Equipment profile · Sources compared
Carlos Alcaraz String Tension & Setup
RPM Team, the reported tension split, and what the Pure Aero 98 name does—and does not—tell us.
By String Tension AI · Published · Research checked
This is a source-based equipment profile, not an official Carlos Alcaraz page. Professional setups can change between string jobs and tournaments.
Carlos Alcaraz is currently reported with Babolat RPM Team 1.30 mm in a full polyester stringbed. Babolat confirms the Pure Aero 98 and RPM Team combination. The reference-tension reports differ: Racket Fit lists 55.1 lbs (25 kg) in the mains and 52.9 lbs (24 kg) in the crosses; Tennisnerd’s August 2026 data lists about 55.1 lbs (25 kg) and 50.7 lbs (23 kg). The defensible synthesis is therefore approximately 55.1 lbs (25 kg) mains and 50.7–52.9 lbs (23–24 kg) crosses. These are reported stringing-machine settings that can change between string jobs, tournaments, and conditions. They are not one permanent specification, a later stringbed measurement, or a prescription for another player’s racquet.
Evidence: Babolat · 2025-06-16 · Racket Fit · Tennisnerd · 2026-08-25
Carlos Alcaraz’s setup at a glance
- Player
- Carlos Alcaraz
- String
- Babolat RPM Team
- Gauge
- 1.30 mm
- Construction
- Full bed co-polyester
- Reported mains
- ≈55.1 lbs (25 kg)
- Reported crosses
- ≈50.7–52.9 lbs (23–24 kg)
- Racquet family
- Babolat Pure Aero 98
- Evidence status
- Reported current range; not a permanent specification
- Research checked
- 2026-09-07
View all 69 sourced pro string setups →
What strings does Carlos Alcaraz use?
Babolat RPM Team 1.30 mm in a reported full bed is the strongest current synthesis. Babolat’s own documentation identifies RPM Team, while Racket Fit and Tennisnerd report the 1.30 mm gauge. The catalog records polyester in both directions, with the same model in the mains and crosses.
Those claims have different evidence levels: the manufacturer confirms the product identity; equipment reporters supply the more specific setup snapshots. Neither should be described as our direct inspection of his racquet.
What tension does Carlos Alcaraz use?
The current reporting range is approximately 55.1 lbs (25 kg) mains and 50.7–52.9 lbs (23–24 kg) crosses. The catalog snapshot remains 55.1 lbs (25 kg) / 52.9 lbs (24 kg), matching Racket Fit. It is one dated report within that wider range.
These are stringing-machine reference settings: the requested settings during stringing. They are not Dynamic Tension, individual-string tension measured later, an app reading, or a guaranteed present stringbed value.
Is Alcaraz’s tension 25/24 kg or 25/23 kg?
Both figures appear in the equipment sources checked on 2026-09-07. Racket Fit lists 55.1 lbs (25 kg) / 52.9 lbs (24 kg); Tennisnerd’s August 25, 2026 report lists about 55.1 lbs (25 kg) / 50.7 lbs (23 kg).
Professional settings are snapshots. Different string jobs, tournament periods, conditions, or source dates may explain a difference, but these reports do not establish which explanation applies here. Neither proves one permanent pair for every tournament. We preserve the reported cross range and do not average the two sources into an invented setting.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all source details.
| Source | String | Gauge | Mains | Crosses | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official manufacturerBabolat · 2025-06-16 | RPM Team | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | First-party confirmation of the racquet and string combination; tension and gauge not stated. |
| Current reportRacket Fit | RPM Team | 1.30 mm | ≈55.1 lbs (25 kg) | ≈52.9 lbs (24 kg) | Reported catalog snapshot; also describes a 2023 stock frame or Pure Aero VS layup. |
| Current reportTennisnerd · 2026-08-25 | RPM Team | 1.30 mm | ≈55.1 lbs (25 kg) | ≈50.7 lbs (23 kg) | Alternative approximate reference-tension snapshot; not a permanent specification. |
When did Alcaraz switch from RPM Blast to RPM Team?
Babolat’s public equipment description changed from RPM Blast to RPM Team by June 2024. Its dated pages establish that public timeline; they do not reveal the exact private date of a string change.
The first-party sources cited here do not establish a single reason for the switch. An arm, wrist, or injury explanation should not be treated as fact on the basis of speculation.
- Historical
2023-08-25 · RPM Blast 1.30
Babolat: Partnership extension, August 2023Historical Pure Aero 98 and RPM Blast 1.30 identification.
