Aggressive Baseliner making a racket switch

[TennisManiac]

I've decided to commit to making a racket switch in 2023. I'm a 4.5 aggressive baseliner with a one handed backhand who will not hesitate to move forward to end a point on a short ball when the opportunity presents itself. I've been using a modified "polarized" Pro Staff 97 since 2015. I'm looking for a racket that will provide me with a bit more power and the same "if not more" control and spin. I've been doing lots and lots of research lately and have decided to try a few different rackets. Unfortunately two of the rackets will not come out until early 2023. So as I sit here and wait for a couple of months. I was wondering what others would choose and why? I'm considering committing to one of the following rackets.

HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic - (on the market now)
HEAD Radical MP Auxetic - (on the market Jan. 2023.)
Babolat Pure Aero 98 "formerly PAVS" (on the market Jan. 2023)

Would love to hear opinions.

And for what its worth. I'll be modifying these rackets to bring them up to my spec range which is around 338 to 340 static weight and 335 to 340 swingweight.

 

[NickJ]

Personally, I'd wait on the Radical and the Pro version as I prefer a heavier stick. Hopefully they'll come up with a less hideous paintjob than the current model but the Rad with Auxetic is going to be gooood!

 

[Konik_1982]

I´d go for the Radical MP. I tried the Pro version (360+) during this year and felt somehow sluggish to me - even though my current stick is RF97. The Radical MP is a great racquet even in current iteration and since you mentioned you are not afraid to use lead tape I would say it might be perfect for you. Try to check the video on YT about Tennisnerd´s buddy Nikki Roen who has the Radical MP customized and was comparing it to the Pro version. Some very interesting points he has there ;-)

 

[TennisManiac]

Try to check the video on YT about Tennisnerd´s buddy Nikki Roen who has the Radical MP customized and was comparing it to the Pro version. Some very interesting points he has there ;-)

I watched it last night.

 

[Vale46]

Would also prefer a heavier stick. Radical Pro or modified Radical MP is close to ProStaff..imo
What about customized Ezone98 ... lead at 3&9 and counterbalance with leather grip?

 

[TennisManiac]

Would also prefer a heavier stick. Radical Pro or modified Radical MP is close to ProStaff..imo
What about customized Ezone98 ... lead at 3&9 and counterbalance with leather grip?

To be honest, I never tried this one. I tried the Ezone 98 Tour and thought it was too clunky and slow through the air. Also felt too flexy and didn't get the ball out of the stringbed quick enough.

 

[Vale46]

To be honest, I never tried this one. I tried the Ezone 98 Tour and thought it was too clunky and slow through the air. Also felt too flexy and didn't get the ball out of the stringbed quick enough.

yep...regular ezone98 is slighly stiffer than tour if I remember correctly.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Yonex Vcore Pro H, Pure Strike Tour.

 

[Trip]

@TennisManiac - Are you using the 2014 Pro Staff 97 (red, with black paint at 9 & 3)? If not, which one, precisely? I want to confirm before jumping into suggestions.

 

[TennisManiac]

@TennisManiac - Are you using the 2014 Pro Staff 97 (red, with black paint at 9 & 3)? If not, which one, precisely? I want to confirm before jumping into suggestions.

The very first one that came out. I always considered it the 2014. But lots of people say it's actually considered the 2015. So who knows? But yes... it's the red with black at 3 and 9.

 

[TennisManiac]

Yonex Vcore Pro H, Pure Strike Tour.

Tried the Pure Strike Tour and thought it was too clunky and slow through the air. Not my cup of tea.

 

[Trip]

Gotcha. In that case, I would look at the following frames (alphabetically by brand/model):

Babolat Pure Aero 98 (forthcoming)
Dunlop FX 500 Tour
Furi Arma Pro 98
Head Radical MP
Tecnifibre TF40 315 16x19
Tecnifibre TFight 315 RS
Volkl V-Cell 10 320
Yonex EZone 98

You already know this, but I wouldn't judge any of them until you get them customized to your spec and strung with your typical string and tension of choice.

