Anyone like both the n61 95 and the k61 95 ?

[barney]

I haven't gone thru all the n95 and k95 threads, but it seems like many n95 users who've tried the k95 appear to prefer the n95. I'm in that camp as well, though, I'm wondering if I just haven't given the k95 enough time.

My problem with the k95 is control and the overall feel (balance/weight?). I think I could improve the control with tighter strings and maybe I could grow to appreciate the feel if I played with it more often.

So I was wondering if there are any n95/k95 users out there who actually like both. And if you transitioned from the n95 to the k95 could you share your experience ? TIA

 

[Satch]

i am considering getting one n95 because of lack of control in my k95... too much power and very dampened feel.

Only thing that's left is to put the tension very high and try like that but i prefer tension in the middle...

 

[barney]

i am considering getting one n95 because of lack of control in my k95... too much power and very dampened feel.

Thanks Satch. I was a HPS61 95 user prior to the n95 and its kind of interesting that when the n95 first came out, the big complaint was that the n95 had too much power and a very muted feel ! At the time, I really liked the additional power of the n95 so I made the change without hesitation, even though I initially missed the better feel of the HPS and at times, the better control.

It's kind of funny that I now don't think of the n95 as having a muted feel at all and the power is very controllable. That's kind of what makes me wonder if I would come around on the k95 if I just play with it more often.

One transition difference is that I pretty much liked the n95 right away and I committed to it. I'm not feeling the same about the k95. I also wonder if there's an indoor/outdoor factor here. When I moved from the HPS to the n95 it was during outdoor clay season. I haven't used the k95 outdoors yet, though the outdoor season will be starting in the next couple of weeks.

 

[P8ntballa]

Iv played with both and liked both, but i prefer the n95. The k95 has a stiffer feelin that is ok but i jus lik the flexier feel of the n95. If u hang at the baseline then ull prob lik the k95 mor because it puts a little mor zip on the ball, but if u lik the net or play an all court style then ull prob lik the control and feel of the n95 mor.

 

[Ljubicic for number1]

i am considering getting one n95 because of lack of control in my k95... too much power and very dampened feel.

Only thing that's left is to put the tension very high and try like that but i prefer tension in the middle...

You won't want to change to the N95 if you think the K95 is to dampened. The N has a more dampened fell. But is a far superior racquet in my opinion.

 

[Blask]

I have both and like both. I prefer the N95 a little bit over the K95 but they both have positives and negatives.

 

[draconis228]

Played with the n95 for two years, and the k95 for two years. They are very different racquets. The n95 has the control, touch, and lively feel whereas the k95 has the power, stiffness, and is more head heavy. Personally the n95 for me was so much better for my game. The n95 has awesome control and I could always generate my own power, it is not the fact that the n95 has no power just less. The k95 was just too hard to play consistent in so my recommendation is for the n95.

 

[furyoku_tennis]

the n95 and k95 played world's apart for me. they were complete opposites. i just couldn't get the k95 to do what i wanted even after testing different tensions. the n95 was great off the bat. a little adjustment to tension and it was even better.

 

[Tennis Dunce]

The n95 is one of the finest sticks ever produced. IMO, it is light years ahead of the k95...ditto for the blades.

Response, feedback, accuracy are prevelant with the n.

These attributes are not so with the k.

K racquets are world-class, just know that they are othing like an code..and they ever will be.

1.n
2.h
3.k

 

[chris_ah1]

I agree. the K95 even though specwise isn't TOO different from the N95 I find it incredibly different. K95 just felt generally too stiff.

Although I played with the classic pro staff recently and OMG it was buttery smooth. Demanding, but lovely.
wilson have been going downhill personally although ironically I enjoy the KproTour as much as the N95. It might not have the weight or the swingweight, but with it's low stiffness and balance it feels amazing.

For some peculiar reason, even though it shouldn't be the case, n95 is just much better than k95 as a general racket.

 

[charliefedererer]

Wilson took the kevlar out when they went from the N95 to the K95. In doing so they changed the feel and flex of a racquet whose heritage could be traced back to the PS85. The newer all carbon , stiffer frame seems more marketed to all those Babolat frame users that Wilson appears to have gone after.

