OK, how customized?Customized, heavier DR 100...perrrrfect!
I had TW (Paul) add tungsten putty in the trap door and tungsten tape at 3 and 9 to get the final specs to 11.80 oz , 7HL, 322SW.OK, how customized?
Of course. I should have added *in your opinionfor who? me or you?
Yes, true no Heads!Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro
No Heads in the list!
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.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.
Just to add some context...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
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.
Did you demo? I don't find the stiffness a problem. But that is a matter for each player.If my wrist could take the stiffness I would own the DR 100. Very solid playing racquet.
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.
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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.Did you demo? I don't find the stiffness a problem. But that is a matter for each player.
Hee hee, was really hoping nobody would mention the dreaded PS17!Just to add some context...
@Roland G (the OP) hated the frame so much that he still calls it an overrated piece of junk
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.
i dont think its a tweener at all, but definitely a more forgiving light player's racquet.I think the Head Graphene Touch Speed MP should be added here.
Hee hee, was really hoping nobody would mention the dreaded PS17!
I'll keep my comments on that one to myself this time
Just to add some context...
@Roland G (the OP) hated the frame so much that he still calls it an overrated piece of junk
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.
you are being a SEVERE debbie downerhttps://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.
A big +1 for 2013 APD. I guess since not in production anymore and has been replaced by PA, I'll go with PD.
If my wrist could take the stiffness I would own the DR 100. Very solid playing racquet.
Many thanks for your comments, much appreciated.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.
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.How long did you try it before you noticed wrist issues?
Can you compare the Volkl G8's to the Dunlop 400 Tour?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?