As for why I left a few out some that others have suggested:
- Pure Strike Tour - Was going to include it, but you caught me just in time.
- Boom Pro - Many say that it's a bit erratic, and a bit bizarre feeling in the top of the string bed (perhaps a sign that Head released a frame to stem the Yonex Isometric tide a bit too prematurely...)
- Extreme Tour - Coming from a Pro Staff, I think you're going to find the string bed a bit overly launchy and in need of perhaps more windshield-wiper stroke path than you may be able or willing to offer.
- VCore Pro 97H - If you found the Ezone Tour to be too soft, then the any VCore Pro will probably be a no-go, and the 97H may be too heavy in ready-to-play form anyways.

 

[socallefty]

I'm looking for a racket that will provide me with a bit more power and the same "if not more" control and spin.

Have you considered tweaking your string job? When you essentially like your racquet but want to change only one or two performance aspects, you can ‘tune’ it by stringing it differently. Thinner gauge, lower tension, less stiff string are all worth trying out to get more power. It is a lot easier than adjusting to a new racquet and rarely do you get more power and more control - usually it is a tradeoff.

 

[Fintft]

Artengo Tr9360

 

[bobeeto]

Have you considered tweaking your string job? When you essentially like your racquet but want to change only one or two performance aspects, you can ‘tune’ it by stringing it differently. Thinner gauge, lower tension, less stiff string are all worth trying out to get more power. It is a lot easier than adjusting to a new racquet and rarely do you get more power and more control - usually it is a tradeoff.

I agree with this, it’s always odd to get used to a new racket through the air, thin gauges are really nice and often overlooked due to durability. But if you dont break strings, 1.15 was even a really nice experience!

 

[Slicehand]

the extreme, the radical is not powerful enough and the aero beam is not good for a one hander, theres a reason no one hander uses it on tour, it doesnt feel right on the one hander moving trough the air, and stability can be an issue too

 

[socallefty]

the aero beam is not good for a one hander, theres a reason no one hander uses it on tour, it doesnt feel right on the one hander moving trough the air, and stability can be an issue too

Off the top of my head, pros with 1HBHs using Aero Beams are Ram, Cecchinato, Bolelli - Ram is the #1 doubles ranked player in the world. On the WTA, Shiavone won a Slam with it. There are not too many top pros with a 1HBH anymore and their racquets are all over the spectrum in terms of specs. No reason a rec player can’t play with it as the pro game has nothing to do with rec tennis. Many 2HBH topspin pros using the Aero beam including Nadal slice with 1HBHs - is it ok for a slice swing and not a topspin swing?

I was a happy user of the AeroStorm Tour for several years 15 years ago with a 1HBH at the 4.5 level. What is the scientific hypothesis for why the Aero beam doesn‘t feel right for 1HBH? What does an Aero beam do anyway that is different from other beam shapes and why would that make it unsuitable for 1HBH swings and not other swings?

 

[Trip]

@Slicehand - Are you referring to the Extreme Tour, Radical MP or both? Regardless, I think that's a bit of nonsense. Either one would make a fine one-handed backhand racquet. As for pro's supossedly not using them, Musetti is using a PT348.1, which is a PT layup in an Extreme Tour mold (painted to look like a Boom Pro) and fellow one-handed Italian, Andrea Arnaboldi, at one point used a Radical as well. And I'm sure I could find more if I really started digging. As @socallefty mentioned, there are plenty of one-handers using aggressive elliptical beams. I myself had a fine time even using the Pure Aero 2023 for a one-hander. So I would respectfully have to disagree on the assertion that these types of frames aren't appropriate for a one-hander.

 

[naturalexponent]

@Slicehand - Are you referring to the Extreme Tour, Radical MP or both? Regardless, I think that's a bit of nonsense. Either one would make a fine one-handed backhand racquet. As for pro's supossedly not using them, Musetti is using a PT348.1, which is a PT layup in an Extreme Tour mold (painted to look like a Boom Pro) and fellow one-handed Italian, Andrea Arnaboldi, at one point used a Radical as well. And I'm sure I could find more if I really started digging. As @socallefty mentioned, there are plenty of one-handers using aggressive elliptical beams. I myself had a fine time even using the Pure Aero 2023 for a one-hander. So I would respectfully have to disagree on the assertion that these types of frames aren't appropriate for a one-hander.

