Moving from Babolat Pure Aero (2019) to a more control-orientated racket.

tennis-head

New User
Hello all,

I've been playing with the Babolat Pure Aero (2019) for around 4-5 years now, which I've enjoyed using. I string it with Babolat RPM Blast 125 at 50lbs and I find this is great for topspin exchanges at the back of the court, but I sometimes hit it long. I find with my volleys there isn't often much feel and they are hard to control, e.g. my volleys can go long (which is, of course, partly a skill/technique issue). As I progress in my tennis game, I feel that having a more control-orientated racket would be a good idea. I hold back quite a bit on my ground strokes and have plenty more to give in power, so having something where I can select to hit harder at opportune moments seems a good move so I can have more of an all-court game instead of just being a baseliner.

I've looked into a many racket options in the control lines:
  1. Babolat Pure Strike 98 (16x19)
  2. Wilson Blade v9 (16x19)
  3. Head Gravity Pro/Tour (18x20)
  4. Yonex Percept 97 (16x19)
I've tried all the above in a tennis shop with a net against a wall, but apart from general feel of ground strokes I found it hard to judge depth of shot and volleys. I found out of all of them the Pure Strike 98 felt the nicest, but perhaps that was because I already use a Babolat?

My main questions are:
  1. Having come from a spin-orientated racket it would seem to make sense to stay with 16x19 string pattern, but should I discount other string patterns (e.g. the Head Gravity) simply because of that? I know some of the above come with 18x20 pattern versions too.
  2. Is the change from a power and spin racket all the way down to a control range too bigger step? Should I consider for example the Pure Aero 98 as an intermediate step instead?
Any thoughts appreciated.
 
To answer your questions...
  1. You shouldn't necessarily discount other string patterns but you should take into account a few things. One is that the string pattern largely influences the launch angle of the ball coming off the strings and can vary based on different factors such as the head size and whether it has 6 or 8 mains in the throat. A Pure Strike 98 (16x19) will have much lower launch angle than your Pure Aero (which I find has one of the highest launch angles) since the strings are positioned closer together due to the smaller head size. I personally found the Yonex Percept and Ezone 98 which are still 16x19s but have 8 mains in the throat to have a more linear and flatter launch angle. You will have to get used to a new launch angle which could result in more balls landing in but it could also result in more shots landing short or in the net as well. It all really comes down to personal preference and if it isn't a major gripe of yours I wouldn't put too much stock into changing the string pattern if you know it works and that you like it.

  2. I wouldn't say that it's too big of a step to go from one extreme to the other just as long as you're aware of the growing pains and time it would take you to become accustom to the new frame. There is no "holy grail" or perfect racket regardless of all the holics on here (including myself) chasing it. No racket is top tier in everything or else that would be the undisputed best frame. There are rackets that do everything well and are a jack of all trades master of none type such as your Pure Strikes and Blades. However, there is an inverse relationship when it comes to the playing characteristics of frames. For example if you switch from your Pure Aero to the Precept you will gain more control and feel but you could be on here again posting that you are missing the power, spin, and forgiveness of your old Pure Aero. Unfortunately Babolat isn't really known for it's touch and feel but some people like it and if you're accustomed, which you seem to be, it wouldn't be a bad thing to try and stay within the brand. However, If you are to switch I would say demo the Babolat Pure Strike 98 (16x19), Babolat Pure Aero 98, Wilson Blade 98 (16x19), and the Yonex VCORE 98 as these frames just being smaller will give you more feel and control than your Pure Aero with out being a drastic change like the Gravity or Percept lines.

However... what I would recommend first and foremost before you even consider switching to a new frame is to try and tinker with your current one.
As you mentioned you "sometimes" hit long, there isn't much feel at net, volleys can go long, and you're holding back on your power during ground strokes.

