Play tests for a forgiving player’s-ish racket/ help me choose

Julian.Peter

New User
If it is more about control and a good feeling, less about power (Ezone, Speed MP, Strike), I would add the Gravity Tour and Radical MP. For a good balance between control and power / spin, Solinco Whiteout 18x20 could also be a nice option.
 

Asquared

New User
If it is more about control and a good feeling, less about power (Ezone, Speed MP, Strike), I would add the Gravity Tour and Radical MP. For a good balance between control and power / spin, Solinco Whiteout 18x20 could also be a nice option.
Thanks for the suggestions, Julian. I actually have the Gravity Tour in my next group of play tests to come, together with Pure Aero 98 and Percept 100.

Now that the Gravity Pro has me considering 18/20s, I did wonder about the Whiteout. How do you think it compares to GPro or Tour?
 

mauricem

Semi-Pro
I was exclusively using Blade 100 V8 till I tried a Shift 99 300, lots more pop and spin and surprisingly comfortable when weighted up to about 320. I still like the Blade and use it when results are not important but always go back to the Shift in fixture matches due to its increased to potential to weaponise my shots.
 

Asquared

New User
EZ and VC have similar power.

EZone is more dense, lower launch
Vcore is more open, higher launch, VC has more throat flex
Thanks for this - sort of what I was assuming. I have a hunch that the Percept is the other Yonex racket for me to check out. Going with the 100 but I do realize that given how much I liked the Gravity that maybe the 100D is the one I’d end up liking. Trying to balance testing rackets that give me greater forgiveness/spin/higher launch and rackets that give me greater control than my heavier Volkl. We’ll see if anything seems to give me both in the right balance - I think it’s possible because the weight of the Volkl sort of gives me too much plow sometimes and not enough spin or makes me late on some swings.
 

Asquared

New User
I was exclusively using Blade 100 V8 till I tried a Shift 99 300, lots more pop and spin and surprisingly comfortable when weighted up to about 320. I still like the Blade and use it when results are not important but always go back to the Shift in fixture matches due to its increased to potential to weaponise my shots.

I was exclusively using Blade 100 V8 till I tried a Shift 99 300, lots more pop and spin and surprisingly comfortable when weighted up to about 320. I still like the Blade and use it when results are not important but always go back to the Shift in fixture matches due to its increased to potential to weaponise my shots.
I’ll admit I wondered about the Shift too but I sort of suspected it would be more spin-oriented than I need and that something like the PA 98, Ezone 98 would give me what I want at slightly higher static weight too.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Thanks for this - sort of what I was assuming. I have a hunch that the Percept is the other Yonex racket for me to check out. Going with the 100 but I do realize that given how much I liked the Gravity that maybe the 100D is the one I’d end up liking. Trying to balance testing rackets that give me greater forgiveness/spin/higher launch and rackets that give me greater control than my heavier Volkl. We’ll see if anything seems to give me both in the right balance - I think it’s possible because the weight of the Volkl sort of gives me too much plow sometimes and not enough spin or makes me late on some swings.
I'm a longtime Volkl guy - C10 and O10 325g have been in my stable for a while (plus a try with the V-Sense 10). My attempts with trying lighter frames in recent years have brought no better than mixed results and it would seem that there's too much old-school racquet design baked into my tennis DNA for me to make a substantial change. My Volkls are around 12.5 oz. with some weight added to their handles for more familiar balance that fits me well.

Racquets like the LM Radical mp and Blade 98 (16x19) never worked out for me - I gave them at least a few months of steady play to hopefully adjustment to them including some tuning, but no luck. My most recent adventures have included the Prince Phantom 97P and the Dunlop CX 200 Tour with the 18x20 pattern. The Phantom 97 is rather nice given that I'm so receptive to old-school frames, but I've only found it to be a little more manageable than my C10's - more control, but less top end thump when I want that.

