Clash Tour Pro vs. 98

[Ryebread]

I just read 24 pages of notes from you guys on these rackets in the strings forum. It’s very interesting that, in the early days, the tour was not very well received.

I came to the Clash from Babolat Pure Aero VS which is slightly more forgiving than the standard Babolat racquet. Not by much. The VS has a 67 rating. Most of the rest are around 69. The clash is around 55, which is a lot more comfy.

I feel that the clash is revolutionary, to some degree. You can get the stability you want, you can get the power you need from the 100 sticks, little less from the 98. You get VERY headlight, either you love it - or you can customize. You get all that, but wait there’s more. Your wrist, elbow, and shoulder should remain pain free!

I have been playing with the clash tour/pro for a few weeks. About 20 to 25 hours. 4.0, somewhat of a hard header, not over the top spin but not flat either.

With the tour, my ground strokes were amazing. Net game was OK. Serve suffered. Hyper G & Element Polys typically 52-54 range.

—

Fast forward to today. I demoed the 98 clash. It had a crap multi in it. I played against my typical 4.0 opponent who is a little better than me. He’s a strong 4.0. He won the first set 6 to 2.

I did get a few free points from my service. Serve was great! Ground strokes were OK- but not as good as with the tour, definitely a smaller sweet spot. I thought the launch angle would be lower with the 98, but it seemed like it is higher. Net game was better. I can see how the control should and would be better, but I just couldn’t get it dialed in - in just one set. Even after a long round of hitting prior. Definitely less punching power, when compared with the tour.

I then changed back to my racket. And won the second set in a 7-6 tiebreaker.

The results of the two sets do not mean anything- don’t think I’m kidding myself. With that said, I want to make one adjustment before I decide on which racket is best for me.

I went right back to the store and asked them to restring with a hyper G full bed at 52. I will try it again tomorrow.

—

for the clash experts, what do you think of my assessment so far? Both are very plush. Tour is a little more so.

For anyone who has not tried out a clash, don’t be a hater, give one a try. Obviously I got in the clash game a year and a half after they came out. Better late than never, says my elbow.

Cheers

 

[Toydy]

I currently run my Clash 98 with Volkl v-square 18g at 48 lbs. I have added silicon to the handle and 2 grams at 3 & 9. The only stroke I am struggling with since I changed over is the slice backhand, everything else is as good or better.

 

[tim-ay]

I hit the tour for maybe an hour and gelled more with the 98. I have two and used them full time for 3 months - still am hitting a bit with them. Tough to give you a compare between the two but I still really like the 98 with poly in the high 40’s. I feel like the 98 lacks a little on touch shots but everything else is solid. I can aim for smaller spots with the ezone 98+, but I think the 98 clash is great all around.

 

[DJ-]

Clash 98 by far. Maybe a little less spin but everything else better.. fully poly required to reap the benefits. Gem of a frame

 

[socallefty]

Waste of time to compare two demos if one has poly strung the way you like it and the other had a multi with god knows how many hours on it. You should get a better feel for the difference after you try it with HyperG.

It seems like more players use the 100 Tour as it came out first and converted a lot of players with previous elbow issues, but players who have tried both versions of the Clash seem to prefer the 98.

 

[Ryebread]

Waste of time to compare two demos if one has poly strung the way you like it and the other had a multi with god knows how many hours on it. You should get a better feel for the difference after you try it with HyperG.

It seems like more players use the 100 Tour as it came out first and converted a lot of players with previous elbow issues, but players who have tried both versions of the Clash seem to prefer the 98.

wow thx
I’m excited about trying it again tomorrow, now.
Cheers

 

[socallefty]

wow thx
I’m excited about trying it again tomorrow, now.
Cheers

If you like forgiving Babolat racquets as per your OP, try the Pure Strike Tour also before you switch to any version of the Clash.

I have been using the heavier, thin beam, less stiff (relative to PD and PA) Babolat models for twenty years and the current PST might be the one that suits me the best - previous user of Pure Control swirly, AeroPro Control, AeroStorm Tour, Pure Strike Tour Gen 1 and now the Gen 3. I typically string the PST with VS/HyperG at 48/44, although I just tried HyperG Soft this week in a hybrid and like it even better.

While I demoed 11.5-12 oz racquets from other brands every time I switched racquets, I always felt like I never served as well as I did with the heavier Babolat racquets and that always clinched the deal for me to stay with Babolat - the serve is by far the most important shot for my game.

