New racquet recommendations?

[Mob]

Hello everyone,

I'm searching for a new tennis racquet to enhance my game. Currently, I'm using the Wilson Blade V8 18x20, and I've improved my forehand technique with good spin and racquet head speed. While the racquet served me well, I'm now interested in trying a 16x19 pattern racquet with better spin potential, especially for serves. I want a racquet that allows me to generate more slice and topspin on my serves compared to my current one, and maybe with a higher launch angle with forehands/backhands. Plus, as I am stringing my own racquet, a 16x19 pattern is a bit nicer to string, making it a convenient choice for me. Thanks in advance.

 

[ulunxtns]

Whiteout 16x19

 

[jdx2112]

PA 98…launch angle isn’t super high but more spin than not

 

[Mob]

Whiteout 16x19

Oh, "thanks" for the incredibly "informative" oneliner. Really blew me away with all that "helpful" information!

 

[Mob]

PA 98…launch angle isn’t super high but more spin than not

I find this option interesting. I used to have a Pure Drive, but I didn't quite enjoy its stiffness. For now, I think I'll pass on trying Babolat racquets. Thanks anyway.

 

[ulunxtns]

Oh, "thanks" for the incredibly "informative" oneliner. Really blew me away with all that "helpful" information!

You need a racquet recommendation, I gave you one. I'm trying to help you, you don't have to be sarcastic, that's not nice.

Also, you only said you play Blade 18x20, wanted a 16x19, nothing else more useful info to consider. Whiteout has similar characteristics to Blade. Almost identical weight, balance, swingweight, beam width. The slightly higher RA gives you more pop on serve which you were asking for. I thought it was a good option for you.

You're here asking for help, so be nice to the members.

 

[jimmy8]

Hello everyone,

I'm searching for a new tennis racquet to enhance my game. Currently, I'm using the Wilson Blade V8 18x20, and I've improved my forehand technique with good spin and racquet head speed. While the racquet served me well, I'm now interested in trying a 16x19 pattern racquet with better spin potential, especially for serves. I want a racquet that allows me to generate more slice and topspin on my serves compared to my current one, and maybe with a higher launch angle with forehands/backhands. Plus, as I am stringing my own racquet, a 16x19 pattern is a bit nicer to string, making it a convenient choice for me. Thanks in advance.

Head Extreme Tour - lots of spin, good pop, still good control, not too stiff, not too soft, just right

 

[jimmy8]

Wilson Shift 300 - it's 16x20 - still good spin. Good control. Not that stiff - it's laterally flexible, it's torsionally stiff - very stable. Very maneuverable. Amazing racket.

 

[Mob]

Head Extreme Tour - lots of spin, good pop, still good control, not too stiff, not too soft, just right

Thanks. I will definetely demo this racquet.

Wilson Shift 300 - it's 16x20 - still good spin. Good control. Not that stiff - it's laterally flexible, it's torsionally stiff - very stable. Very maneuverable. Amazing racket.

Interesting. I’ll put this on the list as well.

Thanks a ton.

 

[Mob]

You need a racquet recommendation, I gave you one. I'm trying to help you, you don't have to be sarcastic, that's not nice.

Also, you only said you play Blade 18x20, wanted a 16x19, nothing else more useful info to consider. Whiteout has similar characteristics to Blade. Almost identical weight, balance, swingweight, beam width. The slightly higher RA gives you more pop on serve which you were asking for. I thought it was a good option for you.

You're here asking for help, so be nice to the members.

Oh, wow! Thanks for stating the obvious now. It's not like I mentioned my preference for a 16x19 pattern, better spin potential with serves, and higher launch angle in my original message or anything. But hey, thanks for catching up.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

VC98 , EZ 98.
To avoid a 1 liner.
Yonex are better, they are made in Japan. EZ98 is lower launch, but juicier on serve, more versatile. VC98 is more spin friendly, but not quite as amazing on serves.
I am assuming you might be newer to tennis than someone playing for 20 years, so you should definitely try the EZ98 since it is better on serves than almost any stick from anyone else. More potential to unlock that serve.

 

[Mob]

VC98 , EZ 98.
To avoid a 1 liner.
Yonex are better, they are made in Japan. EZ98 is lower launch, but juicier on serve, more versatile. VC98 is more spin friendly, but not quite as amazing on serves.
I am assuming you might be newer to tennis than someone playing for 20 years, so you should definitely try the EZ98 since it is better on serves than almost any stick from anyone else. More potential to unlock that serve.

Yonex racquets do have a good reputation, and I appreciate your suggestion. I'll definitely add them to my demo list for consideration. Thanks!

 

[dr. godmode]

inserting one liner on Radical MP

 

[3loudboys]

Prince Textreme Tour 98 - comfortable, spin friendly with excellent plough thru - solid 325 SW. Fan of Twaron in rackets as it adds some dampening to the response. Worth a demo.

 

[SupahMan5000]

Oh, wow! Thanks for stating the obvious now. It's not like I mentioned my preference for a 16x19 pattern, better spin potential with serves, and higher launch angle in my original message or anything. But hey, thanks for catching up.

Have you considered that Whiteout 16x19 might fit all those characteristics? Hence being suggested to you?

