one of my favorite things about them !
Modern 95" rackets: thoughts and Ideas
- Thread starter ChaseS.
- Start date
Just took all my 95s out (minus the Vcore) and had a nice session. Also was able to hit the Wilson Blade 16x19, New Solinco Whiteout V2, and New Gravity Tour as my friend was demo-ing those frames. Everytime I hit with a 98 I am reminded why I love the 95s so much. So much more stable and predictable in almost every regard. My Prince ATS 95 played and felt more solid than all of those frames while having almost the same size sweet spot, launch angle, and spin. The Prince is such a unique frame to me. It doesn't really feel like a 95 in any capacity other than the stamp on the side. Still love the frame
The Prestige Tour 2023 was head and shoulders above all of the frames in every category except spin production. More and more impressed with this frame every time I use it. The slice is majestic like an 18x20 and every shot looks the same. The rally ball is in the same window with the same spin everytime. Just doesnt seem to produce those outlier shots that launch funny or over/under spin. Direct 1 to 1 ratio of what you put in you get out.
The Prestige Tour 2023 was head and shoulders above all of the frames in every category except spin production. More and more impressed with this frame every time I use it. The slice is majestic like an 18x20 and every shot looks the same. The rally ball is in the same window with the same spin everytime. Just doesnt seem to produce those outlier shots that launch funny or over/under spin. Direct 1 to 1 ratio of what you put in you get out.
Only problem with the TK291 mold (95" 22mm) is the more classic oval shape is kind of showing its age. If you hit with even moderate swipe and a bit higher in the string bed, as most tend to do these days, myself included, the swiping window is fairly narrow between 10 and 2 — I shank noticeably more with this frame than with certain others like the VC95, though the VC95's string bed is less consistent. So it's all a game of trade-offs.
VC95 i shanked more than any frame i’ve ever played. 22mm 95” prestige included.
Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
A pity, I've been thinking a smaller frame is just what I need at 44 years old
i was thinking of the same definition
not sure. beam and frame just seem so much thicker and wider on the vc95.
Do it!
I'd presume you were trolling, but if you were serious and didn't mind customizing, I'd probably send you towards the '24 CX200T 16x19.
Im curious about this as well. My thoughts would be maybe the weighting is different, more or less HL, and so the strings are getting to the ball sooner or later than you're used to
It also might depends on generation: the 2015 SV and 2018 shanked more from being slightly narrower up top, less so the beam thickness; the current 2023 maybe from being a bit wider-beamed, less so constricted in swiping space. The 2021 between both ends of the spectrum. But we're somewhat splitting hairs between all the molds.
Or the Prince! I think the Prince 95 is the easiest to use and most forgiving 95
That could be a good call, too.
That's so interesting that it was consistent thru all the models and that @AndrewUtz experience the same. I certainly didn't find that with the 21 or 23. I didn't gel with them as much as other frames but it wasn't due to shanking.
tbf, i played it for maybe 10 minutes. immediate bad first impression. and if it’s an immediate bad first impression i don’t typically tend to play with them any longer.
Usually know pretty quickly if has potential or not, especially if ball coming off graphite Lol
yeah. i can grow to like a racquet that i feel indifferent about at first but it’s hard to get past an initial bad impression.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Excellent comfort and spin while still doing everything else well. Very good on the 1hbh! What strings and tension do you use? I've been hitting with Lynx Tour 1.25 at 50 and it's a crisp combo
WJ155
Rookie
would like to second this question, I have a v13 and am wondering if a v14 is the same because I can more easily get a v14 than a v13
i am using the Solinco Hyper G 1.25 24/23 kgs and also TruPro (Tier One) Black Knight 1.25 same tension.
Kind of leaning towards Solinco Hyper G
AmericanTwist
Hall of Fame
Regarding shanks, are you guys doing this off returns or off even regular groundies? No shame off of returns because returning is the hardest. If you are shanking off returns, probably even a 98 or 100" sized head won't help much.
Were you able to measure it? I am looking into purchasing this frame.
Bumping this thread with a reply to this. For me, most of my 10 & 2 shanks with the TK291 come most often on extreme eastern forehand groundies, usually when I'm fully extended or stretched, and I'm anything more than a fraction of a second early or late on contact.