To this I would say "sometimes" hitting long is not unusual it's just part of the sport (well, for most people). Now if you can't keep the ball in the court that's a different story. In addition, 50lbs in a 125/17g string in a Pure Aero is a pretty low and a lively setup in itself and I would recommend either bumping the weight up a couple pounds to 52lbs or increasing the gauge to 1.30/16g and that could reign in a bit of your power instantly. Your strings could also be dead and need to be restrung or you could seek out a lower power string. As mentioned previously the lack of feel is a Babolat trait but increasing the tension could help you out with that (a little lead tape in the hoop could also add more feel). As for the last part, you're not supposed to be swinging full tilt every shot and most people do hold back on their groundstrokes and wait for an opportunity to pull the trigger for a winner so take that with a grain of salt.

Good luck!
 

PRS

Professional
I wouldn't discount any racquets because of string pattern or you think it's too big of a step. It has been a while since you've switched, so it's a good time to explore, and your game has likely evolved so you may need different things out of your racquet.

I would try and do some extended demos, maybe even try some friends' racquets, and hit with somebody that you've played with before so you can get feedback from them as well on how you're hitting with different racquets.

The Pure Aero 98 and Pure Strike (any really, but probably start out with standard 98 16x19) are definitely good ones to try. I'd also try some from other brands as well. As you start to try, you may be able to narrow it down.

You might quickly realize you prefer the feel of Babolat racquets, then you can focus on maybe the Strike line or maybe the Aero 98. Or maybe you decide you want to stick with 100" frames and can try the Blade 100 or Speed Pro or Percept 100.

It's difficult to give specific advice yet, but start experimenting to get a better idea of what you like and then we can give you better advice.
 

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
I’ve changed string patterns twice when I switched racquets - open to dense back to open. It took less than 10 hours of practice to adjust fully as other racquet specs were similar in all the models. Also if the pattern in the middle is dense as is the case with G3 Strike Tour, the adjustment from a dense pattern in G1 to it was even faster. You can also change string jobs (string, gauge, tension) to compensate for changes in launch angle if you don’t want to adjust.
 

Thiemster

Rookie
I would go to the 100 sq in versions of these rackets as an intermediate step, you have a lot of free power/spin/depth and you'll miss them a lot...especially if you are playing leagues/matches that somewhat matter to you.

p.s. I just tried pecept 100 (with lead added at 12) coming from aero 19 and it felt like a good step towards control without giving away power/spin
 

Grafil Injection

Hall of Fame
I wouldn't worry too much about spin levels; a decent player can get plenty of spin from any of those options. But the launch angle and ease of depth will be a major change. Ask yourself how much do you want to retain the easy baseline-bunting that thick-beamed open-pattern 100sqis provide. Are you ready to give that up?
 

SinneGOAT

Legend
Go with the strike, it will be the shortest adjustment period and have similar feel and playability. I prefer the new version over Gen 3 due to better feel and comfort while still being just as powerful and spin friendly. Controlled when you need it but can absolutely crush the ball. Make sure to get one on spec though.
 

nyta2

Legend
Hello all,

I've been playing with the Babolat Pure Aero (2019) for around 4-5 years now, which I've enjoyed using. I string it with Babolat RPM Blast 125 at 50lbs and I find this is great for topspin exchanges at the back of the court, but I sometimes hit it long. I find with my volleys there isn't often much feel and they are hard to control, e.g. my volleys can go long (which is, of course, partly a skill/technique issue). As I progress in my tennis game, I feel that having a more control-orientated racket would be a good idea. I hold back quite a bit on my ground strokes and have plenty more to give in power, so having something where I can select to hit harder at opportune moments seems a good move so I can have more of an all-court game instead of just being a baseliner.

I've looked into a many racket options in the control lines:
  1. Babolat Pure Strike 98 (16x19)
  2. Wilson Blade v9 (16x19)
  3. Head Gravity Pro/Tour (18x20)
  4. Yonex Percept 97 (16x19)
I've tried all the above in a tennis shop with a net against a wall, but apart from general feel of ground strokes I found it hard to judge depth of shot and volleys. I found out of all of them the Pure Strike 98 felt the nicest, but perhaps that was because I already use a Babolat?

