What's the best CURRENT tweener?

So, what's the best CURRENT tweener

  • Pure Aero

    Votes: 14 19.4%
  • Pure Drive

    Votes: 13 18.1%
  • Wilson Ultra

    Votes: 4 5.6%
  • Wilson Pro Open

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Prince Warrior Textreme

    Votes: 13 18.1%
  • Yonex DR100

    Votes: 12 16.7%
  • Yonex SV100

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Volkl V Sense 8

    Votes: 5 6.9%
  • Other (Please Specify)

    Votes: 6 8.3%
  • Head Extreme

    Votes: 3 4.2%

  • Total voters
    72

Roland G

Hall of Fame
So, which 100", 300g or so tweener-style frame has the best combination of power, spin, comfort and control?
 

un6a

Semi-Pro
It will be hard to find better tweener than your Bio 400 tour. It is somewhat special racquet in this categhory, with it's headlight balance and densier string pattern in center. It has better control and it is more predictable than average tweener and can be easily customized.

That said, one tweener that i would suggest to try is prince warrior 100. It have biggest sweetspot and best spin. It is much better than pure drive or aero pro drive imo, but it depends if you are into o port feel or not.
 

Roland G

Hall of Fame
It will be hard to find better tweener than your Bio 400 tour. It is somewhat special racquet in this categhory, with it's headlight balance and densier string pattern in center. It has better control and it is more predictable than average tweener and can be easily customized.

That said, one tweener that i would suggest to try is prince warrior 100. It have biggest sweetspot and best spin. It is much better than pure drive or aero pro drive imo, but it depends if you are into o port feel or not.
I've tried so many racquets over the last few years - Blade, Pro Staff, Pure Strike, Extreme, Instinct, Prince Tours to name but a few, but keep coming back to the 400 Tours. I agree, they are unique. They have power on tap but really good control and are headlight so easy to whip around.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
Pure Strike 98 16x19 should be listed here.

Awesome racquet, lost almost no control when switching from my PS90.

Bit on the light side so if I ever buy one I'll have to apply some lead tape and leather replacement grips, but solid racquet nonetheless.

Almost difficult to believe that it's a Babolat racquet, the way it feels.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Pure Strike 98 16x19 should be listed here.

Awesome racquet, lost almost no control when switching from my PS90.

Bit on the light side so if I ever buy one I'll have to apply some lead tape and leather replacement grips, but solid racquet nonetheless.

Almost difficult to believe that it's a Babolat racquet, the way it feels.
Just to add some context...

@Roland G (the OP) hated the frame so much that he still calls it an overrated piece of junk :D

I personally can't imagine liking it either somehow... I've played the previous version and even with gut/poly the thing felt unstable, stiff, under-powered, just yuck.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
Just to add some context...

@Roland G (the OP) hated the frame so much that he still calls it an overrated piece of junk :D

I personally can't imagine liking it either somehow... I've played the previous version and even with gut/poly the thing felt unstable, stiff, under-powered, just yuck.

New one and old one play nothing alike though...I hated the old one too but the new one is very nice. Very forgiving with pop, neither of which you get from the old frame!
 

umm24

New User
Personally, Ideal tweener setup is the pure aero with a little weight dropped at 3&9 for stability, using a stiff, low-power poly at lower tensions (RPM blast at 47, for example).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

prjacobs

Hall of Fame
2013 Aero pro drive is still one of the best

The APD is an iconic frame. Manufacturers have tried to put out "their version" of this frame for years and none succeeded.
No frame is for everyone but if you're interested in a tweener, you owe it to yourself to try it out. I demoed it as a joke, because no heavier players frame were in the shop, that day. I wanted to see if it was as good as the hype. People talked about the APD making the game easier to the point of saying it was almost like cheating. Over three years later, I've never played better and my 12.2 ounce MGRad Pro still sits in my closet. This frame surpassed the hype, for me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

sportmac

Hall of Fame
Did you demo? I don't find the stiffness a problem. But that is a matter for each player.
Yeah, loved how solid it was but I have wrist problems that are unforgiving (arthritis, ulnar abutment syndrome). I don't remember what other racquets I got when I tested it but they stayed at home. Played the entire week with it. Super solid feel.
 

Roland G

Hall of Fame
Just to add some context...

