Demoed my dad's racket, rude awakening...

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
i've been playing with the Wilson BLX Six-One 95 for about 5 years now

until recently i thought of it as the holy grail in the tennis world (probably just too much TV advertising getting to me)

long story short, i had to demo my dad's 100 sq. inch K-factor Endure for a few days while waiting for my racket to get restrung and basically discovered how much the Six-One was actually holding me back (or at least i perceive it was holding me back)

with the bigger frame hitting deeper penetrating shots was easier, less effort on my part and also gave me more confidence when transitioning to the net to put away volleys

i went back to the Six-One today and to be completely frank, it felt like complete and utter dog crap

more effort to hit deeper penetrating shots, less confidence on groundies and volleys because this racket does NOT forgive mishits

do you think this is a wake up call for a bigger more forgiving racket or is it just about using the right string/tension on my Six-One to compensate for the lack of power?

thanks
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
103 sq inches, 288 swingweight so I assume that it's pretty stiff.

The easiest way to add power to a racquet is to add lead tape - it may just take more effort on your part to swing it.
 

Alien

Hall of Fame
5 years is a lot IMO. Technology moves fwd. I change every couple of years at least and every new fram jncreases my level.

And yes, the racquet must help the player to hit some power...
 

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
i've been playing with the Wilson BLX Six-One 95 for about 5 years now

until recently i thought of it as the holy grail in the tennis world (probably just too much TV advertising getting to me)

long story short, i had to demo my dad's 100 sq. inch K-factor Endure for a few days while waiting for my racket to get restrung and basically discovered how much the Six-One was actually holding me back (or at least i perceive it was holding me back)

with the bigger frame hitting deeper penetrating shots was easier, less effort on my part and also gave me more confidence when transitioning to the net to put away volleys

i went back to the Six-One today and to be completely frank, it felt like complete and utter dog crap

more effort to hit deeper penetrating shots, less confidence on groundies and volleys because this racket does NOT forgive mishits

do you think this is a wake up call for a bigger more forgiving racket or is it just about using the right string/tension on my Six-One to compensate for the lack of power?

thanks
Maybe it's time to demo.?
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
5 years is a lot IMO. Technology moves fwd. I change every couple of years at least and every new fram jncreases my level.

And yes, the racquet must help the player to hit some power...

ahh yes

the question for me is, is technology REALLY that advanced?

i mean wasn't Fed playing with the pro staff from the 90's for most of his career?

is racket technology one of those buzzwords that TV ads use to sell more rackets?

it's not that I don't think there are better rackets out there now, it's just that I'm not sure how much of an impact technology has
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
103 sq inches, 288 swingweight so I assume that it's pretty stiff.

The easiest way to add power to a racquet is to add lead tape - it may just take more effort on your part to swing it.

actually yea your right it's 103 sq inches don't know why I said 100 sq inches

i've tried lead tape last year

multiple positions on the racket and adding a few layers at a time

did nothing but make me more incosistent and make my arm more tired than normal

i think it's time for a switch
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
so can someone give some feedback on how you feel about your 20x18 racket (if you have one) compared to a 19x16 stringbed?

i've been so convinced that 20x18 is superior i never found out how much power the former has
 

Alien

Hall of Fame
ahh yes

the question for me is, is technology REALLY that advanced?

i mean wasn't Fed playing with the pro staff from the 90's for most of his career?

is racket technology one of those buzzwords that TV ads use to sell more rackets?

it's not that I don't think there are better rackets out there now, it's just that I'm not sure how much of an impact technology has

Some players are kind of stubborn, they dont want to risk anything. That being said even Roger eventually moved to a bigger frame. Nadal is trying out a new one as well.

Personally I nowadays look around in a club and see a lot of people hitting big, which was never the case before. Many still have incorrect technique but the ball still flies solid.

Obviously poly string helps. Anyway, just my opinion.
 

