A new string is on the way to the market from Babolat. It is called Babolat RPM PWR and will likely be a softer and more powerful string.
Our writer and reviewer Henrik Wallensten has received a sample from Babolat and is keen to test this string. The color of Babolat RPM PWR is called “Electric Brown”, which I find interesting. Brown is rarely in fashion.
Dominic Thiem has been changing strings back and forth during 2019 and one of the strings he has been testing is the Babolat RPM PWR as you can see from my Instagram post below. Normally he uses Babolat RPM Blast Rough so it is interesting to see what this string can do this game.
I hope to receive a sample as well at some point so I can compare my findings with Henrik’s.
Babolat RPM PWR – Thiem uses it. Maybe?
Dominic Thiem did not experience the best results with this string during the US Open. He crashed out in the fourth round in against Thomas Fabbiano. It might not be the string though, Fabbiano is a tricky opponent.
Pro players keep tweaking their gear, but Thiem’s frequent testing of strings can be seen both as a strength and a weakness. Strength: he is always looking for that extra edge. Weakness: he is not happy with what he is using.
It will be interesting what string he will use for the remainder of the season. Babolat RPM PWR or something else?
Babolat RPM PWR – Release date?
Sadly, I don’t have a release date for the Babolat RPM PWR string. I hope to be able to update this post with one soon. For now, we will need to look forward to Henrik’s review.
Are you curious about this string? What do you use today? Please comment below.
PS. There is a lot of string content coming on patreon.com/tennisnerd if you are open to supporting Tennisnerd with $2 a month for exclusive content. Thanks for your support. DS.
9 comments
Jonas,
Sorry for going off-topic, but I wanted to make a suggestion regarding the pro players you focus on. Although it seems likely that most Tennisnerd readers are male (yes, a sexist stereotype…mea culpa), since most of us are not 6ft 6in tall and will never blast 130mph serves (honestly, I’d be glad to break 100mph)it might be useful for the masses to have more insight as to what racquets and setups WTA players are using than, say Delpo or Rafa. Presumably these racquets are lighter and more accessible to males of average stature and ability than what the average ATP player employs. Perhaps also some focus on the techniques these small women (think Halep, Barty, or Andreescu rather than Venus or Serena) use to generate such power. Anyway, just a thought. Not that I don’t love to read about Fed and Djokovic’s setups, mind you! I just can’t use that info for my own game, and, as a mere mortal tennis nerd, I’d really like to!
Thanks again,
Jaime
Hi Jaime,
That is a great idea and something I will try to implement more.
More WTA content coming up.
Regards / J
PS. If you feel like my advice is really useful, please consider becoming a patron for $2 at patreon.com/tennisnerd and get exclusive content every week. DS.
I am testing pro red code wax 1.20 at 56 pounds in my beast 98. I am also going to try the alu power feel. And I am going to stick with one of these two.
He went out in the first round not in the fourth. At the French open he was using a Head experimental string. Seems like Babolat is trying to copy that or they just need a string that looks like it so it would not seem that he is endorsing a Head string.
It looks like Thiem is using it now at the finals.
I heard that RPM Power will be released on the public in December.
Is it shaped like the rest of the RPM series? It looks round.
It should be round as far as I know, yes. Keen to try it!
Could this Rpm version be similar to the Head Hawk touch?
Let’s hope. Will test it soon.
Hi Jonas!
Last night I tested RPM Power 1,25mm (in a hybrid with Head Velocity 1,25mm) in a Wilson Blade 16×19 2013. Only tried it for 2 hours but it was a nice hit.
I notice some differences from my go-to string RPM Blast 1,20 (with the same machine settings, same hybrid):
*Better “pop”-sound, less muted feel than RPM Blast
*Similar control (ball flies a bit, but that´s due to the 16×19 pattern that I´m not used to. Needs to increase tension a bit)
*A little more difficult to string with due to heavy coil-memory.
*It looks awesome!