Babolat Releasing Signature Nadal Racket With True Player Specs

Rafael Nadal knows spin. So, Babolat is embracing all things Nadal with the brand’s spin-plus-power release of two Nadal signature Pure Aero frames, including the first creation of a racket tied closely to the specifications Nadal plays with on tour.

The April 11 launch of the second generation of the Pure Aero Rafa line features both the Pure Aero Rafa and the Pure Aero Rafa Origin, two frames that push further toward spin and power than the mainline Pure Aero rackets released in the second half of 2022.

“The current 2023 Pure Aero range is designed for spin and control by having a less stiff frame and a slightly closed string pattern,” Olivier Carlier, Babolat’s tennis product expert, tells me. “The new Pure Aero Rafa range is designed for spin and power by having a stiffer shaft with a slightly more open string pattern.”

And if that wasn’t enough, fans of Nadal can go all-in on his near-exact specs with the Origin frame. “The Pure Aero Rafa Origin is as close to Rafa’s current specs as possible,” Carlier says. “The only difference between the Origin and the Pure Aero Rafa is the weight.”

The Origin design really embraces Nadal, even to the point of a 317-gram unstrung weight. Carlier says they also developed the non-Origin Rafa version at 290 grams to make it more maneuverable for players still looking to focus on power and spin. “Rafa’s swing is unique, and we are aware that the Pure Aero Rafa Origin cannot suit all types of players,” he says. “To enable a larger group of players to adopt a racket from this collection, we developed a lighter version.”

When the first generation of Rafa signatures launched with the Pure Aero line in 2019, the only difference was the cosmetic. This time, Babolat has spun out racket specifications designed for players seeking even more spin than afforded by the already spin-friendly Pure Areo.

Carlier says by developing the new Pure Aero Rafa range for players seeking “heavy spin,” a combination of power and extreme spin, they fit the need of players making contact as the ball descends from the top of the bounce, applying spin from the back of the court with power and explosiveness.

“These players, like Rafa, continually hit heavy, deep shots that eventually wear the opponents down by keeping them well behind the baseline,” he says. This differs from the mainline Pure Aero designed for players creating “strong spin” with contact at the peak of the bounce or the Pure Aero 98 for players generating “fast spin” by making contact off the bounce.

To make it work—and embrace Nadal’s style—the new Rafa line comes stiffer than the main Pure Aero line with a 73 RA (stiffness rating) in the shaft and are more balance in the head. The design is meant to provides more stability at impact to maximize power and ball rotation. The frame design also has a slightly more open string pattern to encourage power and spin.

Babolat worked directly with Nadal on the frames, especially in picking the aesthetics. “He told us that he wanted a cosmetic design drastically different and shared his guidelines with us,” Carlier says. “For example, he did not want yellow to be the main color on the shaft. We worked on different cosmetic concepts with our designer and sent them to Rafa for his feedback. He selected the current design, which we call ‘Full of Energy,’ and that we believe embodies his game and personality.”

The bright, warm and intense colors are meant to express Nadal’s energy on and off the court. The team also designed the face card of the racket with a font like a painter’s stroke, a reference to the “absolute artist of spin that Rafa is.”