It's not often that us regular folks get to try out tennis racquets similar to what top professional players use. Babolat now offers us that opportunity with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin. Designed with input from Rafa himself, this eye-catching racquet closely resembles what he uses in competition. Just like Rafa's racquet, this version doesn't have any vibration dampening technology, providing players with direct feedback from the ball. It also boasts a swingweight of over 365, delivering plenty of spin, stability, and power despite its static weight being under 12 ounces. While our testers embraced the challenge, they found it not only demanding but also enjoyable, with success coming from short swings, quick points, and volleys. Even if you don't feel you can handle this powerful racquet, we believe it will be a great addition for any Rafa fan. Vamos!
Groundstrokes
Just by looking at the specifications of the Pure Aero Rafa Origin, our group of testers knew this trial would be unique. They were eager to see if this racquet could sprinkle some of Rafa's magic onto their games! Paul enjoyed hitting strong drives with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin. He said, "When I focused on hitting through the ball, I connected really well with this racquet. My shots had good pace and spin, feeling solid and delivering a penetrating ball. However, trying to add spin or angle with my wrist often led to trouble as the racquet's weight made it prefer to swing straight. One of my favourite shots was the slice backhand, where I appreciated the drive I could generate. I had fun slicing crosscourt and down the line."
Fernando immediately felt the weight of the racquet when he picked it up. The left-hander noted, "Although the static weight isn't too heavy (317 grams unstrung), the balance and high swing-weight affect its manoeuvrability. Despite this, I enjoyed trying to mimic Rafa's style and managed some impressive forehands with adequate setup time. The backhand slice came off smoothly with good pace, skidding low off the bounce. Overall, the racquet's manoeuvrability made it challenging for competitive play; I found success by keeping my swings compact and redirecting the opponent's pace. Hitting on the run and generating wrist snap for wide forehands proved difficult. I had to focus on early preparation, but when everything clicked, I produced heavy topspin groundstrokes."
Lauren remarked, "As soon as I gripped this racquet, I knew it would be a distinctive test." "Even before checking the specifications, it was evident that the racquet had significant power. Upon reviewing the specs, the Pure Aero Rafa Origin became even more imposing. It humbled me and heightened my admiration for Rafa's ability to swiftly and effectively manoeuvre such a weighty racquet. While I excel at swinging laterally in my shots, hitting strong groundstrokes from the baseline was enjoyable.
However, during actual gameplay, my confidence waned slightly, finding it challenging to consistently execute my shots. Quick and decisive strokes were rewarded, but in pressure moments, I realised the need to keep points brief to minimise errors; any slight mistiming often led to mistakes due to the racquet's unforgiving nature. Although I tend to overhit my forehand, a shorter backswing worked best here. When my timing was spot on, the ball pierced the court, forcing opponents back with deep shots. In one session, I struggled through a 10-point tiebreaker with the Rafa Origin, then switched to my Wilson Pro Staff RF97 for the next tiebreaker and played almost flawlessly. Admittedly, the swing-weight proved too much for me to maintain effective performance consistently."
Mark's initial impression of the Pure Aero Rafa Origin was that it felt somewhat slow from the baseline. "With such a high swing-weight, the racquet seemed almost independent in its actions. As the playtest progressed, I adjusted to the Rafa Origin's specifications and appreciated the powerful shots it produced from the baseline. Executing long-point strategies was challenging, but on an individual shot basis, some of my best groundstrokes were hit during this test."
Volleys
All our testers found the Pure Aero Rafa Origin exceptionally sturdy and stable during net play, showcasing Rafa's skill in executing volleys. Alex noted, “Rackets often feel unstable or shaky in hand, but this racquet showed no signs of that. I could easily block back any shot with it, regardless of the pace. When timed correctly, my resulting volleys landed deep in the court without needing much effort to generate pace. However, the high swing-weight impacted manoeuvrability, making it tricky to handle at the net, especially during rapid volley exchanges in doubles. Despite this, for a stiff racquet without a Cortex system, the overall feel was surprisingly comfortable. The weight in the racquet's upper section helped reduce shock and vibration significantly."
Lauren found the racket to be very sturdy at the net, although a bit slow. She remarked, "Overall, given the 371 swing weight, I didn't find it too challenging to position it. However, it felt sluggish during fast exchanges. This racket shows great stability, so even on off-centre volleys, the ball remained effective and in play. Since I aimed to limit groundstrokes during gameplay, it was enjoyable to move up and put the ball away.
I didn't need to do much except raise the racket, aim, and hit!"
"Stability is a key feature this racket offers for players from any part of the court," stated Mark. "However, this high level of stability was most noticeable at the net. The racket remains firm and steady, even with off-centre contact. I enjoyed volleying with the Rafa Origin, and while this frame is slightly outside my ideal specification range, I felt it enhanced my volleying skills, which was evident when I returned to playing with my Boom Pro."
Paul found that the Pure Aero Rafa Origin excelled at the net. He commented, "My volleys felt extremely solid. I've always admired Rafa's technique at the net, and after this test, I believe he certainly has the right racket for strong net play. Even powerful passing shots didn't unsettle this racket, and I always felt confident in winning the point with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin in my hands. The excellent response allowed me to relax and concentrate on touch and placement. I also valued the power provided by the racket's mass; it helped me handle difficult low volleys and still generate plenty of power on my shots."
Serving impressively with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin was a standout aspect of this playtest for our team. Despite facing challenges in finding consistent success at the baseline, Lauren thoroughly enjoyed serving with this racket. She enthused, "First serves were incredibly effective and impressive. I could swing vigorously, and I felt all the mass coming through. The Pure Aero Rafa Origin didn't feel as demanding as I anticipated during serves, and kick serves were particularly emphasised, leaping off the court. I relished earning easy points here."
