At age 58 it’s time for a new generation player frame: Follow My Saga Here

vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
BounceHitBounceHit said:
After playing a Pro Staff a good long time (almost 40 years) and the PS 90 for 15+ I will be finding a frame that plays as well but is more forgiving. I know it’s out there!!

Accountability Partners and Co-Travelers please post in this thread. [emoji2]

Currently demoing: Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid


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Also demo the Prestige MP, Pro Tour 2.0, and Gravity Pro
 
Grieeegoorr

Grieeegoorr

Semi-Pro
BounceHitBounceHit said:
After playing a Pro Staff a good long time (almost 40 years) and the PS 90 for 15+ I will be finding a frame that plays as well but is more forgiving. I know it’s out there!!

Accountability Partners and Co-Travelers please post in this thread. [emoji2]

Currently demoing: Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
The Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid has been touted as the modern equivalent of the PS 90, is that why your quest has started there?
It will be very interesting to get your feedback on the comparison between the Mid and some or all of the racquets that @vsbabolat mentioned. Personally I have only hit briefly with the Graphene 360+ MP and only a PT630 not the PT 2.0, but my feeling is that the stiffness of the Mid really suits someone who has honed there game around the PS 90 feel. If you had developed you style with the plusher feeling classic Heads then the modern Head MP's might suit better.
For me right now the Mid is the racquet that I inflict the most damage with and the only other racquet that will take its place if I do really need to prove a point is the Secret 04.
This will be a good one to watch.
 
J

just out

New User
In mid 50's too and after 20+ years playing with prestige mid I am moving down about an ounce and trying ultra tour and cx 200 tour, I am sticking with very HL and 18x20, that is really what feels right for me regardless of static weight. Both swing much easier than the prestige over a long period of time but there is a difference when you are hitting against heavy pace and need stability.
 
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Might want to consider adding the Pure Strike Tour Gen3 to the demo list. I grew up with the Dunlop Max200G and Head Prestige and it is my current racquet - I’m 52. It plays very different from popular tweeners that Babolat makes like the Pure Aero and Pure Drive and is more of a thin-beam heavy, headlight traditional frame - stiffness is mid-sixties. I liked my demo of the Yonex VCore Pro97 HD also, but didn’t get to serve with it.
 
BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
Grieeegoorr said:
The Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid has been touted as the modern equivalent of the PS 90, is that why your quest has started there?
It will be very interesting to get your feedback on the comparison between the Mid and some or all of the racquets that @vsbabolat mentioned. Personally I have only hit briefly with the Graphene 360+ MP and only a PT630 not the PT 2.0, but my feeling is that the stiffness of the Mid really suits someone who has honed there game around the PS 90 feel......For me right now the Mid is the racquet that I inflict the most damage with and the only other racquet that will take its place if I do really need to prove a point is the Secret 04.
This will be a good one to watch.
Click to expand...

Yes and yes! [emoji2]

Tell me more about the Secret?



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BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
just out said:
In mid 50's too and after 20+ years playing with prestige mid I am moving down about an ounce and trying ultra tour and cx 200 tour, I am sticking with very HL and 18x20, that is really what feels right for me regardless of static weight. Both swing much easier than the prestige over a long period of time but there is a difference when you are hitting against heavy pace and need stability.
Click to expand...

My old spec is 343/32.5/335 SW.
I’m experimenting with 320-330/31.5-33/310-325


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BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
McLovin said:
lol...I was just typing "If you're into slight customizing, the Gravity MP is an excellent platform frame".

Seriously...add a leather, and maybe some lead to balance to your taste, and you've got a solid frame.
Click to expand...

It’s made the short list! [emoji2]

My serve has long been the biggest weapon in my arsenal. Finding something that serves as well for me as the Asian K90 has proven a bigger challenge than I originally imagined. This has been the primary shortcoming of the gravity mid plus, even with additional weight.


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flanker2000fr

flanker2000fr

Hall of Fame
BounceHitBounceHit said:
It’s made the short list! [emoji2]

My serve has long been the biggest weapon in my arsenal. Finding something that serves as well for me as the Asian K90 has proven a bigger challenge than I originally imagined. This has been the primary shortcoming of the gravity mid plus, even with additional weight.


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If serve is important in your game, you might want to have a look at the Angell TC95 or TC100. The latter might have too high of launch angle, and going all the way from 90 to 100 might be a bridge too far, at least for now. But the TC95 might be exactly what the doctor ordered, especially since you can get them delivered to your specs.

If the Asian K Factor is your point of reference, then selecting a 16x19 / 320g / 9 or 10 pt HL TC95 will get you something relatively familiar, with the added benefit of an extra 5 sq.in. in the hoop.
 
