Looking for Racquets to Demo

[SlapShot]

I've been using my Fischer MSpeed #1 98 UL racquets for almost a year now, and I'm feeling like I need to look at other racquets to get a picture of what's out there. My Fischers are set up with POSG 17# @ 55/52, leather grip, and 4 inches of lead at 12 o'clock.

I'm 24, 6'/185 lbs, a 3.5-4.0 level player, multiple serves (kicker, big flat, slice), solid SW forehand, solid topspin backhand. Split time between singles and doubles at the moment. I've got a slightly tender elbow, hence the Fischer at low tension.

Here is what I've used and what I thought:

LM Prestige MP: I liked the weight and balance. Felt like it excelled on the serve, although I wanted some more bite. Groundies were nice, but again, I wanted a little more bite. I moved to a Pro Staff Classic.

Pro Staff Classic: For the first 3 months, this racquet was heaven. Great power and kick on serves, great groundies. Only 2 issues - I burned through synthetic gut at a rediculous rate, and the weight and stiffness did a number on my shoulder. Moved to MFil 300.

MFil 300: Better on my arm than the Pro Staff, and the lower weight helped my long-term tennis endurance. Didn't feel that it added anything to my serve, but my groundies felt good (albiet not as solid as with the PSC). Over time, the harshness of the frame made my elbow really tender. Moved to the MPro.

Fischer MPro: Great racquet for me. Groundies feel awesome, I'm able to hit out and keep the ball deep. Serves feel good, nice kick. I'm not breaking strings as much (probably due to the 16x20 pattern and lower tension), and my elbow is healthy. My only issue is that I feel that I'm overexerting on my serve in order to get the velocity I had with my PSC. I should mention that I LOVE the flex of the Fischer.

Any racquets I should try? I've got a local store that stocks Volkl, Yonex, Head, Wilson, Prince and Babolat, so I can demo a decent portion of the racquets. I also have a friend who is a Fischer dealer, so I may be able to give some more Fischers a hit.

I'm waiting for the MG Prestige Pro, but I don't know that I'll want to spend $200/frame right now.

 

[stav_babolat]

How about try a babolat pure storm, a pure storm team, or a pure storm tour.
I literally come back about 4 mins agp from the racket shop with the demo for pure storm team. Nice racket, i look forward to demoing it, but you could try it. The pure storm team is a very nice feeling racket, and is very famous abomg babolat users. Check out some reviews and comments, some people have said its one of the best racquets if not the best racket produced by babolat.

 

[SlapShot]

How about try a babolat pure storm, a pure storm team, or a pure storm tour.
I literally come back about 4 mins agp from the racket shop with the demo for pure storm team. Nice racket, i look forward to demoing it, but you could try it. The pure storm team is a very nice feeling racket, and is very famous abomg babolat users. Check out some reviews and comments, some people have said its one of the best racquets if not the best racket produced by babolat.

I've definitely looked at the Pure Storm - I think that that and the Pure Control are two racquets that really look good to me.

Basically, to refine what I'm saying, I want to find a racquet that's:

11.5-12 oz
Flex < 65
16 mains

 

[DustinW]

What are your likes and dislikes with the M-Speed? Or do you just want a new racquet that plays about the same (not that there's anything wrong with that).

 

[SlapShot]

What are your likes and dislikes with the M-Speed? Or do you just want a new racquet that plays about the same (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Well, here's the comprehensive list

Likes:

The flex, the balance, just the general ball striking feel
I can pretty much place groundies where I want them
Kick on my serves

Dislike:

I remember how much easier it was to really crank up my serve with my old PSC - that thing served bombs.

I'm probably going to try more lead before I start even demoing anything else.

