From torture to wow: need help choosing a racquet like the TF-X1

[Floquet]

I’m trying to narrow down which racquets to demo, and I’m looking for advice from people who really know their gear and have tested a lot of frames. Just to give some context: I live in Montreal, and the only serious tennis shop here strings their demos with totally random strings and tensions, which makes comparisons very unreliable. On top of that, I can’t afford to demo 20 different racquets — so I really want to focus on just a few of the best ones to try.

Me: I’m a 3.5–4.0 player who recently switched from a one-handed backhand to a two-hander due to a subscapularis injury — my shoulder just won’t let me hit one-handed anymore.

My current racquet : Head Speed S (Graphene XT, 100 in², 285g unstrung stock)

Modded with:

• Heat sleeve to increase grip size
• 1 overgrip
• 1g of lead tape at 3 and 9
• Strung with Razor Soft 1.25 at 22/21 kg

My experience with it: I hate this racquet. The sweet spot is ridiculously small. There’s zero power unless I swing like a maniac — but if I catch the ball just a bit low, it rockets way long. It feels like I only get power when I don’t want it — and none when I actually do. The response is both dead and unpredictable.

I went through pretty much every multi on the market before switching to soft polys like Razor Soft, but the multis only made things worse: more trampoline effect when catching the ball low, but no usable power.

Now I’m stuck with a racquet that punishes everything and gives nothing for free. I’ve already added weight to try to improve it, but I can’t go further — it becomes too heavy. The only thing I managed to improve significantly is the twistweight.

Racquet swap experiment: I swapped racquets with my friend for a few hitting sessions this summer, and the experience with his racquet blew me away.

His racquet: Tecnifibre TF-X1 305 (2025, 98 in², extended length 27.5”), strung with Razor Soft 22/21kg as well.

It felt like a totally different sport. I was getting effortless depth, with the ball flying deep but then dropping safely inside the lines. There was free topspin that I didn’t have to consciously generate — the racquet just helped me keep the ball long and in play.

Despite being 305g and 98 in², it never felt heavy or punishing. In fact, I felt like the racquet’s mass acted like a lever, adding both power and stability to my shots, especially on groundstrokes.

My friend, on the other hand, is a much stronger and more experienced player who generates a lot of power naturally. He actually preferred my Speed S — he liked how easy it was to place every ball exactly where he wanted. He found his TF-X1 gave him too much free spin and depth, which didn’t match his style. In the end, he sold it.

This experience convinced me of three things:

• Racquets matter. A lot.
• I definitely want to change mine.
• I much prefer a racquet that gives me power, and I’ll adjust my technique to gain control — not the other way around.

My problem with the 98 vs 100 in² choice

Everyone online keeps repeating the same gospel: 100 in² = more forgiveness, bigger sweet spot, better for beginners; 98 = control and precision for advanced players.

But when comparing current racket models in their 98 and 100 in² versions on Tennis Warehouse University, the 98s almost always show a larger sweet spot and higher power potential — which directly contradicts prevailing knowledge.

In my experience: my 100 in² Speed S had one of the smallest measured sweet spots (per TWU). Meanwhile, the TF‑X1 98 had a noticeably larger effective sweet spot and more “free forgiveness” in practice.

I have two hypotheses regarding this:

First: Maybe current racquets have become so optimized that differences in weight, balance, and stiffness might matter more than head size alone. And maybe the current 98s are just heavier or have better mass distribution than their 100 in² counterparts — which could explain the bigger sweet spots and higher power.

Second: Switching from my Speed S to any current racquet might be such a leap that the difference between current 98 vs 100 models barely matters in comparison. Heck, maybe even a so-called “control” 98 like the current Blade would still offer way more power and forgiveness than my current frame.

Okay, enough chatting — here are the racquets I’m currently eyeing:

• Yonex Ezone 98 / 100
• Babolat Pure Drive 98 / 100
• Babolat Pure Aero 98 / 100

I’d love to hear recommendations based on everything I shared — whether it’s helping me choose between these models, between their 98 vs 100 versions, or even suggesting other frames I might have missed.

I’m also open to any meaningful insight about the topics I raised throughout the post.

 

[Rosstour]

Can’t recommend the Yonex, just can’t gel with their racquets or strings.

PA98 is a fun racquet for sure. But can feel dead off the ground if you’re not swinging hard. Great serves though.

I’ll recommend the Wilson Clash line considering you have shoulder pain sufficient to force a switch to 2HBH. I use the v1 98, but most of them will do.

I tore my rotator cuff but I can still hit 1HBH. Given that you sound even worse off, I’ll recommend the Clash even more strongly

 

[Floquet]

Can’t recommend the Yonex, just can’t gel with their racquets or strings.

PA98 is a fun racquet for sure. But can feel dead off the ground if you’re not swinging hard. Great serves though.

I’ll recommend the Wilson Clash line considering you have shoulder pain sufficient to force a switch to 2HBH. I use the v1 98, but most of them will do.

I tore my rotator cuff but I can still hit 1HBH. Given that you sound even worse off, I’ll recommend the Clash even more strongly

I actually think my shoulder problem is less severe than a tear. I can definitely do a 1HBH, it's just that everytime I do I can feel my shoulder doesn't like that. Since I don't wan't to make it worse, and because I have absolutely no problem when I play a 2HBH, I decided to switch. Also, because I don't have that much experience, my 1HBH wasn't good enough that I felt like I was sacrificing a lot of work.