My main questions are:
  1. Having come from a spin-orientated racket it would seem to make sense to stay with 16x19 string pattern, but should I discount other string patterns (e.g. the Head Gravity) simply because of that? I know some of the above come with 18x20 pattern versions too.
  2. Is the change from a power and spin racket all the way down to a control range too bigger step? Should I consider for example the Pure Aero 98 as an intermediate step instead?
Any thoughts appreciated.
i had a similar journey... used to play with "basher" racquets like:
* aero+
* sw104
* etc..
but as i evolved into a more all court player looking to take advantage of the short ball (approach), and finish at net (volley or overhead), i found myself gravitating to racquet and/or string combinations with a lower launch trajectory - like:
* radical pro 98
* blade 98
* percept 100d
my game is no longer about hitting hard (eg. trying not to overhit/hit through opponents), but instead trying to out-maneuvre them...

regarding volleys... i formerly used shaped strings for max spin (eg. ultracable, hyper g, etc...), but found that it was awesome at baseline, but hard to control inside the court/net (when i need more precision), because heavy top/slice are grabbed by the strings more... so i have switched to smooth polys... probably loose some rpm from the baseline/serving, but the tradeoff is ok for me... that said rpm blast is smooth, so i'm surpised you're having issues volleying with it (poly general not great for feel imo - if i only s&v'd or only played dubs, i probably would switch to gut :p)

regarding depth... no matter what racquet you get, you're gonna need to play with it for a while to finetune depth, especially as you play with different strings & tensions too.. and definitely can't get a feel from the wall (need the ball machine on full court at minimum, imo)

seems like the pure strike 98 is a good choice for you since you're already coming from babolate line. i actually bought one too, it is a nice but i went the 100d route, because it doesn't feel like an 100d, but mentally (placebo?) made me feel like i could return better with it (arguably influenced by yt folks like ksell...)
 

tennis-head

New User
Hi all, thank you for taking the time to respond. All the answers are very helpful.

I'm going to try to source some demo rackets and [try to] take my time over the switch. Sourcing the Blade v9 and an Aero 98 might be difficult though. I know a club player has been waiting for a number of weeks for his Blade now.

I had mostly discounted 100 rackets as I had been told to think of the string bed as a trampoline. The bigger the trampoline, the more power. I know the PA19 is quite a stiff racket at 67RA and thick frame 23/26/23mm, but for example looking at the Percept 100 it's not much softer at 66RA and the frame is 23/23/23mm which doesn't seem hugely different overall - does it really make that much difference? In shops the instant advice was to look at 98 rackets (and 97 in the case of the Percept).

I do agree that playing with the string setup on my existing racket would also have value. I have tried 55lbs on the PA19 in the past and I found it was too much like a board, for that reason I dropped down to 50lbs, but perhaps it was a step too far. I've generally stuck with RPM Blast as that's what the racket recommends. I've been surprised how many string varieties are out there, so perhaps I'll tinker with that more in future too.
 
Hi all, thank you for taking the time to respond. All the answers are very helpful.

I'm going to try to source some demo rackets and [try to] take my time over the switch. Sourcing the Blade v9 and an Aero 98 might be difficult though. I know a club player has been waiting for a number of weeks for his Blade now.

I had mostly discounted 100 rackets as I had been told to think of the string bed as a trampoline. The bigger the trampoline, the more power. I know the PA19 is quite a stiff racket at 67RA and thick frame 23/26/23mm, but for example looking at the Percept 100 it's not much softer at 66RA and the frame is 23/23/23mm which doesn't seem hugely different overall - does it really make that much difference? In shops the instant advice was to look at 98 rackets (and 97 in the case of the Percept).

I do agree that playing with the string setup on my existing racket would also have value. I have tried 55lbs on the PA19 in the past and I found it was too much like a board, for that reason I dropped down to 50lbs, but perhaps it was a step too far. I've generally stuck with RPM Blast as that's what the racket recommends. I've been surprised how many string varieties are out there, so perhaps I'll tinker with that more in future too.
Going from 55 to 50lbs is a HUGE jump, at least it is for me. Definitely try 52lbs first before doing anything else. If you truly like the feel of 50lbs try going up to a 1.30/16g string that should help with control too. As for what the racket recommends, that's just the brand/manufacturer pushing their mainstream and most expensive strings on consumers. RPM Blast is a good string, I liked it and used it for years but there are so many more strings out there that play similar and are way cheaper and last longer too but that's a different conversation topic.