HRB

Hall of Fame
i've been playing with the Wilson BLX Six-One 95 for about 5 years now

until recently i thought of it as the holy grail in the tennis world (probably just too much TV advertising getting to me)

long story short, i had to demo my dad's 100 sq. inch K-factor Endure for a few days while waiting for my racket to get restrung and basically discovered how much the Six-One was actually holding me back (or at least i perceive it was holding me back)

with the bigger frame hitting deeper penetrating shots was easier, less effort on my part and also gave me more confidence when transitioning to the net to put away volleys

i went back to the Six-One today and to be completely frank, it felt like complete and utter dog crap

more effort to hit deeper penetrating shots, less confidence on groundies and volleys because this racket does NOT forgive mishits

do you think this is a wake up call for a bigger more forgiving racket or is it just about using the right string/tension on my Six-One to compensate for the lack of power?

thanks

For 5 years you used a stick because of the TV ad's? Where do you see tennis racquet TV ad's? Use what works for you!

Your game is obviously more conducive to a bigger, "more forgiving", power producing racquet, since you have trouble creating it with your Wilson. Sounds like just another case of someone assuming their game needs the "players specs".

Now get those Six Ones on the "bay " pronto so I can gobble them up cheap!
 
Well, my dad gave me his old Tony Trabert stylist Wilson (he has a condition which means he cant walk unassisted, much less play anymore). I hit about 5 shots before breaking multiple strings but my GOD did it kill the ball on the forehand. It felt so good. Not switching of course but I think "Dad racquets" have a kind of mojo to them.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
For 5 years you used a stick because of the TV ad's? Where do you see tennis racquet TV ad's? Use what works for you!

Your game is obviously more conducive to a bigger, "more forgiving", power producing racquet, since you have trouble creating it with your Wilson. Sounds like just another case of someone assuming their game needs the "players specs".

Now get those Six Ones on the "bay " pronto so I can gobble them up cheap!

obviously an exaggeration

i demoed the Six-One before buying it and at the time it seemed appropriate

a slightly bigger headsize sounds like the better option at this point

PS: you ain't gonna see my Six-One on the "bay" so good luck
 
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yongxing

Rookie
lol, ive been playing with the same graphite longbody changs for 10+ years and seem to be doing ok. i dont get hyped up from the new technology crap.
before the changs, it was the ti. radical.....i dont think the radicals have changed much either up until the liquid metals series. the new graphene stuff? Meh....
 

racquetreligion

Hall of Fame
Skip em all and go for the Big bubba

Nasty advice except for Gordon an 80+ fella my old man knows who loves them dearly thanks to macular visual impairment! :???:

obviously an exaggeration

i demoed the Six-One before buying it and at the time it seemed appropriate

a slightly bigger headsize sounds like the better option at this point

PS: you ain't gonna see my Six-One on the "bay" so good luck

Ive loved the classical frames PS90 and PS95 but adding lead is the only way to get power and good depth from the PS95, also lower string tensions using red code on the crosses and tour bite on the mains is hard to beat for feel, power and spin at around 48x/52 mains for the 95.

Not sure what you have done for strings or tension but the 95 frames are a good combo if you play with weight and looser strings. At least you will get control some bigger frames dont provide.

Recently I tried a plethora of racquets and got blown away by the almost complete auto mode of the Ezone Ai98, its insane in every department and only produces what you ask in terms of power or touch. Its really black magic and I havent tried the old xi98 that Nick Kyrgios plays with but this Ai98 feels like an unfair advantage. I cannot stress enough that this witchcraft suit players like I that always preferred underpowered control frames with plough through weight. Taking big cuts at the ball with this frame using 53-56lbs polys is a revelation.

I weighed mine up now to 364gsm and its simply a beast but surprisingly plays very nice straight off the bat with a leather grip or some extra overgrips if you use a 4 1/4 grip which I found to produce the best combo for short put aways below the net or full offence down the line from a running FH or BH where you are limited in arm extension.

My 16yo student is using the ai98 with 2 overgrips and weighs around 340gsm similar to his previous Nadal APD original non cortext sticks and he hits a mean hard ball with more control and accuracy than before.

I dont expect the ai98 to be dropping in price anytime soon its very popular and for many good reasons.
 

GBplayer

Hall of Fame
I had quite the opposite experience. Played for years with intermediate frames never feeling that I could handle a proper players frame. That meant never really hitting the ball for fear of going long.

Then one day my strings broke and someone leant me a proper players frame (strung with kevlar) and for the first time I could really swing for the ball without fear, a feeling of total liberation.