 

[Rosstour]

I actually think my shoulder problem is less severe than a tear. I can definitely do a 1HBH, it's just that everytime I do I can feel my shoulder doesn't like that. Since I don't wan't to make it worse, and because I have absolutely no problem when I play a 2HBH, I decided to switch. Also, because I don't have that much experience, my 1HBH wasn't good enough that I felt like I was sacrificing a lot of work.

Was gonna say, you must either be very new or very old to be able to just…switch, lol

 

[PistolPete23]

Was gonna say, you must either be very new or very old to be able to just…switch, lol

I’m contemplating switching to a 2HBH because of shoulder impingement. But it’s incredibly hard; I can’t hit the ball cleanly and can’t generate any power. My shadow swings look nice, but hitting the ball is another thing altogether. I’m wondering if it’s too hard now at age 40 to switch. What did you do to make your shoulder strong enough to hit the oney? Any specific exercises?

 

[Rosstour]

I’m contemplating switching to a 2HBH because of shoulder impingement. But it’s incredibly hard; I can’t hit the ball cleanly and can’t generate any power. My shadow swings look nice, but hitting the ball is another thing altogether. I’m wondering if it’s too hard now at age 40 to switch. What did you do to make your shoulder strong enough to hit the oney? Any specific exercises?

I’ve just been screwing around with the 1HBH since I was a teen and I can use it now in matches. You should be able to switch to 2H without too much trouble. Which grip are you using?

 

[PistolPete23]

I’ve just been screwing around with the 1HBH since I was a teen and I can use it now in matches. You should be able to switch to 2H without too much trouble. Which grip are you using?

I use an eastern on my oney. For the twoey, I use a continental or weak eastern. The follow through is my main issue. It feels so constrained, not natural at all. I can’t seem to generate power. Maybe I’m still trying to hit with my right arm, and my left arm isn’t playing the dominant role like some say it should.

 

[Rosstour]

I use an eastern on my oney. For the twoey, I use a continental or weak eastern. The follow through is my main issue. It feels so constrained, not natural at all. I can’t seem to generate power. Maybe I’m still trying to hit with my right arm, and my left arm isn’t playing the dominant role like some say it should.

Yeah you have to use the left arm to push through the shot. Look up Agassi’s tutorial, he goes into why using the continental grip allows you to “clear the hip” and get the full chain going

 

[Trip]

@Floquet - Let's get you sorted. I'll explain the experience differences, clarify some items, then make frame suggestions.

First, the frames:

In short, the huge differences you experienced basically boil down to the amount of hoop mass and resulting swing weight - significantly high in the X1, paltry in the Speed S (even with lead). Add in the fact that the X1 was 1/2" extended, where every 1/4" adds roughly 8-10 SW points, and chances are, you were probably swinging something approaching or just over 350SW strung. That's more than many of the top ATP pros. Whereas your Speed S, even with lead, is probably not much higher than low-mid 320's, if that. Apart from knowing or even caring what those numbers mean, it's basically the difference between swinging a battle axe (the X1) and a junior baseball bat (Speed S), with all the related physics to go along with it.

As for sweet spot size, that, too, will enlarge significantly the more material you have in and around the hoop. When comparing racquets, you often don't even need to look at TWU, but can rather deduce most of what goes into the sweet spot size just from the amount of stock swing weight alone. So it's no wonder that the X1's felt like the size/substance of a watermelon, whereas the Speed S felt more like a whiffle ball. Additionally, when trying to factor in the influence of head size on sweet spot, especially only a couple inches (ex: 98 vs 100), usually the amount of hoop mass per unit hoop volume/circumference will still have more influence. Thus the answer to your question of why certain 98's often have larger and more full-face-sized sweet spots than their 100" silo siblings.

Bonus: another contributor to sweet spot size is parallel drilling – ie. alignment of the angle of the drill holes for main and cross strings. The more parallel to one another the holes are, and the more of them that are in alignment, typically the larger the sweet spot, or least the amount of off-center forgiveness. This is also a design principle that works independent of weight. And one that is present in a lot more newer frames, versus even those made 10 or so years ago. And unsurprisingly, your GXT Speed S doesn't really have that much parallel drilling, so another addition to the overall lack of sweet spot size and forgiveness, even with the little bit of lead you've added.

Recommendations:

All of that considered, chances are you might be able add enough hoop lead, and counter-weight in/on the handle, to make the Speed S playable enough. But that would require at least a fair bit of tinkering, and it may still fall short, especially if you already have a sour taste in your mouth about the frame. So I'm sensing a new racquet is probably on the horizon, and that's fair enough.

For your situation, if you like most things about the Speed mold itself, but just want that larger sweet spot, and higher amount of plow, depth and spin, you may not need to look any further than the current Speed MP, which will probably be a much better fit on weight class alone. Of all the ones to choose from currently in the market, I would look at the Speed MP Legend 2.0, which, albeit more costly than the regular 2024 or Legend 1.0, has a bit lower swing weight that is more appropriate for most rec-level players, while still having plenty more than your GXT Speed S. Beyond that, since you're trying to find a winner in only one or two purchases, I would probably stick with more classic-shaped heads, as that is what you're used to (so no Yonex for now). Another worth considering would be the Dunlop CX 400 Tour, which, provided you can get one on-spec, would have a bit more inherent pop than the Speed, while also having a slightly more consistent string bed and better feel. Beyond those, for even more pop/power at lighter swing weight, the Pure Drive 100 is always a sure bet. But if you really can't afford to re-injure anything, it might make more sense to look at something like the Clash straight away, as @Rosstour suggested, either the regular 100, or even the 100 Pro if you want more recoil/swing weight.

