After some racquet advice.

[adams_1]

Hi everybody.

I've been playing with my O3 Red for around 2 years now, and I think it's about time I moved on to something new.

Unfortunately, there aren't any serious tennis shops where I live, just regular sports stores, so it's not easy to demo things, and range is can also be a bit of an issue.

I'm thinking I should go for something smaller and heavier. Today I grabbed an nBlade (mp) demo stick, which i'll be hitting with on Monday. Anyway, i'd like some suggestions as to what else I should look at, as well as your thoughts on the nBlade, and any other comments you might have.

Thanks in advance.

 

[In)SpiRe]

I think itll help if you tell us your style of play and what u want out of the racquet.

 

[meowmix]

Not sure what kind of stick you want. If you want something similar to the nblade (which is what, 11.1 ounces, 3 or 4 points headlight, 98 head or something), you should try the radicals (any of the MP ones), a Dunlop 300 (any of them), TT Warrior (MP), Volkl 9 (any of them), Wilson K 6-1 team, Wilson K zen MP, Prince O3 Tour (maybe). However, you should really tell us what you want: a MP? high control? mid control? how flexible? how heavy? what kind of game you have?

 

[adams_1]

The things you forget to put in when posting while half asleep... : D

Playing style.. well... I have a 2HBH that I hit fairly hard, with decent but not amazing topspin. Also throw in the occasional slice. FH is probably a little weaker, but similar in terms of spin. We play a lot of doubles around here, so I spend a lot of time at the net, and can volley quite well from either wing. I'm having a little trouble with my serve at the moment, but I don't have much of a problem with getting power or kick on it. Just ball toss issues, not racquet issues.

I'm looking for something with more weight than my O3 Red. To be honest, the nBlade feels a little lighter than what I was after, but I haven't actually hit with it yet, so I don't really know what i'm on about. Also want a smaller head. I think somewhere around a 98 would be right. I don't think I could make the jump to a 95. I want more control than i'm getting now, but don't want to be having to belt the ball to get it over the net. The power isn't a huge issue, but it still needs some pop.

I had been thinking about the Dunlop 300 (AG or M-Fil), but I didn't see a single Dunlop in either shop. One had a Flexpoint Radical Tour on sale, but didn't have one I could demo, and I want to know what i'm getting. I think they had an O3 tour available, so I might give one a try when I take the nBlade back.

I'm wondering if the nBlade's 18 x 20 string pattern will make it too hard for me to generate spin.

So there. Hopefully i've given you all enough information to help you form an opinion. If there's anything else you need to know, then fire away!

 

[tbini87]

what level do you play at and how much money are you looking to spend?

 

[adams_1]

Don't know how you'd describe my playing level, but put i'll try... I played A grade juniors in the local winter comp in the season just gone. So far in the summer comp they've had me playing pretty low sections, but i've been winning, so I should keep moving up. We have about 10 or so sections, 1 being the highest, and i've been in 6 the last two weeks, but I know i'd be quite capable of playing in section 3, maybe even 2, as I played with those kids in the winter and train with one of them. I've trained with some of the section 1 kids, but i'm not up to that level yet. They're big. And scary.

As for money... i'd rather not spend $380 (I'm looking at you, Speedport range ), but price isn't a huge issue. Racquets are expensive things, but I want the right one.

 

[adams_1]

I managed to get out and have a quick hit with the nBlade this afternoon, but didn't really learn anything. It was terribly windy, and I was playing with someone who doesn't play tennis so I didn't get to hit anything like what i'll get in a match.

Still looking for opinions

 

[smirker]

I managed to get out and have a quick hit with the nBlade this afternoon, but didn't really learn anything. It was terribly windy, and I was playing with someone who doesn't play tennis so I didn't get to hit anything like what i'll get in a match.

Still looking for opinions

I play with the m-fil you mentioned, the 300. Gotta say its a sweet racquet. Plus you can pick one up dirt cheap off TW.

My hitting partner was struggling with his control with his current stick, tried my spare m-fil 300 and loved it so much he went out and bought 2 the next day! Great balance of power/feel/control thats not too heavy, easy to customize and cheap. Hard to fault it really.