Dunlop... The CX 200 Tour is a tiny bit on the light side for me, but I prefer it stock compared to any setups I sampled when tuning with lead tape. Very good racquet that does exactly what I tell it to do and nothing extra - including providing free power. Its feel and feedback are great for me - soft-ish, but not so ultra-bendy-flexy like the Phantom when that frame is paired with a softer string bed. If I had to try any other racquet from any brand today, I'd absolutely be looking at Dunlop. Some apparent sleepers in their stable include the CX 200 OS, FX 500 Tour, and SX 300 Tour.

Hard for me to believe that the CX 200 Tour with the more open 16x19 string pattern would be remarkably different from the 18x20's I have now, but I'll probably try one out if I spot something affordable in the used realm.
 

Julian.Peter

New User
Thanks for the suggestions, Julian. I actually have the Gravity Tour in my next group of play tests to come, together with Pure Aero 98 and Percept 100.

Now that the Gravity Pro has me considering 18/20s, I did wonder about the Whiteout. How do you think it compares to GPro or Tour?
Hey,
I think the Whiteout means more power than both GP and GTand significantly more spin. Feel is about what you prefer. All of these rackets are very solid / stable. The GP the most of the three. The GT the last but still very stable and if you get one which is overspeced, it matches both WO and GP in stability. The WO feels more modern, the Gs more classic. WO is foam filled which makes the racket feel softer than it is, a little dampened but still very good touch. You must like the foam filled feeling of the WO to like the feel.
The GT is the easiest to play, The GP the most precise and hardest to swing. All of them have very good accuracy. WO ist just the more modern stick, Gs the better and more classic feel in my opinion. Just try all of them. I think GT ist a good middle of the road for everybody who could get tired with the high swingweight of GP in the long run.
Do you play single handed or double handed backhand? All of them should work, but WO and GT will swing easier than GP. I think the slimmer 98" WO will swing the easiest on the single handed backhand.
Cheers!
Julian
 
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blue12

Semi-Pro
Can't go wrong with the speed mp imo. I'm using the previous model and hit against a 6.0 who crushes it. It's just all around solid once u get used to hi
 
Other than the weight and the unforgiving aspect, did you like the Volkl Super G? If so, have you considered the Volvo C10 EVO? The reviews have been very positive. In my personal experience, and based on my observations, I have found that Volkl frames provide a unique experience in comfort and playability (and the unique Volkl grip shape), and while one may stray from Volkl, many return.
 

Asquared

New User
fuzz nation and stephen, good points about Volkls. My Volkl journey was CX10 to the Super G, then at some point I went back to the CX10s but recently I decided to go back to regular length and picked up the Super G and liked the greater directional control of the stiffer racket and the ability to swing with more power with the std length and still keep the ball in.

My starting to demo new rackets of other brands was stirred up by me picking up someone else’s Speed Graphene and realizing that maybe I play better with it. Decided to try the 300g weight class and while I have liked several, I think I put the Pure Aero a bit above the Blade 100 and Speed MP - the greater degree of spin adds something to my game in the form of greater ability to swing hard and more upward and keep it in but deep. I am able to hit winners more too, both flat-ish and short angle topspin winners.

The Gravity Pro and Ezone 98 are still among my top contenders because I do like the added weight of these; it’s very familiar feeling but also gives some weight to my second serve while also allowing for enough spin to feel a lot of safety in swinging out.

I may end up back with Volkl at some point but to be honest I haven’t tried the EVO because I kind of assumed it would be pretty similar to my Super G. By the way, after the two rounds of demos I’ve done, I went back to my Super G for a bit to make sure I wasn’t playing better with the demos just because of the novelty; it’s pretty definite I play better with most of these rackets than my Super G.
 
