Best Currently Available Serve and Volley Racquet?

[kingcheetah]

I'm curious to hear TT opinions on this, as the pros that employ serve-and-volley are using a variety of different setups (RF with his signature, Raonic with whatever is under his Blade pj, Brown with a Pure Drive)

Contenders that come into my mind immediately are:
PS85
RF97
Prestige Pro

 

[QuentinFederer]

I am an attacking player and I regularly use serve and volley/ chip and charge tactics. The RF97 is my regular frame (strung with champions choice @59/56lbs) because it's just so solid. I've also recently been hitting with a pure strike 18/20 (gut RPM hybrid @60/58lbs) customised to 350g and 7.5HL. Both of these frames are fantastic on serves and volleys, although the pure strike is better for serving and the RF97 is better for volleys in my opinion. The pro staff 95 is also very good on both for serve and volley with some added weight.

 

[n8dawg6]

say what you will about the tenets of serve and volley, donny. at least it's an ethos

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Not a whole lot of fame with this racquet, but the Prince Precision is right up there with the best.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Volkl SG 10 Mid 320g

 

[movdqa]

I think that individual players want individual things from a frame for serve and volley. Some may like a frame with a lot of control where they have to put effort in to hit a hard and deep volley. This might be a good way to go if they people you play hit really hard groundstrokes where you want the racquet to take some pace off the ball or it flies over the baseline. Others may want a moderately powerful frame which does most of the work for them in providing pace on volleys - but they may have to take some of the pace off the ball on hard groundstrokes.

 

[mikeeeee]

Textreme Tour 95 and Classic Response 97

 

[Emkay]

A DR 98 with 10g under the bumper and 10g in the handle does quite nicely when I follow my serves in.

 

[LeeD]

The racket doesn't determine your S/V skills, YOU do.
Some player's like flexible feel rackets.
Some like stiffer hammers.
Some like a lot of weight.
Some like manueverability.
Some want long, some want slightly short.
Some want to emphasis the serve, while other's the feel and touch.

 

[TennisHound]

Blade 98 16x19

 

[n8dawg6]

Some like stiffer hammers.

Some want long, some want slightly short.

Some want to emphasis the feel and touch.

thats what ... thats what ... *head explodes*

 

[SpinToWin]

Angell TC 97 16x19 hands down.

 

[TennisHound]

thats what ... thats what ... *head explodes*

Hahaha! I know right

 

[TupeloDanger]

C10 Pro.

X Feel Pro 90 Vacuum, if it's still "available."

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

currently still available match sticks for competitive modern serve and volley:

Angell TC95 and TC97
Prince Textreme 95
Wilson Prostaff 95s
Maybe this new Yonex 95?
Maybe the RF97

My main hitting partner is actually attacking the net sometimes with his Wilson prostaff 95s ... he was so happy and honestly it lets you change the dynamic of a match.

 

[gino]

I'm curious to hear TT opinions on this, as the pros that employ serve-and-volley are using a variety of different setups (RF with his signature, Raonic with whatever is under his Blade pj, Brown with a Pure Drive)

Contenders that come into my mind immediately are:
PS85
RF97
Prestige Pro

A few great S/V frames currently avaliable:

1. PS85
2. PS 95S
3. RF97
4. PS 97S
5. Prestige Pro XT
6. MicroGel Radical MP
7. 6.1 95S
8. Blade 16x19
9. Angell TC95
10. Prince Textreme 95

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

A few great S/V frames currently avaliable:

1. PS85
2. PS 95S
3. RF97
4. PS 97S
5. Prestige Pro XT
6. MicroGel Radical MP
7. 6.1 95S
8. Blade 16x19
9. Angell TC95
10. Prince Textreme 95

yeah that 6.1 and microgel radical are legit for any such list

 

[ThirdEye]

Tecnifibre TFight 315 Ltd. Hands down.

 

[TennisHound]

Obviously the RF97 is #1 (IMO) if you're practiced up. No brainer. Doubles is another story

 

[Crocodile]

Volkl C 10 Pro
Wilson Pro Staff 90
Dunlop Biomimetic 200
Pacific X Feel Pro 95
Head Premier Tour

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Volkl C 10 Pro
Wilson Pro Staff 90
Dunlop Biomimetic 200
Pacific X Feel Pro 95
Head Premier Tour

Is the Pacific x feel pro 95 still technically available? ... suppose but the frame has been discontinued... it is a superb S&V frame though. Used it for 3.5 years... twas awesome. Now using the Angell TC95 which is just as good but in different ways.

 

[Crocodile]

I think you can still get them in the UK and Germany.

 

[Minion]

I play mostly doubles leagues etc.. My favourite ROAT is the IGPP, but I must say the Blade 98 is also a great S&V stick.