Agree with all this. I have a one hander and I played just fine with both the ET and the Rad MP, and I have no issues with that shot when using a PAVS which has the aero beam. I don't think one handers are particularly more linear in their swing paths than a 2 hander (in fact many 2 handers hit flatter). To the extent @Slicehand is right that aero beams are not common among one handers on tour, that probably has more to do with the rarity of one handers on tour generally.

 

[Slicehand]

Off the top of my head, pros with 1HBHs using Aero Beams are Ram, Cecchinato, Bolelli - Ram is the #1 doubles ranked player in the world. On the WTA, Shiavone won a Slam with it. There are not too many top pros with a 1HBH anymore and their racquets are all over the spectrum in terms of specs. No reason a rec player can’t play with it as the pro game has nothing to do with rec tennis. Many 2HBH topspin pros using the Aero beam including Nadal slice with 1HBHs - is it ok for a slice swing and not a topspin swing?

I was a happy user of the AeroStorm Tour for several years 15 years ago with a 1HBH at the 4.5 level. What is the scientific hypothesis for why the Aero beam doesn‘t feel right for 1HBH? What does an Aero beam do anyway that is different from other beam shapes and why would that make it unsuitable for 1HBH swings and not other swings?

Have you tried it? If you do youll see what i mean, yeah maybe some pros use it, (altough a doubles player using it doenst mean much) but in my opinion its just not very well suited for a one hander, of course you could use it, just like you can play with a wooden spoon, but since the OP gave 3 options, i gave my opinion, to me it doesnt feel as right for a OHB as a more classic beam

 

[Slicehand]

Agree with all this. I have a one hander and I played just fine with both the ET and the Rad MP, and I have no issues with that shot when using a PAVS which has the aero beam. I don't think one handers are particularly more linear in their swing paths than a 2 hander (in fact many 2 handers hit flatter). To the extent @Slicehand is right that aero beams are not common among one handers on tour, that probably has more to do with the rarity of one handers on tour generally.

I meantjust the vs, to me it doesnt feel right at contact and trough the air for my one hander, and its not a matter of the stroke because i hit it perfectly with other frames, yeah i can hit it, but doesnt feel as right as with a more classic frame, just my opinion

 

[naturalexponent]

Have you tried it? If you do youll see what i mean, yeah maybe some pros use it, (altough a doubles player using it doenst mean much) but in my opinion its just not very well suited for a one hander, of course you could use it, just like you can playwith a wooden spoon, but since the OP gave 3 options, i gave my opinion, to me it doesnt feel as right for a OHB as a more classic beam

I now understand your prior comment haha. You were recommending the Extreme. I didn't get that from the original post. Sounded like you were saying all of them were not good. But I get that that's your personal preference.

 

[socallefty]

Have you tried it?

I mentioned in my post that I played with an AeroStorm Tour for several years. If it is your opinion based on personal experience, that is fine. You sounded so certain in your original post that I thought you were making some kind of technical hypothesis on why a 1HBH can’t work with an Aero beam.

 

[Wilsonbro]

Pure strike 1820

 

[TennisManiac]

Have you considered tweaking your string job? When you essentially like your racquet but want to change only one or two performance aspects, you can ‘tune’ it by stringing it differently. Thinner gauge, lower tension, less stiff string are all worth trying out to get more power. It is a lot easier than adjusting to a new racquet and rarely do you get more power and more control - usually it is a tradeoff.

Yeah I experimented with strings for years. Different brands, gauges ect. But I'm stuck on Alu Power at 45. Nothing really to change there. I'm looking to replace my frames because they're almost eight years old now. They've lost the "pop" that they once had when they were fresh. Not that they had much to begin with. I'm just tired of using an ultra low powered racket like the Pro Staff.

 

[Dansan]

I'm a baseline basher...my specs are between 323g and 330g pushing 33cm balance.