 

[chris_ah1]

How much kevlar did they take out?
The K95 6.1 has 85% [K]arbon and 15% kevlar?
was it 20% or so in n95?

 

[23232323]

Iv played with both and liked both, but i prefer the n95. The k95 has a stiffer feelin that is ok but i jus lik the flexier feel of the n95. If u hang at the baseline then ull prob lik the k95 mor because it puts a little mor zip on the ball, but if u lik the net or play an all court style then ull prob lik the control and feel of the n95 mor.

Me I liked both rackets as well... But I agree, the k95's stiffer and head heavier... More suited for baseline play... n95 gives more control and feel but less on the power aspect...

The k95 has a better colour scheme than n95 though... But that's what I think

 

[Ljubicic for number1]

Me

The k95 has a better colour scheme than n95 though... But that's what I think

Oh no the N95 paint is classy. K95 looks cheap to me.

 

[Tennis Dunce]

^^ I'll take n95 pj anyday over k95.

 

[furyoku_tennis]

i'm not a big fan of the k95 paintjob either. i do like the k90 paintjob oddly enough.

 

[ksixone95]

K95!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[charliefedererer]

How much kevlar did they take out?
The K95 6.1 has 85% [K]arbon and 15% kevlar?
was it 20% or so in n95?

The K95, like the new PS88, has 0% Kevlar.
(The n95 had 15% Kevlar.)
(The PS85, n90 and K90 have 20% Kevlar.)

 

[tarkowski]

The K95, like the new PS88, has 0% Kevlar.
(The n95 had 15% Kevlar.)
(The PS85, n90 and K90 have 20% Kevlar.)

Actually, for a while, the Wilson web site K95.pdf files listed the K95 as having 15% kevlar. Currently, they don't disclose the material.

 

[jules2]

Why is kevlar so desirable? I've got two n95's and I'm pretty sure I'd swap them for k95's.

 

[23232323]

i'm not a big fan of the k95 paintjob either. i do like the k90 paintjob oddly enough.

Er... Aren't they both the same? Red, white with the black K by the sides...

 

[furyoku_tennis]

Why is kevlar so desirable? I've got two n95's and I'm pretty sure I'd swap them for k95's.

the kevlar is supposed to make the frame softer and somewhat more flexy. that's what i've read and from experience anyway, but you're gonna have to do a search. IMO it really depends on preference, but more of the old school racquets incorporated kevlar into their frames. nowadays most racquets are pretty stiff, so i can see why some people would want kevlar, since it reminds them of the older racquets that some consider to be much better.

 

[furyoku_tennis]

Er... Aren't they both the same? Red, white with the black K by the sides...

i think the pj on the k90 looks better, probably cause it has such a thin beam and doesn't look quite as bulky as the k95.

 

[chris_ah1]

Well I personally found the classic prostaff 6.1 buttery. as I did with the n95.

I just found the K95 not nice at all. it really DID make a difference to me. And this was before I even knew much about racket specs.

Took my coaches N95 once and loved it. So I demoed the 'K95' assuming there were just paint job differences as most manufacturers do (ahem Dunlop with 4D) and it just played like a caveman's club. Not a precision scalpel like the N95.
In fact I found the KproTour to be more precise than the K95.

Perhaps it would have been different if I had used a harder poly at full tensions...but the N95 had normal multis.

 

[Steve F.]

the kevlar is supposed to make the frame softer and somewhat more flexy. that's what i've read and from experience anyway, but you're gonna have to do a search. IMO it really depends on preference, but more of the old school racquets incorporated kevlar into their frames. nowadays most racquets are pretty stiff, so i can see why some people would want kevlar, since it reminds them of the older racquets that some consider to be much better.

Hmmm, kevlar flexy?

Maybe compared to what they've come up with these days - but for its time, kevlar was added for stiffness. It's still pretty damn stiff, which is why it's in military helmets and bulletproof vests. 100% graphite frames without kevlar would snap on hard serves in my experience - I remember handing back a Donnay graphite demo as a tyke that I'd snapped on a serve.

Kevlar was the frame stiffener of choice back in the day - and it transmits/creates that unparalleled feel in the prostaff frames.

