controllable depth, great spin. What an amazing stick.
Interestingly, mine measured SW 321, rather than the over 330 stated in OP. I strung it with 1.24mm poly.
In my mind it is the best Aero ever made (ok I haven't tried the 2nd version), and one of my favourite racquets ever. Lucky I got 2 for $50. Hopefully the honeymoon period lasts forever.
Long live the APDO
Interestingly, mine measured SW 321, rather than the over 330 stated in OP. I strung it with 1.24mm poly.
In my mind it is the best Aero ever made (ok I haven't tried the 2nd version), and one of my favourite racquets ever. Lucky I got 2 for $50. Hopefully the honeymoon period lasts forever.
Long live the APDO
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
2 for $50? That's a ridiculously good deal. Even if you decide to not play with them anymore and eventually sell them off, I'd expect them to fetch atleast a $100 per frame if they are in even moderately good condition.
In short, you will not lose money on it. People invest in property, I say invest in the APD Original while you still can hahaha!
BounceHitBounceHit
Legend
BBender716
Semi-Pro
Just bought the Tour version of the 2019. First Aero I've ever used and I can't wait.
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
To add to this, been playing with the Pure Aero 2019 for some time now alongside my trusty APD Original, and I gotta say, it's the closest you'll get to the feel of the Original. Think of it as a slightly more powerful, easier to use APDO.
Lovely racquet, also has a fantastic paintjob.
el sergento
Hall of Fame
Ever heard of:
SW is like body fat: really easy to put on, but almost impossible to take off.
That’s why the APD 2013 is the bomb. Comfy, and with a low Enough SW for customization.
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Pure Strike Project One Seven 16x19 had a raw feel to it like the APD Original. Not sure how good the 3rd gen is, but reviews have been promising.
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
And the more successful oneMeh...the Aero will always be the Drive's little brother...
Ice-Borg
Rookie
Doesn't Rafa use the Pure Aero 2019?
jmacdaununder2
Legend
This guy!!
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Haha not at all, it's just a paintjob like 99% of all racquets on tour.
Next thing you'll be shocked to know is that Djokovic doesn't actually use the 100 sq inch 18x20 Speed Pro he endorses, and instead plays with a custom 95 sq inch 18x19 racquet.
the 98in² or the 100?
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
98 sq inch 305 g one
Bender
G.O.A.T.
APDO was an awesome racquet. Only the APD 2013 and arguably the current PA come remotely close
The APDO seems to have aged like a Van Gogh on TTW. I remember how hated they were for "ruining tennis" a decade ago; now people get all nostalgic over them like nothing happened (granted a lot of those guys stopped posting long ago).
The APDO seems to have aged like a Van Gogh on TTW. I remember how hated they were for "ruining tennis" a decade ago; now people get all nostalgic over them like nothing happened (granted a lot of those guys stopped posting long ago).
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
A large part of it honestly stems from Rafa's success of 19 Grand Slam titles with it. The same way Federer popularised the PS 90 and club level players worldwide started yielding the stick, even though the racquet far exceeded their skills. The Aero line in general, and the APD Original in particular has a strong cult-like following due to the racquet line's popularity, and because many have realised what Rafa actually uses under various paintjobs.
That said, it also helps that Babolats make tennis easier to play for most players, and the APD Original was an early precedent to breaking the norm of classic, heavy player frames. TTW purists migh've hated it initially, but it's only after joining the dark side that you realise what you've missed out on all these years.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I think its a great racket for singles play for aggressive baseliners who occasionally come to net to finish the points. Rafa proved yesterday you can serve and volley as well with it. but it isn't for doubles where lightening quick net reflexes are mandatory
n8dawg6
Legend
absolutely. ive never seen doubles players at professional or amateur levels using an APD or PA, theyre as useless as holding a 27” rope at the net. this is why ive been considering a move to yonex
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Y
What exactly is it that makes these racquets not good for doubles?
You sure about that? I know plenty of good doubles players around me with APDs/PAs who play terrific with those frames.
What exactly is it that makes these racquets not good for doubles?
n8dawg6
Legend
(im just being sarcastic. theyre fantastic doubles
frames in heavy use by players of all levels)
michael valek
Hall of Fame
Just rediscovering my love for the apd. Any shot played by your opponent is an opportunity to attack. I totally love control and classic frames but it’s just easier to win points this way. No need to paint the lines with an apd, absolute precision is not required. Even better if you do hit the lines of course but it’s a different game with this racket. Better for me than current and previous pure Aeros.
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
I ve played apdo, but not Pure Aeros. In what way are these updates worse? I do find the yellow white APD cortex plus lenght however better serving than original standard lenght apd.
michael valek
Hall of Fame
Stiffer in the 2016 version and the current one is ok but not quite as good as the 2013 version. This is subjective opinion of course.
