The exo tour has a mental disorder...

mxmx

Hall of Fame
Okay...this racket is just ridiculous. Been playing with it for basically a year now. It is NOT very consistent. I have never played with a racket as "hot and then cold and then hot again" as this one. It has a life of its own...genius at times, "special" on others...

I don't completely blame this on the racket. I blame this own my skill - and especially on that day. For me to be able to play well with this racket, my game needs to be on. But when its on, this racket is crazily good, especially on the groundstrokes and volleys (generally bad on serve). Problem is, my game isn't always on, so the racket is generally more challenging than fun. When my game is mediocre, the racket is is not mediocre, its less than mediocre. Nothing is like this racket...its an all or nothing racket.

I am going to miss the groundstrokes on this racket. Especially after yesterday. I had a on day and almost never hit the ball cleaner and with more precision. Spin was amazing...feel...everything. I did however not serve yesterday...but the serve is the biggest reason I'm letting these rackets go...
 

Alex78

Hall of Fame
Funny how some things are completely different for some individual players - my EXO3 Tour 100 (18x20) did wonders to my serve when I first tried it out. They almost became automatic, really increased my big 1st serve percentage.
 

wolfinsignia

New User
i think its more of the individual than the racquet in these cases. though lower power racquets need a good and fast swing to get those amazing shots especially the tour. control is basically gone when i half ass shots.

yea serve isn't its strong point, it has good spin and control but lacks pace and my game usually starts and end at the serve. it annoys me that anyone in my range level can return a serve. but because of it im alot better at placing my ball. but yea i do wish the stick can help add pace.

im still sticking to the racquet, my forehand and backhand has gotten alot better.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
i think its more of the individual than the racquet in these cases. though lower power racquets need a good and fast swing to get those amazing shots especially the tour. control is basically gone when i half ass shots.

yea serve isn't its strong point, it has good spin and control but lacks pace and my game usually starts and end at the serve. it annoys me that anyone in my range level can return a serve. but because of it im alot better at placing my ball. but yea i do wish the stick can help add pace.

im still sticking to the racquet, my forehand and backhand has gotten alot better.

Well....I can give credit to the racket in improving some parts of my game. Sometimes rackets force me to adapt/focus more on technique a little...

The racket improved my volleys and "direct" overheads. (its terrible on bouncing overheads). My drop shot also improved. It also taught me to gain more pace on the serve using technique...as its own power sucks a lot...
 

mikeler

Moderator
My serve is above average with the racket right now. Volleys are outstanding with it. Return of serve is a little weaker than average.
 

db10s

Hall of Fame
My Bio Max 200G's don't put as much pace on my serve, but I can really poke the corners...
 

maggmaster

Hall of Fame
Yea I don't think that is the racket. I have good days and bad days too. The goal of long term practice is 2 fold, one to reduce the number of really bad days that you have and two to raise the level of your bad days to an acceptable floor.
 

galain

Hall of Fame
Okay...this racket is just ridiculous. Been playing with it for basically a year now. It is NOT very consistent. I have never played with a racket as "hot and then cold and then hot again" as this one. ............

........... Nothing is like this racket...its an all or nothing racket.
.

I'm taking a stab that you've not spent a lot of time with Yonex's RD7? If you want to talk frames with personality disorders, that one is probably your best starting point.

I'm still eager to hit with the EXO3. The 3 players I know who use them haven't stopped raving about how much their games have improved since picking them up.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
This is the first time I have heard of a racquet not being consistent.

Kind of not the point i was trying to make though. The racket brings the inconsistency out of me basically....its a demanding challenging racket...where it takes work to play with it and not flow (low power - need excellent timing at all times, which i don't). A tiring racket with lead...weak weak on serve without lead etc....

Very few mishitts on this racket, but directional control is harder with this racket than for example the k-blade 98. My opinion is that massive flex is the fault. Some of you would disagree. Still feels like flex is the blame for lack of directional precision...Technique adjustment helps (for eg. more spin, less flat shots etc...but I don't always want to do that.)

