Official Babolat Strike VS 2022 thread
- Thread starter AceyMan
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socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I started a new thread with this OP asking if anyone can compare the new Strike 97 to the Strike VS.
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I just playtested the new Hyper-G Round in this frame, it was pretty good.
Only thing it lacked was good tension maintenance. Only lasted 4-5hrs before a big tension drop-off, still playable after but required an adjustment period.
I usually look for at least 7-8hrs, personal standard
I'm testing the waters on selling my pair (cheap), in case anyone is interested. Very low mileage and very similar specs (would be easy to match when customizing)
I just can't seem to gel with it. I have used several string setups (I playtested back in 2022 for the forum) and tried a few lead setups.
It just feels like I can't get it to work for me. I want to like it, the specs are great, the 16x20 feels like a more predictable 16x19 and works better for my flatter style. On paper, it is ideal. On the court, I'm just inconsistent. Some days are great and others something just feels off. Compared to other frames I have used I can't consistently find my level or confidence.
Shame really it is such a great racquet. I may tinker a little more but they're out of the bag for now
I just can't seem to gel with it. I have used several string setups (I playtested back in 2022 for the forum) and tried a few lead setups.
It just feels like I can't get it to work for me. I want to like it, the specs are great, the 16x20 feels like a more predictable 16x19 and works better for my flatter style. On paper, it is ideal. On the court, I'm just inconsistent. Some days are great and others something just feels off. Compared to other frames I have used I can't consistently find my level or confidence.
Shame really it is such a great racquet. I may tinker a little more but they're out of the bag for now
yourtennisfit
Professional
So my first match is in the books and I must say even in stock form, it plays great.
I strung up the racquet with 23/22kgs Lynx Tour and it worked great actually - enough spin and a great amount of control
Only thing I was missing was a bit of punch on flat serves and some forgiveness on defense if you just flick the wrist
I will try to fix this with a bit of lead still, but lets see
Positives: volleys felt incredibly stable and controlled, you can switch between spin and flat strokes easily and mostly the slices are an absolute weapon. The only frame I can slice better with would be the ProStaff v13, which makes sense since it is very similar in specs
I strung up the racquet with 23/22kgs Lynx Tour and it worked great actually - enough spin and a great amount of control
Only thing I was missing was a bit of punch on flat serves and some forgiveness on defense if you just flick the wrist
I will try to fix this with a bit of lead still, but lets see
Positives: volleys felt incredibly stable and controlled, you can switch between spin and flat strokes easily and mostly the slices are an absolute weapon. The only frame I can slice better with would be the ProStaff v13, which makes sense since it is very similar in specs
RNBABOLAT
Professional
I would like to make a list of strings that you tried and liked on this racquet... I think the consensus is medium/ high stiff poly in the 1.25g or lower range. So hopefully we can gather a post about good experiences with string condensed in one post for all the new users and people (like me) looking to try something new.
I used this racquet for close to a year and still find confidential my go to... looking to try the TO Firewire
I used this racquet for close to a year and still find confidential my go to... looking to try the TO Firewire
Alcawrath
Professional
I've only tried tour bite 17. It's played really well in it, so I haven't ventured out
RNBABOLAT
Professional
I tried, Confidential with good results (4 hours before it breaks/ reduced playability in the last hour), Tour Bite bit I find it a bit firm at my regular tension but after a few books on top for a few hours is amazing (3 hours with consistent playability), Black Code was just too mushy and lost a lot of feel on the ball considering how important is for me a firm string bed, YPTP yellow was a kind of meh experience considering is a round string but better than YPTS blue way too soft like Black Code and finally Gut/Alu Rough was really new too since I never played a soft string on the mains and I just had the racquet for less than 3 months so I missed a lot of spin and firmness from the stringbed. Next string job is Alu Rough/SP Micronite and my backup with Confidential. RegardsI've only tried tour bite 17. It's played really well in it, so I haven't ventured out
Paulo Braz
Semi-Pro
For those who purchased the pure strike 97 2024, what is the unstrung sw that the racket came with from the factory? Mine came with 290 sw in size L2.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I think I've landed on Confidential 16L/1.25 as my preferred string in the PSVS. I strung at 48lbs, and it plays great. I'm going to string up my other PSVS at 50lbs and see if that is a better starting point. What's amazing is how plush and arm friendly Confidential plays in the PSVS. I remember trying this same string in a friend's prior gen VCore 98 and that entire set up felt awful. In the PSVS you get pop, spin, comfort and enough touch for volleys/shots around the net.
