Author: Racquet Network

Racquet Network staff are certified experts. Many are also certified coaches. Racquet Network Experts undergo extensive training and product knowledge testing in order to ensure that we have the most knowledgeable staff in the racquet sports industry.
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Understanding Babolat’s Pure Aero Series

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Babolat’s Pure Aero series is a premium tennis racquet series created for competitive players with clean strokes who like to hit with top spin. The series consists of a number of models in different weights that correspond to increasing body weight, strength and athletic ability from the ages of 10 through adulthood. As a result, the tennis racquets in the Pure Aero series can grow with players through all stages from beginner through intermediate to advanced/elite.

The chart below organizes the series based on age, gender and skill level. Please remember these are guidelines, not rules. And please remember, too, that we can string everyone of these racquets to suit the age, gender and skill levels of the players.

Guidelines for Babolat Pure Aero Series

Age Female Male
Child 8-10 Pure Aero Jr 25 Pure Aero Jr 25
Child 10-11 Pure Aero Jr 26 Pure Aero Jr 26
Teen 11-13 Pure Aero Super Lite Pure Aero Super Lite
Teen 11-13 Pure Aero Super Lite Pure Aero Lite
Teen 14+ Pure Aero Lite Pure Aero Team
Adult Rec Pure Aero Lite Pure Aero Team
Adult Intermediate Pure Aero Team Pure Aero
Adult Advanced Pure Aero Pure Aero Tour
Senior Pure Aero Lite Pure Aero Team

Babolat Pure Aero Series

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Racquet Technologies


The Pure Aero series started out as the Aero Pro series way back in 2003. Designed from the outset to generate as much spin as possible, the Aero Pro Drive was an excellent fit for Rafael Nadal’s spin-based game style. Since then it has also been adopted by many champions including Genie Bouchard and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The 2019 version of the Pure Aero continues this tradition by achieving maximum spin through two primary technologies. The first is by making the frame as aerodynamic as possible using a technology system they call Aeromodular 3. Essentially, everything that can cause drag is hidden within the contours of the frame. This helps players achieve maximum swing speed which, in turn, helps to generate maximum spin.

The other technology which contributes to spin in the Pure Aero series is something called I FSI SPIN. This is an open string pattern combined with oblong shaped grommets at the top and bottom of the loop. In theory, this creates longer dwell time for the ball on the strings, which also allows for maximum spin potential.

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Diagnosing Broken Squash Strings

Squash strings break for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this article is to help players understand the symptoms of different kinds of breaks so that they can make the appropriate changes.

Sheer Breaks

Sheer breaks occur along the frame line. Most commonly these are the result of players hitting so hard that they overpower the materials. (Yes, guys, it is possible to hit a ball so hard that you break perfectly good string.)

Image 2 - Top Sheer Break
Image 1 – Top sheer breaks are usually caused by overhand serves.

Players who serve overhand often break strings in the way seen in Image 1. Counting out from the top center of the racquet, sheer breaks caused by serves will often affect two of the first eight vertical strings. Whereas sheer breaks that occur on the side of the frame (Image 2 below) are usually the result of drives.

Squash Racquet with a Broken String
Image 2 – Side sheer breaks are usually caused by hitting drives off center.

Grommet Breaks

Grommet breaks look like sheer breaks because they also occur along the frame line. The difference is this: if the grommets where the break occurred are broken or split, then the cause of the break is assumed to be the defective grommet.

Squash Racquet Broken Grommets
Image 3 – Broken or missing grommets cause the frame to cut the strings.

In determining whether or not the grommet is the cause of the break, it is important to look closely at the grommet, because grommets can be split and still appear to be intact. If one or more grommets are missing, as in Image 3, the diagnosis is easy. But if they are split, it may not be so easy because they may not appear to be broken at first glance.

Wear Breaks

Wear breaks occur in the center for the string bed nowhere near the frame. They are called wear breaks because they are usually the result of long term wear and tear. Over time, the strings cut into each other at the crosses. Eventually, one cuts through the other and it breaks.

Squash Racquet Wear Break
Image 4 – Wear breaks occur in the middle of the string bed.

We treat wear breaks that occur in less than two weeks as a warranty issue. This is based on the assumption that some strings are defective and will break prematurely. The dividing line of two weeks is arbitrary because string that is defective should break the first time you use it. If you play two weeks or more without breakage, then it is likely not defective string. After two weeks, we consider it a wear break.

Pounders

Sheer breaks at the top of the frame are easy to diagnose. If you serve overhand and are breaking strings and/or racquets regularly, you are hitting everything — balls and walls — much harder than you need to and you may want to make some adjustments to your game. While you are welcome to play anyway you want to play, you must understand that playing this way is a choice. Most importantly, it is an expensive choice.

If you choose to play a power game in which you are pounding serves and smashing walls, then you are choosing to bear the financial burdens of replacing the strings and racquets you will be breaking. Do not — DO NOT — blame the string, the stringer or the racquet manufacturer. If you choose to play this way, man up and accept the fact that you are breaking strings and racquets that other players would not be breaking under normal usage.