@Roland G (the OP) hated the frame so much that he still calls it an overrated piece of junk :D

I personally can't imagine liking it either somehow... I've played the previous version and even with gut/poly the thing felt unstable, stiff, under-powered, just yuck.
Hee hee, was really hoping nobody would mention the dreaded PS17!
I'll keep my comments on that one to myself this time
 

g4driver

Legend
Hee hee, was really hoping nobody would mention the dreaded PS17!
I'll keep my comments on that one to myself this time

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/i-am-a-mental-minion-advice-please.540843/

Above is a thread you posted two years ago. I remember reading it, honestly because your "mental minion" thread sounded like several of my teammates. What I have found in 30+ years of tennis is pretty simple. It has very little to do with frames, strings or shoes. But like golf, the space between the ears is what matters most. In any given recreational tennis level, what I believe separates the stronger players in a given level, isn't how hard they hit their serves, or their groundstrokes, but rather just how mentally tough these players are. On my teams, there are many mental minions. They lose matches before they ever step on the court. They change frames and strings frequently. They have multiple excuses for every loss. Rarely, do they tip their hat to the better opponent and say "He is better than me."

There are plenty of frames on your poll list that any average player with your experience could do quite well with if they picked a frame and stuck with it instead of changing strings and frames every two to three months. In your "mental minion" thread from Aug 2015, you wrote, "I should add - I'm 42 and have been playing for just 4 years and have very little competition experience." Ask yourself how many frames have you bought and used since August of 2011 if that is your starting point of tennis. Be honest with yourself.

Here is a snapshot of the top three players on my team:
1) Won a 8.0 Mixed National Championship Last year. He played all but one match at Nationals. He uses the same frames and string since I met him in 2009
2) Won a 8.0 Mixed National Championship Last year. He played every match at Nationals. He has used three different frames in eight years. He switched to a PS 18x20 this month, due to his Blade 93 frames being out of production.
3) And the best player on my team? He carries two beat up Pure Control Tour frames, in a small backpack and could beat everyone on my team with any frame in your poll list with synthetic gut.

The guy who has used the same strings and frame since 2009 had this to say about our best player when asked by another teammate if he could ever beat the better player. "On my best day, and him on his worst day, he beats me 3&3 with any frame you offered him." It is the archer, not the arrow. There is no Holy Grail. Last year I saw a 4.5 USTA Player bumped to 5.0, and a 3.5 bumped to 4.0. Both used the same frame: a Prince Textreme Warrior 100 . While the AeroPro Drive / Pure Aero has plenty of players playing tennis with those frames from USTA 3.0 players to professionals.

In no manner I am being snarky or mean spirted, but rather objective. Looking at your posting history on these forums, reveals you are all over the dartboard with frames and strings. My .02 is just pick something you like and get some lessons from a teaching pro on very specific things you want to improve.

Hope you find something that clicks.

(Roland G. I edited this post due to several grammatical errors and added a sentence about my teammate who switched frames this year. Keep me posted with your progress. You come across as a truly nice guy.)
 
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prjacobs

Hall of Fame
I think that when you start customizing up to 11.8 ounces, you've left the tweener category.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

haqq777

Legend
Just to add some context...

@Roland G (the OP) hated the frame so much that he still calls it an overrated piece of junk :D

I personally can't imagine liking it either somehow... I've played the previous version and even with gut/poly the thing felt unstable, stiff, under-powered, just yuck.

No love lost for previous gen Strikes so I'm with you there, but the new PS (both 16x19 and 18x20) are anything but under powered, comrade. In fact quite the opposite, really. None of that brassy feel either. More stable in the hoop too.
 
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n8dawg6

Legend
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/i-am-a-mental-minion-advice-please.540843/

Above is a thread you posted two years ago. I remember reading it honestly because your "mental minion" thread sounded like several of my teammates. What I have found in 30+ years of tennis is pretty simple. It has very little to do with frames, strings or shoes. But like golf, the space between the ears is what matters most. In any given recreational tennis level, what I believe separates the stronger players in a given level, isn't how hard they hit their serves, or their groundstrokes, but rather just how mentally tough these players are. On my teams, there are many mental minions. They lose matches before they ever step on the court. They change frames and strings frequently. They have multiple excuses for every loss. Rarely, do they tip their hat to the better opponent and say "He is better than me."

