Intermediate player - Need a new racket, but which one?

[Graham Scott]

I'm an intermediate player looking to take my game to the next level.

I currently have a Mantis Pro 295 III which is a good racket, providing me some good control and a reasonable amount of spin. But I think it's just too light as it's 295g unstrung. I've added lead tape at 12 and at 10 and 2, as well as some in the handle and it's made a bit of difference but not enough.

When I play stronger players with more pace in their shots, I just get bullied on the court and I don't have enough stability in the racket to deal with it. If I'm under pressure I end up leaving the ball short and they put away the winner.

I'm also using RPM Blast at 46lbs.

I'm an all court player and like to come to the net to finish the point. From the baseline, I hit with quite a bit of top spin on my forehand so it's a bit loopy rather than flat. My two handed backhand is a bit flatter, but I generally slice more anyway.

I'm not a very powerful player. I think I just need a slightly more advanced racket, which is a bit heavier and giving me bit more power, but with a good amount of control and stability.

Any suggestions? I don't know a lot about rackets but I've been looking at:

Technibre T-Fight 305
Babolat Pure Strike
Babolat Pure Aero
Yonex VCore 98

Or are there any others which would be good for my game?

 

[bobeeto]

Tempo 298

 

[NickJ]

Gravity - Pro might be a bit heavy, MP or perhaps the Tour (if you can get it)

 

[esm]

I'm an intermediate player looking to take my game to the next level.

I currently have a Mantis Pro 295 III which is a good racket, providing me some good control and a reasonable amount of spin. But I think it's just too light as it's 295g unstrung. I've added lead tape at 12 and at 10 and 2, as well as some in the handle and it's made a bit of difference but not enough.

When I play stronger players with more pace in their shots, I just get bullied on the court and I don't have enough stability in the racket to deal with it. If I'm under pressure I end up leaving the ball short and they put away the winner.

I'm also using RPM Blast at 46lbs.

I'm an all court player and like to come to the net to finish the point. From the baseline, I hit with quite a bit of top spin on my forehand so it's a bit loopy rather than flat. My two handed backhand is a bit flatter, but I generally slice more anyway.

I'm not a very powerful player. I think I just need a slightly more advanced racket, which is a bit heavier and giving me bit more power, but with a good amount of control and stability.

Any suggestions? I don't know a lot about rackets but I've been looking at:

Technibre T-Fight 305
Babolat Pure Strike
Babolat Pure Aero
Yonex VCore 98

Or are there any others which would be good for my game?

Your OP mentioned “stability” and “not powerful”… so I’d suggest PA23. Have fun

 

[Trip]

For the benefit of the thread, here's the RacquetFinder profile on the Mantis Pro 295. The Mark III appears to be slightly stiffer at 67RA, but otherwise, I believe specs are close to identical:

@Graham Scott - Welcome. As an improving intermediate who lacks power, a thinner-beamed control frame with a low-300's stock swing weight is probably making tennis harder than it needs to be in general, let alone against harder hitters, and past a certain point of adding static weight and swing weight to boost plow-through and stability, the racquet will demand a level of brute strength and technical capability that are simply beyond what you can sustain. No shame in that; it just is what it is.

That said, I would look for a 300-305g racquet with a 98-100" head size, >=22mm beam and 315-325 stock swing weight. Here are several picks, good for all kinds of play styles:
- Babolat Pure Aero 2023
- Dunlop CX 400 Tour
- Dunlop FX 500
- Head Extreme MP
- Head Gravity Tour (if in the EU/UK)
- Head Gravity MP (spec'd up)
- Head Speed MP
- Tecnifibre IGA 298
- Tecnifibre TFight ISO 300
- Wilson Blade 100
- Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 100 v14
- Yonex Ezone 98
- Yonex Ezone 100
- Yonex VCore Pro 100

In that list there is a good range of flex, from softer (Blade, Gravity, Speed, VCore Pro) to medium (Extreme, EZone, Six.One) to stiffer (Aero, FX, IGA, TFight). If you have the option, try and demo one from each "tier", to see which general feel you like best.

Hope that helps. Any questions, feel free.

 

[Lorenn]

I'm an intermediate player looking to take my game to the next level.

I currently have a Mantis Pro 295 III which is a good racket, providing me some good control and a reasonable amount of spin. But I think it's just too light as it's 295g unstrung. I've added lead tape at 12 and at 10 and 2, as well as some in the handle and it's made a bit of difference but not enough.

