Diadem Elevate vs. Wilson Shift 99

[DuraWrangler]

I have a Diadem Elevate v2 that I play pretty well with. I love the spin I get from the racket and I can generally swing out with this racket which is great. I wish I got a touch more on more serve with the elevate, but everything else is generally pretty solid. I'm curious if anyone has played both a Shift and an Elevate (v2 or v3) and how do they stack up? I'm mainly curious from a spin, serve, and power perspective but would love more detailed feedback from anyone who has tried both!

 

[Soundbyte]

I would put the Heavier Shift slightly ahead of the Elevate (v3) in every category. The Elevate is does more with less static weight. The Shift has a somewhat unique feeling, but overall they are similar. I haven't hit wit the lighter version of the Shift to know if they compare.
I was not a fan of the V2 Elevate. I found it too muted. But I'm a huge fan of the V3 and think it doesn't get enough love overall.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I've been playing the V2 Elevate 305 for 1.5 year now. Started as a complete beginner, the Nova helped me a lot learn new stuff that I could try with the 98 Elevate. Anyway, I'm still enjoying the V2 Elevate. I'm settled that, for me, it plays its best with 1.25+ gauge strings of any kind. It can deliver both flat hitting and exaggerating top-spin forehands.

In comparison with the V3 Elevate, that I've played about 50 hours with 4 different strings (side-by-side with the V2 with Topspin Cyber Flash 1.25), the V2 is:

- less stable (lower swingweight because of the smaller headguard?)
- less forgiving on off-center hits
- more twisty on off-center hits
- less comfortable/soft/mute

+ more direct
+ need some weight in the handle and/or at the 9 and 3 depending on the string used
+ better paint-finish quality

While, I really thought the V3 Elevate was by miles better than rackets like the Babolat Pure Strike VS, TF40 315 16*19, Boom Pro and others, there were 2 drawbacks I couldn't pass on:

1) the very SOFT feel that with 2 out of 4 strings I felt a bit disconnected with what's exactly is happening on the stringbed
2) the paint-finish on the V3 is not my taste. It's not glossy, it's not matte, it's something between Clash and Pro Kennex Black Ace (non-black part on the throat) that feels a bit sticky and harsh at the same time and give me the impression it won't last nearly as long as the V2.

* I play at 20-22kg, using Dunlop ATP Championship/Dunlop Fort Court/Head Tour XT balls.

 

[HypnoticLasagna]

I have a Diadem Elevate v2 that I play pretty well with. I love the spin I get from the racket and I can generally swing out with this racket which is great. I wish I got a touch more on more serve with the elevate, but everything else is generally pretty solid. I'm curious if anyone has played both a Shift and an Elevate (v2 or v3) and how do they stack up? I'm mainly curious from a spin, serve, and power perspective but would love more detailed feedback from anyone who has tried both!

I have played with all 3, not very extensively with the shift.

If you are looking to get a "touch more" you will get that with the v3 elevate. Along with it you will get a more stable playing experience. I found the mutedness to be not noticeable, and string dependant. I have had no issues with the paint. I have the same chips on both v2 and v3 from being agressive putting them into my bag.

As for the shift. You will see a larger power bump. It too me a few minutes to reel it in during a demo, and took me even longer to get used to the feeling of the shift. It sort of hits erratic and I never felt like two shots were ever the same. Of all the people I have met in person with the shift... they all purchased it after a demo, then sold it a few months later for this reason after the honeymoon period was over.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I have played with all 3, not very extensively with the shift.

If you are looking to get a "touch more" you will get that with the v3 elevate. Along with it you will get a more stable playing experience. I found the mutedness to be not noticeable, and string dependant. I have had no issues with the paint. I have the same chips on both v2 and v3 from being agressive putting them into my bag.

As for the shift. You will see a larger power bump. It too me a few minutes to reel it in during a demo, and took me even longer to get used to the feeling of the shift. It sort of hits erratic and I never felt like two shots were ever the same. Of all the people I have met in person with the shift... they all purchased it after a demo, then sold it a few months later for this reason after the honeymoon period was over.

The V3 is the best racket I've used, make no mistake about it. In stock form, nothing I've tried before was this stable on serve-returns, fast in-coming balls and net-play.

 

[Crocodile]

I prefer the Elevate as it has a more pleasant feel to it. The Shift 315 ( only one I tried so far ) felt sought of muted but stiff like some of the more modern releases from Volkl, The Diadem felt less constrained if that’s a word I can use to describe;

 

[jimmy8]

I've never tried an Elevate. The Shift is an amazing racket. Demo one. It has almost as much spin as a Pure Aero. The power is good, not too much power. It's very maneuverable because it's light, yet it's very stable. It has great feel.

 

[DuraWrangler]

I love my Elevate v2, these glowing reviews for the v3 have me curious to try one out! I love the power I get out of my Elevate. I rarely hit it long and can really swing out with it. I'll keep an eye out for a used one and try it out since I already know I like the elevate line. Thank you guys for your opinions!

 

[Fintft]

I've never tried an Elevate. The Shift is an amazing racket. Demo one. It has almost as much spin as a Pure Aero. The power is good, not too much power. It's very maneuverable because it's light, yet it's very stable. It has great feel.

The Shift (300 with some added weight at 12) is probably the best racquet on the market, atm.
Barring prostocks

 

[A_Instead]

Shift is Good... Nova is good... very similar... Nova seems to provide more spin when trying to hit with spin. Shift offers spin when not even trying to hit with spin..
Nova reminds me of an easy swinging Head Speed..with characteristics of a Radical as well.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Shift is Good... Nova is good... very similar... Nova seems to provide more spin when trying to hit with spin. Shift offers spin when not even trying to hit with spin..
Nova reminds me of an easy swinging Head Speed..with characteristics of a Radical as well.

I'll most probably bump-up my Nova and V2 Elevate. I just returned from the court first time hitting with the Prestige MP 18*19 that is 330gr+ and I played better than ever.