Best racquet for a 4.0, 55 year old?

1HBHfanatic

Legend
He says he doesn't really like Wilson, but I don't think he would be opposed to trying out a Clash if I got a demo for him
-the clash is a very good option IMO, it fits a large group of players in the 4.0 range
-most new racquets will be a huge/big improvement over the racquet you mentioned
-i would check out the local shop and see what they suggest on their current and outgoing inventory
-you dont need to spend a lot of money to get a good NEW racquet
-most 100"/sqr frames would be good options
-the wilson.clash line is comfortable and fun to hit with
-the wilson.blade 104, would also be a more serious racquet to try
 

PMF

Semi-Pro
I've been playing a lot of tennis with my dad since the summer. He used to play a lot in college and early years of working and is around a 4.0. He's been playing with an old Head racket for awhile since he lost his old racket (don't even know the brand honestly, I think it was a prestrung one), but I think it's time for an upgrade and have been looking a lot into the best racket for him. He is an all-court player, and is able to sustain pretty intense rallies while running around the court. He approaches the net often and loves to slice (his best shot by far!). He does have shoulder issues though, so stiffness should probably be on the lower end, but he can still generate his own power, so he doesn't need something super light. All this into account, I'm having "analysis paralysis" and need suggestions for rackets along these lines. I've read a few reviews on the Prince Phantom Pro 100, but I'd love to hear other suggestions.

EDIT: The Head racket is a Head Titanium 3000, oversized

I am 56 and 4.0 USTA. Still fit and competitive, just like your dad. :) There are so many good racquets now, I am sure he will love whatever you get him. However, I agree with what everyone has said. Comfort and control should be given higher priority than brute power. Almost anything from the Blade, Ezone, or Phantom lines should work, depending on his taste. A 100 square inch head size would be a safe bet IMO.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Definitely agree. The coach I'm working with offered to string one of my frames with RPM Blast at 50lbs, to prove a point. I was using the TW string database, and taking the stiffness ratings as gospel. I never would have tried RPM Blast, because at 1.25mm it's something like 50lbs stiffer than what I had been using. But it didn't feel nearly as harsh as I would have expected, from the database. And more important, after two weeks, my arm hasn't complained once. Best guess is that the strings have a bit more pop than I'm used to, so it's easier to dial back a bit. I do feel the increased stiffness when I flatten out and try to crush a ball, but since I don't try to crush winners on every shot, it's not a huge deal.

I'm not saying the database is useless . . . just that's it's dangerous to rely on just one metric to tell the entire story.

Whereas my brother in law played one two hour session with RPM Blast and an APD and hasn't been able to get back on a court in 2 years because of TE. Every setup and arm is different.
 

cmmarcoux

New User
Definitely true that every setup is different. I'd just highlight that I'm not swinging anything near as stiff as an APD. I'm trying RPM-B in a Diadem Elevate 98 (which I find to be nearly as plush as a Phantom), and that's knowing I have my trusty, actual Phantom 100 in the bag, for backup. $.02
 

GeoffHYL

Professional
Whereas my brother in law played one two hour session with RPM Blast and an APD and hasn't been able to get back on a court in 2 years because of TE. Every setup and arm is different.
I have 20+ hours of use of RPM Blast at 50 lbs. on a Tecnifibre T-Fight 305 RS, no elbow issues at all. I'm 60, a 4.0, and had TE in 2019, so my elbow is a bit sensitive still. I find that the foam-filled Tecnifibre racquets make poly strings comfortable. The RPM Blast is kind of dead now, so I have switched to an older T-Fight DC 315 LTD with Tier One Boost, still very comfortable on my elbow. I like the Tec racquets for the foam filling. The current T-Fight RS series have foam except for the lightest model, the 295, and the TF 40 models have foam, so I highly recommend them if you want to play with poly strings.
 