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Strayfire

Strayfire

Rookie
BounceHitBounceHit said:
My serve has long been the biggest weapon in my arsenal. Finding something that serves as well for me as the Asian K90 has proven a bigger challenge than I originally imagined. This has been the primary shortcoming of the gravity mid plus, even with additional weight.
Click to expand...

I started a rant with my stringer about how I feel like I want to demo a tweener and ended up just wishing that I could have the serving power and feel of the AK90 in a more arm friendly frame.

If you find that frame we can make a bulk order... I'll take 5 of them. :p

Now I realised I don't even want a tweener, I just want my AK90 back, arm pain be damned.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
BounceHitBounceHit said:
After playing a Pro Staff a good long time (almost 40 years) and the PS 90 for 15+ I will be finding a frame that plays as well but is more forgiving. I know it’s out there!!

Accountability Partners and Co-Travelers please post in this thread.
emoji2.png


Currently demoing: Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid


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Click to expand...
I started this journey earlier. I played with the PS85, then forced by my coach to go to 6.1 95 in D1 for 2 years, then went back to PS90 types cos I liked the feel. 20+ years later I went to the 6.1 95 16x18 BLX, then RF97 and now the SV98+.
You don't say what level you play at, and what you want out of the new racquet besides forgiving. I basically started looking to "upgrade" once I felt I wasn't serving as effectively, nor as consistently. I think when you have a low powered racquet that's low swing weight and you're trying to serve like you're 25, you will pay in injuries. My SV98+ gives me easy power and spin, NOTHING like the PS85/90, which had the swing weight for flatter serves, but not the open stringbed for heavier spin fast serves. It freed me up to serve different serves, and I not only had more power and spin, but variety and disguise as well, like I did when I was in my 20s and 30s, but actually serving even better. Testing and comparing my K90 to the BLX, RF97 and the SV98+ (all modified to 355 SW and 7hl) on playsight, the SV98+ allows me to serve 8 mph and about 400rpm more on average for 1st serves, given my present physical state, all at almost 20g less than the RF97 (4mph and 150rpm more than the K90), while increasing my serves in %. I'm also hitting spots with more speed and spin. It's a no brainer, except it doesn't feel that great, but that's just a feedback thing to relearn. I now hit angled and drop volleys with the same ease. The only thing I haven't adapted as well is my crosscourt topside dips, because the added power is so addictive! haha
I would first get out of the mindset you want to find the "same" feel but "more forgiving". Just first go with a frame that is 98 or above, maybe even an extended if you arm can handle the extra torque. Other than those suggested, I would also consider the Dunlop CX200+, SX300T (I like the feel a lot but the string pattern doesn't suit my game), the Prince Textreme Tour 100 310 (nice feel and balance). If you think the jump is too big, as I did, go to a 95 or 97 as an interim. Good luck!
 
swizzy

swizzy

Hall of Fame
i'm 51 and played a pro staff 85 since 8th grade until the 90 came along. recently i decided to sell the two new 2015 pro staff 90's because the i was able to more than double what i payed for them, i knew i needed a change and i still hade 3 ncodes as my main racket. i was down to 2 and i told myself it was time to start a search for a new racket. Piicked up a Wilson Ultra Tour for $85 during a 4th of July sale. A new Diadem Elevate Tour and Diadem Nova as a lot on the bay for $120. I modified the ultra with the leather grip and lead and it is a wonderful club and still weighs less than my 90's or my autograph. i grabbed a used original RF97 for nothing when everyone sold them to get the black version. thing is i never liked it enough to go through the pain of switching rackets. after playing the Ultra for a month i decided to give the RF97 a chance and it was sublime. I now have 4 rackets.. all different, 3 with the 97 inch head and the Nova is a 100 that is a comfortable and more controllable pure drive type racket. the Ultra is an 18 x 20 and it has changed the way i play. i can play much flatter tennis now.. almost like i did years ago. and as long as i exaggerate my topspin motion i get tons of spin. and i'm hitting my old driving backhand again. loving this racket. the elevate tour is 16 x 20 and rewards both flat and spin and is another very comfortable foam filled racket that is a bit lighter and a great option if i'm a little flat or getting tired in the later sets.. i usually play best of 5 singles with a few of my regular hitting partners. the Nova is an elephant gun that i strung up the other night and played with it today. too early to tell.. but, this seems to be the tweener frame that is still controllable while hitting bombs.
 
Grieeegoorr

Grieeegoorr

Semi-Pro
BounceHitBounceHit said:
Yes and yes! [emoji2]

Tell me more about the Secret?



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The Secret will not be bossed around, the Secret is the Boss. When someone is working you over with their atomic serve, go to your bag pull out the Secret and smack their hardest serve straight back to their feet just as they've finished their service motion. The Secret absorbs all of their power and sends it back with interest, it taunts them to serve harder, then their rhythm is lost and the momentum has shifted back to you. When someone is cracking forehands down the line to your backhand, the Secret will enable you to crack that backhand straight back down the line twice as hard as they just hit their forehand leaving them stranded on the baseline wondering just wtf happened. The Secret is a very specific tool I use to demoralise someone who is trying to overpower me, it will never be my one stick as it takes a true god to be able to control its power, however it will always be in my bag.
 
