More spinny BB London, a speed 1619 or exo3 tour?

Guys,

Recently i bought a BB London, here in this forum. It is a great racket. Solid, (almost too) powerfull, good feel, sensitive for touch shots. And for me also a solid weight (305 unstrung) and good swinweight (around 320).

One thing is a bit lacking, spin. With my former racket, Dunlop Bio 300 and especially with my demo of last weeks Bio 400, i had much more spin. One reason in my view, my spin technique is pretty ok, is the dense string pattern, although it is 1619. But in the center the strings are only 0,8 cm separated from each other, so very close.

Forme tt is more like a Radical on steroids. Same feel, much more power. Pretty lovely, but dangerous (for hitting long).

I have been looking and was wondering if any other racket in the same weight category would be more spinnier. I only saw two options. Head IG Youtek Speed 1619 or Prince Exo3 Tour 1618. Both are 5 grams heavier, but swingweight is around. Flex of the Prince looks ridiculous low, so also low powered?

Can anyone tell me their experiences and measure the string density for me?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Veninga said:

Guys,

Recently i bought a BB London, here in this forum. It is a great racket. Solid, (almost too) powerfull, good feel, sensitive for touch shots. And for me also a solid weight (305 unstrung) and good swinweight (around 320).

One thing is a bit lacking, spin. With my former racket, Dunlop Bio 300 and especially with my demo of last weeks Bio 400, i had much more spin. One reason in my view, my spin technique is pretty ok, is the dense string pattern, although it is 1619. But in the center the strings are only 0,8 cm separated from each other, so very close.

Forme tt is more like a Radical on steroids. Same feel, much more power. Pretty lovely, but dangerous (for hitting long).

I have been looking and was wondering if any other racket in the same weight category would be more spinnier. I only saw two options. Head IG Youtek Speed 1619 or Prince Exo3 Tour 1618. Both are 5 grams heavier, but swingweight is around. Flex of the Prince looks ridiculous low, so also low powered?

Can anyone tell me their experiences and measure the string density for me?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Click to expand...

Go To:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=362095
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=378176&highlight=London+Bridges

Of the racquets you mention, I've hit with the Prince 16x18 and the London, found more spin with the Prince though a bit less pop. Prefered the Prince overall.

A guy I play with, uses Prince Ignite 95 (red). Couple of times, he played with my London because he broke strings. When he plays Prince, the spin is much-much heavier than when he plays London. When I hit with it briefly (I strung this racquet for him), I noticed that it swung very easily, and probably will be good for wristy/wippy strokes. I myself did not like the feel of the Ignite.

I thought the London had some decent spin to it. And I loved the way it felt, I just couldn't get the results I wanted. I couldn't get my timing down with the frame and had a tendency to spray balls long. In the end, I choice the Prince Exo3 Tour 16x18. Great access to spin, decent enough pop, and also has that comfortable feel that I was specifically looking for.

Veninga said:

I have been looking and was wondering if any other racket in the same weight category would be more spinnier. I only saw two options. Head IG Youtek Speed 1619 or Prince Exo3 Tour 1618. Both are 5 grams heavier, but swingweight is around. Flex of the Prince looks ridiculous low, so also low powered?

Can anyone tell me their experiences and measure the string density for me?
.

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I've demoed the IG Speed 16x19 and owned both the Tour 16x18 and the Speed 16x19 (pre-IG). I also owned the London. I currently use the Speed 300 16x19. If really interested in this frame consider the cheaper, non-IG version.

IG Speed 16x19: plays much stiffer than its predecessor imo. Good spin potential but can't see spending the money on it when its pre-IG predecessor performed just as well and was more comfortable. Not nearly as comfortable as the London.

Tour 16x18: Very soft but more powerful than the spec would suggest. My issue with it in the end was lack of control, especially compared to the London. If interested in the EXO3 line I'd strongly recommend the 18x20 version over the 16x18. Just as much spin and FAR more control. I simply came to dislike the EXO3 "grommets"...makes the frame feel hollow to me.

Speed 300: Very low powered, control oriented, spin friendly, and comfortable. Exceeds London in spin potential; similar control; lower powered; similar comfort. I modified mine for more oomph.

TimothyO said:

Tour 16x18: Very soft but more powerful than the spec would suggest. My issue with it in the end was lack of control, especially compared to the London. If interested in the EXO3 line I'd strongly recommend the 18x20 version over the 16x18. Just as much spin and FAR more control. I simply came to dislike the EXO3 "grommets"...makes the frame feel hollow to me.

Speed 300: Very low powered, control oriented, spin friendly, and comfortable. Exceeds London in spin potential; similar control; lower powered; similar comfort. I modified mine for more oomph.

