New Racket Ventures? (Moving on from PS97)

[sombi]

For those who played with the PS and moved on, what racket did you switch to?

So, I've been playing tennis for quite sometime (28 yrs old today - played as a Junior for 10+ years) and getting back to the sport on regular basis in the last 3+ years.
I played with the BLX Pro Tour ever since I was teenager (14+) for 10 years +- which in retrospect was a terrible choice.
Although gave me lots of control, a pretty heavy racket which does not compliment my heavy spin technique.

Getting back to Tennis, I purchased a 16x19 Wilson blade v6 which I didn't like at all, it was so low powered and felt flimsy.
I then moved to Pro Staff 97 - started with v11 and recently upgraded to v13 (both the 315gr version) - been playing with the PS for around 3+ years now.

I don't know why it took so long, but I am realizing how hard of a racket it is to be playing with. Although I am familiar with the weight and balance (similar to the BLX), and do benefit from the precision and control, the racket is not forgiving in no way whatsoever and can sometimes be a burden.

I recently played a couple of hours with the Head Radical MP and it was a pleasant racket all-in-all. My 2 handed backhand felt better using this racket than the PS, and it was easier to swing and I felt it had a larger sweet spot. I am not sure if this is the racket for me, but I am quite sure I need to move on from the PS.

I am looking into trying the Babolat Pure Aero 98 and I am asking how much of a dramatic change does this sound?
I understand that I will need to try it myself before making any changes but want to get general advice and maybe clarification of somethings I might be missing.

I play a two-handed backhand, with a heavy spin forehand and big serve, I try to attack the ball most of the time, and sometime do not feel as comfortable hitting from the baseline (Which might be a tiny bit related to the fact that I am playing with the PS97). I wonder if playing with the PS (or that kind of similar setup for so long) made me adjust to the racket instead of having the racket adjust to my game instead.

Would love to hear any thoughts!

 

[maxplough]

Others will have good recommendations re specific frames, but my advice would be to do a few weeks of testing with a decent number of demo frames before settling on something and sticking with it. We joke about the descent into racquetaholism, but seriously, I recommend avoiding it.

 

[Djinn]

Have yourself a tournament of racquets if you are able to. For example, pick 8 racquets.

Round 1: 4 matches with 2 racquets facing off in each match
Round 2: 2 matches with 4 of your favorites from round 1 facing off against 1 other racquet
Finals: pick your favorite

It’s a longer process, but it’s a nice way to test many racquets and weigh all the pros and cons of each. That way there’s no doubt in your mind.

1. Babolat Pure Aero 98
2. Head Extreme Tour
3. Head Radical MP
4. Wilson Blade v8
5. Yonex Ezone 98
6. Yonex VCore 98
7. Tecnifibre TFight ISO
8. Wilson Shift 300

Others to consider: Head Speed, Head Gravity, etc.

 

[CVT]

I would put the Head Speed Pro (probably not MP if you are coming from the PS97) over the Radical MP. More control than the radical, more forgiving than the ProStaff, and a feel that would be a logical step away from the ProStaff. It is a forgiving head size, a player's makeup, and a control stringbed. The part of the change which may or may not work for you is switching to 18x20. It gives such excellent control, but may or may not suit your spin game. I would use a thinner gauge string to help that adjustment.

 

[TennisManiac]

Pro Staff V14

It's an slight improvement from the V13. You may be surprised.

 

[kabrac]

Also as a previous user of the BLX Pro Tour...that has to be the tightest string pattern....I've ever seeennn, anywhere. And only we would know that. I wish I hadn't sold mine. Love the Mellow Yellow color way, the way my non tennis hand felt around the throat of that racquet...etc. etc. Never string them tight lol. Like a 6.1 95 18x20....and a Ncode Pro Open, with a Pure Drive throat had a 3 way. Was a very weird racquet, but I'm a very weird guy

 

[sombi]

@kabrac Hahah it is the tightest string bed I’ve ever seen for sure. My synthetic strings lasted maybe 10 years on that racket, never broke cause of how tight they are.

What racket are you playing with today?

 

[kabrac]

@kabrac Hahah it is the tightest string bed I’ve ever seen for sure. My synthetic strings lasted maybe 10 years on that racket, never broke cause of how tight they are.

What racket are you playing with today?

Exactly, they came with stock string and I never have to cut them out, let only reposition them. Been a various racquet ***** since before I owned those. I did really like them. Nowadays I stick with older Head, Babolat, Yonex, and some Volkls. After trying so many racquets, I now know what I tend to play best with and what I should stay away from. I've just always enjoyed the feel, control, how they swing, or spin aspects of different racquets. It's a fun hobby but I've had to cut back...$$$. Currently playing with a Babolat Pure Storm GT Limited that I found new....was sitting in my bag for a couple yrs and I finally strung it. Love frames that can maintain good feel either with a cheap string or an expensive poly.

 

[TheBoom]

For those who played with the PS and moved on, what racket did you switch to?

So, I've been playing tennis for quite sometime (28 yrs old today - played as a Junior for 10+ years) and getting back to the sport on regular basis in the last 3+ years.
I played with the BLX Pro Tour ever since I was teenager (14+) for 10 years +- which in retrospect was a terrible choice.
Although gave me lots of control, a pretty heavy racket which does not compliment my heavy spin technique.

Getting back to Tennis, I purchased a 16x19 Wilson blade v6 which I didn't like at all, it was so low powered and felt flimsy.
I then moved to Pro Staff 97 - started with v11 and recently upgraded to v13 (both the 315gr version) - been playing with the PS for around 3+ years now.

I don't know why it took so long, but I am realizing how hard of a racket it is to be playing with. Although I am familiar with the weight and balance (similar to the BLX), and do benefit from the precision and control, the racket is not forgiving in no way whatsoever and can sometimes be a burden.

I recently played a couple of hours with the Head Radical MP and it was a pleasant racket all-in-all. My 2 handed backhand felt better using this racket than the PS, and it was easier to swing and I felt it had a larger sweet spot. I am not sure if this is the racket for me, but I am quite sure I need to move on from the PS.

I am looking into trying the Babolat Pure Aero 98 and I am asking how much of a dramatic change does this sound?
I understand that I will need to try it myself before making any changes but want to get general advice and maybe clarification of somethings I might be missing.

I play a two-handed backhand, with a heavy spin forehand and big serve, I try to attack the ball most of the time, and sometime do not feel as comfortable hitting from the baseline (Which might be a tiny bit related to the fact that I am playing with the PS97). I wonder if playing with the PS (or that kind of similar setup for so long) made me adjust to the racket instead of having the racket adjust to my game instead.

Would love to hear any thoughts!

The PA 98 is one of the easiest control rackets to pick up and play with IMO. It’s very stable for its weight. It’ll be a change and you’ll miss out on feel for sure, maybe some plow through (that’s easily fixed with weight as needed).

I guess it really depends on what you want, but there’s a reason so many people are switching to it. Almost all the benefits of a PA 100 but with the control of a players racket

 

[PRS]

To answer your first question, as a former pro staff user, I went to the Yonex Duel G 330 to the Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20 to the Yonex Vcore pro 97HD.

That being said, it doesn't sound like you should take the same journey as me. I'm just going to echo a few of the racquets Djinn mentioned that also came to mind for me:

Pure Aero 98
Head Radical MP
Wilson Shift
Yonex Ezone 98
Yonex Vcore 98
Solinco Whiteout
Solinco blackout

I think you need to demo a variety of racquets to try and get a better idea of what you're really looking for in a racquet though. Sounds like you need a change, but it's hard to say for sure what will be best for you until you try a little more of a variety.