EggSalad
Hall of Fame
Novak’s racquet is not the Speed, it’s just painted like a speed.
18x19 pattern Club - Djokovic, Medvedev, Agassi and...
- Thread starter galapagos
- Start date
Novak’s racquet is not the Speed, it’s just painted like a speed.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
He used to play 18x20 in the past but due to shoulder injury he decided to change something. He worked with Agassi Who was 18x19 fanclub owner and rest is a history. Andre asked me to finish what he started
I think it would be a nice touch by head to change the pattern of speed line as well but here is a problem - speed line brings already most money
Of course even with 18x19 pattern the racquet would be totally different anyway but hey! Its a good start haha
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Agassi bigger headsize
BoxbeamsFTW
Semi-Pro
Haha yeah, you'd think with the number of people I see on here asking for 16x20 patterns, and the larger number of them already out there, there'd be a just a few more choices on the other side to choose from. The Tfight has always been tempting.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
If there is a demand there will be a response. At some point... Maybe not from the brands we expect but perhaps new might come to the game ?
also this is super weird but i can see 16x20 patterns only in yonex frame. My brain Just ignores any other brands with that pattern but i am sure its a matter of how much money the brand will put into marketing .
Oval_Solid
Hall of Fame
i think denser string pattern help with a two handed backhand
Medvedev mode on !
Great pic.
I demoed the 305. The sweetspot felt small, hallow feeling, no flex. Didn't gel with me personally. But it could also be that it had syn gut strings.
To be more overly nit picky, the throat is asymmetrically shaped, the left white throat and the right black throat. I do believe this is the RS technology they claim.
Additionally, if you feel the lines where the white throat meet the black throat, there is a very slight raise that give it the indication that it is not 1 piece. I wonder if it it actually 2 pieces.
A tiny bit of lead of lead at 3&9 and in the handle (or leather grip) makes it nice. It has a very particular feel though.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Youzhney switched to Extreme 16x19One string pattern to rule them all. Are 18x19 racquets the future of tennis ?
- Djokovic beats Nadal in French Open 2021 semi-finals,
- currently #1 (Djokovic) and #2 (Medvedev) ATP are playing with 18x19 pattern rackets and it seems well deserved.
Easier spin and power with the same control? More comfort on top of that ? Yes please!
WE WANT TO SEE MORE 18x19 RACQUETS!!!! We want to learn more about this string pattern. Many players (if not everyone) that are using 18x19 are ex 18x20 users. What is going on?
Currently available to the public (any users here???) :
1. Tecnifibre Tfight 305 RS
2. Head Graphene 360+ Prestige Tour
3. Wilson Blade SW104 Autograph
4. Wilson Blade SW102 Autograph
Pro on tour with 18x19:
1. Novak Djokovic
2. Daniil Medvedev
3. Andre Agassi
4. Janko Tipsarevic
5. Denis Istomin
6. Jeremy Chardy
7. Tallon Griekspoor
8. Gregoire Barrere
9. Elliot Benchetrit
10. ManuelGuinard
11. James Ward
12. Serena Williams
13. Mikhail Youzhny
14. Anastasia Myskina
15. Ivo Karlovic
16. Svetlana Kuznetsova
17. ?????? please comment if I didn't add someone interesting
Karlovic switched to Radical 16x19
Kuznetsova switched to Extreme 16x19
Hulger
Semi-Pro
Ok, I thought the initially high twistweight (and SW) removes the need to add lead. Leather grip for sure to increase HL.
It's fine without lead (on the hoop) but I prefer it with a tiny bit. Depends also if your stick is over or under specs etc.
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galapagos
Hall of Fame
thank you for your wisdom. We can always count on you !
Hulger
Semi-Pro
RS 305. First hit against a wall... plush, comfortable, pretty direct contact, more spin than i expected. It’s actually quite similar to RF97 in terms of launch angle and power, only a bit softer flex and mushier or more damped contact to the ball; so less sensitivity. On the other hand as stable and not killing your arm and more maneuverable and bigger sweetspot. Hmm reminds me of speed pro, but that’s even flexier and more disconnected.