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Sorry to be slightly O/T but how did you customise your Speed 300? At 3 and 9? I have a leather grip and overgrip already but no lead (yet). I have one of the plus have just ordered an Exo3 Tour 100 16x18 and a Dunlop Bio 500 Tour (because I won it for £60!). Got a IG Prestige Pro coming too which I am hoping is a much more stable, hefty version of the Speed 300 (i know i know!!).

To TS, the Speed 300 is a fine racket. I much preferred it to the IG Speed MP 16x19 and 18x20 (I owned both until December).

loosegroove said:

I thought the London had some decent spin to it. And I loved the way it felt, I just couldn't get the results I wanted. I couldn't get my timing down with the frame and had a tendency to spray balls long. In the end, I choice the Prince Exo3 Tour 16x18. Great access to spin, decent enough pop, and also has that comfortable feel that I was specifically looking for.

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spraying long.. Thats my only problem with the London. Yesterday I measured the weight. It is a 329g version, pretty heavy. So Ill guess a 16x18 is a good option for me. Is there a big power difference?

tball said:

A guy I play with, uses Prince Ignite 95 (red). Couple of times, he played with my London because he broke strings. When he plays Prince, the spin is much-much heavier than when he plays London. When I hit with it briefly (I strung this racquet for him), I noticed that it swung very easily, and probably will be good for wristy/wippy strokes. I myself did not like the feel of the Ignite.

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Prince Ignite has a very high swingweight. But you mention it swings very easily. How would you compare the London and Ignite? And what is your current racket? Thanks in advance.

IG Speed 16x19

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Have not played with that.

Tour 16x18: Very soft but more powerful than the spec would suggest. My issue with it in the end was lack of control, especially compared to the London.

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Comparing the London and the open pattern EXO3 Tour, the latter has way more spin and a tad more power.

The London was nothing special to me (but perhaps I did not give it enough time), while the EXO3 Tours tick pretty much all my boxes.

If interested in the EXO3 line I'd strongly recommend the 18x20 version over the 16x18. Just as much spin and FAR more control. I simply came to dislike the EXO3 "grommets"...makes the frame feel hollow to me.

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Oh yeah, the closed pattern Tour is great too. The open pattern has a tad more spin and power, while the closed pattern has a tad less spin, less power and more control. I think the reviews at TW pretty much nailed it:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/PEX320/PEX320Review.html --> closed pattern
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/PEX03T/PEX03TReview.html --> open pattern

Yes, they EXO3 technology does offer a different feel that you will either love or hate. However, the frames offer great manoeuvrability, forgiveness and a huge sweetzone. I'm a fan.

rlau said:

The London was nothing special to me (but perhaps I did not give it enough time)

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Did you play with it stock or modified?

Played with the London both stock and with lead, found it to be flimsier feeling but similar to the Vantage 100 I was using at the time. Very much prefered the Vantage, still love it alot but now use the Vantage 105 with lead for more margin of error.

I cannot comment much on the Ignite, other than it produces more spin than the London. I only hit with Ignite for 10 minutes while we were warming up. The strings were brand new, too. Not indicative of how they will play and feel when broken in.

My racquets in the last year have been Volkl Tour 10 MP and Vantage BC20 (for situations when the opponent is too fast for me).

Regarding Vantages vs. London. All Vantages are much more solid and more stable than the London. Vantage 100 had a nice feel, but swung a bit too slow for me. Vantage 95 is nearly perfect. Somewhat firm (compared to what I like), but plays well in matches. Between it and Volkl T10MP, T10MP has an edge (better feel for me, and precision). This is practically the only racquet where I can use poly (in the mains), and it does not bother me. BastCore 20 is close to the London, and is somewhat better than it: hits more substantial ball, just as easy to swing, most importantly, the response from stringbed is uniform (no hot spots), and it is very predictable to me (the ball goes where I expect it to go). The spin is higher on BC20. The feel of BC20 is something that I do not like (London has a far better feel), and its appearance is ugly.

Veninga said:

Guys,

Recently i bought a BB London, here in this forum. It is a great racket. Solid, (almost too) powerfull, good feel, sensitive for touch shots. And for me also a solid weight (305 unstrung) and good swinweight (around 320).

One thing is a bit lacking, spin. With my former racket, Dunlop Bio 300 and especially with my demo of last weeks Bio 400, i had much more spin. One reason in my view, my spin technique is pretty ok, is the dense string pattern, although it is 1619. But in the center the strings are only 0,8 cm separated from each other, so very close.

Forme tt is more like a Radical on steroids. Same feel, much more power. Pretty lovely, but dangerous (for hitting long).

