Hello, everyone and fellow RDS 001 MidUsers.
Here are my thoughts on the RDS 001 Mid or you could consider this a review.
There will be some comparisons between rackets like the k90, PD, PDR, and other popular frames.
First and foremost, I have to say it is a good racket. No doubt about it.
Some positives
+Feel is very nice. Groundies feel awesome
+Serves can really bring heat after taking time to get use to
+Stable
+High Control Level
Some negatives:
-Sometimes a bit unmaneuverable, but this may be due to the fact i haven't used it long enough
-The first time you play with it, you will often mis-hit, i have no idea maybe its the box shape?
-Serving in the beginning can make you pissed off, but you'll feel after a good 50+ serves
Overall, the negatives of this racket are probably due to somethings you have to get used to. Its a 1pt more headlight then my k90 or possibly 2 or 3 since i removed my leather grip off my k90; which has mostly affected my service aspect of my game.
Now.
Control: 9/10
I have to say control is off the charts, and can be taken positively or negatively. Even at a 55 Tension, which is the bare minimum of the recommended one, it really gives high control and accuracy. Mishits often fly only 1 or 2 inches past a line. But don't expect shanks to fly in, it will go out, hey it's your fault anyways.
Power 5/10
Power is there (not really), but all in all it's all about the player. If your small, skinny, no muscles at all, your only allowing this racket to burden yourself. This is more then a player's racket, it is a player's racket that requires an in-shaped user. Don't be surprised on first hits that your arm isn't a bit uncomfortable. If your coming from any kind of Babolat or above 95+ in. headsize, this will feel like concrete. Probably not even concrete, more like heading dead plastic. But again, those rackets are out of control anyways.
Volleys: 8.5/10
I wouldn't give this racket a FULL 9, but it's damn close. Obviously head light, high weight, small head size provide the stability needed at the net, but ill mark off a minimal points for the fact, it is some heavy stuff. It feels heavier, at least in my opinion. But you will get pop for sure, its crisp, and will deliver. Expect to finish off your opponent at the net. But i give it almost 9 because of the variety of players and how they judge volleying. But if your buffed up and this weight is nothing and your waving it like a feather, ill give it a 10/10, if an only if you are waving it like a feather.
Serving: 7/10
Serving, will definitely start slow in the beginning. The contact point feels different overall, and im sure the "isometric" head shape contributes, but i hit with it for two days, and on day two i got about 75% of my Kick's back, but it feels great. Has good pop and nice placement. Compared to my k90, though it does feel like crap at times. The RDS is so headlight it loses some stability at the head, which gives serves that extra boost; but hey if your expecting to hit a big banging serve, and expecting aces 1)You shouldn't since anything is hittable and 2)Go play a Babolat or something with a bigger head-size. Overall, great, you will lose your groove at first, but it won't drag your game down to a point where you lose on your serve. Dependable serving racket.
Comfort: 4/10
Comfort level is low, i mean stable rackets usually are. They are 1)Heavy 2)Have small headsize which create smaller margin of error and 3)Often create heavy vibrations through the racket. But compared to other rackets within the 90-93 Inch frame size it has the most. For example i would rate comfort level of my k90 around a 3/10, a Flexpoint Prestige Mid at around 5/10 and a Wilson Pro Staff ROK at around a 2.5/10. So if your comparing Mid-size rackets, it has great comfort. The first thing i noticed comfort wise is that it does not make a "pinging" sound. The contact sound is like wet-blanket, which some people like and others don't. Low comfort, so if your arm can't take it, don't get it.
Overall 8/10: This is not an average of the scores, rather it's a overall feeling for a score, just based on how it reacts in an actual match.
Lastly, I would say, raise 1 point on comfort, power, and serving because i'm using these Yonex Strings which are dead as crap, and if this racket had my regular PHT 16 job, it would probably be a lot better.
Enjoy.
Here are my thoughts on the RDS 001 Mid or you could consider this a review.
There will be some comparisons between rackets like the k90, PD, PDR, and other popular frames.
First and foremost, I have to say it is a good racket. No doubt about it.
Some positives
+Feel is very nice. Groundies feel awesome
+Serves can really bring heat after taking time to get use to
+Stable
+High Control Level
Some negatives:
-Sometimes a bit unmaneuverable, but this may be due to the fact i haven't used it long enough
-The first time you play with it, you will often mis-hit, i have no idea maybe its the box shape?
-Serving in the beginning can make you pissed off, but you'll feel after a good 50+ serves
Overall, the negatives of this racket are probably due to somethings you have to get used to. Its a 1pt more headlight then my k90 or possibly 2 or 3 since i removed my leather grip off my k90; which has mostly affected my service aspect of my game.
Now.
Control: 9/10
I have to say control is off the charts, and can be taken positively or negatively. Even at a 55 Tension, which is the bare minimum of the recommended one, it really gives high control and accuracy. Mishits often fly only 1 or 2 inches past a line. But don't expect shanks to fly in, it will go out, hey it's your fault anyways.
Power 5/10
Power is there (not really), but all in all it's all about the player. If your small, skinny, no muscles at all, your only allowing this racket to burden yourself. This is more then a player's racket, it is a player's racket that requires an in-shaped user. Don't be surprised on first hits that your arm isn't a bit uncomfortable. If your coming from any kind of Babolat or above 95+ in. headsize, this will feel like concrete. Probably not even concrete, more like heading dead plastic. But again, those rackets are out of control anyways.
Volleys: 8.5/10
I wouldn't give this racket a FULL 9, but it's damn close. Obviously head light, high weight, small head size provide the stability needed at the net, but ill mark off a minimal points for the fact, it is some heavy stuff. It feels heavier, at least in my opinion. But you will get pop for sure, its crisp, and will deliver. Expect to finish off your opponent at the net. But i give it almost 9 because of the variety of players and how they judge volleying. But if your buffed up and this weight is nothing and your waving it like a feather, ill give it a 10/10, if an only if you are waving it like a feather.
Serving: 7/10
Serving, will definitely start slow in the beginning. The contact point feels different overall, and im sure the "isometric" head shape contributes, but i hit with it for two days, and on day two i got about 75% of my Kick's back, but it feels great. Has good pop and nice placement. Compared to my k90, though it does feel like crap at times. The RDS is so headlight it loses some stability at the head, which gives serves that extra boost; but hey if your expecting to hit a big banging serve, and expecting aces 1)You shouldn't since anything is hittable and 2)Go play a Babolat or something with a bigger head-size. Overall, great, you will lose your groove at first, but it won't drag your game down to a point where you lose on your serve. Dependable serving racket.
Comfort: 4/10
Comfort level is low, i mean stable rackets usually are. They are 1)Heavy 2)Have small headsize which create smaller margin of error and 3)Often create heavy vibrations through the racket. But compared to other rackets within the 90-93 Inch frame size it has the most. For example i would rate comfort level of my k90 around a 3/10, a Flexpoint Prestige Mid at around 5/10 and a Wilson Pro Staff ROK at around a 2.5/10. So if your comparing Mid-size rackets, it has great comfort. The first thing i noticed comfort wise is that it does not make a "pinging" sound. The contact sound is like wet-blanket, which some people like and others don't. Low comfort, so if your arm can't take it, don't get it.
Overall 8/10: This is not an average of the scores, rather it's a overall feeling for a score, just based on how it reacts in an actual match.
Lastly, I would say, raise 1 point on comfort, power, and serving because i'm using these Yonex Strings which are dead as crap, and if this racket had my regular PHT 16 job, it would probably be a lot better.
Enjoy.
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