Serving seemed to be accurate, but lacked some power.
Maybe nothing some mass to the hoop and leather grip wouldn’t fix.
Serving seemed to be accurate, but lacked some power.
Maybe nothing some mass to the hoop and leather grip wouldn’t fix.
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galapagos
Hall of Fame
Yee I was also very very surprised about the comfort. It's super plush. Even more comfort than my TC95 16x19 63ra (around 60ra strung)
galapagos
Hall of Fame
unfortunately i can't compare RS to XCT but I must tell you that from now on I will try every tfight 18x19 from tecnifibre. First because I am a very strong believer in 18x19 pattern (that's why i created this thread to support this "PANDA" pattern haha) and second because RS played very very well... It's so so so so comfortable. I can't believe it's 67ra. It feels like 59-62 ra. and I know many sticks in this region. Angell TC95 63ra (60ra when strung), Head Prestige MP Graphene 360+ (61ra), Head Speed Pro Graphene 360+ (62ra), Yonex Vcore Pro HD 18x20 (59ra) and last but not least Dunlop CX200 Tour 18x20 (63ra)
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Maybe I still need to try one. I demoed the TF40 315 and really liked it. The thing I missed most was a little more free power on serve, so I thought the 305 RS could be great. But the Gladiators youtube channel found it low powered and not spin friendly.
What‘s your thought on that?
galapagos
Hall of Fame
I think it is low powered BUT the spin potential is there. I strung it 23kg with Razor Code 1.25 and I think I could easily go 22kg. I could take big cuts with this setup which was a positive thing. This week I might be your guy because I will be testing TF40 315g
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Sounds great - looking forward to that!I think it is low powered BUT the spin potential is there. I strung it 23kg with Razor Code 1.25 and I think I could easily go 22kg. I could take big cuts with this setup which was a positive thing. This week I might be your guy because I will be testing TF40 315g
I was actually even surprised about the spin potential of the TF40. But maybe it only seemed so because of it‘s low launch angle or because it‘s not particularly powerful as well. I really enjoyed it on groundstrokes, because it offered such good control that I played more consistently. I also really enjoyed how it feels. It‘s only the serve, where I struggled a bit.
Maybe I‘ll try to find a used one and experiment with string tensions.
Or I demo the Gravity or Speed Pro first, or even the 305 RS, hehe
galapagos
Hall of Fame
I think I prefer Tfight RS over TF40. 18x19 pattern is dopeSounds great - looking forward to that!
I was actually even surprised about the spin potential of the TF40. But maybe it only seemed so because of it‘s low launch angle or because it‘s not particularly powerful as well. I really enjoyed it on groundstrokes, because it offered such good control that I played more consistently. I also really enjoyed how it feels. It‘s only the serve, where I struggled a bit.
Maybe I‘ll try to find a used one and experiment with string tensions.
Or I demo the Gravity or Speed Pro first, or even the 305 RS, hehe
more spin potential. To my surprise I would say RS is slightly lower powered. At least in feel. TF40 has that little boost in response which reminds me of frames like TC97 Angell and Yonex Vcore HD 18x20. RS was more fun but TF was a fun hit too. I can see why some people compare it with Head Speed Pro. RS has a bit higher launch angle
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Thanks!I think I prefer Tfight RS over TF40. 18x19 pattern is dope
I guess I will try it as well. Maybe the added spin would help my second serves compared to the TF40, where I needed to focus a little extra on generating spin.So the 18x19 has a little higher launch angle than the TF40, right. But is it still closer to it than to an average 16x19?
Because that was something I actually was surprised about how much I liked it in the TF40. For me it was kind of more predictable in a way. When I alternated between flat and topspin-shots, it felt very natural.
How do they compare comfort-wise and how the contact feels?
I switched to the RS305 from the Pure Strike 16X19 2nd gen., and I am loving it.