If you are still interested in demoing frames I know Tennis Warehouse has an easy/good demo program. Pick 3 frames that interest you and for $25 they will send them to you for a week.
Just keep in mind that you can only select the grip size and string type i.e. multi, poly, etc. and not the specific string or tension it's strung at so the demo is more or less to get a basic understanding of the characteristics of the frame and not a super in depth test, but you can get a general consensus on what does and doesn't work for you/narrow down your search.

My demo recommendations would be...

  1. Babolat Pure Aero 98 - Possibly the most logical transition for you, it has some similar specs to the PA 19 (leaning towards more advanced) but from my time with it, it's a great frame. Has easy power, plenty of access to spin, the 16x20 string pattern (my personal favorite) provides tons of control, didn't require any customization, and I even thought it had good feel for a Babolat.

  2. Babolat Pure Strike 98 (16x19) - Definitely worth trying as it is Babolat' s "control" line which would provide you a similar feel to what you're used to with the playing characteristic you are also seeking. It also has similar specs just as weight and balance. However the swing weight as stated on TW is 330 so there will an adjustment period to that as well as the lower launch angle and lower power level and could be tiring over time if you're not used to it.

  3. Yonex VCORE 98/98 Tour - This is what I would consider a Pure Aero in a slightly smaller package. It has all the attributes as a Pure Aero but slightly watered down. Still has plenty of power and spin, has the higher launch angle you are used to (which could yield some control issues) but if that's what you like and are used to then great. The Yonex head shape plays much bigger and is way more forgiving than it says, IMO the VC95 has the sweet spot of a 98 and the VC98 has a sweet spot the size of a 100.

If you could only pick 3 I would probably avoid the Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) - as it is a great frame and one of my favorite, but I think it may be a huge adjustment and change from what you're used to as I don't think it provides that much power or forgiveness compared to a lot of other 98s on the market.

Good luck!
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Hi all, thank you for taking the time to respond. All the answers are very helpful.

I'm going to try to source some demo rackets and [try to] take my time over the switch. Sourcing the Blade v9 and an Aero 98 might be difficult though. I know a club player has been waiting for a number of weeks for his Blade now.

I had mostly discounted 100 rackets as I had been told to think of the string bed as a trampoline. The bigger the trampoline, the more power. I know the PA19 is quite a stiff racket at 67RA and thick frame 23/26/23mm, but for example looking at the Percept 100 it's not much softer at 66RA and the frame is 23/23/23mm which doesn't seem hugely different overall - does it really make that much difference? In shops the instant advice was to look at 98 rackets (and 97 in the case of the Percept).

I do agree that playing with the string setup on my existing racket would also have value. I have tried 55lbs on the PA19 in the past and I found it was too much like a board, for that reason I dropped down to 50lbs, but perhaps it was a step too far. I've generally stuck with RPM Blast as that's what the racket recommends. I've been surprised how many string varieties are out there, so perhaps I'll tinker with that more in future too.
Many thoughts, but I'll try to offer a couple useful ones without getting too lost.

Try to keep notes as you sample this and that. Eventually you may build a bit of a picture in terms of what goes into your favorite recipe for a racquet. Once I sorted out what I generally like in terms of static weight, balance, flex, and perhaps head size, it became much easier for me to find a better fit among the ocean of options out there.

Regardless of any general recipe in a particular racquet, you'll still need to get the test drives to figure them out. But I think that there are a lot of decent frames out there, so no need to go crazy looking for that one perfect racquet for you. There might be five or six that work great for you. Once you land on a good one, enjoy it for a while.

As for strings, I'd say don't rely on them to work miracles for you. Once you land on a generally decent racquet that gives you a pretty good fundamental fit, then dial it in with string options. If your PA needs a full bed of RPM Blast for your to keep it under control, I'd say you're smart to shop a different racquet.

