Flexier alternative 2 Pure Drive w/ same specs?? Please advise!

[welcome2petrkordaland]

My dad had rotator cuff surgery last Dec. at age 75 and is now slowly getting back into playing. After a promising comeback about a month ago, some degree of pain has recurred. He has been using for years a Babalot Pure Drive cerca 2015 version or so with full bed multifilament strings at 54.
Obviously, the Technifibre NRG2 multis at 54 should be reasonably soft. His racket, though, is clearly not soft and quite stiff. Pretty sure its RA is around 70.

CAN ANYONE recommend a racket that has nearly identical specs to his Bab. Pure Drive but is much more flexible and would, of course, have an RA of around 60 or less.
He’s really bummed out at the recent pain since he’s worked so hard the last 5 months with PT and everything. Thanks in advance for any info. on a such a racket. Again, I’d like to keep the specs as close as possible so he doesn’t have to go thru a long and arduous adjustment period.

 

[ludde]

Check Angell TC100 and Donnay Formular 100 Hexacore

 

[shapovalovnextgoat]

Try searching for a Yonex Ezone DR 100 if you can

 

[hurworld]

Head G360 Extreme MP
Wilson Clash 100
Prince TT100 or Beast 100

 

[fuzz nation]

Agree with the recommendation for looking at the Wilson Clash - there are a couple different versions of that one.

Prince has the newer line of Phantoms, including one or two that have 100" heads like the Pure Drive. The Phantoms are quite soft, but I don't know how their weight and balance compare with the PD.

The Head Extreme has generally been regarded as a softer alternative to the Pure Drive by users who have commented on it here.

I'd expect one or two of the Yonex EZONE frames to be comfortable alternatives. Even the 98" models could offer a decent alternative, just because the square-ish hoop that Yonex includes in their designs can play bigger than that number would suggest. The forgiveness and general personality of a 98" Yonex might seem to be about the same as a lot of 100" frames having round or oval-shaped heads.

I'm a big Volkl fan, but I play heavier models than the Pure Drive. Volkl's "8-series" frames have had specs that are rather close to the Pure Drives, but Volkl has been putting out racquets with shock absorption features built into their handles. Even if the stiffness rating of something like the V-Feel 8 is rather close to the Pure Drive, I'd expect the Volkl to be a bit easier on the arm. Volkl's V1 and V1 Pro might also be worth a look.

 

[Rabbit]

Yonex VCORE 98 fits the bill

 

[Tour_G]

Try searching for a Yonex Ezone DR 100 if you can

Not sure about this one. It gave me elbow pain when I tried it.

 

[js0930]

Prince Beast O3 100 might be a nice choice. The listed stiffness is really high but the ports make up for it.

 

[n8dawg6]

volkl vsense 8 or prince textreme beast would be my pick, and hang onto the multifilament

 

[gino]

My dad had rotator cuff surgery last Dec. at age 75 and is now slowly getting back into playing. After a promising comeback about a month ago, some degree of pain has recurred. He has been using for years a Babalot Pure Drive cerca 2015 version or so with full bed multifilament strings at 54.
Obviously, the Technifibre NRG2 multis at 54 should be reasonably soft. His racket, though, is clearly not soft and quite stiff. Pretty sure its RA is around 70.

CAN ANYONE recommend a racket that has nearly identical specs to his Bab. Pure Drive but is much more flexible and would, of course, have an RA of around 60 or less.
He’s really bummed out at the recent pain since he’s worked so hard the last 5 months with PT and everything. Thanks in advance for any info. on a such a racket. Again, I’d like to keep the specs as close as possible so he doesn’t have to go thru a long and arduous adjustment period.

Wilson Clash might do the trick my friend!

 

[GenerationTennisElbow]

I’d second the suggestion for a tc100 or formula hexacore. Both very comfortable with plenty of power (more on the tc100) and decent precision.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ron schaap]

What about a thicker grip with gel in it?

