Picking racquets to demo

[Fedaykin]

I need help picking racquets to demo and buy. I have been researching nonstop for over a week but really don’t know what to pick or the best way to demo racquets. I am an intermediate high school tennis player I (try) to play counter puncher, I am currently using a Wilson Federer control 103 but I am long overdue for a new racquet. I hit fairly flat shots, have a two handed backhand, and hit a hard serve. I am wanting to get a high dollar racquet that I can use for the rest of high school. If anyone has any suggestions for racquets or ways to find/choose them it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jdx2112]

Wilson Federer control 103 looks to be a very light racquet. If you're in high school, you should be able to handle a 300-305 gram racquet...limit yourself to 100" for now

HEAD:
Gravity MP
Speed MP

WILSON:
Blade 100

YONEX:
Ezone 100

BABOLAT:
Pure Aero 100
Pure Drive 100
Pure Strike 100

 

[Fedaykin]

Thanks, I’ve been looking at the speed MP and blade, I don’t know how heavy of a racquet I like but I am a big guy (6-5), so would that be better for me?

 

[Fintft]

Shift 300 with added weight at 12.
A Prestige or a prostock such as 293.1 (I don't think that you can demo prostocks though).

 

[Curtennis]

Ezone 100 absolutely.
Great head size/shape to keep up with the clean hitting you're used to with your 103 head.
Somewhat tight 16/19 to keep up with your usual launch angle, flat hitting.
Hits bombs of serves.
Great quality control so you're pretty sure to get one that was built as it was meant to be.

Speed MP as a runner up.

 

[Fedaykin]

Would you guys recommend demoing through tennis warehouse or somewhere else? I can’t find any local shops I can demo at. Tennis warehouse is kinda lacking in stock for some racquets.

 

[Curtennis]

Would you guys recommend demoing through tennis warehouse or somewhere else? I can’t find any local shops I can demo at. Tennis warehouse is kinda lacking in stock for some racquets.

They generally come back in stock pretty fast. Unless you’re under a time crunch I’d probably just stick to TW.

I personally hate demoing racquets at all. But when I do demo I prefer to get the demos with Multi. Poly can just be so hit or miss depending on the tension it’s strung at, age of it, brand, thickness etc.

I find it easier to compare racquets with multis as they don’t differ nearly as much as poly.
Just need to know what to expect with multi in general.

 

[Fedaykin]

They generally come back in stock pretty fast. Unless you’re under a time crunch I’d probably just stick to TW.

I personally hate demoing racquets at all. But when I do demo I prefer to get the demos with Multi. Poly can just be so hit or miss depending on the tension it’s strung at, age of it, brand, thickness etc.

I find it easier to compare racquets with multis as they don’t differ nearly as much as poly.
Just need to know what to expect with multi in general.

Ok thanks, I’ll keep multi in mind for demos. How should I go about picking strings when I buy a racquet?

Do you think the Enzone 100 speed MP are good for volleys in doubles? I play net a lot in doubles with my size.

 

[Mischko]

Stick to Blade v9 98 16x19 or Blade v9 100, but probably the 98 since you're tall and have more power in your swings, even if you demo and perhaps initially prefer the 100. Other brands will feel and swing differently from Wilson, and Blade v9 is fabulous, no need to change. Put a forgiving string into it, like Solinco Tour Bite Soft 1.25 at a medium tension, a white Wilson Pro overgrip, and you're good to go

Even if you do go with something else don't be surprised if you decide to go back to Blade v9 after a while, after your first choice just doesn't feel right. For example, Ezone 100 has a very wide elyptical beam which gives it huge power, and it's cool in the beginning, but after a while you learn that you can only swing it in one specific way so to speak, or that you hit with a frame a lot, mishits on volleys fly all over the place etc, because of its wide beam elyptical design, and more. Speed MP, last two gens were very launchy, they send the ball too high, so you're forced to spin to control, and many balls fly long, and this new Speed MP is made to have lower trajectory, but you have to hit much harder, so not bad not great either.

Stick to Blade 98/100, it's the best optimized of them all, and you'll get both control and power, good spin, and a lot of stability and forgiveness for your doubles volleys, it's fabulous on volleys and returns. For your size, and long arms, it's important you have reasonable control to be able to release your swings more freely

On this forum you'll get 400 recommendations from 100 different posters, but very few are coaches or of similar experience, so the advice is all over the place all the time

 

[Fedaykin]

Ok, my only hesitation about the blade 98 is that I tend to frame shots more than I should, is the blade too much of a downsize?
Accidentally sent so editing now…
3/8 is perfect size for me is it more worth it to get that size or a 1/4 and use an overgrip. I’ve had to completely regrip my current racquet a couple times.

I’ve got a couple of friends that have used the blade in the past and highly recommend it. I’m definitely gonna demo it and the speed MP, do you have any recommendations for a third demo? It’s not any more so I may as well.

 

[time_fly]

Ok, so we have a 6'5" high school intermediate player, currently plays a light 103" frame, plays doubles and tries to play a consistent / counter-punching style. Mostly hits flat. I'd look at 100" control-oriented frames, ideally more of a mid-weight frame than a light frame. But you can always add weight, and you might want to start somewhat light and build it up based on your current frame.

My picks: Dunlop CX 400 Tour, Prince ATS Textreme Tour 100P, Yonex Percept 100 (or, if you're feeling more adventurous, try the 100D), Blade 100.

