How Babolat Changed Power and Speed Of Tennis The Game Will Never Be The Same
How Babolat Changed Power and Speed Of Tennis The Game Will Never Be The Same
Transcript
00:00 Tennis has been one of the most played and renowned games in the world and many big brands
00:06 have played a part in its success.
00:09 Babola has been one of the foremost innovators and has had a big impact on the history of
00:15 tennis.
00:16 This can be seen through their development of strings and rackets, but also in a more
00:22 behind the scenes capacity with their stringing and customization machines.
00:28 From a stringing and customization standpoint, they have been at the pinnacle for decades.
00:35 Their stringing machines have combined reliability, precision, ease of use and inspire confidence
00:42 among touring professionals when they turn up at any event.
00:47 The fact that the Babola Star 4 is still used by the most prominent traveling stringing
00:52 company is a testament to the brand's quality.
00:56 The RDC machine has also allowed racket technicians the ability to measure and adjust a racket's
01:03 specifications so that the weight, balance and swing weight can be fine-tuned to each
01:10 individual player's needs.
01:12 Welcome to the rich rabbit!
01:13 And today we will be talking about Babola, a brand that has played a major part in the
01:20 success of tennis.
01:23 But first things first, if you haven't yet subscribed to our channel, please do consider
01:27 doing it.
01:28 And don't forget to click the bell icon.
01:31 A year after tennis was born, Pierre Babola would change the sport forever.
01:37 In 1875, at his home in Lyon, France, Babola fashioned racket strings from sheep intestines,
01:45 a process that was deemed revolutionary.
01:49 Babola strings would stand the test of time, helping to produce some of the game's greatest
01:55 champions, including 19-time major winner Rafael Nadal.
02:02 It also provided the foundation of a five-generation family business that continues to thrive 150
02:09 years later.
02:10 The company's roots and reputation started with the invention of tennis racket strings,
02:17 and eventually expanded its footprint to produce some of the best-quality tennis, squash and
02:23 badminton equipment.
02:26 In 1925, Albert Babola introduced the VS natural gut string, taking the company and the sport
02:34 to another level in France.
02:36 A group of players known as the Musketeers received string samples listed alphabetically.
02:44 When the four players, Jean Beauretre, Jacques Brunion, Henri Couchet and René Lacoste reached
02:51 sample V, it was agreed V is superior, hence the name V superior or VS.
02:59 Lacoste and Suzanne Langlaine became the first players to win the French Open with Babola
03:05 strings.
03:06 Wait, we've done a video on René Lacoste and his brand, so do have a look at it after
03:12 this.
03:13 Their VS natural gut strings have evolved quite extensively over the years, with coatings
03:19 being added to help increase its life as well as hold up better in extreme weather situations.
03:25 It is quite uncommon that the gut is used for a full stringing job on tour now.
03:31 However, its comfort, tension maintenance and power are still used by between 30-40%
03:38 of the professionals as part of a hybrid.
03:41 With that in mind, Babola had to join the polyester revolution and they have done so
03:46 with large success.
03:49 Their RPM Blast string is one of the most popular strings among professionals and is
03:54 always in the top three types of string used at any big event.
04:00 In the wake of World War II, manufacturers' interest in synthetic materials led Babola
04:06 to invent the first synthetic string in 1955, known as Elasticord.
04:12 In 1981, the company introduced the first electric stringing machine called the Exclusive.
04:20 This machine was a more reliable means of stringing, by having a computerized electric
04:26 motor control the tension, allowing for more accuracy.
04:31 The following year, Babola released Elastocross, an innovative racket string protector which
04:37 functions to prolong an installed string's lifespan.
04:41 In 1992, Babola created the Racket Diagnostic Center technology, allowing for a quick and
04:48 reliable diagnosis of a racket's weight, balance, swing weight and flexibility.
04:54 Two years later, Babola introduced its first tennis racket, the iconic PureDrive.
05:01 The success of this racket was celebrated with Carlos Moya's 1998 win at the French
05:07 Open.
05:09 After its introduction in the mid-90s, the PureDrive racket lays a huge claim to changing
05:15 the game as we know it.
05:17 Gone are the days of serve and volleying dominating the tour.
05:22 The extra power and spin potential available from the PureDrive has allowed players to
05:28 move further back and be able to hit shots never before possible, creating angles and
05:34 added power to pass anyone who ventured forward.
05:39 Since then, every racket has become more powerful, with a wider range of rackets available in
05:45 the 300-gram mark than any other.
05:48 Further technological advancements of the racket arrived five years later with Woofer,
05:54 an interactive system of a racket's frame and strings when making contact.
05:59 Babola Tennis Balls came into play in 2001.
06:04 And two years later, the company started selling tennis clothing, footwear and accessories.
06:10 During 2003, the French company teamed up with Michelin, the world's leading tire expert,
06:16 to create its first shoe.
06:19 Babola discovered that in tennis, 80% of movements are lateral or diagonal.
06:26 They worked with a R&D team to develop shoes 100% dedicated to the movements in tennis.
06:32 Furthermore, tennis star Nadal adopted the launch of the new Aero Racket concept.
06:39 It is the world's first aerodynamic frame and bestseller at Merchant of Tennis.
06:46 Two years later, Nadal won the first of his many French Open titles using rackets and
06:51 strings produced by Babola, a company that began in a home just over 450 kilometers south
06:58 of Paris.
07:00 The Pure Aero took the power and maneuverability of the Pure Drive and added a frame design
07:06 to maximize spin.
07:09 When looking at the aggressive swing angle of Nadal, Babola reworked the frame geometry
07:15 to allow the racket to cut through the air.
07:18 This allowed the player to turn a faster swing into more spin.
07:24 During the 2005 season, American Andy Roddick signed a contract with Babola to wear Team
07:30 All-Court shoes.
07:32 The professional tennis player was known for using the Pure Drive Roddick, a customized
07:38 version of the Pure Drive Tour and a bestseller.
07:42 In 2010, Babola helped Nadal stay on top by launching RPM Blast, a string optimized for
07:49 spin production.
07:51 Three years later, Babola launched the Play Pure Drive, a sensor racket that collects
07:58 data on a player's game and transfers to a smartphone or tablet application for analysis.
08:04 Unfortunately, this company does not exist without controversy.
08:10 It manufactures Vibrasorbs, the functionality of which has been questioned in the past.
08:17 Some of its dampeners have flown out of players' rackets and some dampeners are too thick.
08:24 The best tennis dampeners will stay in, which means they interfere with the optimal aerodynamics
08:30 of the swing.
08:31 In 2015, the officials of the French Open decided to change from Dunlop to Babola tennis
08:37 balls.
08:38 This caused quite a stir among players during the tournament, many of whom felt that Babola
08:44 tennis balls were fast and difficult to control.
08:48 However, people seemed to love Babola products despite these controversies.
08:52 Today, Babola is known as the oldest racket sport company and is found in more than 100
08:59 countries.
09:00 Since 1998, the current CEO of the family-owned business is Eric Babola.
09:07 Babola has changed the game by providing new rackets that are lightweight but still have
09:12 a great feel.
09:14 These rackets would go best with the PowerSorb weighted vibration dampener because of the
09:20 excess power Babola rackets can provide.
09:24 And with that, it's time for my tennis lesson and I'll take a hike.
09:29 But we sure hope that you liked our video and found it informative.
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09:45 And I'll see you in the next video.