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cmmarcoux

New User
I wonder if that's why I find the Elevate comfortable. I chalked it up to the beam being on the thin side (21.5mm), but it does have foam filling...I'll have to check out which other models use foam. I'm probably set for a while, now, but next time the new frame bug strikes, I'll give 'em a spin.
I like the Tec racquets for the foam filling.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Definitely true that every setup is different. I'd just highlight that I'm not swinging anything near as stiff as an APD. I'm trying RPM-B in a Diadem Elevate 98 (which I find to be nearly as plush as a Phantom), and that's knowing I have my trusty, actual Phantom 100 in the bag, for backup. $.02

I've been able to get back to poly hybrids but I'm too nervous to ever go full poly again even with my soft rackets. That being said i have some friends that have had elbow issues that got back to poly with a softer frame, so no doubt it works for some.
 

max

Legend
Interesting about foam-fill. Angel has this as well as Donnay.

I hate to be the fart on the elevator (nice metaphor, eh?) but I just do not like Wilson frames.
 

happyandbob

Legend
I've been able to get back to poly hybrids but I'm too nervous to ever go full poly again even with my soft rackets. That being said i have some friends that have had elbow issues that got back to poly with a softer frame, so no doubt it works for some.

That's why so many of us old farts are playing with the Clash these days. It's the Geritol of tennis racquets
 
D

Deleted member 776614

Guest
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll look into ordering some demos for him to hit around with and get a feel - he isn't very picky, and actually tried out the Babolat Pure Drive 2021 a few days ago and enjoyed it, but from what I read, it could be hard on his arm, especially as a one-hander. The racket he's playing with right now is a Head Titanium 3000 oversized. It's really on its last legs, so hoping to get him a nice one soon

I hope he isn't ruined! Once I hit a Babolat it was hard to find another racquet I liked in comparison. Fortunately I found Tecnifibre, which is also French, similar design and feel, but generally softer and less harsh.

If he likes Pure Drive, have him try the Tfight 300. It's the same weight, balance, and swing weight as Pure Drive. Differences are a slightly smaller head (98in vs 100in), slightly softer (I think 67 vs 71?) but also foam-filled so its not as harsh. In terms of playing, it has a little less power and pop, but more control, and still provides the feel you get from a stiffer frame.

There are also larger (Tfight 295?) and heavier (Tfight 315) versions. The Tfight 305 is an odd-ball with a pretty high swing weight, so I'd avoid that one if looking for a Pure Drive alternate. I think the 295 is not foam-filled, and appears to spec a little stiffer, so not sure you're gaining much over the Pure Drive.
 

Ryebread

Hall of Fame
I’m 46
4.0
Played with fifty racquets during Covid.
settled on clash 98

I prefer HL sticks

the five favorites of the ones that didn’t make the cut in order of my preference:


prostaff 97 v13
gravity tour 360+
blade 16x19 v7
clash 100 pro
aero VS
 

flanker2000fr

Hall of Fame
Interesting about foam-fill. Angel has this as well as Donnay.

I hate to be the fart on the elevator (nice metaphor, eh?) but I just do not like Wilson frames.

Some of Wilson's frames are nice enough WHEN ON SPECS, but the problem is that their QC is so loose that it's a complete lottery.
 
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socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll look into ordering some demos for him to hit around with and get a feel - he isn't very picky, and actually tried out the Babolat Pure Drive 2021 a few days ago and enjoyed it, but from what I read, it could be hard on his arm, especially as a one-hander. The racket he's playing with right now is a Head Titanium 3000 oversized. It's really on its last legs, so hoping to get him a nice one soon
Most tennis players have preferences for racquets based on what they are used to. It is very hard therefore for someone else to buy them a racquet as a gift that they will enjoy. The fact that your Dad liked the Pure Drive and this surprised you tells me that his preferences might be different from yours and the recommendations you are getting. Looks like he plays with a lightweight, stiff, 100 sq inch racquet now and that’s probably similar to what he will like in the future too. Maybe you should first pay for a number of demos and slowly try to change his ‘taste’ before you surprise him with a new racquet that is very different from what he plays with.
 