 

[CopolyX]

Damn, whatever the frame is people (tennis players) should be using it all the time. Although coming from a racquet-ohlic place, I do know my wheelhouse specs and string setup. So the racquets I keep , I play pretty damn good, consistent with (on their gone) .
But yes.........................
It’s not the size or the power of the racquet that matters, it’s the magic in the swing that you put into it!

 

[jersey34tennis]

slazanger pro x1
prince tt warrior
ps 85

 

[Ronaldo]

The racket doesn't determine your S/V skills, YOU do.
Some player's like flexible feel rackets.
Some like stiffer hammers.
Some like a lot of weight.
Some like manueverability.
Some want long, some want slightly short.
Some want to emphasis the serve, while other's the feel and touch.

What is your preference, favorite? Favorites See every racquet under the sun in doubles.

 

[Unforgiven79]

RF97A gives the better overall combination (big serve + placement + maneuvrability + stability + depth)
but
Boris Becker London Tour is just one pure exquisiteness of maneuverability, it is even slightly more HH but you do not feel it.

 

[movdqa]

RF97A gives the better overall combination (big serve + placement + maneuvrability + stability + depth)
but
Boris Becker London Tour is just one pure exquisiteness of maneuverability, it is even slightly more HH but you do not feel it.

A racquet may be perfect for Serve and Volley but you have to spend half of your time receiving as well so you want something that you can also hit groundstrokes with. I do think that the RF97 does provide that nice balance, at least from watching Federer's game. After the adjustment period, he seemed to me to be hitting with more topspin on his backhand.

 

[wsk429]

If S&V is what you want then all you need is lead. All the sticks suggested are great at S&V and what do they all have in common? Weight. They're all heavy sticks and not surprisingly very stable.
So $4 maybe is all you need to make your current stick do the trick. If it doesn't work out, you've lost $4.

 

[Seth]

POG OS.

 

[LeeD]

What is your preference, favorite? Favorites See every racquet under the sun in doubles.

My FAVORITE doubles racket is the one I"m playing well with at that moment in time.
It has been a Head MGRadOS, a DunlopMfil200, 4DAero300, Aero500, F5T, Bio300T, and once lately a PrinceSharkOS.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

RF97A gives the better overall combination (big serve + placement + maneuvrability + stability + depth)
but
Boris Becker London Tour is just one pure exquisiteness of maneuverability, it is even slightly more HH but you do not feel it.

True that Becker London tour is just amazing... I pull it out for serve pactices... perhaps the best serving frame for 1st's Ive ever used. It helps me correct my motion etc. If I cant put a great serve in with that thing after 3 tries then Im in big trouble.

 

[n8dawg6]

POG OS.

i like how you roll, seth.

 

[TupeloDanger]

POG OS.

If it's good enough for Annacone, it's good enough for me.

 

[Unforgiven79]

True that Becker London tour is just amazing...

...and I happened to pay it only 60€, brand new! What a shame it had no commercial success...

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

...and I happened to pay it only 60€, brand new! What a shame it had no commercial success...

i got mine for less from TW!

 

[kramer woodie]

I'm curious to hear TT opinions on this, as the pros that employ serve-and-volley are using a variety of different setups (RF with his signature, Raonic with whatever is under his Blade pj, Brown with a Pure Drive)

Contenders that come into my mind immediately are:
PS85
RF97
Prestige Pro

king cheetah

I am not going to tell you. Why? Then everybody would know and start using THE Racquet for serve and volley.

Aloha

 

[TupeloDanger]

king cheetah

I am not going to tell you. Why? Then everybody would know and start using THE Racquet for serve and volley.

Aloha

The tennis world will have to continue to wait for kramer woodie's input. The revolution remains on hold.

 

[WYK]

POG OS.

I prefer the mid. Used it all thru college S&Ving.

 

[TupeloDanger]

I prefer the mid. Used it all thru college S&Ving.

Always felt like that racquet needed a whole lot more string. Like it had the most demanding playing characteristics imaginable for a frame, and then coupled them with a string pattern better suited to a junior spin-helper racquet. With an 18x20, it might have been the GOAT.

 

[WYK]

Always felt like that racquet needed a whole lot more string. Like it had the most demanding playing characteristics imaginable for a frame, and then coupled them with a string pattern better suited to a junior spin-helper racquet. With an 18x20, it might have been the GOAT.

String it very tight with gut, and take big swings. It kinda came out before it's time. Although today I use poly and string it sort of low. More control, and even more spin. The four stripe is one of the few rackets I don't think needs lead. The magic was it had a huge amount of control strung tight, but also would have a huge amount of power for flat serves and putaways. You just needed the strokes to control it. I find the frame rather rewarding and forgiving strung with poly at low tensions.

 

[kramer woodie]

The tennis world will have to continue to wait for kramer woodie's input. The revolution remains on hold.

