Ballistec_J
Banned
Talked to a guy I know who is an Asics dealer today, he said Asics is going to be making racquets soon only in 115 and up head sizes.
Asics Tennis Racquets
- Thread starter Ballistec_J
- Start date
crocanacalifa
New User
I just saw this on tennis.com
Note the Asics racquet sandwiched in the pic. The links to its review appear to be "broken":
http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/gear.aspx?articleid=16708&zoneid=24
Note the Asics racquet sandwiched in the pic. The links to its review appear to be "broken":
http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/gear.aspx?articleid=16708&zoneid=24
6-2/6-4/6-0
Semi-Pro
Do you think Asics making only old-guy-with-cataracts rackets will hurt the positioning of their shoes (which are well respected player-level shoes)
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
No.
But I can't see any strategic value in only being slightly in the racquet business, so they must have a larger strategy.
But I can't see any strategic value in only being slightly in the racquet business, so they must have a larger strategy.
couch
Hall of Fame
The larger strategy appears to be this:
Carry our shoes. 42 Total pairs in both mens and womens. We won't carry the lower priced Game shoes either. You have to buy the big boys, the expensive ones.
Oh, and by the way, if you want to carry our shoes you have to carry our crappy line of racquets. Oh, and 3 of each model for a total of 9 racquets. For a cost of about $1000.00 + about $2,000.00+ for the shoes for a total of $3,000.00+.
All the high-priced shoes and all the crappy racquets your store can handle. Oh, yeah, no apparel either. I thought this was all tennis? Hmm, how things have changed since my initial contact.
My thoughts are they can't make any money off the "cheap" shoes and apparel so they just won't offer them. But the story we hear otherwise is quite funny.
We were excited to carry Asics but after the presentation we received we decided not to. Pretty sad too because we had hi hopes with Asics.
Carry our shoes. 42 Total pairs in both mens and womens. We won't carry the lower priced Game shoes either. You have to buy the big boys, the expensive ones.
Oh, and by the way, if you want to carry our shoes you have to carry our crappy line of racquets. Oh, and 3 of each model for a total of 9 racquets. For a cost of about $1000.00 + about $2,000.00+ for the shoes for a total of $3,000.00+.
All the high-priced shoes and all the crappy racquets your store can handle. Oh, yeah, no apparel either. I thought this was all tennis? Hmm, how things have changed since my initial contact.
My thoughts are they can't make any money off the "cheap" shoes and apparel so they just won't offer them. But the story we hear otherwise is quite funny.
We were excited to carry Asics but after the presentation we received we decided not to. Pretty sad too because we had hi hopes with Asics.
classic tennis
Semi-Pro
Asics are probably sick and tired of having their reps sell less than a $1000 to pro shops and then have to chase their money for, If they are lucky. 90 day's.......sounds like a good policy?
couch
Hall of Fame
It's coming along. The last couple of months have been pretty good. We recently moved to a new location and are getting settled in. The new location should help out quite a bit. A lot more traffic and visibility.
We are also close to bringing on another partner who is an owner of one of the clubs in town so we should have an even bigger presence with our existing store and a shop inside his club. He also has a lot of knowledge and background that we lack so it should be a good partnership.
Thanks for asking.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Their racquets look like repainted versions of some Head racquets so obviously a high profit margin for them.
couch
Hall of Fame
My thoughts exactly.
soderlingpower
New User
LOL. Adidas seems a better buy than Asics.
Did you know, just five days ago, I learned that the company's name was Asics, no Basics.
Help me out!
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=416365
Did you know, just five days ago, I learned that the company's name was Asics, no Basics.
Help me out!