Never looked back.
 

tom4ny

Professional
i've been playing with the Wilson BLX Six-One 95 for about 5 years now

until recently i thought of it as the holy grail in the tennis world (probably just too much TV advertising getting to me)

long story short, i had to demo my dad's 100 sq. inch K-factor Endure for a few days while waiting for my racket to get restrung and basically discovered how much the Six-One was actually holding me back (or at least i perceive it was holding me back)

with the bigger frame hitting deeper penetrating shots was easier, less effort on my part and also gave me more confidence when transitioning to the net to put away volleys

i went back to the Six-One today and to be completely frank, it felt like complete and utter dog crap

more effort to hit deeper penetrating shots, less confidence on groundies and volleys because this racket does NOT forgive mishits

do you think this is a wake up call for a bigger more forgiving racket or is it just about using the right string/tension on my Six-One to compensate for the lack of power?

thanks

don't beat yourself up over it. it's great that you realise you play better with a racket that it more foregiving. So many people, including a lot of people that post on this board, play with frames that are more demanding and their game suffers but they do not realize it or they feel that they must play with a certain type type of frame from a subjective view. results on the court are the best determination. not feel, nore head size, nor weight range, etc. congratulations and best wishes
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
I had quite the opposite experience. Played for years with intermediate frames never feeling that I could handle a proper players frame. That meant never really hitting the ball for fear of going long.

Then one day my strings broke and someone leant me a proper players frame (strung with kevlar) and for the first time I could really swing for the ball without fear, a feeling of total liberation.

Never looked back.

Lol

I just went from the 95 18x20 to the 110" old dudes stick in the sig. The anly way to do that is to string the granny stick with kevlar super tight.

Ime its the best of both worlds. You can swing out but still get free power.

@borg. On the 6.1 try some poly in the 40lb range or some kevlar/zx in the 35lb range. It should give you some free power but retain the control

In general though i think racket power is like the eq in audio. Pick 100 cars at random and yep the bass and treble will be maxed. We like it louder but this is all wrong. Best to be flat and just adjust the volume louder. I am seeing this when i go back to the 6.1. Its sluggish and dead compared to the blx2. I thought the 6.1 was the best racket i ever had but now i am really digging the extra but controlled power and control.

Also borg can you compare the rackets? I was surprised at how the blx 2 was so solid. It turns out that the mid point of the string bed is actually closer to the racket handle on the blx 2 than it is on the 6.1. Can you measure the distance on your dada and the 6.1. If your dads is shorter than it could be that you were really experiencing the increased leverage this provides.

Which leads me to my main point. I dont think the head size is as important as it might seem. Having gone from 85-100-95-110". They pretty much play the same. The 95 is not that different from 100. More likely its some other factor
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
Lol

I just went from the 95 18x20 to the 110" old dudes stick in the sig. The anly way to do that is to string the granny stick with kevlar super tight.

Ime its the best of both worlds. You can swing out but still get free power.

@borg. On the 6.1 try some poly in the 40lb range or some kevlar/zx in the 35lb range. It should give you some free power but retain the control

In general though i think racket power is like the eq in audio. Pick 100 cars at random and yep the bass and treble will be maxed. We like it louder but this is all wrong. Best to be flat and just adjust the volume louder. I am seeing this when i go back to the 6.1. Its sluggish and dead compared to the blx2. I thought the 6.1 was the best racket i ever had but now i am really digging the extra but controlled power and control.

Also borg can you compare the rackets? I was surprised at how the blx 2 was so solid. It turns out that the mid point of the string bed is actually closer to the racket handle on the blx 2 than it is on the 6.1. Can you measure the distance on your dada and the 6.1. If your dads is shorter than it could be that you were really experiencing the increased leverage this provides.

