Thinking of switching to a pure drive roddick

[Ballinbob]

Hey all

I currently play with a Wilson Ksix-one 95 16x18 racket and I am happy with it. However, I have been hearing excellent things about the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick 2012. I looked at the review for it on TW and it seems to be amazing.

I am toying with the idea of demoing it and switching over, but I want to ask some general questions about it.

1. I play a lot of doubles and am very happy with my KSix racket on volleys. On the TW review, both rackets had the same score for volleys. I find this a little too good to be true, but I want to hear thoughts on this as this is a big concern for me.

2. Will there be any major differences if I switch ? What does the Pure Drive do that my racket doesnt ?

I am a 4.5 player and like I said, I'm happy with my current stick. However, if there is a racket out there that is supposedly that good, I wouldnt mind switching. I only know basics about rackets and have been with Wilson all my life.

How much can I take from the TW reviews ? Are they pretty accurate ? I wasn't thinking of switching but this seems hard to ignore

I will demo the racket eventually but I just want general things to look for and I want to hear some thoughts from you guys

All thoughts/advice are welcome, thanks

 

[LanEvo]

Demo it, I find it is pretty on par with the TW review. Although I would give the slice category around an 85-86. I found very nice slices on my BH. And the Touch/Feel category bumped up to an 80. Depending on your play-style and string-setup, you do feel every bit of the ball. Demo it, I really enjoyed it. But I found the PDR+ to be a tad bit better for my game.

To answer your questions:

1. Volleys are really nice, solid and full of spin. I was able to hit angles really well with it, the sweetspot is much bigger than the K95. Although, it is a powerful frame with the PDR. Many of my volleys were well toward the baseline of the court up front. I had to adjust a bit on my technique for a drop or a short volley to compensate for the high power, but it worked.

2. Definitely a difference if you switch, I think you will find the frame much more forgiving and having a more opened up sweetspot. I played with the k95 a few times, a couple of my friends own one, 16x18 and 18x20. IDK if you get it, maybe you are used to it, but with the k95, if you happen to get a mishit on an off angle of the racquet, it vibrates. With the PDR you really don't get much of that, unless it is on the frame or on the very edge. If you do switch, you will find the frame much more stable, even on mishits, as well, the biggest thing of all: POWER!! That is the big difference, you will definitely see a difference in that category, in a good way imo.

This is a very broad answering, do you have anything more specific to ask? I can answer any questions you may have.

 

[fortun8son]

By all means, demo it.
It is both more forgiving and more powerful.
A good thing? Up to you.
While you are demo-ing, take a look at the six-one team and the Dunlop 4D 200.
Yes, I know they are 18M sticks.

 

[Ballinbob]

Demo it, I find it is pretty on par with the TW review. Although I would give the slice category around an 85-86. I found very nice slices on my BH. And the Touch/Feel category bumped up to an 80. Depending on your play-style and string-setup, you do feel every bit of the ball. Demo it, I really enjoyed it. But I found the PDR+ to be a tad bit better for my game.

To answer your questions:

1. Volleys are really nice, solid and full of spin. I was able to hit angles really well with it, the sweetspot is much bigger than the K95. Although, it is a powerful frame with the PDR. Many of my volleys were well toward the baseline of the court up front. I had to adjust a bit on my technique for a drop or a short volley to compensate for the high power, but it worked.

2. Definitely a difference if you switch, I think you will find the frame much more forgiving and having a more opened up sweetspot. I played with the k95 a few times, a couple of my friends own one, 16x18 and 18x20. IDK if you get it, maybe you are used to it, but with the k95, if you happen to get a mishit on an off angle of the racquet, it vibrates. With the PDR you really don't get much of that, unless it is on the frame or on the very edge. If you do switch, you will find the frame much more stable, even on mishits, as well, the biggest thing of all: POWER!! That is the big difference, you will definitely see a difference in that category, in a good way imo.

