Best of 2024

dr. godmode

dr. godmode

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So I made my "Best of 2024" Awards video last week, but curious what everyone else thinks are the best releases of 2024. I'll but my choices in brackets.

The categories are:

Best Power (Carve All-Court)
Best Spin (Speed MP)
Best Control (RF01 Pro)
Best Overall (Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19)

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Best 100 (Boom MP)
Best 98 (Pure Strike 98 16x19)
Best 97 and under (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Best OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Best Looking (camo Phantoms)
Most Fun to Use (CX200)

and add any categories you want. I'll update this post with additional categories as they appear. Dealers choice on where to put 99's.
 
dr. godmode said:
So I made my "Best of 2024" Awards video last week, but curious what everyone else thinks are the best releases of 2024. I'll but my choices in brackets.

The categories are:

Best Power (Carve All-Court)
Best Spin (Speed MP)
Best Control (RF01 Pro)
Best Overall (Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19)

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Best 100 (Boom MP)
Best 98 (Pure Strike 98 16x19)
Best 97 and under (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Best OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Best Looking (camo Phantoms)
Most Fun to Use (CX200)

and add any categories you want. I'll update this post with additional categories as they appear. Dealers choice on where to put 99's.
Click to expand...
Of what I gave a go this year, I think I'd go with:

Best Power: Boom MP (exclusively due to lack of viable competition as I generally dislike this racquet)
Best Spin: Head Extreme Pro
Best Control: RF01 Pro
Best Overall: *redacted*

Best 100: Head Speed Pro
Best 98: RF01 Pro
Best 97 and below: Dunlop CX200 Tour (again mostly from lack of competition)
Best OS: Head Speed Team

Best Looking: RF01 Pro/ Faelcon Bjorn
Most fun to use: *Redacted*

Just to tally in case I missed anything, this year's releases are:
Angell: KSeven
Wilson: Blade V9
Wilson: RF01
Head: Extremes
Head: Boom
Head: Speed
Babolat: Strikes
Dunlop: CX
Prince: Phantoms
Tecnifibre: TFX1 V2
*Redacted*
Carve: All-Court
Carve: Ad-Touch
Faelcon: Bjorn

If I missed any releases this year or if I accidentally put one on that doesn't belong let me know and I'll try to update the list to be a good enough reference!
 
Last edited:
dr. godmode said:
So I made my "Best of 2024" Awards video last week, but curious what everyone else thinks are the best releases of 2024. I'll but my choices in brackets.

The categories are:

Best Power (Carve All-Court)
Best Spin (Speed MP)
Best Control (RF01 Pro)
Best Overall (Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19)

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Best 100 (Boom MP)
Best 98 (Pure Strike 98 16x19)
Best 97 and under (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Best OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Best Looking (camo Phantoms)
Most Fun to Use (CX200)

and add any categories you want. I'll update this post with additional categories as they appear. Dealers choice on where to put 99's.
Click to expand...
Best 97 and under is the v14 six one 95. Killer frame. I need to break that out more often.
 
ekucheraw said:
Of what I gave a go this year, I think I'd go with:

Best Power: Boom MP (exclusively due to lack of viable competition as I generally dislike this racquet)
Best Spin: Head Extreme Pro
Best Control: TF-40 315 16x19 OR TF-40 305 18x20
Best Overall: *redacted*

Best 100: Head Speed Pro
Best 98: RF01 Pro
Best 97 and below: Dunlop CX200 Tour (again mostly from lack of competition)
Best OS: Head Speed Team

Best Looking: RF01 Pro/ Faelcon Bjorn
Most fun to use: *Redacted*

Just to tally in case I missed anything, this year's releases are:
Angell: KSeven
Wilson: Blade V9
Wilson: RF01
Head: Extremes
Head: Boom
Head: Speed
Babolat: Strikes
Dunlop: CX
Prince: Phantoms
Technifibre: TF-40
Technifibre: TFX1 V2
*Redacted*
Carve: All-Court
Carve: Ad-Touch
Faelcon: Bjorn

If I missed any releases this year or if I accidentally put one on that doesn't belong let me know and I'll try to update the list to be a good enough reference!
Click to expand...

Tecnifibre (no H) only released a paintjob for the TF40 this month. The frames came out in 2022. But I agree the 305 18x20 is a fantastic control racket.
 
Best Looking Racquet
The RF01's cosmetic is surprisingly unsubtle in person under daylight; the colour gradient from throat to tip is dramatic.
The Blade V9 has really grown on me, I think it looks great in all conditions.
I've seen a lot of raving around the new VCORE Sand Beige cosmetic online but I haven't seen one in real life.
I have seen the EZONE Aqua Night Black cosmetic and it's gorgeous.
I'm going to have to go with the mysterious midnight ocean on this one.

