For the 2017 collection, Babolat adds a new string to its already impressive offering. The Babolat RPM Blast Rough is the rough version of the well-known Babolat RPM Blast and should provide 'ultimate spin'. We were very curious and put the string through the test for you!
Specifications:
Brand: Babolat
Type: RPM Blast Rough
Thickness: 16/1.30 mm
Type of string: control oriented octagonal co-polyester string with a heavy rough texture for extra grip on the ball. The string has a softer feel than I expected.
Similar strings: Diadem Solstice Power 16 , Babolat RPM Blast, Luxilon Alu Power Rough
The Babolat RPM Blast Rough in 1.25/17 thickness is now available in our webshop in sets or roll !
Tested by:
Name: Mike
Playing strength: 4/4
Player type: somewhat more classic player, flat groundstrokes, generates little spin himself. Had shoulder problems until recently
Racket: Babolat Pure Strike 16/19 2017 (aka #ProjectOne7) (98 sq/inch, 16/19 stringing pattern)
String hardness: 22/21 kg with a stringing range of 23-27 kilos
Test duration: 4.5 hours
Favorite string player: Diadem Solstice Power 17
Judgement:
Durability: 8
Voltage retention: 7.5
Spin/slice: 8
Ball feel: 7.5
Power: 8
Control: 8.5
Comfort/arm friendliness: 7.5
Stringing the string:
The Babolat RPM Blast Rough 16 was, as usual with Babolat, packed in a nice plastic 'cover'. The string is packed quite compactly in this way. After opening the box, you first have to give the string some space so that it does not 'curl' too much. Then I cut the set in two and started stringing. The first thing I noticed while stringing is that the string was more elastic than I had expected. When threading the cross strings, you notice that there is a lot of texture on the string. This makes it a bit more difficult to thread. It is nice to know that this 'rough' texture is caused by all the small Babolat logos in the string.
Since I normally prefer to play with thinner strings (preferably around 1.20 mm) I have reduced the tension when stringing to 22/21 kg. Fresh from the machine this bright orange string looks super cool in my Babolat Pure Strike 16/19 2017, which works with the same orange color.
Review:
It's been a while since I played the regular Babolat RPM Blast. What I remember from that playtest is the enormous spin potential and liveliness of the string. The smooth surface of the string caused a lot of snapback of the main strings, good for a solid dose of ball rotation (spin). What actually happens is that the main strings slide out of position a lot because of the smooth surface of the strings, but they still grab the ball in the strings. The ball is then launched with a lot of rotation because the strings spring back to their original position. I personally think that the regular RPM Blast is an excellent match for the Pure Aero or the former Aeropro Drive series. These are rackets made for spin and power.
In that respect I think this Babolat RPM Blast Rough fits the new Babolat Pure Strike series better and not only optically… The RPM Blast Rough gives extra grip on the ball due to the enormous texture, but the snapback is clearly less than with the normal RPM Blast. This gives the string more control over the steering and placement of the ball. And in my opinion this fits very well with the clearly more control-oriented new Pure Strike racket family.
From the first ball contact I noticed that the string had a softer, more comfortable feel than I expected. Because of this somewhat softer touch and in my experience extra comfort, I was pleasantly surprised. The Babolat RPM Blast Rough has great spin potential, but the description 'the ultimate spin' is very enthusiastic. I think that the normal RPM Blast and also the Diadem Solstice Power generate more spin and then especially because of the extra snapback of the strings. This RPM Blast Rough on the other hand combines great spin potential with great steering and control.
From the baseline this was clearly noticeable: I had more than enough controlled spin in my groundstrokes. On my backhand slice I find the sharper edges of the Diadem Solstice Power and Elite XT series even more pleasant to grab the ball in your strings. At the net the RPM Blast Rough has a nice direct response, but also sufficient feeling for placed - and stop volleys. The grip on the ball when serving is very nice. Especially here I noticed very clearly that the extra texture on the string made it easier to direct and place the serve.
This is the first real 'rough' string I've played, but I can imagine why so many top players play such a rough string as a cross string in a hybrid string setup. Many top players use a gut string lengthwise and a string like this widthwise. This combines the dynamics and touch of the length string with the control of the cross string. The best-known example of this is of course the Luxilon Alu Power Rough. But now Babolat also comes with a great option in this RPM Blast Rough.
I wouldn't have given this string the label 'the ultimate spin' myself, but the fact is that Babolat combines excellent spin potential with good control for steering and placing the ball with the RPM Blast Rough. A very pleasant playtest all in all!
The Babolat RPM Blast Rough in 1.25/17 thickness is now available in our webshop in sets or roll !