Overview
With the Pure Aero Tour VS Babolat brings back one of their most popular control frame. Based on the Aero Storm Tour, this racket is perfect for intermediate and advanced players seeking stability, spin and maximum precision. The feel is exceptional thanks to a Hybrid Beam Construction that combines BabolatR019s Aero Modular beam in the throat (for speed and power) with a more traditional, box beam in the head (for control and feel). The result is a racket that explodes through contact to deliver truly surgical command over the ball. From the baseline the VS Tour provides the advantages of a traditionally weighted racket. At 320 grams unstrung, this stick not only feels solid when redirecting your opponentR019s pace, but it also drives the ball powerfully through the court. The headlight balance gives this racket a fast feel, and the open string pattern puts a tight grip on the ball. Taken together these qualities add up to easy spin and heavy, penetrating shots. At net the VS Tour feels wonderfully clean, solid and accurate, with little vibration. As we found from the baseline, the headlight balance provides the needed mobility to move this racket into position quickly. Aggressive servers who can get this racket moving fast will be rewarded with dangerous levels of pace and spin. Babolat has delivered an impressive weapon to the player who wants a solid feeling racket that hits a heavy, spin-loaded ball that hops off the court. The combination of raw power and surgical precision makes this a must demo for experienced players.
Specifications
| Head Size: 98in²/630cm² |
| Length: 27in / 68,5cm |
| Weight: 11.9oz / 337g |
| Unstrung Weight:11.3oz / 320g |
| Balance: 32cm/7 pts HL |
| Unstrung Balance: 31cm/ 10 pts HL |
| Swingweight:328 |
| Stiffness: 70 |
| Beam Width:21mm |
| Composition: Graphite |
| Racket Colours:Black / Yellow |
| Grip Type:Syntec Pro |
| String Pattern16 Mains / 20 Crosses Mains skip: 8T,8H |
| String Tension:22-27kgs |
Previous Feedback
Just bought it, grip4 with luxilon alu power tension 24-25kg. I had troubles playing with the pure drive tour 2015 which was way too powerful, my forehands could not land in the court so that I had to reduce my swings and this was pathetic. PD had a trampolin effect I could not control. After I tried the pure Aero Tour CS and could compare with the PD I understood that I much prefer the VS tour, I could hit with ample swings quite massive strokes. There is way enough power for me. Returns are good too, which shows that the sweet spot is big enough.
Vince, 23/12/19, France
Comments: I love this racquet. I play with a 3/8 grip, I dropped the Syntec Pro replacement grip and added a Skin Feel replacement grip and the VS Original overgrip to make it feel smaller, but also pretty comfortable too, at least with slightly more defined bevels. Also, I play RPM Blast 16 at 47 pounds (two-piece) with the Babolat black/yellow vibration dampener, but without the inner part with beads because it takes away a little too much feel. Ultimately, this is a fantastic racquet that really excels with aggressive/advanced players that like to go for it! Thanks, TW!
From:JG, 11/4/18
Comments: This racquet is the real deal! It does what you ask of it. You still have to bring the game though. I've gone back and forth on my replacement grips, but have ultimately settled on a 4 3/8 grip size with a Babolat Skin Feel grip and then a vs original overgrip. I love battling with this weapon. It's the racquet I've been looking for. Go big or go home!
From:Johnny G, 1/1/18
Comments: Babolat's best frame to date for Open/ATP players. This racquet is not for the average 3.0-5.0 player, don't even bother trying it if you fit into that range. It's an extremely solid frame and much better than it's lighter counterpart. Just go with a smaller grip size, put a leather grip on it instead, and drop the tension down to 52-55 with Luxilon ALU.
From:Roy, 12/18/17
Comments: All I can say is that this is the racquet I've been looking for. It has the control, weight, head light balance, and great feel with a skin feel grip instead of the bulky syntec pro grip. I also like the vs original over grip, which doesn't build up a 4 3/8 too much. All in all, after stringing with RPM Blast, I love the sweet spot and forgiving feel. It does not feel too stiff with this combo for me. I'm ready for tourneys and competitive play with this weapon. My long history of demoing racquets and trying something new is now over. Thanks to Babs for bringing back this stick/mold and to TW for matching a pair for me. Keep swinging away!
