Comments: I decided to buy the new APD after a friend suggested I try his. I have played with a Wilson Hammer for the last 10 years but the new APD is a beast in comparison. I took a long break from tennis after playing in the juniors and when I returned, I found it hard to play some of the shots I really enjoyed. The new APD just suits my game and all of those shots are back in my game, much to the dismay of my hitting partners. I can play with lots of topspin or hit hard flat shots from the baseline off both wings with a ton of power and consistency. Slice backhands and forehands punch through a lot quicker than with my old racquet. I find it easy (and really enjoy) whipping back half volleys from the baseline and mid court. Flat serves are harder and my kick serve has more spin and pace on it. Volleys are nice and firm but I am often just following a good approach to the net to put away a weak return. This is by far the best racquet I have ever used and I can now enjoy tennis like I used to. One word - awesome!
From: Ngahiwi, 5/13

Comments: I have been playing with the previous version of this racquet. This new version feels lighter then the previous one to me, so I can more easily swing fast and out. It also feels slightly stiffer then the previous model. Shots are crisp although I feel this racquet has less plow through and may be slightly prone to twisting when receiving against certain types serves.
From: Mike, 5/13

Comments: This racquet made tennis fun again! I'm probably a 4.0 player with a semi western forehand and two handed backhand (continental grip with eastern grip for the off hand). Switched from a 2010 Youtek Speed Pro because I'm not a spring chicken anymore. With the 100 square inch face, it has a huge sweet spot and is very light, maneuverable with plenty of access to spin and power. With the right string, it doesn't feel stiff and friends have commented that my shots have more power, consistency, depth and spin. I recently switched to a semi-western forehand and it seems perfect for this swing. Serves, overheads and volleys are easy with this racquet. Pleasantly surprised with how stable this racquet feels and never feel like I'm getting pushed around. I had to experiment with strings. Demoed an ADP with multifilament at 58 lbs and didn't like it because it was too bouncy. Also tried it with polys at 60 lbs but the poly did not have much spin as it should and felt too stiff. Finally found my perfect setup at 55-56 lbs with Kirschbaum Pro Line X 17 which had plenty of control, spin and power. I think any low powered poly would be great with this racquet. Tennis Warehouse recommended Kirschbaum and I am very happy with it. Never thought I would like a 100 sq inch wide beamed racquet, but I love this racquet.
From: Anon, 5/13

Comments: Just demo this racquet! I have been through quite a few and this stick rocks! I have a modern topspin stroke and I was amazed at the spin this thing generates. Both topspin and slice work well. It serves flat bombs and any variety of spin. It's not for everyone and you will have to experiment with string. My first set was horrible and had to be cut out on day one. The X-cel 17 is great and comfy at 57lbs. My favorite is Vokl Cyclone18 at 50 lbs and that kicks things up to insane! I had arm issues with an old racquet, but none with this one. Find what string and tension fits your game and swing away!
From: JD, 4/13

Comments: My demo was strung with a poly and weighed exactly 11.7 oz, which I don't consider light or heavy, but it did not play nearly as light as people are saying in these reviews. It felt like a baseball bat in my hand. The grip was also bigger than normal. Coming from a more traditional thin/flexible frame, I just couldn't seem to adjust to the heft, width and stiffness. Balls in the sweetspot were comfortable and very muted, but you pay a price on mishits. The power was difficult to tame unless you use heavy spin - which in turn created a slower, loopier ball which was easy to track down by my opponents. I never felt like I could step into a short ball and put it away, it forces you to use heavy topspin or the ball will fly on you. And whether this is a good thing or not, I found that I only needed to swing about half my normal speed in order to keep the ball in play. It threw my timing off, but it's something you could adjust to. Volleys and overheads were good. With a wide and stiff frame like this, all you have to do is get your racquet on the ball and the point is over. Spin serves were good, but not heavy, and I could never dial in a hard flat serve. Overall the racquet felt to big and unwieldy for my playing style. It seems best suited for somebody that plays 10 feet behind the baseline and wants to hit loopy groundstrokes all day.
From: Alan, 4/13

