JGads
G.O.A.T.
TW tungsten is what sticks, regular lead often does not.
This frame (16x19) is still in my rotation. It’s so good.
Artengo Tr960 Control Tour
- Thread starter João Magalhães
- Start date
This frame (16x19) is still in my rotation. It’s so good.
Lukhas
Legend
Funny you mention that, I was repositioning tape on the frame. I think the paint really doesn't like tape, more so than my other frames. Lead tape comes off cleanly when you remove it. I haven't seen that in a long while.
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JGads
G.O.A.T.
Yeah. If you use silver, you will then see silver flying mid-shot sometimes. But the TW Tunsten strips stay on there for a long time, in my experience. Just make sure you really press them onto the frame and rub them in when applying initially.
NaDjoFed
Professional
110€ as it´s announced on their website.
Special offer 89 Euros at my local Decathlon, I am thinking to buy it
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Tourna Lead sticks very well too!
I just bought two 16x19 in France, both frames were sent to the store and were perfectly matched: 306 g weight and 31.5 cm balance (unstrung). I will measure the SW next week, but the frames feel very similar, chapeau. Looking forward to stringing them with 1.30 Hawk Touch (I use the same strings in the 18x20, but in 1.25). I am thinking of adding a leather grip first and see how these beauties play to decide if I should. What are your current specs @JGads?
JGads
G.O.A.T.
I’m at 330g, 329 sw. Also contemplating having a couple of these slightly extended as a side experiment.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Thanks! How about the balance? OHBH or THBH? Cheers.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Don’t have a number but I’d estimate about 5 pts HL. 2HBH with a lot of slice and an occasional one-hander thrown in. The Tengo is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife that makes you want to get creative and pull some levers just for the fun of it.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Thx! I know that very well as I am currently playing with the 18x20 version @335 SW, 6pts, 345 g, and 16L (1.25) Hawk Touch. The Gravity Tour is very similar (if you get used to the tear drop mold which took me a few hours), but it's tougher to swing on the OHBH for me, especially when I am stretched to reach the ball. I will try the Tengo 16x19 now, since I will be playing mostly on clay this season. Hope that the control won't be compromised with a thicker 16 gauge (1.30).
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Are USA buyers SOL for these now?
You can always just buy from EU and eat the import duty. It's no surprise they couldn't get an in anywhere in the US. I imagine they met with a lot of resistance behind the scenes.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Whats the duty on 2 racquets?
Lukhas
Legend
They're indeed priced 90€ from the 18th of March until the 1st of May on the French website. I hadn't noticed that before.
After demoing the 18x20 vs the 16x19 with matched specs, I preferred the denser pattern over the more open one. It felt more consistent, I didn't notice a difference in actual spin (trajectory a bit, but not actual ball rotation), I didn't feel that some shots were easier with one racket over the other. I don't actually think that my balls were different between both frames once matched either besides that I felt a bit more confident with the denser pattern. I'll gladly admit that I'm used to playing with 18 mains too as my currents frames are 18 mains and so were most of the ones I've demoed.
In a different weight category, I guess the only racket I've liked more than the Artengo outright was the EU exclusive previous gen Head Gravity Tour. On paper the specs were pretty meh, but it hits a superb ball on the shots I have the least confidence in when swinging fast: my forehand and serve. It plays really well stock unlike the Artengo which was basically a good 20g heavier once customized to an equivalent SW. Too bad you can buy two Control Tour for each Gravity right now...
edelp
Semi-Pro
fantastic racquet and that price...
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
No, and I am curious why the surge of intrigue now, after they discontinues US sales, instead of 6 months ago when they had them in the USA, dirt cheap?
THis thread was created 2 years ago and was very active when the rackets started selling in the USA.
I don't think the US ever got the 18x20.
I only recall the 16x19 being available here.
I think Canada did.
For me personally, it's just curiosity. I'm using the whiteout 18x20 which is an open-ish 18x20 pattern and I have heard likewise about the TR960 18X20.