The Head Gravity comes in a few flavors (when I say flavors, I mean versions) that are definitely worth a look. I've also been impressed with a couple of the CX models I've seen from Dunlop in recent history - you may want to check out one or two of those in a 98" or 100" hoop size. Lately I've been getting along with the soft and hefty Prince Phantom 97, but they also offer the Phantom in a couple different 100" versions. Those might have more flex, etc. than you're looking for, but at least you have a spectrum of choices going on.
 

tennis-head

New User
I've also been impressed with a couple of the CX models I've seen from Dunlop in recent history - you may want to check out one or two of those in a 98" or 100" hoop size.
I tried a Dunlop CX200 in a shop demo and I did like it against the net, my groundstrokes felt very nice. For a while I was giving it a lot of consideration, but I've been put off by reports of a very low swing weight (sub 270g) which is being reported as poor quality control. That made me wonder if my demo was a good one and if I might end up disappointed if I invested in one.
 

AmericanTwist

Professional
I suggest targeting flex, frame size, then string pattern roughly in that order. Get some demo frames, ask to use friends' frames, and buy some used frames. There is a reason why the racquetaholics thread is sooooo long lol. As your skills change your optimal frame type will change/fluctuate. Realize this process may take a year (or more in some cases).

stick with one type of string if possible. I recommend a full bed nylon/syn gut or hybrid poly/syn gut to keep that variable as constant as possible. You'll hit with frames with random strings and tensions so realize that just because the frame doesn't feel great with that set up, it can with a fresh string job. Also handle grip shape and size vary a bit among the brands but the main factors are stated above.

Btw Dunlop has pretty good quality control. Their CX frames are really quite good. If you want to try a control frame, try the cx 200 tour 18x20 or 16x19. I play with the former as one of my mains.
 
I would recommend trying the Extreme Tour. I've been playing with it for over a year.

Personally, it has similar spin to the Pure Aero but it has better control and I like it on volleys.

Pure Strike 98? Maybe.

I do like that racket as well. It has more power but is less maneuverable than the Extreme Tour.

I've never hit a Blade but that is always a solid option. It fits a lot of players.

Head Gravity is a mystery. People either love it or hate it. So it's hard to say how that is going to fit you.

Percept 97? Hard to say. It's a good racket but it's not for everybody. To me, it would certainly be a necessary option if you have a one handed backhand.

Pure Aero 98? Very similar to the Extreme Tour. It's a powerful little racket and very stable but lacks some of the feel of the Extreme Tour.

I think if you were to try an Extreme Tour, a Blade and a Pure Strike 98 you're probably going to like one of those.
 

McLovin

Legend
I'm going to try to source some demo rackets and [try to] take my time over the switch. Sourcing the Blade v9 and an Aero 98 might be difficult though. I know a club player has been waiting for a number of weeks for his Blade now.
Hard to tell from what you've typed so far, so I'm going to ask...are you in the States? The use of the word 'source' makes me think not, but then again, you're referring to stringing in 'lbs', so I have no idea. Anyway...if you are...check out the TW Demo Program:
You can get up to 3 racquets for a week for only $25. And if you eventually chose to buy one, that $25 can be used towards the purchase price.

Just to add to the massive number of suggestions so far, I'd also throw out one of the Solinco Whiteout frames (like the Blade they have 16x19 or 18x20). Of the frames already mentioned, my personal favorites include the VCORE 98 & Extreme Tour. As others have said, you can always manage power & control w/ different strings & tensions, so really what matters is how the frame swings for you.

Also...when demoing, I find it's important to both drill & play some games/sets. My rotation usually goes like this:
  1. Walk onto the court w/ all the demo frames & my current frame
  2. Start out hitting w/ my current frame just to set a baseline...maybe 5 minutes
  3. Walk back & randomly grab one of the demos & continue hitting for another 5 minutes. Try to cover all shots, including volleys.
  4. Repeat step 3
  5. Grab my current frame again just to get another refresher (maybe 2 minutes)
  6. Grab the last demo & hit for another 5 minutes
By this point you'll likely know which frame you hate, so you can take that out of the rotation for now
  1. Grab one of the demos you like & play a tiebreak
  2. Repeat step 1 w/ your current frame
  3. Repeat step 1 w/ the other demo
Again, by this point you've likely decided which one you like (or none of them), and that's fine, but I'd still suggest repeating the whole scenario over again the next time you hit, just to be certain. Every time I've demoed over the last 25 years, I've followed this pattern (somewhat). Only once has it failed me (Original VCORE Tour 97...a month after switching, I couldn't miss a backhand, but I couldn't make a forehand). I switched back to my Fischers for another 3 years...
 