Comments: I wrote one of the first reviews on this racquet, and to make a long story short, I talked badly of it, mainly in the vein of it not being as much of a player's stick, losing some swing weight and all that etc. I just bought it for the second time, and I'm in love with it. Embrace the lower swing weight and use it to your advantage with some great head control, and that translates to some very precise controllable serves. Second serves really benefit from the maneuverability, and just about every stroke can be easily manipulated with the extra English you can put on the ball in this more whippy incarnation of the AeroPro. I think this frame benefits from a firm low powered poly (I put Tour Bite 16L at 54lbs. My usual go to is Volkl Cyclone 17). I recommend anyone to try this racquet. It's everything that a Pure Drive should have been. And in closing, it is literally a morph of the PD and APDGT. Oh and I got it in a 4 1/4. These Babolats do run a little large. Try both sizes before you buy. Trust me.
From: Danny, 4/13

Comments: Absolutely blown away at how incredible this racquet is - it's mind blowing compared to the Head racquets I've been using for the past several years including the Instinct MP and the Radical. Amazing feel, control, spin and absolutely effortless power compared to any other racquet I have ever played with. I'm so glad to have finally discovered and made the switch to Babolat and feel like I have discovered all over again how much I love tennis. Anyone in the market for a new stick has absolutely got to try this racquet, it's simply incredible.
From: Matt, 4/13

Comments: I tried several different poly strings in this racquet including RPM Blast at 55lbs (it felt too rubbery and a little too much power), Luxilon 4g at 54lbs (good but had trouble controlling and gaging depth) and several other polys. Then I tried Solinco Tour Bite at 54 lbs and still had a little trouble controlling depth. This is a very powerful racquet! Then I tried the Tour Bite at 57lbs. It felt very stiff at first but after 2 or 3 hours of hitting, it loosened up and felt much better. I could swing as hard as I possibly could without fear of going long. Now I really like this racquet with this string setup. Note: I hit with an eastern forehand grip and a one handed backhand. If you have a big topspinning western forehand grip I would suggest starting at 54 or 55lbs. Hope this helps.
From: John, 4/13

Comments: I agree with Alex. There is a lot of confusion regarding this racquet. I have all versions of the AeroPro, and after playing and experimenting with these racquets for two months now, I may be able to clear up some confusion. First at around 55 lbs poly string, the racquet has more power, feel and control when compared to the 2012 model and the TW review is spot on. Lower than 55 lbs, the racquet has a lot more power, same feel and less control. At 58 lbs and above there is less power, more control and maybe a bit more topspin. At stock weight, the racquet provides incredible topspin, but not much plow through for flat shots or slices. Add about 10 to 20 grams at the 9 and 3 position, the plow through increases, but the topspin suffers. In summary, this racket can be anything you want it to be.
From: Eric, 3/13

Comments: All these reviews are pretty much useless, as a group. Alex (claims to be former tour player) says the 2013 version is a deterioration due to less control. I've seen this type of review when the '13 AeroPro just came out. Main reason I've stuck with the '12 version. Many other reviews, including one by Chris (3/13) state, more or less, the opposite (less power but added control). Granted reviews are inherently subjective, however, there has to be a better, more meaningful standard for reviewing tennis rackets. By the way, the TW reviews are not much better as you'd be hard pressed to find a racquet that the good folks didn't manage to like. Looks like demo'ing is still the way to go given the noise (well-intentioned or not) that passes as reviews.
From: Steve, 3/13

Comments: At first, I strung this stick with Dunlop Black Widow at 55 lbs and I couldn't hit with it because I hated it. I stood on the strings to lower the tension, and it felt amazing! It feels cleaner than the older model. I'm a junior at the 4.0-4.5 level. I have mine now strung with Head FXP Power and it feels amazing. Highly recommended.
From: Matt, 3/13

