Ed (NoBadMojo), what's your take on the Volkl t10 v-engine mid?

[AndrewD]

Hey Ed,

As I've mentioned before, a problem with my wrist is only really alleviated by a smaller headsize and the lower tensions you can best get away with in a smaller headed frame (not overly concerned if my game drops a touch due to the smaller head size as its a price Im willing to pay if I can keep playing tennis). Have had to drop the other frames Ive been given to use and go back to my old Head Prestige Pro (earlier version of the PC600). Only trouble is it is quite fatigued and due for retirement but no replacement is available (the LM mid has too high a swingweight for my taste).

All that being the case, I thought the v-engine mid might be a good possibility. I thoroughly enjoyed the t10GenII (Carolyn is still enamoured of the old one we were given) so it would be nice to replicate that feel in a head size that gives my wrist a bit of relief.

Im assuming you've had a good bash with the t10 v-engine mid so was wondering what your impressions are? Flex is rated as 60 but does the v-engine firm it up appreciably or just in the throat region? Seems to have good numbers on the TW review (surprisingly high rating for power or do you think that is accurate?), good reports on the customer feedback section and from users on this site.

All up, looks very good but thought Id asked for your learned opinion before I try to hunt one down.

Thanks mate (sorry about the lengthy question lol)

 

[RKS12]

Andrew, see my post from today. I just hit with the T10VE Mid last night and played 6 sets with the MidPlus over the weekend. The Mid is a really nice frame. Definitely find one and try it.

 

[NoBadMojo]

no prob Blue (Andrew)..i'm glad to try and help. i like the t10MidVE, spent alot of time with it, and almost switched to it. it's a lot of fun to hit..you can take big cuts atthe ball with it because it's easy to swing because its very headlight, but still has enough static weight to it..it is an easy frame to control becase it is low powered. the reason why i didnt switch to it was becase i couldnt get my service return going with it..when you play bigger servers on the dirt and get those little squirrelly mishits, i was producing weak returns that better opponents were havng their way with. i think the sweetspot on ths frame is very long, but not so wide. my shots had more impact w. the MP, so i swtiched to it from the t10MPGen1. as far as the V..it does stiffen things up a bit in the throat, but this racqet is still very flexy..the warning i have for you with this frame because of your wrist is the 18mains stringbed...my opinion is that dense stringbeds are stiffer strngbeds and stiffer stringbeds could be tougher on wrist, so if you try this bat, best to try it strung pretty loosely. essentially this frame is a Gen2 which is a bit harder to flush hit. it's a sweet bat i think...it's for a very precise ball striker.

 

[whodat]

NBM,

I picked up the 10 VEMP yesterday to demo. I thought that it had a bit more power than my c-10 and I was impressed with it to the point of almost wanting to switch right away. What held me back is the fact that I am recovering from TE and cannot assess the slice backhand or the serve very well at this point. My forehand (SW grip) and my TH backhand penetrate and occasionally will jump (i.e. like a heavily hit shot). I then read some of the playtesters' impressions and began to doubt my initial impressions of this racquet a bit. Your opinion was one of the ones that I read. Obviously you have changed your mind a bit since then but how so? If you had to rerate now compared to the Estusa how will it stand up? Also please compare the serving and the slice to the c-10, as I am unable to accurately assess at this time ( I should be able to do it in two to three weeks however). Thanks.

 

[NoBadMojo]

Whodat, indeed my impression of this frame changed since i first did the playtest..i've been using this frame for a few months now and am doing well with it. Cant remember what I wrote about it, but i think back then i may have thought it was unpredictable and too springy? the reality was i was just coming back from achilles tendonitis and my foot work was sloppy and slow and i was hitting a bit late with this frame and that was causing the problem...operator error. i happened to try it again after i knocked a bit of the rust off and these issuues went away....this frame is alot more of an impact racquet than the c10 to me..it hits a heavy nasty ball. i dont think the Estusa can hold a candle to this frame...the c10 is also a great frame and i think the VE is a more suitable frame for the modern game..everything seems to hit with a good weight to it and my serve is really jumoing in a heavy sort of way with this frame and it is much easier to put the ball away and get my opponent on his horse than with the c10..you just cant be late with this frame however, or i think you will experience what i did....a bit uncntrollable and springy. i've mine strung in the w. Legend gut, legend hybrid, Klip Excelerator (62, 60, and 58)

 

[AndrewD]

Ed,
Thanks mate, I'll keep that in mind. The Prestige Pro is an 18x20 as was the LM Prestige mid and neither one gave me, or give me, an ounce of trouble with the wrist. Of course, my wrist injury stems from a few breaks I received while playing football so it's a little different than most others that might be akin to a tennis elbow style ailment.

