Prostaff 6.1 Classic compared to Diablo/nCode ?

[InsideOut]

I have played with the Wilson Prostaff 6.1 Classic for about 10 years, and think it is a great racquet. But I'm wondering how some of the new racquets like Prince Diablo Mid and Wilson nCode nSix-One 95 plays, compared to the Prostaff 6.1 Classic. I don't have the possibility to demo racquets, so I would like to hear some opinions/comments.

I'm trying to win my matches from the baseline. My forehand is extremely flat and hard. My doublehanded backhand has a little more spin, but still very flat. It's difficult to describe what I like about the Prostaff, but it feels very solid on impact with the ball, and that the racquet is controlling the ball, and not the opposite. I suppose, this is because of the weight (357g).

The Diablo has received many positive comments, and I would really like to try this one. Headsize is only 93 and it weights 11 grams less. I have no idea, how the balance of 9pts head light and stiffness of 66 feels, when compared to the Prostaff which is 11pts head light and stiffness of 72 ? Will the Diablo feels lighter ?

I'm not into all the marketing and buzzwords like nanotechnology, but the nCode nSix-One 95 looks interesting, because it looks similar to the prostaff, and I'm already used to the Wilson-handle. It's 10pts head light, and 65 stiffness. Is this racquet playing like the Prostaff, or are they completely different racquets ? Some people say, that the nCode is giving more power than traditional players racquet.

So, will any of these two racquets give the same feeling as the Prostaff, but be easier to move around (they weight less), and maybe offer better control and larger sweetspot than the Prostaff ?

Thanks.

 

[hungry]

I have played the 6.1 classic about 6 or 7 years ago. Back then it felt easy to move around and a little stiff. That's all I remember.

I played the SixOne95 recently at tensions 55 lbs and 60 lbs with a regular syn. gut. At 55 it had a nice soft feel but i had too much power for me. At 60 it felt harsh and had still enough power. I guess if you like the power (with flat strokes you might not need it) you'll like the frame. Maybe if you string it with a lower powered poly you'll have about the same as a 6.1 classic with a syn. gut.

For me the SixOneTour was the better match...

p.s. don't know about the Diablo, haven't played it.

 

[InsideOut]

Thanks for your comments.

I string my Prostaff with Prince Syngut 16 at 62/60 or with Wilson Stamina at 61/59. These tensions give me great control and enough power.

I would very much like to demo the nCode, but I don't think I'll buy it without demoing.

The Diablo has received so many positive comments, that I'm very close to buy this from TW without demoing. What worries me the most is the smaller headsize, the different handle shape, and the 9 pts head light compared to 11 pts on the Prostaff.

 

[kreative]

why not just demo from TW?

 

[InsideOut]

Because I'm from Europe, but I'll soon get a visit from US. I don't even think the Diablo Mid is sold in Europe.

 

[lildev0426]

i played with the 6.1 classic for all of college and a few years after. shoulder problems caused me to try a few other racquets a few months ago - one was the ncode95. it feels very similar to the classic, but a little more flexible and muted and slightly perhaps more power. my shoulder felt better serving with the ncode. i also demoed the diablo mid-plus. i hated this racquet. it felt like a feather with no stability and it had that aggravating "ping" "ping" sound when you hit the ball that made the racquet feel very "tinny". hard to explain but the ncode (as with all pws classic wilsons for me) felt much more solid. i now play with the pro kennex 5g which is fairly solid, fairly flexible but pretty weak on serve. almost to the point where i will have to try lead tape to see if i can get a little more pace on my serves. it is by far the most shoulder friendly of the four thus far though - hope that does not change with the lead.

 

[InsideOut]

lildev0426 - Thanks for sharing. Is it good or bad, that the nCode is more flexible ? How does it feel, or is it such a small change, it doesn't matter ?

Coming from the heavy 6.1 Classic, I'm not surprised you didn't like the Diablo MP, and I know exactly what you mean.

 

[MChong]

I do play with a Diablo Mid and I have hit with a ProStaff Classic 6.1; I preferred the Diablo Mid because it was less stiff than the Classic 6.1, which I felt was a little too stiff for such a heavy racquet. I've also tried the nSix-One 95 as well as the Tour version; I preferred the Tour version a lot, in part to the thin beam (because I like thin beams, lol... to me, they look better), and I disliked the nSix-One 95. There was this really muted feel or something, I guess it was coming from it. I would highly recommend the Tour; it seems it's also easier for you to get your hands on as you said Prince might not be available there. The Prince is another viable option for a cheaper price if you could manage to get your hands on one, but it all comes down to preference, so if you ever get a chance to, try to demo the racquets and compare them side by side.

 

[lildev0426]

inside out,
i thought it was a good thing. the classic is an awesome racquet if your arm can handle it but the ncode seems a bit more soft and as mchong says muted. i would rather have ncode 95 over classic at this stage of my game. they play very similar but the ncode is a little more muted, powerful and flexible. it is a close call though. i would like to try the tour 90 one day but i think my heavy racquet days are over.

 

[InsideOut]

Thanks. I love my classics, but I have this crazy idea, that a 10 grams lighter racquet, would be easier to move around, but still give the same control and stability as the classic.

I have tried the Prince Warrior and Prince More Control for a few rallies, and they just feel too light and unstable.

MChong - how was the weight and balance point of the Diablo compared to the classic ? Was the Diablo easier to move around, while still having the same heavy feeling on impact ?

 

[MChong]

I found the 6.1 Classic was a little harder - a negligible amount, to swing around just because it had more mass overall, but it wasn't that great of a difference; well, it didn't feel like it anyways. The Diablo is definitely lighter than the 6.1, and the diablo was less headlight. Yeah, the Diablo does have a heavy feeling as in it is a stable racquet, but you might want to put just a tiny bit of lead at 3 and 9

 

[darkavgr]

Used the 6.1 Classic since the late 90s.
I bought the nCode SixOne 95 2 months ago when I re-started playing after a long lapse.
I think its an Asian spec version which weighs 310g.
Love it....

Its less stiff more flexible than the 6.1 Classic, a bit lighter
and a lot more power which really suits me now that I'm older :-(
Also bit more forgiving than the Classic
My game seem to have improved since getting this nCode.
I just bought a 2nd one last weekend !

Incidentally I demo-ed the nCode 90 Tour.
Didnt like it: no power, too demanding & too heavy.
Agree w the TW reviewers : u gotta be Federer to use one of these !
Its like trying to hit w a bseball bat :-(

cheers