Hope some of that helps to de-mystify what was going on, and point you in the right direction. Any questions, feel free.

 

[Floquet]

@Floquet - Let's get you sorted. I'll explain the experience differences, clarify some items, then make frame suggestions.

First, the frames:

In short, the huge differences you experienced basically boil down to the amount of hoop mass and resulting swing weight - significantly high in the X1, paltry in the Speed S (even with lead). Add in the fact that the X1 was 1/2" extended, where every 1/4" adds roughly 8-10 SW points, and chances are, you were probably swinging something approaching or just over 350SW strung. That's more than many of the top ATP pros. Whereas your Speed S, even with lead, is probably not much higher than low-mid 320's, if that. Apart from knowing or even caring what those numbers mean, it's basically the difference between swinging a battle axe (the X1) and a junior baseball bat (Speed S), with all the related physics to go along with it.

As for sweet spot size, that, too, will enlarge significantly the more material you have in and around the hoop. When comparing racquets, you often don't even need to look at TWU, but can rather deduce most of what goes into the sweet spot size just from the amount of stock swing weight alone. So it's no wonder that the X1's felt like the size/substance of a watermelon, whereas the Speed S felt more like a whiffle ball. Additionally, when trying to factor in the influence of head size on sweet spot, especially only a couple inches (ex: 98 vs 100), usually the amount of hoop mass per unit hoop volume/circumference will still have more influence. Thus the answer to your question of why certain 98's often have larger and more full-face-sized sweet spots than their 100" silo siblings.

Bonus: another contributor to sweet spot size is parallel drilling – ie. alignment of the angle of the drill holes for main and cross strings. The more parallel to one another the holes are, and the more of them that are in alignment, typically the larger the sweet spot, or least the amount of off-center forgiveness. This is also a design principle that works independent of weight. And one that is present in a lot more newer frames, versus even those made 10 or so years ago. And unsurprisingly, your GXT Speed S doesn't really have that much parallel drilling, so another addition to the overall lack of sweet spot size and forgiveness, even with the little bit of lead you've added.

Recommendations:

All of that considered, chances are you might be able add enough hoop lead, and counter-weight in/on the handle, to make the Speed S playable enough. But that would require at least a fair bit of tinkering, and it may still fall short, especially if you already have a sour taste in your mouth about the frame. So I'm sensing a new racquet is probably on the horizon, and that's fair enough.

For your situation, if you like most things about the Speed mold itself, but just want that larger sweet spot, and higher amount of plow, depth and spin, you may not need to look any further than the current Speed MP, which will probably be a much better fit on weight class alone. Of all the ones to choose from currently in the market, I would look at the Speed MP Legend 2.0, which, albeit more costly than the regular 2024 or Legend 1.0, has a bit lower swing weight that is more appropriate for most rec-level players, while still having plenty more than your GXT Speed S. Beyond that, since you're trying to find a winner in only one or two purchases, I would probably stick with more classic-shaped heads, as that is what you're used to (so no Yonex for now). Another worth considering would be the Dunlop CX 400 Tour, which, provided you can get one on-spec, would have a bit more inherent pop than the Speed, while also having a slightly more consistent string bed and better feel. Beyond those, for even more pop/power at lighter swing weight, the Pure Drive 100 is always a sure bet. But if you really can't afford to re-injure anything, it might make more sense to look at something like the Clash straight away, as @Rosstour suggested, either the regular 100, or even the 100 Pro if you want more recoil/swing weight.

Hope some of that helps to de-mystify what was going on, and point you in the right direction. Any questions, feel free.

This is by far the best answer I got from a forum post. Thank you.

Since I posted, I've done some testing, which answered a bit of my questions.

I've tried the Ezone 100, the Tfight 305s, and I'm now trying the Pure aero 98.

Any of these rackets feels way better than my current one, which means I'm gonna buy a new one for sure.

I liked the Ezone. It had the similar free power and spin feel I got from the TFX1, but less manoeuvrable, and less versatile.

I had the chance to play with a guy that had two TF 305s and I was suprised but I really loved it, even though it is supposed to be more control oriented. He even had very stiff polys strung at 55lb and, while I needed to input a lot more power than on the Ezone, it didn't feel as low powered as I would've thought. I really loved that racket, and felt like could play any type of shot with it. You see, I don't have a well defined playing style yet, but I'm starting to understand that I don't have either a very flat nor very spinny stroke. I'm kind of in the middle. I also like to try and vary my strikes : strong forehand, more guided placed shots, slices, dropshots. I felt like the 305s didn't force me to play a certain way but allowed me to do everything pretty well.

One certainty I got from trying the 305s was that I really prefer 98s, and I think that's the main reason why I didn't like the Ezone 100 as much as the TFX1.