 

[vandre]

do you have a 1hbh or 2hbh?

either way, why not try a couple of yonex frames? the square head takes a little bit of an adjustment, but it worth it. its a hair longer than 27 in., so it might give you more leverage (once you got adjusted). the rds 003 is for players 3.5+ (if that's important to you) but its a bit headlight. i dunno alot about the frames you've mentioned, but if you want something with more weight at the top of the hoop, there's the rds 001 (i demoed this one in mp a while ago and it was a good hit but i went with the rds 003 to get a little more pop). it have a lot of control and is heavier than the rds003. then there's the rds002, which i've never hit with but seems like it would be the stopgap between the two.

the thing about the rds003 that might take some getting used to is the serve. it jacked up my kick serve, will do a decent slice but i can't get the flat serve to go flat as the ball always seems to come off the stringbed spinning. but maybe your serve is better than mine. can't be any worse if you got that taken care of, you might enjoy some of that extra leverage on the serve.

if you play dbls too, you probably want something that is manuverable. the yonexs i've mentioned in detail (rds001 and 003) are both very manuverable at the net.

if i were you, i would add the yonex rqis1 and rqis2 to your list just because

 

[stav_babolat]

Well the only problem is the pure storm is 10.5 - 11 ounces. Im sure you could lead it up and then be satisfied because the flex is what you want, its about 64 - 65 flex, and has 16 mains. Sounds like a good match. Not to mention, youve said yourslef, you think they look good and suited to you, and youre interested. Definatly try this racket out. WHether it be the storm team, tour or just storm
.
Peace

 

[SlapShot]

I have a 2HBH.

I'm really tempted to try out the Yonex RDS stuff - I think that the additional spin might help me out.

 

[stav_babolat]

are you still gona demo the babolats aswell?? im confused. Multiple dmos (are you looking for) or just one.

 

[SlapShot]

are you still gona demo the babolats aswell?? im confused. Multiple dmos (are you looking for) or just one.

Yeah - I'm probably going to set aside a Saturday and go demo a few Bab's and maybe a Yonex or two.

 

[TonyB]

I used the M-Speed prior to switching to the Yonex RDS 001 mid. Believe me, you'll never find a racquet that feels like the M-Speed.

The RDS has a more "raw" feel to it. It has better feedback and ball feel. However, it's not nearly as "plush" as the Fischer.

Assuming you have the time to adjust to the RDS and perhaps try a variety of strings to suit your game, I think you could make the transition fairly well. I'm using Tonic+ mains at 57 lb. and ALU Power Rough 16L crosses at 54 lb.

Flex of 65 for the RDS is just about right, too. It is definitely stiffer feeling than the Fischer. But not in an arm-jarring way. It's more of a firm feel.

The RQiS Tour 1 is also in the same range, but I didn't like it as much as the RDS. It didn't feel as solid.

Another option in the same spec range is to go to a Prince O3 Tour or Speedport Tour. However, I think the Speedport is stiffer, and it feels stiffer, so you might not get along with it.

Good luck.

 

[SlapShot]

I took a few racquets out to my weekly casual doubles on Saturday (Prince O3 Tour and Speedport Tour, and Babolat Pure Storm Tour).

I didn't like the feel of the Princes - way too muted for me. It may have been the string, but I definitely didn't like the feel.

I really liked the Pure Storm Tour - a little bit more weight than my MSpeeds. It served bombs, and really felt really stable and smooth on groundies. The only issue was the stiffness - my elbow was letting me know it wasn't too pleased after about 15 minutes of hard hitting.

I added some lead tape to one of my MSpeeds to see if that can get me closer to the weight of the Babolat without the stiffness.

 

[SlapShot]

Bump to the top. I think that I need to make a racquet move - I miss the feeling of punishing the ball on groundstrokes and serves.

Here's what I'm looking at - feel free to add ideas. I'd like to keep it below $100/frame, as I prefer to carry 4 with me at all times.

Volkl VE9 Tour
Flexpoint Prestige MP
Possibly a Babolat Pure Control?

Edit: I'll add that I'm willing to check out 18x20, as I can most likely learn to roll with 18 mains.