Best Looking String
Grapplesnake Tour Mako
 
dyslexical-scope said:
Best Looking Racquet
The RF01's cosmetic is surprisingly unsubtle in person under daylight; the colour gradient from throat to tip is dramatic.
The Blade V9 has really grown on me, I think it looks great in all conditions.
I've seen a lot of raving around the new VCORE Sand Beige cosmetic online but I haven't seen one in real life.
I have seen the EZONE Aqua Night Black cosmetic and it's gorgeous.
I'm going to have to go with the mysterious midnight ocean on this one.

Best Looking String
Grapplesnake Tour Mako
Click to expand...
If you like white cosmetics, the Yonex Sand-Beige is very easy on the eyes.

Wouldn't surprise me if they "borrowed" the paint from Lexus, as their ivory/white/gold paint feels similar.
 
dr. godmode said:
So I made my "Best of 2024" Awards video last week, but curious what everyone else thinks are the best releases of 2024. I'll but my choices in brackets.

The categories are:

Best Power (Carve All-Court)
Best Spin (Speed MP)
Best Control (RF01 Pro)
Best Overall (Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19)

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Best 100 (Boom MP)
Best 98 (Pure Strike 98 16x19)
Best 97 and under (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Best OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Best Looking (camo Phantoms)
Most Fun to Use (CX200)

and add any categories you want. I'll update this post with additional categories as they appear. Dealers choice on where to put 99's.
Click to expand...
Best oversize, Angell TC 101
 
No love for the DippiNord M99?

It's purported to be a pro stock like, ultra feel, powerful, super control, game changing, game improving, maneuverable, serve and volleyer, baselining, revolutionary racquet for the ages!!!
 
I'm Yonex focused so Ill give some kind of marketing/engineering award to them for the Percept, I think it has injected life into that Vcore Pro line that wasn't that popular, I see a lot more percepts on the court than I ever did the old Vcore Pros.
 
FuzzyYellowBalls said:
I'm Yonex focused so Ill give some kind of marketing/engineering award to them for the Percept, I think it has injected life into that Vcore Pro line that wasn't that popular, I see a lot more percepts on the court than I ever did the old Vcore Pros.
Click to expand...

This was a 2023 release, but you definitely started to notice them more as 2024 went along. The 100D picked up a lot of steam.
 
Worsts

Worst Power: TFX1 v2 300
Worst Spin: Blade 98 16x19 - kind of a hard category to rank. Is the the worst racquet for spin or the worst racquet designed for spin?
Worst Control: Blade 98 16x19
Worst Overall: Redacted

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Worst 100: TFX1 v2 300
Worst 98: Blade 98 16x19
Worst 97 and under: (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Worst OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Worst Looking: TFX1
Least Fun to Use: Redacted (for it's spirit)

This year was not super compelling for racquets in general. I think 2023 was better and I have lofty expectations for 2025 given the new Gravs, PD's, EZONEs and TFIGHTs.
 
dr. godmode said:
Worsts

Worst Power: TFX1 v2 300
Worst Spin: Blade 98 16x19 - kind of a hard category to rank. Is the the worst racquet for spin or the worst racquet designed for spin?
Worst Control: Blade 98 16x19
Worst Overall: Redacted

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Worst 100: TFX1 v2 300
Worst 98: Blade 98 16x19
Worst 97 and under: (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Worst OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Worst Looking: TFX1
Least Fun to Use: Redacted (for it's spirit)

This year was not super compelling for racquets in general. I think 2023 was better and I have lofty expectations for 2025 given the new Gravs, PD's, EZONEs and TFIGHTs.
Click to expand...
Your rival and buddy at R&R didn't feel quite the same as you about the blade.
 
TwinCinema said:
Tecnifibre (no H) only released a paintjob for the TF40 this month. The frames came out in 2022. But I agree the 305 18x20 is a fantastic control racket.
Click to expand...
I think the TF40s are different, not just a paint refresh, so really they need to be included in the mix I believe. Tennis Nerd lists it as his favorite of the year.
 
dr. godmode said:
Worsts

Worst Power: TFX1 v2 300
Worst Spin: Blade 98 16x19 - kind of a hard category to rank. Is the the worst racquet for spin or the worst racquet designed for spin?
Worst Control: Blade 98 16x19
Worst Overall: Redacted

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Worst 100: TFX1 v2 300
Worst 98: Blade 98 16x19
Worst 97 and under: (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Worst OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Worst Looking: TFX1
Least Fun to Use: Redacted (for it's spirit)

This year was not super compelling for racquets in general. I think 2023 was better and I have lofty expectations for 2025 given the new Gravs, PD's, EZONEs and TFIGHTs.
Click to expand...
Wow major Blade hater!! I like it lol
 
ZeroandOne said:
You got this all backwards, I want to see the worst of 2024.
Click to expand...
Oui, make the turd list, please.
Worsts

Worst Power: TFX1 v2 300
Worst Spin: Blade 98 16x19 - kind of a hard category to rank. Is the the worst racquet for spin or the worst racquet designed for spin?
Worst Control: Blade 98 16x19
...
Click to expand...
Disregard mon ami, turds glimpsed. Sad about the x1 v2. I loved that first one.
 