Right now I am testing the Pure Aero 98, tried it today for one hour. I understand why it is so popular. I liked it better than the Ezone, but I less than tf 305s (at least for now). It is a versatile racket, but it really wants you to insist on spin, and I find the launch angle less forgiving. This makes me think I like a lower launch angle, and maybe that's why I loved the 305s so much.

For now the tf305s is the top contender for my new racket. I think with a softer round poly strung at a lower tension, I could get a both power and control with this racket.

For my next try, I'm very open to suggestions. I'm thinking of trying the blade 98 because following the more popular and best rated rackets really paid off for now. Maybe I could try another racket with a more dense string pattern.

 

[Trip]

@Floquet - Glad you found my post useful. And nice progression in your testing and discoveries.

The 305S certainly is a nice frame, especially for a somewhat-flatter-hitter who also enjoys varying their shot shaping and play style. The main things to mind with the 305S are:
1) more classic/rectangular grip shape, which admittedly does turn away a fair amount of would-be-good-fits for the frame
2) slightly lower sweet spot location, versus many other modern modern hoop shapes, that offer a bit more width between 10 & 2 (and consequently move the sweet spot further up the face)
3) 18 mains pattern, which, all else held equal, vs. 16 mains, tends to require more input intensity to get equal depth, and more deliberate swipe and RHS for to get similar-enough shot trajectory and spin.

I would presume #1 is no big deal, as you've now enjoyed two different Tecnifibres, with no comments about the grip shape being an issue. For #2, since you're used to a Head Speed, the sweet spot location may not seem that low at all. That leaves #3, which might appear harmless enough so far, but usually takes a lot more time and competitive situations to really flesh out a perspective. Especially with you preferring a more powerful racquet that you have to learn to control, a opposed to the opposite, I would be mindful of just how easy you find your depth and velocity to be with the 305S, over enough situations.

Beyond the the 305S, considering what it is you say you want, I would probably steer you to only the most forgiving and largest-sweet-zone 98-99" frames, otherwise to 100-102" that maneuver more like 98's. This is quite simply because, at the high-3.x-4.0-ish level, many ≤98's (not all, but most) just don't offer as much help as you'd otherwise want.

That said, if you feel compelled to keep exploring 98's for now, go for it. The Blade 98 will be a good litmus test. The slightly head-heavier balance and more hoop-based mass distribution pulls the player into the court, and really works best for those with more mature, full-length stroke mechanics. If you're still open to more Head frames, I think a Boom Pro should be a must try, as it's their most playable 98 in stock form for most 4.0-ish players (Rads are a bit under-powered, Extreme Pro less stable, GTour 98 too high an effort floor for most 4.0's to get the most out of it). Another to try would be the Strike 98 16x19 – a lot of pop for a 98 control frame, and a very beefy, stable hoop with a near full-face sweet spot.

Anyways, please do come back and update us on how further demo's work out, as well as any more questions you might have.

 

[landcookie]

Playing devils advocate. If you prefer 98s, go for 98s.

Maybe try the 300s, or Ezone 98, or Blade 98, or Radical MP if you want racquets that are more middle of the road.

If you want something like a TF X1 but softer maybe the Extreme MP. How about the Shift, Ultra, or VCore 98 if you want a bit more stiffness in the hoop?

 

[Trip]

@landcookie - Good call. I was vascillating there, but edited my post to include a few 98 suggestions.

 

[Floquet]

Especially with you preferring a more powerful racquet that you have to learn to control, a opposed to the opposite, I would be mindful of just how easy you find your depth and velocity to be with the 305S, over enough situations.

I think this insight of mine was a bit misguided by the fact that my current racket was way underpowered. Every other racket I tried since then had enough power for me. In fact, I'm kind of realizing (with my try of the Ezone and the pure aero) I would like a racket with a lower launch angle, and not crazy powered.

The TF 305s feels like it would allow me to experiment with different playing styles and find my identity as a player. I'm convinced that with a soft poly strung under 50lb, I would get enough power, while retaining the control from the lower launch angle. But maybe I'm mistaken, I'm a noob when it comes to tennis rackets and strings.

I would like to limit myself to 3 more racket trys, and your suggestions fit my ideas : I think my two next trys will be the Blade 98, and the Pure strike 98.

Could you tell me more as to why the Boom Pro would be a good idea for me? I'm curious, as I am surprised with this suggestion. Would the boom have a high launch angle?

I still have a session with the pure aero, and then on to the blade I guess.

Thank you very much for your valuable insight.

 

[Trip]

@Floquet - Very welcome again. I understand where you're at a bit better. So yeah, if you're feeling like a 98 might fit better for where you're at, then completely understandable. It says in your profile that you're 30-yo, so you I bet you're probably young/strong enough to supply enough of your own power. As for why the Boom Pro, mainly because it's arguably Head's most solid-feeling 98 in stock form. A slightly bit more launchy string bed than the Blade or Strike, but nice easy pop, good medium launch angle and a good amount of mostly-evenly-spread mass throughout the frame.

 

[landcookie]

I think the Strike may have too much swingweight for OP to handle. Boom Pro is a good call.

Edit: I also thnk the 305s could be too demanding. It is the most demanding racquet out of every one listed here. If lower launch is what you are after, you could be better off with a Radical or 300s.

 

[Trip]

I think the Strike may have too much swingweight for OP to handle. Boom Pro is a good call.