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
They changed the drill pattern with the Pure Aeros. The APDO, Cortex, GT and 2013 are the same molds, with different playing characteristics. The APD mold offers more control than the more open pattern of the PA's, without sacrificing power and spin.I ve played apdo, but not Pure Aeros. In what way are these updates worse? I do find the yellow white APD cortex plus lenght however better serving than original standard lenght apd.
joah310
Professional
I understand that the drill patterns changed, but did the overall mold change too? seemed similar in my hands but honestly I wouldn't be able to tell, not really a babolat user so... but I used to have the 2016 pure aero and still have a couple 2010 apdgt+. And Im obviously excluding the plastic cortex part in the throat.
brownbearfalling
Hall of Fame
When I clicked this thread I thought this was about the “original Aero tour” racquet that predates the aero drive.
Anyway, I think Babolat is doing a great thing with the new pure Aeros. Hit with a 2016 pure aero tour and the dialed down power was very nice. The racquet almost had more versatility. Also liking the color scheme of newer models. Nothing bad about the first aero drive but Babolat is doing the model complete justice by issuing our great updates
Anyway, I think Babolat is doing a great thing with the new pure Aeros. Hit with a 2016 pure aero tour and the dialed down power was very nice. The racquet almost had more versatility. Also liking the color scheme of newer models. Nothing bad about the first aero drive but Babolat is doing the model complete justice by issuing our great updates
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Same mold, just a more open string pattern!
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Not the same mold. Agree on the drill pattern being more open though.
joah310
Professional
How so? And did it affect much?
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Subtle differences visually, but if you hold them side by side you will see they are different. The construction of the frames is different too in terms of where the frames flex on ball impact. So I would say yes it’s a pretty big difference in terms of feel and response.
shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Comparing the specs on the APD and the PA, the PA has a higher stiffness rating. It could be that Babolat stiffened up the throat a little. The PA is definitely more powerful of the two.
joah310
Professional
Ic that's quite interesting. I thought they had same mold. I do understand the changes in layups though.
Ic, probably layup changed as well as the more open string pattern.
D
Deleted member 781523
Guest
acquired an APD 1st gen recently in 9.5/10 condition. strung it up with weiss cannon ultra cable (main) and weiss cannon scorpion (crosses) at 50lb to double down on spin. put 4 grams of lead at 9/3 and 2 grams at 12 to counterbalance a tourna grip. As presumed, this racket works great when I was on offense dictating pace from the baseline, but I was disappointed in how unstable it is defensively! I'm going to add 4-6 more grams at 9/3 and see if that helps, but I can't imagine trying to play against a heavy hitter with the frame in stock form - way too unstable. I was pleased with my serve, I was able to place my flat first serves better than expected. volleying, on the other hand, was a disaster. I felt like even volleys I was contacting out in front would fly deep, but my string setup I'm sure did not help that.
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Ice-Borg
Rookie
It seems that what makes for a great serving and power / spin racquet is the opposite of what makes for a good volleying racquet that is stable with control. The result is players trying all sorts of combinations between the two to try to find the secret formula. But in the end I fear that it is a zero sum game. You are going to have to decide what you want to sacrifice to get what you want in a racquet and strings. I guess it comes down to play style.
I normally play with a 16x19 and used to use the original aero pro drive. I liked it though it was really stiff to me. But it swung like a hammer/whip and really put motion on the ball. Later I switched to the 2016 neon green pure aero. I still use it. It seemed a little less stiff but more smooth and still gave me a lot of power and spin and it has some weight to it so it feels stable and gives good plow through.
I tested out the speed 360 (Novak) racquet for change of pace. It is an 18x20 and I put head lynx tour in it at 45 tension. That racquet was a defensive machine. Amazing at easily returning high paced balls with excellent control. Also good at the net. The problem was that I lost all my power and spin from the baseline and on my serve. The upside is that a lot of balls I hit were staying in deep.
I struggled with whether to stick with it as there was a lot I liked about it. I even went schizophrenic and switched racquets every game for a while. But in the end the Novak racquet was forcing me to be a defensive player as I didn’t have the easy access to spin and power I had with the aero plus I’m a baseliner so I stuck with the aero.
I tried stringing the Novak racquet with my usual spin/ power string but it just didn’t help that much. But in the hands of someone who takes big cuts and provide a lot of his own power, that Novak racquet could be a real asset. It was finding lines like crazy almost assisting the ball to stay in with every shot. It was also gold vs big hitters. Redirected pace right back at them with great control.
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
how can it be not stable? I think that you probably arent used to the very profiled Ultra cable and maybe you have put to much lead unto it. Its as solid as any racquet. If you put onto too many overgrips or they are too thick than your grip becomes to round which could give the sensation of difficult to grip and thus not stable..
D
Deleted member 781523
Guest
you could be right, maybe I'll try Scorpion or even Solinco Confidential in the mains and see how it plays. Don't think it's an overgrip issue
ryushen21
Legend
PC 600, PT630, nCode 6.1 95 18x20, Ultra Tour, Blade Pro... all of these feel infinitely better than the APDO could ever dream of.
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