I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
BounceHitBounceHit said:
I have absolutely no pride nor compunction! If a weed made me play better a weed it would be
Click to expand...

The national 60's indoors, a gold ball tournament, is held in my home town. Last year when I went to watch the semifinals of the doubles, three of the four players were using extreme OS racquets, with one team both using the Bubba. Beautifully smooth strokes from every competitor, and they were probably all high 4.5 or 5.0 players. That led me to start this thread:

Reconsidering racquet choices

This National gold ball 60+ indoor tournament just happened in our area: https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=227325 I went and watched the semifinal rounds and it was truly eye opening the racquet choices that were used by these national level age group...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com

When I came back to tennis after a nearly 20 year layoff, I used a 115 sq. in. racquet. From there, I went to 110, and now am using 104. I find that when I'm under pressure and on the hard move, mis-hits are a problem, and that one of the biggest differences between me and the best age group peers is that they are better on defense in situations where I would more likely mis-hit and not get the ball back into the court.

I get to play the 60's next year and will definitely compete in that tournament. My offensive tennis is better with my SW104, but my defensive tennis is worse than with a larger headsize. I'm really hoping to go back to around a 110 which seemed to be the sweetspot for me in terms of balancing offense and defense.
 
BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
Injured Again said:
The national 60's indoors, a gold ball tournament, is held in my home town. Last year when I went to watch the semifinals of the doubles, three of the four players were using extreme OS racquets, with one team both using the Bubba. Beautifully smooth strokes from every competitor, and they were probably all high 4.5 or 5.0 players. That led me to start this thread:

Reconsidering racquet choices

This National gold ball 60+ indoor tournament just happened in our area: https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=227325 I went and watched the semifinal rounds and it was truly eye opening the racquet choices that were used by these national level age group...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com

When I came back to tennis after a nearly 20 year layoff, I used a 115 sq. in. racquet. From there, I went to 110, and now am using 104. I find that when I'm under pressure and on the hard move, mis-hits are a problem, and that one of the biggest differences between me and the best age group peers is that they are better on defense in situations where I would more likely mis-hit and not get the ball back into the court.

I get to play the 60's next year and will definitely compete in that tournament. My offensive tennis is better with my SW104, but my defensive tennis is worse than with a larger headsize. I'm really hoping to go back to around a 110 which seemed to be the sweetspot for me in terms of balancing offense and defense.
Click to expand...

The POG is hard to beat in SO MANY ways. I am currently in the midst of a Frankenstein experiment to reduce their overall static wait and will report back here


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onehandbh

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
Have you tried the Pure Strike 98 - 18x20? I briefly tried my friend's Pure Strike and it felt pretty good. I think the initial unstrung weight was 305g but he added silicon in the handle and a little bit of lead. Good feel and good amount of spin and power. I'll have to try it again.

I'm actually considering switching to it from my Yonex 95D, which I can no longer easily get grommets for or find very many of. Was also considering the Blade 18x20 but the one I tried (previous generation?) was way too muted for me. Might be because my friend used 2 overgrips, though.

I'm not near 58 yet, but every year I get one year closer.
 
BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
onehandbh said:
Have you tried the Pure Strike 98 - 18x20? I briefly tried my friend's Pure Strike and it felt pretty good. I think the initial unstrung weight was 305g but he added silicon in the handle and a little bit of lead. Good feel and good amount of spin and power. I'll have to try it again.

I'm actually considering switching to it from my Yonex 95D, which I can no longer easily get grommets for or find very many of. Was also considering the Blade 18x20 but the one I tried (previous generation?) was way too muted for me. Might be because my friend used 2 overgrips, though.

I'm not near 58 yet, but every year I get one year closer.
Click to expand...

I’ve not tried the 18x20 but liked the 16x19. Which generation is best guys? [emoji3]

The Blade was too low powered for me


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T

tomato123

Professional
Looking forward to following your journey. I’ve tended to like the same racquets you’ve had positive experiences with dating back to the Yonex SV98 and more recently the TFight RS, so I’ll be on the lookout for your endorsements!
 
BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
tomato123 said:
Looking forward to following your journey. I’ve tended to like the same racquets you’ve had positive experiences with dating back to the Yonex SV98 and more recently the TFight RS, so I’ll be on the lookout for your endorsements!
Click to expand...

Thank you!! I’m still playing with strings/tension on the TF RS 295 [emoji28] Stay tuned!!