Not necessarily. If he was enjoying a very-likely-340+SW X1 305, then there's a decent chance he can handle a 330-ish SW Strike. Additionally, if he's so inclined, there is a population of low-290's SW Strike 98's out there; just need a retailer matching service to find them for you. Combine one (or more) of those with a light-enough string setup (ex: 1.15-1.20-ish poly, or a synthetic/poly hybrid) and strung SW could easily be brought down towards 320-ish.

 

[landcookie]

Not necessarily. If he was enjoying a very-likely-340+SW X1 305, then there's a decent chance he can handle a 330-ish SW Strike. Additionally, if he's so inclined, there is a population of low-290's SW Strike 98's out there; just need a retailer matching service to find them for you. Combine one (or more) of those with a light-enough string setup (ex: 1.15-1.20-ish poly, or a synthetic/poly hybrid) and strung SW could easily be brought down towards 320-ish.

Sure, anyone 'can' handle any swingweight. Is it ideal? Only OP can tell. I take this into consideration because OP has a history of subscap injury (which I also have had) and my remedy was to go lower in SW.

 

[Trip]

Sure, anyone 'can' handle any swingweight. Is it ideal? Only OP can tell. I take this into consideration because OP has a history of subscap injury (which I also have had) and my remedy was to go lower in SW.

Another good point. I would still be interested to see what his experience would be after trying it for a while.

 

[Floquet]

I think the Strike may have too much swingweight for OP to handle. Boom Pro is a good call.

Edit: I also thnk the 305s could be too demanding. It is the most demanding racquet out of every one listed here. If lower launch is what you are after, you could be better off with a Radical or 300s.

In what sense do you think the 305s is too demanding? I felt I needed effort, but it had a stiff shaped polly strung at 55lb. I feel like with a more powerful softer poly, if I go as low as 48lb, I would get a lot more power don't you think? You're making me doubt lol. I'll try the blade and the strike, and then if the 305s still feels like my favorite, I'll rent it at the store, hopefully they have it at a lower tension so I can validate my theory. I know one thing for sure : it was very, very easy to swing fast and manoeuvre.

If he was enjoying a very-likely-340+SW X1 305

Me and my friend that owned and lended me the racket were very suprised to read this and learn this racket was 340SW. It didnt feel that hard to swing at all, and I'm not that strong. Sure it felt that like it had mass, but the mass was like a lever that helped the shot, and didnt cause fatigue. I played close to a 3 hour session with it.

For me, rackets are a mystery. My supposedly very light Speed S gxt felt a lot more heavy (too heavy), when I added 2+2g of lead at 3 and 9, than the TFX1. I had to lower it to 1+1g. I guess the way the weight is distributed around the hoop, and the other attributes of the racket matter a lot.

Thank you guys for helping me understand it a little bit more.

OP has a history of subscap injury

My subscap is completely fine, like I don't feel it at all, as long as I don't do a OHBH, or a serve. The serve is okay if I get warmed up really well, but with the OHBH, I feel it instantly. But for everything else, I can hit as hard as I can, i don't feel it. But maybe a stiffer or demanding racket is still not a good idea. Who knows, maybe a softer racket would allow me to do a OHBH. Il try it with the blade and tell you.

 

[landcookie]

In what sense do you think the 305s is too demanding? I felt I needed effort, but it had a stiff shaped polly strung at 55lb. I feel like with a more powerful softer poly, if I go as low as 48lb, I would get a lot more power don't you think? You're making me doubt lol. I'll try the blade and the strike, and then if the 305s still feels like my favorite, I'll rent it at the store, hopefully they have it at a lower tension so I can validate my theory. I know one thing for sure : it was very, very easy to swing fast and manoeuvre.

Me and my friend that owned and lended me the racket were very suprised to read this and learn this racket was 340SW. It didnt feel that hard to swing at all, and I'm not that strong. Sure it felt that like it had mass, but the mass was like a lever that helped the shot, and didnt cause fatigue. I played close to a 3 hour session with it.

For me, rackets are a mystery. My supposedly very light Speed S gxt felt a lot more heavy (too heavy), when I added 2+2g of lead at 3 and 9, than the TFX1. I had to lower it to 1+1g. I guess the way the weight is distributed around the hoop, and the other attributes of the racket matter a lot.

Thank you guys for helping me understand it a little bit more.

My subscap is completely fine, like I don't feel it at all, as long as I don't do a OHBH, or a serve. The serve is okay if I get warmed up really well, but with the OHBH, I feel it instantly. But for everything else, I can hit as hard as I can, i don't feel it. But maybe a stiffer or demanding racket is still not a good idea. Who knows, maybe a softer racket would allow me to do a OHBH. Il try it with the blade and tell you.

The 305s just needs more input from the user. The 18x19 pattern also makes it less manoeuvrable when scrambling. That all. If you like it and think you play well with it, by all means.

My strokes are whippy so I feel it the sluggishness more with denser stringbeds. For reference, my main racquet is the PA98. You may hit through the ball more and it may not effect you as much.

How are your returns with it? That’s usually my metric on whether or not I can handle a racquet.

I think you’ll know more once you try the blade and strike.

 

[Floquet]

Hey guys, this website didn't work for few days, at least for me, so I could post my response earlier.