Comments: The new AeroPro Drive is a significant deterioration on the older model. I was a tour player and this raquet is all but for good players. The softness of the frame makes it like a yoyo/slingshot that prevents any degree of real control. If you are an average player you will like it as the ball explodes and you feel more power. But if you are a good player with good timing and ability to generate your own pace/whip, this raquet lacks the stiffness, control and the balance you would need (i.e., ball does not stay on the racquet long enough to produce real spin). Further, the increased head heavy weight is also a negative for groundstrokes/top spin players. I am suprised that Babolat does not make a version of this that is really suited for good players (i.e., a racquet with a stiff frame, no fancy yoyo/cortex/woofer that takes away feel/accuracy, but a heavier racquet that is balanced more towards the grip to enable control and fast whip).
From: Alex, 3/13

Comments: Babolat rep came by our club, I had the good fortune to demo this racquet. Coming from 10+ years of Wilson usage, I had the opportunity to thoroughly test a number of Babolat models. Pure Drive, Storm, Aeropro Drive. I normally would not even consider switching to Babolat. But now, I think this is probably the sweetest racquet I have ever used. By the way, I own the BLX Blade 2013 93, BLX Pro Staff 90, Head Speed Pro Graphene 100 18x20 (used by wife). This racquet tops them all. Only other racquet I would consider is the Wilson Steam 99 S.
From: GS, 3/13

Comments: For me, the newest version of the AeroPro Drive has continued to improve the power, feel, and control of the series since the generation II (cortex) version messed it up so badly. The racquet feels more stable than the previous GT version, along with having greater feel. And despite the higher stiffness rating, the racquet feels softer. The power also seems to be slightly lower than the previous version, which isn't a bad thing as the added control allows me to take a bigger swing at the ball more often. My most improved shot while using the 2013 AeroPro Drive is my backhand. I am able to hit much more consistently with the newer version than with any of the previous (minus the original, non-cortex version). All in all, a step in the right direction from this Babolat racquet.
From: Chris, 3/13
String type and tension: RPM Blast Team at 62 lbs

Comments: I got this racquet when it first came out after demoing it for a week. I've been using it for a little over 4 months and I can't play with anything else now. My serve has more pace and spin, my groundstrokes consistently land deeper in the court putting my opponent on their heels, and I'm enjoying the plow through. This racquet has severely improved my ability to add power to my groundstrokes. Since I started using the APD, I have tried the Head Graphene Speed MP, the Head Graphene Instinct, and most recently the Wilson Steam 99. Everything else feels like a toy now. Nothing I pick up gives me the same depth and consistency on my groundstroke and bite on my serves. This racquet for me was a game changer. I currently have it strung with Babolat Roland Garros Xcel at 57 lbs.
From: Josh, 3/13

Comments: In the right hands, this is a killer racquet, no mistake about it. I think I have tried just about every racquet out there and this racquet has it all - it is lightning fast, stable, gives you power with control and has a ton of feel. I am so impressed with it that I don't have words to describe how good it is. Super!
From: Ken, 3/13

Comments: An improvement over the previous version. More power and control. I could not feel any difference in the swingweight compared to the previous model. I do not understand how the racquet can have the same weight and balance, but with a lower swing weight as described in the review. I am a 5.0-5.5 player and I believe that if you do not like this racquet it is becuase you did not give it enough time to adjust to the extra power or there is something wrong with your swing. Because of the extra power, any imperfections in your swing will be amplified. For example, if you hit hard and flat, the ball will go a little bit faster and a little bit longer. A simple correction is to hit the ball sooner, and with a little bit more top. If you hit floating slices, well then the ball will float a little bit longer.
From: Eric, 3/13

