A question for all users of the Wilson ProStaff 6.0 85 and 95

[GregOz]

Ive read the TW review and had a look at a couple of threads but thought I could pose this question again in case I missed someone's input.

Im just wanting to know how people feel the PS 6.0 85 plays and what makes it so unique. I realise it is a control oriented frame but surely that cant be its one redeeming feature. I was also looking at it in comparison to the nCode Tour 90 but have doubts about that racquet after reading the TW review. The revies rated them as:

ProStaff nSix-One
6.0 85 Tour 90
Volleys 78 75
Topspin 71 73
Slice 71 76
Returns - 73
Groundstrokes 78 74
Serves & Overheads 76 73
Touch/Feel 90 74
Comfort 73 68
Stability S 78
Maneuverability 67 63
Control 90 78
Power 58 64

Do people think that's a fair assessment of the two sticks? How much 'crisper' is the feel of the PS 6.0 85 than the nCode Tour90?

Also, for those playing with, or who have played with the PS 6.0 95 how would you rate it next to the PS 85? What do you feel you gained in going to the larger headsize that you couldn't get from the original? Was it only extra power or is the 'feel' better in the 95? Do you have any idea how the PS 6.0 95 compares to the current nSix-One 95's?

I'm in a situation where demoing of a frame is difficult - due mainly to distance from pro shops- so would like to get as much input as possible before I arrange demo frames. The more expansive information I can get the easier it will be.

Many thanks to anyone who can help out.

 

[alan-n]

TW review doesn't tell the whole story. I'll just comment on manueverabilty and weight. Of the 6.0 85, 95 and NCode Tour 90.... the 95 is the most manueverable, followed by the 85 and lastly the 90. If you are strong and fast with your hands, then you should have no problem adjusting at the net to any of these rackets weights, the difference isn't THAT much. Regarding the TW review, the NCode tour 90 must have been strung extremely poorly.... their test results do not match that of any compentant owners who have owned 6.0 85s and 95s.

If you were to string all 3 of these racquets with identical soft strings (gut / multi) at mid tension ranges. The NCode tour 90 would have the largest sweet spot, the 6.0 85 the smallest. Yes that is right, the NCode Tour 90 would be more forgiving than the 6.0 95 with identical strings at mid ranges.

"Feel" is quite difficult to gauge.... and I don't quite understand why people who complain that a racquet doesn't have much "feel" and they use large vibration dampeners that defeat the purpose of "feel", I guess it must be how it "feels" when the ball hits the sweet spot.... Having said that, the 6.0 85 is like a wood racquet, any off center hit and the strings / racquet vibrates and you feel it (baring any large dampeners). The 95 to a lesser degree. The NCode Tour 90 doesn't have much of the small vibrations of off center hits, it can feel harsh just like any other racquet if you were to hit frame shots.

Also do a search on the 6.0 85 or NCode Tour 90.... there are at least half a dozen ones with direct comparisons.

 

[AndrewD]

alan-n,

you mention how they would play if you strung them in the mid range. well, how do you think they would each go strung at low tensions. I currently use a Prestige Pro strung at 45lbs and no control issues at all (was a previous old style 200G user so game is geared to the low tension range) but would be interested in swapping to one of those racquets mentioned as the Prestige is just a tad 'soft' in feel for me. How do you think the nCode and the PS 85 would go at around the 45lb mark and how low do you think you could go with the 95?

 

[GregOz]

Thanks Alan. Ive never been a user of a vibration dampner. Now that is a 'feel' or lack of one that I just dont like.

AndewD, do you by any chance play up at the University of Queensland, tuesdays and sundays?

 

[HeavyBall]

Anyone looking to use the 6.0 85 needs to decide if winning is the most important part of playing tennis to them. Even Sampras admitted that he probably needed more power than he got from the 6.0 (at the French). If you play tennis because you like to play the game and hit a variety of shots FIRST and win SECOND, try the 6.0 85. Otherwise, I don't think that there is a player alive whose game, in the context of MODERN DAY COMPETITION, would be optimized by the 6.0 85. Not today.

 

[GregOz]

Mate, I appreciate the input but I have no doubts at all that Im capable of winning using a racquet like the PS 6.0 85. I mean, we're not playing for sheep stations or anything like that are we? So, the truth is if you're a good enough player you can use whatever you fancy. I dont need a light weight, larger headed racquet to generate pace and I dont find it in any way difficult to hit the sweetspot - that is why we watch the ball in the first place. Sure, if I was still playing State level competition on dirt courts I might think about it, but Im not. I play A grade tennis on medium fast hardcourts, have won club tournaments around Australia over the last 20 years and pretty much all using the old Dunlop 200G (at 13.5 ounces) which has a head size smaller than the Wilson. So, I dont think the ps 85 is going to hold me back any.

Most players, at all but the highest levels of club play still make far too many errors and one of the biggest culprits is racquets too large and too powerful for them coupled with a lack of court craft.