Which leads me to my main point. I dont think the head size is as important as it might seem. Having gone from 85-100-95-110". They pretty much play the same. The 95 is not that different from 100. More likely its some other factor


yep 100% this i think

i strongly suspect it's the stringbed that's making the difference (the 19x16 compared to my tight 20x18 strung at 57 lbs.)

also something i noticed was the racket weight on the K-Endure which allowed me much greater freedom at the net and the groundstrokes seemed much easier to execute and pull off

as of right now the options i'm considering are

1). Babolat APD (Rafa's stick basically, maxed out groundie game with tons of spin)

2). Wilson ProStaff RF97 (heard and read some REAL nice reviews for Fed's newest stick especially from TT playtesters)

3). Wilson Burn 100 (seems like a solid all round)

my main concern right now is basically string pattern and weight

i'm NEVER going back to 20x18 again, too weak, groundstrokes landing short with tons of spin and generally feels like i'm being pushed around by other players

weight, well obviously i'm not gonna be getting another 330+ gram racket again, thing is too damn heavy to hoist around the net and my groundgame feels kinda off compared to a lighter (300 or less grams) frame

a couple of people here have given me some real good suggestions about rackets so i might even go and playtest an Yonex or something we'll see....
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
Nasty advice except for Gordon an 80+ fella my old man knows who loves them dearly thanks to macular visual impairment! :???:



Ive loved the classical frames PS90 and PS95 but adding lead is the only way to get power and good depth from the PS95, also lower string tensions using red code on the crosses and tour bite on the mains is hard to beat for feel, power and spin at around 48x/52 mains for the 95.

Not sure what you have done for strings or tension but the 95 frames are a good combo if you play with weight and looser strings. At least you will get control some bigger frames dont provide.

Recently I tried a plethora of racquets and got blown away by the almost complete auto mode of the Ezone Ai98, its insane in every department and only produces what you ask in terms of power or touch. Its really black magic and I havent tried the old xi98 that Nick Kyrgios plays with but this Ai98 feels like an unfair advantage. I cannot stress enough that this witchcraft suit players like I that always preferred underpowered control frames with plough through weight. Taking big cuts at the ball with this frame using 53-56lbs polys is a revelation.

I weighed mine up now to 364gsm and its simply a beast but surprisingly plays very nice straight off the bat with a leather grip or some extra overgrips if you use a 4 1/4 grip which I found to produce the best combo for short put aways below the net or full offence down the line from a running FH or BH where you are limited in arm extension.

My 16yo student is using the ai98 with 2 overgrips and weighs around 340gsm similar to his previous Nadal APD original non cortext sticks and he hits a mean hard ball with more control and accuracy than before.

I dont expect the ai98 to be dropping in price anytime soon its very popular and for many good reasons.


whoa, many revalations in this post

first off, my tensions are sky high

i haven't strung lower than 58 lbs. (which some people at my club call a really low tension ROFL :lol:) in YEARS

so it seems like string tension is the first obvious culprit behind my lower powered strokes on the 6.1

secondly, i haven't used anything else other than the RPM Blast for about 4 straight years in a row (i think i had the Pro Hurricane for 3 months once but not sure)

so strings is the second bit because i'm kind of clueless as to what string feels like what and what string is generally best (hybrid stringing is also somewhat confusing)

about the EZONE Ai 98, i haven't really heard of it until you mentioned that Kyrgios (and apparently Ivanovic) also play with this stick

i haven't even considered the Yonex brand in general until you mentioned how awesome it felt so that's DEFINITELY on my playtest list now

thanks a bunch, very useful post
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
yep 100% this i think

i strongly suspect it's the stringbed that's making the difference (the 19x16 compared to my tight 20x18 strung at 57 lbs.)

also something i noticed was the racket weight on the K-Endure which allowed me much greater freedom at the net and the groundstrokes seemed much easier to execute and pull off

as of right now the options i'm considering are

1). Babolat APD (Rafa's stick basically, maxed out groundie game with tons of spin)

2). Wilson ProStaff RF97 (heard and read some REAL nice reviews for Fed's newest stick especially from TT playtesters)

3). Wilson Burn 100 (seems like a solid all round)

my main concern right now is basically string pattern and weight

i'm NEVER going back to 20x18 again, too weak, groundstrokes landing short with tons of spin and generally feels like i'm being pushed around by other players

weight, well obviously i'm not gonna be getting another 330+ gram racket again, thing is too damn heavy to hoist around the net and my groundgame feels kinda off compared to a lighter (300 or less grams) frame

a couple of people here have given me some real good suggestions about rackets so i might even go and playtest an Yonex or something we'll see....