Comments: I have always been an old school player's racquet guy using a Dunlop 200g, Wilson 95 and a weighted up Blade as well as the Head Prestige. Now being on the wrong side of 40 and still playing at a competitive level I wanted to try something more forgiving and demo'd this among many others. Wow, what a nice racquet. Great feel, huge sweet spot, easy power. I am not a spin freak but have solid strokes and play an all court game. This racquet suits my game style fantastically. My regular hitting opponents have commented on how much heavier my ball is. I am a 5.0 player and definitely recommend this racquet.
From: Ross, 3/13

Comments: I just got my new APD and I love it. I have not had any issue with arm comfort at all, after a few 2+ hour hard hitting sessions. I'm in my mid-30s and am a 4.0 player who just got back into the game after many years off. I was using a Dunlop Quadro and felt I had grown out of it, so I upgraded to this. Huge difference. I strung this racquet with Volkl Cyclone at 56lbs and I can now take big swings and keep it in the court. Compared to my other racquet (which is much lighter) this has sufficient weight to be stable, but the head comes around so quick I can really rip some top spin. I reviewed and demoed several racquets, decided on this one, and am not disappointed in my choice. Bottom line is, if you have a modern topspin type of swing, you'll like this. If you prefer to hit a flat, heavy ball, you might want something a bit heavier. Also, I agree that the grip feels 1/16 bigger than advertised.
From: Mark, 3/13

Comments: I had been playing with the 1st generation APD since it first came out (with mods of 13.9 oz static weight, and 355 SW). When this 4th Gen APD was available, I decided to give it a try, hoping that it would convince me to get rid of my old sticks. I was very disappointed, just as I had been with the 2nd (Cortex) and 3rd gen (GT) sticks. This new racquet, although quite "spinny," does not have much plow through, which is needed to flatten out balls. Service returns are mediocre in comparison to my old stick due to the fact that it's too light. I have to put more weight behind the ball to make a penetrating return, wheras I don't really have to do that with my old racquet. I'm going back to my old faithful! I am a certified instructor and a 5.0 player.
From: Jay, 2/13

Comments: Long story short, this racquet is not as good as the previous model. Very sad because everyone was expecting an upgrade but its hard to upgrade something that is already so good! I'm sticking with the old for sure!
From: Rafael, 2/13

Comments: I'm a big fan of this racquet. At first I wasn't too happy with the lower swing weight, but it really does make up for this by being a lightning quick stick to swing. I use Luxilon Big Banger Original at 53 lbs and I can put some real stick on the ball. I don't have any problems with plow through and I get huge amounts of topspin on the ball off my ground strokes. I get a lot of pop and spin on my serve and it volley's like a dream. Some players seem to find the racquet a bit too stiff, but its no more stiff than the 2010 APD in my opinion. This is a racquet developed for use with modern strokes and might not be overly satisfying or useful to a player that prefers a head heavy racquet and uses a continental grip. I've not experienced any arm or shoulder problems. I am an adult 4.0-4.5 player. If you have modern strokes and prefer a lighter racquet, this is the stick for you. If its too light there is always lead tape.
From: Anon, 2/13

Comments: I was anxious to try the new version of this racquet. However, so far I am very disappointed with it in contrast to the previous model. Why did Babolat change something that didn't need fixing? Seems like the particular changes they made to the racquet is an effort to grab a wider range of players at various levels. They dropped the swing weight and it is too light now. There is noticeably less plow through with this racquet then with the previous version. This racquet tends to get pushed around on return of serves unlike the previous version. Because the racquet is noticeably stiffer the ball doesn't pocket or sit on the strings as long so less rather then more spin potential, control, touch and feel. Although the racquet is stiffer, I have not found it significantly more powerful then the previous model which is not needed. I originally strung this racquet with the same string and tension as I did with the previous model. I am going to try dropping string tension with hopes of finding a happy medium. If I can't, I am going to stay with the previous model and get rid on this one. I don't recommend this version of the racquet.
From: Anon, 2/13

Comments: This is a great racquet overall. My only "complaint" is I ordered a 4 3/8" grip, but it feels like a 4 1/2". My suggestion is order a size lower than you normally would for this one. Other than that this racquet is well ahead of the curve in technology.
From: Spencer, 1/13

