Wilson Tour 90 or the PS 85

[pow]

I've hit briefly with both, I liked hitting my forehand with both, slightly better with the PS 85 but prefer my backhand with the Tour 90.

I am NOT talking about the K-factor 90 or the Ncode 90, I'm referring to the ProStaff Tour 90 painted black with the yellow inner hoop.

I'd like to hear your takes on your experiences with the two racquets. Just for fun I'll have a poll of which you prefer.

 

[Mad iX]

Two of my fave sticks.
PS85 has better feel, great for serving, better at the net. I find my ground game is better with the Tour 90, which also feels more solid (or dead, depending on how you look at it).
In the end, the Tour 90 lets me do everything I could with the PS85, sacrificing a tiny bit of control for more power. Also, I hit with more spin than I used to, and I mishit with the PS85 noticeably more than I would have before.

 

[soggyramen]

personally i love the tour 90 as i always have 2 in my bag for fun but i just didn't click with the 85 i don't know why

 

[Mr. Hokey]

I had similar results with the PS85 and the PS90 as the OP mentioned. I crushed my forehand, but the backhand wasn't there... vice versa, i could rip backhands, but the forehand doesn't plow as much, decently, but not as much. As my sig implies, PS90 would be my choice. I found it to be a practical alternative for the PS85 with a little bit more forgiveness. good luck!

 

[pow]

Cool, while the Tour 90 users are here, what strings do you guys use on this frame?

 

[lakis92]

Am I too young or are these racquets really old? I wish I could give 'em a try! I've heard so much already.

 

[Matt21]

To me, few racquets match the feel of the PS85 and I prefer it to the Tour90 for serving. All said, I've found that the PS85, though better in every category for feel, requires a very high level of concentration and focus on shot placement which, for me tends to come and go in a match. The Tour90 (for me) tends to fatigue my arm far sooner than the PS85 over a long match but it does allow me to swing a bit more "loosely" than the PS85. I'd like to call these two a tie, but if I had both in my bag and by rule, I could only use one, I'd have to defer to the Tour90. Now, if I were new to the game and didn't have "tennis racquet information overload" I'd love to start out with the 85 (from lesson one to 4 years later). I just think if you have a high level of focus, there is none finer... well, disclaimer: PS85 isn't really suited to people who like to sit right on top of the baseline and rally. You're either an all-courter who likes to force the issue, an S&V'er, or someone who likes to sit 3-4 feet behind the baseline wait for a heavy topspinner's ball to drop to your strike zone and play defense.

 

[Mr. Hokey]

Cool, while the Tour 90 users are here, what strings do you guys use on this frame?

i'm still experimenting around with budget strings vs. performance strings, feel vs. durability, power vs. spin. as you can see from my sig, have a gosen set up. however, i intend on going full sheeps next string job. in my ps85, i saw fantastic results with it strung a bit low, 3-4 lbs above recommended minimum tension, with full og sheep super micros.

imo, gosen og sheeps are the best strings for those on a budget. i plays with a considerable amount of feel and pop. it is also has decent tension retention for such a cheap string so i figure i'll be sticking with it for quite a while.

however, as soon as i got the ps90s, i went hybrid with the sheeps and polylon so i haven't really tried anything else. i feel that it deadens the feel a bit too much and its vital for me (all courter, currently converting game to SnV).

i might be trying the inverted multi/gut mains and poly crosses. that or i'll just go full sheeps to get that little bit of pop.

 

[morten]

To me, few racquets match the feel of the PS85 and I prefer it to the Tour90 for serving. All said, I've found that the PS85, though better in every category for feel, requires a very high level of concentration and focus on shot placement which, for me tends to come and go in a match. The Tour90 (for me) tends to fatigue my arm far sooner than the PS85 over a long match but it does allow me to swing a bit more "loosely" than the PS85. I'd like to call these two a tie, but if I had both in my bag and by rule, I could only use one, I'd have to defer to the Tour90. Now, if I were new to the game and didn't have "tennis racquet information overload" I'd love to start out with the 85 (from lesson one to 4 years later). I just think if you have a high level of focus, there is none finer... well, disclaimer: PS85 isn't really suited to people who like to sit right on top of the baseline and rally. You're either an all-courter who likes to force the issue, an S&V'er, or someone who likes to sit 3-4 feet behind the baseline wait for a heavy topspinner's ball to drop to your strike zone and play defense.

wow Matt, great answer, i was about to write the same things myself, your analyzing is spot on

 

[pow]

Thanks Mr. Hokey for the string response.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone use poly or full poly for that matter in their tour 90?

 

[Tius]

YES! a racquet comparison i can finally chip in. i own both sticks and really enjoy both. I've hit with the tour90 for over 2 years and the ps85 for a year. I find that the ps85 can just serve like no other. It's so easy to move. Also, I find on days that i'm hitting the ball pretty sweetly, the forehand is pretty awesome with the ps85, but like others said, the backhand is not as lethal in comparison with the tour90. The tour90 gives a little more power with slightly less control. If i had to pick only one, for all practicality, I'd pick the tour90, just cause i find myself able to hit the ball more sweetly consistently. However, on days where I'm feeling it, I'd go with the ps85.

 

[NickOlsen]

Its funny that people are saying that their backhands just werent there with the ps85 because two of the greatest single backhanders of all time played with this racquet (sampras & edberg).

Do you have single or double backhands?