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onehandbh

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
BounceHitBounceHit said:
I’ve not tried the 18x20 but liked the 16x19. Which generation is best guys? [emoji3]

The Blade was too low powered for me


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I have not tried the 16x19 yet.

I tried the 1st and 2nd generation of the 18x20.

Did not like the 1st gen but liked the 2nd gen. It felt like it had plenty of power.
 
ccmtennis

ccmtennis

Semi-Pro
BounceHitBounceHit said:
After playing a Pro Staff a good long time (almost 40 years) and the PS 90 for 15+ I will be finding a frame that plays as well but is more forgiving. I know it’s out there!!

Accountability Partners and Co-Travelers please post in this thread. [emoji2]

Currently demoing: Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

I'm in my late 40s. While I can not relate to your frame and style of play with a demanding stick like PS 90, IMHO try to with some above 97' sq in frames and above. It's easy to say that if Federer can do it so can we but frankly if you are gonna take the dive, go all in and not a mid like the prestige. These days there are a ton of great player frames in the 97 to 100 sq inch that will offer a ton of control and extra forgiveness. For me personally after years of discounting what I felt was a "gimmick" with the 03 ports of a Prince player line of frames, I tried it for myself and never looked back. After noticing a slight slow down with my swing , I got it back in spades with the ports and feel like it bought me years and it's like cheating. Now I'm playing at the highest level that I have achieved at 4.5. I guess it just a journey , each has an individual decision to make but my humble suggestion is go dive in with the larger head size frames. All the best
 
BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
ccmtennis said:
I'm in my late 40s. While I can not relate to your frame and style of play with a demanding stick like PS 90, IMHO try to with some above 97' sq in frames and above. It's easy to say that if Federer can do it so can we but frankly if you are gonna take the dive, go all in and not a mid like the prestige. These days there are a ton of great player frames in the 97 to 100 sq inch that will offer a ton of control and extra forgiveness. For me personally after years of discounting what I felt was a "gimmick" with the 03 ports of a Prince player line of frames, I tried it for myself and never looked back. After noticing a slight slow down with my swing , I got it back in spades with the ports and feel like it bought me years and it's like cheating. Now I'm playing at the highest level that I have achieved at 4.5. I guess it just a journey , each has an individual decision to make but my humble suggestion is go dive in with the larger head size frames. All the best
Click to expand...

Thank you!


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BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
Leader board: (in no particular order):

HEAD Extreme MP Tour, Prestige Graphene 360+ Mid, PT2.0
TF RS 305/300 (love the 295 but not sure I can control it)
Babolat Pure Strike 100 Gen3


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jackcrawford

jackcrawford

Professional
BounceHitBounceHit said:
Leader board: (in no particular order):

HEAD Extreme MP Tour, Prestige Graphene 360+ Mid, PT2.0
TF RS 305/300 (love the 295 but not sure I can control it)
Babolat Pure Strike 100 Gen3


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Do I remember correctly you once extended a Microgel Radical OS? The Agassi 25th edition is actually the TiRadical mold, and doesn't play with all the flex of Andre's real frame. It measured 62 but felt more like 65 RDC to me. Sweet 12 oz oversize frame. Downside is, only available on secondary market, so no demo.
 
U

USPTARF97

Hall of Fame
Recently moved from playing with the 6.1 95 18x20 and RF97 to the Head Prestige Mid. This is a much easier frame to play with and the biggest differences in my game are the serve and one handed backhand. Also went from practicing an hour to being able to practice 1 1/2 to 2hrs no problem. The Mid is lighter but not by so much that it takes it out of my wheelhouse in terms of weight. Next going to try the Head 2.0. Good luck and be aware of going with a lighter frame and the tension being too high. Can easily happen going from the heavier Wilson frames to the lighter frames.
 
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BounceHitBounceHit

BounceHitBounceHit

Legend
USPTARF97 said:
Recently move from playing with the 6.1 95 18x20 and RF97 to the Head Prestige Mid. This is a much easier frame to play with and the biggest differences in my game are the serve and one handed backhand. Also went from practicing an hour to being able to practice 1 1/2 to 2hrs no problem. The Mid is lighter but not by so much that it takes it out of my wheelhouse in terms of weight. Next going to try the Head 2.0. Good luck and be aware of going with a lighter frame and the tension being too high. Can easily happen going from the heavier Wilson frames to the lighter frames.
Click to expand...

The Prestige 360+ mid is my favorite so far. [emoji2]


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graycrait

graycrait

Legend
jackcrawford said:
Do I remember correctly you once extended a Microgel Radical OS?
Click to expand...
I have BHBH's extended MG OS. That thing had to have had a SW north of 400 before I inadvertently whacked off nearly an inch" when I tried to staple a buttcap on that custom handle. It still is a monster at 27.1" and 13.7oz. Quite headlight though so is manageable.
 
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