Yes, the RS305 is a control-oriented frame, and it has less power than the pure strike. But like the Blade 18X20, it still has a good amount of power from the mass of the frame. Also, it is a little stiffer than the Blade 18X20, so it possesses a little more inherent power than the Blade. The key to use these frames is to relax and let the racquet go, and they give you more than enough power (I would say controlled power).
The feel is superb, not too muted but not too stiff at all, and it is quite comfy and plush despite its indicated stiffness.
If you like the mass and heaviness of the head like me, the RS305 is a very good one.
Yes, the RS305 is a control-oriented frame, and it has less power than the pure strike. But like the Blade 18X20, it still has a good amount of power from the mass of the frame. Also, it is a little stiffer than the Blade 18X20, so it possesses a little more inherent power than the Blade. The key to use these frames is to relax and let the racquet go, and they give you more than enough power (I would say controlled power).
The feel is superb, not too muted but not too stiff at all, and it is quite comfy and plush despite its indicated stiffness.
If you like the mass and heaviness of the head like me, the RS305 is a very good one.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Ye its still kinda 18x20 territory when it comes to launch angle. Just more ways to shape the ballThanks!
So the 18x19 has a little higher launch angle than the TF40, right. But is it still closer to it than to an average 16x19?
Because that was something I actually was surprised about how much I liked it in the TF40. For me it was kind of more predictable in a way. When I alternated between flat and topspin-shots, it felt very natural.
How do they compare comfort-wise and how the contact feels?
initialize
Hall of Fame
Anyone knows how the RS compares to the Prince Synergy, which is 18x18? Because I love the Synergy. Looks like I’m about to demo my first Technifibre…
galapagos
Hall of Fame
I didnt have any comfort issues with either. Both are very soft and you shouldnt feel much difference in that department. I tested the frames with different strings unfortunately but i suspect both were on the stiffer side of polys. To me RS is like 60-62 ra. Definitely softer than blade from 2015 (64ra) . Contact i prefer with RS slightly because its foam filled (i think TF40 doesnt have foam injected hmm?) and the flex is more uniform. TF40 has that little boost in power or its maybe just the feel of the head flexing a bit more while RS is kinda more solid overall with the comfort coming from the foam.Thanks!
So the 18x19 has a little higher launch angle than the TF40, right. But is it still closer to it than to an average 16x19?
Because that was something I actually was surprised about how much I liked it in the TF40. For me it was kind of more predictable in a way. When I alternated between flat and topspin-shots, it felt very natural.
How do they compare comfort-wise and how the contact feels?
I am not sure if you are familiar with angell racquets that are also foam filled. RS is very similar in feel to my TC95. Kinda solid and very comfortable at the same time. Its very unique and not many frames have this. Most often you have to choose comfort or solidness. Foam filled racquets offer perfect mix IMO.
chrischris
G.O.A.T.
The Head Ti 5000 was 18/19 and used the Twin Tube technology. It was a nice frame to customize.
I'd demoed both of them a while back. RS 305 has a slightly lower launch angle and is slightly more powerful(very slightly, maybe due to the RA being 67 vs 60 of the Synergy) compared to the synergy 98. The Synergy 98 feels plusher and better(IMO). Slices and flat shots are great with both of them. Spin is a bit better with the Synergy 98. The Synergy feels more manoeuvrable too. I preferred the Synergy on my forehands and the Tecnifibre on my backhands . I'd a hard time choosing between them as I liked them both and preferred both of them to the Gravity Pro 18x20/ Blade 18x20. In the end I went with the Synergy 98 as I am more used to the rounder grip shapes and the flat Tecnifibre grip would've taken me a lot of time to adjust. Check out the Synergy 98's review by Tennis Euphoria on Youtube. In the review he says that the Synergy 98 plays more like the XTC 305 than the RS 305.
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Better directional control than a 16x18 and 16x19 pattern. A higher launch angle than the typical tight18x20 pattern rackets.
