Best racquet release for this year so far?

[Crocodile]

As a racquet enthusiast I like to try many of the new releases to see whether there has been some improvement in product design or playability and while it’s been a tough year I am interested in hearing what people are liking so far this year and conversely what you think has been a misstep or an underwhelming update.
From my own perspective I feel that the 2019 releases were better including Clash, Gravity and Angell K7 Lime and Red series. I also like the Volkl V8 Pro but so far the 2020 V Cell range hasn’t really been a revolution but more an evolution of the V Feel range,
Some of the people I have spoken to in the industry are very impressed with Yonex with the release of the E Zone tour and Babolat Pure Drive.
What about the release of classics like the Head pro tour 2,0 and what Prince have done with the POH snd Synergy 26. Your thoughts.

 

[dkmura]

Put down my vote for the EZone98 Tour. Yonex did a comprehensive job of not only beefing up the layout, but reworking flex and balance to create a racquet quite different from the popular EZ98 sixth edition.

 

[tennis347]

2020 Prince Phantom 100p. For a thin beam frame it has a really nice balance of power and control along with the comfort.

I would also add the rest of the Phantom line. Prince has really found their mark making a whole line of thin beam racquets with multiple options for different head sizes and string patterns.

It also looks like Pro Kennex has brought back a real classic with the Black Ace in 2 different weights. If I had not made the switch to the Phantom 100p about 7 weeks ago, I would have definitely looking to buy the Black Ace in the 315 gram version. The thin beam and the open 16 x 19 pattern with a 100 sq inch head will be attractive to many experienced players who crave feel, comfort, control and spin.

 

[Villain]

Good thread. So many good releases in the last year and a half. I feel that the couple of years before that, there were only a small handful of racquets that I was even slightly excited about. These aren’t racquets that I play with, but based on forum buzz and not necessarily in order:

1. Head: Pro Tour 2.0
2. Yonex: Ezone Tour
3. Wilson: the Pro Labs sticks will probably take this one.

TT forum buzz probably does not equate to what most rec players care about though.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Ezone best family of frames released this year.

The 100 in particular jumps out at me since it exceeds the pure drive in every area.

 

[pyrokid]

Ezone best family of frames released this year.

The 100 in particular jumps out at me since it exceeds the pure drive in every area.

More pop/spin too?

 

[El_Yotamo]

So far probably either the 360+ Prestige Mid or PT2.0., maybe Phantom 93P. The "Ultra Pro"/"Blade Pro" (H19/H22) could quite possibly take the cake though.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

More pop/spin too?

Yes, but in a more versatile/controllable way.

 

[Alexh22]

I would like to answer this question on Monday once I order my retail H22

 

[galain]

The Prince Phantoms. Thought the originals were also terrific. Prince is doing good stuff.

 

[ron schaap]

As a racquet enthusiast I like to try many of the new releases to see whether there has been some improvement in product design or playability and while it’s been a tough year I am interested in hearing what people are liking so far this year and conversely what you think has been a misstep or an underwhelming update.
From my own perspective I feel that the 2019 releases were better including Clash, Gravity and Angell K7 Lime and Red series. I also like the Volkl V8 Pro but so far the 2020 V Cell range hasn’t really been a revolution but more an evolution of the V Feel range,
Some of the people I have spoken to in the industry are very impressed with Yonex with the release of the E Zone tour and Babolat Pure Drive.
What about the release of classics like the Head pro tour 2,0 and what Prince have done with the POH snd Synergy 26. Your thoughts.

There is no need for companies to revolutionize every year. Mostly they update every 2 year, but racquets lasts much longer than that so the market begins to saturate and stocks pile up which is not what they want i presume.

 

[dr325i]

PT2.0
360+ Extreme Tour

 

[tomato123]

Tecnifibre TFight RS could be a pleasant surprise for people who try it out!

 

[Boubi]

PAVS, prestige mid and pro, extreme MP
To be followed: tfights , new radicals and pro staff

 

[pyrokid]

The new pure drive is great by me.

 

[dkmura]

There is no need for companies to revolutionize every year. Mostly they update every 2 year, but racquets lasts much longer than that so the market begins to saturate and stocks pile up which is not what they want i presume.

I think racquet companies have figured out small changes and additional colorways mean more sales. Yes, it means changing the production line more often, but selling more frames provides enhanced profits during the pandemic. It's probably a trend that will continue into the future.

