Asics Tennis Racquets

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by couch

No need to be jealous. We aren't getting rich anytime soon but thats not why we are doing this. One of my partners calls it an advanced hobby. it is fun though. Hopefully the store will be a fun place to hang out when I retire from my real job.

I think one advantage my partners and I have is a love and passion for the game of tennis. We want to do what's right by our customers and try to grow tennis in the area. Hopefully that will shine through in the long run.

if only every tennis shop had such a philosophy (TW excluded)

[couch]

Originally Posted by zapvor

if only every tennis shop had such a philosophy (TW excluded)

Yeah, I've given business away to online dealers (TW) because they had such great deals on older models of shoes (Babolat Propulses). It's a fine line sometimes but if you do what's right by your customer they will always come back for things online retailers can't offer.

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by couch

Yeah, I've given business away to online dealers (TW) because they had such great deals on older models of shoes (Babolat Propulses). It's a fine line sometimes but if you do what's right by your customer they will always come back for things online retailers can't offer.

thats exactly what i mean!!!!!! its not about the money. its about the tennis. i have done the same for my customers to save them money. i think its better service than try to rip them off for a few bucks in the moment. i wish i had capital. thats why i am jealous

[storypeddler]

Originally Posted by jayoub95

What kind of tennis player would want a racquet with a headsize of 115sq?? Definitely no tennis player i know

I get so tired of reading comments from individuals who seem to think that there is only one way to play tennis, one racquet style to choose, one playing style to use, etc. Tennis is an extremely varied sport and I know good, strong players---some 4.5 and better---who play a game that looks nothing like anything the pros play. There are aggressive baseliners and there are net-chargers, lobbers and dinkers, backboards and wild-eyed swing-big-on-every-shot players. And everything in between those categories. I know men in their late 60's who use "BIG" racquets and can slice and dice any decent average player into pieces. So, please, get rid of the ego and the condescending attitude, grow up a little, and think before you make these ridiculous comments. I personally play with Wilson 4.0 Hammer racquets (have for years)---wide-bodied and stiff---and I have always had tremendous success with this "BIG" racquet. Over 150 tournament titles, multiple state championships (singles AND doubles) and was ranked #1 in the Southern section in my 40's using this same "BIG" racquet. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, it isn't the size of the racquet that matters---it's the size of the heart in the player wielding it.

[aceroberts13]

Originally Posted by storypeddler

I get so tired of reading comments from individuals who seem to think that there is only one way to play tennis, one racquet style to choose, one playing style to use, etc. Tennis is an extremely varied sport and I know good, strong players---some 4.5 and better---who play a game that looks nothing like anything the pros play. There are aggressive baseliners and there are net-chargers, lobbers and dinkers, backboards and wild-eyed swing-big-on-every-shot players. And everything in between those categories. I know men in their late 60's who use "BIG" racquets and can slice and dice any decent average player into pieces. So, please, get rid of the ego and the condescending attitude, grow up a little, and think before you make these ridiculous comments. I personally play with Wilson 4.0 Hammer racquets (have for years)---wide-bodied and stiff---and I have always had tremendous success with this "BIG" racquet. Over 150 tournament titles, multiple state championships (singles AND doubles) and was ranked #1 in the Southern section in my 40's using this same "BIG" racquet. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, it isn't the size of the racquet that matters---it's the size of the heart in the player wielding it.

To each his own indeed. You can put me in the category as the type of player who would probably benefit from a larger frame, but I just love the way a 95 sq. in. and under frame feels to me. I have played some older guys that play with what seem like giant frames to me and they'd just KILL the ball everytime they touched it.

[7bstein]

Before you young studs say it is old guys racket, Im a uspta pro. When I was in 40s I was playing once a week. I on a whim ordered a weed racket. Then proceeded to play in two open doubles tournaments. I won both, with different partners. A bigger head allows more points won especially on volleys and return of serve. Sometimes a match is won by just a few points.

[scotus]

Originally Posted by jayoub95

What kind of tennis player would want a racquet with a headsize of 115sq?? Definitely no tennis player i know

Monica Seles played with a 130 sq in racquet for a while.