My two cents since I did actually try a lot of these. However, I agree that '23 was a much better year for some epic launches (ie Vcore and PAs in particular)

Best overall racquet release: Pure Strike line overall (except the 97 which didn't change much and lost the cool VS cosmetic) - much more direct feel, added flex, 100 16x20 a solid new option

Most overhyped: RF01 line (especially the Pro...regular 01 and the Future are solid options with some tweaks)

Hyped but not really much of a change from prior version: Extreme, followed by the Speeds (extra swingweight the major contributor to making the Speed MP better)

Best looking: Vcore Sand Beige, and the Pure Drive 30th anniversary edition

Worst looking: the Rubber coated skunk called the Speed

Want to like but boring as hell to play with: tie between Blade 100 and Prince Phantom

Most fun to play with: Carve All-Court (and the most surprising release)

Sleeper of the year: Boom Pro, which suffers from its confusing position relative to the rest of the Head lineup, and ugly paint job
 
Best100 (Boom mp 2024)

I hope that more rackets with high sweet spot and low sweet spot elastic technology will be released in the future:

1. The high sweet spot requires less swing weight than the normal sweet spot to ensure the same flat hit power

2. The elastic technology of the low sweet spot provides a bonus to high and deep topspin for forced counterattacks and defense.

In my opinion, this is:

1. High weight && low hardness && low balance && high sw (ps)

2. Low weight && high hardness && normal balance && medium and low sw (pa, pd)

3. Low weight && normal hardness && high balance && high sw (blade, po7, radical)

4. Low weight && normal hardness && high balance && medium and low sw && high sweet spot && low sweet spot elasticity (boom mp)

A new design paradigm for baseline rackets that combines baseline attack and baseline defense. More comfortable than pd, and requires lower sw than blade and po7. It is friendlier to the wrist and requires less physical fitness and skills.
 
emhtennis said:
If you like white cosmetics, the Yonex Sand-Beige is very easy on the eyes.

Wouldn't surprise me if they "borrowed" the paint from Lexus, as their ivory/white/gold paint feels similar.
Click to expand...
Just like the old saying.
Good racquet artists copy other racquet paints, great racquet artists steal automotive paints
 
dr. godmode said:
Worsts

Worst Power: TFX1 v2 300
Worst Spin: Blade 98 16x19 - kind of a hard category to rank. Is the the worst racquet for spin or the worst racquet designed for spin?
Worst Control: Blade 98 16x19
Worst Overall: Redacted

However, since this is a forum I think we can also add:

Worst 100: TFX1 v2 300
Worst 98: Blade 98 16x19
Worst 97 and under: (I didn't test any except the Strike 97 but it was pretty mid imo)
Worst OS (101+) (I didn't test any)

with some superlatives like:

Worst Looking: TFX1
Least Fun to Use: Redacted (for it's spirit)

This year was not super compelling for racquets in general. I think 2023 was better and I have lofty expectations for 2025 given the new Gravs, PD's, EZONEs and TFIGHTs.
Click to expand...
The blade slander is crazy :(
 
dyslexical-scope said:
Best Looking Racquet
The RF01's cosmetic is surprisingly unsubtle in person under daylight; the colour gradient from throat to tip is dramatic.
The Blade V9 has really grown on me, I think it looks great in all conditions.
I've seen a lot of raving around the new VCORE Sand Beige cosmetic online but I haven't seen one in real life.
I have seen the EZONE Aqua Night Black cosmetic and it's gorgeous.
I'm going to have to go with the mysterious midnight ocean on this one.

Best Looking String
Grapplesnake Tour Mako
Click to expand...
I think the v9 color looks particularly good with a glossy finish on the pro. my favorite of the year along with the prince phantom graphite 100 (Japan) which also happens to be glossy green
 
I'd like to say the 2024 PoKennex black ace pro up for best looking racket, but I've only seen pictures on their website, not photos on court.
 
Trying to decide between the Strikes to go either 98 or 100 16*19. I know Becket only tried the 98 so I have that and what TW testers had to say. I am slow and old and was leaning toward the 100 for that reason.
 
Dharmaboy said:
Trying to decide between the Strikes to go either 98 or 100 16*19. I know Becket only tried the 98 so I have that and what TW testers had to say. I am slow and old and was leaning toward the 100 for that reason.
Click to expand...
I feel like if Becket were with u right now, he'd rec the 100."
He's been on the 100" tip lately, as have I. I don't have a channel, but I'm not Canadian, so it's a wash.
 
Why the blade hate? I have tried many rackets, and I just win more matches with my trusty blade v9 98 16x19. It just works and works well. I can say what I don't like about it, sure, but there hasn't been another racket I play better tennis with for me yet.
 
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