I would like to try Razor Soft as @tim-ay has recommended, as I bet that plays amazing. I played Razor Soft in my 18M Blade, and it was a little under powered in that frame, but I think would compliment the PSVS really well. However, I think I need to settle on a string as my spring season will start up soon. I alrady rolled the dice with a racquet switch before spring, but am so glad that I did. There isn't a place on the court that the PSVS hasn't upped my game. It just brings a little more juice to every shot I hit and is becoming really easy to play with. It took a little bit to adjust to the sweet spot, but the rounded head and sweet spot a little lower in the string bed has really clicked with me. I can't believe how this frame plays as a 97.
I would like to try Razor Soft as @tim-ay has recommended, as I bet that plays amazing. I played Razor Soft in my 18M Blade, and it was a little under powered in that frame, but I think would compliment the PSVS really well. However, I think I need to settle on a string as my spring season will start up soon. I alrady rolled the dice with a racquet switch before spring, but am so glad that I did. There isn't a place on the court that the PSVS hasn't upped my game. It just brings a little more juice to every shot I hit and is becoming really easy to play with. It took a little bit to adjust to the sweet spot, but the rounded head and sweet spot a little lower in the string bed has really clicked with me. I can't believe how this frame plays as a 97.
tim-ay
Legend
I would think Confidential and Razor Soft would play very similarly in the PSVS. I’ll have to try Confidential in a few weeks. Right now both frames are strung with Razor soft @48 and I have a lot of matches coming up.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I think they will play similar too. My suspicion is that Razor Soft may have a little more control and be even more dead feeling. But I think if you like one, you’ll like the other.
tim-ay
Legend
crazy man!!! this is something I would normally doJust making that post talked me into picking up a reel of razor soft .I’m feeling like a hybrid with confidential could be great.
julianokay
Rookie
Would love to know what everyone has landed on in terms of final strung specs for their PSVS!
Mine are:
344g, 32cm balance, ~335SW
Wish it was a little lighter overall but this is what has gotten me to find enough power and also maneuverability for my game.
Mine are:
344g, 32cm balance, ~335SW
Wish it was a little lighter overall but this is what has gotten me to find enough power and also maneuverability for my game.
@julianokay - All depends on who's swinging it. My sister plays matched (by me) PSVS's at 328g/32cm/320sw, with Mayami Big Spin or Genesis Twisted Razor mains / Tru Pro Ghostwire crosses, and loves it. But, she's a 3.0-3.5 and never hits against anyone with real pace, so it works perfectly for her. I on the other hand was up around where you are in static weight, although a lower balance point and swing weight, as I liked it even more whippy/slappy, and it worked for my 4.0-ish level of competition at the time.
I guess that's a long-winded way of saying, it's a great stick at many different specs!
I guess that's a long-winded way of saying, it's a great stick at many different specs!
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I’m at 341g / 31.6 / 329 sw.
I’ve been playing full bed Confidential 1.25 at 49lbs but am about to try Confidential / Razor Soft hybrid and probably a full bed of Razor soft too.
At one point I had 1g more lead at 12 which bumped the SW to 332. The racquet played great at that SW but I like 329 better.
The one thing I have modded the most is around the feel of the racquet. I really didn’t like the leather grip that came stock and I’ve also been playing with foam filled racquets previously (Blade, Elevate). What I’ve done is:
Removed leather
Added Head Hydrosorb grip
7.5g of lead at 7”
3g of memory foam in the handle
This is my preferred set up as it’s removed any ‘pingyness’ and feels more solid/thumpy on contact.
My string set up is the last piece of the equation and some combo of Confidential and/or Razor Soft should do it.
TwinCinema
Professional
Just another data point in this stick’s string insensitivity: I’ve put a couple sessions in now with a full bed of Cyclone 19g @ 46 and it plays great. Very little difference in performance between this and the razor code I had in before - biggest change is in the feel; Cyclone is softer, while razor code is more crisp, but both of them give me the same results on the court. Heavy balls, laser beam angles, wicked volleys, buttery feel in the sweet spot (and harsh shanks outside of it).
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
If anyone is using putty in the butt cap and wants me to cut them some memory foam to try out, let me know. I’ve found that it really gives the PSVS a solid feel and less harsh outside the sweet spot.
And props to @tim-ay for the Razor Soft rec. I love that string in the PSVS. It’s just so darn consistent and controlled.
And props to @tim-ay for the Razor Soft rec. I love that string in the PSVS. It’s just so darn consistent and controlled.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
This contrast became very clear to me hitting tonight. The reward for finding the sweet spot is pure bliss, but outside of it awaits immediate and harsh punishment. Traits of a great racquet.