Mark concurred. Of all the shots, he particularly enjoyed delivering serves. He explained, "The weight and balance helped me produce a heavy ball on serves. As I mentioned regarding groundstrokes, I had good power on my serves without requiring a significant amount of racket head speed."
"I had a great time serving with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin," added Paul. "My first serves had plenty of pace thanks to the mass of this racket coming through my swing. I favoured serves down the T from both sides of the court. I appreciated the pace I achieved on that shot, and clearing the net's lowest part enabled me to hit fairly flat serves and still reach my targets. I enjoyed serving and volleying with this racket because it felt extremely solid on both shots."
Initially, Fernando was cautious about putting excessive strain on his shoulder, so he began serving slowly to get accustomed to the swing weight. Gradually increasing the racket speed, he remarked, "I discovered I could deliver a pretty heavy, flat serve with this racket. When I stayed loose and allowed this Pure Aero Rafa Origin to flow through my service motion, things went smoothly. However, I found this racket challenging to manoeuvre on spin and kick serves, and I started to feel some fatigue as time went on during practice sets or tiebreaks."
Returns
Using shorter, more compact strokes proved to be the key to successful returns with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin for our testers. Mark elaborated, "My return of serve was a critical shot for me. However, after spending more time with this racket and adjusting to a shorter backswing, my chip return became more effective. This led me to shorten the points and approach the net after returning."
Paul achieved success with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin by maintaining a very compact backswing on his returns. He said, "I enjoyed redirecting the pace of the incoming serve and utilising the racket's mass to hit back with authority. Similar to groundstrokes, hitting angled shots posed a challenge. Instead, I opted for powerful shots either cross court or down the line. My slice backhand worked well, allowing me to hit that shot with both pace and spin."
Fernando added, "Short, compact swings were essential for sending the ball back deep on returns. Given the challenging manoeuvrability, I focused on simplicity and compactness. The substantial power of the racket helped drive my returns deep, even with a compact swing. I particularly liked using the backhand slice or chip return. I experienced a smooth response, and regardless of the serve's intensity, I had no trouble handling it with this solid racket in my hand. Making effective returns while stretched out or in a defensive position proved to be quite challenging."
Lauren, noticing a similar pattern to her groundstrokes, quickly recognised the need for a shorter backswing to return effectively with this racket. She added, "In comparison to my fellow playtesters also trying the Rafa Origin, the necessity to shorten my backswing became more apparent, especially against their more powerful serves. Despite this, returning is one of my favourite shots, and I feel confident starting a point with a strong return rather than engaging in a rally. The stability of the racket was exceptional, without any wobbliness, and reaching tough returns allowed me to get into the point as the ball often landed deep in the court. Creating angles was challenging, as this racket made it difficult to drop shots effectively."
Overall
Likes
Paul - "Very solid at the net. Provides plenty of power for serves and big groundstrokes."
Fernando - "Possibly the most solid and stable racket I've tested. The Pure Aero Rafa Origin offers great plow through and a relatively easy launch angle. I particularly enjoy using my backhand slice, and it performs well against hard-hitting opponents."
Lauren - "Loaded with plow through and stability. I can deliver explosive serves, and when timed correctly, the ball doesn't come back!"
Mark - "With each playtest, I gain insights into racket behaviour, and swingweight has always played a significant role for me. I've never used a racket with such a high swingweight, and I love it! The stability and comfort levels are exceptional."
Dislikes
Paul - "I struggle to create angles and be as inventive as I can with easier-to-swing rackets."
Fernando - "The lack of manoeuvrability makes it challenging to use this racket under pressure. While the overall weight isn't an issue for me, the balance and the uniquely high swingweight of the Pure Aero Rafa Origin hinder its user-friendliness in terms of manoeuvrability."
Lauren - "It's a hefty racket; the swingweight is about 25 points higher than what I prefer."
Mark - "If the backhand overhead is one of the toughest shots in tennis, executing it with the Pure Aero Rafa Origin is even more challenging. It was a fun experiment, but hitting that shot with this racket proved significantly difficult."
Comparing the racket to others they've tried, our testers said:
Paul - "Not many comparisons come to mind for this Pure Aero Rafa Origin. Other professional-spec options would include the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 v13, Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph, and Yonex VCORE PRO 97H 330. All of these rackets are initially challenging to swing but reward patience. With good technique, you'll experience rock-solid stability and impressive power."
Fernando - "There are not many rackets I have tested over the years that truly compare to this Pure Aero Rafa Origin. When considering aspects like swingweight, overall weighty feel, or professional tour-level specifications, a few models that come to mind include the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour, Boris Becker 11 Special Edition, Prince Textreme Beast Pro 100 Longbody, Dunlop SX 300 Tour (2020), and Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph. When it comes to offering effortless power and spin, this racket reminds me of the Babolat Pure Aero Tour, Yonex EZONE 100+, Yonex VCORE 100+, and Wilson Steam 105S."
Lauren - "There aren't many comparisons I can think of that match up to the Pure Aero Rafa Origin, but it brings to mind the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Plus. That racket had a considerable amount of power and stability. It's difficult to draw a comparison with the RF97 because it belongs to a different class regarding head size, swingweight, and beam width. The Yonex VCORE PRO 97 330H is another bulky racket that swings heavily; however, in my opinion, this racket stands out on its own. Giving it an overall score was challenging because this racket is not one I could see myself using."
Mark - "Due to the Rafa Origin's incredibly high swingweight and significant weight, it stands apart in my view."