I'm late to the Babolat party...
On many occasions, I tried different versions of the APD on court. It is such a popular racket that someone would surely show up with it.
However, this time I set aside my own and hit exclusively with the 2007 APD for about 20+ hours. Both to test the racket and some exotic strings which would remain unknown.
While the specs (link) may claim a total weight of about 320 grams with 324 swingweight, the one I tested was 330 grams strung and gripped. Swingweight was very close to 330.
Not a big deal to me since I am no stranger to heavy sticks. (link)
Strangely, this APD felt slow and unwieldy. My timing was late. Everything including serves, serve returns and forehands. I could not understand it. It felt like I just finished the ironman triathlon minutes before playing tennis.
Naturally, I ended up arming/muscling the racket through. But I was still late. And the power threw my control haywire. I could not control the ball depth nor direction!
After struggling like a clown, my NTRP 4.5+ friend, a decade-long APD user, chuckled and pointed out the "secret tip" to me...
"It's a swinger's stick... try standing further back..." he said. (link)
Ahhh....! Then I got it! My forehand and backhand started falling in place. The loud "thwack" of the ball impact on the full poly stringbed sounded and the spin started kicking.
Serves took a little longer to get in tune as I had to adjust my toss and timing so I could "throw" the racket at the ball.
Once attuned, I aced a few second serves. The spin turned the ball down when all four of us thought it was flying long. Then kicked forward to catch the receiver totally off-guard. Certainly not something I normally delivered.
I became very impressed by the APD. Just loosen up, grip down, start the foreward swing a tad earlier, and enjoy letting the release of the wrist-hinge slap through the ball. So effortless!
As long as I was early with both footwork and racket prep, sweetspot and near-sweetspot ball impacts felt plush and comfy. There was no hint of any frame stiffness at all. (Of course, the secret string played a part!!!)
Conversely, when I was late, like under attack or read the ball wrongly, the APD was very demanding to move.
Like I had stacked too many plates on the barbell. Attempts to direct the racket at this stage meant a stiffening of the grip pressure. This engages the forearm and biceps while locking up the wrist.
Instinctive, but very wrong and deadly move!
The punishment for this was the full, jarring impact of the ball landing on the hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder. Especially with the lack of racket momentum to buffer the incoming "punch" from the heavy ball.
It was nasty!
Another issue was power.
When I was in full balance and contacted out front, I could unleash the full swing, load the stringbed well, and let the topspin keep the ball in the court. When late, the power was too much.
To curb that power, many tightened up the tension. Or selected a much stiffer low-powered string. Then they ended up "arming" the ball even more.
Disastrously, that was how the APD destroyed several of my former playing partners' elbows.
The polarization of weight in the APD is so deceptive. It fooled me and many into thinking it was fast and easy to maneuver. But it is not.
Don't be deceived. In my opinion, the APD is a player's frame. Beginners like it for it's easy power so learning tennis becomes faster.
However, it is a very demanding frame that expects good read of the ball, fast footwork and very early swing prep. Without which, it could cause some serious havoc with the player's arm.
Now I understand why many deemed this the indisputable "arm killer".
Play safe!
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