TwinCinema
Professional
Unlikely. Haven’t seen any decent Babs lower than that, especially ones that retail at 250+
Are you stuffing memory foam into the whole handle, all the way down? Does that actually weigh very much? I usually put 10-15g of putty in handle - would ultimately like to move to silicone at some point maybe, but the putty works well and is so easy to measure, and I really couldn't ask for more comfort in terms fo feel. Maybe it's just getting it to 335+ SW, but I don't feel any harsh vibes outside the sweetspot either...
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I only have 3g of foam in the trap door. It’s cut to 1.5g pieces and each one is crammed into each hole. The staples hold it in place, so it gets very compact in there. I’d think 10-15gs would be really hard without bending the staples out of the way.
I also agree about added weight removing the harshness. I’ve got 3g at 12 and that definitely helps. And then 7.5g at 7” which I think is taking a lot of the vibrations or harshness out of the handle.
julianokay
Rookie
I loved Razor Soft (1.30), but to me it just died too quick... Lost its magic after about 5-6h.
TwinCinema
Professional
The Cyclone 19 I have in now is the orange one; have you noticed if the black plays any different?
I have never played with the orange - I love the black/anthracite, or whatever it's called, though.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
Curious about this setup. I have both of these strings in 17g and may use this hybrid when I send yours back and purchase my own.
Played a set of doubles tonight with the PSVS. Just a pocketing beast. The command/pop balance is exceptional. Solid from every inch of the court and on every shot. Amazing racquet.
The true test will be how it holds up, but for the first session, it was really good. Very plush, but not too powerful. I think the Gtour3 is an amazing cross - I'm going to keep trying different mains with it.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I can't imagine getting better performance than I'm getting out of the HGS 1.30/Cream 1.28 I have in yours currently at 45#. Starting to think this one is not string sensitive. I never thought the PCT was, so maybe this continues that legacy.
I think that's true - and others have mentioned it as well. I haven't really had a truly bad experience with strings in it, though I do like some more than others.
proracketeer
Professional
Velocity/Origin
Well, I went back to the trusty Cyclone/Gtour3 hybrid. I think I'm just hooked on the bite and dwell that setup gives me - I play better with it and was missing the extra dip I get there. My next experiment will be to try the sergetti method with that combo. I have the chart - just need to follow it.
TwinCinema
Professional
I wonder if it’s your cross string that’s really providing the dwell. Because I have a full bed of the Cyclone 19 and I like it a lot, but I’m not really getting much pocketing - not like I get with Blade 98 + Element, for example (at the same tension of 46 lbs). The ball is popping off the stringbed with great control but doesn’t feel like I get dwell time; not saying I’m missing it or unsatisfied, just saying my hitting experience is different.
I don't think that's it - my full bed of Cyclone 19 had tons of dwell - strung at 45lb. Maybe the black is better than the orange?
TwinCinema
Professional
It’s possible! I’ll keep trying different setups regardless.
TwinCinema
Professional
Played my first match in a while today. It was vs. a friend who's a bit below me in level but we've had a few close ones over the last couple years. He's more of a 3.5-ish guy, a little older, and more of a pusher type. Not many errors, extends points by waiting for me to make a mistake. I also have virtually no serve due to my shoulder injury so that evens things out. I brought both my PSVSs in the bag, along with a Blade 98. Intended on only using my main PSVS currently strung with the aforementioned Cyclone 19g orange.
The Cyclone has about 4.5 hrs of play on it, so it should be in a great zone -- still maintaining tension but broken in. Well, I started in a hole immediately. He broke me on the first game (a lengthy one; four deuces) and held the second to put me down 0-2. My groundstrokes just weren't hitting targets. Topspin shots were sailing a little long. Cross-court angles were sailing wide. I didn't have the control I expect from this stick. So for game 3 I decided to pull out the other PSVS, which has Toro Toro in it. I'd previously derided this string as overly stiff and dead, which it is, though it does have good control and great access to spin, which is what I needed today. So I decided to sacrifice the feel and comfort and power of the Cyclone to get some extra spin and accuracy. Boy did that pay off!
I reeled off 3 straight games; he held once more to tie it up at 3-3, but then I never looked back. Won the first set 6-3, then obliterated him in the second set and he retired at 4-0. I just couldn't miss anymore and he can't run me around on the court pushing left and right because my footwork is pretty good. And my topspin was so satisfying. A ton of my forehands looked like they would go long, so he laid off a bunch of them only to stare down helplessly as they dropped onto the baseline. Anyway, this is a long rambling way of saying that sometimes in order to win you might prefer a string that surprises you. I can't say Toro Toro will be my go-to string because I still can't get over how stiff it is, and I know there are strings capable of just as much spin and control but with a little livelier feel -- the best example is razor code 18g white, which is still my favorite string for the PSVS. And there are other setups I need to try. But I think I'm going to bid farewell to the Cyclone until I'm good enough at tennis that I don't need the string to help control my shots so much.