Before ditching the 6.1 try going down about 5 lbs. there ARE advantages to a 18x20 pattern.

My 2 cents is that the 18x20 has a smaller launch angle and is more precise. If you change you will have to go up in tension

Also, did you measure the racket?
 

racquetreligion

Hall of Fame
Before ditching the 6.1 try going down about 5 lbs. there ARE advantages to a 18x20 pattern.

My 2 cents is that the 18x20 has a smaller launch angle and is more precise. If you change you will have to go up in tension

Also, did you measure the racket?

I agree dont ditch the 6.1 try the strings mentioned by shroud but also the Red code 48/52 all up or tour bite and even Yonex new fluoro that everyone is using even Agassi on a POG.

Tecnifibre red code is not really a spin string but suits the classic racquets as its a soft poly with excellent feel and pop at lower tension without the trampoline effect.

The tighter mains help with controlled spin while the crosses for pop as the 4lbs difference helps with dwell time.

I used Red Code on my 370+ gram R22 yonex sticks Ive kept forever with 46 crosses and 54lbs mains and it has widened the head enough to reduce mis hits and increase spin potential on an otherwise narrow head when strung all at the same tension.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
5 years is a lot IMO. Technology moves fwd. I change every couple of years at least and every new fram jncreases my level.

And yes, the racquet must help the player to hit some power...
In computers and cell phones, yes. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any "new" technology in tennis racquets since the late-70's. Moore's Law does not apply to tennis racquets. Instead, Newton's Laws of Physics govern tennis racquets and those laws haven't changed in centuries.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Skip em all and go for the Big bubba
Why stop there? Why not play with one of these? I can guarantee you'll never mishit another ball. LOL :)


sp_soccer_port.jpg
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
I agree dont ditch the 6.1 try the strings mentioned by shroud but also the Red code 48/52 all up or tour bite and even Yonex new fluoro that everyone is using even Agassi on a POG.

Tecnifibre red code is not really a spin string but suits the classic racquets as its a soft poly with excellent feel and pop at lower tension without the trampoline effect.

The tighter mains help with controlled spin while the crosses for pop as the 4lbs difference helps with dwell time.

I used Red Code on my 370+ gram R22 yonex sticks Ive kept forever with 46 crosses and 54lbs mains and it has widened the head enough to reduce mis hits and increase spin potential on an otherwise narrow head when strung all at the same tension.

awww man

i literally JUST restrung this weekend with the RPM Blast at 57 lbs. on crosses and mains

nah man i'm just tired of using the same racket and having the same feel for 5 years

i'm demoing like 2-3 rackets tomorrow and then we'll see how it goes from there

i've got some high hopes for the Yonex Ai and the Wilson Burn 100
 

Capulin Zurdo

Hall of Fame
I've had a similar experience. After lots of playing and getting used to my main racquet, trying a lighter, different racquet gave me a great feeling. I liked the contrast and felt I could also just swing through forehands. Though putting things in perspective, I knew my main racquet would benefit me in the long term and also remembered why I am enamored with my main racquet's feel/playability.
 

Anton

Legend
Hello LoB, you've inadvertently swallowed the red pill and gave chase to the GOAT that will lead you to the (probably) never ending adventure of fine racket sampling.

But remember this, in good custom we always list the mains count first ;)
 
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Alien

Hall of Fame
In computers and cell phones, yes. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any "new" technology in tennis racquets since the late-70's. Moore's Law does not apply to tennis racquets. Instead, Newton's Laws of Physics govern tennis racquets and those laws haven't changed in centuries.


I disagree. Racquets are more rigid, bigger, patterns have evolved, etc. I lend you my old Puma Boris Becker from the 80s and I play with my 2015 Blade 98s, we play and lets see who has been overpowered and playing on the heels...
 

Turbo-87

G.O.A.T.
I have a Yonex EZONE AI 100 coming in the mail since our club doesn't have a lot of racquets to demo at all and they don't even carry anything Yonex. I am really interested in how this will play after demo'ing three different Babolat frames. I will write up my review from a 3.5 perspective when I get done with it.
 
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movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
I disagree. Racquets are more rigid, bigger, patterns have evolved, etc. I lend you my old Puma Boris Becker from the 80s and I play with my 2015 Blade 98s, we play and lets see who has been overpowered and playing on the heels...