But with my last hitting session, I almost played better than a long long time (could be better balls - racket responds better to good balls)...I just hope i did not make a mistake with the two new wilson BLX surge(2011) rackets, which will be light, more rigid, more powerful...thankfully I can lead them if all else fails. It also has a open string pattern, so at least that will be the same. Hoping that this racket will kind of be inbetween the k-blade and prince rackets....as in more directional precision, head speed (lightness) and power on the serve. Will probably have to hold back more on my shots though. Starting to play with them in less than a week.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
I'm taking a stab that you've not spent a lot of time with Yonex's RD7? If you want to talk frames with personality disorders, that one is probably your best starting point.

I'm still eager to hit with the EXO3. The 3 players I know who use them haven't stopped raving about how much their games have improved since picking them up.

The tours imroved some aspects of my game, but its too tiring at times.
Which is why im not desperate to sell these or give them away. They're very good if you take power serves out of the equation. If my new wilsons fail, I have these to fall back on.

I can understand why people rave about the tours. There is definitely nothing like them. They are very unique in feel and specs. If you like them, and they suit your game, and you can be consistent with them, they are really brilliant.
Biggest overall drawback: lack of power on the serve. With lead, too heavy for me when I get tired. Will I get more fit to cope with it? No...
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
The tours imroved some aspects of my game, but its too tiring at times.
Which is why im not desperate to sell these or give them away. They're very good if you take power serves out of the equation. If my new wilsons fail, I have these to fall back on.

I can understand why people rave about the tours. There is definitely nothing like them. They are very unique in feel and specs. If you like them, and they suit your game, and you can be consistent with them, they are really brilliant.
Biggest overall drawback: lack of power on the serve. With lead, too heavy for me when I get tired. Will I get more fit to cope with it? No...

Do you think a little more stiffness would help?
The way racquet flexes at lesser impact might feel nice and springy, but when it comes to accelerating the ball from 0 to 100+ mph it might feel "broken". Like there's no way you can hit any harder with it and that's frustrating.
Maybe Youtek technology is not so bad afterall. The only drawback is, you arm breaks sooner than d3o racquet and clearly EXO3 Tour prevents that by diminishing returns at higher impacts.
I hope they stiffen it up a bit in ESP version and then we can have best of both worlds.
 
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fgs

Hall of Fame
i think the reason for this "mental disorder" is the flex in the hoop more than the overall flex of the stick. on slightly offcenter-shots the weird way the hoop flexes acts like a magnifying glass to the imprecision of the stroke.
i have not much played the exo tour, a lot of kids at the tennis school my son attends are playing with it and i took some out for a short ride.
as i hit heavy topspin, my contact with the ball is basically never at the sweetspot, and i hit on the upper half anyway (from starting out in the wooden times), so i can pretty well understand your point. a similar issue i had with the radicals from head, those were even worse if i remember well - have not tried the youtek's though.
 

Hi I'm Ray

Professional
Get a racket you can play consistently well with on a day to day basis, not a racket that brings out your best tennis only when you are "on" but is too demanding otherwise. I've made that same mistake with a different frame, and during a critical phase/time. Now I'm playing with a tweener and very glad I made the switch.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
Get a racket you can play consistently well with on a day to day basis, not a racket that brings out your best tennis only when you are "on" but is too demanding otherwise. I've made that same mistake with a different frame, and during a critical phase/time. Now I'm playing with a tweener and very glad I made the switch.


thanks man...encouraging...

I think even though the Blx Surge may be slightly more inferior to the tour, i feel it may be more consistent. And i would rather have a more consistent above average racket, than a brilliant once in a while racket. Wilsons approach is more conservative so to speak imo. - I like Prince, all the years, and dislike wilson....but in the end have to play with what will actually suit my game...

The surge is probably a more all round tweener racket...averages...not extremes as much as the tour. (extreme flex, extreme low power, extreme spin)
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
i think the reason for this "mental disorder" is the flex in the hoop more than the overall flex of the stick. on slightly offcenter-shots the weird way the hoop flexes acts like a magnifying glass to the imprecision of the stroke.
i have not much played the exo tour, a lot of kids at the tennis school my son attends are playing with it and i took some out for a short ride.
as i hit heavy topspin, my contact with the ball is basically never at the sweetspot, and i hit on the upper half anyway (from starting out in the wooden times), so i can pretty well understand your point. a similar issue i had with the radicals from head, those were even worse if i remember well - have not tried the youtek's though.