 

[Ryebread]

If you like forgiving Babolat racquets as per your OP, try the Pure Strike Tour also before you switch to any version of the Clash.

I have been using the heavier, thin beam, less stiff (relative to PD and PA) Babolat models for twenty years and the current PST might be the one that suits me the best - previous user of Pure Control swirly, AeroPro Control, AeroStorm Tour, Pure Strike Tour Gen 1 and now the Gen 3. I typically string the PST with VS/HyperG at 48/44, although I just tried HyperG Soft this week in a hybrid and like it even better.

While I demoed 11.5-12 oz racquets from other brands every time I switched racquets, I always felt like I never served as well as I did with the heavier Babolat racquets and that always clinched the deal for me to stay with Babolat - the serve is by far the most important shot for my game.

thx for your reply
I have played with around 15 sticks this summer and fall.
I did own a few Pure Strikes (gen3), 16x19 and 18x20, both were not HL enough for me.
the Pure Strike 100 was HL enough for me, and that is the one I played with last, but once I demod the Pure Aero VS, I went with that.
I loved the VS.

But I demod the Clash when a friend asked me to try it out and I was sucked in.
I them demod the 100 Tour for two days, to test with other opponents. I was playing out of my mind with it.

Bought a 100 Tour. I'm ready to buy a backup stick, but wanted to try out the 98 first.
I will see how round two, with the 98 demo goes soon - with a poly setup hyper G.

I REALLY like whippy (HL), stable, 320-326 gram sticks,
the 100 tour is a little heavier, with it's SW, but it's so HL that it works fine.

Cheers

for reference, the other random racquets that I could hit rallies forever with (in this year's play tests):
Pro Staff 97L, little too stiff for me.
Blade 100L, loved it, can't believe it didn't feel as stiff as it is on paper (70?), must be the new mapping tech.
Head 360 Speed Pro. the old one, ground strokes were great. New version too heavy for me. VERY plush.

 

[Dartagnan64]

For anyone who has not tried out a clash, don’t be a hater, give one a try. Obviously I got in the clash game a year and a half after they came out. Better late than never, says my elbow.

I find the biggest fans of the Clash are those coming from Wilson Ultras and Babolat Pure Drives and Pure Aeros. I tried one after playing Phantoms and POG's and was pretty meh. Didn't feel revolutionary to me but I appreciated that finally someone made a comfortable frame the rec players could love and save their arms with. but they could have been saving their arms with any number of other frames out there.

As far as the 98 vs the 100 tour, I'd go 98. Seems to have a bit better control and control is really the Clash's one weakness IMO.

 

[Ryebread]

I find the biggest fans of the Clash are those coming from Wilson Ultras and Babolat Pure Drives and Pure Aeros. I tried one after playing Phantoms and POG's and was pretty meh. Didn't feel revolutionary to me but I appreciated that finally someone made a comfortable frame the rec players could love and save their arms with. but they could have been saving their arms with any number of other frames out there.

As far as the 98 vs the 100 tour, I'd go 98. Seems to have a bit better control and control is really the Clash's one weakness IMO.

well said

I think control is there. But you have to work for it, clearly. Flat hitters - stay away. This is for a modern swing path.

 

[Dartagnan64]

well said

I think control is there. But you have to work for it, clearly. Flat hitters - stay away. This is for a modern swing path.

yes you have to use spin to control it much like the Babolats. I've got a Phantom 107G that to me is the Clash equivalent. I'm re-establishing my topspin game with that frame, whereas with my 18x20 Phantoms, it's all a flat control game.

 

[Clash Ah ah]

+1 for a Pro/Tour with HyperG @52lbs

 

[Ryebread]

I wonder why I can't get any free points on my serve, with the tour,
when I can with the 98?
so close in SW!

 

[TF40]

I demoed both Tour and 98, and ended up buying two 98's. One is strung with HyperG 17 at 50lb; The other is strung with a gut/poly hybrid - KLIP Armour NG 16 51lb + Alu Power 16L 49 lb. The hybrid feels a little bit more lively.

 

[Ryebread]

the 98 feels a ton better with the poly setup of hyper G, no surprise.
now I really have a tough decision. played three hours today and it was a delight after the first hour.

I'll hit it again tomorrow and decide.
serve is wicked-good with the 98
not so much with the tour.

 

[Toydy]

the 98 feels a ton better with the poly setup of hyper G, no surprise.
now I really have a tough decision. played three hours today and it was a delight after the first hour.

I'll hit it again tomorrow and decide.
serve is wicked-good with the 98
not so much with the tour.

