Description
British Design Engineered to provide more power/torque, spin and control than ever before with an industry-shifting uniform racquet construction, unparalleled build quality and elite performance. Superior racquet feel, clinical movement for shaping the ball for tennis grade angles and unparalleled power at the back with control at the NVZ and tennis grade top spin. Experience play like never before. Before anyone else.
Core: HEXIOM™ Superpolymer
Surface: Pro-NANOTEC™ 3K T700 Full Carbon Fiber [Edgeless Full Wrap]
Grip: GAMEGRIP™ Single mould with SHARKSKIN™ wrap.
Dimensions: 400mm (15.75″) x 206mm (8.1″)
Weight: 230 grams (+/- 5 grams) (8.1oz) (92% of our Racquets are exactly 8.1oz, we endeavour to have our tolerances the tightest in the industry)
Grip Length: 130mm (5″)
Grip Circumference: 10mm (4″) (Optimal for average woman’s grip. Men usually add an overgrip for optimal average man’s grip)
Thickness: 14mm
Swing Weight: 109 (Very low for static weight – this is good for quick hand speed and power generation)
Twist Weight: 7.0 (Very high for static weight – this is good as it makes it extremely stable.)
LIMITED LIFETIME GUARANTEE
Out of the box, I found the Aero 1 grip to feel a bit short, partly due to the thick bulky grip cap that is under the Sharkskin grip. It has a very thick and noticeable edge which bothered me (you can see this chunky transition in the stock photos). With all the "next level" engineering that went into this racket, the grip cap is one detail that slipped through the cracks. I removed the sharkskin and carefully shaved the grip cap down with an x-acto to thin it out and create a smoother transition to the grip. This gives the impression of a longer grip and more room for my hand as I dont feel the edge of the grip cap. I also did this on my Selkirk Amped, for the same reason. Once I did this and added my favorite overgrip, it felt great for my average sized hands. I'm a one-handed backhander.
The Play Test - Giving some background, former competitive tennis player in my teens and 20's. Now I'm 54. I've owned a Head Radical Pro, Vatic Prism Flash (purple), and my current paddles are the Gearbox CX11 Quad Control and a Selkirk Amped Pro Invicta. The Gearbox CX11 has been my go-to paddle and suits my game the best. Of the paddles I've used, the OM Aero feels most similar to the Gearbox, with some notable improvements. The sweet spot is huge! Bigger than any paddle I've tried. It's very rare to get a "thuk" shot with the Aero 1. The overall feel is very soft in hand. Sound is soft, no "pop" or woody sound like my Selkirk. It provided an incredible feel at the net, dinks were more accurate and intuitive. On drives, it's not a speed demon but deceptively faster than it sounds. There is a slight trampoline feel to the shot, more perceived dwell time. The controlled feel and accuracy of the Aero 1 allow you to drive with a new level of confidence, allowing me to add more swing power into the shot, and ultimately my drive speed increased due to greater confidence and control. I felt no shock or vibration on the shot. The best word to describe the Aero 1 is "Feel". There is a heightened sense of feel and control, which leads to faster more confident top-spin drives and more accurate dinks. It becomes an extension of your arm. It took all of the things I like about the Gearbox CX11 and vastly improved upon them. Great job OM! Now make a racket case please!