Lead has made it more stable, but too heavy. Maybe the lighter versions of the tour (team) + lead may have been a better option for me...
But the extreme flex + the port tech, makes it even more overly "soft"...so maybe the tour with normal string inserts would have been better....who knows...
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
Do you think a little more stiffness would help?
On the serve (biggest problem with the tour) > absolutely no question

The way racquet flexes at lesser impact might feel nice and springy, but when it comes to accelerating the ball from 0 to 100+ mph it might feel "broken".
I have noticed the same at times...as if though the racket was cracked. Not saying i disliked that feel though....was just strange sound. Probably vibration.

Like there's no way you can hit any harder with it and that's frustrating.
Maybe Youtek technology is not so bad afterall. The only drawback is, you arm breaks sooner than d3o racquet and clearly EXO3 Tour prevents that by diminishing returns at higher impacts.
I hope they stiffen it up a bit in ESP version and then we can have best of both worlds.
Can you tell me more about youtek tech (just for interest)?
 

fgs

Hall of Fame
i basically lead up all my sticks to get them where i want in terms of balance and swingweight. i have not had any possibility to try this out on the princes but surely the hoop gets more stable if you put some lead anywhere between 9 & 3 or 10 & 2. this will definitely increase swingweight which along with the modified balance will make it less maneuverable. now, of course there is a trade-off to any of these actions - you get more predictability (less "mental disorder") but possibly at the price of hitting more balls late, which in the end might turn out to be the wrong way to go.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
i basically lead up all my sticks to get them where i want in terms of balance and swingweight. i have not had any possibility to try this out on the princes but surely the hoop gets more stable if you put some lead anywhere between 9 & 3 or 10 & 2. this will definitely increase swingweight which along with the modified balance will make it less maneuverable. now, of course there is a trade-off to any of these actions - you get more predictability (less "mental disorder") but possibly at the price of hitting more balls late, which in the end might turn out to be the wrong way to go.

yeah :(

My last hitting session that went awesome (unfortunately) was with the unleaded racket...I had much much better timing due to it being lighter. Problem is, i cannot serve with the lead one, and run to get the unleaded one for groundies :p

ps. for intrest: when using lead, i preferred 3 & 9 and not at 12....by far...
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
On the serve (biggest problem with the tour) > absolutely no question


I have noticed the same at times...as if though the racket was cracked. Not saying i disliked that feel though....was just strange sound. Probably vibration.


Can you tell me more about youtek tech (just for interest)?

http://www.head.com/tennis/technologies/?region=us&id=111

First generation Youtek Prestiges were really harsh and brassy. Now they improved it in IG versions. I would prefer pure graphite racquet though, that's why I'm interested in EXO3 Tour if it ever becomes more solid.
 

fgs

Hall of Fame
12 as a standalone point for leading is the position where you obviously increase swingweight the most but also where you make the stick more unstable for offcentershots or better said off-axis shots.
with the sticks i played in the past couple of years i had the best results at around 10 & 2. for me, everything depends on the specs i start out at, but i'm sort of an anomaly, since i do like them close to slightly headheavy and i still can swing a pretty high swingweight (i came form 420g wooden sticks though).
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
http://www.head.com/tennis/technologies/?region=us&id=111

First generation Youtek Prestiges were really harsh and brassy. Now they improved it in IG versions. I would prefer pure graphite racquet though, that's why I'm interested in EXO3 Tour if it ever becomes more solid.

hmmm....a lot of tennis rackets have gimicky technologies...the 03, speedport and exo technologies (all similar) are definitely not gimicky, but actually does what it sais...One of the more original tech's in years...
 

mikeler

Moderator
hmmm....a lot of tennis rackets have gimicky technologies...the 03, speedport and exo technologies (all similar) are definitely not gimicky, but actually does what it sais...One of the more original tech's in years...

Are you using the 18x20 version of the Exo Tour? My serve is pretty good with the 16x18 version but when I took the 18x20 demo out for a whirl, my serve was awful with it. No pop at all. Two totally different sticks in my opinion.
 

Fuji

Legend
I don't know about you guys, but the last time I had a pretty bad loss was to a strong lefty who used the 16x18. The guy hit such ridiculous spin on everything it left me in the dust! (His kick serves were bouncing well over my head if I didn't catch them early!)

-Fuji
 

mikeler

Moderator
I don't know about you guys, but the last time I had a pretty bad loss was to a strong lefty who used the 16x18. The guy hit such ridiculous spin on everything it left me in the dust! (His kick serves were bouncing well over my head if I didn't catch them early!)