There are plenty of frames on your poll list that any average player with your experience could do quite well with if they picked a frame and stuck with it instead of changing strings and frames every two to three months. In your "mental minion" thread from Aug 2015, you wrote, "I should add - I'm 42 and have been playing for just 4 years and have very little competition experience." Ask yourself how many frames have you bought and used since August of 2011 if that is your starting point of tennis. Be honest with yourself.

Here is a snapshot of the top three players on my team:
1) Won a 8.0 Mixed National Championship Last year. He played all but one match at Nationals. He uses the same frames and string since I met him in 2009
2) Won a 8.0 Mixed National Championship Last year. He played every match at Nationals. He has used three different frames in eight years.
3) And the best player on my team? He carries two beat up Pure Control Tour frames, in a small backpack and could beat everyone on my team with any frame in poll list with synthetic gut.

The guy who has used the same strings and frame since 2009 had this to say about our best player when asked by another teammate if he could ever beat the better player. "On my best day, and him on his worst day, he beats me 3&3 with any frame you offered him. It is the archer, not the arrow. There is no Holy Grail. Last year I saw a 4.5 USTA Player bumped to 5.0, and a 3.5 bumped to 4.0. Both used the same frame: a Prince Textreme Warrior 100 . While the AeroPro Drive / Pure Aero has plenty of players playing tennis with those frames from USTA 3.0 players to professionals.

In no manner I am being snarky or mean spirted, but rather objective. Looking at your posting history on these forums, reveals you are all over the dartboard with frames and strings. My .02 is just pick something you like and get some lessons from a teaching pro on very specific things you want to improve.

Hope you find something that clicks.
you are being a SEVERE debbie downer :D
 

Tordne

Semi-Pro
I think the Wilson Blade Countervail rackets are actually very nice. Tending a little head heavy standard, but nothing a little tungsten putty in the butt cap doesn't fix. Wife is playing the 98S variant +6grams in the tail and is loving it.
 

Seth

Legend
The Textreme Warrior 100 is pretty dang comfy, even when I strung it with full poly. Did everything my Pure Drive did. I love the Woofer feeling in a PD, but don't like the wrist ache.
 

Roland G

Hall of Fame
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/i-am-a-mental-minion-advice-please.540843/

Above is a thread you posted two years ago. I remember reading it honestly because your "mental minion" thread sounded like several of my teammates. What I have found in 30+ years of tennis is pretty simple. It has very little to do with frames, strings or shoes. But like golf, the space between the ears is what matters most. In any given recreational tennis level, what I believe separates the stronger players in a given level, isn't how hard they hit their serves, or their groundstrokes, but rather just how mentally tough these players are. On my teams, there are many mental minions. They lose matches before they ever step on the court. They change frames and strings frequently. They have multiple excuses for every loss. Rarely, do they tip their hat to the better opponent and say "He is better than me."

There are plenty of frames on your poll list that any average player with your experience could do quite well with if they picked a frame and stuck with it instead of changing strings and frames every two to three months. In your "mental minion" thread from Aug 2015, you wrote, "I should add - I'm 42 and have been playing for just 4 years and have very little competition experience." Ask yourself how many frames have you bought and used since August of 2011 if that is your starting point of tennis. Be honest with yourself.

Here is a snapshot of the top three players on my team:
1) Won a 8.0 Mixed National Championship Last year. He played all but one match at Nationals. He uses the same frames and string since I met him in 2009
2) Won a 8.0 Mixed National Championship Last year. He played every match at Nationals. He has used three different frames in eight years.
3) And the best player on my team? He carries two beat up Pure Control Tour frames, in a small backpack and could beat everyone on my team with any frame in poll list with synthetic gut.

The guy who has used the same strings and frame since 2009 had this to say about our best player when asked by another teammate if he could ever beat the better player. "On my best day, and him on his worst day, he beats me 3&3 with any frame you offered him. It is the archer, not the arrow. There is no Holy Grail. Last year I saw a 4.5 USTA Player bumped to 5.0, and a 3.5 bumped to 4.0. Both used the same frame: a Prince Textreme Warrior 100 . While the AeroPro Drive / Pure Aero has plenty of players playing tennis with those frames from USTA 3.0 players to professionals.

