Vortex Extreme Spin Rackets

[Kick Serve 14]

Originally Posted by Murray Mound

Yes and no.

The vortex also uses a gigantic 15 guage string with hex on them! Huge spin .

Woodforde also used a Wilson that was specifically made for him with a 12 x 12 string pattern. ( see below). McEnroe had said Marks "Vortex" was unfair and gave too much spin

Yes the Vortex uses a hybrid of low and high tension....thus the name vortex( shaped like a vortex or pyramid....low tension on top and higher in middle and bottom).

Again I spoke to the owner and he basically said he copied woodfordes racquet and made it better. He says woodforde was mistaken and should have used a lower tension . In any event you can string the vortex as tight as you want to mimic the woodforde "Vortex".

They are both based on the same premise . I think the vortex uses 12 x 14 and woodforde is 12 x 12. And different vortex models may be sparser stringing patterns . Ease verify the numbers.

Here is Marks Wilson "Vortex":

Sorry, but using a thick gauge of string completely negates the effects of a super spinny racket, if you really want a spin machine, use at least a 16L gauge in this frame. Also, Woodforde is a 12x14. Sorry, but you're wrong...

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by Kick Serve 14

Sorry, but using a thick gauge of string completely negates the effects of a super spinny racket, if you really want a spin machine, use at least a 16L gauge in this frame. Also, Woodforde is a 12x14. Sorry, but you're wrong...

1- you can use any string you want on a vortex.

2- mark woodforde used thick 15 guage

3- there is a debate on thick vs thin. Thin supposedly gives more bite but another school of thought says thick gives more spin becaise there is more material touching the ball thus creating more spin.....and then there are others that say it's all racquet head speed and string doesn't matter . Bottom line: no one really knows.

[Murray Mound]

Oh and as far as woodforde 12 x 14 I said I wasn't sure amd to please check my numbers . But thanks for that. Can you also check what the vortex is? It's different on different models.

[tailofdog]

Originally Posted by Kick Serve 14

Sorry, but using a thick gauge of string completely negates the effects of a super spinny racket, if you really want a spin machine, use at least a 16L gauge in this frame. Also, Woodforde is a 12x14. Sorry, but you're wrong...

The 12x14 was the hiten Mark used.12x16 with a special LUX 155 ga string was what he had in the Wilson

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tailofdog

The 12x14 was the hiten Mark used.12x16 with a special LUX 155 ga string was what he had in the Wilson

Thanks!

But im not sure what you mean because I believe mark played ith a Hi-ten at one time.

The vortex patterns are as follows;

100- 14 x 16 strung with 16 guage

108- 14 x 16 strung with 15 guage

116- 14 x 15 strubg with 15 guage

133- 14 x 15 strung with 15 guage

[tailofdog]

Originally Posted by Murray Mound

Thanks!

But im not sure what you mean because I believe mark played ith a Hi-ten at one time.

The vortex patterns are as follows;

100- 14 x 16 strung with 16 guage

108- 14 x 16 strung with 15 guage

116- 14 x 15 strubg with 15 guage

133- 14 x 15 strung with 15 guage

Thats what probably influnced Mark to use a wider string pattern(playing with the HITEN) What i found is he had the first Wilson drilled to meet that wide string pattern then,Wilson made a racquet for him

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tailofdog

Thats what probably influnced Mark to use a wider string pattern(playing with the HITEN) What i found is he had the first Wilson drilled to meet that wide string pattern then,Wilson made a racquet for him

gotcha. I would love to hit with Woodfordes racquet but they are impossible to find so I have to settle for the Vortex.

I can say That i do notice much more spin and accuracy on the ball. Im not saying the stick will turn you into federer but it really is a breakthrough in technology.

What i dislike about the racquet is thats its way too thick for a players frame. maybe if they become a hit they will come out with a 22mm frame in say a 95 inch??? That would be a dangerous weapon!!

But on the other hand Wilson and the big boys will not allow a ma and pa company to be succesful. they will get run out of town before they let that happen. so if you are gonna get one of these sticks you dont have forever.....

Or Wilson will just buy them out like they bought out Luxilon....did you know those are actually wilson strings now?

[tlm]

How thick is the beam on the vortex es 100?

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tlm

How thick is the beam on the vortex es 100?

Im not sure...but its also sorta hollow. I like a stick with some heft to it.

Its my only problem with the stick.

