Babolat Pure Aero 2023 Tennis Racquet

I'd been playing with an 18x20 "player's racquet" for over a decade when I decided I needed to move to a more contemporary racquet to take the next step in my game as I get older, play in more leagues and tournaments, etc. After weeks of demoing over a dozen racquets, this was almost the one that I went with, going so far as to demo it a few times. I really wanted to like it as it actually gave me the biggest boost in serve speed Its biggest problem was the feel; to me, it had a "jangliness" or "hollowness" in every stroke that wasn't for me. It contributed to a feeling of unpredictability, especially on volleys, even though the results were always what I wanted. A very odd thing: I was often surprised by my own shots, which is maybe a good thing, but just didn't inspire confidence. All that said, it did great things: big spin at the baseline, big power and accuracy on the serve, and despite feeling a bit unwieldy (high twist weight?), more touch than expected at the net.

I am a long time Pure Aero fan, however, was nervous about this slightly different string pattern. However, once I was able to demo the racquet I loved it immediately. For me personally, it almost feels lighter even though it is the exact same weight as my previous Aero. The striking feels lighter in the volleys, lighter/faster in the groundstrokes, etc. I am a fan after just two weeks!

I found this racket to be very controllable in ground strokes and having a great sweet spot with the condensed string pattern on this frame. Top spinners will love this racket! Great control with spin! Provides good power for serves. No negatives here. Been playing with this racket for 6 months. Also have Pro Drives and older Aeros. This one is my favorite. 4.0/4.5 player.

I like the feel of this racquet and easy maneuverability. Powerful, yet offers good control. Stiff enough yet seems arm friendly.

Liked the weight and the feel. Easy to use.