That said, I fully well know the above is more a "me problem" than the racquet, but the more tightened oval shape certainly exposes this issue for me more so than frames offering more space in the 10 & 2 area, ie. the 97" Yonex mold and most any modern-shaped 98 and up.
Can I just say a heartfelt thank you to everyone, and especially @ChaseS. for starting this thread.
I just posted about string setups for the Auxetic Prestige Tours in another thread.
I love these frames and after trying a bunch of others I am very nearly resigned to playing with them forever.
PSVS, VC95, Percepts were all contenders but nothing beats that sweet PT feel. Especially for a OHBH.
I’m a 37yo predominately flat hitting all court 4.5+ player, OHBH. But use a lot of spin on serve and bh slice. The PTs are just dreamy. I have 2021 and 2023 closely matched.
Only issue is… deep in 2nd set, break point, on the back foot - I just needed a touch power and forgiveness. Hence the journey of exploration.
TL;DR is I’ve lost the leather grips and dropped from 348g static to 336g and thinner strings - now trying softer set ups than the low power control strings I typically prefer.
1.20 MSV focus hex soft @45lbs is working lovely, in the other I’m rotating different poly hybrids using Hawk Power @ 43-45lbs.
Instant depth and spin increase but enough control to nail a flat drive. Experimentation continues - but would love to know what works for others.
Also, sounds like I now need to source an Angell TC95 and maybe a Cx200, lol. Thanks
I just posted about string setups for the Auxetic Prestige Tours in another thread.
I love these frames and after trying a bunch of others I am very nearly resigned to playing with them forever.
PSVS, VC95, Percepts were all contenders but nothing beats that sweet PT feel. Especially for a OHBH.
I’m a 37yo predominately flat hitting all court 4.5+ player, OHBH. But use a lot of spin on serve and bh slice. The PTs are just dreamy. I have 2021 and 2023 closely matched.
Only issue is… deep in 2nd set, break point, on the back foot - I just needed a touch power and forgiveness. Hence the journey of exploration.
TL;DR is I’ve lost the leather grips and dropped from 348g static to 336g and thinner strings - now trying softer set ups than the low power control strings I typically prefer.
1.20 MSV focus hex soft @45lbs is working lovely, in the other I’m rotating different poly hybrids using Hawk Power @ 43-45lbs.
Instant depth and spin increase but enough control to nail a flat drive. Experimentation continues - but would love to know what works for others.
Also, sounds like I now need to source an Angell TC95 and maybe a Cx200, lol. Thanks
WJ155
Rookie
returns. stretching to hit something with a crazy western grip occasionally sends some balls flying. I’m not even going to blame it on PWS, it’s me. I’m not trying to get mad at the racquet, I’d go find an old CX Tour then as a replacement, and I’m done spending money on other racquets.
Did the Vcore 95 remove this issue for you? That one has the same extra space at 10 & 2 as the bigger racquets, just less near the throat. The Prince 95 also is more short mains, wide head but more towards 3 & 9.
Since I've recently acquired and tested a Prince ATS 95 I can now compare all of them as well. Only exception is that I haven't tried the Vcore 95 with my usual VS gut 1.30 / Hawk Rough 1.30 setup.
Very nice description overall.
I have bascially the same order on Control and precision as you. The first two Prestige Tour and Vcore95, rather close between those two. \
Then with some margin Prince and Angell Tc95 but it's a toss up between the two. Due to the shorter mains of the Prince, it feels a bit more controlled with gut/poly.
With full poly I might reverse the order.
Agree.
I think Prince and Angell are very close in that department. Since the Prince is lower powered it's a bit easier to get a really spinny ball.
No issues for spin with the other two either.
Yeah, Prince sweet spot feels wider due to the frame geometry, Angell more sweet spot vertically.
The Vcore sweet spot is pretty big too, Prestige not lacking either.
Feel wise, Prestige, Angell and Prince in the top 3, hard to rank them, they are all nice in different ways. Yonex in the clear last spot, I don't dislike it but nothing great about the feel.
Some extra thoughts on all four frames.
Prestige Tour 95: Not the best feeling Prestige but the most solid. Can do everything in my opinion and works for every style of play.
Angell TC95: Explosive, something about the grommets + open pattern gives this a lot of power. Amazing serving racquet, best of those 4.
