TEST DRIVING CARLOS ALCARAZ’S RACKET
He’s the young man establishing a new era of dominance, but aside from his speed, power, touch and stamina, it’s Carlos Alcaraz’s ability to produce mind–boggling topspin that really sets him apart. Those rotations are helped along by the Babolat Pure Aero VS, a frame that this year taken him to the World #1 spot, runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon glory (his title in SW19 was even more impressive given that a topspin game isn’t traditionally suited to the fast, low-playing style of the grass).
In an attempt to feel even the slightest bit like the GOAT-in-waiting, we got to grips with the Babolat Pure Aero, a racket within the same family as the VS, but aimed at intermediate and advanced players. Here’s what we found.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The Babolat Pure Aero is designed for players with an aggressive game, allowing you to hit with maximum spin and feel. If you like to stay close to the baseline, dictate points by taking the ball on the rise and force players off the court with acute angles, then this is perfect for your game.
NEW INNOVATIONS
The tight string pattern maximises contact on the ball, automatically improving control. At 300g unstrung, it’s heavyish, but it means that when you swing, the racket head falls below the height of the ball, allowing you to generate a deeper trajectory on the ball. The aerodynamic frame that integrates the bumper and grommets into the racket head, means that despite the weight, there’s less drag, supposedly making the racket move faster through the air - a major plus when you’re trying to stay aggressive or counterpunching.
BASELINE
You can really swing through the ball since the balance and weight of the racket naturally create shape on your strokes and add bonus topspin. I felt I hit fewer balls long, for sure.
NET
Top-heavy rackets can feel awkward at the net, but this feels way more forgiving than anticipated. The stability of the frame meant there was a soft touch on volleys, and when I got my feet in the right position, I was able to create acute angles.
SERVE
On the first serve, there’s a slight decrease in power, but a greater degree of accuracy, but the biggest revelation came on the second serve. In the past I’ve struggled to generate the kicker out wide, but the added weight of the racket meant I could get the right speed on the ball and execute it the way I wanted.
OVERALL
The Babolat Pure Aero is an incredible package for intermediate and advanced club players. Control, feel and stability offer consistency, angles and depth. It’s a pretty lethal combination and a joy to play with. No wonder Alacarz always plays with a smile!
SPECIFICATIONS
RRP: £250 / Tennis-point.co.uk
Head size: 100 sq inches / 645 cm2
Weight: 300 g / 10.6 oz (strung 315-20g)
Balance: 32 cm / pts HL (strung 33 cm / 4 pts HL)
String pattern: 16/19