Help upgrading to a more serious stick

[TwinCinema]

Back when I was a struggling 3.0 about four years ago I played with a Speed S and a Pure Strike Team (100", 285g) but I've long since outgrown them and am way overdue for something more serious. In demoing some heavier frames with smaller heads, I found myself gravitating to the 98" 305g-ish rackets. Tried, and disliked, the Pure Drive, the TFight ISO, and VCore 98. But I really took to the Blade v8 16x19 and the Pure Strike 16x19. It's weird because they're pretty different but they each had major pros.

The Blade was easiest to control, had great feel, and never bothered my arm. Even mishits were going in. But I never was able to really drive a laser groundstroke with any heavy pop. I was wondering if that was the string it was set up with -- I was using Caviar, a very soft poly. Do you think if I string it with a gut or a multifilament (like NRG?) I would have the power I craved without losing that Blade finesse?

On the other hand, the PS was very similar (obviously) to my old stick but with more weight so it had a lot more plow. I could rip my groundies with heavy spin and when I was returning, I could just block fast serves and have enough pace to get it in play. But it felt muted compared to the Blade and I couldn't hit the touch volleys I wanted. It was strung with RMP Blast which explains the spin, but is there a bed I could put in it to give me more Blade-ish control? Tour Bite maybe, or even that Caviar I had in the Wilson? Just not sure if the strings were the issue, or if I just still haven't found the perfect new racket for me. I could keep demoing, I guess, trying a Head (Extreme Tour? Speed MP?) or a Prince (Tour 98?) but I just wanted to make sure I'm on the right path. Also, I've never even tried an 18x20 pattern so maybe that could solve some of my issues?

 

[PhxRacket]

Try your Blade with 4G at 45-47#. It might give you what you seek, or not.

 

[TwinCinema]

Thanks, Phx -- that's interesting, I've never used a Luxilon string but I can see why a low tension might give me more power; I just assumed that the 4G would be really similar to the Caviar that was in it for the demo (both are soft polys right?)

 

[Mircat]

Blade + Lynx Tour champagne at 46 mains 44 crosses.

 

[TwinCinema]

Much appreciated, Mircat -- very intriguing that both of you recommend low-powered polys in the Blade (as opposed to poppier strings in that, or a low-powered poly in the PS). In my old racket I used Tour Bite at 52, so I'll definitely try going 46 lbs and see if that gives me a trampoline boost. Sounds like people think the Blade will suit me more than either the PS or another racket in that spec...

 

[ClownCar96]

I would highly recommend checking out the Ezone 98. The VC98 is okay, but it's not special like the EZ98. I was like you about a year ago... looking for a "big boy" stick after improving to 3.5 level. The EZ98 is solid and stable despite a very easy to use Swing Weight around 315, making it a top choice for a rising intermediate. In fact, it's a top choice for almost all the top hitters in my area and teaching pros who are now using it for their competition sticks. String with PTP around 50lbs and everything about your game will be better. It's an EZ button!

 

[TwinCinema]

Aha! Good to hear you went through this transition a year ago, Clown... The pros at the shop I got my demo rackets from gave me the VCore but I bet that's because they didn't have an Ezone for me to try. I hear good things about Yonex frames but yeah that VCore 98 didn't do it for me; maybe I'll test the Ezone alongside the Blade and see what works better. (I'm a little tempted though to snap up a Blade this week because the TW 30% off sale ends on the 11th)...

 

[jimmy8]

I highly recommend trying the wilson shift 300. Amazing racket. From TW website: Technical Note: According to Wilson, this racquet has been designed to be torsionally stiff (for added stability and power when driving the ball) and laterally flexible (for increased dwell time on vertical mechanics - think spin).

The shift has decent comfort from the lateral flex. It has great stability from the torsional stiffness. It's light and so maneuverable. Racket inspires great confidence.

From what you wrote i think you would like a hybrid string setup like hyper g 1.20 in the mains 46 lbs, multi in the cross 50 lbs.

 

[TwinCinema]

Thanks, Jimmy - I read about the Shift and it sounds awesome but nobody near me seems to have one to demo. I'm a little wary of buying it without driving it first.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Blade 100? Our two 100 v8 have swingweights in the low-mid 320s so a little more pop than your 98 v8 in the 310s on average, plus the extra 2” without being thick beamed like a pure drive.

I only use multis, but NRG would be a great choice to get some pop. Wilson syn gut power would be good too at 1/4 price. Maybe cross with a soft slick poly like Revolve to help get some more spin outta those tight 8 mains in the throat.

Try a v4 Ultra yet?