I have been looking and was wondering if any other racket in the same weight category would be more spinnier. I only saw two options. Head IG Youtek Speed 1619 or Prince Exo3 Tour 1618. Both are 5 grams heavier, but swingweight is around. Flex of the Prince looks ridiculous low, so also low powered?

Can anyone tell me their experiences and measure the string density for me?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Click to expand...

I have played with the London for over 1 year, the IG Speed 16x19 for around 6 months and the Ignite Team for 2 months. You are correct that the London hits a less spinny ball and its probably due to the denser than usual pattern in the racquet's center. There was time when I was trying both the Ignite Team and the London together and my hitting partner mentioned my groundstrokes kicking up higher with the Ignite.

The IG Speed 315 16x19 also hits with a lot of topspin, but has less power than the London or Ignite, but still decent pop. Its a very well rounded stick and fits about of styles and player types. The London is a very specific "niche" racquet and that's probably when they are constantly showing up in the classifieds for sale. Like many have mentioned here and many times in past threads, the London can be difficult to control and tends to spray balls long too often. The Ignite Team or Speed 16x19 will definitely be better choices if you want massive topspin.

Dgdavid said:

Sorry to be slightly O/T but how did you customise your Speed 300? At 3 and 9? I have a leather grip and overgrip already but no lead (yet). I have one of the plus have just ordered an Exo3 Tour 100 16x18 and a Dunlop Bio 500 Tour (because I won it for £60!). Got a IG Prestige Pro coming too which I am hoping is a much more stable, hefty version of the Speed 300 (i know i know!!).

To TS, the Speed 300 is a fine racket. I much preferred it to the IG Speed MP 16x19 and 18x20 (I owned both until December).

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Replaced stock grip with Wilson Shock shield under which I added several grams directly under my palm. I used TM's technique of splitting 1/4" lead tape into two 1/8" wide lengths. Placed some at 12 and some around 4-5 and 7-8. Resulting specs WITH overgrip and rubberband dampener are in my sig.

I'd have to go back and measure the lead under the grip and on the hoop since I arrived at the final configuration by deliberately overloading the lead tape and using my swiss army knife to cut out tape as needed. I also tweaked the precise placement of the tape towards the bottom of the hoop by moving it.

Very pleased with this setup. This week I practiced return of serve against a friend who serves HARD. This combo of weight, balance, and SW allowed me to hit stable shots without being late. Heavier and I can be late or not generate enough headspeed for topspin. Lighter and I feel like I'm getting pushed around (at least at my low level...my friend is A level ALTA and I'm just 3.0 or low B...I doubt this SW would work at higher levels based on what I've read here).

JackB1 said:

I have played with the London for over 1 year, the IG Speed 16x19 for around 6 months and the Ignite Team for 2 months. You are correct that the London hits a less spinny ball and its probably due to the denser than usual pattern in the racquet's center. There was time when I was trying both the Ignite Team and the London together and my hitting partner mentioned my groundstrokes kicking up higher with the Ignite.

The IG Speed 315 16x19 also hits with a lot of topspin, but has less power than the London or Ignite, but still decent pop. Its a very well rounded stick and fits about of styles and player types. The London is a very specific "niche" racquet and that's probably when they are constantly showing up in the classifieds for sale. Like many have mentioned here and many times in past threads, the London can be difficult to control and tends to spray balls long too often. The Ignite Team or Speed 16x19 will definitely be better choices if you want massive topspin.

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Jack, thanks, what about the swingweight of the Ignite Team. It looks huge in comparison with the London. Did you notice the difference and did it fatigue you in long matches?

Veninga said:

Jack, thanks, what about the swingweight of the Ignite Team. It looks huge in comparison with the London. Did you notice the difference and did it fatigue you in long matches?

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The Ignite team did have a slightly higher swingweight....330 as opposed to the London's 325. It wasn't tough to adjust to. The Ignite feels like it has more weight towards the head. The London is more headlite.

I haven't tried the BB London (sounds like something from a McDonalds menu), but I have tried the other two. And even ended up selling the prince tour because of touch, balance and issues with what the stick couldn't do well. The prince is a nice stick that really begs you to hit a certain way, in that being very extreme western. It's a good stick when you're in place to hit the shot, but when you get pulled out of position, I felt the stick lacked "gets" and defensive shots. I could not slice at all with it and found the feel to be very lost within the stringbed.

I think the Speed does not get enough praise for all that it does. It gets tremendous height and topspin. It also has great plough through and if you were to demo it, I would advise a multi full or syngut to mono setup. I would avoid polys as I found with time the polys really react very strangely to the racquet.

JackB1 said:

The Ignite team did have a slightly higher swingweight....330 as opposed to the London's 325. It wasn't tough to adjust to. The Ignite feels like it has more weight towards the head. The London is more headlite.

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ok. thanks!