This is a very broad answering, do you have anything more specific to ask? I can answer any questions you may have.

I do realize this is a broad question. I will have to demo it as you said. And yes, the racket does vibrate on shanks but I guess I got used to it.

Some more questions:
1. I hear the Pure Drive is one of the best serving rackets out there. Did you have a positive experience with it when serving ? Does it get good spin ? I primarily hit kick serves in doubles so this is important to me

2. Was the power controllable ? I have heard some say it's tough to control at times

I am pleased to hear the good reviews on the volleys. I just don't associate Babolat with being good volley rackets. Now I am really itching to try this racket out...

Thanks for your input btw

 

[Ballinbob]

By all means, demo it.
It is both more forgiving and more powerful.
A good thing? Up to you.
While you are demo-ing, take a look at the six-one team and the Dunlop 4D 200.
Yes, I know they are 18M sticks.

Will do, thanks

 

[JackB1]

go here and all questions will be answered
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=420358

 

[BobFL]

Man, serving with PD is almost like cheating It is very easy, effortless. Volleys are crisp, clean and with lots of pace. You should definitely demo it because it is such a goooooooooood weapon especially in doubles.

 

[Ballinbob]

go here and all questions will be answered
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=420358

Thanks, reading it right now

Man, serving with PD is almost like cheating It is very easy, effortless. Volleys are crisp, clean and with lots of pace. You should definitely demo it because it is such a goooooooooood weapon especially in doubles.

This is what caught my attention in the first place. Seems to be an excellent racket and I guess I would be stupid not to try it out. It has really good reviews everywhere I'm going

My main concern about this racket was volleys. Like I said, I just never thought of a Babolat racket as one I would want to volley with until now maybe

Thanks everyone

 

[mawashi]

I can't comment about the PDR but roddick's game is built around the serve and heavy ground strokes so it's made just for that.

As for volleys, if it plays anything like my pd2012, I'll say it volleys really nicely.

I didn't like the k95 16x18 cus it gets squiggly on ground strokes once the strings start to wear out... on poly, the control goes really fast as it's only a 16x18.

You'll probably find the PDR very powerful initially but unlike some sticks, it's has a very even string bed unlike some other sticks which either dun have much of a sweetspot (yonex), dead upper hoop (rad pro and pst) or sweet spot that is either too high or too low.

 

[LanEvo]

I do realize this is a broad question. I will have to demo it as you said. And yes, the racket does vibrate on shanks but I guess I got used to it.

Some more questions:
1. I hear the Pure Drive is one of the best serving rackets out there. Did you have a positive experience with it when serving ? Does it get good spin ? I primarily hit kick serves in doubles so this is important to me

2. Was the power controllable ? I have heard some say it's tough to control at times

I am pleased to hear the good reviews on the volleys. I just don't associate Babolat with being good volley rackets. Now I am really itching to try this racket out...

Thanks for your input btw

1) Absolutely, the best serving stick I have ever used, I personally think I get the best 2nd Serves, Topspin which jumps right at the person, but on flats with this thing, absolutely amazing. Fast and heavy, basically just swing down and you will hit deep corner with the best zip. Spin is amazing as well on 2nds, I just had to adjust my technique a bit when I owned it, but still second to known in serving if I was to say. When I first took it out and hit with my partner (doubles), he told me I was definitely hitting much spin onto my topspin serves, and it was much heavier. I still prefer the feeling of whacking out a first serve the hardest you can, and getting that ace.

2) I think any racquet is controllable imo, but it definitely is, it just depends on your style and technique. I myself am a flat baseliner, so I hit with topspin minimally. For this frame I cannot use any type of full poly job, not any hybrid with poly. I have not tried many, so I may give it a try. But I found Kevlar/Multi. hybrid to work the best on my game, and this depends on your arm as well if it can take it. Basically, it comes down to a string setup on controlling power and one that works well with your game, but it is definitely controllable imo. Even when I used fully poly before on it, I could control it, just had to use more spin (more of a loopy technique) to keep the ball in. If you want to hit deep, this racquet does the job best, almost every return I get is within around 2 feet from the baseline.

