Boris Becker Tennis and Völkl Tennis

"Thanks thats' a great thought. I have something like that in mind who i've helped out in the past, and i'm sure they would be happy to reciprocate. Personally, I feel that good frames usually get messed up rather than helped by 'home leading' and that's why I dont have hopes of me getting this right. But I want to give it a quick shot. I think the dnx9 is one of those frames with a very highly tweaked layup. I dont know how they got it to swing so easily, be pretty headlight, yet weigh 11.8. just enough to pierce the court for me in my advancing years :0 I would be happy to swing just about any of the 10series frames...i can swing them well...just not long enough anymore..time to move on. Such is life ;0"

NBMJ-
Even allowing for a few weeks of infatuation in the honeymoon phase, my subjective view has been buttressed by my drill and game partners, who have noticed a bump in my performance as well as scores. Indeed, in my seven years of Volkl devotion, this seems to be the apotheosis of their player's sticks evolution.
By tweaking the layup and DNX placement of the DNX 10 MP (along w/ a new grip/shock system), Volkl has managed to marry the sheer performance/results of the DNX 9 w/ the pure feel and response of the DNX 10 Mid. And yet this is not just a hybrid of two fairly different frames; for w/ the 18x20 string pattern, Volkl has managed to enhance directional control while still softening and expanding the sweetspot. This stick has more pop than the DNX 10 MP; yet feels far more satisfying all the way across the stringbed from the sweetspot to outside of it.
I should add that **** has added 9 grams of weight while adding almost 7 points of headlightness to the frame. Also the string tension has been dropped to 55/52 (from a 56 all-poly DNX 9). Last, but not not least, I should add that this is a gorgeous stick (when Roman Prokes first saw the finish, he exclaimed, "Volkl really got this one right!")
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BB 11 Luxilon ALU power m's/VS 16 x's
 
birdword said:
"
NBMJ-
Even allowing for a few weeks of infatuation in the honeymoon phase, my subjective view has been buttressed by my drill and game partners, who have noticed a bump in my performance as well as scores. Indeed, in my seven years of Volkl devotion, this seems to be the apotheosis of their player's sticks evolution.
By tweaking the layup and DNX placement of the DNX 10 MP (along w/ a new grip/shock system), Volkl has managed to marry the sheer performance/results of the DNX 9 w/ the pure feel and response of the DNX 10 Mid. And yet this is not just a hybrid of two fairly different frames; for w/ the 18x20 string pattern, Volkl has managed to enhance directional control while still softening and expanding the sweetspot. This stick has more pop than the DNX 10 MP; yet feels far more satisfying all the way across the stringbed from the sweetspot to outside of it.
I should add that **** has added 9 grams of weight while adding almost 7 points of headlightness to the frame. Also the string tension has been dropped to 55/52 (from a 56 all-poly DNX 9). Last, but not not least, I should add that this is a gorgeous stick (when Roman Prokes first saw the finish, he exclaimed, "Volkl really got this one right!")
_______________
BB 11 Luxilon ALU power m's/VS 16 x's
Click to expand...

This precisely mirrors my impression of the Becker11. I've been hitting it off and on for about 6 weeks now wishing I could swing it fast enough for long enough. I liked it straight away and then it grew on me. More juice than the dnx10mp and a more homogenous ball feel, and I have both the Becker11 and the dnx10mps strung in the low 50's as well. They really did evolve the use of the DNX material. Moving it from the inside of the hoop to the outside, extending it, culminating both ends in bracelets and extending the stuff up the inside above the grip collar cuff clearly made a big difference in performance and ball feel. It's just way solid all the way around and gives you the juice from a still flexy 18 mains frame which is hard to do as I think you know. Lots of 18mains frames simply feel boardy with shrunken down sweetzones..this one feels plush, and the sweetzone is really big especially for an 18mains frame...it's also very spinny for an 18mains frame...sigh..just a hair to much swingweight for me and i want something i can swing fast for the next 5 years or so

I think the DNX9 gives you a nice feeling of preciseness for a 16mains frame.

Do you happen to know what the swingweight was in stock form, if Roman even uses SW rather than MOI? TW has it quite a lot higher than what mine feels like.
 
