Best modern 18x20 97-100"?

beltsman

beltsman

Legend
Looking to try a denser string pattern for the first time in years. For experimenting purposes.

Any recommendations? Needs to have some power on tap and a good sweet spot.
 
Gee

Gee

Hall of Fame
Wilson Ultra Tour has a pure raw feel with a great feedback and the sweetspot is just addictive! The UT is just like a bigger Angell TC95 18x20 63RA in my opinion and not the TC97 18x20.

Though the TC97 18x20 felt a bit too firm/stiff to me it is still a very good 18x20 frame to consider as well.

Angell K7 Lime is another very nice 18x20 frame that has a more muted feel like the Völkl C10 Pro.
 
F

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
beltsman said:
Looking to try a denser string pattern for the first time in years. For experimenting purposes.

Any recommendations? Needs to have some power on tap and a good sweet spot.
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Actually the Volkl C10 Pro is a 98" frame with a 16x19 string pattern, but it doesn't behave too much like some other frames with that layout. It's not super-spin happy, but very arm-friendly for me when strung with syn. gut and it also gives me more potential to hit (and serve) with power than any other frames in my collection. Sort of an old-school personality in the form of a more modern 98" racquet.

So there's that.
 
fundrazer

fundrazer

Legend
Legend of Borg said:
i can personally vouch for the Speed Pro 360

have also heard amazing things about the new Gravity

Head is next level at the moment
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I dunno. It sounds to me like they're trying to go back to their roots, but Wilson and Yonex already upped their game big time.

Something to look at is how much discussion there is on the Gravity line compared to the threads for the new Blade and the Vcore 97HD.
 
Legend of Borg

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
fundrazer said:
I dunno. It sounds to me like they're trying to go back to their roots, but Wilson and Yonex already upped their game big time.

Something to look at is how much discussion there is on the Gravity line compared to the threads for the new Blade and the Vcore 97HD.
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ever since I found out about Wilson's QC I've looked at them with a sceptical eye

not to say their rackets suck but I'm just ready to give some other racket producers a chance and Head have been a home run for me

I've yet to try a Yonex players racket

I had an Ezone years ago but that was a WTA stick with 0 stability and plowthrough, not a nice racket to hit with

the VcorePro line looks sick though, in Stanimal we believe!
 
A

AA7

Semi-Pro
beltsman said:
Looking to try a denser string pattern for the first time in years. For experimenting purposes.

Any recommendations? Needs to have some power on tap and a good sweet spot.
Click to expand...
Well you are in luck bc some high quality sticks launched this summer. Vcp hd, v7 blade, gravity pro, gravity tour, tf40... i am pretty much obssessed with the v7. Very generous sweetspot.. lot of power, great control.. and spin. All these are about 325-335 SW..
 
beltsman

beltsman

Legend
AA7 said:
Well you are in luck bc some high quality sticks launched this summer. Vcp hd, v7 blade, gravity pro, gravity tour, tf40... i am pretty much obssessed with the v7. Very generous sweetspot.. lot of power, great control.. and spin. All these are about 325-335 SW..
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I need to start demoing some of them!
 
Lex

Lex

Semi-Pro
Another vote for the Speed Pro 360. I slightly prefer it over the PRince TT100P but both need some weight added.
 
chinny562

chinny562

New User
I got to love the Wilson Blade v7 .. Demo'd all the other 18x20 such as Yonex Pro 97HD, Gravity, and PureStrike.. and I feel like Wilson v7 is the way to go.. My preferences would be v7 > PS > 97HD = GP
 
grhcan99

grhcan99

Semi-Pro
chinny562 said:
I got to love the Wilson Blade v7 .. Demo'd all the other 18x20 such as Yonex Pro 97HD, Gravity, and PureStrike.. and I feel like Wilson v7 is the way to go.. My preferences would be v7 > PS > 97HD = GP
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Are you coming from a lighter racquet?
 
megamind

megamind

Hall of Fame
AA7 said:
Well you are in luck bc some high quality sticks launched this summer. Vcp hd, v7 blade, gravity pro, gravity tour, tf40... i am pretty much obssessed with the v7. Very generous sweetspot.. lot of power, great control.. and spin. All these are about 325-335 SW..
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what racquet is your fave out of all of those? how does the tf40 play (i havent been able to demo it)
 
tennis347

tennis347

Professional
I have not hit with a 18 × 20 string pattern frame for many years but I have to say that the T40 305 is one of the best! Solid control, feel, power and good comfort!!
 