Comments: Overall, this is a great racquet, although it's rather stiff, so I would suggest you start off with a lower tension. I found power from all areas of the court as well.
From: Steven, 1/13

Comments: I don't know if it's just me but the grip seems to feel slighty bigger than the AeroPro GT. This is a nice stick, although it's very light, so I will add tons of lead to this ASAP!
From: Billy Bob, 1/13

Comments: Coming from an IG Radical Pro, this racquet feels amazingly quick. I get almost all service returns back and it is great at the net. Groundies feel great but I have trouble from time to time reigning in the power to keep the balls from flying long. I'm currently playing with a hybrid set up and I dont have any arm pains (actually had pains with very flexy Radical). I am excited to find the right string set-up for this stick because I know that when I do, I will be very tough to beat!
From: Daren, 1/13

Comments: I really like this version of the AeroPro Drive (2013). My serve is better, with more accuracy and penetration. My groundstrokes are heavier and my slice backhand goes where I want. I win easily over my regular partners and they told me that my shots have more power and are more near the lines. The control is amazing. Overall, it's the ideal racquet. My only reserve was the stiffness of this racquet. After two hours of play, my arm burned a little bit, even with multifilament strings at 56 lbs.
From: Guy, 1/13

Comments: I'm an intermediate player and a lot of my activity consists of practicing with my kid, who's promising and has been winning USTA tournaments. I had been using old racquets from the 1990s, but after demoing last year's AeroPro a few times, I went for it. I am middle-aged and always play nylon multifilament strings. My racquet's strung with blue Babolat Xcel, using a Wilson gel vibration dampener. Comfort is supreme. Actually, I sometimes get a stiff shoulder and right arm from my computer and mouse. Playing with this racquet actually improved it. Any muscular discomfort left from too many years of push-ups and too many years of sitting at a computer is cured by "open book" stretches, but the point is this racquet is much more comfortable than my mid-1990s Head and late-1980s Wilson Profile. One reason I think is because the AeroPro is fairly light weight and also is head light, so this racquet is very manueverable. Although I can feel the stiffness - to which I'm accustomed because I was an early adopter of the fat beam with the Profile 3.6 in the 1980s and have always loved the free power - it's not at all uncomfortable. The Cortex seems to be working so well that it's curing my computer mouse-elbow! I wouldn't try it with polyester, which I oppose any way as a bad idea, when gut and Xcel are available. I'm a recreational player and want my elbow to last. My playing style is to hit with topspin on ground strokes on both sides when I'm set up, generally slice high backhands, slice when I'm running and barely making it, and vary between flat and slice on the serve. Despite having played dating from the early 1980s when Connors was still going strong, I don't hit flat. I hit a lot of topspin when I can, and also my winners are generally power topspin shots on either side. For every shot from this one obviously intermediate player, this racquet works great! At times, the racquet feels supernatural, with just everything falling in. The additional spin from the aerodynamic design keeps shots in when I'm barely getting there.
From: Patrick, 1/13

Comments: When I first got the racquet, I strung it with ALU Rough, and it was horrible. I never have a tennis elbow problem, and this racquet gave me one. I went back to the previous GT version for a while, and decided to give the racquet another try with softer strings. And this time, it was fantastic. I can swing faster with this frame, hence, more spin and power compared to the previous GT. Also, volleys and slices are much better compared to the previous GT. Having both of racquets strung with the same soft strings, the new 2013 APD is really a huge improvement over the previous model, and it really bring my game to the next level.
From: Karl, 1/13
String type: Topspin Cyberflash mains / Prince syn gut crosses

