Getting back into playing. Need racquet suggestions.

[Roddickulous]

Hello TT friends! It's been a long time since I've been on here. I'm a former D3 college player. I was about a 4.0 player back in the day. Haven't played in about 4 and a half years up till just recently. I'm currently using a heavily customized Dunlop iDapt 100S 27.5" {about 12oz, HL balance & 340 sw). I just started looking at racquets again and I'm completely lost from a few years ago. My style has changed as I'm a bit out of shape and can't really handle the long baseline rallies with heavy spin like I used to. Somehow my volleying has improved dramatically from the last time I played. I'm looking for something a bit lighter while I get my strokes and fitness back. I don't know whether this is a known issue, but my iDapt plays with a really buzzy feeling after even a light session and just all around feels way less solid than I'm remembering. I'm hinking about going down in headsize to either a Blade 98 Pro, Ezone 98, or a Pro Staff 97L with a bit of lead on it. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Trip]

@Roddickulous - Welcome back. That's an interesting frame -- very open 100" 14x18 pattern, Pure Drive type beam and stiffness, longer handle yielding a stock 2pt HL balance and 333 SW.

Moving forward, I would shift to a more head-light stock balance, so you wouldn't have to add as much weight just to attain a similar swing feel. Also, if you're thinking of a 98 for more control, most current 100's have tighter 16x19 pattern, so those in and of themselves may be enough. Here are my suggestions for 27.5" frames with a similar power level and behavior (all 300g and 16x19 unless otherwise noted):

- Babolat Pure Aero Plus -- 100", 6pts HL, 330SW
- Babolat Pure Drive Plus -- 100", 6pts HL, 324SW
- Diadem Nova 100+ -- 100", 5pts HL, 330SW
- Solinco Blackout 300 XTD -- 100", 8pts HL, 328SW
- Solinco Whiteout 305 XTD - 305g, 98", 6pts HL, 333SW
- Yonex VCore 98+ -- 305g, 98" 5pts HL, 334SW
- Yonex VCore 100+ -- 100", 3pts HL, 333SW

If you didn't need an extended-length frame, your options explode (way more models from the brands above, plus Prince, Head, Wilson and more).

 

[Roddickulous]

@Roddickulous - Welcome back. That's an interesting frame -- very open 100" 14x18 pattern, Pure Drive type beam and stiffness, longer handle yielding a stock 2pt HL balance and 333 SW.

Moving forward, I would shift to a more head-light stock balance, so you wouldn't have to add as much weight just to attain a similar swing feel. Also, if you're thinking of a 98 for more control, most current 100's have tighter 16x19 pattern, so those in and of themselves may be enough. Here are my suggestions for 27.5" frames with a similar power level and behavior (all 300g and 16x19 unless otherwise noted):

- Babolat Pure Aero Plus -- 100", 6pts HL, 330SW
- Babolat Pure Drive Plus -- 100", 6pts HL, 324SW
- Diadem Nova 100+ -- 100", 5pts HL, 330SW
- Solinco Blackout 300 XTD -- 100", 8pts HL, 328SW
- Solinco Whiteout 305 XTD - 305g, 98", 6pts HL, 333SW
- Yonex VCore 98+ -- 305g, 98" 5pts HL, 334SW
- Yonex VCore 100+ -- 100", 3pts HL, 333SW

If you didn't need an extended-length frame, your options explode (way more models from the brands above, plus Prince, Head, Wilson and more).

Hey Trip, thanks for the recommendations. Honestly, I don't think I can handle the extended length anymore. (sidenote -- Solinco makes racquets now? Are they good?). I'm planning on going down to the old pro shop I used to work at and demoing the Pro Staff 97L (23mm beam looks really appealing), Blade 98 16x19, and the Ezone 98 later this week. I will definitely try the whiteout 305 as that looks very intriguing. Thanks!

 

[Trip]

Very welcome. Probably for the best regarding extended length; if you can just feel it at this point, then you're probably best served by a conventional 27, and as I said, the options are exponentially higher.

As for Solinco, yes, they've actually done multiple racquet lines over the years; it's just been a while since they had anything actively produced, and while they're previous stuff has been decent, the Whiteout and Blackout are much better. Foam-filled, very solid. They collaborated with Roman Prokes on the frames; he's the racquet tuning legend who oversaw Agassi and Novak's gear progressions, so chances are your experience will be a good one.

As for the PS 97L, I think you'll notice the 2" smaller sweet spot and lower twist weight (easier spin, but a bit less stable on off-center hits). But who knows, maybe you'll like it, as it has similar stiffness to the iDapt 100S. The Blade, EZ98 and WO305 will all be excellent contrasting feels as well, so you have a nice demo palette there. Please come back and let us know how the trials went, which frame(s) you favored and why!