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Asquared

New User
Hey,
I think the Whiteout means more power than both GP and GTand significantly more spin. Feel is about what you prefer. All of these rackets are very solid / stable. The GP the most of the three. The GT the last but still very stable and if you get one which is overspeced, it matches both WO and GP in stability. The WO feels more modern, the Gs more classic. WO is foam filled which makes the racket feel softer than it is, a little dampened but still very good touch. You must like the foam filled feeling of the WO to like the feel.
The GT is the easiest to play, The GP the most precise and hardest to swing. All of them have very good accuracy. WO ist just the more modern stick, Gs the better and more classic feel in my opinion. Just try all of them. I think GT ist a good middle of the road for everybody who could get tired with the high swingweight of GP in the long run.
Do you play single handed or double handed backhand? All of them should work, but WO and GT will swing easier than GP. I think the slimmer 98" WO will swing the easiest on the single handed backhand.
Cheers!
Julian
Julian, thanks for these very detailed descriptions comparing the GP and GT and WO. I think I’ll be able to decide after I play with the GT if I’m going to continue demoing and try the WO.
 

Asquared

New User
Fuzz and Alex, interesting about Dunlops, you’ve got me considering these if I keep demoing past the ones I have coming. I am seriously considering getting a Gravity Pro and a SCX300 as an approximation of the Pure Aero, for the price of one Babolat or Yonex. That way I could choose between different styles of rackets depending on my mood, who I’m playing, singles or doubles, etc. Anyone try both 2023 Pure Aero and the SX300 and can comment on how similar they play? Also wondering about SX300 Tour and how similar to PA98 it might be.
 

Julian.Peter

New User
Julian, thanks for these very detailed descriptions comparing the GP and GT and WO. I think I’ll be able to decide after I play with the GT if I’m going to continue demoing and try the WO.
Good idea. Both will be less fatigating than the GP in long matches. By the way don't worry about people stating the Gravitys suffer spin potential. The GP is a little less, that is true, but it is still an open 18x20 due to the head size and absolutely sufficient if you know how to generate spin by technic. I own a GT which is strung with Poly Tour Rev and this one has pretty high launch angle and huge spin due to the big snapback of this string in the open 18x20 pattern. GT also generates a little more spin than GP from the wider beam. If the GT was a little more quick through the air on my one handed backhand, this could be my racket if choice. I think Gravity Tour and Blade 100 are the easiest to play, forgiving but very controlled frames with good feel on the market. Enjoy your playtest!
 

Asquared

New User
I haven’t had any luck getting a PA98 demo so based on what’s available looks like my next round of playtests will be Gravity Tour, Percept 100D and the Head Speed Pro. Will be an 18 mains test at 300g, 305 and 310 I guess! Will be interesting to see if any of these feel like the perfect balance of control and a touch more power than I was getting from the Gravity Pro. Loved the Pure Aero but wanted something where I could hit through the court a bit more which I think might be the PA98 but not sure if it’s worth it for me to wait to get my hands on one of those alone if I find other rackets that I’m happy with. Will the control be more like the EZ98, which feels like not quite enough control for me? I also wonder how the 16x20 compares to the 18x19 of the 100D, and how much the power/control level compares to the GT if anyone has direct experience comparing with either.
 
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Julian.Peter

New User
Control.will be great for GT, 100D and SP. Feel the best with GT, second 100D, last SP in my opinion but this is very subjective. All of them are good for playtesting and should give more power than the GP. The GP is powerful too, but it is more mass driven from accelerating big swing weight which is not easy in ever on court situation. Si the others will provide more easy power while still being basicall medium power rackets. Depending on the strings, you can still get a lot of power from all of them. My GT strung with Poly Tour Rev has massive spin and power at low-medium tension, but I get sufficient power with nearly every racket and I think the power impression depends on the strikes you make. Speed Pro will have mist power if the three for sure while still being ver controlled. None of them are pinpoint precision rackets but don't worry, the control is great with all of them.

If you are lacking control with Ezone 98, what exactly was your issue? It is the most controlled power racket. Directional control and precision are great. Super ci trolled low launch angle. Maybe it was more about lack of feel due to massive dampening technology in the Ezone or just the power itself? Could also be about the strings, experience with the same frame can be much different depending on the strings.