When I play stronger players with more pace in their shots, I just get bullied on the court and I don't have enough stability in the racket to deal with it. If I'm under pressure I end up leaving the ball short and they put away the winner.

I'm also using RPM Blast at 46lbs.

I'm an all court player and like to come to the net to finish the point. From the baseline, I hit with quite a bit of top spin on my forehand so it's a bit loopy rather than flat. My two handed backhand is a bit flatter, but I generally slice more anyway.

I'm not a very powerful player. I think I just need a slightly more advanced racket, which is a bit heavier and giving me bit more power, but with a good amount of control and stability.

Any suggestions? I don't know a lot about rackets but I've been looking at:

Technibre T-Fight 305
Babolat Pure Strike
Babolat Pure Aero
Yonex VCore 98

Or are there any others which would be good for my game?

Add the Speed Mp to the list stable, works well with two handed backhands. Great at going between offense and defense. Stable at net. I did prefer the 360+ versus over the 2022, but enjoy both.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

ezone

 

[adamau5]

gravity tour would fit the bill (I have 4!). Other alternatives - depending on how intermediate you are, the ezone 100 will give you power (i find it too powerful), or the 98 will give you more control whilst still providing spin.

Basically go and demo, or buy used and loose very little money if you need to move on. All of my tours but 1 were **** used, and all in pristiner condition. £70 -£100 each. Could probably shift them for no loss, even 2 years on.

Finally, if intermediate, dont use RPM blast unless you are cutting it out after ten hours. It goes dead in 5hrs, and will hurt your elbow shortly afterwards.

 

[penguin]

Finally, if intermediate, dont use RPM blast unless you are cutting it out after ten hours. It goes dead in 5hrs, and will hurt your elbow shortly afterwards.

And (if you are not doing this) it is possible this could be the problem rather than the racquet

 

[Trip]

gravity tour would fit the bill

I'd agree, and with a name like "Graham Scott", playing a Mantis frame, I presume the OP is in the UK/Europe, which is fortunate, as the Auxetic Tour is an option (in the USA, sadly it's not). I'll add the GTour and spec'd up MP to the list!

Finally, if intermediate, dont use RPM blast unless you are cutting it out after ten hours. It goes dead in 5hrs, and will hurt your elbow shortly afterwards.

And (if you are not doing this) it is possible this could be the problem rather than the racquet

I would definitely agree that, especially for an intermediate, in general it's a good idea to at least use a hybrid, if not a full bed of zero poly, but that being said, just bumping power, softness and comfort of the string bed alone won't address the lack of plow-through, stability and bludgeoning power of the frame itself, so a new stick is still probably in order.

 

[adamau5]

I'd agree, and with a name like "Graham Scott", playing a Mantis frame, I presume the OP is in the UK/Europe, which is fortunate, as the Auxetic Tour is an option (in the USA, sadly it's not). I'll add the GTour and spec'd up MP to the list!



I would definitely agree that, especially for an intermediate, in general it's a good idea to at least use a hybrid, if not a full bed of zero poly, but that being said, just bumping power, softness and comfort of the string bed alone won't address the lack of plow-through, stability and bludgeoning power of the frame itself, so a new stick is still probably in order.

thats a shame! I love my tours. Going to take ALOT for me to move on from them. They just feel right

 

[Trip]

thats a shame! I love my tours. Going to take ALOT for me to move on from them. They just feel right

It's an excellent frame for those whose biomechanics match it. The 100" with an open 18x20 is a rare bird, indeed -- found only in the GPro/GTour, Prince Tour 100P and Speed Pro (to the best of my knowledge).

 

[Graham Scott]

Thanks for all your responses. After looking at reviews online, from the list that Trip mentioned i think one of the following 3 rackets might be the way to go.

1) Head Speed MP
2) Wilson Blade 100
3) Yonex Ezone 100

Any final thoughts on these 3? They all have a have slightly bigger frame than my current racket so they should all generate a bit more power which is good. It's whether I'll be sacrificing any control though...

I'm an all-court player who likes to come of the net to finish the point, with a good amount of topspin on the forehand side. I usually slice the backhand but I have a flatter 2 handed backhand. Volleys are my strength as a player so the racket need to be easy to move but stable enough to take the weight of heavy groundstrokes from my opponent.

