Need help choosing next racquet

[ServeOut]

I currently live in Brazil and cannot demo rackets, so based on reviews, I am torn between two control rackets, the Head Gravity Pro, and the Blade V9 18x20. Choosing the Blade, will I be missing out by not opting for the Gravity Pro? The reviews for it are very positive. And I know that the V9 don't have any reviews yet.

Is the blade a little less demanding than the Gravity?

Recent rackets: Head Speed MP, and a Head I.Radical MP (18x20), the last one made me realise that I prefer a denser patern.

 

[socallefty]

You are less likely to feel FOMO if you stick with your brand that you’ve been using for a few years. Go with the Head.

 

[AmericanTwist]

If you are a stronger player you'll want to add a bit of weight to the blade. The v9 is basically the same as the v8 so you can save some money with the v8. The 98 has a denser pattern so blade > GP. Both are great frames. If you play against bigger servers then the GP will be more forgiving. The GP has a bit more power too (a little less control however).

 

[jimmy8]

Gravity pro is dang heavy. You're going to swing late on fast balls coming to you. You will only be able to volley very slow balls coming to you.

Blade is not really a control racket. It is an all around racket with pretty good control. Much easier to swing than a gravity pro.

If you don't mind the weight, then you can go gravity pro, but I say go for the blade.

 

[jimmy8]

Really good control racket: wilson ultra pro v4

You can get 16x19 (my preference) or 18x20.

Maybe the best control you can get from a 97 sqin or similar sized racket.

 

[KC!]

Blade is definitely easier to play with than the GP. I owned a pair of Gravity Pro’s & actually hit with my buddies Blade V9 today. Both are excellent control frames with excellent control & feel. My favorite shot with both of them is the slice.

 

[PRS]

I agree with socallefty. You're used to Head racquets, so if you can't demo racquets, it's safer to stick with Head.

 

[Trip]

@ServeOut - Yep, agree with @socallefty and @PRS. Considering you're coming from Head lineage, and you can't demo, I would stick with what will likely feel more familiar and pick the Gravity Pro. If at all possible, try and source through a supplier who can measure swing weight, and take the lowest swing weight frame(s) they have.

 

[ServeOut]

thanks for the replies, I just bought a Gravity Pro, was watching this racquet for a long time and I would regret if I didn't gave it a shot. Unfortunately it was the last one and there is simply no more Gravity Pros in Brazil right now, they are sold out, so I couldn't choose the SW, they measured the weight with the board and the plastic grip 331g.

 

[fuzz nation]

thanks for the replies, I just bought a Gravity Pro, was watching this racquet for a long time and I would regret if I didn't gave it a shot. Unfortunately it was the last one and there is simply no more Gravity Pros in Brazil right now, they are sold out, so I couldn't choose the SW, they measured the weight with the board and the plastic grip 331g.

Good luck with your new frame!!

I don't expect the racquet preferences of everybody else to be the same as mine, but I've never been wild about racquets that I consider to be less than relative "middleweights" in the neighborhood of 11.3-11.4 oz. I was a serve and volley'er as a kid - more of an all court player now - and I've always felt more at home with a racquet having enough mass to feel stable through the ball from everywhere on the court. That's just me.

Your new racquet might seem rather unfamiliar when you start out with it, especially if you're switching from the Speed MP and i.Radical. Even if the Gravity Pro seems a little heavy for you at first, I'd say give yourself a little time with it to see how things progress - at least a few months along with sampling a couple different string setups. You might like it exactly the way it is.

If the racquet gives you some sense that it's a little sluggish when you handle it up around the net or swing it from the baseline, you could always try adding a little weight to the handle to give it a little more head-light balance. There are a few ways to do this, but I've always found it easy enough to put some lead tape on top of my replacement grip and then cover that with an overgrip.

Many racquets can give many of us a much better fit if they include a balance that makes them feel more familiar when we handle them. Swing weight on its own doesn't tell us much about a certain racquet's personality compared with knowing a combo of other specs including static weight, balance, and flex. This racquet could be great for you as long as it has the right balance for you.

 

[ServeOut]

Thanks for the tips, I was always told to pick frames around 10.6-8 oz, but since I hit with a 12oz K-Factor Six One 90 Tour, I've changed my mind. I understand that maybe I will take some time to get used to the weight, but I don't think it will be too much.
I'm a big guy, 6'3 and 100kg.

 

[PRS]

Thanks for the tips, I was always told to pick frames around 10.6-8 oz, but since I hit with a 12oz K-Factor Six One 90 Tour, I've changed my mind. I understand that maybe I will take some time to get used to the weight, but I don't think it will be too much.
I'm a big guy, 6'3 and 100kg.

Yeah, I don't think you'll have any issue with the weight then.