I used a Wimbledon Dynamic racquet in the 1980s - 108 sq inches, widebody stiffness 75-80 RA.

Very powerful frame and it was great until my arm complained.

TW still sells a few very old-school frames like the POG and PK Redondo and I think that these still sell quite well.
 

Alien

Hall of Fame
I used a Wimbledon Dynamic racquet in the 1980s - 108 sq inches, widebody stiffness 75-80 RA.

Very powerful frame and it was great until my arm complained.

TW still sells a few very old-school frames like the POG and PK Redondo and I think that these still sell quite well.

Are you sure that is not your memory of it or have you actually compared it to a modern racquet now? Did you hit in that decade a stronger ball than what you hit today ? I really hit a much heavier ball now but of course my technique has evolved as well.

As for selling, there is always a market for nostalgic people. One of my friends plays with the Wilson PS 85 of the 90s and believes it is the best ever, Sampras himself in his book says he should have dumped it way before...
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Who cares what the rest of the world thinks about what racket you use? I always play with whatever feels comfortable to me. I used to like heavy frames such as your six one, but now I enjoy using lighter frames in the 11 ounce range with larger head sizes. Go with whatever gives you the most confidence and forget about your equipment while playing :)
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Are you sure that is not your memory of it or have you actually compared it to a modern racquet now? Did you hit in that decade a stronger ball than what you hit today ? I really hit a much heavier ball now but of course my technique has evolved as well.

As for selling, there is always a market for nostalgic people. One of my friends plays with the Wilson PS 85 of the 90s and believes it is the best ever, Sampras himself in his book says he should have dumped it way before...

It was 11.6 ounces and incredibly stiff, likely more powerful than the Pure Drive today. The height of the frame (not the length) was quite a bit more than the current Pure Drive, to the point that you could hit the ground with it on low shots.

I hit a heavier ball today with my 13.25 ounce IG Prestiges which are medium-stiff at 62 RA. You can get power from mass or power from stiffness. The downside of the latter is arm health when you get older, at least for some of us. I gave my Wimbledon Dynamics to another guy that is still using them (it's the same frame as an old Dunlop model - I think that Wimbledon was just a marketing company - they didn't make their own stuff). He's a former college player and hits very hard and flat shots. He was in very good shape until he retired and then started putting on weight. He still hits the ball very hard but he can't keep up in singles practice.

I used to play with a very good junior shortly after he graduated and became an accountant. He had an extended length Hyper Pro Staff, was rather tall and could hit 120+ MPH serves. I haven't seen him in a few years (probably too busy with work and maybe basketball) but he originally had seven or eight of them and was down to three or four.

Murray is essentially playing with a very old frame and Djokovic and Berdych are playing with flexible frames that are more old-school than new. Fed and Nadal are playing with newer-school stuff that's closer to the stiff frames but still not quite there. There are a fair number of players still using the PT57A too which is old-school.
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Who cares what the rest of the world thinks about what racket you use? I always play with whatever feels comfortable to me. I used to like heavy frames such as your six one, but now I enjoy using lighter frames in the 11 ounce range with larger head sizes. Go with whatever gives you the most confidence and forget about your equipment while playing :)

Hey Mike good advice.

I now play with a 110" 10.3 oz frame. I was using 15-16+ oz 85-93" frames last year.

If the weight is right you can get a stable light weight frame to feel solid. i will add maybe a few grams but right now there is something to be said for a light weight stick.
 

MikeHitsHard93

Hall of Fame
Hey Mike good advice.

I now play with a 110" 10.3 oz frame. I was using 15-16+ oz 85-93" frames last year.

If the weight is right you can get a stable light weight frame to feel solid. i will add maybe a few grams but right now there is something to be said for a light weight stick.