I don't change my strings that often, so that could be a problem with the RPM Blast. I don't really want to be restringing often, so is there anything else you guys recommend?

 

[Trip]

@Graham Scott - I think that's a pretty good short list. Both the Speed MP and Blade 100 will have a nice balance of power and control. The Ezone 100 will be more powerful than both, but perhaps not quite as controlled, so if you can, I'd recommend demoing the Ezone 98 alongside or in place of the 100. The EZ98 being a Yonex with the isometric head shape, will play as accommodating as most conventional, oval-shaped 100's, while having the extra precision of the 98 head size and a denser center string pattern for control. All of those will make a very nice demo package for testing. Keep us updated on how it goes!

 

[adamau5]

Thanks for all your responses. After looking at reviews online, from the list that Trip mentioned i think one of the following 3 rackets might be the way to go.

1) Head Speed MP
2) Wilson Blade 100
3) Yonex Ezone 100

Any final thoughts on these 3? They all have a have slightly bigger frame than my current racket so they should all generate a bit more power which is good. It's whether I'll be sacrificing any control though...

I'm an all-court player who likes to come of the net to finish the point, with a good amount of topspin on the forehand side. I usually slice the backhand but I have a flatter 2 handed backhand. Volleys are my strength as a player so the racket need to be easy to move but stable enough to take the weight of heavy groundstrokes from my opponent.

I don't change my strings that often, so that could be a problem with the RPM Blast. I don't really want to be restringing often, so is there anything else you guys recommend?

If you arent restringing every 20 hours or so, you will probably be better off with a hybrid. Try velocity mains (50), and something like ghostwire crosses (49)

 

[adamau5]

I would try the 98 version of the blade and ezone personally.

 

[Trip]

The Ezone 98, yes. The Blade 98 I think the OP will find a tad underpowered and unforgiving, which is why I recommended the 100 -- more stable, higher power, more error-tolerant -- just a better all-around choice for an intermediate, even certain advanced players.

 

[socallefty]

Try a Pure Strike Tour. If you want a lighter racquet, the Strike VS is very good.

 

[Fintft]

Your OP mentioned “stability” and “not powerful”… so I’d suggest PA23. Have fun

PA19 is even more stable than PA23 and has more power.
Also Shift 300 is very stable so is the Blade Pro v8.

 

[Trip]

PA19 is even more stable than PA23 and has more power.

It also has nowhere near the control. So it's a trade-off. There's no magic bullet.

 

[Fintft]

It also has nowhere near the control. So it's a trade-off. There's no magic bullet.

Well, there is a thread how we are moving now towards more powerful racquets, if we, the players have developed enough control.

 

[AmericanTwist]

I suggest removing the weight at 12 and adding it to 3 and 9. Also suggest adding a bit more to the butt cap. What's your balance point strung? Second thing I suggest is to lower the tension on the poly you use and/or try syn gut and natural gut. Depending on ambient temps your optimal tensions can vary a lot. 64ra is pretty much in the upper middle range of flex and should suit everybody. Tinker with your current frame some more and see how it goes. Btw, I play mainly with natural gut and syn gut though I do string some frames with a poly hybrid with gut.

 

[Graham Scott]

Thanks so much for all your answers.

I think I'm going to opt for the Head Speed MP, but it's a toss up with the Ezone 98. The only thing is that it's only 4 points HL and is has a head size of 100. My current stick is 6 points HL and a head size of 98. This in itself should give me more power (I just hope I can keep the ball in the court!)

I'm also interested what string I should consider. I don't really want to change my string every week, so is there anything you can recommend?

If the RPM Blast needs changing more frequently than what I've been doing, maybe I need to try something else? I think the 46lbs tension was generally good for my arm though and it's about right for me. Any thoughts? A good overall string that won't break easily, but gives a nice balance of spin, power and control, and holds tension well?

 

[adamau5]

try a head velocity hybrid (with a round poly in the crosses). If you arent a string breaker, it offers good control, good feel. It will feel slightly muted compared to blast, so you would need to give it a few hours to get used to it.

If you arent restringing regularly, then a multi hybrid is a good options. Old poly is just bad for your arm.
If you hate the multi feel, maybe try hyper G soft, or msv swift. Even then, they are polys that will go dead, but you will get twice the good time out of them than blast, which is just a short lived (but superb in that time!) string