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=416365
PBODY99
Legend
The specs are in the table at this link:
http://www.tennis.com/articles/articlefiles/16708-SPECS.jpg
http://www.tennis.com/articles/articlefiles/16708-SPECS.jpg
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
thats awesome! i am still jealous of you
![[d]ragon](/data/avatars/m/26/26312.jpg?1574364787){kind=avatar}
jayoub95
Semi-Pro
What kind of tennis player would want a racquet with a headsize of 115sq?? Definitely no tennis player i know :-?
couch
Hall of Fame
No need to be jealous. We aren't getting rich anytime soon but thats not why we are doing this. One of my partners calls it an advanced hobby.
it is fun though. Hopefully the store will be a fun place to hang out when I retire from my real job. I think one advantage my partners and I have is a love and passion for the game of tennis. We want to do what's right by our customers and try to grow tennis in the area. Hopefully that will shine through in the long run.
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
No need to be jealous. We aren't getting rich anytime soon but thats not why we are doing this. One of my partners calls it an advanced hobby.
I think one advantage my partners and I have is a love and passion for the game of tennis. We want to do what's right by our customers and try to grow tennis in the area. Hopefully that will shine through in the long run.
if only every tennis shop had such a philosophy (TW excluded)
couch
Hall of Fame
Yeah, I've given business away to online dealers (TW) because they had such great deals on older models of shoes (Babolat Propulses). It's a fine line sometimes but if you do what's right by your customer they will always come back for things online retailers can't offer.
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
thats exactly what i mean!!!!!! its not about the money. its about the tennis. i have done the same for my customers to save them money. i think its better service than try to rip them off for a few bucks in the moment. i wish i had capital. thats why i am jealous
storypeddler
Semi-Pro
Oh, really???
I get so tired of reading comments from individuals who seem to think that there is only one way to play tennis, one racquet style to choose, one playing style to use, etc. Tennis is an extremely varied sport and I know good, strong players---some 4.5 and better---who play a game that looks nothing like anything the pros play. There are aggressive baseliners and there are net-chargers, lobbers and dinkers, backboards and wild-eyed swing-big-on-every-shot players. And everything in between those categories. I know men in their late 60's who use "BIG" racquets and can slice and dice any decent average player into pieces. So, please, get rid of the ego and the condescending attitude, grow up a little, and think before you make these ridiculous comments. I personally play with Wilson 4.0 Hammer racquets (have for years)---wide-bodied and stiff---and I have always had tremendous success with this "BIG" racquet. Over 150 tournament titles, multiple state championships (singles AND doubles) and was ranked #1 in the Southern section in my 40's using this same "BIG" racquet. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, it isn't the size of the racquet that matters---it's the size of the heart in the player wielding it.
I get so tired of reading comments from individuals who seem to think that there is only one way to play tennis, one racquet style to choose, one playing style to use, etc. Tennis is an extremely varied sport and I know good, strong players---some 4.5 and better---who play a game that looks nothing like anything the pros play. There are aggressive baseliners and there are net-chargers, lobbers and dinkers, backboards and wild-eyed swing-big-on-every-shot players. And everything in between those categories. I know men in their late 60's who use "BIG" racquets and can slice and dice any decent average player into pieces. So, please, get rid of the ego and the condescending attitude, grow up a little, and think before you make these ridiculous comments. I personally play with Wilson 4.0 Hammer racquets (have for years)---wide-bodied and stiff---and I have always had tremendous success with this "BIG" racquet. Over 150 tournament titles, multiple state championships (singles AND doubles) and was ranked #1 in the Southern section in my 40's using this same "BIG" racquet. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, it isn't the size of the racquet that matters---it's the size of the heart in the player wielding it.
aceroberts13
Professional
To each his own indeed. You can put me in the category as the type of player who would probably benefit from a larger frame, but I just love the way a 95 sq. in. and under frame feels to me. I have played some older guys that play with what seem like giant frames to me and they'd just KILL the ball everytime they touched it.
It is not just old guys racket thank you
Before you young studs say it is old guys racket, Im a uspta pro. When I was in 40s I was playing once a week. I on a whim ordered a weed racket. Then proceeded to play in two open doubles tournaments. I won both, with different partners. A bigger head allows more points won especially on volleys and return of serve. Sometimes a match is won by just a few points.