My hope would be the TR960 would have a feel more similar to the Ultra Tour but maybe slightly more powerful.
Also, recency bias, passing curiosity plus people posting about them being on sale.
alfa164164
Professional
FWIW - I did purchase both the 16x19 and later the 18x20 in the US, preferred the 18x20.
Missed the boat then.
At a certain point, last year, I was committed to the racquet I had, so I quit following along.
Now I'm back in the dense patterned market or at least exploring a bit as I am 90% satisfied with the Whiteout 18x20.
Moral of the story, if you have a pair of 18x20s you are parting ways with, please PM me.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
It took me some weeks to really come to my final comparison assessment of the TR960 CT 18x20 and the16x19 (almost same specs: 348/345g, SW335, 6pts balance, strung with Hawk Touch 1.25/1.30 @ 52-50). The winner for me is the 18x20! The 16x19 has slightly more pop and spin. The ball trajectory is marginally higher too. It shines during the kick serves (super nice angles) and forehand spin. If you don't play on clay the 18x20 is the much better frame in all other categories: consistency in the trajectory, super nice control while playing the lines, decent pop, and the backhand slice is just magic. I feel these racquets play better and better when increasing the SW / weight. One of my 18x20s was at 340 SW / 352 g today and I felt that it plays even nicer. The two competitors to it at the moment to finish the season are the Head Gravity Tour 2023 (very similar but plusher & more forgiving) and the Head Gravity Pro 2023 (slightly better precision, more forgiving & butter at the net / tougher to maneuver), which play great when putting some decent spin on the ball. The TR960 CT is better for my OHBH and flat strokes. Tough decision, too many gems around lately.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
4g at 12 (under the bumper) and 3g at 3&9. The leather grip (Yonex - black) is helpful to counterbalance all the added weight. That said, the unstrung SW was 382 for this racquet. I would definitely start by adding 2-3g at 3&9 and find your own comfort zone in weight / swingweight by gradually adding more at 12.
Lukhas
Legend
I bought 6 of these with the intent of only keeping the ones that can be reasonably matched without adding too much weight pre-customization. This is the 18x20 version in grip size 4. Maybe this is good information for you, or it's pointless. Anyway...
#1: 308.39g, 31.5cm, 280SW, 11.44TW;
#2: 313.23g, 31.8cm, 293SW, 11.93TW;
#3: 309.29g, 31.8cm, 287SW, 11.71TW;
#4: 309.35g, 31.7cm, 279SW, 11.68TW;
#5: 307.85g, 31.6cm, 275SW, 11.38TW;
#6: 312.05g, 31.8cm, 290SW, 11.89TW.
EDIT: I re-measured the third one since the result seemed so wild, and it indeed wasn't correct.
#1: 308.39g, 31.5cm, 280SW, 11.44TW;
#2: 313.23g, 31.8cm, 293SW, 11.93TW;
#3: 309.29g, 31.8cm, 287SW, 11.71TW;
#4: 309.35g, 31.7cm, 279SW, 11.68TW;
#5: 307.85g, 31.6cm, 275SW, 11.38TW;
#6: 312.05g, 31.8cm, 290SW, 11.89TW.
EDIT: I re-measured the third one since the result seemed so wild, and it indeed wasn't correct.
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I just ordered a second one with handle size 3 while the other is size 2. My speed pros are in size 2. I checked other artengo racquets in the store because they didnt have the Control tours, and i honestly didnt feel big of a difference between 2 and 3. I wanna put a yonex leather grip on it. I wont keep both of them and cant Playtest them. Someone can gimme an advice?
what_army
Professional
Not bad! #2, #6 and #3 with 1.5 grams total at 12 and 1.5gr in the handle will all be pretty close.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
I feel that the grip of the Artengos is one size smaller than Wilson or Head. So an L4 Tengo is basically an L3 Wilson / Head. The "new (counting from a decade ago)" Yonex grips are the opposite, they are one size bigger compared to Wilson / Head IMO.
