Hi, I used to use the RD-7, but quit using it not for its heft, but rather because of it's grip shape. I simply can't stand it.
I also could not stand the grip shape on the Super RD Tour 90 and RD Power 6/7.
My impression of them in several different grip sizes ranging from L1 all the way on up to L4 is that they ALL felt, FAT for their respective size compared next to any other brand's grip shape.
I mean to me they all felt one size bigger in the hand than their listed size, very round, and very, very FAT.
I could not stand this, however, I used a RD-Ti 70 88 with an L1 (4-1/8) grip for awhile, and this grip felt like a toothpick next to my Super RD Tour 90 L1. Is this just in my head? Because it was a VERY noticeable difference, like night and day.
One felt like a true L1, perhaps even slightly smaller, and the other felt bigger than an L2 Volkl in the hand.
Is this possible? Did Yonex modify their grips on their more recent lines?
I say this, because I've noticed that people talking about the new Yonexes say their grips feel slightly small, whereas on the old ones some thought (such as myself and Larry Hall) that they felt slightly oversized and fat.
This would coincide with my experience with the RD-Ti 70 88.
Basically, I found the grip too feel reasonably good in my hand with the Ti-70 88 whereas with the older Yonexes, no matter how much I tried to stick with them, I couldn't because their grip shapes bothered me sooo much...they just felt sooo clunky in my hand.
To be honest, this is not the first time I've noticed such a discrepancy in grips from a manufacturer.
I have an old Prince Precision Graphite 90 with a L1 grip. I also had a Prince Graphite II MP with a L1 grip at the same time. Comparing them side by side, there was no, and I mean NO doubt, that the Precision Graphite 90 had a much smaller feeling grip. They did not feel alike in the hand at all.
To me, the grip shape or size DEFINITELY changed in that decade or so separating these two model lines.
I've also read that Head as recently changed the grip slightly on their LM Prestige from the old Prestige, with some people saying the older one felt either bigger or smaller (forget which one), or flatter.
Is this just in my head?
I say this, because I prefer the Yonex head shape, but their grips just bug me. Demoing the RDX 500 Mid does me no good, because it's only available in L3 or 4 for those purposes. I'll only use a L1 in Yonex, because I like extra small grips to give me extra wrist snap and a feeling of dynamism in my groundies.
I don't have any places near me that carry the RDX500 Mid in L1 for me to get a true sense of the grip.
Given the price of the RDX500 Mid, I don't want to just fork over a bunch JUST to try out the grip. I've thrown away too many dollars doing that in the past with the RD-Power 6/7, RD-7, RD-Ti 70 88, and Super RD Tour 90 just for that.
The grip and the grip shape are by far the most important thing to me in a racket.
Prince and Fischer to me have the best all-around feeling grip shapes in my hand. I like them on all shots, and I still feel like they give me sufficient 'snap.'
I also could not stand the grip shape on the Super RD Tour 90 and RD Power 6/7.
My impression of them in several different grip sizes ranging from L1 all the way on up to L4 is that they ALL felt, FAT for their respective size compared next to any other brand's grip shape.
I mean to me they all felt one size bigger in the hand than their listed size, very round, and very, very FAT.
I could not stand this, however, I used a RD-Ti 70 88 with an L1 (4-1/8) grip for awhile, and this grip felt like a toothpick next to my Super RD Tour 90 L1. Is this just in my head? Because it was a VERY noticeable difference, like night and day.
One felt like a true L1, perhaps even slightly smaller, and the other felt bigger than an L2 Volkl in the hand.
Is this possible? Did Yonex modify their grips on their more recent lines?
I say this, because I've noticed that people talking about the new Yonexes say their grips feel slightly small, whereas on the old ones some thought (such as myself and Larry Hall) that they felt slightly oversized and fat.
This would coincide with my experience with the RD-Ti 70 88.
Basically, I found the grip too feel reasonably good in my hand with the Ti-70 88 whereas with the older Yonexes, no matter how much I tried to stick with them, I couldn't because their grip shapes bothered me sooo much...they just felt sooo clunky in my hand.
To be honest, this is not the first time I've noticed such a discrepancy in grips from a manufacturer.
I have an old Prince Precision Graphite 90 with a L1 grip. I also had a Prince Graphite II MP with a L1 grip at the same time. Comparing them side by side, there was no, and I mean NO doubt, that the Precision Graphite 90 had a much smaller feeling grip. They did not feel alike in the hand at all.
To me, the grip shape or size DEFINITELY changed in that decade or so separating these two model lines.
I've also read that Head as recently changed the grip slightly on their LM Prestige from the old Prestige, with some people saying the older one felt either bigger or smaller (forget which one), or flatter.
Is this just in my head?
I say this, because I prefer the Yonex head shape, but their grips just bug me. Demoing the RDX 500 Mid does me no good, because it's only available in L3 or 4 for those purposes. I'll only use a L1 in Yonex, because I like extra small grips to give me extra wrist snap and a feeling of dynamism in my groundies.
I don't have any places near me that carry the RDX500 Mid in L1 for me to get a true sense of the grip.
Given the price of the RDX500 Mid, I don't want to just fork over a bunch JUST to try out the grip. I've thrown away too many dollars doing that in the past with the RD-Power 6/7, RD-7, RD-Ti 70 88, and Super RD Tour 90 just for that.
The grip and the grip shape are by far the most important thing to me in a racket.
Prince and Fischer to me have the best all-around feeling grip shapes in my hand. I like them on all shots, and I still feel like they give me sufficient 'snap.'