-Fuji

The 16x18 is the spinniest stick I've tried to date.
 

rafafan20

Professional
I think the inconsistency can somewhat be attributed to the weird prince technology. I was trying my friend's rebel 98 a couple months ago and when my serve and volley game was on I felt unstoppable, but when I was struggling I just had a hard time finding the feel. The lack of feel in the racket could amplify a bad day on the court.
 

Fuji

Legend
The 16x18 is the spinniest stick I've tried to date.

I wouldn't doubt it for a second. The other stick I've seen that has similar amounts of spin was the prostaff 95, the tweener one, but even then the Tour with a full poly bed I think takes the cake.

-Fuji
 

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
Other than someone playing with way too much stick for their skill level, I would have to roll my eyes at the idea of a racquet bringing out such inconsistency. But with the EXO3 Tour I can definitely see it happening.

I have demo'd this racquet on and off and find some really good things about it: great comfort, ample power, spin monster, easy to play -- with a can't miss sweet-spot. True it has gobs of flex (and this is from someone coming from Fischer Pro No 1's and X-Force Pro's) but it isn't the flex itself that is the issue IMO. It is the extremely muted (borderline disconnected) feel that might throw someone's game off, especially if they are transitioning from a racquet that has good/great feel. I was able to adjust to the unique feel of the EXO3 Tour after hitting for a few minutes, but it was an adjustment, and it was an adjustment I went through with each and every hitting session.
 
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mikeler

Moderator
Other than someone playing with way too much stick for their skill level, I would have to roll my eyes at the idea of a racquet bringing out such inconsistency. But with the EXO3 Tour I can definitely see it happening.

I have demo'd this racquet on and off and find some really good things about it: great comfort, ample power, easy to play -- with a can't miss sweet-spot. True it has gobs of flex (and this is from someone coming from Fischer Pro No 1's and X-Force Pro's) but it isn't the flex itself that is the issue IMO. It is the extremely muted (borderline disconnected) feel that might throw someone's game off, especially if they are transitioning from a racquet that has good/great feel. I was able to adjust to the unique feel of the EXO3 Tour after hitting for a few minutes, but it was an adjustment.

I liked muted strings, so transitioning to this racket was not bad. It is a very unique feel though and I can see why some people hate it.
 

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
I liked muted strings, so transitioning to this racket was not bad. It is a very unique feel though and I can see why some people hate it.

Ditto. Age and degenerative injuries have got me back to what I started with string and racquet wise and this is one of the best. What I love about the EXO3 Tour is that I feel like I am on cruise-control, especially from the baseline. No stress, no strain on any body parts. The only thing I am not fond of are the shiny, toy-factory-finshed port inserts but that is just a small personal cosmetic niggle.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Ditto. Age and degenerative injuries have got me back to what I started with string and racquet wise and this is one of the best. What I love about the EXO3 Tour is that I feel like I am on cruise-control, especially from the baseline. No stress, no strain on any body parts. The only thing I am not fond of are the shiny, toy-factory-finshed port inserts but that is just a small personal cosmetic niggle.

Yep, so comfy. I don't have the inserts.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
Are you using the 18x20 version of the Exo Tour? My serve is pretty good with the 16x18 version but when I took the 18x20 demo out for a whirl, my serve was awful with it. No pop at all. Two totally different sticks in my opinion.

I have the 16x18 versions...but recently switched to wilson blx surge 2012. I instantly have more power on the flat serve due to the racket being stiffer than the tour. My biggest problem with the tour is at faster headspeeds on contact. In baseball, imagine a pitcher loosening the fingers (more than average) on the point of release when pitching a baseball. Some leverage is lost. Maybe not the best analogy...but on contact, i can physically feel the flex and the absorbsion of power. I had to adapt my serve for the sake of the racket. Generally I had to generate more spin orientated serves and possibly more emphasis on pronation. In short, it takes more work than i'd want with the tour on the flat serves. The tour is wonderful on all spin serves though.
 

mxmx

Hall of Fame
I think the inconsistency can somewhat be attributed to the weird prince technology. I was trying my friend's rebel 98 a couple months ago and when my serve and volley game was on I felt unstoppable, but when I was struggling I just had a hard time finding the feel. The lack of feel in the racket could amplify a bad day on the court.