tennis-head

New User
are you in the States? The use of the word 'source' makes me think not, but then again, you're referring to stringing in 'lbs'
Interesting that you picked that up. Although I'm surprised by the word "source" being the reason you noticed? What would the US say instead? I thought that would be universal English. I'm from the UK, so we have a messed up system where we use miles, kilograms, pounds, litres, depending on what we are talking about. Personally speaking, I wish we'd just pick either metric or imperial instead of our hybrid system.

check out the TW Demo Program:

I would need to use Tennis Warehouse Europe, but I checked the demo program and was disappointed to see that the United Kingdom is not covered. Is this a result of brexit?!

Demo Program - Tennis Warehouse Europe

Also...when demoing, I find it's important to both drill & play some games/sets. My rotation usually goes like this:
  1. Walk onto the court w/ all the demo frames & my current frame
  2. Start out hitting w/ my current frame just to set a baseline...maybe 5 minutes
  3. Walk back & randomly grab one of the demos & continue hitting for another 5 minutes. Try to cover all shots, including volleys.
  4. Repeat step 3
  5. Grab my current frame again just to get another refresher (maybe 2 minutes)
  6. Grab the last demo & hit for another 5 minutes
By this point you'll likely know which frame you hate, so you can take that out of the rotation for now
  1. Grab one of the demos you like & play a tiebreak
  2. Repeat step 1 w/ your current frame
  3. Repeat step 1 w/ the other demo

Thanks for this, I like the idea of doing a reset between each racket. A good idea.
 

McLovin

Legend
Interesting that you picked that up. Although I'm surprised by the word "source" being the reason you noticed? What would the US say instead? I thought that would be universal English
lol…”source” is probably the proper word, but in the States we’d probably just say “I’m going to try and demo some frames”. We’re lazy with our English…

On the demo steps…my most recent attempt to switch involved demoing the Solinco Whiteout XTD (16x19) & Blackout XTD, and the Pure Drive +. I was looking for more power, and honestly thought I’d be switching to the PD+ (I’d avoided tweeners all my life). The Solincos were just to fill out the order.

Ironically, the PD+ was last on the list. I ended up with the Blackout XTD and haven’t looked back. That was almost 2 years ago.
 
Going from 55 to 50lbs is a HUGE jump, at least it is for me. Definitely try 52lbs first before doing anything else. If you truly like the feel of 50lbs try going up to a 1.30/16g string that should help with control too. As for what the racket recommends, that's just the brand/manufacturer pushing their mainstream and most expensive strings on consumers. RPM Blast is a good string, I liked it and used it for years but there are so many more strings out there that play similar and are way cheaper and last longer too but that's a different conversation topic.

If you are still interested in demoing frames I know Tennis Warehouse has an easy/good demo program. Pick 3 frames that interest you and for $25 they will send them to you for a week.
Just keep in mind that you can only select the grip size and string type i.e. multi, poly, etc. and not the specific string or tension it's strung at so the demo is more or less to get a basic understanding of the characteristics of the frame and not a super in depth test, but you can get a general consensus on what does and doesn't work for you/narrow down your search.

My demo recommendations would be...

  1. Babolat Pure Aero 98 - Possibly the most logical transition for you, it has some similar specs to the PA 19 (leaning towards more advanced) but from my time with it, it's a great frame. Has easy power, plenty of access to spin, the 16x20 string pattern (my personal favorite) provides tons of control, didn't require any customization, and I even thought it had good feel for a Babolat.

  2. Babolat Pure Strike 98 (16x19) - Definitely worth trying as it is Babolat' s "control" line which would provide you a similar feel to what you're used to with the playing characteristic you are also seeking. It also has similar specs just as weight and balance. However the swing weight as stated on TW is 330 so there will an adjustment period to that as well as the lower launch angle and lower power level and could be tiring over time if you're not used to it.

