Demo Strategy

[Unfrozen Caveman]

I have picked out 8 that I would like to demo:

1) Babolat Pure Storm Tour $119
2) Babolat Pure Drive $189
3) Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus $80
4) Wilson Juice Pro $189
5) Prince Diablo Mid $105
6) Head YOUTEK Prestige Mid $199
7) Wilson BLX Six.One 16x18 $179
8) Head YOUTEK IG Radical Pro $189

Realistically, I can only play once or twice a week. Should I demo 4 at a time just in case I can quickly rule any out -- I will be in a position to move on? If I like the first one, it seems silly to just use it for a few games and then move on.

Also, I plan to include the Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus in the first batch. Of course, because of the price, I hope I really like that one. If so, I'll be tempted to shut down the demo process.

 

[mawashi]

I have picked out 8 that I would like to demo:

1) Babolat Pure Storm Tour $119
2) Babolat Pure Drive $189
3) Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus $80
4) Wilson Juice Pro $189
5) Prince Diablo Mid $105
6) Head YOUTEK Prestige Mid $199
7) Wilson BLX Six.One 16x18 $179
8) Head YOUTEK IG Radical Pro $189

Realistically, I can only play once or twice a week. Should I demo 4 at a time just in case I can quickly rule any out -- I will be in a position to move on? If I like the first one, it seems silly to just use it for a few games and then move on.

Also, I plan to include the Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus in the first batch. Of course, because of the price, I hope I really like that one. If so, I'll be tempted to shut down the demo process.

Take your time n don't rush as there are lots of really good sticks out there and your really want something that plays great but is comfy to prolong your tennis.

I would swap out the Babolat Pure Storm Tour $119 for the babolat pure storm tour gt 2009 edition as the previous pst isn't tt good.

Your selection is also very wide why not play a few mids then mid + separately and pen a record of how they play.

 

[Power Player]

I'd suggest doing 2 at a time for a week each if possible. It really helps you learn the racquet better this way.

 

[Anton]

I have picked out 8 that I would like to demo:

1) Babolat Pure Storm Tour $119
2) Babolat Pure Drive $189
3) Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus $80
4) Wilson Juice Pro $189
5) Prince Diablo Mid $105
6) Head YOUTEK Prestige Mid $199
7) Wilson BLX Six.One 16x18 $179
8) Head YOUTEK IG Radical Pro $189

Realistically, I can only play once or twice a week. Should I demo 4 at a time just in case I can quickly rule any out -- I will be in a position to move on? If I like the first one, it seems silly to just use it for a few games and then move on.

Also, I plan to include the Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus in the first batch. Of course, because of the price, I hope I really like that one. If so, I'll be tempted to shut down the demo process.

I would also add Yonex RQis 200 - really great all around frame for $100 (http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_RDiS_200_Midplus/descpageRCYONEX-IS200.html)

I don't think you'll like Rad's 18x20 string pattern coming from your old and very open racket.

 

[mawashi]

I have picked out 8 that I would like to demo:

1) Babolat Pure Storm Tour $119
2) Babolat Pure Drive $189
3) Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus $80
4) Wilson Juice Pro $189
5) Prince Diablo Mid $105
6) Head YOUTEK Prestige Mid $199
7) Wilson BLX Six.One 16x18 $179
8) Head YOUTEK IG Radical Pro $189

Realistically, I can only play once or twice a week. Should I demo 4 at a time just in case I can quickly rule any out -- I will be in a position to move on? If I like the first one, it seems silly to just use it for a few games and then move on.

Also, I plan to include the Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus in the first batch. Of course, because of the price, I hope I really like that one. If so, I'll be tempted to shut down the demo process.

Take your time n don't rush as there are lots of really good sticks out there and your really want something that plays great but is comfy to prolong your tennis.

I would swap out the Babolat Pure Storm Tour $119 for the babolat pure storm tour gt 2009 edition as the previous pst isn't tt good.

Try the blx 95 18x20 too

Your selection is also very wide why not play a few mids then mid + separately and pen a record of how they play.

Perhaps you can consider a sort of group playtest like with all baseline sticks then all court and finally serve/volley sticks.

1. Baseline
Bab pdgt
Head rad pro
Bab pstgt
Juice 100

2. All court
Head lmradmp
juice pro
blx 95 18x20 & 16x18
Bab pstgt

3. S&V sticks
wilson blx 90
Head prestige mid
blx 95 18x20
Bab pstgt

 

[McLovin]

I'd suggest doing 2 at a time for a week each if possible. It really helps you learn the racquet better this way.

Call me cheap, but I'd go w/ 4 at a time as it costs the same regardless of the number of racquets. Plus, this is how my demos have usually gone:

• I order 4 racquets I 'believe' will suit me.
• Upon receiving them, I hit with each of them for 5-10 minutes, rotating in my current stick just for the baseline comparison.
• Usually one sucks, one is mediocre, and two are nice, so I focus on the two I really like, maybe giving the 3rd another shot the 2nd time out.
• By the end of the 2nd hitting session, I've usually narrowed it down to 1.
• I return the racquets, then order 4 more for demo: 3 new and the one I liked from the 1st go-round.
• Unless something really stands out in the 2nd round of demos, I have usually found what I want by this point. But if it there is any doubt, I do a 3rd round of demos, including the top 2 from the 1st 2 demos, and *maybe* a 3rd (but not usually).

During my last demo session, I did the above and settled on either the Pacific X-Force Pro or the Becker Melbourne. My 3rd set of demos was those 2 only, and (get ready for others to flame me) restrung them w/ the string I planned on using. In the end, I decided on the X-Force Pro.

Sounds like a long, drawn out process, I know, but: I was going to buy 3 of whatever I chose (and possibly 3 more in a year or two), and do not plan on changing racquets for the next 2-3 years, so I wanted to be sure.

 

[McLovin]

I would also add Yonex RQis 200 - really great all around frame for $100.

I agree. This is one I demoed and felt it was real nice, but the Pacific & Becker frames felt a tad nicer to me. You also may want to include a Dunlop in there as well. I liked the 200 & 300 series frames that I demoed, but the grips were a tad short for my 2HBH (not sure if you have 1 or 2HBH). Not extremely short, but it bothers me when my left index finger is off the grip.

 

[ramos77]

I would narrow down your list to 3 or 4 by reading reviews online.

You don't really know a racquet until you buy it, and play with for a while with strings that suit you. That's just me.

 

[Unfrozen Caveman]

Call me cheap, but I'd go w/ 4 at a time as it costs the same regardless of the number of racquets.

I plan to follow a similar approach. Although I hope I love a less expensive frame, knowing me, I will end up preferring the one that costs the most and has the ugliest paint jobs. Wow. . . some of these paint jobs are bad. :shock:

 

[Unfrozen Caveman]

I would also add Yonex RQis 200 - really great all around frame for $100

Thanks for the value suggestion. When I think of Yonex, I always think of those flat-top frames that Navratilova used.

 

[Unfrozen Caveman]

Perhaps you can consider a sort of group playtest like with all baseline sticks then all court and finally serve/volley sticks.

I thought in this day and age, someone would have invented a racquet to morphs into a different racquet depending upon where you are on the court. After reading some of the marketing material, it seems that the claims are not far off from that.