Quick update, had my second session with the Pure Aero this saturday and it was super helpful because I was able to compare it directly to my friend’s TFight 305S. 
I played for about 1h30: 30 minutes with the Pure Aero, 30 minutes with the TFight, and then another 30 minutes alternating between the two.

It was also my first real “match-style” session in a while time (I stopped serving because of my shoulder) : we played two super tiebreaks — I won the first using the Pure Aero, and lost the second using the TFight.

This time, my preference for the TFight was less clear. I still liked it, but I also liked the pure aero, and wasn't really sure how much I prefered the TFight after playing for an hour. Since my technique and identity as a player aren't really set, both racquets really pushed me to play differently :
* The Pure Aero pushes me toward a whippy stroke, and wants me to strike fast.
* The TFight, wants me to focus on clean contact and racquet-face orientation rather than racquet speed.
The TFight I used was strung with Tecnifibre Black Code 4S at 55 lbs. Once I adjusted my technique, I was very consistent with it, but mostly didn't have much depth. I still think its a shame I can't try it with a lower tension.

@landcookie You were right on with returns beind a good benchmark : my friend serves hard and with the Tfight, I could really feel it in my wrist.

After this session, I went ahead and traded the Pure Aero for the Blade 98, but I most probably rented it for nothing because, starting Monday afternoon, I developed a pretty nasty shoulder impingement / rotator cuff flare-up — a totally new issue, not my old subscapularis problem.

It probably came from a mix of things: doing my band strengthening routine right before playing (not the best warm-up, I know that now...), not spending enough time rallying in the service boxes to loosen up, hitting with two pretty stiff frames (Pure Aero and TF305S), reintroducing serves, and then doing more band work the two following days instead of resting.
Classic overload chain reaction — it didn’t hurt (at all) during play, but two days later the inflammation really (really) kicked in. It still hurts, but it's getting a little bit better as of today. However, I don't know when I'll be able to play, which is very sad for me..

Now i know for sure that my shoulder is very prone to injury, so I think it should inform my choice of racket. I think the blade, being one of the softest rackets out there, might be a good bet, but I'll have to wait to test it unfortunately...

Still, if you have any advice regarding rackets, or my injury, I'll gladly take it.

Cheers.

 

[Trip]

Tecnifibre Black Code 4S at 55 lbs

That sounds a bit rough, especially if that 305S was stock, or close enough to it — not much recoil weight to counter the combo of such a firm string bed and and firm/raw/crispy frame.

Will be interested to hear your next round of updates.

 

[Floquet]

That sounds a bit rough, especially if that 305S was stock, or close enough to it — not much recoil weight to counter the combo of such a firm string bed and and firm/raw/crispy frame.

Will be interested to hear your next round of updates.

The 305S is not from the store, its from a friend of mine.

I'll keep you guys updated when I get better...

What racket do you play?

 

[Trip]

I'll keep you guys updated when I get better...

Sounds good.

What racket do you play?

For ~3 years now, the Head Prestige MP-L Auxetic 1.0, customized up to a strung spec of around 340-ish grams +/- 2-3 grams / mid-31.x cm balance / low-mid 330's SW. A great stick in several ways, but ultimately too much of a yesteryear dinosaur to recommend to all but the most specific type of player. Still plays pretty great, but have been looking for a successor with a more modern hoop shape, higher power-to-weight ratio, higher precision, while retaining a direct/raw/connected feel (all of that combined pretty much eliminates 90+% of the current retail sticks right away, so in that sense I almost feel lucky, lol). Have tried probably tried 8-10 frames since starting that search. Some have gotten close, but nothing has sold me yet. And I give every frame I try at least 40-50 hours, 4-5 string jobs and 2-3 strung specs, at minimum, so I'm not just glossing over stuff. Been a fun experience. Has taught me a lot about my preferences, and helped me make better recommendations for others.

 

[ajspurs]

Hey guys, this website didn't work for few days, at least for me, so I could post my response earlier.

Quick update, had my second session with the Pure Aero this saturday and it was super helpful because I was able to compare it directly to my friend’s TFight 305S. 
I played for about 1h30: 30 minutes with the Pure Aero, 30 minutes with the TFight, and then another 30 minutes alternating between the two.

It was also my first real “match-style” session in a while time (I stopped serving because of my shoulder) : we played two super tiebreaks — I won the first using the Pure Aero, and lost the second using the TFight.

This time, my preference for the TFight was less clear. I still liked it, but I also liked the pure aero, and wasn't really sure how much I prefered the TFight after playing for an hour. Since my technique and identity as a player aren't really set, both racquets really pushed me to play differently :
* The Pure Aero pushes me toward a whippy stroke, and wants me to strike fast.
* The TFight, wants me to focus on clean contact and racquet-face orientation rather than racquet speed.
The TFight I used was strung with Tecnifibre Black Code 4S at 55 lbs. Once I adjusted my technique, I was very consistent with it, but mostly didn't have much depth. I still think its a shame I can't try it with a lower tension.

@landcookie You were right on with returns beind a good benchmark : my friend serves hard and with the Tfight, I could really feel it in my wrist.

After this session, I went ahead and traded the Pure Aero for the Blade 98, but I most probably rented it for nothing because, starting Monday afternoon, I developed a pretty nasty shoulder impingement / rotator cuff flare-up — a totally new issue, not my old subscapularis problem.

