Need a racket - closest to the tecnifibre XTC 305 tfight.

[ChrisJR3264]

Yes. Pick my next racket and strings.
Tried the iso 305. Im over it. Weight balance stink.
Think I’m over the TF grip shape. So let’s not get into the new.

Xtc 305 is super control oriented racket and had the best feel and success. But it’s gone. Even if I score a few frames used - still need a successor.

I hit pretty flat and aggressive. I don’t lack power. Need some control.

emotional post? Maybe. But I did just play on clay so lol.

 

[Trip]

So, if I may, I'll add in a few tidbits from a PM Chris and I had, to help others get a picture of where he's at:

- 305 ISO and 315 ISO both decent but don't play with the same as his XTC 305 and he admits the grip is less than optimal for him, lacks confidence on finding his grip on certain shots, wants to move on
- Prestige MP (99" 18x19) - Not too bad but feels sluggish through the air. Tinkering with strings, but prefers something a bit more naturally HL.
- Thinking of staying away from an 18x20. However , maybe a 100 like a speed pro or gravity tour 2023. The radical MP 18x20 caught his eye. But the 16x19 is on the denser side; guess is the 98 18x20 will be more demanding than the Prestige. But at 300 grams unstrung it’s got room for modification.
- Whiteout V2 16x19 seems like it corrected the drill pattern issue. 18x20 - need to demo since it’s more forgiving than most 18x20s.
- Percept 100D : indecisive. Kinda similar scenario with the 18x20. Would only entertain it’s a “forgiving” enough 18x19.

I hit pretty flat and aggressive. I don’t lack power. Need some control.

All of the above considered, I think you should demo the following (sticking with mostly mainstream brands for now):

- Prince ATS Tour 100P (also try and locate the firmer 2019 green/black, which will have a flex more similar to your XTC)
- Solinco WhiteOut 18x20 v1 (with the 5g or 10g weighted butt cap) - Retains much of what you enjoy about the XTCm
- Tecnifibre TFight 305S - I know you said it's time to move on, but you're used to the lineage, so why not just try it? Most reviews are glowing.
- Yonex Percept 100D - Worth trying, just string it low-ish so you don't restrict the sweet spot too much.

Mind you, each might require a slight bit of customization to get plow-through level to what you were used to with the 305 XTC. You could even play around with skipping the top or bottom most cross on the 18x20's and turning them into an 18x19.

Hope that helps. I'll come back with more as I think of additional options.

 

[Trip]

Deleted/Reserved.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

So I’ll clarify : two rackets I am currently using and will continue to use:
- tfight 315 iso: I think bc mine came in underspec - it could use a SW measurement and head weight and a 1.30 string. So far - it’s not a bad frame. I was in a honey moon period at first. Noticed the sweet zone is smaller than the 305 iso. Overall it’s a good racket with a terrible grip shape. For a 315, (we’ll about 312 in my case) - it’s swings lighter.

- head prestige MP 2023: I enjoy the 18x19 patterns but what’s funny is this is more demanding than my trophy original medvedev 95 Dynacore series 3 tfight. (I noticed this when hitting them both in a match). I get good results but I noticed in one of my singles matches last fall - I struggled with arm fatigue serving during s 6-1 6-4 match and probably would’ve fatigued on serve if it went 3. The racket feels quite sluggish for a thin beam. Feel like the technology of the prestige has not become one with what TF, solinco and Yonex are doing with more aerodynamic beams.


So of the two above, there’s a real chance I stick with the tfight (but not guaranteed). Since I got the tfight 315 on clearance I might look at getting the pallet redone.

On to the demos : what I’m looking for is something more controlled yet easier to use. Do I prefer to stay away from the 18x20’s ? Yes.
Will I try say a more forgiving one that has access to spin - also yes.

18x20/18x19 options:
- speed pro : seems like it has access to spin which I feel I need to add more to my game being a more flat hitter.
- gravity tour 2023: this one interests me with a 22mm beam and more forgiving drill pattern. I liked the gravity pro but I think I’m going to stay away from that static stock weight in case I lose the QC lottery.
- radical MP 18x20: yeah I am going backwards. If I can try one I might - but tennis nerds video has me intrigued with “surprising access to spin”
- whiteout 18x20: I still think they need to go 18x19. Lot of feedback is this racket is more forgiving than the 100 speed pro. I am demoing this regardless.

Yonex percept 100d: the rumored cracking in the throat has me turned off to purchasing this at $270. I’ll give it a demo though and see if I like the frame and hope they fix it down the road.

16x19 options:
- solinco whiteout V2: the controlled update to the recent version V1. More dense pattern vs the last. Tenncom stated the “racket can do what you want” when it comes to spin and flat. I’ll have to find out for myself if the hype is real.