If the jump in weight is too much try the Head Gravity MP, Head Boom MP, and Blade 104.

 

[Mischko]

Everyone always plays with an overgrip, it's a must practically. Once you get used to it you'll understand why. And wristbands are a must also, 30ish% cotton ones are the best, such as adidas, so that your sweat doesn't flow down to your hands, so that your overgrip doesn't become an ocean while playing

You're tall, grip 2 is too small for you. I'm slightly shorter than you, and I play with grip 4, but I do have large hands

Difficult to know whether you would frame balls with a 98, I don't know how you swing, and I don't know what your current racquet plays like etc. Blade 98 will like a flatter swing, not so much upwards swinging, so I don't think framing would be an issue, but you'll be the best judge. If your tennis level is still low then Blade 100 might be better, but not so much because of framing or not, but because it will give you easier ball depth with shorter swings, and Blade 98 will definitely demand fuller longer swings at all times. Both will allow for full power, they are controlled enough, balls won't sail long. But you'll decide for yourself if you demo them, difficult to help you more through the forum here

If you're demoing 3 racquets I'd go with Blade v9 98 16x19 and 100 and Yonex 100D actually. People say nice things about new Dunlop CX 400 Tour, haven't tried it

Strings in demo racquets are very important, and shops send demos with whatever. Often they put some stiff string, and string it very tight so it feels like a board, or some tester restrings like that for themselves, and the shop doesn't cut it out and restring afterwards etc. You absolutely must feel a nice juicy sweet spot in any racquet you play with, otherwise it's a pointless demo, so you need it strung at lower tension and with softer strings if it feels boardy and underpowered. It's not the racquet's fault if it feels bad, is what I'm trying to say, every racquet has a nice sweet spot with the correct string setup

 

[Fedaykin]

So the difference in the Yonex Percept 100 vs 100D is string pattern right? Should I try out some racquets with tighter string patterns?

How does it compare to the ezone?

 

[Mischko]

So the difference in the Yonex Percept 100 vs 100D is string pattern right? Should I try out some racquets with tighter string patterns?

How does it compare to the ezone?

Most racquets with 18 strings in mains are very demanding, made for very advanced players. Blade 18x20 for example

But Yonex 100D is more accessible, because of the wider beam, stiffer construction and larger head size, all of which give more power. It's a very playable racquet overall, but I'd still demo it first, and with low string tension. It's a slightly more demanding racquet than Blade 100, maybe too much for you, but only you can test them and know for sure

And it's not a Percept 100 but with extra strings, they are not the same thing

It's a flat boxier beam racquet, it means more consistent string bed, while Ezone is a pronounced elyptical beam, very wide and thin, meaning more power but less consistency over the stringbed, and with different kinds of swings

 

[Fedaykin]

Ok, good to keep in mind, thanks!

My Wilson control 103 is quite head heavy (8 points I think) it’s hard to find stuff on cause they don’t make them anymore. Is a head light racquet like the Blade or Percept gonna be a huge adjustment? I know most higher end racquets are HL but should I be trying some more middle of the range?

Thanks so much for the responses, I plan on demoing the week after next and this is a huge help!

 

[Mischko]

The lighter racquets are less mass is added to the handle in production. If you added 20g of silicone to the handle you'd arrive to a similar balance to Blade 100 or so. In other words, the carbon part of the racquet is of similar weight, maybe a bit lighter with your racquet, but not 30g lighter, however super light racquets for beginners, like your Control 103, don't have any weight added to the handle at the factory

Blade 100 or Percept 100D do have a piece of iron added to the handle at the factory to balance them correctly, pro players have silicone in the handle etc. Also, your racquet is much cheaper, a Blade 100 is way better made, in terms of carbon fibre quality, vibration dampening, stability etc. Once you get used to it your Control 103 will probably feel as if made of cardboard or similar, flimsy and weak

And it's not just weight or balance that you're comparing, swingweight is the most important measure, that's how much weight there is to swing in the head of the racquet, higher sw means more difficult to swing but easier depth, blocking and more power if you can swing it correctly. You should aim for sw between 315 and 325 kgcm2

Your racquet is way too light for you anyway, so don't worry about any of that, just test Blade v9 100 to begin with, and then go from there

 

[Fedaykin]

Ok thanks for all the help! This has been very informative. I plan on demoing the blade v9 100 (I can always move to a 98 later on down the line), the Yonex Percept 100D, and the head speed MP. I’ll try to remember to send an update in a couple weeks with what I end up choosing. Or if I have any future questions with adding weight, various strings, and such.

 

[AmericanTwist]

If your aim (hitting the string bed well) is good you can play with 97 or 98 sized frames. Blade v9 16x19 for more spin; 18x20 for more control. Ultra Pro v4 - ditto string pattern comment are frames to try. If you wanna try 95 frames, Yonex Vcore 95, Dunlop cx 200 tour, and Prince ATS 95.

At 6'5" you should be playing with a L4 or L5 grip I would think.

 

[Fedaykin]

I got my demos, I love the Wilson blade. It feels amazing! I’m planning on buying one soon. Do you have any recommendations about choosing strings?

 

[Mischko]

Good strings for high school and juniors, are medium firm poly strings that give solid power, all 1.25. Yonex Drive, Head Lynx, Babolat RPM Team, Solinco Tour Bite Soft

 

[Fedaykin]

I ordered a Wilson blade 100, thank you all so much