![Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin [Review]](https://fourtylove.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pure-aero-rafa-origin-featured-1200x514.jpg)
- Pretty close to the racket Rafael Nadal really plays
- Extremely high swing weight
- RA value very high, risk of tennis elbow!
- Can only be controlled with a lot of topspin
Table of Contents
What’s new with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin?
The Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin is not a normal “new version” of the Pure Aero but rather a unique release. I still compare the current “normal” Pure Aero with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin and Pure Aero Rafa.
| Technology | Rafa Origin | Rafa | Pure Aero |
|---|---|---|---|
| NF²-TECH | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| AEROMODULAR 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FSI SPIN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CORTEX PURE FEEL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What’s a “Pure Aero Rafa Origin”?
Rafa used to play with a Pure Drive, because Uncle Toni thought the racket the current number 1, Carlos Moya, plays with is also good for Rafa.
In 2004 Babolat developed the AeroPro Drive especially for Rafa, which is designed for maximum spin.
To create consistent branding for Babolat racquets (Pure Strike, Pure Drive, Pure Control), the AeroPro Drive was renamed Pure Aero in 2016.
Since the release of the AeroPro Drive in 2004, the yellow and black racket and all its successors have been the standard for spin rackets.
The Babolat Pure Aero Rafa and the Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin are two rackets developed in collaboration with Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay.
The Pure Aero Rafa Origin is a true collector’s item, with specifications closest to those of Rafa’s individual racket.
Technologies in the Pure Aero Rafa Origin
Here are once all the technologies in the Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin easily understandable explained:
How does CORTEX PURE FEEL work?
The Cortex system is a special material in the graphite of the frame that reduces vibration and changes the sound of the racket.
What are the benefits of CORTEX PURE FEEL?
The frame becomes significantly softer and thus more arm-friendly.
How does FSI SPIN work?
FSI-Spin describes the wider stringbed, which is created by a special arrangement of the eyelets.
How can I benefit from FSI SPIN?
The open stringbed increases spin and makes the Pure Aero a spin machine.
How does AEROMODULAR 3 work?
AeroModular is what gives the Pure Aero its shape and describes the aerodynamic shape of the frame.
What are the benefits of AEROMODULAR 3?
You can swing the club faster to increase power and spin.
Variants
The new Rafa racket is available as a lighter Pure Aero Rafa (300g) and a heavier Pure Aero Rafa Origin (318g). In addition, there is a junior variant, Babolat Pure Aero Rafa 26 Junior, and various tennis bags:
- Babolat Pure Aero Rafa
- Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin
- Babolat Pure Aero Rafa 26 Junior
- Babolat Pure Aero Rafa 12 Pack Tennis Bag
- Babolat Pure Aero Rafa 6 Pack Tennis Bag
Specs
| Technology | Pure Aero Rafa | Pure Aero Rafa Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Head Size: | 100 in / 645.16 cm | 100 in / 645.16 cm |
| Length: | 27in / 68.58cm | 27in / 68.58cm |
| Strung Weight: | 10.7oz / 303g | 11.9oz / 337g |
| Balance: | 13.38in / 33.99cm / 1 pts HL | 13.38in / 33.99cm / 1 pts HL |
| Swingweight: | 319 | 371 |
| Stiffness: | 68 | 70 |
| Beam Width: | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm | 23mm / 26mm / 23mm |
| Composition: | Graphite | Graphite |
| Power Level: | Low Medium | Low Medium |
| Stroke Style: | Medium Full | Medium Full |
| Swing Speed: | Medium Fast | Medium Fast |
| Racquet Colors: | Pink/Yellow/Black | Pink/Yellow/Black |
| Grip Type: | Babolat Syntec Pro | Babolat Syntec Pro |
| String Pattern: | 16 Mains / 19 Crosses | 16 Mains / 19 Crosses |
| String Tension: | 50-59 pounds | 50-59 pounds |
Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin
Release Date
The new Babolat Pure Aero Rafa and Rafa Origin will be released on April 04, 2023 and will also be available Tennis-Point and Tennis-Warehouse.
