Racket for flat hitter

Hello I am a 6 foot 1 16 year old who uses the wilson six one 95 16x18. I've decided to demo some new frames as I find a lot of my shots going just a little bit long. I do not hit with much spin from the baseline and while my racket can crush floaters, finding a consistent depth can be tough. Any recommendations for a frame that would suite a flat hitter who plays an offensive counter punching game and is maybe a little lighter than my current racket (but still close to twelve ounces)? My game would be closest to del potros in style

Head Youtek IG Prestige MP is a very low powered racquet just a little lighter than 12 ounces(337) therefore it is suitable for flat hitters .The dense string pattern generates not a lot of spin. I feel the that the Graphene version is hollow feeling to stiff and not a Prestige. However its up to you.

The Blade 98 18x20 sounds like it might be perfect for your game.

I'm also a flat hitter and i've found two racquets that helped me a lot to keep attacking in my game but keeping the ball on the court.

Pacific X force Pro 18x20 with Isospeed Black Fire at 22 kg
Volkl c 10 pro with Dunlop Black widow 16 g at 24 kg

Flat hitters are going to lean more towards dense string patterns.

Try out a lot of 18x20 racquets.

You'll find that the open string patterns loose too much control. They really help the players who put a lot of spin on the ball.

Mid Plus Size
Wilson Blade 18x20
Wilson Six.One 95 (18x20)
Head IG Prestige MP
Head Graphene Speed Pro
Prince Rebel/Tour 95
Prince Tour 100 18x20
Babolat Pure Control 95
Babolat Pure Strike Tour
Babolat Pure Control Tour
Dunlop Biomimetic F2.0 Tour
Dunlop 200G Muscle Weave

Mid Size
Head IG Prestige Mid
Blade 93

Any midsize or midplus players racquet with an 18x20 string pattern and stiffness around 60ra is really good for flat hitting.
Anything stiffer than say 65ra your elbow will not like you anymore.
I used to play with 16x19 patterns and it wasn't as controlled and consistent as the 18x20

Just try the 18*20 version of the six-one. That'd be the easiest transition and also the most effective.

Prince rebel 95

As the guys have recommended try out the 18x20 patterns or a 16x20.

If you are strong, the pure strike tour and G prestige Mp would be worth a go.

Another great, comfy frame is the Prokennex 7G.

Yeah I'm demoing the blade 93 right now but haven't got a chance to hit with it. Might try the f2.0 tour and prince 95. Any thoughts on these frames

Pure Strike or Pure Strike tour are both good options because of the 18x20 pattern, I really like the Six one 95 18x20, because I can feel comfortable swinging fast and having the control to keep the ball in the court.

Amalhotra said:

Yeah I'm demoing the blade 93 right now but haven't got a chance to hit with it. Might try the f2.0 tour and prince 95. Any thoughts on these frames

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Of the dunlops I would rather demo a F3.0 tour then the F2.0 cus it's more stable to begin with and easier to mod up.

Another interesting stick is the Volkl Organix 9 Super G, which once modded up can be a monster.

Didn't connect with any of the blades so far but I really loving my strike tours.

Blade feels nice, like the balance and weight just the 93 head is a little small. I thing 95 is as low as il go. So a midplus then? What do my fellow flat hitters like?

Another vote to at least look into the Volkl C10. I switched into that racquet from my old 6.1 Classics in part because of the significant boost in control that I found with the Volkl as I was focusing on building a stronger baseline game. There's some similar heft and head-light balance in the C10, but the flex gives it a more predictable response (at least for me) compared with the Wilson.

I also have a couple of newer Volkl O10 325g's in my bag, but these are slightly more lean (even with some customizing) and give me greater spin potential. My C10's will churn out moderate spin, but I definitely prefer them for high speed pounding with control. I also hit a one-handed backhand and the C10 is supremely comfortable for me with a snug bed of syn. gut.

When I was more of a flat hitter, the racquet that kept it on the court for me most consistently was the Head Microgel Radical MidPlus strung at 58 lbs. 18x20 pattern and easy as pie on the elbow with a 57 flex rating. The racquet I am using now, a Babolat Pure Drive, was just a missile launcher before my strokes developed and got better. Only now can I use it effectively.

Anyone hit with the Dunlop muscle weave? Really interested in that frames specs, the paint is sick too.

Blade 93. Problem solved

Dunlop MuscleWeave 200G

Amalhotra said:

Anyone hit with the Dunlop muscle weave? Really interested in that frames specs, the paint is sick too.