18x19 & 18x18 provide a happy medium just as a 16x20 pattern.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
More bite and comfort than with 18x20 but very similar control. Easier to shape the ball. More forgiving. Mains always play the biggest part while crosses are the „limiters” for the mains. So 18x19 feels more „unlocked” and „natural”
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I would like a Pure Strike Tour with a 18x19 pattern. Babolat - are you listening?
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Thanks for the info! When will you post your reviews of those tecnifibre rackets?
As far as I know, the TF40 is partly foam-filled. I never played an Angell - I‘m not a proper racketaholic
I just want to be sure about which one I pick as my next racket. The one I played the last few years, I was never quite sure about. Didn‘t demo a lot back then.In the meantime I had a short hit with the Speed Pro and Gravity Pro. The Gravity felt nice but I’m afraid it’s too much of a racket for me to swing effectively. Speed Pro is my favourite alongside the TF40 now, with a slight edge for the latter. The Head has the advantage of easier serving but I‘m still dreaming about the control I had with the TF40, hehe
I guess the last demos will be the 305 RS and maybe the Prince Synergy - that 98 18x18 sounds interesting as well..
galapagos
Hall of Fame
this week. I've been messing around with tecnifibre RS305 for a month now. great choice and I know exactly what you mean about gravity pro...Thanks for the info! When will you post your reviews of those tecnifibre rackets?
As far as I know, the TF40 is partly foam-filled. I never played an Angell - I‘m not a proper racketaholic
In the meantime I had a short hit with the Speed Pro and Gravity Pro. The Gravity felt nice but I’m afraid it’s too much of a racket for me to swing effectively. Speed Pro is my favourite alongside the TF40 now, with a slight edge for the latter. The Head has the advantage of easier serving but I‘m still dreaming about the control I had with the TF40, hehe
I guess the last demos will be the 305 RS and maybe the Prince Synergy - that 98 18x18 sounds interesting as well..
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Yeah.. so here‘s the proof - it is not ridiculous to search for that one racket, that just makes me a lot better
geartalk with Medvedev
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
I can tell you for a fact that it helps on the sliced backhand.
On the topspin backhand, either one handed or two handed, it really depends on the swing path: those with a fairly horizontal swing path (i.e. flatter shot) would benefit from a tight string pattern.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
so far 18x19 patterns are eating US Open draw easily Medvedev and Djokovic final, 18x19 pattern king in NY? Any predictions ? Line up is getting really exciting. Two guys already down (Rublev and Tsitsipas) . BTW I think previous Tecnifibre 18x19 paintjob is a bit cooler. I like blue color lol. I wouldnt mind some gold accent. Maybe after winning US Open they will add something Same with speed line... arghh they could make it 98" and 18x19 speed pro tour or whatever. doesnt have to be 95" but would be appreciated. Speed pro feel, thinner beam, 18x19 95-98" headsize. Boom - awesome stick
Medvedev and Djokovic final, 18x19 pattern king in NY? Any predictions ? Line up is getting really exciting. Two guys already down (Rublev and Tsitsipas) . BTW I think previous Tecnifibre 18x19 paintjob is a bit cooler. I like blue color lol. I wouldnt mind some gold accent. Maybe after winning US Open they will add something Same with speed line... arghh they could make it 98" and 18x19 speed pro tour or whatever. doesnt have to be 95" but would be appreciated. Speed pro feel, thinner beam, 18x19 95-98" headsize. Boom - awesome stick
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Finally had time to try the RS 305 for about an hour and a half. Very promising for now! I also have a TF40 305 demo besides it, because this (in 315) is my favourite frame right now. It doesn‘t feel as good this time - I guess it‘s the string that‘s in there - but playing characteristics are still great.
One strange thing about my first impression comparison is that the TF40 felt more powerful on my groundstrokes, while the RS felt more powerful on serves. Maybe it‘s the extra spin, which gives me the added confidence power My kick and slice serves definitely worked better with the RS.