In no manner I am being snarky or mean spirted, but rather objective. Looking at your posting history on these forums, reveals you are all over the dartboard with frames and strings. My .02 is just pick something you like and get some lessons from a teaching pro on very specific things you want to improve.

Hope you find something that clicks.
Many thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
I don't view your remarks as snarky but helpful.

I would agree with you that I have been all over the place with strings and frames etc and I know it's not doing my consistency any good. By and large, I do stick with my 400 Tours, usually with Cyclone at a lower tension, but like many people on this forum, I enjoy trying new gear when it comes out and am curious to find out for myself how it plays etc. So, as a result, I buy several frames a year and end up selling them fairly quickly because I haven't found a frame that works as well for me as my 400 Tours.

Among the players I play with regularly, the one we all want to beat but rarely do plays with two battered old Princes strung with Syn Gut which he plays with until it breaks and several others have the same frames, strings etc for many years and just focus on their game, consistency and improving so I know you speak the truth!

As someone already mentioned in this thread, the 400 Tour is a fine tweener style frame and it works really well for my game and I have three of them so I'm probably best sticking with them and like you say, getting some lessons (which I am) and focusing on trying to improve. Even if I don't improve, at least my wife will be happier!
 

lwto

Hall of Fame
These questions.. whats the perfect tweener, whats the perfect racquet are all pretty silly.
The perfect racquet is the racquet that works best for yourself. It doesn't matter who makes it, what the reviews are, what your friends play with, it's what plays best for you.

I just remember when I started out playing tennis, my dad took out to Carmel Valley Tennis ranch and the pro picked out a racquet for me to try and I tried, it, I crushed the ball, I couldn't miss, it felt great and I really liked it, but, I purchased a Wilson Jack Kramer, and I didn't hit nearly as well as I did with the other racquet. I only bought it cause that's what the popular racquet was, it was what my friends played with.

I also read great reviews on racquets and purchased them only to find out.. no no not for me

You are your own racquet's destiny, it's not the reviews, it's not your friends, it's yours.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Best tweener is clear - it is the Sureshs Signature model by Gamma. What sickens me is that it was not even listed in this poll.
 

g4driver

Legend
Roland G,

Thanks for the kind reply. Glad you took my post as helpful because that is exactly what I meant to convey.

Those 400 Tours are solid frames with their 16x19 pattern and middle road 66 RDC flex. IMO there isn't anything wrong with trying new frames or strings unless it starts affecting your consistency with you current frames. Just be careful to play with your current 400 Tours enough to know what they can and can't do for you.
 

sportmac

Hall of Fame
How long did you try it before you noticed wrist issues?
Wrist is bad with any racquet so it's not this specific racquet. I played with it the entire week I had it from TW. When I went back to mine I could feel the difference immediately. Just seems anything over 62/63 is a problem for me.
I mod the hell out of my racquets, I throw lead on ones I test too, and the DR 100 is one of the very few racquets I left in stock form during the entire test. So unless you have wrist issues I'd give it a go.
 
I voted fro the Volkl 'cos I use the 315g version, which is great, and Volkl needed some love..

However, the Pure Drive really is the benchmark.

and to all you haters who will start with the 'super stiff rocket launcher' drivel and try and steer the poor man to an Angell TC95, remember he did ask about TWEEENERS!

oh, and if you learn to play, you won't hit the ball out with a Babolat, just sayin'
 

Roland G

Hall of Fame
I voted fro the Volkl 'cos I use the 315g version, which is great, and Volkl needed some love..

However, the Pure Drive really is the benchmark.

and to all you haters who will start with the 'super stiff rocket launcher' drivel and try and steer the poor man to an Angell TC95, remember he did ask about TWEEENERS!

oh, and if you learn to play, you won't hit the ball out with a Babolat, just sayin'
Can you compare the Volkl G8's to the Dunlop 400 Tour?
 
Can you compare the Volkl G8's to the Dunlop 400 Tour?

Actually, yes, I can, because I played with 400 Tours!!

I find the Volkl to be a bit more stable and to have better feel for the ball, at least in standard form.

I am not a racquet modder, and so the 400T wasn't for me in the end as it was just a bit too head light.

good frames though, sold 'em to a fellow in Kiyama...
 
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