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Amalhorta, I just received my 3rd Muscle Weave 200G last week. I'm an experienced competitive player (self-rated 3.5), but just getting back into tennis after being away for over 20 years. The MW 200G had specs that suited me and the video review here at TW sealed the deal, along with a clearance price tag. I bought one and thought, if I like it I'll get another. I may get a fourth! At about 12oz strung it's on the heavier side, but it's head light and has a manageable swing weight. The racquet has excellent control, and as much power as the player wants to put into it. It hits an excellent flat ball. I find it effortless to hit flat shots that are low to the net and still land deep. Despite the 18x20 string pattern, people I've hit with have told me I can still generate heavy topspin and I can see firm slice shots with a lot of bite. Great for a low slice approach to set up a put away volley. Maneuverability at the net is great, and it has great feel and great touch. I can't hit my flat serve well yet, but my kick serves have been great with this racquet. Placement if a breeze and one of my opponents said the ball almost looks distorted with spin on the kick serve. I'd definitely recommend it to an intermediate or advanced player with good fundamentals who like a player's racquet. I'd especially recommend it to those who want a good player's racquet and don't want to spend a lot. But move quick, they were gone from TW for a little while and now I only see 4 3/8 available.

And it is a great looking racquet. I've gotten a lot of complements on it from guys at the club.

All my 3 racquets are strung at 59. One has full Gamma Z-Poly, one has Prince Hybrid (poly & multi), and one has full Prince Synthetic Gut 17. I think I like the synthetic gut the best so far.

There are also good reviews in this posts.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=483473&highlight=Dunlop+Muscle+200G

And the TW video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdowF5Dprnw

ShahofTennis said:

Mid Plus Size
Wilson Blade 18x20
Wilson Six.One 95 (18x20)
Head IG Prestige MP 315
Head Graphene Speed Pro
Prince Rebel/Tour 95
Prince Tour 100 18x20
Babolat Pure Control 95
Babolat Pure Strike Tour
Babolat Pure Control Tour
Dunlop Biomimetic F2.0 Tour
Dunlop 200G Muscle Weave

Mid Size
Head IG Prestige Mid
Blade 93

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I second this list.

Amalhotra said:

I do not hit with much spin from the baseline and while my racket can crush floaters, finding a consistent depth can be tough.

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IMHO, that is your real problem, not the racquet. In fact, I think your racquet is an excellent one with a good swing-weight for someone your size. The fact that you can crush floaters with a flat hit, but can do little else illustrates the problem.

You need to find a way to increase your racquethead speed. If you use a semi-western or western grip and swing from your legs and core, rather than your arms, then you will get that racquethead speed while also naturally "brushing" the ball right at the moment of impact due to wrist pronation. You will generate huge pace and huge topspin at the same time, and you will not hit out of bounds as much (you might find yourself hitting into the net more, but this is an easier problem to deal with). You will not only hit floaters well, but you will destroy low balls (which you will hit out of the park with flat hitting).

Before looking to buy a racquet that suits "flat hitting" with an 18x20 string pattern, I would suggest you get a lesson from a pro to teach you the modern forehand to get the racquethead speed necessary to keep the ball inbounds without sacrificing pace (perhaps even increasing pace as well). You will be awful glad that you have a 16x18 string pattern that can really bite into the ball for the necessary spin.

Umm ok thanks... Yeah I am capable of hitting with spin I'm just not a fan of it. My racket produces a higher launch angle of a forehand (and my grip is about eastern) than that of an 18x20 pattern. I feel like my racket doesn't suit my play style. It may be perfect for you but for a ball that sails with not much spin (purposefully so) I feel like an 18x20 would yield more reward for the same stroke. Has anyone hit with the prestige midplus or mid (youtek ig) and has any feedback?

The Dunlop MW 200G is nice for flat hard hitting.
And so is the Dunlop HM 200G ( Hotmelt 200G)

Amalhotra said:

Umm ok thanks... Yeah I am capable of hitting with spin I'm just not a fan of it. My racket produces a higher launch angle of a forehand (and my grip is about eastern) than that of an 18x20 pattern. I feel like my racket doesn't suit my play style. It may be perfect for you but for a ball that sails with not much spin (purposefully so) I feel like an 18x20 would yield more reward for the same stroke. Has anyone hit with the prestige midplus or mid (youtek ig) and has any feedback?

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I've owned the YT IG Mp and like it but it was a bit string sensitive. It plays better after the strings break in. But overall its has very good feel and it's a good attacking/all court stick, not so good for a defensive game.

But overall the PST is a better stick for my game.

Opinions on a 16x20? Seems like it would help with flattening the ball when I need to and adding soon when I should.

Amalhotra said:

Yeah I'm demoing the blade 93 right now but haven't got a chance to hit with it. Might try the f2.0 tour and prince 95. Any thoughts on these frames

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Have you considered going to a lighter frame and making your own 'pro stock?'. It seems peculiar to me that more more people don't go with this option.

You can then get the flex, balance and swing weight you want whilst selecting the perfect string for your game style.

I think you will benefit from using the Pure Strike Tour. It has an awesome plow through and stability. Just slow your swing down a tad and just focus on hitting the dead center of the racket. You will see that you don't even need to swing hard to hit the penetrating shot back. Once you get dialed in, you can begin to swing as you normally would. You will see your stroke to be harder, heavier and more consistent.