Perhaps in another 10 years time, when my level and strength has dropped appreciably I'll go to something lighter and larger. Right now, its a liability. Control and court craft plus a good level of fitness win you far more matches than brute power. The way to achieve that is to use something predictable and controllable which is the very reason Im asking about this particular racquet.

 

[drakulie]

I've seen/coached beginners (10-14 years of age) using the PS 85. I have also seen the same beginners using "tweener" racquets. There strokes are not that much different. They miss the same amount of balls, have the same amount of mis-hits, etc. More often many of them complain of pain in there arms when using the lighter racquets. Of course, mechanics is a big cause of that. However, many lighter racquets with larger heads have more of the swing weight concentrated in the head-so that in itself may be the cause. Many of them in fact enjoy the PS 85 more than the lighter 'tweener" racquets, but don't know the difference.

Anyway, my point is anybody could use the PS 85, or any other racquet for that matter. It is just a matter of preference.

 

[BreakPoint]

The nSix-One 90 is the stiffest of the three, next comes the PS 6.0 85, and the most flexible is the PS 6.0 95. You may want to keep that in mind. I find all three to have good feel, with the PS 85 and 95 having more of that classic, "wood-like" feel. If you liked the feel of the Dunlop Max 200G then you should also like the feel of the PS 85 and 95, with the 95 having a closer feel to the Max 200G because both are soft feeling racquets. The Max 200G and PS 85/95 were designed at a time when most people still used wood racquets so they couldn't deviate too much from the weight and feel of wood, which is why they are the most "wood-like" racquets out there. I also used a Max 200G for 13 years and now use the PS 6.0 95. It's the closest thing in feel and control I could find to the Max 200G.

BTW, the nSix-One 95 is NOTHING like the other three racquets. DO NOT confuse the nSix-One 95 with the PS 6.0 95 in any way, shape, or form. They are completely different and the only thing they have in common is a 95 head size. The nSix-One 95 is a descendent of the PS 6.1 Classic and HPS 6.1, whereas, the nSix-One Tour 90 is a descendent of the PS 6.0 85/95. Too different lines of racquets.

 

[alan-n]

Thanks Alan. Ive never been a user of a vibration dampner. Now that is a 'feel' or lack of one that I just dont like.

AndewD, do you by any chance play up at the University of Queensland, tuesdays and sundays?

You'd probably won't like Wilson's NCode line, though the NCode tour 90 has the most "feel" of Wilson's new line. The NCode Tour 90 definite feels to be the most solid and off center hits have a better chance than the 6.0s, but the racket head feels and sounds "muted" on off center hits, like it is filled with foam. On ground stokes there is plenty of enough vibrations to know where the ball hit the racket for feel players, but if you are a player that depends on this at the net than the NCode Tour might disappoint on touch and drop volleys.... Since touch shots have even less vibrations, for the most part I've always depended more on how the ball sounds coming off the strings than the vibrations through my hand.

If you like the classical 6.0 feel than also consider the original tour 90.

 

[HeavyBall]

Did I, anywhere in my post, recommend a 10 oz granny stick as the ONLY alternative to the 6.0 85? Everytime someone merely "suggests" around here that the 6.0 probably isn't ideal from a performance standpoint, everyone assumes they are advocating the Head IX16, a racket I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

A beginner, particularily a young one, is going to experience a similar level of contact success whether he/she is using a 110si or a lightweight frying pan. I believe a beginner's game WILL be best served by using a slightly heavier, slightly more demanding racket than they would otherwise use. My response was based on the assumption that the poster was not a beginner.

The fact that you've won state level tournaments over the last 20 years with a 200g is great, but I'm talking about today. I know you guys love your 6.0 85's. Hell, I have three myself, and enjoy hitting with them. But I will never play my best with them.

I said in my original post that if winning tennis isn't the only reason you play, then use whatever you enjoy playing with. But if winning is everything, as it is for most pros and college players, don't pick up the 6.0 85. And guess what percentage of pros and college players use it?

They can't afford to.

 

[alan-n]

alan-n,

you mention how they would play if you strung them in the mid range. well, how do you think they would each go strung at low tensions. I currently use a Prestige Pro strung at 45lbs and no control issues at all (was a previous old style 200G user so game is geared to the low tension range) but would be interested in swapping to one of those racquets mentioned as the Prestige is just a tad 'soft' in feel for me. How do you think the nCode and the PS 85 would go at around the 45lb mark and how low do you think you could go with the 95?

Andrew, I can't comment of the 6.0 95 as I've never played one at low tension ranges. The 85 and NCode 90 I can comment as I've played with both strung and restrung with NRG2-17 to find my tension range. The NCode 90 the lowest tension I could control consistently was in the mid 50s, thats after the initial tension loss... any more loss of tension and it was a bit too powerful. The same with the 85 except in the lower 50s.