Comments: Incredible controllable power. So easy to get around, as it feels incredibly mobile. I have a one-handed backhand and I have never hit it more consistently and with more power. I didn't want to like this above the other player's frames that I tested, but ultimately, I couldn't deny the results. This is my go-to frame. By the way, it's totally comfortable, and I have no arm soreness at all. If you have arm soreness with this frame, I would guess that it's a matter of technique, not the frame. Just don't string it up in the low 60's or beyond with poly.
From: Jaspar, 1/13
String type and tension: Babolat RPM Blast @ 55 lbs

Comments: Jonny's comment below hits the nail on the head. It's a great racquet for people who hit big loopy strokes with extremely low to high technique. I would even consider it a "fun" racquet with respect to spin generation. But when you want to flatten out a ball to put it away, it gets uncontrollable and frustrating as you watch the ball sail long. And visually it's a thick-looking widebody frame. Overall, there are more pros than cons to the racquet. It's great for serving, power volleys, overheads, and heavy/loopy groundstrokes. It's not so great for touch shots, feel, slice, or taking a short ball and ending the point. I also noticed that Agassi was using the AeroPro Drive for a few matches on the PowerShares Series events with Courier, Mac, etc. By all accounts he looked terrible and had difficulty putting the ball away. When he eventually switched back to his Radical OS at the San Jose event, nobody could touch him, as he was crushing absolute winners from the baseline instead of hitting high loopy tospinny groundies with the Aero Pro Drive.
From: R.R.N., 1/13

Comments: Old school players need not bother with this racquet. This APD 2013 is built around the platform of one designed for extreme spin technique. If you get this and try to hit driving flat shots as your staple, there are others better designed for that. The lightness of the frame and aerodynamics allow for a lightning fast swing speed with solid torque upon contact. It will not cater to old school technique unless maybe with massive amounts of lead, but then you would be defeating the purpose it was designed for. Agassi switched back to Head, after trying to adapt to the Babolat in the Masters Series. This improved his game greatly. On the other hand, if you equipped Rafa with the same Head racquet, it would hinder him as well. So, if you are into the Nadal school of offense, you will probably find this racquet a must.
From: Jonny, 1/13

Comments: I'm very disappointed. It plays and feels just like the Pure Drive but with less power. Also, I can't feel the ball which makes it less fun to play with and makes it harder to judge when going for your shots. Overall, it feels extremely muted and weird. Don't bother with this one.
From: Sam, 1/13
String type and tension: Wilson NXT @ 57 lbs

Comments: I own two AeroPro GT and was very excited when the newer version came out. I bought it without demo'ing it first. Big mistake! I strung it with Babolat Hurricane Pro Tour on the mains and Natural Gut VS on crosses. It feels lighter and plays differently than the GT sticks. Yes, control is somewhat better but there is very little power in this stick and it feels flimsy and unstable comparing to GT version. I suggest to demo it first and then decide whether or not to drop $200 on it. In my opinion Babolat failed to deliver an upgrade of a great AeroPro line. I am selling this stick and will continue playing with GT version.
From: Svitlana, 1/13

Comments: I play with this racquet 2 times per week, and I string it with RPM Blast at 54/52 lbs. I think this racquet is the best topspin racquet that I have ever used (I've used the Radical MP and Blade 98), but it's a very stiff racquet. After 2 weeks I feel the RPM Blast gets a dead feel, so it makes the racquet more stiff.
From: Anon, 1/13

Comments: I demo'ed this racquet last week, and I have to say this is the best racquet I've hit with. The upgrades done to this racquet make it a weapon of choice. I could generate much more spin, power, and control than with my Babolat Pure Storm Team. I've ordered mine, and it will be here next week.
From: Josh, 12/12

Comments: I like the feeling of this racquet. It's softer than the previous version and more forgiving on off-center shots. It feels nice with my slice backhand shot. My only reserve is about the stiffness of this racquet, as with other Babolat racquets.
From: Guy, 12/12
String type and tension: Wilson NXT @ 58 lbs

Comments: I did a demo with this racquet. I was not overly impressed with the feel of the racquet. It's too light for me. I needed a fast swing to get power with shots. IMO, the racquet is not worth the hefty price tag.
From: John, 12/12