Before you young studs say it is old guys racket, Im a uspta pro. When I was in 40s I was playing once a week. I on a whim ordered a weed racket. Then proceeded to play in two open doubles tournaments. I won both, with different partners. A bigger head allows more points won especially on volleys and return of serve. Sometimes a match is won by just a few points.
Monica Seles played with a 130 sq in racquet for a while.
I have been playing with the Asics 116 for two months now and can tell you a lot about it and to a much lesser extent the 125. I have never tried the 109 and in fact never seen anyone around here using it.
For some background, I am an older 4.0 player that plays about 2 1/2 hours a day. Prior to switching to the Asics 116, I was using the newest version of the Prince EX03 Red.
First the 125 - I tried it once and it, like most oversized rackets, appears to be designed for someone that doesn't swing very hard and wants additional power. Around here, at least, that is mostly women and older players. I have never liked oversize rackets so it didn't appeal to me. I felt that I had less control and found it slower to quickly position the racket for a volley or a shot that I had to scramble to get. Still, the players that traditionally use oversize rackets seem to like it a lot. Note: you CANNOT string the 125 with a 40 foot string.
By the way, these are brand new rackets designed from the ground up, not a repaint on an old Head racket as suggested earlier.
Now on to the 116. First, in spite of the 116 measurement it is actually not an oversized racket in the traditional sense. It is effectively a mid-plus racket, like the Prince EX03 Read 105 I was using before. If you put the 116 on top of the Prince 105, the head size is almost the same. The additional overall size is just that the the head is elongated.
The 116 has noticeably more power than the 105 but no less control. It has a very low swing weight which is very close to the Prince 105, which made for a very easy transition. Because of its very low overall weight I can quickly position it for a fast volley return or scrambling after a wide serve or shot. My serve is definitely faster as well. In spite of the stiffness of the frame I have not had any elbow problems with the racket, even though I am prone to this with some rackets I have used in the past (not the Prince rackets which seem to be very easy on the elbow).
By the way, this is a very easy racket to string (I string my own rackets), especially compared to the Prince rackets with the large side holes!
My wife, who is a 4.0 to 4.5 level player is also switching to the 116 as soon as they are in stock. I think the chart referenced earlier in this thread is essentially correct about the NTRP level for the 116: 3.0 to 4.5.
For some background, I am an older 4.0 player that plays about 2 1/2 hours a day. Prior to switching to the Asics 116, I was using the newest version of the Prince EX03 Red.
First the 125 - I tried it once and it, like most oversized rackets, appears to be designed for someone that doesn't swing very hard and wants additional power. Around here, at least, that is mostly women and older players. I have never liked oversize rackets so it didn't appeal to me. I felt that I had less control and found it slower to quickly position the racket for a volley or a shot that I had to scramble to get. Still, the players that traditionally use oversize rackets seem to like it a lot. Note: you CANNOT string the 125 with a 40 foot string.
By the way, these are brand new rackets designed from the ground up, not a repaint on an old Head racket as suggested earlier.
Now on to the 116. First, in spite of the 116 measurement it is actually not an oversized racket in the traditional sense. It is effectively a mid-plus racket, like the Prince EX03 Read 105 I was using before. If you put the 116 on top of the Prince 105, the head size is almost the same. The additional overall size is just that the the head is elongated.
The 116 has noticeably more power than the 105 but no less control. It has a very low swing weight which is very close to the Prince 105, which made for a very easy transition. Because of its very low overall weight I can quickly position it for a fast volley return or scrambling after a wide serve or shot. My serve is definitely faster as well. In spite of the stiffness of the frame I have not had any elbow problems with the racket, even though I am prone to this with some rackets I have used in the past (not the Prince rackets which seem to be very easy on the elbow).
By the way, this is a very easy racket to string (I string my own rackets), especially compared to the Prince rackets with the large side holes!
My wife, who is a 4.0 to 4.5 level player is also switching to the 116 as soon as they are in stock. I think the chart referenced earlier in this thread is essentially correct about the NTRP level for the 116: 3.0 to 4.5.
@Choclit: where did you buy those Asics racquets? I live in Washington, DC and it is very hard to find a decent place to demo Japanese racquets.