Yes, Id definately be stringing low (the Prestige Pro is at 45lbs and the LM was at 50). That does allow me to use the pace of an opponents shot to generate my own pace and the smaller head size (with the lower tension) lets me hit a bit flatter or with underspin which is much more comfortable on the wrist. Try to hit everything on the rise and play a game style somewhat along the lines of Ramesh Krishnan (if you remember him).

I've still got a pretty good eye and physically quite strong so for now it works quite well. Doesn't require an overly stiff racquet and I actually think a low flex works best. Need a bit more dwell time and more touch to harness someone else's power and direct it to your advantage. Also requires good weight in the racquet (but not overly head light) which is why the Prestige Pro was such a good match.

Yep, pretty darn tough to do but a lot of fun regardless LOL. If it all comes together then you hit shots that look effortless and confound the baseline bashers. If it doesn't work on the day (timing off, etc) then at least my wrist is in one piece and Im still able to enjoy the game.

Luckily Im still having more on days than off ones at the moment LOL

 

[NoBadMojo]

yw Andrew..seems like you've got this all covered. take the VEMid out for a dance..it's a nice one with the caveats mentioned earlier..it is really headlight tho.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Whodat, indeed my impression of this frame changed since i first did the playtest..i've been using this frame for a few months now and am doing well with it. Cant remember what I wrote about it, but i think back then i may have thought it was unpredictable and too springy? the reality was i was just coming back from achilles tendonitis and my foot work was sloppy and slow and i was hitting a bit late with this frame and that was causing the problem...operator error. i happened to try it again after i knocked a bit of the rust off and these issuues went away....this frame is alot more of an impact racquet than the c10 to me..it hits a heavy nasty ball. i dont think the Estusa can hold a candle to this frame...the c10 is also a great frame and i think the VE is a more suitable frame for the modern game..everything seems to hit with a good weight to it and my serve is really jumoing in a heavy sort of way with this frame and it is much easier to put the ball away and get my opponent on his horse than with the c10..you just cant be late with this frame however, or i think you will experience what i did....a bit uncntrollable and springy. i've mine strung in the w. Legend gut, legend hybrid, Klip Excelerator (62, 60, and 58)

Ed,
thanks for the sharing your experience.

how are V-Engine (both mid and MP) in terms of serving?
are they mean enough?
I am concerned that all the flex might take away some mph's.

also how do they compare in service and returns with Fischer Number One?
Thanks.

also, are other Volkl sticks more tolerant with being late?

 

[whodat]

NMB,
Thanks for the quick reply. I tested the Cat 8 as well and I was not quite as impressed with that stick as Rabbit is. I really like the VEMP and was looking for something along the line of the c-10 but with a slightly more oomph on the serve and on the ground

 

[NoBadMojo]

whodat, i would say the t10mp-ve could fill the bill nicely for you if you can swing it fast enough. i liked the cat8VE too and can see why Rabbit likes it with the really cushioned response..more like the c10..i like my frames flexy, but a bit of crispness to them somewhere in the frame

marius, i am always glad to respond to you. you posts are always considered and solid, and you do a great service with all the links to health related issues..thankyou. yes, i think both of these frames can serve really well in terms of mph. the ve-mid hits a lighter faster ball and the ve-mp a more heavy ball. the mid is quite a bit easier to move fast. i like flexy frames but wanted something with a bit more juice for the clay and for the way the game is played today and the VEMP was the best of both worlds..it's flexy with the fiberglass in the layup, but the stiffened v-throat really gives you some power. i think the power levels go ve-mid -->pro1--->ve-mp from low to higher. like many players, i tend to hit my serves up a bit higher in the stringbed and the 2 v-engines give you a better hit up high than the pro1. the pro1 and VE_MP both are easier to return serve with than the ve-mid.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

thank you, ed, again very substantive what you've just posted.