Keifers: What's the Yonex MP 3i like?

[AAAA]

Keifers, I remember years ago you posted a comment about the Yonex MP 3i.

Could you tell me how this racquet compares to any Fischer racquet you have used like the Pro #1 or Pro Classic 90 in terms of

Power
Stability on off centre hits
comfort
spin
flex


thanks in advance for any comments

 

[AAAA]

bump it..............

 

[AAAA]

bump................

 

[backcourt]

I've never played with any fishers, but thought I would jump in since I played with the mp 3i for a few years and still own a couple. From what I have read about pro # 1's I would guess the mp 3i is more powerful. When I first swithched to this racquet from a Dunlop revelation tour pro, I found the need to adjust my forehand grip from eastern to semi western in so I could impart enough spin to keep the ball in the court. That said, it is not overly powerful but definitely more powerful than your average players stick. Its very comfortable. I got it for my shoulder problems and it was very shoulder friendly. it has nice flex at 63, and is very spinny. Its a great all around stick, love it for kick serves and slice backhands. My one primary issue with it is that I found quite unforgiving on off center hits. I had more than my share of mishits with it, that would tend to just fly up in the air. ie. it seems to have a pretty small sweetspot, and it is a 95 head size.

Were it not for that issue, I would probably still be using it, and still love to pull it out and hit. I have since switched to a Cat 8 VE 100, and have dramatically cut down on point loss due to misshits. Hope this helps.

 

[AAAA]

Thanks backcourt. I've seen some going cheap in a local store so was wondering what they're like.

 

[Keifers]

Greetings AAAA,

Apologies for not responding sooner. I was out of town this weekend -- just got back and logged in.

Here's what I posted in a thread called "Anyone know a lightweight control frame?" in Aug '06:

Probably hard to get hold of one, but the Yonex MP-3i is an outstanding lighweight control racquet. 95", 27.25", 11.2 oz, 6 pts HL, 314 sw, 63 ra, 22-23 mm beam, 50-60 lbs tension range. It has an unusually long and narrow face (longest mains measure just under 13" (inside the hoop); longest cross 9").

VERY well-behaved on all shots, good feel, crisp volleys, maneuverable AND solid-hitting -- you can swing away. The designers did a very good job on this one.

If you get a chance to try one, I'd recommend it highly.

And here's backcourt's response in the same thread:

I concur with this, and keep going back to my mp 3i's despite my frequent demos & purchases of racquets with a bigger headsize to cut down on mishits.

But I would not call this low powered, it is the extra punch this racquet has over an RDX 500 mp, or Tour 5 that makes it a good match for me. Similarly the 003 is a pretty powerful stick that plays and swings heavier than its specs and I dont think it would fit Kevo's bill.

With an overgrip and rubberband dampener, my MP-3i measures 328g/11.6 ozs and 8.25 pts HL. I'm still very fond of this stick and will probably never sell it.

The only Fischer I own is an M105, so I'm not sure how useful you would consider a comparison between the two. Let me know if you'd like me to compare them...

Cheers.

 

[Keifers]

Regarding the MP-3i's long-and-narrow hoop, I wonder if this elongated shape might make it play similarly to the Fischer Vacuum Pro 90, which has a similar head shape?

As I mentioned, the Yonnie measures 9" from 9:00 to 3:00 (inside the hoop to inside the hoop), and that may be a consideration for you if you like to brush the ball significantly for spin. Not a prob for me as I use at most a SW grip, never full western.

One other point: 11.6 ozs is about as low as I can go in terms of static weight. Most of my sticks are 12.0 - 12.6 ozs. (My M105 is weighted up to 12.2 ozs.)

 

[backcourt]

Thanks backcourt. I've seen some going cheap in a local store so was wondering what they're like.

If you can pick one up cheap, I would recomend you do so, and believe Kiefers would concur. Its a good racquet to have in your collection if you've got any wrist or shoulder issues & plays great with the Yonex multi's.

 

[AAAA]

Backcourt and Keifers, thanks for sharing your experiences with the racquet.

When the racquet was still current I remember my local pro shop owner telling me it was a really good racquet but I dismissed it because previous experiences of lighter racquets were negative. Now that it's cheap I'm very tempted to get one. Incidently the racquet research website ranks the racquet #2 and #1 for expert and weak players respectively. Assuming their rating system is relevant and reflective of the racquet's performance in actual play rather than the lab then that's pretty good.

Thanks again.

Keifers, as as bit of trivia the Vac. Pro Classic 90" string bed measures about 8.75 inches along the widest part.

 

[armand]

Thanks backcourt. I've seen some going cheap in a local store so was wondering what they're like.

Yeah I've seen some old Yonnex models brand new at the local sporting goods store too. What is going on with Yonex? What're they up to?

 

[AAAA]

Yeah I've seen some old Yonnex models brand new at the local sporting goods store too. What is going on with Yonex? What're they up to?

At other times I've seen the old discontinued models of other brands in new condition being sold as well. A good way to pick up new older racquets at a much cheaper price.

Also Yonnex isn't that popular compared to Wilson ,Prince and Head so I guess there is more unused unsold old stock lying around.

 

[Keifers]

If you can pick one up cheap, I would recomend you do so, and believe Kiefers would concur. Its a good racquet to have in your collection if you've got any wrist or shoulder issues & plays great with the Yonex multi's.

Howdy backcourt, good to read your comments. I must try one of the Yonex multis in the MP-3i -- I've only ever used 17 ga TNT2 (@ 55/52 lbs).

AAAA, yes, I do concur with backcourt -- if it's nicely priced, go for it. I first came across the MP-3i when I tried a friend's and noticed immediately how nicely it hit. I saw the high ratings in racquet research, started searching (it's not on the bay a lot), and eventually found a brand new one on closeout at a local tennis shop. I was so happy. To me, it's one of those products that does what it's designed to do really well ("the designers got out of bed the right side the day they did this one"). Hits don't quite have "that Fischer feel", but they're crisp and sweet with plenty of feedback, a very close approximation.

Thanks for the width measurement of the Vac Pro 90. Any thoughts on the elongated head shape -- what performance characteristics do you attribute to it, if any? And what strings and tensions do you like in that frame?

Let us know if you decide to get an MP-3i. (Do they have all grip sizes?)

 

[AAAA]

Keifers, The vac. pro classic 90" measures more or less 13 inches(longest main direction on string bed). I think the length of the mains contributes more to the power of the racquet than the crosses and the vac pro classic 90" is surprisingly powerful for it's frame size. Tension 52lbs mains by 50lbs crosses tecnifibre Duramix.

I think they have grip size 3 which I'll need to build up.

 

[backcourt]

Howdy backcourt, good to read your comments. I must try one of the Yonex multis in the MP-3i -- I've only ever used 17 ga TNT2 (@ 55/52 lbs).

QUOTE]

HI Keifers, Ya I originally strung mine with the 850 pro spin, which is the crisper of the 850's, and offers great control and less power., which was what I needed when I first switched to the 3i. Eventually I switched to the Tour Super 850, which is more powerful and also plays very nicely in these. Unfortunately though neither comes in 17g. Definitely worth a try, and I think you'll save a little $ compared to TNT2.