 

[Roddickulous]

Very welcome. Probably for the best regarding extended length; if you can just feel it at this point, then you're probably best served by a conventional 27, and as I said, the options are exponentially higher.

As for Solinco, yes, they've actually done multiple racquet lines over the years; it's just been a while since they had anything actively produced, and while they're previous stuff has been decent, the Whiteout and Blackout are much better. Foam-filled, very solid. They collaborated with Roman Prokes on the frames; he's the racquet tuning legend who oversaw Agassi and Novak's gear progressions, so chances are your experience will be a good one.

As for the PS 97L, I think you'll notice the 2" smaller sweet spot and lower twist weight (easier spin, but a bit less stable on off-center hits). But who knows, maybe you'll like it, as it has similar stiffness to the iDapt 100S. The Blade, EZ98 and WO305 will all be excellent contrasting feels as well, so you have a nice demo palette there. Please come back and let us know how the trials went, which frame(s) you favored and why!

Update! Tried out a few racquets.

1. PS97LS v11.0:
Actually just bought this, found one in my area at a steal of a price that was in great condition. I added 1oz silicone underneath the buttcap (I prefer the feel of no base grip and 2 overgrips -- 1 wilson sensation and 1 wilson pro) and 10g lead at 3/9. Don't know what the new stats on it are, but i'm guessing around 335-340g all strung up and maybe around 335-345 swing weight. Strung with Black Code 4S 1.30g at 45lbs. This might honestly be the frame I end up going with, I still want to try the 97L v13.0, because I'm told CV ruins the feel. Plenty of feel in this stick, the way I set it up. I play a mix of 1h & 2h BH, and even throw in some righty forehands from time to time, and this thing is solid as a rock, but has the feel of a stick of butter. Only thing I lost on was my serve, but I assumed that since I'm a bit out of shape and also going to a thinner frame. Felt like hitting with a more open, slightly bigger head BLX Blade Tour, which I always loved the feel of, just not the 18x20 or the 93" head.

2. Ezone 98
I was all ready for this to be the winner based on its stats, but I feel like I just couldn't get used to the isometric head shape. I might try the vcore 97pro 310 in the 16x19, but all I can say about this one is, it was not it.

3. Pure Drive+ (2018)
This took me back to my days where I was hunting down Pure Drive Team +'s on ****. Like wow, definitely would need some customization, but I could definitely see myself buying one of these down the road just to play around with for fun. Last PD I played with I believe was the one with the 2012 cortex gt and this has almost as much feel as the OG pure drives.

4. Head IG Radical Pro (modified)
Found this in my box of frames I customized a long time ago. No clue what the tension on it is, but I remember modifying it to add silicone in the butt cap and gave it a longer grip pallet. I think this thing is about 28". I even put YT Prestige grommets on it. Unbelievable plowthrough, but the swingweight has to be close to 380 or something insane. Felt really sluggish, definitely glad I kept this thing around.

Frames I still plan on testing next:
-PS97L v13.0
-Pure Aero VS
-Pure Strike Tour 16x19
-Whiteout 305
-Pure Drive VS
-vCore Pro 97 16x19
Edit -- forgot to add Clash 98 in here.

Sidenote, does anyone know if it's possible to get grip pallets from anywhere or send a racquet to have pallets put on? I can't seem to find the pallets I used to have, and I have 3 Pure Drive Swirlys that I shaved the pallets off of years ago in order to toy around with making them all 27.5".

 

[d-quik]

BLX Blade Tour,

do you still have this?

 

[Roddickulous]

do you still have this?

Sadly no

 

[socallefty]

Curious on how your test with the Pure Strike Tour goes. I play with it and many who try it also like it a lot. Good blend of power/control/spin with a big sweet spot - very stable also and does well with poly in the low-mid forties.

 

[kevonian]

Pure Strike VS would fit your style

 

[Roddickulous]

I have found my racquet! I've gone back to the good old Steam 99S. I currently have about half an ounce of lead at 3/9 and ~half an ounce of silicone underneath the buttcap. Not sure entirely what the specs come out to, but the swingweight feels very on par with my customized 27.5" IG Radical Pro which I know is 350 from my old notes. I played with this racquet 10 years ago. I also bought an Ultra XP 100S and am working on customizing that as well. Also looking at potentially going after the XTP buttcap to try out the Steam at 27.5". Will report more soon. Has anyone used the XTP buttcap?