On groundstrokes the TF40 is still a bit better for me. Slightly more pop with slightly better control. And spin is just enough.
But I guess the RS would be better overall, because of my better serving with it.
Let‘s see what my next hitting session brings.
BTW: Before I got those Tecnifibre demos, I enjoyed the Gravity Pro more and more. Measured it DIY and found out its swingweight is 344. Now I‘m really wondering how an on-spec one would have played
But I can only guess that the super solid feeling would go missing. Apart from maneuvrability issues, I liked it a lot as well. Great mix between control, spin and power for all my strokes, as well as nice feel!
One strange thing about my first impression comparison is that the TF40 felt more powerful on my groundstrokes, while the RS felt more powerful on serves. Maybe it‘s the extra spin, which gives me the added confidence power
My kick and slice serves definitely worked better with the RS.On groundstrokes the TF40 is still a bit better for me. Slightly more pop with slightly better control. And spin is just enough.
But I guess the RS would be better overall, because of my better serving with it.
Let‘s see what my next hitting session brings.
BTW: Before I got those Tecnifibre demos, I enjoyed the Gravity Pro more and more. Measured it DIY and found out its swingweight is 344. Now I‘m really wondering how an on-spec one would have played
But I can only guess that the super solid feeling would go missing. Apart from maneuvrability issues, I liked it a lot as well. Great mix between control, spin and power for all my strokes, as well as nice feel!parasailing
Legend
I just played with the RS 305 demo yesterday and I am pretty impressed with the results. I didn't like the lack of maneuverability of the TF 40 and the XTC 305 was too stiff but this feels closer to a Blade v7. It came strung with some Technifibre string maybe Razor Code and more solid than the Blade v7 18x20 on serve returns. It is super stable and I am looking forwards to trying this racquet out with Hyper-G to seem how much softer and more spin potential I will get with it. I
I never tried out 18x19 string pattern but definitely offers the control while increasing the spin potential.
Will update when I get one maybe in a couple weeks so I can hit with it.
I never tried out 18x19 string pattern but definitely offers the control while increasing the spin potential.
Will update when I get one maybe in a couple weeks so I can hit with it.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
wow, very nice to see you in the club
it's interesting indeed !
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
I‘m propably ordering a RS 305!
Played another two hours against a better player and it worked great on all my shots. Still lost though, so maybe I should find a better racket
It even is particularly good on my one hander!
The only thing I don‘t like is that the feeling is a bit too crisp and hollow for my liking. I hope it‘s the demo string that‘s in there, because a lot of people said the racket is quite comfortable.
The TF40 demo feels a lot better, more solid and comfortable to me. Meanwhile serves are working good for me with it as well. But the RS just seems to offer quite a bit more spin, so I would still prefer it! I can hit better angles with it. Hope I can get it to feel better with other strings. Overall it‘s pretty much perfect for me!
Played another two hours against a better player and it worked great on all my shots. Still lost though, so maybe I should find a better racket
It even is particularly good on my one hander!
The only thing I don‘t like is that the feeling is a bit too crisp and hollow for my liking. I hope it‘s the demo string that‘s in there, because a lot of people said the racket is quite comfortable.
The TF40 demo feels a lot better, more solid and comfortable to me. Meanwhile serves are working good for me with it as well. But the RS just seems to offer quite a bit more spin, so I would still prefer it! I can hit better angles with it. Hope I can get it to feel better with other strings. Overall it‘s pretty much perfect for me!
Hulger
Semi-Pro
I'm really starting to question your reliability in this matter. Are you some sort of a salesperson or just some too die-hard-fan???18x19 still rocking the us open
My review is coming tomorrow !
Not saying the 305 rs is bad racquet, but c'mon, give some room for open discussion and do not advertise.
I just strung the aforementioned in 18x17 manner, and it really balanced (imo) the awful upper stringbed and gave a little more spin. Launch angle still remained very low.
Hulger
Semi-Pro
Hollow??
Are we playing with the same racquet?
It is supposed to be foam filled and really feels like that.