It probably came from a mix of things: doing my band strengthening routine right before playing (not the best warm-up, I know that now...), not spending enough time rallying in the service boxes to loosen up, hitting with two pretty stiff frames (Pure Aero and TF305S), reintroducing serves, and then doing more band work the two following days instead of resting.
Classic overload chain reaction — it didn’t hurt (at all) during play, but two days later the inflammation really (really) kicked in. It still hurts, but it's getting a little bit better as of today. However, I don't know when I'll be able to play, which is very sad for me..

Now i know for sure that my shoulder is very prone to injury, so I think it should inform my choice of racket. I think the blade, being one of the softest rackets out there, might be a good bet, but I'll have to wait to test it unfortunately...

Still, if you have any advice regarding rackets, or my injury, I'll gladly take it.

Cheers.

Were you using the Aero 98? Personally I would undoubtedly pick the 100 over the 98 at particular levels. I'm not one to tell someone they should or shouldn't use something based off their level but can only speak from my own experience. The 98 is incredible when you're playing well, aggressive and seeing the ball big, and it's one thing that can be difficult to determine when demoing, but when you're having off days, or you're fatigued, or you actually want to play a slightly more reserved style that is less flat out the whole time, the 100 can be refreshing to use in comparison. IMO. And it's certainly a softer feel off the stringbed too. I would try and use one racket over prolonged periods to really see how you perform when you're experiencing those dips in your play.

Trying is all part of the fun though, I mean it may not be something you can establish in this demoing period, but I would try had to really find the style you wish to progress with. For example an Aero 100 may not be the most ideal racket if a few months down the line you actually find that you don't feel comfortable predominantly hitting with spin on your forehand. On the other hand though if you find that you're getting good results playing with a whippy forehand and it's enabling you to play the tennis you want to play, it may narrow down your options quite nicely.

I get it though in that I've remodelled my forehand many times and wish I'd demoed all the rackets I had in the past with the forehand I currently have, to get the most accurate representation. Sometimes you just have to go with what's best at the time and is a good all around platform to grow with, and that may not necessarily be the perfect choice for how your game may develop further down the line! Those two rackets you tried there sound like they're on either end of the spectrum for you. Maybe you need something that's more down the middle if you're still unsure of your game.

When I was having arm problems I found the Gravity line to be great for me personally.

 

[landcookie]

Hey guys, this website didn't work for few days, at least for me, so I could post my response earlier.

Quick update, had my second session with the Pure Aero this saturday and it was super helpful because I was able to compare it directly to my friend’s TFight 305S. 
I played for about 1h30: 30 minutes with the Pure Aero, 30 minutes with the TFight, and then another 30 minutes alternating between the two.

It was also my first real “match-style” session in a while time (I stopped serving because of my shoulder) : we played two super tiebreaks — I won the first using the Pure Aero, and lost the second using the TFight.

This time, my preference for the TFight was less clear. I still liked it, but I also liked the pure aero, and wasn't really sure how much I prefered the TFight after playing for an hour. Since my technique and identity as a player aren't really set, both racquets really pushed me to play differently :
* The Pure Aero pushes me toward a whippy stroke, and wants me to strike fast.
* The TFight, wants me to focus on clean contact and racquet-face orientation rather than racquet speed.
The TFight I used was strung with Tecnifibre Black Code 4S at 55 lbs. Once I adjusted my technique, I was very consistent with it, but mostly didn't have much depth. I still think its a shame I can't try it with a lower tension.

@landcookie You were right on with returns beind a good benchmark : my friend serves hard and with the Tfight, I could really feel it in my wrist.

After this session, I went ahead and traded the Pure Aero for the Blade 98, but I most probably rented it for nothing because, starting Monday afternoon, I developed a pretty nasty shoulder impingement / rotator cuff flare-up — a totally new issue, not my old subscapularis problem.

It probably came from a mix of things: doing my band strengthening routine right before playing (not the best warm-up, I know that now...), not spending enough time rallying in the service boxes to loosen up, hitting with two pretty stiff frames (Pure Aero and TF305S), reintroducing serves, and then doing more band work the two following days instead of resting.
Classic overload chain reaction — it didn’t hurt (at all) during play, but two days later the inflammation really (really) kicked in. It still hurts, but it's getting a little bit better as of today. However, I don't know when I'll be able to play, which is very sad for me..

Now i know for sure that my shoulder is very prone to injury, so I think it should inform my choice of racket. I think the blade, being one of the softest rackets out there, might be a good bet, but I'll have to wait to test it unfortunately...

Still, if you have any advice regarding rackets, or my injury, I'll gladly take it.

Cheers.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder.

Anti-inflams, rest and lots of hanging ( from a bar).

Stay away from racquets with more than 330g strung and 325 SW.

And get that upper body stronger! For me Pull ups, chin ups, skin the cat, lots of overhead stuff which demand mobility and strength in the end range. Bands are great for rehab but don't do anything to get your shoulder strong enough for the rigours of tennis.

 

[Floquet]

Personally I would undoubtedly pick the 100 over the 98 at particular levels.

Hi! Thank you for your advice. My feeling with the Pure aero 98 is that it is already very forgiving, and already gives me free depth, even when I defend. When I miss, it's always because it is long rather than short, and I would say the biggest problem with that racket for me is that I am a little bit forced to lean on spin to tame the launch angle. However, if I play like it wants, I can do shots that land safely in the court (sometimes just behind the service box) but lift so high that they are still very long for the opponent. For these reasons, I am inclined to think that the 100 would be overkill and probably detrimental, as it would be too much free power and launch (like I felt that with the Ezone 100 for example). But i may be wrong.