Comments: The racquet looks nice and provides a lot of spin. However, I have owned and played 10 different models/brands. I think the apple lands closer to the tree with Head or Wilson. With Babolat, I found myself having to customize them with lead tape, special strings/hybrid combinations, different tensions etc. All the Head and Wilson racquets I have purchased play great off the rack.
From: Reggie, 12/12

Comments: I'm not impressed at all. I played the previous model for a year and half twice a week because I wanted to be like most players. However, I always felt that the AeroPro felt very hollow and really lacked at the net. I struggled hitting a flat, heavy shot with it. I switched to Head Youtek Extreme Pro, and oh boy my world changed, as I could do it all. Now the new AeroPro 2013 comes out, and I had to try it. This one is lighter and stiffer than the past model. The spin is great, but since this model is so light you have got to have a fast swing if you want to generate any power. After all I'm not impressed, and I think the only new changes are that it's lighter and has new graphics, but it's still hollow feeling.
From: A.C., 12/12

Comments: I've hit with this racquet a couple of times, and it feels great. I'm a heavy topspin hitter, and this racquet allows for plenty of spin while still being able to power through the ball and drive it through the court. It does seem to have more power than the previous model, as at first plenty of shots were landing long. However, that could have just been because I was rusty. The control with the racquet is great now.
From: Andrew, 12/12
String type and tension: Tecnifibre Black Code @ 55 lbs

Comments: I agree with Tom's comment. Where I live, it's at 4,500 feet of altitude. I use the previous GT version strung at 56.5 pounds, and now I need to try 1 more pound to tune the racquet with RPM Blast as I've lost control. The new GT feels very much like the AeroPro Drive or something like that from like 8 years ago, which was 320 grams (it was similar to APD but with red letters).
From: Rafael, 12/12

Comments: When you read all the reviews online, they are very mixed. Some absolutely don't like this racquet, and others say its the best they ever played. I believe this is due to a combination of a player's style coupled with string selection and tension. I own two of them, with different strings, and I can see where I still needto find the right tension to allow for maximum control. The RPM Blast at 55 lbs feels good, but your timing has to be spot on, or you lose a lot of control. So I believe it is a great racquet that needs fine tuning to suit an individual's style.
From: Tom, 12/12

Comments: This racquet is super lightweight and has super maneuverability, power and spin. I just bought two of these racquets. They are my first APDs and I love them. They are awesome.
From: A.K.K., 12/12
String type and tension: Babolat RPM Blast @ 54/52 lbs

Comments: This is my first review. I was impressed by this new AeroPro 2013 frame. Last season I hit with the previous AeroPro and since that iteration I can discern that the new 2013 frame does have its differences. One difference is that the frame does feel more mobile to me. I can whip the thing around and get the frame on some fast 50-80 mph groundstrokes. I like it for this. The thing feels like a topspin baseball bat. I like that too. I can also hit jumping forehands on the run and from my baseline and they go deep all the way to the other baseline with dipping spin. The frame hits a great flat ball too. Somehow the feel does feel a bit different. It does feel more crisp. Serves are fast either flat or topspin. The thing has some substantial power but it also has its control to couple it. There is one thing that players need to know about this frame. It has been designed for new school stroke production. That means that players who get the racquet "back and down" from the get go might have a problem with this frame. Those who keep the racquet cocked and out in front and then explode in a circular motion brushing the ball low to high with the follow through over the shoulder will find that this thing is simply a "topspin machine." It has been designed for the modern stroke of tennis at full throttle. The other night I was out of breath because I hit the ball so hard with it. Anyway, this is a great frame. I'm gonna start experimenting with string set-ups and tensions and dial the thing in!
From: Bear, 12/12

Comments: This racquet is amazing. My serves used to be 60 mph, and now they are 80-100 mph!
From: Voulagh, 12/12
String type: Luxilon ALU Power