A

AA7

Semi-Pro
megamind said:
what racquet is your fave out of all of those? how does the tf40 play (i havent been able to demo it)
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Havent hit with tf40... hit with vcp hd, gtour and v7 18x20. I settled on v7. Gravity tour was lacking a bit control (vs other offerings) for me... vcp hd is fantastic but a tad demanding at times.. sweet spot smaller than blade v7...
V7 is great control (both directional and depth), can generate very good spin, hits a very heavy ball, plow is awesome, not as much easy power but when you swing away ton of power in a good way... and its the world's best sounding racquet at contact... sounds like someone fired a shotgun... haha..
Negatives are (also what makes it so awesome) expected difficulty of use due to high sw at times.. maneuverablity can be tough at times.. not whippy (if you like whippy). I thought i did but after blade v7 i like it better this way.. when you put in swing effort its perfect. in a weird way.. now that i am used to it lower sw sticks feel ike it is wasting my high RHS where with v7 it is definitely all rewarded with heft. I am not interested in tf40.. i hear its denser in the middle and launch angle is lower.. not sure i need lower launch angle than v7 18x20.. and again the sw of blade is really good for me. Dont want to go lower. My blade is 330sw.. it's 331gr static weight with 4gr putty in the handle and 4pts hl.. hope that helps.. i'll also just say following.. these are all fantastic sticks.. i think these small things come down to personal preference..
 
Wheelz

Wheelz

Semi-Pro
Haven't tried all of them, but right now I'm please with the (modded) Ultra Tour. Feels like my older Head, but better (feel,power,sweet spot). The sweet spot feels really good. Feels great at the net as well. The price also made it easier to jump and try it.
 
A

axis7777

New User
I played all 18 x 20 when i was young but switched to 16x19 since it was getting to heavy to play with 335g plus without strings, but now im considering 18x20 again since so many great options, for me top is blade v7 or head pro since i play flat most of the time but still need power and spin on some matches.
Heart is saying blade but mind head pro or even tour hehe
 
D

DaylightBlue

New User
I might be hijacking this thread but don't want to start another thread. What does everyone think about an arm friendly/flexy 18x20. Don't really need too much power. Was thinking about trying VCP HD and now maybe the blade v7. I don't really see a big difference in most of these but I'm sure there are.
 
P

PD1978

Rookie
DaylightBlue said:
I might be hijacking this thread but don't want to start another thread. What does everyone think about an arm friendly/flexy 18x20. Don't really need too much power. Was thinking about trying VCP HD and now maybe the blade v7. I don't really see a big difference in most of these but I'm sure there are.
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Gravity Pro or Tour in addition to the ones you listed.
 
A

AA7

Semi-Pro
DaylightBlue said:
I might be hijacking this thread but don't want to start another thread. What does everyone think about an arm friendly/flexy 18x20. Don't really need too much power. Was thinking about trying VCP HD and now maybe the blade v7. I don't really see a big difference in most of these but I'm sure there are.
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well you are in luck b/c you are asking for the exact sticks that market has been flooded with.. hah.. yeah i would stick with VCPHD or v7 18x20... vcp hd is more HL.. feels easier to swing even though it is a heavier racquet due to HL....also little bit easier spin... v7 is higher SW.. more plow...more stable... (bad wilson QC so you may get anything....use customization service or else you might as well get a random racquet with a blade paint job)

those are it... gravity tour is very arm friendly as well. it will have a little bit more power...slightly less control and bigger sweet spot...
 
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