- Official manufacturer
2024-06-09 · RPM Team
Babolat: Roland Garros 2024Pure Aero 98 and RPM Team documented by June 2024.
- Official manufacturer
2024-07-14 · RPM Team
Babolat: Wimbledon 2024Further first-party confirmation of Pure Aero 98 and RPM Team.
- Official manufacturer
2025-06-16 · RPM Team
Babolat: Roland Garros 2025First-party confirmation of the racquet and string combination; tension and gauge not stated.
- Current report
Checked 2026-09-07 · RPM Team 1.30
Racket Fit: Pro player tennis setupsReported catalog snapshot; also describes a 2023 stock frame or Pure Aero VS layup.
- Current report
2026-08-25 · RPM Team 1.30
Tennisnerd: ATP Top 50 String Setups: What Are the Pros Actually Using?Alternative approximate reference-tension snapshot; not a permanent specification.
RPM Team 1.30: what the manufacturer says
Babolat’s product positioning: its RPM Team page describes a co-polyester monofilament with an octagonal structure, oriented toward spin and control, with a softer feel from its low-density construction.
That is manufacturer positioning, not an independently tested conclusion about Alcaraz. A softer-feel claim does not prove injury prevention, medical safety, or a universal stiffness advantage over RPM Blast.
What racquet does Carlos Alcaraz use?
Babolat publicly identifies Alcaraz with the Babolat Pure Aero 98 family. The exact pro frame, layup, weighting, and customization should not be assumed to equal today’s retail racquet.
Racket Fit describes either a 2023 Pure Aero 98 stock frame or a Pure Aero VS layup. That remains an uncertain report. Babolat’s current product page also warns that its professionals can use customized or different models from the equipment depicted.
How his reported tension compares with the retail Pure Aero 98 range
Current retail Pure Aero 98 Gen9 — manufacturer specifications checked on 2026-09-07. These are retail product specifications, not Alcaraz’s measured personal racquet specifications.
| Head size | 98 sq in |
|---|---|
| String pattern | 16x20 |
| Unstrung weight | 10.8 oz (305 g) |
| Unstrung balance | 315 mm |
| Swingweight (manufacturer listing) | 295 |
| Manufacturer’s retail reference-tension range | 46–55 lbs (21–25 kg), as published by Babolat |
Source: Babolat’s retail specifications. The published whole-pound range is manufacturer rounding; our report conversions use one decimal.
His reported settings fall within the manufacturer’s retail range, with the 55.1 lbs (25 kg) main setting at its upper edge. That comparison does not prove the exact specifications or suitability of his professional frame.
Should you copy Carlos Alcaraz’s string tension?
There is no reason to copy the number simply because a professional uses it. Your frame, string construction, swing mechanics, preferences, stringing environment, conditions, and restring frequency may all differ. A full bed of 1.30 mm polyester is equipment context, not a universal starting point.
Choose a starting range using your racquet manufacturer’s guidance and your own comfort and control needs. The starting-tension calculator and string tension chart can help organize that decision without prescribing his number for you.
Track your own setup instead of copying a pro
A professional player’s number is interesting context. Your own useful comparison comes from your racquet history. With String Tension AI, save your racquet and string setup and reference tension, establish a fresh-string baseline, and repeat measurements under similar conditions.
Log playing hours and compare string jobs to learn which trends go with your preferred feel. Follow the repeatable measurement workflow. An estimate can support that history without recovering Alcaraz’s exact machine settings or implying that he uses this app.
Carlos Alcaraz string setup FAQ
What strings does Carlos Alcaraz use?
Babolat RPM Team 1.30 mm in a reported full bed. Babolat confirms RPM Team; Racket Fit and Tennisnerd supply the gauge and tension reports.
What string tension does Carlos Alcaraz use?
Current reports put his reference settings around 55.1 lbs (25 kg) in the mains and 50.7–52.9 lbs (23–24 kg) in the crosses. These are changeable snapshots.
Does Carlos Alcaraz use RPM Team or RPM Blast?
RPM Team is the better-supported current identification. Babolat’s August 2023 page named RPM Blast; its June 2024, July 2024, and June 2025 pages named RPM Team.
When did Carlos Alcaraz switch to RPM Team?
Babolat’s public description had changed to RPM Team by June 9, 2024. The cited first-party pages do not establish the exact private switch date or a definitive reason.
What gauge does Carlos Alcaraz use?
1.30 mm, reported by both Racket Fit and Tennisnerd. The Babolat victory articles establish the string model but do not specify that gauge.
Is Carlos Alcaraz’s setup a full bed or hybrid?