TupeloDanger

Ok...Ok...can't keep the world waiting. The very best serve and volley racquet (there is more than one) is a three way tie. In order by age: 1. Wilson Kramer Auto 15+ ounce strung
with Victor Blue Twist natural gut at 72 pounds. 2. Yonex YY8500 aluminum green anodized strung at 60 pounds with natural gut (good enough for Tony Roche, good enough for me).
3. Yonex 330 Duel G strung at 41 pounds with 18 gauge TourBite or same racquet strung 16 gauge VS at 57 pounds mains with Max Power 18 gauge crosses at 48 pounds. Number 3 is
a real beast. No twist, therefore, extremely stable...penetrating ground stroke...both touch and powerful approach shots...a literal wall at the net rock solid volleys or again great
touch placement...and last very strong in the serve department because of the head shape which moves the sweet spot higher.

Now I have played with this racquet the Duel G weighting it up to 13.2 ounces using a Head Tour leather grip and it played great. However, now I have taken weight off by
switching to a Wilson FeatherThin grip. Also, of note I have changed from a Yonex Supergrap overgrip to a Solinco dry overgrip, what a great overgrip. It can be pulled tight making
it thinner than the Supergrap, therefore, my 4-1/2 handle is 4-1/2 with both the Featherthin and Solinco OG. In high humid grip stays dry and the texture of the Solinco dry OG
seems to reduce any racquet movement from off-center hits. Racquet overall weight now is 12.4 ounces.

Aloha

 

[morten]

TupeloDanger

Ok...Ok...can't keep the world waiting. The very best serve and volley racquet (there is more than one) is a three way tie. In order by age: 1. Wilson Kramer Auto 15+ ounce strung
with Victor Blue Twist natural gut at 72 pounds. 2. Yonex YY8500 aluminum green anodized strung at 60 pounds with natural gut (good enough for Tony Roche, good enough for me).
3. Yonex 330 Duel G strung at 41 pounds with 18 gauge TourBite or same racquet strung 16 gauge VS at 57 pounds mains with Max Power 18 gauge crosses at 48 pounds. Number 3 is
a real beast. No twist, therefore, extremely stable...penetrating ground stroke...both touch and powerful approach shots...a literal wall at the net rock solid volleys or again great
touch placement...and last very strong in the serve department because of the head shape which moves the sweet spot higher.

Now I have played with this racquet the Duel G weighting it up to 13.2 ounces using a Head Tour leather grip and it played great. However, now I have taken weight off by
switching to a Wilson FeatherThin grip. Also, of note I have changed from a Yonex Supergrap overgrip to a Solinco dry overgrip, what a great overgrip. It can be pulled tight making
it thinner than the Supergrap, therefore, my 4-1/2 handle is 4-1/2 with both the Featherthin and Solinco OG. In high humid grip stays dry and the texture of the Solinco dry OG
seems to reduce any racquet movement from off-center hits. Racquet overall weight now is 12.4 ounces.

Aloha

With the Yonex i have cut half the bumper to bring the swingweight down 8 points. A friend of mine cut the whole, and it became amazing!!! Try it. Still so solid in the upper hoop. And you can use head tape to put some back if you think it went too low

 

[TennisHound]

There isn't one clear cut winner in this category, just find a racquet that's not too heavy or too light and works for you.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Rzr bubba

 

[Unforgiven79]

There isn't one clear cut winner in this category, just find a racquet that's not too heavy or too light and works for you.

In first place, you have to understand if your s'n'v game prefers HH or HL racquets.
In general, and in my case specifically, I absolutely need a HL racquet to both serve and do the volleying, otherwise I am lost in the haze.
According to Jim Courier, and to any Blade user I guess, you want a HH racquet to stay stable upon contact with the ball at the net - in the latter case, fortget the RF97 or any ProStaff, and even Prestige.

 

[The Big Kahuna]

RF97 too heavy for doubles? Sluggish around the net on quick exchanges?

 

[ron schaap]

With the Yonex i have cut half the bumper to bring the swingweight down 8 points. A friend of mine cut the whole, and it became amazing!!! Try it. Still so solid in the upper hoop. And you can use head tape to put some back if you think it went too low

Which Yonex, the antique alu frame or the more modern one ⊙_⊙?

 

[ron schaap]

In first place, you have to understand if your s'n'v game prefers HH or HL racquets.
In general, and in my case specifically, I absolutely need a HL racquet to both serve and do the volleying, otherwise I am lost in the haze.
According to Jim Courier, and to any Blade user I guess, you want a HH racquet to stay stable upon contact with the ball at the net - in the latter case, fortget the RF97 or any ProStaff, and even Prestige.

Since when is Courier a net player? You only saw him there shaking hands of his opponent.

 

[morten]

Which Yonex, the antique alu frame or the more modern one ⊙_⊙?

Modern one. Dual 97 the heavy one, not the latest edition