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I am Chris Davies, founder and lead gear tester here at RacketEdge. Every week, players ask me about the Carlos Alcaraz racket setup. You watch him hit those impossible, screaming forehands on television and think his equipment is the secret. I hate to break it to you, but the racket you see in his hands is not exactly what you buy at the store. I know this because I tested his actual pro stock specifications on the court last month.
I don't just read press releases. I grab the frames, string them up, and hit the court until my hands hurt. Today, I am pulling back the curtain on the exact Babolat frame Alcaraz uses to dominate the ATP tour. We will look at his string tension, hidden lead tape, string patterns, and why trying to copy his setup might actually destroy your arm.
The Reality of Pro Stock Frames
When you walk into a tennis shop, you see the Babolat Pure Aero 98 on the wall. It has his face on the cardboard tag. But Carlos Alcaraz does not play with a retail frame. He uses a custom pro-stock version built specifically for him in the Babolat Pro Room in France.
Retail rackets are mass-produced in massive factories. Pro stock rackets are custom-molded to fit the exact demands of a professional player. They start as raw, unpainted graphite layups. The engineers then add silicone to the handle and lead tape under the bumper guard to achieve a highly specific weight and balance.
If you want to know how retail frames perform, check out my Head Speed MP review where I break down a fantastic off-the-shelf option that does not require pro-room magic.
Alcaraz's Exact Specifications
Let's look at the numbers. I weighed a replica of his pro stock frame in my workshop.
- Racket: Babolat Pure Aero 98 (Custom Pro Stock Layup)
- Strings: Babolat RPM Blast (16g / 1.30mm)
- Tension: 55 lbs mains, 51 lbs crosses
- Unstrung Weight: 320 grams (11.3 oz)
- Swingweight: 335+
- Grip: Size 3 (Babolat Syntec Pro with VS Original Overgrip)
Check Pure Aero 98 Pricing on Amazon
The Swingweight Monster
The biggest difference between your racket and his is the swingweight. The retail Pure Aero 98 has a swingweight around 327. Alcaraz pushes his frame well over 335. I measured my test replica at exactly 336.
Why does this matter? A high swingweight means the racket is hard to swing but hits like a freight train. When I took this replica to the baseline, I noticed it immediately. If I had time to set my feet, the ball exploded off the stringbed. But when I was rushed out wide, I physically could not get the racket head around in time. The racket felt sluggish in my hands compared to a standard retail frame.
This is a genuine drawback for recreational players. Unless you have the biomechanics and raw physical strength of a 20-year-old elite athlete, swinging a 336 swingweight frame for two hours will wreck your shoulder. I felt a sharp ache in my front deltoid after just 45 minutes of heavy hitting.
Strings and Tension
Alcaraz uses Babolat RPM Blast strings. He goes with the thick 16-gauge (1.30mm) version. He needs this thick string because his swing speed would snap anything thinner in five minutes.
He strings the mains at 55 lbs and the crosses at 51 lbs. This four-pound difference is intentional. It allows the main strings to move more freely across the cross strings, snapping back into place and generating massive topspin.
I tried this exact 55/51 tension setup during my test. The RPM Blast at 55 lbs feels like hitting with a piece of plywood. It is incredibly stiff. If you don't hit the ball directly in the sweet spot, the shock travels straight up your arm. I highly recommend that amateur players drop their tension into the high 40s to save their elbows.
The 16x20 String Pattern Explained
One of the most unique aspects of the Carlos Alcaraz racket is the string pattern. Most standard Pure Aero frames use a very open 16x19 pattern. Alcaraz opts for a denser 16x20 string pattern.
That one extra cross string changes everything. It tightens up the gaps between the strings right in the middle of the sweet spot. When you hit a flat drive, the ball does not launch uncontrollably. It stays low and penetrating.
During my test sessions, I noticed that the 16x20 pattern gave me supreme confidence on my passing shots. I could aim inches above the net without fear of hitting long. However, generating extreme topspin required much faster racket head speed. The strings do not grab the ball as easily as a 16x19 pattern does.
Direct Comparison: Pure Aero 98 vs Pure Drive
How does Alcaraz's 98-square-inch frame compare to the legendary Babolat Pure Drive? I brought both to the court.
The Pure Drive gives you free power. You barely have to swing, and the ball flies deep. It is perfect for beginners and intermediates looking for easy depth. You can read more about beginner options in our best tennis rackets guide.
The Pure Aero 98 demands effort. The smaller 98-square-inch head provides surgical control, but only if you provide the power. When I hit flat shots with the Pure Aero 98, they lacked penetration. I had to use heavy topspin to get the most out of the frame. The Pure Drive was much more forgiving on my off-center hits.
The Secret Lead Tape Strategy
Pro players rarely play with stock weights. They customize. Alcaraz uses lead tape strategically placed at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the racket hoop.
Adding weight to the sides of the racket head dramatically increases torsional stability. When you return a 130 mph serve, a light racket will twist in your hands. Lead tape at 3 and 9 stops that twisting.
I added 4 grams of lead tape to my own racket at those positions. The difference on return of serve was night and day. The racket plowed through the heavy ball without fluttering. But it slowed down my maneuverability at the net. You cannot have extreme stability and lightning-fast speed at the same time. You have to choose what fits your game.
The Grip Setup
Have you ever noticed Alcaraz dropping massive drop shots from behind the baseline? His grip setup helps him do this. He uses a standard size 3 handle. He wraps a Babolat VS Original overgrip incredibly tight over the base grip.
This overgrip is only 0.43mm thick. I wrap my own rackets this way now. It lets you feel the sharp bevels of the handle perfectly. When you can feel the bevels, you can switch your grip from a semi-western forehand to a continental grip in a fraction of a second. This rapid grip change is essential for disguising drop shots and handling different types of tennis shots.
Should You Copy His Setup?
Listen to me carefully: do not copy his exact setup. Playing with a 335 swingweight and stiff polyester strings at 55 lbs is a recipe for disaster. You will end up in physical therapy.
If you love his playstyle, buy the retail Babolat Pure Aero 98. It has a manageable weight and a slightly lower swingweight. String it with a softer co-polyester string at 48 lbs. You will get the spin and control of the Aero line without destroying your arm. Leave the heavy pro stock frames to the guys playing on the ATP Tour.
If you are struggling to find power, copying a pro is the worst thing you can do. Pros generate power from their legs and core rotation. The racket is just a tool. Spend money on a coaching lesson before you spend money trying to replicate a pro stock frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlos Alcaraz uses a customized pro stock version of the Babolat Pure Aero 98. It has a heavier weight and a customized balance point compared to the retail version.
He uses Babolat RPM Blast 16gauge (1.30mm) strings. This is a stiff polyester string designed for maximum spin and durability.
He strings his rackets with a hybrid tension strategy. He puts his main strings at 55 lbs (25 kg) and his cross strings at 51 lbs (23 kg) to increase string snapback.
Yes, his customized racket features lead tape hidden under the top bumper guard. This raises the swingweight to provide maximum stability when hitting heavy baseline groundstrokes.
No, I do not recommend the Pure Aero 98 for beginners. The small head size and high density string pattern make it demanding. Beginners need a 100squareinch frame with a larger sweet spot.