So is the PSVS string-sensitive? I really don't know; probably not. It's an awesome racket even if you put dental floss or red vines in it. But for me, today, it needed a spin monster. Sorry toro toro, shouldn't have insulted you before.
The Cyclone has about 4.5 hrs of play on it, so it should be in a great zone -- still maintaining tension but broken in. Well, I started in a hole immediately. He broke me on the first game (a lengthy one; four deuces) and held the second to put me down 0-2. My groundstrokes just weren't hitting targets. Topspin shots were sailing a little long. Cross-court angles were sailing wide. I didn't have the control I expect from this stick. So for game 3 I decided to pull out the other PSVS, which has Toro Toro in it. I'd previously derided this string as overly stiff and dead, which it is, though it does have good control and great access to spin, which is what I needed today. So I decided to sacrifice the feel and comfort and power of the Cyclone to get some extra spin and accuracy. Boy did that pay off!
I reeled off 3 straight games; he held once more to tie it up at 3-3, but then I never looked back. Won the first set 6-3, then obliterated him in the second set and he retired at 4-0. I just couldn't miss anymore and he can't run me around on the court pushing left and right because my footwork is pretty good. And my topspin was so satisfying. A ton of my forehands looked like they would go long, so he laid off a bunch of them only to stare down helplessly as they dropped onto the baseline. Anyway, this is a long rambling way of saying that sometimes in order to win you might prefer a string that surprises you. I can't say Toro Toro will be my go-to string because I still can't get over how stiff it is, and I know there are strings capable of just as much spin and control but with a little livelier feel -- the best example is razor code 18g white, which is still my favorite string for the PSVS. And there are other setups I need to try. But I think I'm going to bid farewell to the Cyclone until I'm good enough at tennis that I don't need the string to help control my shots so much.
So is the PSVS string-sensitive? I really don't know; probably not. It's an awesome racket even if you put dental floss or red vines in it. But for me, today, it needed a spin monster. Sorry toro toro, shouldn't have insulted you before.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I enjoyed the match write up. I love a roaring comeback.
As for the strings, I haven’t found the PSVS to be string sensitive. I have found it to have more pop than a typical thin beam, players frame. And thus, I’ve gravitated towards dead/control strings.
jsm1373
Rookie
Same here, having grown up using Prince ProBlend and hitting flatter/harder than most, I prefer dead poly. For me Luxilon Adrenaline 130 feels great in the Strike VS (leaded up to a ProStaff-esque HL 360g). Truly never thought I'd ever switch from decades of ProStaffs (multiple flavors of 6.1 and the RF97) but really love the 2022 Strike VS. It and the 2003ish Pure Control are the only Babs I like
Alcawrath
Professional
I've been playing both the last few months and you're spot on. The launch angle, power, and spin is all slightly greater on the PA98 than the PSVS. While others may disagree, I find the consistency and control to be greater on the PSVS, but you feel like your ceiling is higher with the PA98 when you're playing well.
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I just picked one of these up second-hand, and like a lot of the feedback I've seen within this thread, it's pretty under spec. Unstrung it was 305.7g, 312mm balance, and 283sw. Strung with 17g string + OG and damp puts it at 328.6g, 319mm balance, 313sw. I'm debating whether it's even worth hitting stock or going ahead and giving it the lead treatment.
julianokay
Rookie
Give it the lead my friend. I found that with this frame's flex it's really hard to generate any sort of real pace with anything under 325 SW.
tim-ay
Legend
Lead will make it better, no question. You’ll notice that low SW on serve and on forehands if you hit in the top third of the stringbed. Lead fixes both issues.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I come from a long history of much lower twist weight frames, and my loaner PSVS is probably no more than 320-322SW with a few grams at 12, but I can feel the chunk and stability much more in the PSVS compared to the EZ98 I'm hitting side-by-side with it. Maybe it's just perspective and what you're accustomed to, but 14.6TW at 320SW is impressive and hitting a pretty big ball for me. There's always a compromise, though, and I don't like clubby swinging frames. I do like clubby 'feeling' frames, and this one offers that in a manageable package for me.
jsm1373
Rookie
Maybe I'm just old/outdated, but can't fathom how so many outstanding juniors at my local club use stock non-VS Strikes, Blades, Aeros, etc and hit big. For my $0.02 its unfathomable to use any stock Babolat (except the Rafa Origin) without lots of lead.
But obviously it's waaaaaay easier to add weight than to take it off, so makes business sense to make them light stock and let folks add weight if they prefer.
But obviously it's waaaaaay easier to add weight than to take it off, so makes business sense to make them light stock and let folks add weight if they prefer.
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