can anyone rank/compare these four racquets for me?

[drewiepoo2]

Looking to move to the "modern player's racquet" category. Not sure if all of these qualify for that category, but plan to demo the following four racquets. Would love if someone could rank them (most to least) for 1) power, 2) control, 3) "ease of use", and 4) possibly spin.

Wilson Blade 98 16x19
Pure Strike 98 16x19
Yonex DR98
Pro Staff 97

 

[Brady12]

Only used the Blade and PS97.

The PS swings easier--more maneuverable and greater "ease of use" although a bit under-powered. Blade is more powerful and more stable. Both have about equal access to spin. I prefer the more headlight balance of the PS97.

 

[n8dawg6]

where you gonna get a DR98?

 

[McLovin]

where you gonna get a DR98?

lol. That was my first thought, and I was about to post the same thing when I read your response.

 

[drewiepoo2]

where you gonna get a DR98?

i actually have one, along with a few older racquets. havent hit with the others, just want some comparisons thx

 

[Dominic]

Power : Blade/PureStrike/PS/DR98
Blade has great put away power
Pure Stike has easy power
Control : DR98/Blade/PS/Pure Strike
DR98...lovely touch feel and control
Ease of use : Pure Strike/ DR98/Blade/PS
Strike, just so easy to play with..maneuverable
Spin : Pure Strike/DR98/Blade/PS
Pure Strike, easy head speed = spin.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I've hit with all of them but not recently. Was trying to move on from a PD due to elbow issues. Least favorite was the Babolat. Too harsh and tinny. Liked the other 3 about equally. Admittedly I liked the 2015 Blade 16x19 more than the more modern CV Blades. DR98 was probably the best all rounder but I ended up going with a ported Phantom for purely comfort reasons. PS97 had the best stability for me.

 

[CosmosMpower]

1. DR 98
2. Project one 7
3. Blade
4. PS 97 (close tie with Blade)

 

[drewiepoo2]

Power : Blade/PureStrike/PS/DR98
Blade has great put away power
Pure Stike has easy power
Control : DR98/Blade/PS/Pure Strike
DR98...lovely touch feel and control
Ease of use : Pure Strike/ DR98/Blade/PS
Strike, just so easy to play with..maneuverable
Spin : Pure Strike/DR98/Blade/PS
Pure Strike, easy head speed = spin.

Thank you! didn't realize the DR98 (ezone 98?) was considered to have such control. If the pure strike is easier to use and has more easy power I think it could be a great racket for me

1. DR 98
2. Project one 7
3. Blade
4. PS 97 (close tie with Blade)

are these your rankings for power or control? (or something else)

 

[JoaoN]

I've hit with all of them, and for my game, the blade is the better one, by far.

In my experience:

Power: PO7/DR98/Blade/PS 97
Control: Blade/DR98/PS97/PO7
"Ease of use": PO7/DR98/PS97/Blade

It took my a few weeks to adjust my serve and touch shots with the blades, but now everything is working well.

Imo, the blade 16x19 plays a lot like the RF97, but a little easier to swing.

 

[drewiepoo2]

I've hit with all of them, and for my game, the blade is the better one, by far.

In my experience:

Power: PO7/DR98/Blade/PS 97
Control: Blade/DR98/PS97/PO7
"Ease of use": PO7/DR98/PS97/Blade

It took my a few weeks to adjust my serve and touch shots with the blades, but now everything is working well.

Imo, the blade 16x19 plays a lot like the RF97, but a little easier to swing.

wouldn't the PS97 play more like the RF97 than the blade? I thought the PS97 was specifically made to be a "lite" version of the RF97..

 

[J D]

I have played with all four, although I really didn’t like the strings in either of the Yonex demos I had, so that makes it harder to compare.

