ChanterRacquet
Professional
Just getting some stuff down in writing, figured I'd share. RAS = racquet acquisition syndrome.
Big fan of the 2023 Pure Aero Rafa 290 g. I've got two at 322 and 333 swingweights. I didn't realize this until recently as I thought they were matched, haha. I got tennis elbow a few years back (different frame) and still get very sore and tired after playing regardless of frame/string/etc, so I could always blame tiredness for thinking a racquet felt heavy that day, doh! Finally got around to measuring the specs of BOTH to realize they are very different.
I've measured the specs of 5 PAR 290 frames now that came from different sources: 334, 322, 333, 334, and 333. 5 frames isn't statistically meaningful, but I wonder how TW got an average of 323.
I can handle the 333 sw when my arm is fresh. But my arm is only fresh when I haven't played for several days. Is life worth living if I only get to play tennis once a week? Haha, no. So, I have to stick to the 322 sw to keep from exhausting my forearm muscles that never seemed to fully recover post-tennis elbow. The 333 sw is great, I wish I could play it but may just sell.
The PAR 290 is great because it has power, spin, and control. Control not in the sense that some use the term, which seems to be a euphemism for low power, but rather my accuracy and precision are much higher. My game immediately improved when I switched to it. Brief racquet journey: 2015 PD 100, 3rd Gen 2019 PStrike 98 18x20 (way under spec sw 325), 2021 CX 200 OS (315 sw) < got tennis elbow, then farted around with a bunch of other frames including BA 300, Ki Q+ 5, Clash 100 v1, etc.
But I also have RAS (racquet acquisition syndrome). I have found most 300 g frames are out of my wheelhouse. I still have a couple TW playtest frames that were solid: 2022 Black Ace 300 and Clash 100 v3, but most other 300+ g frames I've sold on. I've tested a few lighter frames and had some success with the Boom Team (275 g unstrung) but also messed with Extreme Team (265 g unstrung), Speed MP L (280 g unstrung), 2022 SX 300 Lite, and 2022 SX 600 to name a few, though these frames are too light and make me feel like I'm about to rip my arm off at the shoulder trying to get enough pace, even after weight is added.
I've found 285/290 g racquets best for me, adding weight at 12 o'clock to bring them up to 322 sw. I've recently acquired a few frames both newer and older: 2025 SX 300 LS, Pure Storm Team GT, TF40 290, 2019 PAero Team, 2024 Pure Strike Team, and Prince EXO3 Tour Team 100.
2025 SX 300 LS - Slightly less powerful than the PAR 290, but a great frame that is softer. What I'd be playing if the PAR 290 didn't exist. I play it regularly.
Pure Storm Team GT - Older, softer frame that is good, though hits a slightly flatter ball.
TF40 290 - Not a power frame but super comfy. Also hits a flatter ball.
2019 PA Team - Needed quite a bit of weight at 12 o'clock so balance feels off even though replacement grip is leather, but good power and spin.
2024 Pure Strike Team - Needed a fair bit of weight to be playable as it was really launchy which was weird. Feel kinda reminds me of the Clash v1, so it's a little vague. With weight, performance is much better, so can't write it off just yet.
Prince EXO3 Tour Team 100 - Excellent frame! But 334 sw.......how did TW measure an average of 314? Can't help but wonder if it was a copy paste from the Lite model data, only other sw reported here on TT by another user said 324. There's no way the average was 314, no way. Tempted to roll the auction dice again on another one...but there aren't anymore as cheap as this one was at $30!
Have a slew of Prince Textreme 100T/290 which are all right - need to restring to my specs before passing final judgement, balance feels funky, I have to swing slow. My Ki Q+ 5 is already 325 sw and hits a flatter ball than my PAR 290, so a no go. Clash 100S v1 is fun, but not the most serious frame.
Looking at demoing the CX 400 and the FX 500 LS (already have a 2023 but it's weighted up and in my son's bag as a backup to his regular, though under spec, 2023 FX 500). Percept 100 was too demanding, Ezone 100 too vague, while I played fine, the lack of feel requires you to ignore everything about the feel of the shot you just hit and just know it's gonna go where you hit it. Ezone 100L intriguing, but not at $305.
Gotta love the "Racket Journey"!