  3. Yonex VCORE 98/98 Tour - This is what I would consider a Pure Aero in a slightly smaller package. It has all the attributes as a Pure Aero but slightly watered down. Still has plenty of power and spin, has the higher launch angle you are used to (which could yield some control issues) but if that's what you like and are used to then great. The Yonex head shape plays much bigger and is way more forgiving than it says, IMO the VC95 has the sweet spot of a 98 and the VC98 has a sweet spot the size of a 100.

If you could only pick 3 I would probably avoid the Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) - as it is a great frame and one of my favorite, but I think it may be a huge adjustment and change from what you're used to as I don't think it provides that much power or forgiveness compared to a lot of other 98s on the market.

Good luck!
Excellent thoughts! (y)
I played the demo game in reverse going up from Prince 95s & went with the VCore 98 due to relative comfort & the presence of a + version, but I enjoyed the Babolats - I wish these two models came in a +, particularly the Strike.
 

McLovin

Legend
Excellent thoughts! (y)
I played the demo game in reverse going up from Prince 95s & went with the VCore 98 due to relative comfort & the presence of a + version, but I enjoyed the Babolats - I wish these two models came in a +, particularly the Strike.
If the PA98 and/or PD98 came in a “+”, I would have been all over it a few years ago. Clearly it’s not that hard to do if a smaller company such as Solinco can offer 27, 27.5, and 28 for their entire racquet line.
 

Frankc

Professional
Well done with your evolution into the challenge and fun of a more varied game. I think that you will find tennis a more interesting game as you develop your all court skills. There is always something to work on, always another strategy to apply to a match up, and tennis continues on as a more challenging sport for life...
Enjoy the game...
 

tennis-head

New User
So, I've been using the Pure Strike 98 (16x19) racket for a little while now...

Initially when I hit a ball with the racket it felt a bit dead and I feared that I'd find the racket boring :laughing: I had to check myself and remember that I've been used to using a lively and stiff Pure Aero which packs a punch with a lot of power, also that ground strokes are not the prime reason I wanted to change. It took a little while to get adjusted to the power difference, but I soon found that the depth of my shots returned with additional net clearance which is a good thing. If I wanted to flatten out I was still able to. I'm still getting plenty of spin and I can still play aggressively if I want to.

With my slice backhand I feel like I can place the ball more precisely which is a great confidence boost although the higher shoulder level slicing took a bit of adjustment to my stroke. Another area that I've been pleasantly surprised about is my one handed backhand feels so much easier to execute. I'm far more confident with backhand balls compared to the PA which felt like the ball would fly unless I nailed the timing and technique precisely.

The control on the volleys better. I play predominately on hard court, so taking some of the pace of the ball is useful as the ball sits up otherwise and the Pure Strike helps plenty in that area, it feels like I can be much more precise. For the more pacy put aways, there is still enough punch so I'm happy.

My go to serve is between a top spin/slice serve and I think this is more consistent now too as I feel more able to control the variables myself. I may have lost a bit of punch when I hit through the ball, but that was to be expected.

Overall, I feel like my tennis journey will benefit from using a control racket as my game will evolve in a different way to the PA "hit them off the court" style. It might take some time to adjust, but I think it will be well worth it.
 

dgf.

New User
Had been using Pure Aero VS and 98 for a while and recently, just like you, I felt like I needed more feel and control.

Switched to the Yonex Percept 97 with a bit of customization and whew I believe my tennis has just gotten better, noticeable by friends and opponents too!
 

Donmikan

Rookie
Had been using Pure Aero VS and 98 for a while and recently, just like you, I felt like I needed more feel and control.

Switched to the Yonex Percept 97 with a bit of customization and whew I believe my tennis has just gotten better, noticeable by friends and opponents too!
How did you customize?
 

dgf.

New User
Nice, you added close to 40 points in SW! How did it affect your serve?
It enhances my serve 3 times better! - power, precision, direction. And I get at least 50% less double faults (slower kick serve become so much easier to control).
 
Top