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NoBadMojo said:
This precisely mirrors my impression of the Becker11. I've been hitting it off and on for about 6 weeks now wishing I could swing it fast enough for long enough. I liked it straight away and then it grew on me. More juice than the dnx10mp and a more homogenous ball feel, and I have both the Becker11 and the dnx10mps strung in the low 50's as well. They really did evolve the use of the DNX material. Moving it from the inside of the hoop to the outside, extending it, culminating both ends in bracelets and extending the stuff up the inside above the grip collar cuff clearly made a big difference in performance and ball feel. It's just way solid all the way around and gives you the juice from a still flexy 18 mains frame which is hard to do as I think you know. Lots of 18mains frames simply feel boardy with shrunken down sweetzones..this one feels plush, and the sweetzone is really big especially for an 18mains frame...it's also very spinny for an 18mains frame...sigh..just a hair to much swingweight for me and i want something i can swing fast for the next 5 years or so

I think the DNX9 gives you a nice feeling of preciseness for a 16mains frame.

Do you happen to know what the swingweight was in stock form, if Roman even uses SW rather than MOI? TW has it quite a lot higher than what mine feels like.
Click to expand...

I second that notion that the swingweight listed here on TW seems higher than what the racquet feels like. The swingweight is within 1pt of a K90 and to me the BB11 feels noticeably easier to swing. Maybe it was just the fact that the frame is new to be. I was actually thinking about adding a little lead to it to, but am holding off for at least a few weeks to see how it feels once I acclimate. But darn this is a great racquet. Kudos to those German engineers.
 
Pathy01 said:
I second that notion that the swingweight listed here on TW seems higher than what the racquet feels like. The swingweight is within 1pt of a K90 and to me the BB11 feels noticeably easier to swing. Maybe it was just the fact that the frame is new to be. I was actually thinking about adding a little lead to it to, but am holding off for at least a few weeks to see how it feels once I acclimate. But darn this is a great racquet. Kudos to those German engineers.
Click to expand...

No..the frame is clearly significantly easier to swing than the k90. The k90 easily swings in the 330's. But the prelim specs I have say it is 315SW. Mine is def higher than that, swings a little bit higher than the dnx10mp and about where the dnx10Mid is at 325. If I get the final swingweight number, i'll post.
TW also had the BeckerV1 way up there higher than it swings..they could have been testing seed frames
 
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Its great that the Volkl guy came in and set the record straight. Its also too bad that Volkl has lost quite a bit of marketing time/penetration due to the BB introduction and the confusion re: the two entities. The brand was not very popular with the general public before this happened (other than the group of Volkl people on this site, etc.) and, although they make nice sticks, it appears as though they are losing more market share during the past months based on my discussions with retailers and pros. I blame this on very poor marketing and distribution strategy. Perception becomes reality in retail sales and most shops and retailers no longer stock the Volkl frames in my area due to poor sales; and the name recognition of "Boris Becker" isn't going to help (in fact this aspect of the company(s) has IMO been a marketing mess). I have no agenda either way and I hope they do well.....but Volkl/Boris Becker has a long way to go unless it wants to continue to be a small niche player.
 
"This precisely mirrors my impression of the Becker11. I've been hitting it off and on for about 6 weeks now wishing I could swing it fast enough for long enough. I liked it straight away and then it grew on me. More juice than the dnx10mp and a more homogenous ball feel, and I have both the Becker11 and the dnx10mps strung in the low 50's as well. They really did evolve the use of the DNX material. Moving it from the inside of the hoop to the outside, extending it, culminating both ends in bracelets and extending the stuff up the inside above the grip collar cuff clearly made a big difference in performance and ball feel. It's just way solid all the way around and gives you the juice from a still flexy 18 mains frame which is hard to do as I think you know. Lots of 18mains frames simply feel boardy with shrunken down sweetzones..this one feels plush, and the sweetzone is really big especially for an 18mains frame...it's also very spinny for an 18mains frame...sigh..just a hair to much swingweight for me and i want something i can swing fast for the next 5 years or so

I think the DNX9 gives you a nice feeling of preciseness for a 16mains frame.

Do you happen to know what the swingweight was in stock form, if Roman even uses SW rather than MOI? TW has it quite a lot higher than what mine feels like."