I decided to go with size 2. After removing the basegrip there was a big 1 on the pallets. Doesnt bother me, i put on the real leather strap of yonex and a supergrap over that and the size is pretty fine for me. I think i just prefer smaller grips. This stick feels amazing. I feel i never could go long no matter how hard i hit. I put 3g at 3&9 and it just feels close to perfect. I added 1g at the hoop now and try that out tomorrow. Changed back to my speed pro and there im missing just a bit of feeling which the artengo has. The Speed is bit better in defense with the little extra on power but over all i really like the artengo stick. If i wouldnt know the price i would think that this cost at least double.
Just a reminder why I didn't like this racquet: LOW twistweight and too much weight in the handle. Which basically makes it useless as a platform racquet.
Even for as cheap it is, it's a waste of money and time to buy it.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
I think that this does not apply for everyone. If I increase the swingweight to 330+, I need at least a 6pts balance (ideally 9pts). I personally could never understand why the Blades (the ones with high SW) were evenly balanced. I always needed a leather grip and sometimes silicon in handle to be at 6pts. Probably, because of my OHBH... So, it is a personal preference!
Metric please. Unless you want to give me swingweight in lb.in²
Yes, you're right! Swingweight 330+ in [kg . cm^2]; 6pts ~ 32 [cm]; 9pts ~ 31.5 [cm].
Thank you!
I guess this racquet is great if twistweight is not important for you. I don't really understand why some players like low twistweight and high recoil weight.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Also a good approach!!
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
After countless hours of testing, practicing, playing matches etc. to find my next racquet for the next 5 years or so, it was a "tête à tête" between the Tengo TR960 18x20 and the Gravity Pro 2023 at the end. The Gravity Tour 2023 and the Percept 97D were also amazing, but I couldn't play my best tennis with the latter two. And the Six.One 95 is just too expensive. The GP was the last one on my list to try since I never thought that I would feel 100% comfortable with a 100 in^2 low-powered frame... But I was wrong... Don't get me wrong, the Tengo is (still) a great raw-feeling frame, but the Gravity Pro slightly topped it and is just ideal for my type of game... Maneuverability with my backhand wasn't an issue because of the sublime thin beam. After years of customizing racquets, I got also quite tired doing that frankly... I just need to add a leather grip, an overgrip, and a dampener for the GP and I'm done! I may disappoint a few after writing some long positive reviews for the TR960 18x20. These are still valid of course and I will always keep one Tengo in my bag to hit with it from time to time.
These are still valid of course and I will always keep one Tengo in my bag to hit with it from time to time.Same as the above two posters. I thought the TR960 was able to replace the UT V2s at the time, although it does everything well, but I felt just lacking “something”… so it was a spare/third racquet in my bag.
Same thing we I switched to the GPro, it was also the spare/third racquet.
To be fair though, my TR960 is a 16x19
Same thing we I switched to the GPro, it was also the spare/third racquet.
To be fair though, my TR960 is a 16x19
Lukhas
Legend
Well, I'm starting to get into the boat as well.
It plays well, I just cannot seem to be able to get used to the specific specimens I own. The demo frames felt more special for some reason, even though they're not far apart at all specs wise (if at all). That being said I've been playing less tennis, so that might have something to do with it.Yeah my chip is small too. It's nearly invisible now I've touched it up with a black marker.
I'll string it up today and get some lead at 3 and 9
I don't have any way of testing the swingweight.
I've added 4g between 3 and 9 and it feels around 320
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This racket is great on serve. I'm at 5g split between 3 and 9, 1 overgrip and 4g in the handle. Total weight 336g.
I can tell it's going to be demanding on defence, but I was able to really rip the ball hard with good control.
I also tested it alongside a Prince Ripstick which also performed great but is a very different racket. Not sure which I liked more, but the ripstick is obviously easier to use overall.
I can tell it's going to be demanding on defence, but I was able to really rip the ball hard with good control.
I also tested it alongside a Prince Ripstick which also performed great but is a very different racket. Not sure which I liked more, but the ripstick is obviously easier to use overall.
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