From:JG, 10/26/17
Comments: This is one of the best players' sticks out there. Like the previous poster stated, it's super underrated, which I kind of like. If you can generate your own power by swinging the good mass behind the racquet, you can do some serious damage. In addition, the head light balance makes it maneuverable to up the racquet head speed for specific shots, not to mention, excellent spin too. I have mine strung with RPM Blast 16g at 55 lbs. This racquet checks all the boxes for me. The only thing I changed was replacing the syntec pro with a syntec feel replacement grip and then a VS Original over grip. It feels sweet, and right on for a 4 3/8 stick. I love having the confidence to swing big for my spots, while keeping the control. Go for it!
From:J, 10/5/17
Comments: This is a sensational, underrated frame. Definitely have a try it for yourself if you're a hard hitter looking to get the maximum power out of a very controlled frame. It plays more comfortable than the rated RA, where some frames plays stiffer than the stated RA like the Blade 18x20. Even though it's the heavier tour version, it's very maneuverable and has a crisp feel. Get the head speed on this racquet going, and you'll be consistently blasting balls and easily working the angles on grounds and serves. I have not been on the Babolat bandwagon, but this is by far my best experience with a babolat frame, and I've tried just about every Babolat frame to date.
From:Lu, 8/14/17
Comments: I wanted to try the grip slightly smaller on this stick without changing grip sizes and I found the best combo. I play a 4 3/8, so I took off the syntec pro replacement grip and put on a syntec feel grip, partnered with the vs original overgrip. It's a dryer sensation now (compared to pro tour overgrip), and slightly thinner, but same great feel. I love swinging out with this stick, great control for an aggressive player.
From:Johnny, 8/3/17
Comments: This racquet is awesome! I wasn't so sure starting out (based on the initial string), but paired it with RPM Blast at 55 lbs and a nice Pro Tour overgrip, this stick is set for battle. It has a great balance, and provides excellent control for big swinging baseliners. Never give up, play to win!
From:Johnny G, 6/19/17
Comments: I bought this racquet, looking for a replacement for the Pure Storm series. I'm not so sure that I agree with the TW playtesters. I have a positive review of this racquet. In practice today, this racquet is lower powered compared to the Pure Aero Tour Plus, my usual weapon of mass destruction. I concur with TW playtesters that this racquet is more sensitive to off-centered hits. It is certainly lower-powered, but there is more feel and control compared to my usual racquet. In standard form, this racquet is very solid and easy to maneuver. One can deal with the pace of heavy hitters and impart excellent spin. Even with a sting set of up of natural gut 15g, my kick serve was noticeably very strong and often out of the hitting zone of returners. In summary, this is a good replacement for the Pure Storm series. I do agree with Chris that I may not be ready to give up my current racquet, mainly due to the reduced power response. However, I need to evaluate with different strings and tensions.
From:Ken, 3/8/17
Comments: I have not even tried to play with it in standard form, we put some extra weight on it immediately and it plays very good -- stable powerful comfortable spin and control virtually everything in the green zone. It has a bit more stability and control with the 16x20 pattern and box frame. In standard form it might be just a tad too light to be able to unlock its potential. This is also the case with the new Strike series, great but needs some weight as well. Good in standard form but better with weight. Some other frames like the Pure Drive and AeroPro Drive are a bit too powerful.
From:Anonymous, 1/17
Comments: Incredible racquet! Don't let the mediocre TW review fool you. It's not for mediocre players. This racquet shines with a hybrid and a dampener at a higher tension. I'm a long time PT630 user and this is the best replacement for me -- one handed backhand and semi western forehand. Like every other Babolat racquet it needs a little tweaking, but nothing that a leather grip or some lead tape at 3 and 9 cannot fix. The 16x20 pattern is superb for spin and gives you plenty of controlled feedback. Babolat had really stepped it up!
From: RF, 1/17
Comments: Unfortunately, my first report was a honeymoon period response and wishful thinking. This is not necessarily a bad racquet, but it does not fit my tastes. It feels hollow, too stiff, and insignificant. You're much better off weighting up the lighter version -- that stick has much better feel. Although I'm going to try one more string combo with RPM Blast at a slightly lower tension before moving on from this racquet. I so badly want to love this racquet. I'm not giving up on my set-up.
From:Johnny, 12/16
Comments: I love it. This stick has great weight with a great head light balance. It has a little flex in the throat, but plays pretty firm, especially in the upper hoop, but it's exactly what I'm looking for. I play it with a dampener, which makes it feel nice. It's a control stick that can give you good pop when you wield it with the added weight over the straight VS stick. The Pure Aero VS Tour is what I've been looking for. I'm ready to swing away and play my best tennis with this weapon. It's not about the racquet, but the player. However, this stick gives me amazing confidence. Keep going for it!
From:Johnny G, 12/16