NTRP 4.5: Tweener Racquet vs. Adjusting to Player's Racquet

[slushkey]

Hi all, seeking racquet advice--

For my first four years of playing, I've used a Pure Drive. As a former collegiate soccer player who employs a counter-punching style, I've weaseled my way up to a 4.5 ladder. Eastern, flat-ish forehand; top spinny defensive 2HBH; lots of drop shots/variety in pace and depth; grinding.

I've historically dismissed the importance of equipment, instead working on strategy, form, etc. But as I've learned to generate my own power, and as the margins have gotten thinner, I'm considering moving to a more "control" oriented racquet.

Perusing this forum's advice led me to demo the EZONE 100. I really like it, seems "as advertised": a more controlled version of my current stick. Meanwhile I'm simultaneously demoing the even more more controlled EZONE 98 and I find it difficult.

Should I go with an easy switch (e.g. EZONE 100), push myself a bit (e.g. EZONE 98), or perhaps leap to a different advanced "player's" racquet that could drive long term development (suggestions welcome)? I know I don't need a new racquet to reach the next level, but could a racquet change help me improve faster or raise my peak level? Thank you in advance!

Edit: I'd rather not spend a lot of time customizing my racquet, if that's what a player's racquet may require.

 

[Soundbyte]

Tons of good options to demo to find what suits you:
Ezone 98
Blade 98
Pure Aero 98
Pure Strike 97
Pro Staff 97
Head Speed MP/Pro
Head Boom Pro
Solinco Whiteout
Dunlop CX 400 Tour
Wilson Shift

If you want more "players frames":
Head Prestige Tour/Pro
Head Gravity Pro
Dunlop Cx200 or Tour

This is not an inclusive list. But there are literally tons of great options these days for frames.

 

[mavsman149]

Pure Drives and EZone 100 and 98 are all fantastic racquets that are good for 4.5's all the way to the pro game. It sounds like you prefer the EZone 100 to your Pure Drive and to the EZone 98, that would be my suggestion!

Using a thin beamed racquet with a 95 head will not push you to be better, finding the right racquet for your game can help a bit.

One thing I'd recommend, if you haven't restrung your Pure Drive recently I'd start there. I feel a lot of people who tend to ignore equipment like you said you tend to do, start to dislike their old racquets when really it just needs new strings.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[shadow10]

You might also want to try the TF40 line from Tecnifibre. I (4.0-4.5) use the 305 18x20 and it is amazing! Even though it’s a control oriented racket which I love, I can still produce a lot of topspin when I need. My string of choice to go with it is Tourna’s big hitter silver 7 tour at 17g/1.25mm. String is obviously a big factor so definitely try out different combos.

 

[AmericanTwist]

Since you are now familiar with Yonex I would suggest trying vcore 95 and percept 97D and 100D to get a better idea if you think you can play with player frames. Prince 100x, ATS 95, phantom 100, head gravity pro don't need much extra weight as these can be played stock.

 

[ZeroandOne]

Ezone 100 seems fine. Don't go down the wormhole of racquets.

 

[jimmy8]

I think you should go for a 100 sqin racket because I think that will serve you while playing defense. I say try a Vcore 100 also.

 

[amarg]

Given your level and game description, I think it is too much of a transition from Pure Drive to Ezone 98 (or even another -more of a- player's racquet).
Ezone 100, on the other hand, is not far off from the PD. It is just a more controlled and comfortable version of it.
My suggestion is to try frames in the middle of the spectrum, but towards the player's side, like Dunlop CX 400 Tour (my frame of choice), Yonex Percept 100 or 100D, Head Speed MP (though the last version has rather high swingweight).
These frames have a -middle of the ground- 23mm beam, great control, more than adequate power for attacking game, allow you to address defensive situations with more ease than a <=98 player's frame and are quite comfortable.
You can use them stock and they will let you grow your technique, without hindering your current game.

 

[slushkey]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll likely end up with the EZONE 100, but I'm going to do one more demo with 16x19 / 100in racquets slightly more controlled than the EZ that have similar specs: Pure Strike 3rd Gen; Dunlop CX 400 Tour; Yonex Percept. They all have very similar weights and balance, but are slightly lower stiffness/higher swing weight/a little thinner beamed than the Pure Drive and EZ100.

 

[ChipReturns]

100 Sq in 16x19 tweener racquets are great, but it might be worth demoing something different, a true control racquet to see if you can get more out of your game that way. I’d recommend, the blade, percept 100D, or speed pro

 

[TheRareCreature]

I’d recommend trying a Head Gravity Pro unless you specifically want to go below 100 in.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Find a tennis friend who’s got a lot of different frames and ask to try them out or ask your opponent/partner at social/club to have a couple of hits with their stick.

Coming from babolat, Prince & Tecnifbre are your best Bets...or if you want to stay with Babolat then go back and buy a second hand Pure Control

Thin beam supremacy

 

[johnmccabe]

It's not a tradition here to look at a video before making recommendations. But I think a video of a few point plays can make a huge difference in narrowing down the choices.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

What in particular did you find difficult about the Ezone 98?

 

[TennisViking]

Just keep in mind that when you demo racquets like the Ezone 98, Pure Aero 98 etc, i.e. more control oriented racquets than your Ezone 100, you need to demo them in a match setting. Just rallying for fun is very, very different to playing a tough match.

I have with age (now 50+) and less than ideal knee, started to prefer Ezone 100 and similar racquets. Before I used more control oriented racquets but these days I play better with a powerful frame. I do still try all kinds of racquets but every time I play a match, I can see that control oriented racquets are for me a bit demanding to produce powerful strikes consistently, especially when pressed in a true match situation.

I often hit really well with more demanding racquets when training and just rallying and I often think I should go back to this kind of frames, but then when I play a match, I realise they don´t work for me.

However, that is me. Point just being that "training" is one thing, and "match" is another thing.

 

[Internety]

The moment you switch to a players frame you will miss the easy power the Pure Drive provides.

 

[Jono123]

I owned the PD for years and also have an eastern FH and similar rating . I would agree with some earlier replies and say your choice should be either a Ezone 98 or a Blade 98. I would avoid the 100's in both.

Blade has more control whereas the Ezone has more power but I found it somewhat erratic. But if you can handle the weight I'd go for the Gravity Pro as its superior to both IMO