No certain idea what the Karbon krap is, but I'd guess that Wilson has formulated their own version of kevlar - hence the use of the K in their marketing.

 

[furyoku_tennis]

Hmmm, kevlar flexy?

Maybe compared to what they've come up with these days - but for its time, kevlar was added for stiffness. It's still pretty damn stiff, which is why it's in military helmets and bulletproof vests. 100% graphite frames without kevlar would snap on hard serves in my experience - I remember handing back a Donnay graphite demo as a tyke that I'd snapped on a serve.

Kevlar was the frame stiffener of choice back in the day - and it transmits/creates that unparalleled feel in the prostaff frames.

No certain idea what the Karbon krap is, but I'd guess that Wilson has formulated their own version of kevlar - hence the use of the K in their marketing.

i see your point. i don't really have much experience with the older frames as i haven't been playing tennis for all that long. kevlar definitely gives the older racquets great feel though.

 

[charliefedererer]

Actually, for a while, the Wilson web site K95.pdf files listed the K95 as having 15% kevlar. Currently, they don't disclose the material.

They continue to list kevlar as a composition for the K90, but not the K95.
TW specs:Technical Specifications
Length 27 inches 69 centimeters
Head Size 95 square inches 613 square centimeters
Weight 12.3 ounces 349 grams
Balance Point 12.5 inches
32 centimeters 8pts Head Light
Construction 22 mm Straight Beam
Composition nCoded High Modulus Graphite / Carbon Black
String Pattern 16 Mains / 18 Crosses

I really don't think there is kevlar in the K95.

 

[charliefedererer]

Hmmm, kevlar flexy?

Maybe compared to what they've come up with these days - but for its time, kevlar was added for stiffness. It's still pretty damn stiff, which is why it's in military helmets and bulletproof vests. 100% graphite frames without kevlar would snap on hard serves in my experience - I remember handing back a Donnay graphite demo as a tyke that I'd snapped on a serve.

Kevlar was the frame stiffener of choice back in the day - and it transmits/creates that unparalleled feel in the prostaff frames.

No certain idea what the Karbon krap is, but I'd guess that Wilson has formulated their own version of kevlar - hence the use of the K in their marketing.

Although kevlar is very strong, it can be woven into long flexible fibers that can achieve great strength as well as flexability. For instance, you can buy kevlar tennis strings, but no one has a carbon tennis string, because although strong, it would shatter.

From the TW learning center on strings:
Kevlar - The most durable string available. Kevlar is very stiff and strings up very tight. Therefore, it is usually combined with nylon to reduce the string bed stiffness (Kevlar main strings, nylon cross strings). Still, Kevlar hybrids are the least powerful and least comfortable strings currently available. Players trying kevlar hybrids for the first time (from nylon strings) are recommended to reduce tension by 10% to compensate for the added stiffness. Not recommended for beginners or players with arm injuries.

 

[charliefedererer]

Hmmm, kevlar flexy?


No certain idea what the Karbon krap is, but I'd guess that Wilson has formulated their own version of kevlar - hence the use of the K in their marketing.

From the TW Manufacturer's Technologies page: (K)arophite Black is a proprietary next generation structure created through a unique process at the nanoscopic level resulting in more feel and a stronger and more stable racquet. http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/technologies.html
If you follow the link, it shows that the nano-sized silicon-oxide cryrstals that filled in the "voids between the carbon fibers" in the nCode, are now cross linked to the carbon fibers. This has nothing to do with kevlar.
(Not sure if any of this carbon n or K technology really makes an apprecciable difference in the frame.)

 

[Tennis Dunce]

Yeah the kevlar fiber has to be stretched long to add flex.

All I know is that k series are nice sticks and appeal to certain players (I used to be one of them), but everytime I play with the n series...it feels so right.

It's the kevlar.

 

[harryz]

K95 is solid as a rock

Stable and heavy but too hollow feeling for me. N95 is also stable and solid AND has better feel to me. I could play with either, especially in 18x20 pattern for the K.

Hey Jules (that was the original title of "Hey Jude," written for John Lennon's son Julian, by the way....) : Let me know if you want to sell your N95 18x20s. harryzweben@yahoo.com.