NBMJ-
Swingweight, as you know, is crucial. And I should have mentioned that while Roman uses 64 parameters in matching up all the frames he customizes, he does end up w/ a 315 sw for me on all my sticks (whether DNX 10 MP, DNX 10 MP, DNX 9 or BB 11). Unfortunately, I don't know the original sw before customization. In the next three weeks I will probably order one or two more BB 11s; so I'll get some original sw data for you then.
___________________________________
BB 11 Luxilon ALU power m's/VS team 16 x's
 
McGee said:
Its great that the Volkl guy came in and set the record straight. Its also too bad that Volkl has lost quite a bit of marketing time/penetration due to the BB introduction and the confusion re: the two entities. The brand was not very popular with the general public before this happened (other than the group of Volkl people on this site, etc.) and, although they make nice sticks, it appears as though they are losing more market share during the past months based on my discussions with retailers and pros. I blame this on very poor marketing and distribution strategy. Perception becomes reality in retail sales and most shops and retailers no longer stock the Volkl frames in my area due to poor sales; and the name recognition of "Boris Becker" isn't going to help (in fact this aspect of the company(s) has IMO been a marketing mess). I have no agenda either way and I hope they do well.....but Volkl/Boris Becker has a long way to go unless it wants to continue to be a small niche player.
Click to expand...

Whereas, here in Australia, the BB line of lower-end racquets has been one of Volkl's biggest sellers. People have most definitely responded to the Becker name and, as a result, Volkl can save themselves a small fortune by NOT having to explain to a new market who they are and what it is they do. Becker and tennis are an automatic connect and people (most) don't need to be prodded to make that association. So, they subsitute Becker for Volkl and the work is done (where necessary).

No idea why the US should be so markedly different
 
danix said:
Zak, do not underestimate the value of having direct contact with your customers. Working hand in hand with a large retailer like TW can benefit you, and this is something that VW has done with success using a couple of online forums. I think that part of your job should be to be on the message board on a regular basis.

This forum can help you with direct market research at zero cost to you/Becker Tennis. For example, would there be a market for the original Puma PCS Becker frame, if it were recreated? (Probably, but this might also cannibalize sales of the Becker 11. ) Are players more interested in the heavier 18x20 Becker 11, or is the lighter, more open pattern model more desirable?
Click to expand...
This is true. On the car audio forum I go to there is a Kicker/Stillwater Designs representative with lots of posts, very helpful guy. There are other representatives from other audio companies there as well.

There is an arcade machine forum I go to, and there are several representatives from companies who manufacture parts for arcade machines there.

It is good for business by improving customer relations/communication.
 
birdword said:
"
NBMJ-
Swingweight, as you know, is crucial. And I should have mentioned that while Roman uses 64 parameters in matching up all the frames he customizes, he does end up w/ a 315 sw for me on all my sticks (whether DNX 10 MP, DNX 10 MP, DNX 9 or BB 11). Unfortunately, I don't know the original sw before customization. In the next three weeks I will probably order one or two more BB 11s; so I'll get some original sw data for you then.
___________________________________
BB 11 Luxilon ALU power m's/VS team 16 x's
Click to expand...

Zowie....the guy is a miracle worker. Not to be argumentative but instead curious, he's taken a frame with a 325 or so swingweight, added lead to it, and made it swing at 315? How can this work? Sign me up! Perhaps the sw is 315 unstrung? Perhaps you can clarify because I'll just use the reg becker11's then if he can work this sort of racquet miracle. If unstrung sw of 315 the swingweight would then be about 340 strung and perhaps as much as 345 with the poly.

AndrewD said:
Whereas, here in Australia, the BB line of lower-end racquets has been one of Volkl's biggest sellers. People have most definitely responded to the Becker name and, as a result, Volkl can save themselves a small fortune by NOT having to explain to a new market who they are and what it is they do. Becker and tennis are an automatic connect and people (most) don't need to be prodded to make that association. So, they subsitute Becker for Volkl and the work is done (where necessary).

No idea why the US should be so markedly different
Click to expand...

The BB5 has been a high volume seller for Volkl. Just because frames like this arent embraced by TW forum members doesnt mean that people arent buying them. I do think they've created an image to be reversed by launching a becker line of price point frames designed in part for the Asian market, and then reversed that by developing a premium high technology line of becker products. Looks like the Becker line will bracket the Volkl line on both ends of the spectrum.
 
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AndrewD said:
............No idea why the US should be so markedly different
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't get why the Australian market is so different from the US. I have not seen ONE Becker frame anywhere being used in the US (and I have travelled to events from Junior to Open/Challenger throughout the country) and I could probably count the Volkl frames being used on one hand. I wish that it wasn't so as I like some of their sticks and they seem well made. Believe me, the name Boris Becker doesn't mean much in the US to the majority of rising junior players and even older players when choosing a frame - they probably recognize the Volkl name a bit more. Oh well.
 
My shop says tons of juniors in our area are using Volkls and that the Volkl line in general is doing really well. I guess it all depends on where you live.

