How manny racquet you have tried before you found "THE ONE"?

Not enough. Today was interesting though. Brought out my RF97 and my new PS Classic 95. Both with two overgrips instead of leather. Both came out at 348 g and 32,5 cm balance (with a slight bit of lead at 3 and 9 for the 97). The RF felt more solid and less erratic, so I am sticking with that.
 

mmk

Hall of Fame
I'm not good enough to have "the one". However, I've tried enough to know that I prefer racquets with RAs ≤ 60, 95 to 100 sq. in., head light, 11+ ounces.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
There is no “one”. All rackets have strengths and weaknesses. You can look for the one that maximizes your strengths or one that minimizes your weaknesses but you’ll never find one that does everything you want it to.
 

CopolyX

Hall of Fame
What is the fun in just one....
As I change and my games, unusually follows a different stick..
For quite awhile now, most of the tennis household carry's a loaded Angell, or two or three or four...or more
 

Stretchy Man

Professional
Too many. If I had just bought the Textreme 100P in the first place it would have saved me a lot of time and money but it was fun. :)

Wilson Six One Comp
Wilson nCode nPower
Yonex Ezone Xi Team
Yonex Ezone Xi
Yonex Ezone Ai 100
Yonex Tour F
Head Graphene Radical
Babolat Pure Strike
Boris Becker London
Volkl Organix V1 Pro
ProKennex Q5
ProKennex Ki5
Prince Tour 100
Prince Tour Pro 100
Prince Tour 98
Prince O3 White
Prince Textreme Tour 100P
 

Zoolander

Hall of Fame
Every time i find “the one” they release the next version of “the one” thats better and improved with magic technologies so i have to buy that one until “that one” comes out with a newer PJ and it becomes “the one”, ad nauseum......
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
Two actually. A Kramer woodie and a metal frame.
Then it was a Dunlop Max 200G (the ONE).
But after decades, I am now trying to find a better one.
So far it has proven elusive. I honestly don't think I'll find another ONE. But that's OK.
 

ONgame

Semi-Pro
My "THE ONE" is actually a set of racquet specs, figured it out around 6-7 racquets in.
I can play with anything that doesn't deviate too much from such specs.
As long as the racquet is 16x19, I can mod it to the spec I like and I can play equally as well, so which racquet I buy doesn't really matter anymore, it just needs to feel right.
 

Sardines

Hall of Fame
I go by specs so maybe 2 or 3. every 3-5 years. I will try to play different racquets for kicks but never seriously consider any of them.
 
I wonder how people in this thread are with relationships...
On another note, my experience above reminded me how important it is to stick to a racket. The differences in launch angle, feel, weight distribution(?) etc immideately threw me off. Even between these two rackets of similar weight, balance, size, stiffness, brand etc.
Then there is the problem of stopping to tinker with the racket you are sticking to...
 
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mhkeuns

Hall of Fame
It feels the easiest to hit with the rackets like Pure Drive (*or even Textreme 100P) if I just want to swing away and not worry too much from the baseline. It’s much more fun, though, hitting with sticks that I can control the placement of the shots, like the PB10 and Prestige Mid/MP. Then, there are rackets like the Pure Strike Tour, RF 97 and Yonex 330 that help me play the aggressive attacking tennis. I don’t think I could ever just play with one. I fell in love with the Ultra Tour and tried just sticking with it, but my holism eventually got the best of me.
 

PT280 Fan

Semi-Pro
What do I know, I've been playing with the same sticks for twenty years. I feel like I'm stuck in a time warp sometimes, but these 280s deliver everything I want in a tennis racquet and provide nothing I don't. I play with different groups around town and somebody is always willing to let me have a hit, but sadly it's always a bit of a disappointment or it's a huge disappointment. I asked one of the few gals that play with us why she changed from the Blade to the new Burn and she said that her frames got old and went dead. Does that really happen? Sometimes I wonder if the old sticks with kevlar and Twaron were made to last (and easy on the arm) and the new sticks not so much.
 

acintya

Legend
a curious follow-up to your thread yesterday about how fabulous the Wilson 95S is
you know what. I am smiling. you are absolutely right. I like that frame but I am still in the search hahaha. :) i guess.. most of the people in this thread are like me. :>

the thing is that 95s is a killer weapon but mine is strung to loose and i need too change the string as they are around 19kg now - thats just a too small number. 23-24kg is the way to go
 

Guy Jones

Rookie
Been with my M Fil 200 18*20 now for 12 years, feels like the one(s), and even though I am happy trying new racquets, even owning new racquets, I am not looking for anything different as my number 1 match stick. Probably hit with 50 different models, some for maybe just 5 minutes. Owned probably 10 racquets before coming across the M Fil, mainly as a juvenile/adolescent so I don't think you can settle until you are fully physically developed or set into a playing style.

Tried 50ish different models

Owned 10ish different models

Found Dunlop M Fil 200, my number 1
 

DanS

Semi-Pro
I found "The One" back in the 80's (Prince Spectrum Comp 90). After playing with them for 5 years my Dad wanted me to get something else because they were looking a little worn out. I tried to tell him they just had character.