[tailofdog]

Originally Posted by Murray Mound

Im not sure...but its also sorta hollow. I like a stick with some heft to it.

Its my only problem with the stick.

Ok i will pick one up for my birthday in june. It sounds like a worthwhile look.
I found a way to get one sent to Australia. I have a balance board and can probably get it to the spec i like. I use a Pro Kennex ki 15pse and its beam is a little thicker but plays well for me (i will be 62) I still have a few doubts but,a racquet that gives you any advantage is something worth looking at.
I saw Marks father a couple of years ago at a seniors tournament in South Australia. If i remember his name was Ray and i don,t think he had any unusual racquet set up.
At the time he was 75 and still winning whatever he was entered in.

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tailofdog

Ok i will pick one up for my birthday in june. It sounds like a worthwhile look.
I found a way to get one sent to Australia. I have a balance board and can probably get it to the spec i like. I use a Pro Kennex ki 15pse and its beam is a little thicker but plays well for me (i will be 62) I still have a few doubts but,a racquet that gives you any advantage is something worth looking at.
I saw Marks father a couple of years ago at a seniors tournament in South Australia. If i remember his name was Ray and i don,t think he had any unusual racquet set up.
At the time he was 75 and still winning whatever he was entered in.

let me know which on you get and what you think of it.

If memory serves me correctly there is a cheaper version of the vortex in Australia .

I think this idea was patented by some family there in australia....I think the cheaper version is the jenpro or something

[Murray Mound]

^^^^^^^

that's why!! That's why they don't shop to Australia....I bet they are not allowed to because it's patented NY someone else . This jenpro or whoever probably licensed ti vortex and they are limited to only selling the woodforde design in the USA !

[tailofdog]

Originally Posted by Murray Mound

^^^^^^^

that's why!! That's why they don't shop to Australia....I bet they are not allowed to because it's patented NY someone else . This jenpro or whoever probably licensed ti vortex and they are limited to only selling the woodforde design in the USA !

I cant find anything over here. I have a JENRO which is a 2 piece racquet which is an old SNAUWAERT copy.
I dont know if thats the reason why they dont sell but, to only 2 countries outside the U.S. but, i found a reseller that takes Pay Pal so, it should work out.
I sent the Vortex link to the Australian tennis history site. They will place it in the modern unusual section.

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tailofdog

I cant find anything over here. I have a JENRO which is a 2 piece racquet which is an old SNAUWAERT copy.
I dont know if thats the reason why they dont sell but, to only 2 countries outside the U.S. but, i found a reseller that takes Pay Pal so, it should work out.
I sent the Vortex link to the Australian tennis history site. They will place it in the modern unusual section.

I must be confusing it woth another name...maybe its kawasaki ??? i will search for it. In any event here is a pic of the 15 guage woodforde used. i got it off that wood tennis site;

[Murray Mound]

i found this on The TW wesite:

Originally Posted by Mr. Tennis

REVIEW: VORTEX 100 & 116.

age: 38
style of play: old school serve and volley
current racquet: Dunlop Mcenroe
strings: Gut
USTA level : 5.0

I loved botH racquets but for my style of play I liked the es 116 better. This was quite shocking as I have never played with a head size larger than 98.I was shocked at how manuverable the 116 was.

Now to Answer the question on everyones mind.....NO this stick does NOT give you some wild unfair advantage and does not produce superhuman spin that causes the ball to kick over the back fence.

Having said all that.....the strings do create great control and in the right hands this stick is a serious weapon.

The danger for thia company is copycats . I don't see how they are going to stop anyone from copying them. Sure the patent office will take your money but if challenged I don't think the patent will hold up. I mean could you stop someone from making a guitar with 3 strings on it?

I did love the racquet. Touch shots and drop volleys were dead on. Serves were great. I loved the racquet and I am going to switch to it .

Having said all of that Im not sure it's the right racquet for everyone. For my style of touch amd placement it worked great....but Im not so sure it would work well for the modern game.

I will have a friend demo a couple of the other models amd we will report back.

But I loved both sticks and I do believe the descriptions of the 116 and 100 was dead on. The 116 is shockingly for a touch serve and volley game while the 100 is for modern topspin game.