 

[Mob]

Have you considered that Whiteout 16x19 might fit all those characteristics? Hence being suggested to you?

I have but these one-liners hold little value due to their lack of explanation or reasoning. As a result, I see them unhelpful and ultimately pointless in contributing to the discussion.

 

[Mob]

Prince Textreme Tour 98 - comfortable, spin friendly with excellent plough thru - solid 325 SW. Fan of Twaron in rackets as it adds some dampening to the response. Worth a demo.

Thanks. Added to the list. Prince is interesting racquet - never tried it before.

 

[MaiTai]

I have but these one-liners hold little value due to their lack of explanation or reasoning. As a result, I see them unhelpful and ultimately pointless in contributing to the discussion.

Hello everyone,

I'm searching for a new tennis racquet to enhance my game. […] I want a racquet that allows me to generate more slice and topspin on my serves compared to my current one, and maybe with a higher launch angle with forehands/backhands.

So what is there to discuss? You asked for racket recommendations with your mentioned attributes and you did get suggestions.
You didn’t ask for explanations or reasonings, Pros or Cons etc.
So what did you expect besides a One Liner or simple recommendations.
Learn how to ask or phrase properly if you want a more detailed answer, instead of being a Bit** about answers which simply are what you've asked for.

 

[Mob]

So what is there to discuss? You asked for racket recommendations with your mentioned attributes and you did get suggestions.
You didn’t ask for explanations or reasonings, Pros or Cons etc.
So what did you expect besides a One Liner or simple recommendations.
Learn how to ask or phrase properly if you want a more detailed answer, instead of being a Bit** about answers which simply are what you've asked for.

I appreciate the recommendations I received, and I understand that my initial question might not have explicitly asked for in-depth explanations. However, I believe that more detailed insights could have been valuable to make an informed decision. Moving forward, I'll be sure to phrase my questions more explicitly to encourage the kind of responses I'm looking for. Let's keep the discussion constructive and focused on helping each other. Thank you.

 

[PRS]

All good suggestions from others. I don't want to complicate your search too much since you already have a good list, so I'll just say this; have you thought about the blade 16x19? If you're wanting more of a change, definitely go with one of the other suggestions, but if you are pretty happy with the blade 18x20 but just want a small change, them trying the 16x19 version is definitely with a shot. Some of the other suggestions will be pretty significant changes, I'm just not sure if that's good or bad for what you're looking for.

 

[Mob]

All good suggestions from others. I don't want to complicate your search too much since you already have a good list, so I'll just say this; have you thought about the blade 16x19? If you're wanting more of a change, definitely go with one of the other suggestions, but if you are pretty happy with the blade 18x20 but just want a small change, them trying the 16x19 version is definitely with a shot. Some of the other suggestions will be pretty significant changes, I'm just not sure if that's good or bad for what you're looking for.

This is definitely a good idea. I'm quite satisfied with the Wilson blade v8 18x20, but I've noticed that I'm having difficulty applying slice and topspin on my serves like I used to. Additionally, the launch angle feels a bit too low for my preference. I wonder if trying a Wilson blade v8 16x19 could provide a higher launch angle and better suit my playing style.

 

[ClownCar96]

VC98 , EZ 98.
To avoid a 1 liner.
Yonex are better, they are made in Japan. EZ98 is lower launch, but juicier on serve, more versatile. VC98 is more spin friendly, but not quite as amazing on serves.
I am assuming you might be newer to tennis than someone playing for 20 years, so you should definitely try the EZ98 since it is better on serves than almost any stick from anyone else. More potential to unlock that serve.

+1. Get the EZ98 and be done. I have a lightly used VC98 23' and VC100 if anyone is interested PM me.

 

[Mob]

Thank you, everyone! I'll be demoing the racquets based on your suggestions:

• Head Extreme Tour
• Wilson Shift 300
• Yonex VC 98 2023
• Yonex EZ 98
• Prince Textreme Tour 98
• Wilson Blade V8 16x19

With this selection, I should have plenty of racquets to choose from.

 

[Chris Wilson]

I transitioned away from the Blade 18x20 a few years ago. One of the trick things about the move was finding another racket with good feel. Yonex rackets (Vcore, Ezone) are good, but they're disconnected from the ball. I'd echo the suggestions above for the Head Extreme Tour and the Prince ATS 98. I used the Extreme Tour for a little while after the Blade, and I thought of it as a "spinnier" Blade. I ended up moving away from it because it always seemed underpowered -- the Blade 18x20 hits a heavy ball, in part because of its heft. The Prince ATS 98 is just a great feeling racket -- good spin, solid and substantial, and good feel. Definitely worth a try. And there's always the Blade 16x19, or even a Blade Pro if you want a really great feeling racket. Both would have better spin potential than the Blade 18x20, but not as much as the Extreme Tour. For what it's worth, I moved from the Blade to the Dunlop CX400 Tour; great racket, great feel, spinnier than the Blade but not really a spin frame. You could try that for a step up in power and spin. I've since moved on to the Shift 315. You could consider that too --- it's an 18x20, but more spin friendly than the Blade, but with great feel and mass like the Blade.