A reported full bed of Babolat RPM Team: polyester mains and polyester crosses using the same string. The catalog classifies it as a full bed, not a hybrid.
Is his tension 25/24 kg or 25/23 kg?
Both pairs appear in the sources checked. Racket Fit reports 55.1 lbs (25 kg) / 52.9 lbs (24 kg); Tennisnerd reports approximately 55.1 lbs (25 kg) / 50.7 lbs (23 kg). Neither establishes one permanent pair.
How many pounds is 25 kg of string tension?
55.1 lbs (25 kg). We convert reported kilogram values to one decimal place in pounds; that rounding does not add measurement precision.
Why are his crosses reported lower than his mains?
Both equipment reports show a lower cross reference setting. The cited sources do not establish his personal reason, so we do not assign a specific spin, power, or dwell-time benefit to the split.
Does Carlos Alcaraz change tension between tournaments?
Professional settings can vary, but these reports do not provide a tournament-by-tournament log for Alcaraz. We cannot map either pair to a particular surface or condition.
What racquet does Carlos Alcaraz use?
Babolat identifies him with the Babolat Pure Aero 98 family. His exact professional frame and customization are not established by the current retail specifications.
Does he use the retail Pure Aero 98?
Do not assume his tour frame equals the current retail Gen9. Babolat warns that professionals may use customized or different models; Racket Fit describes a 2023 stock frame or Pure Aero VS layup.
What string pattern does the Pure Aero 98 use?
The current retail Pure Aero 98 Gen9 has a 16x20 pattern, according to Babolat. That is manufacturer model context, not our measurement of Alcaraz’s personal racquet.
Should I copy Carlos Alcaraz’s string tension?
There is no reason to copy the number solely because a professional uses it. Start with your racquet manufacturer’s guidance, your string construction, and your own comfort and control preferences.
Is RPM Team softer than RPM Blast?
Babolat positions RPM Team as a polyester string with a softer feel. The cited product page does not establish a universal measured stiffness advantage over RPM Blast or any medical benefit.
Can a phone app measure a racquet strung like Alcaraz’s?
String Tension AI can estimate installed stringbed tension for supported racquet and string setups and track repeatable readings. It cannot recover a professional’s exact machine settings from a finished racquet.
Should an app reading equal his reported 55/53 lb machine settings?
No. A later phone reading is a modeled estimate of the installed stringbed. It should not be expected to equal either reference setting or their average of 54 lbs.
How often does Carlos Alcaraz restring?
We did not identify a reliable current public source establishing his exact restring frequency.
Sources and methodology
Manufacturer evidence confirms product identification. Equipment reports supply reference-tension snapshots. We retain their differences rather than average them into false precision. The catalog keeps its specific Racket Fit snapshot; the profile explains the wider reporting range. See the parent catalog methodology.
All external evidence below was checked on 2026-09-07. Publication dates are shown only when supplied by the source; an access date is not a claim that an undated page was published that day. No personal racquet was inspected for this profile.
First-party manufacturer evidence
- Babolat: Partnership extension, August 2023 · Published 2023-08-25
Historical Pure Aero 98 and RPM Blast 1.30 identification. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Babolat: Roland Garros 2024 · Published 2024-06-09
Pure Aero 98 and RPM Team documented by June 2024. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Babolat: Wimbledon 2024 · Published 2024-07-14
Further first-party confirmation of Pure Aero 98 and RPM Team. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Babolat: Roland Garros 2025 · Published 2025-06-16
First-party confirmation of the racquet and string combination; tension and gauge not stated. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Babolat: RPM Team 12M product specifications
Co-polyester monofilament, octagonal construction, and manufacturer spin/control and softer-feel positioning. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Babolat: Current retail Pure Aero 98 Gen9 specifications
Retail specifications and professional-equipment customization caveat; not personal-frame measurements. Accessed 2026-09-07.
Current reported equipment snapshots
- Racket Fit: Pro player tennis setups
Reported catalog snapshot; also describes a 2023 stock frame or Pure Aero VS layup. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Tennisnerd: ATP Top 50 String Setups: What Are the Pros Actually Using? · Published 2026-08-25
Alternative approximate reference-tension snapshot; not a permanent specification. Accessed 2026-09-07.
String Tension AI public data
- String catalog: dated numeric snapshot
- Racquet catalog: model context and uncertainty notes
- Editorial evidence and source links
The racquet catalog records 10.8 oz as a reported pro unstrung snapshot from Racket Fit’s 305 g listing. The retail specification above is separate context, not proof that the professional frame is identical. See the public racquet weight contract for weight basis and source definitions.