- radical MP: surely would need some mods. More dense 16x19 and is light stock weight option to try.

- speed MP: I feel on paper I’m moving off the “control oriented frame” however I know someone who’s switched to the MP from a Tfight 305 and loves it. So maybe it’s not so crazy to think it’s a fit for a more controlled frame ?

- Ezone 98 or 98 tour: is it really the “easy one”?

- vcore 98 tour: I tried the latest 98 regular and felt too light. The aero fin beam and weight might help?

Any more thoughts? I’m also not a constant racket tester. I stuck with the 98 tfight 305 for xtc, RS, and iso. Xtc was easily the best of them all. I think with all my time from being with the babolat pure storm/storm tour for like 8 years and the wilson blade 18x20 for 7-8 years , changing stinks but usually you know when to move off a brand when you don’t like the direction it’s going.

 

[Trip]

Nice extra info Chris. I would say you'd in the right realm. Will be interested to see how you get along with thicker beamed 98's as well.

Re- the WhiteOut v2 16x19, I'm not sure they've changed the pattern at all. It's more about the layup change (with ARCH 2) with which they've tried to quell the launchy-ness. I'd remain skeptical that just a layup change alone could do it, without a change of pattern and/or string channeling, but who knows. Probably worth a try anyways. You might still be better off with the 18x20 v1. But I would try both.

As for anything else, if you don't mind a platform stick, I would look at the Dunlop CX 200 as well. Very whippy, balanced 16x19, kind of medium-open like the Percept 97 16x19, with a medium-firm, high-energy-return layup, and you can mold it into basically anything you want, but only if you're really game for full customization. In stock form, it's going to be anemic. Again, in stock form, it's not going to give you the solidness you're used to. I has to be customized, fairly extensively. If that's a turn-off, then probably not for you.

Beyond that, I'd be curious as to how you might like an Angell React MP Pro (99" 18x19 that is way more whippy and more modern beam shape than the Prestige MP). That would need a bit of customizing too. Maybe the TC99, but if you've found the Prestige MP sluggish, then a TC may or may not be too sluggish. Either way, it's also Angell, so access is not easy, and I know you're all about low-cost/low-risk/ease-access, so might be a dead end. But had to mention it.

I'll keep mentioning options based on your reactions here.

 

[Eilathen]

If the P-MP is too slugish, why not try the P-MP-L? It has a 16x19 pattern and not a 18x19, that may be a killer-criteria for you. But I think it is a very interesting plattform stick. I have, with Trip's very generous help, modified my MP-L (it's the 2021 version, though) with some lead-tape and it plays even better now. I think it has quite good access to spin for such a classical frame. But I am definitely not a spin-expert. I hit pretty flat. I played most of my tennis-life on indoor courts.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Nice extra info Chris. I would say you'd in the right realm. Will be interested to see how you get along with thicker beamed 98's as well.

Re- the WhiteOut v2 16x19, I'm not sure they've changed the pattern at all. It's more about the layup change (with ARCH 2) with which they've tried to quell the launchy-ness. I'd remain skeptical that just a layup change alone could do it, without a change of pattern and/or string channeling, but who knows. Probably worth a try anyways. You might still be better off with the 18x20 v1. But I would try both.

As for anything else, if you don't mind a platform stick, I would look at the Dunlop CX 200 as well. Very whippy, balanced 16x19, kind of medium-open like the Percept 97 16x19, with a medium-firm, high-energy-return layup, and you can mold it into basically anything you want, but only if you're really game for full customization. In stock form, it's going to be anemic. Again, in stock form, it's not going to give you the solidness you're used to. I has to be customized, fairly extensively. If that's a turn-off, then probably not for you.

Beyond that, I'd be curious as to how you might like an Angell React MP Pro (99" 18x19 that is way more whippy and more modern beam shape than the Prestige MP). That would need a bit of customizing too. Maybe the TC99, but if you've found the Prestige MP sluggish, then a TC may or may not be too sluggish. Either way, it's also Angell, so access is not easy, and I know you're all about low-cost/low-risk/ease-access, so might be a dead end. But had to mention it.

I'll keep mentioning options based on your reactions here.

Ahh I thought the whiteout V2 drill pattern is denser now with 8 mains in the throat vs 6? I might be mistaken. (16x19 version)

 

[ChrisJR3264]

If the P-MP is too slugish, why not try the P-MP-L? It has a 16x19 pattern and not a 18x19, that may be a killer-criteria for you. But I think it is a very interesting plattform stick. I have, with Trip's very generous help, modified my MP-L (it's the 2021 version, though) with some lead-tape and it plays even better now. I think it has quite good access to spin for such a classical frame. But I am definitely not a spin-expert. I hit pretty flat. I played most of my tennis-life on indoor courts.

I think I’m going to avoid the prestige in general.