New racquet for 40+ y/o male

M

MUZZA1973

Rookie
Hi Guys,

Looking to get back into the swing of things...pardon the pun!

Have made some big changes to my health and lifestyle etc i'm looking to get back into tennis along with other forms of exercise.

Have played for many years and even played at a top level as a junior.

I'm 42 and are 6'4" and really wanting to get back into hitting once/twice a week for fitness as i'm also commencing more cross training these days.

Looking at the following racquets and would love thoughts and advice on these.

Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Head Graphene XT Prestige Mid Plus
Yonex VCORE Duel G 97(310)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Thanks in advance

Muzza
 
Welcome back to this great game. From your description of yourself i think you could adjust to any of these. Can you indicate something about the racquets you used to play with, and what you liked about them? That might help inform any response given.

PS: Where are you located (i'm thinking in terms of demo availability)?
 
Does TW Australia have a demo service? If so it would make sense to use that to get a real world feel for each of the options.

From your 2 listed racquets note that both are still available, either new or used. There are still many ported Prince racquets around - and the ports give additional comfort and expanded sweetspot. The Prince Tour 100 is an excellent all round bat. Prestiges on the whole are harder to use.

Looking at your list:

Wilson Blade 98 (18x20) - a lighter players stick that retains weight in the head and therefore plays a little more head heavy than the others. However, gets stability and plough through, and has a wide following. 18/20 therefore more control orientated, flatter hit with less spin.
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro - 16/19 spinner prestige. Smaller head than blade in reality. On the lower powered and control orientated side of things.
Head Graphene XT Prestige Mid Plus - as above but 18/20 and even lower powered and more control. If you have long swings and a lot of your own power this may work. Otherwise, other options are more promising.
Yonex VCORE Duel G 97(310) - i've not hit that one.
Yonex EZONE DR 98 - promised a lot but never delivered for me, but has done for many others. Thicker beam than Duel G and Tour G before it, so plays a little clunkier. However, low launch (like an 18/20) and control orientated. For me needs to be strung low in a poly, or a syn gut/multi.
 
Welcome back to the game!! Did you like your Prince frames? If you did, they have a great new line out called Textreme, and you might look at some of those, also, the Tour 16x18 and 18x20 are both great frames as well. Honestly, you can have fun and burn calories with any 100% graphite frame (not the cheapo aluminum frames!!) At this point, make sure you get the correct grip size, and pick one you like the look of, and is comfortable to hit with. Most importantly, have fun, and enjoy the game!!
 
MUZZA1973 said:
Hi Guys,

Looking to get back into the swing of things...pardon the pun!

Have made some big changes to my health and lifestyle etc i'm looking to get back into tennis along with other forms of exercise.

Have played for many years and even played at a top level as a junior.

I'm 42 and are 6'4" and really wanting to get back into hitting once/twice a week for fitness as i'm also commencing more cross training these days.

Looking at the following racquets and would love thoughts and advice on these.

Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Head Graphene XT Prestige Mid Plus
Yonex VCORE Duel G 97(310)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Thanks in advance

Muzza
Click to expand...

The blade 98 is tremendously popular with good juniors and college players right now (Mostly the 18x20, but I see some 16x19s as well)
 
Please consider Radical MPA (you have choice of 16×16 and 16×19) which I think will be great...
 
MUZZA1973 said:
Hi Guys,

Looking to get back into the swing of things...pardon the pun!

Have made some big changes to my health and lifestyle etc i'm looking to get back into tennis along with other forms of exercise.

Have played for many years and even played at a top level as a junior.

I'm 42 and are 6'4" and really wanting to get back into hitting once/twice a week for fitness as i'm also commencing more cross training these days.

Looking at the following racquets and would love thoughts and advice on these.

Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Head Graphene XT Prestige Mid Plus
Yonex VCORE Duel G 97(310)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Thanks in advance

Muzza
Click to expand...

I'd go with the DR98 or Blade. Maybe consider a 16x19 blade
 
I have a couple of guys in my sports club who are 40+ that use DR 98. It's a great frame, good sweet spot, very plush feel and great overall balance. I would recommend you demo it.
 
42 yr old 4.5 player.

Just bought a Yonex VCORE Duel G 97(310). Hit with it once so far, second time will be in 2 hours. First hit: I would call it a 97 sq inch last generation PS90 which was my main stick (my favorite), so this Yonex might do the trick (bit more power and more forgiving head size). I bet i love it tonight.

I own a Prestige MP Graphene (not the XT). Ok enough racket, but does not feel near as solid as the Yonex or Wilson. Big serves. Lots of younger guys around here play with it and smack the hell out of balls. It's like they own a Babolat or Head Prestige or nothing else.

I own the PS97 and RF97. RF97 is too much for me now. I really do like the PS97 and think it gets a bad rap. Super solid.

I never liked the larger blades, only really blades are the 93 sq inch ones :)
 
Thanks to all that replied.

Narrowed down to the following and will endeavor to playtest in due course..
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Cheers
Muzz
 
sma1001 said:
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20) - a lighter players stick that retains weight in the head and therefore plays a little more head heavy than the others. However, gets stability and plough through, and has a wide following. 18/20 therefore more control orientated, flatter hit with less spin.
Click to expand...

Completely disagree, this was true of the earlier models but latest black-green model is a spin monster with a lot of punch and average control.
 
Will be visiting a tennis shop on Thursday to demo the following 3 Ive narrowed down to.
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Yonex EZONE DR 98
 
MUZZA1973 said:
Will be visiting a tennis shop on Thursday to demo the following 3 Ive narrowed down to.
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Yonex EZONE DR 98
Click to expand...

