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Deleted member 25923
Guest
So, here's a bit about me:
I'm going to be a junior in high school. I played with a 2 handed backhand, Semiwestern grip. I hit with topspin and flat, and I also like to slice my backhand.
Lately, i've been playing more baseline, but my ultimate goal is to play S&V/All court. I play doubles for my high school (played varsity last year).
My serve is often kick serve, with some first serves flattened out. I don't hit too many slice serves.
The coach at my camp said i'm about a 3.0.
Last season, I played with the Head FXP Radical tour. Good stick, but I had shoulder issues at one point. Come summer, shoulder issues went away, but I felt I didn't get enough out of the stick. I had to work too hard.
Then I tried my old Yonex RDX500 MP (first stick ever), and it was great. The weight was pretty perfect, as was the flex, but it just lacked the pop, especially for serve.
Here are the sticks I demo'd:
AG100
AG 4D 300 Tour
MG Radical MP
Babolat Pure storm tour
As you can see, all of the racquets are rather flexible. I don't really use too stiff of racquets.
We shall go from worst to best. Note: This is all IMO/IME.
Babolat Pure Storm Tour:
I had very high expectations for this racquet. I heard all kinds of great feedback about this stick. Plus, the comfort I heard about made me demo this over the PSL.
When I hit with it, I could not get anything out of it. The stick felt dead to me if it made any sense. I could not click with this racquet. I used it for groundstroke and volley drills, and they were very disappointing, so I didn't even bother with serves (if I can't hit good groundstrokes or volleys, how am I gonna win points?).
I don't know if it was the fact that the swingweight on this one was 338 while the others were much lower (310-322 I believe), but this racquet is just not for me.
Microgel Radical MP:
I actually really liked this racquet. Much, much better than the PST. It was very, very easy to swing in stock form. On the other hand, it had just enough heft to make me like it more than the nTour (nice frame, just too light).
The comfort was great. The only thing that it lacked was this "It" factor. If it had about .5 oz more weight, it would be great. Just barely too light. Also, it seems that I would have to work harder on serve.
Great racquet, just not quite there.
Aerogel 4D 300 Tour:
First off, do not be deceived by the online photos. This frame is HOT in person. Awesome paintjob.
I really loved this frame. It was so nice and maneuverable to hit with. The frame has just enough stiffness to provide some oomph, but it's also very comfortable. The 18x20 pattern does not make it feel boardy. Plenty of spin to be found here.
There was nothing bad about this frame at all. I could hit all of my shots just fine with this stick. It was awesome, but not quite perfect.
Aerogel 100:
Finally, the winner. At first, I thought the 90 sq in head size would be trouble. The only real trouble it provides is psychological (at times, if I shanked, I would blame my headsize, but it's all in my head. I would just look back at the frame and say, "Well if i'm shanking where I think I shanked, no headsize will stop that."). Honestly, the headsize is not an issue at all. Stack it up on the 300 tour, and you'll barely notice the difference. I did the same with a N90 and wilson 95. Same results.
This frame had the familiar heft of the RDX500, and it had the pop that the Yonex lacked. Serves with this frame were great! I could hit my kicker, flat, and even the slice I often have trouble with (I'm a strange player. I can hit the kick just fine, but slice is more troublesome
).
On groundstrokes, I could hit the heaviest balls i've ever hit (at least IMO). Lots of power to be found here, and the spin is great too.
The frame is comfortable in all respects, but I agree with some that it plays stiffer than specs. Not a problem though.
The AG100 is a very unique stick. It just barely beat out the AG 4D 300 tour. The big selling point was how much more confidence I had in my game and serves and the familiar heft of the frame. The low SW also helped me hit well with this frame. Perfect in all respects.
There you have it, the AG100 sounds like the stick for me.
I have one question though: I've often heard the comparision between the AG300 16x18 and the 100. Is there things the 300 does better, or should I just stick with what I know will work other than shooting in the dark?
