RDS002 - Final Round

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
OK, played 8.5 combo tonight. My partner is a 59-year old 4.0. We played a pair of brothers. One played college tennis at BYU and was a self-rated 4.0. The other was a laid out 5.0 who self-rated 4.5. It didn't look good. The NTRP is so screwed up...but that is another thread.

I, as promised, pulled the RDS002 out of my bag. We began to warm up. I was warming up with the BYU guy. Off the ground, the RDS002 struggled in my hand. I know it's been stated recently that no frame is unstable. I disagree. I played a year with the Vilas a couple or three years ago and had no problem centering the ball. I had no problem centering the ball with the RDS002, but it got pushed around. But, I persevere.

I go to net and take some volleys. The RDS002 is in its element at net. I stuck volleys, anything he hit at me, high, low, perfect height. I had great direction, touch, and stick on them. I took some overheads. No problem there either.

I backed up to the baseline to hit some more. Same problem with stability agsinst this guy. Now it could have been that he hits a heavier ball than my buddy last Saturday, or it could have been that I've been up since 4 AM today, or it could have been that I've hit once in three weeks. In any event, something strange started to happen.

The blue Adidas shirt that I was wearing began to grow a yellow streak up the back. With each forehand and/or backhand I hit, the streak grew longer.

When it came time to take serves, I walked over to my bag, slipped the RDS002 back into it and pulled a bumblebee out. Sorry, guys, I turned chicken. I just didn't feel confident enough in the frame off the ground and I knew returns wouldn't be any better.

The difference between the two frames was beef, plain and simple. The C10 feels like a hunk of timber and against this guy tonight, the RDS002 felt like it was made out of balsa.

I have a very favorable opinion of the frame and am looking forward now to the Tour version. I think this frame would be a great fit for anyone who can't handle 12 ounces but has nice long, grooved strokes.

My next set of demos include the Gamma 325(?), the Yonex RDS002 Tour, the Donnay Pro 1, and a Fischer frame (because it was no more money for 4).

Final thought was that while I really liked the frame and thought at 49 years, 1 month and 1 day I might need a lighter frame, I think I still need some heft in my stick.
 

bagung

Hall of Fame
thanks for the review, rabbit..
i was always looking for 11oz + racket that is solid, good plow through, i guess i end up dissapointed.... seems to be, i have to stay with my 12oz dnx-10 mid, for the solid, plow through racquet......
 

spam

Rookie
Rabbit,get yourself some more Tour 10 MPS 's or try out a demo of the Dunlop 500 tour,I think you'll like it.
 

drak

Hall of Fame
Rabbit, thanks for the update. I think you are like me in that a 10.9/11 oz frame that is 6 pts HL is simply too light when playing heavier/bigger hitters. 12 oz frames for me however are too much, so I am finding that somewhere in the 11.2 to 11.6 area (depends upon HL number) is a good compromise. Too bad you did not have a chance to tweek this frame a bit with lead, it probably did not need that much. I am using a modified Babs Pure Storm near 11.5/11.6 oz (5-6 pts HL) and am liking it.

Drak
 

BMG

Rookie
Hey Rabbit - good stuff as usual. Quick question after reading your post...have you had the inkling to try the TFight 335 (or even the lighter 320)? The 335 has some nice heft but for me it was very maneuverable as well. Just a thought.
 

backcourt

Semi-Pro
Thanks for the update Rabbit. Can't say I'm shocked, as this seems to be a pretty consistent weakness of lighter racquets. Since I very rarely play 5.0's I'm still going to give the 002 a demo when I'm back on the court.

BTW, in your experience is the Cat 8 VE substantially more stable than the 002?
 

drak

Hall of Fame
Thanks for the update Rabbit. Can't say I'm shocked, as this seems to be a pretty consistent weakness of lighter racquets. Since I very rarely play 5.0's I'm still going to give the 002 a demo when I'm back on the court.