So if the serve is 50% of a singles match/ most important shot, it should be an easy decision?

 

[socallefty]

If I have to pick between two racquets that I somewhat like, I would always buy the one with which I serve better. Ground strokes can get better by optimizing strings, tensions etc. and just adjusting the swing over time to adapt to the new racquet. But, it is very hard to change anything about your service motion if you don’t like serving at the outset with a new racquet.

With me, I struggle to win when I don’t serve well and it is certainly the most important shot for my matches. My confidence is sky-high when I’m serving well and this has a positive impact on the rest of my game.

 

[Ryebread]

If I have to pick between two racquets that I somewhat like, I would always buy the one with which I serve better. Ground strokes can get better by optimizing strings, tensions etc. and just adjusting the swing over time to adapt to the new racquet. But, it is very hard to change anything about your service motion if you don’t like serving at the outset with a new racquet.

With me, I struggle to win when I don’t serve well and it is certainly the most important shot for my matches. My confidence is sky-high when I’m serving well and this has a positive impact on the rest of my game.

thank you both!
so simple. I love it.

 

[Ryebread]

I hit for another three hours today.

Ground strokes have come around, for the most part. I did play with three level of players during my demo time, which is important for me to make a decision. Played a 4.0 male, 4.5 male, and 5.0 female.

Serve definitely better with the 98, than with the tour.
I think I'm going to buy a 98 tomorrow.

I own a Tour. And I need a backup stick, selling my old Aero VS (which is my current backup).
So I'll get a 98 and use that as the primary, and decide after a month what to do for a 3rd stick.

FWIW, I think I'll prefer tour bite, over hyper g. But I'm not sure, I think ANY good poly will play well in this stick. I may string at around 52/50, instead of 54/52. I keep reading that the lower tensions make these Clashes shine. So I figure to make my way down the ladder, incrementally? is that a good idea?

thx for the insight so far all.

 

[tonylg]

Just read this thread and shrugged my shoulders.

I moved from a Phantom to the Clash 100 Tour, then to the 98 which I have played with since not long after release. Have never owned a PD or PA, everything that was lacking in the Tour is ten times worse in the Babs.

The ONLY shot I preferred with the Tour was the serve. Bombs with huge spin were so easy. If it was a 9 for serves, the 98 is an 8. My Phantom was a 4 on serve, but a 9.5 everywhere else.

I play my 98s with two overgrips and weight at 10 and 2. I hit slightly above centre of the string bed (just always have) and the weight helps, also makes it ridiculously stable. Sweet spot is now huge, probably bigger than my old Speed Pros.

 

[Ryebread]

Just read this thread and shrugged my shoulders.

I moved from a Phantom to the Clash 100 Tour, then to the 98 which I have played with since not long after release. Have never owned a PD or PA, everything that was lacking in the Tour is ten times worse in the Babs.

The ONLY shot I preferred with the Tour was the serve. Bombs with huge spin were so easy. If it was a 9 for serves, the 98 is an 8. My Phantom was a 4 on serve, but a 9.5 everywhere else.

I play my 98s with two overgrips and weight at 10 and 2. I hit slightly above centre of the string bed (just always have) and the weight helps, also makes it ridiculously stable. Sweet spot is now huge, probably bigger than my old Speed Pros.

they are like paint brushes
We are all unique.

your former stick was the speed 360 pro?
that was such a plush racquet and felt amazing on ground strokes - for me!

 

[tonylg]

they are like paint brushes
We are all unique.

your former stick was the speed 360 pro?
that was such a plush racquet and felt amazing on ground strokes - for me!

Youtek Speed Pros. I played with them for a while, until my wrist could take it no longer. The relevance is my wrist is now good.

 

[Ryebread]

Youtek Speed Pros. I played with them for a while, until my wrist could take it no longer. The relevance is my wrist is now good.

thx
That’s good to hear.

my tour isn’t as head light as my 98 demo was.
And it isn’t as head light as my personal 98 is that I just had strung.
Both have an OG and that’s it.
Both are exactly the same weight 11.6 oz including OG.

both are intended to have the same HL balance.

but in my home, 98 is more HL for sure. It’s pictured on the bottom here. Maybe that makes it more whippy, so my serve has more juice.
So, it’s possible my tour’s balance is off a smidge.

Cheers

https://flic.kr/p/2k9tFYr

 

[Mungo]

New 98 user, coming from a Tour. Definitely feels lighter, especially on the serve. Went from grip size 3 down to 2 with the 98.