I think I agree....

Why does Ferrer still play with the old 03 tour though?
 
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mikeler

Moderator
I have the 16x18 versions...but recently switched to wilson blx surge 2012. I instantly have more power on the flat serve due to the racket being stiffer than the tour. My biggest problem with the tour is at faster headspeeds on contact. In baseball, imagine a pitcher loosening the fingers (more than average) on the point of release when pitching a baseball. Some leverage is lost. Maybe not the best analogy...but on contact, i can physically feel the flex and the absorbsion of power. I had to adapt my serve for the sake of the racket. Generally I had to generate more spin orientated serves and possibly more emphasis on pronation. In short, it takes more work than i'd want with the tour on the flat serves. The tour is wonderful on all spin serves though.


I can't really feel the racket flex but I'm playing with full multifilament jobs at 50 pounds. You need to go way down in string tension with this racket.
 

USS Tang

Rookie
Prince EXO3 Red 105 is basically the EXO3 Tour except it's 16x19, slightly bigger in the head, and 1/4 inch longer. Plus it's stiffer. It's done wonders for my game.
 

themitchmann

Hall of Fame
Prince EXO3 Red 105 is basically the EXO3 Tour except it's 16x19, slightly bigger in the head, and 1/4 inch longer. Plus it's stiffer. It's done wonders for my game.

So...it's not similar at all then.

No offense intended, but it's a completely different racquet. I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say it's "basically the same racquet."
 

NLBwell

Legend
What is the string tension? If it is strung low, you can get more power and spin but it will be less controllable. If your control is a little off that day, it can send balls flying all over the place.
 

USS Tang

Rookie
Responding to themitchmann, you make a good point. Let's say that my reasoning is partly intuitive and partly analytical. Both racquets are 100% graphite and have O-ports. The 105 has an extra cross string. The 105 is slightly lighter in both strung-weight and swing-weight. The 105 is negligibly stiffer and more head-heavy, though still a head-light racket. The 105 has a slightly thicker beam. Of insignificance, in my opinion, is the 105's slightly larger head and longer length. (This racket is basically the EXO3 Tour 100 made for senior players like me.) Both rackets essentially share the same cosmetics, which is the intuitive part. I rest my case. Now, let's go to the jury.
 

themitchmann

Hall of Fame
Responding to themitchmann, you make a good point. Let's say that my reasoning is partly intuitive and partly analytical. Both racquets are 100% graphite and have O-ports. The 105 has an extra cross string. The 105 is slightly lighter in both strung-weight and swing-weight. The 105 is negligibly stiffer and more head-heavy, though still a head-light racket. The 105 has a slightly thicker beam. Of insignificance, in my opinion, is the 105's slightly larger head and longer length. (This racket is basically the EXO3 Tour 100 made for senior players like me.) Both rackets essentially share the same cosmetics, which is the intuitive part. I rest my case. Now, let's go to the jury.

Do you mean in terms of how it performs? How it feels?

Again, no offense intended. It's just that the design of the frame us drastically different from the Tours (especially beam width and design, and the Energy Bridge system).
 

mikeler

Moderator
Responding to themitchmann, you make a good point. Let's say that my reasoning is partly intuitive and partly analytical. Both racquets are 100% graphite and have O-ports.

They are the same racket except:

1. The 105 has an extra cross string.
2. The 105 is slightly lighter in strung-weight.
3. The 105 is slightly lighter in swing-weight.
4. The 105 is negligibly stiffer.
5. The 105 is more head-heavy, though still a head-light racket.
6. The 105 has a slightly thicker beam.
7. The 105 has a slightly larger head.
8. The 105 has a longer length.


63 versus 52 in stiffness is not negligible.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
It is a polarizing racquet, in that, from the first hit you know whether you like it or not.

Some racquets, it takes months to figure out you don't like them. :smile:

With the right strings and set-up (for you), it's a weapon.

For those that like the flex but can't groove with the feel, I strongly urge you to try the frame with string-hole inserts at 3&9, keep the ports at 12. It will tighten the string-bed feel, more traditional and predictable, and thanks to the ports @12, you still get that 'O-comfort' and spin.

For those of you that don't like the flex, but enjoy the feel. Move-on, not for you.

I fell in love with mine(s) (18x20) at first hit, even though I added some weight to it, the characteristics of the frame still remain.
 
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