BTW, in your experience is the Cat 8 VE substantially more stable than the 002?

Remember that Rabbit ended up first adding weight to make the Cat8VE 11.5 oz (If I remember correctly) and them I think went up to 12 oz.

Drak
 

basil J

Hall of Fame
Rabbit, I had the same experience with the 002 tour. When I hit with pushers or guys that didn't crush the ball, the Yonex was awesome. Great at net, good spin and control, but lack of weight on all of the shots. Against a big hitter or heavy topspinner, I felt that the 002 tour got pushed around a bit. Still comfortable and accurate, but vs my kfactor or redondo, I felt that the yonex hit a deep spinny ball with little weight behind it.
 

drak

Hall of Fame
Rabbit, I had the same experience with the 002 tour. When I hit with pushers or guys that didn't crush the ball, the Yonex was awesome. Great at net, good spin and control, but lack of weight on all of the shots. Against a big hitter or heavy topspinner, I felt that the 002 tour got pushed around a bit. Still comfortable and accurate, but vs my kfactor or redondo, I felt that the yonex hit a deep spinny ball with little weight behind it.

Basil, makes perfect sense in a 11 vs 12 oz frame. I'd suggest giving the RDS002L some added head weight with a bit in the handle. At 10.9 oz stock and SIX pts HL it is simply too light against heavier hitting. Get it up to 11.2-11.6 oz and I bet it plays a lot better vs a harder hitter.
 

ohplease

Professional
One played college tennis at BYU and was a self-rated 4.0. The other was a laid out 5.0 who self-rated 4.5. It didn't look good. The NTRP is so screwed up...but that is another thread.

Yeah, I know it's a different thread - but why are they even wasting time in 8.5 combo? Were there no 5.5 combo slots available?

The only time I've really been impressed with 11 ounce frames +/- 0.25 is on full swinging ground strokes and on serve. Unfortunately, real tennis at the club level still involves chip returns, blocks, half-volleys, and volleys - shots where absent racket head speed, you still need mass.

Note that this still doesn't prevent me from thinking about grabbing a lightweight, low swingweight frame like the RDS002, or the Microgel Extreme standard, or the the technifibre 320, and heat shrink sleeving/lead taping to my customary 12 ounces, 8 points headlight.

Maybe I'll try that experiment on something in the liquidation bin if I find a couple hundred bucks burning to be spent on tennis.
 

backcourt

Semi-Pro
Remember that Rabbit ended up first adding weight to make the Cat8VE 11.5 oz (If I remember correctly) and them I think went up to 12 oz.

Drak

Good point Drak. I have my Cat 8 VE's weighted up to 11.6. Without the weight I found they swung too fast, and actually caused some pain in my elbow; but the lead took care of the pain issue.
 

drak

Hall of Fame
Good point Drak. I have my Cat 8 VE's weighted up to 11.6. Without the weight I found they swung too fast, and actually caused some pain in my elbow; but the lead took care of the pain issue.

Serve on the Cat8 was really the killer for me. even weighting it up never could get it to where I liked or at least "good enough".
 

drak

Hall of Fame
Rabbit, you forgot to mention how the match went. Did you beat the "baggers" and how did the ol "bumblebee" do, think it made a big difference in this match?

Drak
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
The V8's I have are weighted to 12.2 ounces.

I didn't mention the match? Well, darn. They smoked us, 6-4, 6-3, but it really wasn't that close.

Truthfully, they're playing 8.5 because there is nothing else around here higher. I wish there was, I'd play up. But, some times I feel like I'm playinig up anyway... :)
 

drak

Hall of Fame
Rabbit, please see my very recent post above about my initial thoughts on the RDS002L - specifically about how much they weigh and why, and how easy a mod is.

Drak
 

basil J

Hall of Fame
My 002 tour weighs 12.2 oz and is 8 pts HL and I think it still nees some lead tape on the hoop just to give it some heft.
 
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