Here is the way I rated them:
Power: DR98 > PS 17 = PS 97 > Blade
Control: Blade > PS 17 > PS 97 > DR98
Ease of Use: DR98 = PS 97 > PS 17 > Blade
Spin; DR98 > PS 17 = PS 97 > Blade

These four frames are similar in a lot of ways but with very distinct differences. Baseline bashers that hit flattish will like the Blade. If you can swing the Blade as fast as the others it does have a lot of power, but it takes a lot more effort to generate RHS with it. I ultimately gave up on it because I was having to work too hard on groundstrokes over my shoulders and was often late on reflex volleys and returns against really hard flat serves. Baseliners looking for power and spin with control will find it in the PS 17 (they may also find TE). The PS 97 was a Swiss Army knife kind of frame for me. It did everything really well but nothing exceptionally well. All court aggressive topspinners will enjoy the Yonex.

I do keep a record of numerical ratings in a bunch of categories of all the frames I use or demo (I know, nerdy, but I'm a former software engineer). I can give you the ratings I gave each frame in each of these categories (and others) if you want them but, remember, those numbers are subjectively based on my game (slightly aging 4.5 all-courter).

 

[drewiepoo2]

I have played with all four, although I really didn’t like the strings in either of the Yonex demos I had, so that makes it harder to compare.

Here is the way I rated them:
Power: DR98 > PS 17 = PS 97 > Blade
Control: Blade > PS 17 > PS 97 > DR98
Ease of Use: DR98 = PS 97 > PS 17 > Blade
Spin; DR98 > PS 17 = PS 97 > Blade

These four frames are similar in a lot of ways but with very distinct differences. Baseline bashers that hit flattish will like the Blade. If you can swing the Blade as fast as the others it does have a lot of power, but it takes a lot more effort to generate RHS with it. I ultimately gave up on it because I was having to work too hard on groundstrokes over my shoulders and was often late on reflex volleys and returns against really hard flat serves. Baseliners looking for power and spin with control will find it in the PS 17 (they may also find TE). The PS 97 was a Swiss Army knife kind of frame for me. It did everything really well but nothing exceptionally well. All court aggressive topspinners will enjoy the Yonex.

I do keep a record of numerical ratings in a bunch of categories of all the frames I use or demo (I know, nerdy, but I'm a former software engineer). I can give you the ratings I gave each frame in each of these categories (and others) if you want them but, remember, those numbers are subjectively based on my game (slightly aging 4.5 all-courter).

Great comparisons, and I absolutely agree that while they're similar they are all probably suited for different types of players. What are you using now, and do you have any other racquet recommendations that fall within this category?

BTW, as a current software engineer, I would love to take a look at your numerical ratings

 

[JoaoN]

wouldn't the PS97 play more like the RF97 than the blade? I thought the PS97 was specifically made to be a "lite" version of the RF97..

It should, but the PS97 is way more erratic and lacks the put away power the RF97 has.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Thank you! didn't realize the DR98 (ezone 98?) was considered to have such control. If the pure strike is easier to use and has more easy power I think it could be a great racket for me



are these your rankings for power or control? (or something else)

Everything. Feel, power, control.

Just power project one 7 wins easily though.

 

[J D]

Here are my scores. Remember, these are just ratings for how well each one worked for that part of my game, YMMV.

Playability Scores
Racquet  1st Serve  2nd Serve  Volley  FH (ts)  FH (flat)  BH (ts)  BH (slice)  BH (2H)  Serve Ret.  Defense  Comfort  Feel  Maneuv.
PS 17         8.5      8.5       8       8          8         8         8          8          9       8.5        5        7       8
PS 97         8.5       7        9       8          8         8         8          7          8        7         8        8       7
DR 98         8.5       9        8       8          7         8         7         7.5         8       7.5        8        8       7
Blade 98      8         8        6       7          9         6         9          8          6        6        8.5       9       5

Comparative Scores
Racquet  Power  Spin  Control
PS 17      7     8      8.5
PS 97      7    7.5     7.5
DR 98      8     8       7
Blade 98   6     5       9