I started demoing for a while after that, but nothing felt as good so I stuck with them.

I've never been able to find a racquet I've clicked with like that since. Unfortunately I can't play with them anymore either. They were a little over 13 oz when all was said and done so unless I can win 2 sets in less than a half an hour I'm spent.

About the closest I've found are my slightly weighted up Ultra Tour's, and the Phantom Pro 100P

I may just have to admit I'll never find that again. Kind of like the love you lost that you compare everyone you date to! Some may come close, but no one will ever be an exact match.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Three, Dunlop Maxply Fort, RedHead, and finally, The Wilson Ultra. Until the Ultra 2. Switched to the R22 when the Ultra 2 was discontinued. Cracked a few so switched to the Profile 3.0 95 until discovering this board. Now the search is on. Will say the Ultra FPK may be the best.
 

NuBas

Legend
Are we talking tennis technique?

Yes.

Even professionals stay with one racquet, only changing paint jobs. If you want to be a serious player then you should develop your technique and you will find you can play with just about any racquet. It may be fun to try different racquets but if you believe a racquet will solve your problems then you may never find the one.
 
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DanS

Semi-Pro
Yes.

Even professionals stay with one racquet, only changing paint jobs. If you want to be a serious player then you should develop your technique and you will find you can play with just about any racquet. It may be fun to try different racquets but if you believe a racquet will solve your problems then you may never find the one.

I know that. That's why I never changed frames when I was a serious player. I was trying to be funny... Emphasis on the "trying" part! lol
 

prjacobs

Hall of Fame
I usually demo at least ten frames.That gives me a good sense of what's available. My current choice is 5 years old. I've used frames for as long as 12 years, never shorter than 5.
 

NuBas

Legend
I know that. That's why I never changed frames when I was a serious player. I was trying to be funny... Emphasis on the "trying" part! lol

I guess my advice pertains to those who constantly switch. Maybe some are more racquet sensitive than others. I am quite satisfied with my PS90 but occasionally I play with a different racquet and usually can make it work given some time to adjust.
 

DanS

Semi-Pro
I guess my advice pertains to those who constantly switch. Maybe some are more racquet sensitive than others. I am quite satisfied with my PS90 but occasionally I play with a different racquet and usually can make it work given some time to adjust.

My problem these days is I can't handle the 13oz sticks I used to play with anymore, and I can't find that same feel in anything a little more manageable. I keep coming back to my Ultra Tour's slightly weighted up, but still under 12oz, and I'll probably end up sticking with those.
 
J

joohan

Guest
Yes.

Even professionals stay with one racquet, only changing paint jobs. If you want to be a serious player then you should develop your technique and you will find you can play with just about any racquet. It may be fun to try different racquets but if you believe a racquet will solve your problems then you may never find the one.

Not all of them to be honest but, in general, you’re obviously right. Another obvious thing is that it’s not “one size fits all” kind of thing either. You need to find what works best for you and even when you do, you have to fight annual marketing of racquet manufactures. We’re not pros and we don’t have easy access to custom molds or discontinued products.

Racquet will not solve your problems but it can help you a lot. I bet Tommy Emmanuel (if you haven’t heard of him, find Tall fiddler on YouTube) would play any acoustic guitar better than 99% of people on this planet but with his usual gear he’s the best he can be and one of the best overall. That is a huge difference just because of gear. Imagine Federer playing with Rafas Babolat...same logic applies. And in order to find out what works best for you a period of trial and error is necessary as is, in reverse, a total commitment and a lot of practice required to get the best out of the equipment you ultimately pick.

After re-reading the second paragraph, I’m pretty sure the same goes for any committed relationship.
 
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I had big hopes for my new PS Classic 95, 18x20, 25. anniversary racket, since I had made myself believe that I needed a 18x20 RF97.
At least now I will be sticking to the RF (as I have for about 2 years), but I am sure I will tinker a little bit with the Classic (strings and tension), and test it briefly some times, without much hope of it making me change my mind. I guess the tinkering and testing out is in my DNA as a recovering racketaholic.
 

DanS

Semi-Pro
I had big hopes for my new PS Classic 95, 18x20, 25. anniversary racket, since I had made myself believe that I needed a 18x20 RF97.
At least now I will be sticking to the RF (as I have for about 2 years), but I am sure I will tinker a little bit with the Classic (strings and tension), and test it briefly some times, without much hope of it making me change my mind. I guess the tinkering and testing out is in my DNA as a recovering racketaholic.
Well thank God someone was able to recover! You're giving the rest of us hope! :D
 

smithie

Semi-Pro
Babolat Pure Drive Roddick > Babolat AeroPro Drive GT > Babolat Pure Drive > Babolat Pure Aero > Babolat Pure Strike > Wilson Prostaff RF97 > Wilson Prostaff 97s > Babolat Pure Strike (round 2) > Prince Textreme 100p > Yonex DR98 ("THE ONE").

Although I say "THE ONE" I still want to try the Wilson Ultra Tour and Wilson Blade (2015) just to get the idea of them out of my system :(
 
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