What i like about this list is the variety - each of these is quite different from the others. Once you've chosen one (assuming one does work well for you) then you are closer to knowing what you like in terms of head shape, size, weight and string pattern.
 
After a bit of a hit into the net at my local pro store, i've narrowed down to the following..
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Unsure what string they put into these sticks. Now looking for a comfy poly to suit.
All input appreciated.

Cheers
 
I'd go Yonex as a brand over Wilson. Yonex are trying to sell themselves as a quality brand, Wilson as a celebrity player brand. Wilson tend to be lower quality and looser tolerance than Yonex from what I've seen, but a small sample size.
Don't like the hitting into a net method of racquet selection, better than nothing but generally not representative of actual hitting. Gets a feel of static and dynamic weight but not effect on ball.
I'd go DR98 over Blade 98. I'd throw volkl cyclone 16, spiky shark? Or yonex tour poly in it and take if from there. Tension 54lb. I'd buy tourne 1/2" lead tape and fiddle.
 
I tend to agree that Wilson QC standards are not great. But of you order from TW or TWE you can have them test a batch and get one with the right specs for you. YY tolerances are better but that doesn't make the DR98 better than the Blade when you get the specs you want. I'm afraid that, for me, the DR98 underperformed, as did the Ai98 for that matter. I wanted to love it but i just couldn't get a lot out of it. Launch angle was low and there was less forgiveness than i'd expect from this type of stick. My advice: if you go DR98 take the tension down a little to give yourself the chance to get something out of it.
 
MUZZA1973 said:
After a bit of a hit into the net at my local pro store, i've narrowed down to the following..
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Unsure what string they put into these sticks. Now looking for a comfy poly to suit.
All input appreciated.

Cheers
Click to expand...

I like Tourna Big Hitter Silver as a baseline string. It puts on respectable spin, comfortable for poly, settles well and inexpensive - you get a well rounded middle of the road result from which you can go to crisper, spinier string or soften things up with advanced natural-gut/poly hybrid.

String DR98 with 16G at 50lbs
String Blade98 with 17G at 48lbs
 
MUZZA1973 said:
Hi Guys,

Looking to get back into the swing of things...pardon the pun!

Have made some big changes to my health and lifestyle etc i'm looking to get back into tennis along with other forms of exercise.

Have played for many years and even played at a top level as a junior.

I'm 42 and are 6'4" and really wanting to get back into hitting once/twice a week for fitness as i'm also commencing more cross training these days.

Looking at the following racquets and would love thoughts and advice on these.

Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
Head Graphene XT Prestige Mid Plus
Yonex VCORE Duel G 97(310)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Thanks in advance

Muzza
Click to expand...
You probably never heard of Angell rackets? Paul Angell started his own company after many years working in the tennis industry. The rackets are amazing, built with total quality and are worth a try. You can get demos from advanced rackets in the US. There is an Angel forum you should look at, good luck !!
 
MUZZA1973 said:
After a bit of a hit into the net at my local pro store, i've narrowed down to the following..
Wilson Blade 98 (18x20)
Yonex EZONE DR 98

Unsure what string they put into these sticks. Now looking for a comfy poly to suit.
All input appreciated.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Coming from a Babolat PCT, I demoed and bought the Blade 98 18x20 back in April, but it didn't work out. Inexplicably, I found it hard to reconcile its unique attributes and control it. Others don't have that problem. My search continued until on a whim I bought the XT Prestige Pro just to try out. I hit it for a week and liked it but concluded that other frames compared favorably but were easier to use overall. For the past month, I've been hitting a friend's DR 98. In an earlier demo, I dismissed it, but I've grown to really like this frame and will make it my own.

Anton said:
. . .

String DR98 with 16G at 50lbs
String Blade98 with 17G at 48lbs
Click to expand...

These are good suggestions in my experience.
 
Welcome back to the game! I came back a couple years ago after a relatively long absence and it had a lot to with health reasons as well. I'd go with the Blade 98 personally. Great racquet that you can customize if you end up wanting it a bit heavier or with higher swing weight. But of course it really comes down to what feels best for you. Both are great sticks. As far as strings, a soft poly will be relatively arm friendly (thought not like gut or multi). I usually either string 4G or Kirschbaum pro line II. 53 lbs is a good starting point and you can adjust up or down from there. I string at 50 in my RF97 and 48 in my OG Prestige Pros. Good luck and let us know what you end up with!
 
If possible, I'd recommend you take the frames onto a court. See how they feel on defense, etc. That being said, either from will serve you well. (Pun intended...)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Don't use plumbers putty when you weight up the handle. It will go up in the frame and you'll end up with a racquet that is extra head heavy no matter what you do.
 
May I suggest to just use your old frames? Nothing new has changed the game. Pros still use old frames under new PJ.

You might want to try the new poly strings though. Or a gut/poly hybrid, this will be something if you haven't try any of these strings since your college years.

Edit to add, if you don't have frames anymore, try Yonex first (best quality) and Prince second (best feel).
 
AMGF said:
May I suggest to just use your old frames? Nothing new has changed the game. Pros still use old frames under new PJ.

You might want to try the new poly strings though. Or a gut/poly hybrid, this will be something if you haven't try any of these strings since your college years.

Edit to add, if you don't have frames anymore, try Yonex first (best quality) and Prince second (best feel).
Click to expand...

Best advice I've read so far. If you still have your old frames, they're probably better than what you can buy these days. String technology has come a long way so you can probably achieve the desired feel with type and tension. Welcome back to the game!
 
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