Comments: If Nadal is really going to use this racquet, then I will continue to search for the correct combinations of weighting and technique to allow me to effectively use it also. At this time, I really like it, but I've somewhat been struggling with it for 2 weeks. There are moments of brilliance, and moments of disillusionment. Sometimes it feels big, light and vague, but other times when you hit it just right, it all works together to create a great power shot with little effort. I added 5 grams of lead at 12, and it became more playable to me. I trust the expert opinions of the TW testers, so I'm not giving up on this, but there are times when I can't find my 1H BH, and I throw it to the ground in frustration.
From: Anon, 12/12

Comments: This is a very nice looking racquet. This racquet is very light with fast swing speed. It cuts through the air like butter. The racquet gives less feel when hitting the ball because it's so light and stiff. Next time I will string the racquet looser than 58 lbs. Overall, it's a very good racquet that offers great maneuverability during matches.
From: John, 12/12
String type and tension: Babolat RPM Blast 16g @ 58 lbs

Comments: I play with the original AeroPro and I have 1 GT racquet, but this racquet seems to play differently. The 2013 APDGT swings much lighter than the previous versions and there seems to be less mass in the hoop. With the lighter swing weight and less mass in the hoop there is a noticeable difference in plowthrough and power. The 2013 can still hit deep topspin baseline balls but it lacks hitting a heavy ball. A little bit of lead at 12:00 would help the 2013 out in terms of plowthrough and power.
From: Angelo, 12/12

Comments: What a disappointment. They changed the swing weight from 330 to 316 and it has taken the player's racquet feel away. Now it feels like the Pure Drive. But that's a shame because we did not need 2 Pure Drives. The swing of the racquet is just too whippy now. There is little to no plowthrough. And changing the headlight balance from 4 to 5 did not help things. I am going to sell this racquet and just keep using the GT version. This line of racquets is more suited for beginners- intermediates.
From: Dan, 12/12

Comments: This racquet is absolutely spectacular. I've been using the past AeroPro Drive models my entire life, and I would have to say this is the best one yet. There are major improvements compared to the GT model and the Cortex model. In this newer version, the feel is a lot better with more crisp shots, the control was definitely improved, and the groundstrokes are a lot more flexible. Serves are excellent with more pop. One thing I noticed was that it was a lot easier with the new AeroPro to flatten out the balls compared to the previous models. Overall, it's a very solid racquet with a similar feel to the Pure Drive, and I highly recommend this racquet, especially for previous AeroPro Drive players.
From: Peter, 12/12
String type: Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour 17g

Comments: Awesome racquet. I string it with RPM Blast 17g and love the feel/power that it brings. I upgraded from the Wilson K Six.One 95 and can attest that this racquet is a whole lot better than my previous one. I will stick with this racquet for a while.
From: Simon, 12/12
String type and tension: Babolat RPM Blast @ 56 lbs

Comments: It gave me great spin and the power was amazing. This is the best racquet from Babolat, but I recommend the Wilson K Six.One 95 16x18.
From: Benjamin, 12/12
String type and tension: Luxilon mains / Wilson NXT crosses @ 53/62 lbs

Comments: The only thing that I am really worried about is grip size. Babolat says it is 4 3/8 but I felt it was bigger than that.
From: Vignesh, 11/12

Comments: I hit with this racquet in early November, and did not a whole lot of time with it since it's not my preferred stick and my friend wanted to demo it more. Compared to the previous model, there's not a whole lot of change in terms of power and spin. It still offers that generous sweetspot and great spin potential, which I always liked the Aero Line for. In terms of feel, I really liked the improvements Babolat made with their Active Cortex. It really makes the racquet play more solid and crisp, although it still has that distinctive Babolat muted feel. There is one interesting spec difference though, the swingweight has dropped from 331 to 316ish. I couldn't tell much, but it was as stable as the previous version (which was adequate enough). It's a great racquet for many, and will be very popular once it is release. On a side note, I love the cosmetics.
From: Anon, 11/12