Tune in later when I test the 108 and the 133

[tailofdog]

Originally Posted by Murray Mound

I must be confusing it woth another name...maybe its kawasaki ??? i will search for it. In any event here is a pic of the 15 guage woodforde used. i got it off that wood tennis site;

KAWASAKI MACRO-NOVA TI
14x16 string pattern 108 head size 290 grm + or - 7.5 grm unstrung
Recommeded for intermediate to advanced level players Retailing here(OZ) for $90.00 AUD
The problem as i see it is even if the string pattern is good you,still need a quality frame?

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tailofdog

KAWASAKI MACRO-NOVA TI
14x16 string pattern 108 head size 290 grm + or - 7.5 grm unstrung
Recommeded for intermediate to advanced level players Retailing here(OZ) for $90.00 AUD
The problem as i see it is even if the string pattern is good you,still need a quality frame?

Nice work! Very impressive indeed .

I agree with you 100%.

I believe the pattern is patented. I think there is some family that holds the patent ....starts with a "J".....I think it's jensen??? They are Australian I'm almost sure of it.

I can't wait till you try the racquet. I won't be the only one who has hit with it.
I'm also wondering what your opinion will be and what you think of it.

Of course it's not going to turn you into Roger Federer but I really think you will like it. Just rememeber there is a small learning curve so give it a couple of sets or so before you render your decision.

Anxiously waiting for your review....and don't pull any punches ! Hate it or love it just let us know.

Cheers mate.

[tailofdog]

I will be honest when i get it!
I have to wait until close to june(my birthday) As i have been spending huge amounts of money on bird aviaries and, birds to set up for breeding.
I have had to promise my wife a 2 month layoff on any new toys.
I can get away with ordering it middle May but, not bfore
How would you decribe the learning curve?
I had a NEOXXLINE racquet that was good on groundstrokes but, very difficult on volleys.
The Vortex looks more traditional so, i assume the learning curve is more subtle

[Murray Mound]

Originally Posted by tailofdog

I will be honest when i get it!
I have to wait until close to june(my birthday) As i have been spending huge amounts of money on bird aviaries and, birds to set up for breeding.
I have had to promise my wife a 2 month layoff on any new toys.
I can get away with ordering it middle May but, not bfore
How would you decribe the learning curve?
I had a NEOXXLINE racquet that was good on groundstrokes but, very difficult on volleys.
The Vortex looks more traditional so, i assume the learning curve is more subtle

wow....that sounds pretty interesting. I personally like birds of prey. I had a falcon on my arm.....incredible animal.

On to tennis.....that neoxline is a weird stick indeed. I never hit with it but I'm sure the learning curve is nothing like the vortex.

You will hit your normal shots right out of the box amd you will notice a bit more spin than before.....but you won't appreciate the difference from a normal
racquet until a few sets .

I didn't notice that big of a difference until this one amazing shot....I was hitting with a division 1 pro and he smacked the hardest ball I have ever felt while i was at the net . I didn't merely volley it back but it was a pure winner .....it was a volley like I have never hit in my life . even the pro was amazed amd he said "I can't hit it harder than that ".

It's those shots you really reach for that you never could get to before where you notice the difference in the stick. Your not going really appreiate it until you are pushed to the max.

I believe the volleys are so good is because the "vortex" shape has very low tension at the top are of the head. Normal racquet get very tight in that position .....but with the vortex those stretched out volleys come flying over the net for pure winners.

So there's no real learning curve but you can only really appreciate the stick when you are pushed to the max.

Having said all that I let the pro hit with the 100 and he didn't even want to touch it. Reluctantly he did amd he said the racquet was too thick for him as his topspin is huge. His balls were flying into the parking lot. But i simy strung it tighter and now he loves it. It's comes strung at 45 which means at the top it's about 35. I strong my vortex at about 60.

[galain]

Originally Posted by Murray Mound

1- you can use any string you want on a vortex.

2- mark woodforde used thick 15 guage

3- there is a debate on thick vs thin. Thin supposedly gives more bite but another school of thought says thick gives more spin becaise there is more material touching the ball thus creating more spin.....and then there are others that say it's all racquet head speed and string doesn't matter . Bottom line: no one really knows.

The original Hi Ten series were based on the idea of an extremely open pattern. However at that time, no-one played with polys. Because of the open pattern, the recommendation was the string very very tightly - (not sure if I'm remembering correctly, but I thought somewhere over 80lbs??). The higher tensions were the only way you were going to get any control out of a string pattern that open - and I guess the thickest strings weren't going to break as easily.

Wasn't sure if you knew this - thought I'd add. Would have been interesting to see those old frames with poly set ups.