P.S. Currently favoring YTEX Quadro Twist at 49/47, more recently played Multifeel 16 at 54.
Big fan of the 2023 Pure Aero Rafa 290 g. I've got two at 322 and 333 swingweights. I didn't realize this until recently as I thought they were matched, haha. I got tennis elbow a few years back (different frame) and still get very sore and tired after playing regardless of frame/string/etc, so I could always blame tiredness for thinking a racquet felt heavy that day, doh! Finally got around to measuring the specs of BOTH to realize they are very different.
I've measured the specs of 5 PAR 290 frames now that came from different sources: 334, 322, 333, 334, and 333. 5 frames isn't statistically meaningful, but I wonder how TW got an average of 323.
I can handle the 333 sw when my arm is fresh. But my arm is only fresh when I haven't played for several days. Is life worth living if I only get to play tennis once a week? Haha, no. So, I have to stick to the 322 sw to keep from exhausting my forearm muscles that never seemed to fully recover post-tennis elbow. The 333 sw is great, I wish I could play it but may just sell.
The PAR 290 is great because it has power, spin, and control. Control not in the sense that some use the term, which seems to be a euphemism for low power, but rather my accuracy and precision are much higher. My game immediately improved when I switched to it. Brief racquet journey: 2015 PD 100, 3rd Gen 2019 PStrike 98 18x20 (way under spec sw 325), 2021 CX 200 OS (315 sw) < got tennis elbow, then farted around with a bunch of other frames including BA 300, Ki Q+ 5, Clash 100 v1, etc.
But I also have RAS (racquet acquisition syndrome). I have found most 300 g frames are out of my wheelhouse. I still have a couple TW playtest frames that were solid: 2022 Black Ace 300 and Clash 100 v3, but most other 300+ g frames I've sold on. I've tested a few lighter frames and had some success with the Boom Team (275 g unstrung) but also messed with Extreme Team (265 g unstrung), Speed MP L (280 g unstrung), 2022 SX 300 Lite, and 2022 SX 600 to name a few, though these frames are too light and make me feel like I'm about to rip my arm off at the shoulder trying to get enough pace, even after weight is added.
I've found 285/290 g racquets best for me, adding weight at 12 o'clock to bring them up to 322 sw. I've recently acquired a few frames both newer and older: 2025 SX 300 LS, Pure Storm Team GT, TF40 290, 2019 PAero Team, 2024 Pure Strike Team, and Prince EXO3 Tour Team 100.
2025 SX 300 LS - Slightly less powerful than the PAR 290, but a great frame that is softer. What I'd be playing if the PAR 290 didn't exist. I play it regularly.
Pure Storm Team GT - Older, softer frame that is good, though hits a slightly flatter ball.
TF40 290 - Not a power frame but super comfy. Also hits a flatter ball.
2019 PA Team - Needed quite a bit of weight at 12 o'clock so balance feels off even though replacement grip is leather, but good power and spin.
2024 Pure Strike Team - Needed a fair bit of weight to be playable as it was really launchy which was weird. Feel kinda reminds me of the Clash v1, so it's a little vague. With weight, performance is much better, so can't write it off just yet.
Prince EXO3 Tour Team 100 - Excellent frame! But 334 sw.......how did TW measure an average of 314? Can't help but wonder if it was a copy paste from the Lite model data, only other sw reported here on TT by another user said 324. There's no way the average was 314, no way. Tempted to roll the auction dice again on another one...but there aren't anymore as cheap as this one was at $30!
Have a slew of Prince Textreme 100T/290 which are all right - need to restring to my specs before passing final judgement, balance feels funky, I have to swing slow. My Ki Q+ 5 is already 325 sw and hits a flatter ball than my PAR 290, so a no go. Clash 100S v1 is fun, but not the most serious frame.
Looking at demoing the CX 400 and the FX 500 LS (already have a 2023 but it's weighted up and in my son's bag as a backup to his regular, though under spec, 2023 FX 500). Percept 100 was too demanding, Ezone 100 too vague, while I played fine, the lack of feel requires you to ignore everything about the feel of the shot you just hit and just know it's gonna go where you hit it. Ezone 100L intriguing, but not at $305.
Gotta love the "Racket Journey"!
P.S. Currently favoring YTEX Quadro Twist at 49/47, more recently played Multifeel 16 at 54.
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