[max]

Many new companies try to find a toe-hold in a market. Asics seems to have found their bit of a doable niche in this size.

Their strategy is likely to sell these barn-swatters for a while, prove generally their ability to make racquets, and then spread into the regular stuff.

[Choclit]

I have been playing with the Asics 116 for two months now and can tell you a lot about it and to a much lesser extent the 125. I have never tried the 109 and in fact never seen anyone around here using it.

For some background, I am an older 4.0 player that plays about 2 1/2 hours a day. Prior to switching to the Asics 116, I was using the newest version of the Prince EX03 Red.

First the 125 - I tried it once and it, like most oversized rackets, appears to be designed for someone that doesn't swing very hard and wants additional power. Around here, at least, that is mostly women and older players. I have never liked oversize rackets so it didn't appeal to me. I felt that I had less control and found it slower to quickly position the racket for a volley or a shot that I had to scramble to get. Still, the players that traditionally use oversize rackets seem to like it a lot. Note: you CANNOT string the 125 with a 40 foot string.

By the way, these are brand new rackets designed from the ground up, not a repaint on an old Head racket as suggested earlier.

Now on to the 116. First, in spite of the 116 measurement it is actually not an oversized racket in the traditional sense. It is effectively a mid-plus racket, like the Prince EX03 Read 105 I was using before. If you put the 116 on top of the Prince 105, the head size is almost the same. The additional overall size is just that the the head is elongated.

The 116 has noticeably more power than the 105 but no less control. It has a very low swing weight which is very close to the Prince 105, which made for a very easy transition. Because of its very low overall weight I can quickly position it for a fast volley return or scrambling after a wide serve or shot. My serve is definitely faster as well. In spite of the stiffness of the frame I have not had any elbow problems with the racket, even though I am prone to this with some rackets I have used in the past (not the Prince rackets which seem to be very easy on the elbow).

By the way, this is a very easy racket to string (I string my own rackets), especially compared to the Prince rackets with the large side holes!

My wife, who is a 4.0 to 4.5 level player is also switching to the 116 as soon as they are in stock. I think the chart referenced earlier in this thread is essentially correct about the NTRP level for the 116: 3.0 to 4.5.

[tuan0290]

@Choclit: where did you buy those Asics racquets? I live in Washington, DC and it is very hard to find a decent place to demo Japanese racquets.

A fantasy: If I was the CEO of Asics, I would buy Yonex and have it to produce racquets while Asics would provide apparels, shoes and accessories.

Originally Posted by Choclit

I have been playing with the Asics 116 for two months now and can tell you a lot about it and to a much lesser extent the 125. I have never tried the 109 and in fact never seen anyone around here using it.

My wife, who is a 4.0 to 4.5 level player is also switching to the 116 as soon as they are in stock. I think the chart referenced earlier in this thread is essentially correct about the NTRP level for the 116: 3.0 to 4.5.

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by tuan0290

@Choclit: where did you buy those Asics racquets? I live in Washington, DC and it is very hard to find a decent place to demo Japanese racquets.

A fantasy: If I was the CEO of Asics, I would buy Yonex and have it to produce racquets while Asics would provide apparels, shoes and accessories.

there is a great shop in DC they have japanese rackets; email me

[coolblue123]

Originally Posted by zapvor

there is a great shop in DC they have japanese rackets; email me

Is it run by the famous Yakuza's? Get it Japan and Rackets? aheemmm, sorry n/m. I only get my own jokes nowadays.

[tuan0290]

Originally Posted by zapvor

there is a great shop in DC they have japanese rackets; email me

Hey Zapvor, what is your e-mail address ?

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by tuan0290

Hey Zapvor, what is your e-mail address ?

fuzzymj@gmail

[treblings]

Originally Posted by tuan0290

A fantasy: If I was the CEO of Asics, I would buy Yonex and have it to produce racquets while Asics would provide apparels, shoes and accessories.

problem with that is, that yonex apparel and shoes are at least as good as asics
imo often superior

[Chotobaka]

Originally Posted by Choclit

I have been playing with the Asics 116 for two months now and can tell you a lot about it and to a much lesser extent the 125. I have never tried the 109 and in fact never seen anyone around here using it.