Not-Pounders

If you are not serving overhand and are not breaking racquets regularly but are still suffering frequent sheer breaks, then it’s a different issue. If you are 100% certain that broken grommets are not to blame, then it is almost certainly a string durability issue. Like the pounder in the last example, you are overpowering the materials in your string bed. The question is why?

Are your strings too thin? Frequent string breakers should not be using anything thinner than 17 gauge.

Are your strings too soft? Frequent string breakers should not be using Tecnifibre squash strings.

Is your string bed density too low? Frequent string breakers should not be using a racquet with less than 14 mains and/or 19 crosses.

Whatever the issue, we will be able to help you figure it out. Whenever you bring a squash racquet into our store for stringing, we add a note to your account. We record the racquet, the string, the type of break and the location of the break. This allows us to diagnose patterns over time for our customers.

Tracking Wear Breaks

Logging details in customer accounts in this way even helps us diagnose and avoid wear breaks. For example, we have been able to save some customers lots of money by encouraging them to change to more durable strings even before they became aware of issues. As players increase in levels, for example, we sometimes notice that they are wearing strings out faster than they realize. In other words, the data helps us help our customers.

The Trouble with Grommet Breaks

The one area where data does not help anyone, unfortunately, is the notorious grommet break. Grommet breaks are completely unpredictable. They seem to happen at random and, once broken or split, lead directly to broken strings.

The best we can do is to advise players to maintain their racquets and replace grommets as soon as they break.

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How to Customize the Yonex Vcore 100

Yonex VCORE 100 Tennis Racquet - Black - 280g - Whole Racquet

How to Customize the Yonex Vcore 100

Yonex’ Vcore 100 is an all purpose tennis racquet that can be used for singles and doubles at a variety of levels from intermediate to professional. Everything about this racquet is designed for speed and power. So most of the players who are playing with this racquet are seeking to maximize power and spin on their serves, on their ground strokes, or on both.

In general, we do not advise using polyester strings in racquets that weigh less than 300 grams. We also do not recommend polyester strings for players below the 4.0 level. So the string you choose will depend in part on the frame weight of your Vcore 100 and the level at which you play.

For example, if you have the 300 gram version and you play at a 4.0+ level, then you may want to choose one of these strings:

If, however, you are not at the 4.0+ level, you may want to choose one of these strings

Or if you are stringing the 280 gram version of this racquet for lady or a junior, you may want to consider one of these lighter gauge strings.

Customers who need help selecting a string for their Vcore 100 should come into our store to talk to an expert. Those who cannot may want to use our online string selector.

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How to String the Yonex Vcore 100

These are the essential instructions for stringing the Yonex Vcore 100. They are the same as the Vcore SV 100. If you need more information, you can also check our YouTube channel which has hundreds of stringing videos.

How to String this Racquet

Length Mains 20.0′
Length Crosses 20.0′
Tension Printed on frame
Pattern 16×19
Shared Holes 7H, 8H, 8T
Start Mains Throat
Mains Skip 8H, 8T
Tie Off Mains 7T
Start Crosses 8H
Last Cross 8T
Tie Off Crosses 6H, 11T
How to String the Yonex Vcore 100
How to String the Yonex Vcore 100
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How to Test Drive Yonex Vcore Tennis Racquets

Yonex VCORE 100 Tennis Racquet - Red - 280g - Head

 
Test drive Yonex Vcore tennis racquets before you buy them. These racquets are available as part of our Try Before You Buy racquet demo program offered in our southwest Calgary store.

Demo Program Details

This program is the best way to ensure that the racquet you purchase is the right racquet for you.

Pro shop customers demo more than 2000 racquets every year. The satisfaction rate for customers who participate in this program is nearly 100% six months after their purchase.

This program is offered only in-store. It is not available to online customers.

Customers who wish to enter the demo program or talk to staff about this program, must do so in person. The pro shop does not conduct demo program business over the phone, by email, or by text.

Book an EXPRESS SERVICE APPOINTMENT to discuss this further.

How much does it cost to test drive racquets?

Test driving costs nothing, but customers who enter the program are committing to buying a racquet from us at the end of the one-month trial period.

How does it work?

Test drivers put down a security deposit. This allows them to test drive any racquet we have in our demo program. They can then test each racquet for up to one week. At the end of the one-month trial period, they choose the racquet they want to purchase and their deposit is refunded against the purchase price.

How much is the deposit?

The size of the deposit depends on the number of racquets the customer wants to take out each each week. If they are testing one racquet at a time, the deposit is $50.00. If they are testing two at a time, the deposit is $100.00.

What if I change my mind and do not want to buy a racquet?

Our demo program is only offered to customers who are committed to purchasing a new racquet from us within 30 days. If you do not intend to buy a racquet from us, please do not enter our demo program.

Can I apply my demo deposit to an online racquet purchase?

Our racquet demo program is offered to in-store customers only. Demo deposits can only be applied to in-store purchases. They cannot be applied to online purchases.

How do I start?

Simply make an appointment to come into the store. Bring a valid credit card. One of our experts will set up a demo account and help you choose your first racquet to test drive. This process usually requires about 30 minutes on the first visit. Subsequent visits to drop off and pick up only required a couple of minutes each.