I practice with a 4.5 team that went to Sectionals this year and there are about 7-8 guys on that team alone using Volkls. I've used one for 5-6 years now, my doubles partner uses one. So they are doing fairly well around here.
 
I for one definitely hope that the new BB/Volkl partnership works out well. It sure looks like the BB11 will be a winner....and it was great news to hear that the C10 will be around for a long while. You just don't get that with many other companies. I must also agree with McGee with regard to the Volkl market share. While I know that they are not trying to be Head/Prince/Wilson, I just do not see Volkl sticks at tournaments or college matches. I am assistant coach at a D1 school and during the past season I might have seen one Volkl at a match during the entire season. Not many at high level tourneys either or junior events. The major tennis shops just do not carry them anymore either. Its disappointing. I'm glad to see that in couch's neck of the woods things seem to be better with his 4.5 team...it seams as though the frames have caught on in his group.
 
And i very rarely see a Yonex, Technifibre, PK, or Fischer. I dont even see many Prince frames. All of this means absolutely nothing. Wilson, Head, and Babblelot is obviously what you see in numbers.
 
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NoBadMojo said:
And i very rarely see a Yonex, Technifibre, PK, or Fischer. I dont even see many Prince frames. All of this means absolutely nothing. Wilson, Head, and Babblelot is obviously what you see in numbers.
Click to expand...

I agree (except I see quite a few Prince sticks out there). It is a shame. Companies like Tecnifibre, PK, Volkl, Fisher have some of the best quality control and engineering in the business....yet its all about marketing (isn't everything :( )
 
Alley Cat said:
I agree (except I see quite a few Prince sticks out there). It is a shame. Companies like Tecnifibre, PK, Volkl, Fisher have some of the best quality control and engineering in the business....yet its all about marketing (isn't everything :( )
Click to expand...

My point is that just because a person doesnt see a particular brand in their world, that isnt an indicator of the health of that particular brand.
 
"Zowie....the guy is a miracle worker. Not to be argumentative but instead curious, he's taken a frame with a 325 or so swingweight, added lead to it, and made it swing at 315? How can this work? Sign me up! Perhaps the sw is 315 unstrung? Perhaps you can clarify because I'll just use the reg becker11's then if he can work this sort of racquet miracle. If unstrung sw of 315 the swingweight would then be about 340 strung and perhaps as much as 345 with the poly."

"BirdW,
Can you provide us with more detail about the 64 parameters that your customizer uses?
thanks."

NBMJ and TT-
Roman is a miracle-worker! Certainly, one factor in the low sw (strung) is that the sticks are approximately 12 points headlight. That said, I've seen Roman deconstruct sticks and take weight out, as well as put weight in. He consults with players and manufactures on design AND production. For example, he has been involved in frame design and manufacturing for Agassi (who manufactures his own hybrid of a Donnay design from the early nineties and a Head design from the late nineties). I can't enumerate all of the parameters he uses (although I will inquire), but the equipment he uses to analyze and then match a stick's specs is impressive. He hooks a frame up to a computer and there all sorts of readings. And you can be damn sure that someone as exacting as Agassi would notice the most minute difference from one stick to the next.

_____________________________________
BB 11 Luxilon ALU power m's/VS team 16 x's
 
I think Volkl hit a homerun with the Quantum Series that came out a few years ago. Tons of people were/are using those sticks in my neck of the woods. When they went to the V-Engine is when they lost a little momentum I think. I think they have recaptured some of that momentum with the DNX. Those are good looking and playing sticks.

It's funny too that Volkl, good and/or bad, is getting so much attention on these boards due to the whole Becker thing. That brings a lot more attention to the brand and, I would think, gets people to check out there offerings.

I don't keep up with any juniors so I'm just going by what my shop is telling me and they would know since they are the best in town and probably where most, if not all, of the juniors go.

I also think what may hurt Volkl is that they make such great sticks that when people start playing with a certain Volkl they don't switch for quite some time. As I've said before, I have been playing with the same Volkl for 5-6 years now. I've tried other sticks, including Volkl, and haven't swtiched and don't see a switch in the foreseeable future.

I don't think Volkl wants to or will ever become a prince, wilson, or head type of company and that's okay with me. As long as they continue to offer high-quality products that's what's important.
 
Zak Volkl - Becker

Hi Zak, you may recall working the RPA program in Michigan with me a few years ago, good to hear you are still involved with Volkl!
If you get a chance shoot out an e-mail to me, I have a few questions, FORINTOS@peoplepc.com
 
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