 

[remy0667]

The Angell ASL3 can be a good choise.

https://www.angelltennis.com/product/asl-3/

 

[welcome2petrkordaland]

Thanks a million for all this info. He had an appt. with osteo yesterday and if he’s able to continue his comeback, I’ll get him to demo some of these asap. The suggestions were spot on in terms of matching racket specs, which saved me a lot of time. As strings go, he was using NRG2, so I will have him keep the soft multi and/or even try some natural gut. (And since I use the ported Prince Tour 100 16 x 18 myself, I can personally vouch for the soft muted feel of those sticks.) Cheers.

 

[dblsplayer]

another vote for the very comfortable Clash. Maybe the new 108 vs the 100.

 

[FV_Br]

I use Prince Beast 100 and Angell TC 100, no armpain anymore.

 

[Roland G]

I was looking for those exact specs- a softer Pure Drive and went with the Beast 100. Too stiff for me, killed my shoulder. Mild rotator cuff injury. Maybe the o3 version would be better. I've moved onto the Tour 310 which is less powerful but a lot more comfortable, if slightly less maneuverable

 

[Jster]

Instinct mp if he can accept the color

 

[ProRadTour]

I would demo the VCore 100, it plays much softer than the Pure Drive. Was really surprised by how nice the VCore 100 played, I preferred it over the VCore 98 and EZone 100.

Also the Prince TT 310 is another very comfortable frame, less power but overall very comfortable.

 

[hurworld]

The Angell ASL3 can be a good choise.

https://www.angelltennis.com/product/asl-3/

Totally forgot about this one. Check Tennisnerd's website for review.

 

[Roland G]

I was looking for those exact specs- a softer Pure Drive and went with the Beast 100. Too stiff for me, killed my shoulder. Mild rotator cuff injury. Maybe the o3 version would be better. I've moved onto the Tour 310 which is less powerful but a lot more comfortable, if slightly less maneuverable

Update. After the shoulder injury cleared up I went back to the Beast 100 strung with Luxilon Alu Power. No issues with comfort at all now. Really liking the frame again. Similar specs and playability to PD but softer

 

[whorng]

Prince Textreme Tour 310.
Yonex Vcore Pro 100.
I hate to say it, but Clash is an option.
O3 ports are an option, but some can't get used to it.

 

[kailash]

My dad had rotator cuff surgery last Dec. at age 75 and is now slowly getting back into playing. After a promising comeback about a month ago, some degree of pain has recurred. He has been using for years a Babalot Pure Drive cerca 2015 version or so with full bed multifilament strings at 54.
Obviously, the Technifibre NRG2 multis at 54 should be reasonably soft. His racket, though, is clearly not soft and quite stiff. Pretty sure its RA is around 70.

CAN ANYONE recommend a racket that has nearly identical specs to his Bab. Pure Drive but is much more flexible and would, of course, have an RA of around 60 or less.
He’s really bummed out at the recent pain since he’s worked so hard the last 5 months with PT and everything. Thanks in advance for any info. on a such a racket. Again, I’d like to keep the specs as close as possible so he doesn’t have to go thru a long and arduous adjustment period.

#1 in arm safety is Prokennex racquets. Q+5 Pro is the arm friendly version of Pure Drive.

Volkl V1 MP is my next recommendation. It is also very arm friendly.

 

[smalahove]

Both the Yonex Ezone 100 and VCore 98 (haven't tried the 100) are good arm friendly alternatives, esp when strung at lower tensions with a soft poly, rather than 50+ with a multi.

However, to prevent further injuries at the age of 75, I'd first try the Clash 100. Doesn't get much more arm friendly than that without becoming unplayable. However, I'd def try it out first with a soft poly at a low tension (low 40s). That setup is where this frame works best. I've tried Pure Drives a few times with various Tecnifibre multis (x-one f.inst), borrowed from playing partners, strung in the 50s, and to me, those setups have felt rather stiff tbh, esp. compared to a soft poly in the mid 40s.

 

[welcome2petrkordaland]

Thanks for all the suggestions. He went with the Clash 100 after I sent him that one, a Prince Beast and a Beast with the ports. Seems to like it.