I'm going to be a junior in high school. I played with a 2 handed backhand, Semiwestern grip. I hit with topspin and flat, and I also like to slice my backhand.
Lately, i've been playing more baseline, but my ultimate goal is to play S&V/All court. I play doubles for my high school (played varsity last year).
My serve is often kick serve, with some first serves flattened out. I don't hit too many slice serves.
The coach at my camp said i'm about a 3.0.
Last season, I played with the Head FXP Radical tour. Good stick, but I had shoulder issues at one point. Come summer, shoulder issues went away, but I felt I didn't get enough out of the stick. I had to work too hard.
Then I tried my old Yonex RDX500 MP (first stick ever), and it was great. The weight was pretty perfect, as was the flex, but it just lacked the pop, especially for serve.
Here are the sticks I demo'd:
AG100
AG 4D 300 Tour
MG Radical MP
Babolat Pure storm tour
As you can see, all of the racquets are rather flexible. I don't really use too stiff of racquets.
We shall go from worst to best. Note: This is all IMO/IME.
Babolat Pure Storm Tour:
I had very high expectations for this racquet. I heard all kinds of great feedback about this stick. Plus, the comfort I heard about made me demo this over the PSL.
When I hit with it, I could not get anything out of it. The stick felt dead to me if it made any sense. I could not click with this racquet. I used it for groundstroke and volley drills, and they were very disappointing, so I didn't even bother with serves (if I can't hit good groundstrokes or volleys, how am I gonna win points?).
I don't know if it was the fact that the swingweight on this one was 338 while the others were much lower (310-322 I believe), but this racquet is just not for me.
Microgel Radical MP:
I actually really liked this racquet. Much, much better than the PST. It was very, very easy to swing in stock form. On the other hand, it had just enough heft to make me like it more than the nTour (nice frame, just too light).
The comfort was great. The only thing that it lacked was this "It" factor. If it had about .5 oz more weight, it would be great. Just barely too light. Also, it seems that I would have to work harder on serve.
Great racquet, just not quite there.
Aerogel 4D 300 Tour:
First off, do not be deceived by the online photos. This frame is HOT in person. Awesome paintjob.
I really loved this frame. It was so nice and maneuverable to hit with. The frame has just enough stiffness to provide some oomph, but it's also very comfortable. The 18x20 pattern does not make it feel boardy. Plenty of spin to be found here.
There was nothing bad about this frame at all. I could hit all of my shots just fine with this stick. It was awesome, but not quite perfect.
Aerogel 100:
Finally, the winner. At first, I thought the 90 sq in head size would be trouble. The only real trouble it provides is psychological (at times, if I shanked, I would blame my headsize, but it's all in my head. I would just look back at the frame and say, "Well if i'm shanking where I think I shanked, no headsize will stop that."). Honestly, the headsize is not an issue at all. Stack it up on the 300 tour, and you'll barely notice the difference. I did the same with a N90 and wilson 95. Same results.
This frame had the familiar heft of the RDX500, and it had the pop that the Yonex lacked. Serves with this frame were great! I could hit my kicker, flat, and even the slice I often have trouble with (I'm a strange player. I can hit the kick just fine, but slice is more troublesome
). On groundstrokes, I could hit the heaviest balls i've ever hit (at least IMO). Lots of power to be found here, and the spin is great too.
The frame is comfortable in all respects, but I agree with some that it plays stiffer than specs. Not a problem though.
The AG100 is a very unique stick. It just barely beat out the AG 4D 300 tour. The big selling point was how much more confidence I had in my game and serves and the familiar heft of the frame. The low SW also helped me hit well with this frame. Perfect in all respects.
There you have it, the AG100 sounds like the stick for me.
I have one question though: I've often heard the comparision between the AG300 16x18 and the 100. Is there things the 300 does better, or should I just stick with what I know will work other than shooting in the dark?
