How Would You Rank These Frames?

[Pre980]

A little background--I've been hitting with Wilson since the nCode frames. I had the K Factor 6.1 frame for a while before updating last year to the PS 97. I've wanted to love the Pro Staff, and it is a good racket, but I'm really missing the 18x20 pattern.

I'm going to demo the following frames over the next weeks; just wanted some opinions in the meantime.

How would you rank these frames from 1 to 5 (where 1 is best and 5 is least liked)? In no particular order . . .

Wilson Blade 98
Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro
Head Graphene Prestige MP
Prince Tour 100P

 

[EdMcMush]

1. Blade
2. prince tour 100p
3. Head Graphene prestige
never played with the speeds before. but that is my ranking of the other 3

 

[rctennnis99]

1. Wilson Blade 98
2. Prince Tour 100P
3. Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro
4. Head Graphene Prestige MP
5. Head Graphene XT Speed Pro

 

[fuzz nation]

I'll offer that you may not in fact be specifically missing the 18x20 pattern, just because I've owned or sampled a bundle of different frames through recent years and I've seen all sorts of performance from both open and dense string layouts.

Yes, the PS 97 has an open pattern and also doesn't offer the most consistent response, but I own a couple models from Volkl having both 98" heads and 16x19 string layouts and the extra consistency and control I enjoy with these frames compared with the Wilson is just no contest. For the record, my Volkls are the C10 and O10 325g (my O10's have a bit of lead tape added to both ends).

I bought a PS 97 during the summer just for my own experiments with something different. After some tuning with lead tape and a few different string setups though, this frame clearly just isn't for me. I only want to offer this perspective if you're looking to do some more demo sessions with this and that. Be careful not to cross every open pattern racquet off your list if it otherwise looks as though it has some potential. Don't want you to miss out on a diamond in the rough.