 

[PMF]

IMO, 2019 CY had an incredible blitz of new products, most of which were very good offerings. Although not as substantial in quantity, 2020 CY has some good ones too. The new Ezone Tour, Pro Staff 97 v13, Babolat Pure Drive 2021, Head Prestige Mid, and & Head Extreme Tour seem to stick in my mind. I have no doubt there are others too, such as the Wilson Pro Stock line. Great move!

 

[Roquestil]

360+ Prestige MP (The perfect balance of a classic racquet feel in a modern frame)
Yonex Ezone 98 and 98 Tour, probably the whole Ezone line.

 

[BallBasher247]

I've got a couple in mind...

Best racket releases in terms of consumer hype/interest: Yonex EZONE early 2020 lineup, Babolat Pure Aero VS

Best racket releases in terms of quality of product line/product line update: Prince Phantom 100X/100P/97P, HEAD Graphene 360+ Speed/Extreme lineups, Tecnifibre TFight RS lineup

Best racket releases that people sleep on and shouldn't: Diadem FS Elevate/Nova lineups, ProKennex Black Ace lineup

Best racket releases in terms of surprise: Yonex EZONE 98 Tour, Wilson Pro Labs lineup

Best racket release overall: Yonex EZONE lineup (incl. EZONE Tour 98)

 

[Hansen]

playing the devils advocate here. for me personally, since i like and need non-crisp (not neccessarily very flexible) comfortable frames (like they made them in the past: yonex rdx, yonex rqis 95, even lm radical mp) the racquet releases are dissapointing. in my opinion a racquet like the dr 98 (98sq in, low 60s ra, 310 gr, 325 sw, relatively soft and comfortable feel) isn´t a niche frame, and still this category is almost nonexistent.

babolat: nothing (but thats okay since they make different frames anyway)
head: nothing (why not release the prestige mp also in a 16 mains version)
wilson: only the blade 16x19
völkl: nothing, a joke actually
yonex: ezone tour (but it is not a classic control frame), vcore 95 (feel is still to modern), vcore pros (not soft actually) but yonex still the best manufacturer in this category
prince: has a disdain for 98 sq in frames in general, textreme line is to stiff/crisp, only sub 100sq in frame in the phantom line is probably underpowered (not sure since this one wasn´t released in europe, good job prince)
tecnifibre : nothing
pro kennex: qtour 16x19 (good on paper, but not comfortable imo, muted in the sweetspot but harsh outside of it, pretty raw feeling frame. im always suprised that pro kennex frames work that well in the comfort department for other players)
dunlop: 200 touur 16x19 maybe (haven´t played with it, but since the nt tour 16x19 with a ra of 59 was already really bad, i´m more than sceptical)
so in my view, and that is just my opinion, the racquet companies do a bad job, end of rant.

 

[Villain]

playing the devils advocate here. for me personally, since i like and need non-crisp (not neccessarily very flexible) comfortable frames (like they made them in the past: yonex rdx, yonex rqis 95, even lm radical mp) the racquet releases are dissapointing. in my opinion a racquet like the dr 98 (98sq in, low 60s ra, 310 gr, 325 sw, relatively soft and comfortable feel) isn´t a niche frame, and still this category is almost nonexistent.

babolat: nothing (but thats okay since they make different frames anyway)
head: nothing (why not release the prestige mp also in a 16 mains version)
wilson: only the blade 16x19
völkl: nothing, a joke actually
yonex: ezone tour (but it is not a classic control frame), vcore 95 (feel is still to modern), vcore pros (not soft actually) but yonex still the best manufacturer in this category
prince: has a disdain for 98 sq in frames in general, textreme line is to stiff/crisp, only sub 100sq in frame in the phantom line is probably underpowered (not sure since this one wasn´t released in europe, good job prince)
tecnifibre : nothing
pro kennex: qtour 16x19 (good on paper, but not comfortable imo, muted in the sweetspot but harsh outside of it, pretty raw feeling frame. im always suprised that pro kennex frames work that well in the comfort department for other players)
dunlop: 200 touur 16x19 maybe (haven´t played with it, but since the nt tour 16x19 with a ra of 59 was already really bad, i´m more than sceptical)
so in my view, and that is just my opinion, the racquet companies do a bad job, end of rant.

Head has several, they’re just all 18x20s. Otherwise, agreed.

 

[avocadoz]

Prince Phantom 100X and Babolat Pure Drive.