Extreme Tour needs lead and you'll end up in the 330s without a leather grip depending on your balance point. With leather your in the 340s.

I did not gel with the ET although I know there's a growing following. It's string sensitive and lacking feel - I need more time with trying different string setups. I know a frame is good when I can hit backhand and forehand slices with a lot of precision and feel, volleys, ect. ET didn't do it for me.

Moved onto Speed graphene touch mp. I'm at 328g and 33cm balance...it's got a lot of promise depending on strings/tension. I string mine pretty high (56-59lbs 16g full poly) to control the 16x19 pattern.

#1 for me is auxetic head speed pro. 100sqin open 18x20...if you can get matched frames within spec it's a great racquet. I play with matched TGT 339.1s which is basically the same thing. 327g 33cm balance with leather grip. Versatile, hit's a big ball, does everything well. Loads of feel. Can't promise you'll get that weight and balance with the retail speed pro, but you can get close to what you are looking for.

 

[TennisManiac]

I'm a baseline basher...my specs are between 323g and 330g pushing 33cm balance.

Extreme Tour needs lead and you'll end up in the 330s without a leather grip depending on your balance point. With leather your in the 340s.

I did not gel with the ET although I know there's a growing following. It's string sensitive and lacking feel - I need more time with trying different string setups. I know a frame is good when I can hit backhand and forehand slices with a lot of precision and feel, volleys, ect. ET didn't do it for me.

Moved onto Speed graphene touch mp. I'm at 328g and 33cm balance...it's got a lot of promise depending on strings/tension. I string mine pretty high (56-59lbs 16g full poly) to control the 16x19 pattern.

#1 for me is auxetic head speed pro. 100sqin open 18x20...if you can get matched frames within spec it's a great racquet. I play with matched TGT 339.1s which is basically the same thing. 327g 33cm balance with leather grip. Versatile, hit's a big ball, does everything well. Loads of feel. Can't promise you'll get that weight and balance with the retail speed pro, but you can get close to what you are looking for.

I bought a matched pair of 360+ Speed Pros the other year and didn't care much for them after the honeymoon period "two practice sessions". They were way to clunky and slow for me. Just didn't like them. Ended up selling them both for much less than what I paid for them just to get rid of them.

 

[AmericanTwist]

OP lose the full bed ALU power. Install natural gut hybrid or full bed and report back. Btw, it's not really possible to get more power AND control/spin in a racquet though I think with the pocketing of natural gut it is possible to get both. Try a different string set up before switching frames the v.10 PS 97 is a classic and original for the most recent line (2014-2022 current). The frame definitely has good controllable power and spin.

 

[Tmano]

Here is my opinion and hopefully it helps,
if i were really to go for and Etreme i would try the MP instead of the tour. I tested it and yes it might have a little more power than your Wilson on the FH side but your one hand back hands would suffer a lack of power with it. My friend who has a powerful one hand back hand, a 5.0 demo it and discarded it. He hit with it 20 minutes and then he wanted my opinion as well. I left a brief review on the head Aux Extreme thread.
Now he is testing the Yonex Vcore pro 97, the new one but i did not get to test it personally and i did not hear his impression with it yet.

The yonex vcore 97 could be the one you are looking for. It might need sole lead but that is the one i would definitely test if i had one hand back hand. I actually am going to demo it soon to have a better idea. Otherwise the EX MP.

A string i have come to like that i was skeptical is Tour hex 1.23 and would fit any or the two racquets i mentioned.

 

[TennisManiac]

The yonex vcore 97 could be the one you are looking for.

I had one on these two years ago. I added lead to the tip to get the SW up. I thought it was very comfortable. It had really nice control and decent spin. But it was very low powered. It was so flexy that it was absorbing a lot of energy from the ball. Dwell time was too long for me. So I unloaded it.

 

[TennisManiac]

OP lose the full bed ALU power. Try a different string set up before switching frames.

I've probably tried somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 different poly's and a couple of gut hybrids over the past 4 or 5 years. Imo... nothing can compete with Alu Power. The only other string that I may consider after finding a new frame to commit with would be M8. That's it.