cmmarcoux

New User
Most tennis players have preferences for racquets based on what they are used to. It is very hard therefore for someone else to buy them a racquet as a gift that they will enjoy. The fact that your Dad liked the Pure Drive and this surprised you tells me that his preferences might be different from yours and the recommendations you are getting. Looks like he plays with a lightweight, stiff, 100 sq inch racquet now and that’s probably similar to what he will like in the future too. Maybe you should first pay for a number of demos and slowly try to change his ‘taste’ before you surprise him with a new racquet that is very different from what he plays with.
I have to agree with this. As nice as it would be to have the entire thing "buttoned up," you can't know how it's going to feel to someone else. Sometimes, I don't do the best job of articulating why some frame feels right and another one doesn't. A gift card is always safe . . . to add a personal touch, you could order a handful of demos, as lefty suggested -- give him a chance to test out some frames at the same time -- and explain the rationale in a card. (Maybe a frame or two that you've heard him mention, and another frame or two that might not be on his radar). That would show that time and thought went into the gift, if a gift card alone doesn't seem personalized enough.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll look into ordering some demos for him to hit around with and get a feel - he isn't very picky, and actually tried out the Babolat Pure Drive 2021 a few days ago and enjoyed it, but from what I read, it could be hard on his arm, especially as a one-hander. The racket he's playing with right now is a Head Titanium 3000 oversized. It's really on its last legs, so hoping to get him a nice one soon
I am in mid 40s (5'8", 150 lbs) and have been using Pure Drive Lite 2015 for 9 months with multis (54/52 lbs). For the past three months, my elbow has been in mild soreness after playing 2 hours weekly. Two weeks ago I have decided to change racket due to swollen elbow. For now, I will stay away Babolat and choose a racket with RA lower than 63.
 
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Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
I am in mid 40s (5'8", 150 lbs) and have been using Pure Drive Lite 2015 for 9 months with multis (54/52 lbs). For the past three months, my elbow has been in mild soreness after playing 2 hours weekly. Two weeks ago I have decided to change racket due to swollen elbow. For now, I will stay away Babolat and choose a racket with RA lower than 63.

So many good frames out now that are far easier on the arm. For power there's the Clash, Ripstick, Extreme, Ezone. For control there's Phantom, Gravity, Blade lines.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
So many good frames out now that are far easier on the arm. For power there's the Clash, Ripstick, Extreme, Ezone. For control there's Phantom, Gravity, Blade lines.
Used a Volkl V1 OS for the 1st time today, freshly strung low. Easy on the arm, power a plenty, great spin
 

AceyMan

Professional
So,

This thread's a little stale now to help the OP, but I can get behind a Gravity for this scenario.

The MP, Tour, Pro => all nice sticks.

Speaking from experience I feel 100 in² is the right choice to provide a longer useful lifespan in Dad's hands. (See my post elsewhere about eyesight vs hoop size...)

Cheers,
/Acey
 

ZanderGoga

Semi-Pro
If you're in your 50's, and you're still a 4.0, you have no business with a player's racquet. It's for players who can wield it, and/or players who have legitimate aspirations to be able to wield it one day.

It used to also be a good compromise for the chronically injured or injury-susceptible, sure. Because those cats had to settle for a stick that would make their game suffer in the interests of staying on the court. But technology has delivered up better choices for that subclass.

At that age, and that level, go for something like the ProKennex Ki Q+ 20, or Q+ 15 Pro. One's an OS that should suit anyone from 3.5 to open level, the other's pretty much a Pure Drive with arm friendliness technology and a slightly bigger head. Either one will drastically improve the game of a 4.0 once he adapts to the power bump, and "outgrowing" that bonus power isn't happening during this lifetime at that age and level.
 
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