PROFESSIONAL PLAYER
These players “play” or promote the Pure Aero Rafa Origin:
- Rafael Nadal
The technical details of the frame are almost identical to the one Rafa plays, with one exception. The “mold”, i.e. the base frame Rafa plays, is not the Pure Aero but the AeroPro Drive 2004.
This means that Rafa does NOT play some technologies that are included in the Pure Aero. So the frame plays a little differently again.
Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin Review
Finally, let’s get to the important part that you’re probably here for. The test!
Independent & Unbiased
All products featured on FourtyLove are tested independently by me. I do not favour any brands nor do I receive any money from brands influencing my results. I might earn a small commission if you buy products through my affiliate links.
Rackets Tested
Hits per Racket
Hours Tested
Readers
Groundstrokes
The Pure Aero Rafa showed me right from the first swing how powerful a racket with a 370 swingweight is.
Every forehand and backhand is simply much faster and has much more spin without me having to put in more effort. On the offensive, the Pure Aero Rafa Origin is incredibly fun and makes you feel a bit like Rafa.
That power and spin, of course, doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Getting such a heavy club to the ball at exactly the right time isn’t easy, especially when you’re on the defensive.
Due to the high weight Rafa Origin is difficult to maneuver and the error rate went up for me on defensive balls.
With a lot of spin, I was able to control the Pure Aero Rafa Origin well. The spin in the balls is so incredibly heavy. In my opinion, you can’t achieve that with “off the shelf” racquets.
The open stringbed lets the ball launch very high, which I think is just right since this racquet needs to be played with a lariat forehand and lots of spin.
The Pure Aero Rafa Origin is very hard and went to me after some time on the arm. Somewhere this power must come from and works just about the frame hardness.
Volleys
Such a hard racket isn’t really designed for volleying, though of course the enormous weight helps with stability.
At the same time, of course, the weight is hard to move and so I felt very slow at the net with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin.
Fishing away simple balls at the net is no problem, but conjuring up heavy reaction volleys is!
Serves
Due to the high swing weight, fast serves are no problem at all.
Since the racket is also very good at generating a lot of spin, slice and kick serves are also no problem at all. I have never gotten so much spin in my serves with a racket! (currently playing the HEAD Extreme Pro).
The big difficulty with the Rafa Origin and the serves is timing. But after a few serves I managed that very well.
Returns
The returns were the most difficult for me to control. I hardly ever got the club behind the ball, so I didn’t get any spin on the ball and mostly just played the ball out of bounds.
What I like about the Rafa Origin
The Pure Aero Rafa Origin generates power and, above all, spin like you’ve probably never experienced from a racket before.
On the offensive, when there is enough time to get the racket behind the ball, the racket is really fun and I would love to switch to the Babolat immediately.
It’s very easy to play the awkward heavy-spin ball and push the opponent away with spin and speed, but of course requires some timing.
What I do Not Like about the Rafa Origin
It is well known that you have to play regularly with a racket for about 3 weeks to get your body and especially your arm used to a new racket. Only a few people will get used to the Origin, as it is simply too heavy for the normal hobby player.
Therefore, most players should rather reach for the lighter Pure Aero Rafa, as the Rafa Origin is simply too heavy.
Who is the Rafa Origin for?
If you’re physically fit, have good footwork, play a lot, like to topspin the forehand and the baseline is your home, the Pure Aero Rafa Origin is definitely worth a try.
Player types like Rafa will really find the Pure Aero Rafa Origin a brilliant racket for controlling rallies with spin.
My training partner said after his test that the Pure Aero Rafa Origin felt like “the HEAD Extreme Tour on steroids” and that describes it very well.
Who is the Rafa Origin not for?
The Pure Aero Rafa Origin is probably NOT suitable for just about any player.
Beginners and also advanced players should keep their hands off the racket. Only tournament players with very low LKs who are in top shape and really know what they are doing on the tennis court can really benefit from the racket.
Should I switch or upgrade to the new Rafa Origin?
The idea behind the “normal” Pure Aero and the Pure Aero Rafa Origin are identical. However, the level of your tennis needs to be much higher for the racket to really have a positive effect on your tennis.
So I would really only recommend an upgrade to tournament players who can take their time to test the racket extensively.
Questions?
Of course you can also ask me questions about the new Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin in the comments.
I’m happy to help you out.
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