For some background, I am an older 4.0 player that plays about 2 1/2 hours a day. Prior to switching to the Asics 116, I was using the newest version of the Prince EX03 Red.

First the 125 - I tried it once and it, like most oversized rackets, appears to be designed for someone that doesn't swing very hard and wants additional power. Around here, at least, that is mostly women and older players. I have never liked oversize rackets so it didn't appeal to me. I felt that I had less control and found it slower to quickly position the racket for a volley or a shot that I had to scramble to get. Still, the players that traditionally use oversize rackets seem to like it a lot. Note: you CANNOT string the 125 with a 40 foot string.

By the way, these are brand new rackets designed from the ground up, not a repaint on an old Head racket as suggested earlier.

Now on to the 116. First, in spite of the 116 measurement it is actually not an oversized racket in the traditional sense. It is effectively a mid-plus racket, like the Prince EX03 Read 105 I was using before. If you put the 116 on top of the Prince 105, the head size is almost the same. The additional overall size is just that the the head is elongated.

The 116 has noticeably more power than the 105 but no less control. It has a very low swing weight which is very close to the Prince 105, which made for a very easy transition. Because of its very low overall weight I can quickly position it for a fast volley return or scrambling after a wide serve or shot. My serve is definitely faster as well. In spite of the stiffness of the frame I have not had any elbow problems with the racket, even though I am prone to this with some rackets I have used in the past (not the Prince rackets which seem to be very easy on the elbow).

By the way, this is a very easy racket to string (I string my own rackets), especially compared to the Prince rackets with the large side holes!

My wife, who is a 4.0 to 4.5 level player is also switching to the 116 as soon as they are in stock. I think the chart referenced earlier in this thread is essentially correct about the NTRP level for the 116: 3.0 to 4.5.

Thank you for this information. There has apparently been some type of hiccup in Asics' roll-out of these racquets since it has been months since their press releases first began appearing and nothing since.

Any feedback on the 109? And regarding the 116, how is the comfort level -- especially when taking a fuller cut? All three racquets are rated "stiff" as is generally the norm for these type of racquets, but I am curious how this plays out in the real world.

Thanks again for great info.

[Choclit]

Update on Asics Racquets: there are several thousand of these racquets that have been sitting in a warehouse in Colorado for months. The delay was paperwork and legal stuff, which is apparently now done. I was just told a couple of days ago that a number of the racquets were shipped out last week to some teams and sponsored players, which leads me to believe that they will be available very soon. As soon as I get more info I will post it.

By the way, the reason I have access to the racquets is that they were designed by a top US player and he happens to own the club where I play so I have been able to work with early prototypes of the racquet as well as the finished one I use now.

Addressing a couple of other questions that have been asked: about the 109 - I just asked and it is targeted at a younger, harder hitting player. The 116 and 125 are designed for players that are in their 30s and older and may not swing quite as fast as a college player. The 116 is not a high power racquet but does have more power than some other racquets that I have tried. The 125 is oversized and has the added power typical of that type of racquet.

As for the comfort with the very stiff frame - that was a big concern for me when I first tried it. I tend to have tennis elbow problems, which is why I switched from Wilson to Prince about eight years ago. The Prince O3 series racquets are very easy on the arm. I play with the 116 an average of 2 1/2 hours a day, sometimes up to five hours and I have had absolutely no problems at all. I think the design gives these racquets a large sweet spot which helps.

[Chotobaka]

^^^^^^

Thank you for the very complete follow up.

[zapvor]

any info about a mid/midplus line in the future?

[Choclit]

Tennis warehouse considers mid-plus to be 94 to 105 sq inches. Functionally I consider the 116 to be a mid-plus. If I lay my Prince Red 105 on top of the Asics 116 the head size is virtually identical. All of the additional 11 sq inches comes from the extension of string pattern vertically. The 125 is definitely an oversize.