On a side note, I have switched frames to the PDR+, the reason being, I used to use the older PDRCs, skipped the GT, was not as good as Cortex. Then these came out, and are very much better. The thing with the PDR for me, was the racquet felt more HH to me, even though balance and weight were the same, I believe attributes to the more stable and larger sweetspot. Anyway, I switched and it feels much better with the PDR+. I still played much better with the new PDR, but that feeling just nagged at me, so I switched to the longer version, not much of a difference, but it suited my game a bit more, as this feels more headlight now. But keep the questions coming if you have anymore, I still enjoy the PDR very much, just the PDR+ was better towards my game, in terms of racquet weight balance.

 

[LanEvo]

I can't comment about the PDR but roddick's game is built around the serve and heavy ground strokes so it's made just for that.

As for volleys, if it plays anything like my pd2012, I'll say it volleys really nicely.

I didn't like the k95 16x18 cus it gets squiggly on ground strokes once the strings start to wear out... on poly, the control goes really fast as it's only a 16x18.

You'll probably find the PDR very powerful initially but unlike some sticks, it's has a very even string bed unlike some other sticks which either dun have much of a sweetspot (yonex), dead upper hoop (rad pro and pst) or sweet spot that is either too high or too low.

Comparing PD vs. PDR on net game, the PDR is much more stable. When you shank a ball with the PD, you still get the vibration/feeling of the mishit. While on the PDR it is not as noticeable due to the increased mass. I own one of each actually a PDR + and a PD+, so I can comment on this. I cannot decide between the two, so I have one of each. The PD+ is light and very easy to swing, which keeps me going back, while the PDR+ is just so stable and hits a great shot with minimal/relaxed effort.

 

[LanEvo]

So OP, if you want, and I definitely recommend this, TW lets you take out 4 demos max, take out all 4 of these variants: PD, PD+, PDR, and PDR +, or just the two PDR variants since that is what you are looking at. And try those out, you will be surprised how they hit.

 

[fibonacci888]

Make sure you take the Technifibre Tflash 315 along in your demo round. Definately as good as the PDR but less stiff feel. Serving with these types of rackets is easy like stated above.

 

[ChicagoJack]

OP -

Regarding the volley thing. My leaded up PD+ volleys way better than the stock version. I was switching back and forth yesterday during one-up, one back cross court drills, and the difference was striking. With my stock version I need to hit dead center on the sweetspot, and have a much more touchy feelie arm/elbow technique. With my leaded up version (in signature) all I have to do is stick my racquet out there, hold firm and think about depth control. Sooo effortless. It's funny but I actually feel like I have to work harder with the lighter stock frame. I have 8 total grams at 3:00 & 9:00, 12 in the palette at the cap, and a heavy replacement grip. Almost the whole string bed feels like a sweetspot. So awesome for doubles, (which is 80% of my game) and a very big weapon. If you play a lot of doubles you might consider the non-roddick version as a customization platform. The Roddick version doesn't give room much room to play with especially if you like head light balance.

-Jack

 

[bluetrain4]

Echoing the others -- demo it. I love the 2012 PDR and will happily sing its praises. But, like every frame, it's not for everyone. So, give it a try and see for yourself.

 

[Pete Player]

I had old, old Puma REDs and started playing tennis again after 20 to 25 years. After five hours I just marched into a proshop and bought a pair of Pure Drive Roddicks.

Could not have made a better choice - I think. Stiff and poverfull frame and works fine with my top-spin forehand as well as the serve. Also very good in one hand slice back-hands. My top-spins on back-hand is quite weak, yet I like to hit it as well with the racket.

 

[Pete Player]

Forgot to mention, my tension is 26 kgms.