Had an extremely fun hit this morning with
@JOSHL and of course we backed up the truck. Look at all these weapons of minor destruction.
Mine are all the ones with white overgrips; his are all the blues. No match play today, so we just test-drove rackets for fun, and here were my impressions of the new ones I hit:
1) 2021 VCore 95: extremely tempting! I'd venture to say it has a bigger sweet spot than the Strike VS; swings nice, easy to control. It makes you forget that you're using a Yonex spin-line stick because it's so precise, so I had to remind myself to fully swing in exaggerated topspin motion to get the full VCore effect. The feel is a little odd; maybe too muted? It isn't too soft but there's something missing. Regardless, it has me really keen to check out the 2023. Probably the best VCore I've used.
2) Percept 100: much better than the 100D in my opinion; easy to maneuver for a 100", solid power level, good access to spin. Not sure I like it better than the 97 310g version, although it has more substantial swing weight and better stability. But I think the control and whip of the 97 is more my speed, and I'd use that one instead and lead it up to get more swing weight out of it.
3) Boom Pro 2024: sucks balls. Wide-open 16x19 pattern means high launch (the only time this was a benefit was when I dumped shots into the net but somehow they hit the tape and went over because they launched so high), and for a stick this "heavy" (it isn't heavy but it isn't light) and a beam this thick, it has much less power than you'd think. I looked at my notes from the 2022 Boom Pro and I found that one a little low-powered too, but I still liked it better than this turd.
I also tried a couple Prestige pro stocks that felt great but just weren't my specs and were a tad difficult for my level.
I was surprised by the racket I ended up using most of the time, though, because I hit the best with it -- it was the Bab Storm Team. (shoutout to
@Humbi_HTX and
@Power Player). Very strange experience with it: it was very light (308g strung), so I had some weight added to the butt so I could put some more lead in the hoop. I first tried 4g at 12, and the racket seemed to die. I wasn't timing shots well and when I did, I had no depth (opposite of what I expected would happen with tip weight). So I took the 4g and moved it down, splitting it at 3 and 9. Suddenly that unlocked the stick and I was nailing most of the shots I went for. I've fallen back in love with this thing again -- it's giving me more forgiveness than the PSVS, with just as much stability now that I've upped the twist weight, and with razor code white in it, I get all the spin and power and confidence I need. Sweet frame. I still slightly prefer the extra weapons I get from the backhand side with the PSVS, not to mention the touch at the net it has, but the Storm is very much in the same family DNA and will continue to stake a spot in my bag.