Clash 98 v TF40

[AZJ1973]

I am a tennis elbow survivor after playing with the Babolat Pure Aero and Pure Strike for 3-4 years. I have been back on the court for 3 years thanks to the Yonex DR98 and for the last two years the Clash 100.

I use the regular Clash 100 with either Cyclone Tour 17 or Ultra Cable.

With the V2’s out I am thinking of going back to a 98 with the 16x19 TF40 or the 16x20 Clash 98.

Staying with the Clash family I am already bumping up the RA from 55 to 60. If I go TF40 then I’m up at a 64.

Just curious whether anyone has any experience or thoughts on the stiffness comparison and the risk I would take going with either of the two racquets I’m considering.

USTA 4.5
UTR 8.10

 

[nohandedbackhand]

Personally I find string type and tension to have a much bigger influence on comfort than RA once you’re below a certain flex rating (71 RA Babolats seem incurable to me). Smaller heads and denser patterns allow thinner gauge strings and lower tensions. With said setup I find the TF40 extremely comfortable.

 

[AZJ1973]

Is your TF40 a 18x20?

 

[Yamin]

Were you playing the Clash 100 stock? If so, and you're not always hitting the clash "stiffness" I think you'll be fine given the weight increase with the 98. Personally don't think the clash 98 is soft though unless you have enough mass /SW on it.

 

[smg]

I was in the same situation as you, had been using the Clash 100 (with some added weight) for almost 3 years. I demoed a bunch (although not the TF40) and wound up with the Prince Phantom 97P. It is more comfortable than my old Clash and generally better in every way. Plus, the price is a lot better

 

[AZJ1973]

Were you playing the Clash 100 stock? If so, and you're not always hitting the clash "stiffness" I think you'll be fine given the weight increase with the 98. Personally don't think the clash 98 is soft though unless you have enough mass /SW on it.

Yes. Straight stock.

 

[AZJ1973]

I was in the same situation as you, had been using the Clash 100 (with some added weight) for almost 3 years. I demoed a bunch (although not the TF40) and wound up with the Prince Phantom 97P. It is more comfortable than my old Clash and generally better in every way. Plus, the price is a lot better

Interesting. Can you compare the Clash 100 with the 97P in all areas? When you say better in every way you have my attention.

 

[smg]

I found the Clash to be somewhat unpredictable as my game improved. The variable flex meant that on an easy swing it was soft and I knew what it would do, when swinging hard it was stiffer and I knew what it would do, but there was a something about a swing in between that sometimes would tend to be sometimes dead and sometimes launchy. I was looking for less power, more control and more predictability while still being arm friendly. My switch is recent, so it may still be a bit of a honeymoon period, but my OHBH is definitely better with the 97P, my forehand is more consistent and accurate with better depth control, my serve is more accurate and my second serve bounces higher. My regular playing partners have noted that I'm hitting a heavier ball. I love the thin beam and I just feel much more confident with the 97P, plus I find it to feel softer than the Clash. I would certainly recommend a demo, it wasn't on my original demo list, but after trying it I found it to be exactly what I was looking for.