When I was having arm problems I found the Gravity line to be great for me personally.

Thank you for the recomandation, I'll make it go up in my list then. Next try is the blade 98, and I feel like these two rackets could have big similarities. Have you tried both?

Bands are great for rehab but don't do anything to get your shoulder strong enough for the rigours of tennis.

Thank you for your kind words. I was wondering : Aren't bands good because they target the rotator cuff muscles precisely? I think my mistake was using them for warm-up and the days after playing when I should be resting. I fatigued my rotator cuff muscles too much before playing, and then I put them under stress when they were recovering. What do you do for warm-up?

Stay away from racquets with more than 330g strung and 325 SW.

I can see that for you, the main culprit is weight. I was wondering if other factors could be more important, like the rigidity of the frame, and low power that forces you to go all out, all of this putting your tendons under high stress and forcing them to high extension. I feel like an appropriately heavy racket could help have a fluid motion where the weight of the racket is providing a bit of the speed and power, rather that your body having to do all the work. At least that's how i understood my experience with the TFX1. I understand that if it is too heavy, then your body struggles to move the racket, but I feel like a stiff, light, low powered racket (like the TF305S) could be even more prone to causing injury because it demands a lot of efforts and puts high stress on you muscles and tendons. However, if you have a OHBH for example (like I did before), a racket that is too heavy will be hard to stop at the end of the stroke (that's how I got my subscap injury I think). But with a forehad or a 2HBH, I don't feel like small muscles and tendons in the rotator cuff are involved as much when it comes to descelerating the racket after the stroke. Anyways, I'm not even sure I am expressing myself clearly.

 

[landcookie]

Hi! Thank you for your advice. My feeling with the Pure aero 98 is that it is already very forgiving, and already gives me free depth, even when I defend. When I miss, it's always because it is long rather than short, and I would say the biggest problem with that racket for me is that I am a little bit forced to lean on spin to tame the launch angle. However, if I play like it wants, I can do shots that land safely in the court (sometimes just behind the service box) but lift so high that they are still very long for the opponent. For these reasons, I am inclined to think that the 100 would be overkill and probably detrimental, as it would be too much free power and launch (like I felt that with the Ezone 100 for example). But i may be wrong.

Thank you for the recomandation, I'll make it go up in my list then. Next try is the blade 98, and I feel like these two rackets could have big similarities. Have you tried both?


Thank you for your kind words. I was wondering : Aren't bands good because they target the rotator cuff muscles precisely? I think my mistake was using them for warm-up and the days after playing when I should be resting. I fatigued my rotator cuff muscles too much before playing, and then I put them under stress when they were recovering. What do you do for warm-up?


I can see that for you, the main culprit is weight. I was wondering if other factors could be more important, like the rigidity of the frame, and low power that forces you to go all out, all of this putting your tendons under high stress and forcing them to high extension. I feel like an appropriately heavy racket could help have a fluid motion where the weight of the racket is providing a bit of the speed and power, rather that your body having to do all the work. At least that's how i understood my experience with the TFX1. I understand that if it is too heavy, then your body struggles to move the racket, but I feel like a stiff, light, low powered racket (like the TF305S) could be even more prone to causing injury because it demands a lot of efforts and puts high stress on you muscles and tendons. However, if you have a OHBH for example (like I did before), a racket that is too heavy will be hard to stop at the end of the stroke (that's how I got my subscap injury I think). But with a forehad or a 2HBH, I don't feel like small muscles and tendons in the rotator cuff are involved as much when it comes to descelerating the racket after the stroke. Anyways, I'm not even sure I am expressing myself clearly.

Bands are great. But they don’t give you enough resistance. Isolating the cuff is ok to an extent but your shoulder is more than the sum of its parts - your traps, lats, biceps, triceps, and everything around the cuff plays an equally important role.

The cuff is a braking mechanism. If it’s injured it is likely that it can’t handle the force in which you are swinging at. More racquet weight means more inertia which means the cuff needs to work harder to stop your shoulder flying out of its socket. Not good.

I warm up with some hangs, pull ups, skin th cats, and bands at fast reps (not slow and controlled).

My gym work involves a lot of big overhead and Olympic lifts.

 

[Floquet]

Bands are great. But they don’t give you enough resistance. Isolating the cuff is ok to an extent but your shoulder is more than the sum of its parts - your traps, lats, biceps, triceps, and everything around the cuff plays an equally important role.

The cuff is a braking mechanism. If it’s injured it is likely that it can’t handle the force in which you are swinging at. More racquet weight means more inertia which means the cuff needs to work harder to stop your shoulder flying out of its socket. Not good.

I warm up with some hangs, pull ups, skin th cats, and bands at fast reps (not slow and controlled).

My gym work involves a lot of big overhead and Olympic lifts.

Ok so hangs are a good thing to try. I am very curious where you play tennis to be able to do pull ups and skin the cats for warm up haha

 

[landcookie]

Ok so hangs are a good thing to try. I am very curious where you play tennis to be able to do pull ups and skin the cats for warm up haha

I do them before I get to the courts.