A fantasy: If I was the CEO of Asics, I would buy Yonex and have it to produce racquets while Asics would provide apparels, shoes and accessories. :twisted:
A fantasy: If I was the CEO of Asics, I would buy Yonex and have it to produce racquets while Asics would provide apparels, shoes and accessories. :twisted:
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
there is a great shop in DC they have japanese rackets; email me
coolblue123
Hall of Fame
Is it run by the famous Yakuza's? Get it Japan and Rackets? aheemmm, sorry n/m. I only get my own jokes nowadays.
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
Hey Zapvor, what is your e-mail address
fuzzymj@gmail
treblings
Hall of Fame
problem with that is, that yonex apparel and shoes are at least as good as asics
imo often superior
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
Thank you for this information. There has apparently been some type of hiccup in Asics' roll-out of these racquets since it has been months since their press releases first began appearing and nothing since.
Any feedback on the 109? And regarding the 116, how is the comfort level -- especially when taking a fuller cut? All three racquets are rated "stiff" as is generally the norm for these type of racquets, but I am curious how this plays out in the real world.
Thanks again for great info.
Update on Asics Racquets: there are several thousand of these racquets that have been sitting in a warehouse in Colorado for months. The delay was paperwork and legal stuff, which is apparently now done. I was just told a couple of days ago that a number of the racquets were shipped out last week to some teams and sponsored players, which leads me to believe that they will be available very soon. As soon as I get more info I will post it.
By the way, the reason I have access to the racquets is that they were designed by a top US player and he happens to own the club where I play so I have been able to work with early prototypes of the racquet as well as the finished one I use now.
Addressing a couple of other questions that have been asked: about the 109 - I just asked and it is targeted at a younger, harder hitting player. The 116 and 125 are designed for players that are in their 30s and older and may not swing quite as fast as a college player. The 116 is not a high power racquet but does have more power than some other racquets that I have tried. The 125 is oversized and has the added power typical of that type of racquet.
As for the comfort with the very stiff frame - that was a big concern for me when I first tried it. I tend to have tennis elbow problems, which is why I switched from Wilson to Prince about eight years ago. The Prince O3 series racquets are very easy on the arm. I play with the 116 an average of 2 1/2 hours a day, sometimes up to five hours and I have had absolutely no problems at all. I think the design gives these racquets a large sweet spot which helps.
By the way, the reason I have access to the racquets is that they were designed by a top US player and he happens to own the club where I play so I have been able to work with early prototypes of the racquet as well as the finished one I use now.
Addressing a couple of other questions that have been asked: about the 109 - I just asked and it is targeted at a younger, harder hitting player. The 116 and 125 are designed for players that are in their 30s and older and may not swing quite as fast as a college player. The 116 is not a high power racquet but does have more power than some other racquets that I have tried. The 125 is oversized and has the added power typical of that type of racquet.
As for the comfort with the very stiff frame - that was a big concern for me when I first tried it. I tend to have tennis elbow problems, which is why I switched from Wilson to Prince about eight years ago. The Prince O3 series racquets are very easy on the arm. I play with the 116 an average of 2 1/2 hours a day, sometimes up to five hours and I have had absolutely no problems at all. I think the design gives these racquets a large sweet spot which helps.
Tennis warehouse considers mid-plus to be 94 to 105 sq inches. Functionally I consider the 116 to be a mid-plus. If I lay my Prince Red 105 on top of the Asics 116 the head size is virtually identical. All of the additional 11 sq inches comes from the extension of string pattern vertically. The 125 is definitely an oversize.
I agree with Choclit about the basic non difference between frame sizes. You lay one on top of another racquet and it can be very minimal at best. That is SOME frames. Others the difference is very noticeable. I've got one 93 sq in racquet and the other is suppose to be 110 sq in and not even a frame width difference between the two. Just my 2 cents worth. Take it for that and give me some change back.
AMEN Storyteller. Your comment is right on; way too many narrow-minded posters out there whose "restrictive" comments only show their lack of perspective.
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