I wish this would come in a more middle of the road string pattern as there's either the very open 16x19 or the very dense 18x20. Review here is about 63 RA 16x19 of course. There is also a 70 RA version but the feel isn't as nice and comfort might be an issue, just got the 70RA one a few weeks back and haven't tested it properly.
Vcore 95: meh feel but very good all around performance. SW too low stock.
Prince ATS 95: Most of the power comes from open the string pattern, the frame itself feels very soft and controlled. SW too low stock. Currently playing with this to see if it could be an option in the long run.
Better late than never.
To add:
Ncode Six One 95 16x18: TC to BC = 10.4'' (26.4cm), LM to RM = 7.7'' (19.6cm)
Interested in you tc95 70ra review
I will write more thoughts once I get round to properly testing it but might take a while.
Most things from the 63RA should translate over besides the stiffer feel.
Thanks. I personally found it to be a bit too open for my liking
Beautifully said. Well done. The Prince for its weight, is very unstable feeling to me. The Vcore95 is similar. The Prestige Tour on the other hand maybe the most solid and stable racket I've used. Handles any sort of pace and spin with authority and great at the net. The more I use it, the larger the gap grows between it and the rest of the 95s lol
70ra should have more power n responsive
Reading this thread is triggering my holicism more than anything.
I was a longtime Prince Ignite 95 user as a junior and have always felt the smaller head size is more natural to swing!
Used the Prince TT95 and ATS95, which were both excellent, agree with everything said above.
The Vcore95 2023 was a little too unstable against big hitting, but I think I served better with it than any racket I’ve ever used, it has ridiculous pop near the top of the hoop and a tonne of spin.
These days I’m just lost in the racket wilderness a bit, although I did just acquire one of the supposedly best 95s made, the Head Youtek IG Radical Pro (not a true 98, definitely a true 95)
I was a longtime Prince Ignite 95 user as a junior and have always felt the smaller head size is more natural to swing!
Used the Prince TT95 and ATS95, which were both excellent, agree with everything said above.
The Vcore95 2023 was a little too unstable against big hitting, but I think I served better with it than any racket I’ve ever used, it has ridiculous pop near the top of the hoop and a tonne of spin.
These days I’m just lost in the racket wilderness a bit, although I did just acquire one of the supposedly best 95s made, the Head Youtek IG Radical Pro (not a true 98, definitely a true 95)
I’m surprised not many ones, if any, mentioned the long-going series: Wilson Six.One 95. Their recent v13 & v14 offerings, with 18x20 pattern, 331g unstrung weight and 12pt HL, are just great sticks for those who are after control and feel.
Bumping this thread but do you happen to know the measurements for the cx 200 tour 16x19 and/or 18x20? Wonder how they would compare to the other frames you listed
I've only tried the previous cx 200 tour 16x19 for a short while and don't have it anymore. I remember the crosses being more tightly spaced towards the center but iirc the changed something there in the last version.
From pictures the 2024 crosses look similar to the prestige tour, spacing wise, but with slightly more open mains.
Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
I would own one already if it wasn’t 18/20
mn_chilly
Rookie
Completely agree! I really love how a 95 inch head moves through the air.
Grafil Injection
Legend
I'm not sure if measuring the distance from the top and bottom strings means anything, since the outer 2-3 strings are moved around by manufacturers at random, and if you ever hit there the shot will be terrible. However, here is my list of the size of the central 100 cells filtered to just 95sqi rackets. My recollection is the CX 18x20 is about 1.15cm2 average cell size, and the CX 16x19 is about 1.275cm2, so relatively tight for a 16x19.
Tennisfan2024
New User
Anyone know an equivalent to the K factor six one team in terms of tight, 95sqin, and sub 300g to customize to a high playability?
They are pretty easy to find I think still so maybe just get more K factor ones.
Dunlop CX 200 Tour maybe, comes with leather already so if you replace with a normal basegrip, ~305g unstrung.
Many old radicals fit the bill, the MPs usually have 295 unstrung and are 95 with a tight 18x20.
The Angell 95 18x20 would also fit your criteria.
Not many options for current sticks with those specs.
For the 2024 Dunlop cx 200 tour 16x19 im getting
TC > BC = 9.75 in
LM > RM = 7.375 in
I've always thought it played more spin friendly than a Vcore 95 IME.