 

[Tmano]

I had one on these two years ago. I added lead to the tip to get the SW up. I thought it was very comfortable. It had really nice control and decent spin. But it was very low powered. It was so flexy that it was absorbing a lot of energy from the ball. Dwell time was too long for me. So I unloaded it.

The new one according to reviews on here should be different. I will ask my friend what he thinks and i will report back to confirm.

 

[Dansan]

I bought a matched pair of 360+ Speed Pros the other year and didn't care much for them after the honeymoon period "two practice sessions". They were way to clunky and slow for me. Just didn't like them. Ended up selling them both for much less than what I paid for them just to get rid of them.

Well now that's a bummer man.
Can't comment on the 360+ speed pro, have not used it.

Since you're finding a lot of frames to be slow and clunky you may need to stick with something headlight or start eatin' your Wheaties . Doesn't surprise me since you're coming from a pro staff, those are traditionally pretty headlight.

 

[Trip]

@TennisManiac - Since you had a Speed Pro experience akin to the one you detailed, that affirms even more that you probably want to be sticking to a medium-stiffness, 6pt+ HL strung frame, <=22-23mm average beam, likely <100" -- ie. the list of 98's I suggested in my first reply, which has so many killer sticks in it... one of them has to be a fit.

 

[Tmano]

I've probably tried somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 different poly's and a couple of gut hybrids over the past 4 or 5 years. Imo... nothing can compete with Alu Power. The only other string that I may consider after finding a new frame to commit with would be M8. That's it.

My friend plays quite well with the 360+prestige pro. I tested it too and it has a nice blend of power and control. The power is a little more than you would get from the ET.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

@TennisManiac I'd suggest wait for the new Radical MP Auxentic.
@Trip I bought the Head Boom Pro and got it last week. I've played about 2.5 hours with the Topspin Max Rotation 1.27 at 24 kg (53 lbs). I'm thinking about creating a "thread" about my experience with it. Would you members be interested in it?
I actually was not in the market for a new racket as I use the Diadem Nova FS 100 and Elevate FS 98, but got in touch with Head about some products and decided to take a leap of faith with the Boom Pro since it's a brand new series. I also like the teardrop, isometric-ish shape. Yonex was always my 2nd option beside Head.

 

[TennisManiac]

Well now that's a bummer man.
Can't comment on the 360+ speed pro, have not used it.

Since you're finding a lot of frames to be slow and clunky you may need to stick with something headlight or start eatin' your Wheaties . Doesn't surprise me since you're coming from a pro staff, those are traditionally pretty headlight.

My Pro Staffs have a static weight of 340 grams and are 5 pts. Hl. And I was actually playing with the RF97 for a while too. So I'm very capable of playing with heavy rackets. I think the Speed Pro's 100 square inch head and the 18x20 string pattern made it difficult to cut through the air. Which is why it feels slow and clunky to me.

 

[Tmano]

My friend plays quite well with the 360+prestige pro. I tested it too and it has a nice blend of power and control. The power is a little more than you would get from the ET.

He did not get the Vcore pro 97 310 yes due to high demand!
However he demo also the new Aux prestige Pro 18x20 and he liked it quite a bit.
He is going to demo the new AUX radical, boom pro.

 

[TennisManiac]

@TennisManiac - Since you had a Speed Pro experience akin to the one you detailed, that affirms even more that you probably want to be sticking to a medium-stiffness, 6pt+ HL strung frame, <=22-23mm average beam, likely <100" -- ie. the list of 98's I suggested in my first reply, which has so many killer sticks in it... one of them has to be a fit.

You do have a nice list there. You seem to know your rackets.

 

[TennisManiac]

He did not get the Vcore pro 97 310 yes due to high demand!
However he demo also the new Aux prestige Pro 18x20 and he liked it quite a bit.
He is going to demo the new AUX radical, boom pro.

One of my hitting partners just bought a Auxetic Prestige Pro 18x20 and said that he likes it as well. I'll test it out.

