Right, so I played 2 hours of doubles today with the TC95, and thought it would be interesting to report my impressions, especially how it compares to the TC100 I have been playing for the past 3 months.
Both racquets have a 16x19 pattern, 63RA, Octane paint, 310g unstrung, 315mm balance, and strung with a full bed of Luxilon 4G (2lbs less in the TC95). So they are perfectly matched, except for the hoop size.
First impression: the TC95 feels like it is swinging slightly heavier than the TC100. I wouldn't be surprised if the SW is 2-3 pts heavier, once Angell send me the exact specs of the frame. It might have to do with the same static weight concentrated on a slightly more compact frame.
Feel is fairly similar, both are very plush, comfortable racquets.
But it's really when taking big swings that differences appear:
1) the launch angle is not as extreme on the 95 as on the 100, but still gave me decent net clearance
2) power level is is not quite as high as with the TC100, but not miles off, subjectively maybe only -5%. Nonetheless, surprisingly good for a 95 sq.in.
The combination of 1) and 2) makes for a fairly different experience. With the TC100, I really have to put a lot of shape on my shots and dial up the top spin to keep the ball in court, while the TC95 fares much better when deciding to flatten a shot. Where the TC100 has more absolute power, I feel that the TC95 has more usable power, where the ball stays in court instead of flying long. It's as if this 5% drop in power I was alluding to above was translating into 20% more control, which is conducive to swinging more freely. The TC100 catapults the ball, where the TC95 just crushes it, and I understand the references to Thor's hammer a bit better now.
Actually, the TC95 reminds me a lot of the Prince Phantom 93P 18x20. Same plush feel, same plow through on hard, flat shots. Except that the TC95 is much easier to use (20g less static weight for the one I got), has a larger sweet spot, easier access to power and spin. I loved playing the 93P, but it's a very demanding racquet, and the TC95 is far more realistic. Comparing to another 95sq.in. in the Dunlop CX200 Tour 16x19, the TC95 is markedly more powerful and has a higher launch angle.
Spin, by the way, is about on par between the 100 and the 95, with maybe a slight edge for the 100.
Serves were great, I don't feel I miss anything switching from one to the other. I can hit my spots equally well, either sliced or kicked.
Returns: not my strongest suit at the best of time, but I was actually pretty good today. I think the 95 is much better in doubles, where the ball has to be kept lower, where the 100 has more tolerance and clearance, which is handier in singles.
It will also be interesting to see how much more mileage I can get from my strings in the TC95, as I am breaking them too quickly for my liking in the TC100.
I have a couple of more games this week, with a competitive singles game tomorrow where I'll be using the 95. If my impressions are confirmed, I'll be ordering a second TC95, and I'll be selling my 3rd TC100 to keep just two. I can see a scenario where I predominantly use the TC95, but want to keep the TC100 at hand for those days when the footwork is a bit slow and I need the extra tolerance.