Thank you, sir. I definitely agree that light weight frames can definitely get the job done. None of this "getting pushed around" nonsense. It all depends on who you are playing against, of course. But generally speaking, I think it's safe to say that most average club players don't "need" a frame over 11 ounces nor do they need a frame that is super powerful. Something in between usually works for everyone. The trick is to get comfortable with that frame enough to be able to hit any kind of shot in any situation. Every racket is capable, you just gotta find its sweet spot. And this is why I have stopped looking for the holy grail :) lol
 

Capulin Zurdo

Hall of Fame
Who cares what the rest of the world thinks about what racket you use? I always play with whatever feels comfortable to me. I used to like heavy frames such as your six one, but now I enjoy using lighter frames in the 11 ounce range with larger head sizes. Go with whatever gives you the most confidence and forget about your equipment while playing :)

Very good advice; I also enjoy getting to play with different types of racquets. I recollect feeling that I played my best tennis when I cared least about my equipment.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
I have a Yonex EZONE AI 100 coming in the mail since our club doesn't have a lot of racquets to demo at all and they don't even carry anything Yonex. I am really interested in how this will play after demo'ing three different Babolat frames. I will write up my review from a 3.5 perspective when I get done with it.

the EZONE Ai 98/100 are both on my buy list

please let me know as soon as you get your Ai 100 and playtest it, i'm looking forward to it
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
Recently I tried a plethora of racquets and got blown away by the almost complete auto mode of the Ezone Ai98, its insane in every department and only produces what you ask in terms of power or touch. Its really black magic and I havent tried the old xi98 that Nick Kyrgios plays with but this Ai98 feels like an unfair advantage. I cannot stress enough that this witchcraft suit players like I that always preferred underpowered control frames with plough through weight. Taking big cuts at the ball with this frame using 53-56lbs polys is a revelation.

I weighed mine up now to 364gsm and its simply a beast but surprisingly plays very nice straight off the bat with a leather grip or some extra overgrips if you use a 4 1/4 grip which I found to produce the best combo for short put aways below the net or full offence down the line from a running FH or BH where you are limited in arm extension.

My 16yo student is using the ai98 with 2 overgrips and weighs around 340gsm similar to his previous Nadal APD original non cortext sticks and he hits a mean hard ball with more control and accuracy than before.

I dont expect the ai98 to be dropping in price anytime soon its very popular and for many good reasons.

hmm, how do you think the Ai 98 compares to both the Ai 100 and the Wilson Burn 100?

those are basically my 3 options right now
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
hmm, how do you think the Ai 98 compares to both the Ai 100 and the Wilson Burn 100?

those are basically my 3 options right now

Thinking about this more what about the 6.1 95s? Its lighter and with a more open pattern you will get more pop and power.

Anyhow good luck.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
Thinking about this more what about the 6.1 95s? Its lighter and with a more open pattern you will get more pop and power.

Anyhow good luck.

basically this

i'm not going back to the "classical" old school frames anymore, it's time to move on from the Fed/Sampras era of needing to play with a heavy demanding small sweetspot racket
 

donquijote

G.O.A.T.
This thread sounds like some serious trolling.
Comparing a players racquet with some beginners racquet that has a name never heard of?
 
Who cares what the rest of the world thinks about what racket you use? I always play with whatever feels comfortable to me. I used to like heavy frames such as your six one, but now I enjoy using lighter frames in the 11 ounce range with larger head sizes. Go with whatever gives you the most confidence and forget about your equipment while playing :)

Great advice. You'll get looked down on by the guys who have the Federer racket while wearing the Federer polo, shorts, shoes, wristbands, and headband but so what.
 

Turbo-87

G.O.A.T.
Great advice. You'll get looked down on by the guys who have the Federer racket while wearing the Federer polo, shorts, shoes, wristbands, and headband but so what.

I have yet to see anyone who dresses the part actually play as well as they think they look. Just my experience. :)
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
basically this

i'm not going back to the "classical" old school frames anymore, it's time to move on from the Fed/Sampras era of needing to play with a heavy demanding small sweetspot racket

Well I have joined that club myself. Though it took some work to find a racket that would replace a player's stick. Even then its extreme for me to get it to work.

That said I love this combo....
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
This thread sounds like some serious trolling.
Comparing a players racquet with some beginners racquet that has a name never heard of?

Could be. But its IS possible to go from a players stick to a granny stick if you do it right.

I changed from the 6.1 95 (18x20) at 13oz to a 10oz oversize and like LOB I am not looking back so far. Matches coming up so we will see. It comes down to the return. If I can keep it in then I am switching permanently.
 
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