 

[TennisManiac]

I'm really leaning hard towards the Pure Aero 98 when it comes out. I'll be really disappointed if it doesn't work. I keep hearing some say that it's not good for the one handed backhand because of the aero beam design. But it doesn't look like it would be a problem to me. It's not chunky like the regular Pure Aero. And I do play with a lot of topspin from my backhand side. So I've got a lot of low to high going on in my stroke. It's such a sweet looking frame.

 

[Trip]

@TennisManiac - In the meantime, why not demo some of the others suggested here, so you can narrow down on a potential top competitor or two for the PA98 to beat. Then you won't be left with any doubt if it's the "one" or not by that time.

 

[A_Instead]

Tennis Manic.... maybe a 4.5 when you play Left handed...
5.0 is more like it...

 

[ohplease]

I think most of the difference between stuff like the volkl 10 and tf40 and something like the pro staff 97 could probably be covered by stringing (as pointed out, above)

If you really wanted a step up in power, that's probably player 100s (speed, gravity, strike 100, vcore pro, etc.) or power 98s (aero/drive vs, fx500 tour, strke 98, iga 298, ezone/vcore 98, etc.). You might also just want to try the latest pro staff 97 - 7 years is a long time and it might be the case that your current frames have softened up in that time

Gotcha. In that case, I would look at the following frames (alphabetically by brand/model):

Babolat Pure Aero 98 (forthcoming)
Dunlop FX 500 Tour
Furi Arma Pro 98
Head Radical MP
Tecnifibre TF40 315 16x19
Tecnifibre TFight 315 RS
Volkl V-Cell 10 320
Yonex EZone 98

You already know this, but I wouldn't judge any of them until you get them customized to your spec and strung with your typical string and tension of choice.

As for why I left a few out some that others have suggested:
- Pure Strike Tour - Was going to include it, but you caught me just in time.
- Boom Pro - Many say that it's a bit erratic, and a bit bizarre feeling in the top of the string bed (perhaps a sign that Head released a frame to stem the Yonex Isometric tide a bit too prematurely...)
- Extreme Tour - Coming from a Pro Staff, I think you're going to find the string bed a bit overly launchy and in need of perhaps more windshield-wiper stroke path than you may be able or willing to offer.
- VCore Pro 97H - If you found the Ezone Tour to be too soft, then the any VCore Pro will probably be a no-go, and the 97H may be too heavy in ready-to-play form anyways.

 

[Xpherex]

Artengo Tr9360

those guys having a mistake on their website saying it's only 58.5 cm.

@TennisManiac I think you should also give a try to PK KI5 series, it feels quite powerful and control oriented, the feel of the racquet is however different so I suggest to give it a try for a longer period of time than just hitting it few times.

 

[Fintft]

those guys having a mistake on their website saying it's only 58.5 cm.

@TennisManiac I think you should also give a try to PK KI5 series, it feels quite powerful and control oriented, the feel of the racquet is however different so I suggest to give it a try for a longer period of time than just hitting it few times.

My two favourite frames!

 

[blai212]

RF97 is a great racquet if you can handle the weight…if not, pure strike 98 or v7 blade 98 are amazing for baseline bashing

 

[socallefty]

You might also just want to try the latest pro staff 97 - 7 years is a long time and it might be the case that your current frames have softened up in that time

Good comment about the racquet getting softer with many string jobs over 7 years. If you liked your old racquet, first option should be to try the latest version of it.

 

[Saitamaxpunch1]

Why not test the Pure Aero VS? Looks just as good and is the actual model Alcaraz and Rune are using. They are very unlikely to switch to Aero 98 (if there is a spec change) given how successful they've been this year.

 

[Saitamaxpunch1]

Also worth looking at this thread which also ran a poll similar to yours from last year:

Best suited racket for Advanced (4.5-5.0) aggressive baseline player

Please add any recommendations. This is what I’ve narrowed it down to from personal experience and forum reading. preferred specs: Headsizs: 95-98 String pattern: 16x19 Weight: 330-350 Swingweight: 325-335 Stiffness: 62-68RA thanks in advance!

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