Lastly, I haven’t hit more *consistent* heavy balls than with my Black Ace 300. You’d think a super flexy stick that’s not very thick wouldn’t have any power but you’d be wrong. Very whippy too, top spin a breeze. Course I’ve got NRG in it right now

 

[jimmy8]

Thanks, Jimmy - I read about the Shift and it sounds awesome but nobody near me seems to have one to demo. I'm a little wary of buying it without driving it first.

You can get it mailed to you from tennis warehouse for demo. If you end up buying it, they will give you a credit for the shipping you paid for demoing.

 

[dandruffkb]

Yep, I second what jimmy said, demoing from TW has worked well for me in the past. $25 for 3 sticks for a week and then you just ship it back.

Only thing to account for when demoing though is string set up. Hard to compare different rackets that have different strings and string tension.

For example, in your scenario with the Blade, if you love everything about it and want more power, some people might just select a string they want and lower the tension.

 

[TwinCinema]

Blade 100? Our two 100 v8 have swingweights in the low-mid 320s so a little more pop than your 98 v8 in the 310s on average, plus the extra 2” without being thick beamed like a pure drive.

I only use multis, but NRG would be a great choice to get some pop. Wilson syn gut power would be good too at 1/4 price. Maybe cross with a soft slick poly like Revolve to help get some more spin outta those tight 8 mains in the throat.

Try a v4 Ultra yet?

Lastly, I haven’t hit more *consistent* heavy balls than with my Black Ace 300. You’d think a super flexy stick that’s not very thick wouldn’t have any power but you’d be wrong. Very whippy too, top spin a breeze. Course I’ve got NRG in it right now

Haven't tried an Ultra v4 no. Would you recommend the 97 or the 100? As for the Blade 100, that's an interesting suggestion -- my old, light rackets were 100" so I assumed 98s would all be heavier, so it's nice to hear there's a 100" stick that swings heavier. It does appear to have very similar specs to the Shift...

Thanks for bringing up the Pro Kennex... the Ace line brings back memories, because my first racket I ever used in high school was a Graphite Ace Prophecy. Haven't looked into the new ones at all. The TW reviews here seem a little... uninspiring?

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Haven't tried an Ultra v4 no. Would you recommend the 97 or the 100? As for the Blade 100, that's an interesting suggestion -- my old, light rackets were 100" so I assumed 98s would all be heavier, so it's nice to hear there's a 100" stick that swings heavier. It does appear to have very similar specs to the Shift...

Thanks for bringing up the Pro Kennex... the Ace line brings back memories, because my first racket I ever used in high school was a Graphite Ace Prophecy. Haven't looked into the new ones at all. The TW reviews here seem a little... uninspiring?

I’ve never played the 97, just referring to the regular 100.

I’ve demoed the shift, as the regular RA indicates it’s pretty stiff, quite powerful, the Blades are no where near as powerful due to their flex (even the 100L with its higher stiffness is still well controlled, but the 100 comes in with a low RA like the 98).

The shift did give me huge top spin once I figured out how to keep the ball in the court with it, but my tennis elbow forearm can’t do that with any regularity and stay healthy so I passed.

As far as the BA review goes, checkout the playtest by TW users (including myself):

Tennis Warehouse: ProKennex Black Ace Playtest

Attention Talk Tennis Members: Trying to squeeze in one more playtest by the end of year. For this playtest we have the ProKennex Black Ace family. There will be four models to choose from - the Black Ace Pro, 315, 300 and 105. This playtest is open to USA Talk Tennis members only. VERY...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

I’ve just recently come back to the BA after pulling my head out of my butt. Was blaming the flex of the BA for my bad timing even though I had no problems earlier, it’s a fine racquet.

 

[AmericanTwist]

OP as you've discovered the difference between a 60ra frame and a 66ra frame. I suggest you try different set ups with the blade v8. That's an excellent frame. Ditto for the Pure strike.

You can get more power through syn gut, multi, and natural gut but also by stringing poly lower. You can demo 62-64ra frames and see how they suit you. Recognize however, that tension and string selection will be different and that will cloud your judgment/evaluation. The Ultra pro v2, v3, and v4 are all great frames if you have the skill to wield them. Like tires not one model does everything optimally well so you can decide whether control or put away power is more important and to what degree.

 

[TwinCinema]

Thanks all, I went with the consensus and snapped up a Blade before the sale ends in 3 days, and getting it strung with 4G at 46 lbs to start. If I don't love the amount of power, I'll try it with a multi like NRG or a syn gut and see if that juices my shots a little more. And the best thing about getting the stick so cheap is I have more $ in the budget to spend on a second stick if I want to try a Shift, Ezone, PS, or something else!