Anyway, good choice for playtesting. Just check what feels right and works for you on court, try different strings (compare all with same strings and tension to see the actuals playability difference if the frames!) and maybe check Blade 100 if you don't find any of the other three being right for you. Blade 100 is also superb all-round forgiving control and easy to play players racket.
 

Asquared

New User
Good question about the Ezone. Against most people I played great with it - good directional control, good pop and enough control to keep it in the lines. Where I ran into trouble was against a hard hitter who uses pretty aggressive topspin - in that case I just couldn’t keep my replies in the court. I was able to keep my reply shots mostly in with the Blade 100, Head Speed, Gravity Pro and Pure Aero 100 so I don’t think the right solution is to change my swing with the Ezone, though I’m tempted to because the Ezone is the most fun to play with and maybe I should try to hit with more topspin, less flat, and maybe take a little power off it. Would love another play test with the Ezone so I’ll consider it if i still don’t have a favorite after the next group of playtest rackets for me.
 

Julian.Peter

New User
Coming back to the title being about a "forgiving player’s-ish" racket, I think Ezine is not first choice despite the fact that it is a great racket if you don't worry about the muted feel. It is the mist controlled power racket, but this dies not make it a player's racket like for my understanding if what a player's racket should be. I think about very good feel, high co trol and precision as well as not very muc power as the player should be able to create it himself. Ezone crushes with good precision and control when hitting hard and can also be used for short strokes pushing the ball without any good racket head speed. I have seen several Ezone users just blocking and pushing the ball as this racket allows to do so while still having sufficient depth without any big swing or head speed. That should also be the reason why most pushers use power rackets or oversized power rackets.

Anyway, very good frame if you are OK with the muted feel.

Back to a forgiving players racket, assuming feel and control are priority for you, again Head Gravity Tour or Wilson Blade 100 are my recommendation. Much better fell with both conpared to Ezone. Very easy to play. Still big power if you swing big, especially the Blade 100. More callsic players racket will be less head size and less forgiving I think. Go for one of these if you really want something in-between a player's racket and good forgiveness, maybe a little more power to.

If you see you want even more power and don't want to go up in weight, Ezone is good choice again or Speed Pro when +10g is OK for you.

By the way, maybe also try Head Radical MP. It is quite forgiving for a semi tight 16x19 pattern in a 98" I think. I switched from Pro Staff 97 to it for some forgiveness, a little more easy power and easier swing after also trying Ezone 98 which was to muted for me while performing very good (I also really didn't like the Yonex grip shape and the throat design was bad for handling my one handed backhand with the non hitting hand). Radical MP works great for me overall and I only sacrifice some feel comparing to Pro Staff (nothing else feels as great as Pro Staff 97 V13) while everything became a little easier with the Radical and I still get very good control, precision, low launch, good slice, a little more pop on serve and not to much loss in feel.
 

Trip

Legend
It is the most controlled power racket. Directional control and precision are great. Super ci trolled low launch angle.
I would slightly correct this. This EZ98 is arguably the most precise power frame, but not necessarily the most controlled overall. It still has a very hot string bed and that injects a lot of immediate energy at contact, and if the player isn't closing the face properly and/or imparting enough swipe, it can and will get launch-y, more often than most of the more boxy, classically-designed frames (Super G included). So, while still a great frame obviously, the EZ tends be a bit more compatible with newer-school, swipey-er, more next-gen mechanics, and less so the older more classically flatter-hitting type, which is potentially more of where @Asquared is coming from. Could he alter his technique enough to suit the frame? Maybe. But then you kind of get into the debate of "efficient vs. effective" – would doing so actually amount to anything he cares about (more winning, or more anything else)? If his spidey sense is already mixed now, I'm not sure the answer would ever be "Yes". But who knows. I've been plenty wrong before.

As for the inclination to return to more of a flatter-hitting "pleener" style frame, that's more in-line with my original suggestions, and I think it will ultimately be the place to give him the best middle ground on all qualities. Playing devil's advocate again, will that be the best move for the most winning tennis? Not sure there, either, but these kinds of frames will probably be a more natural fit right away, and that often leads to at least more consistent tennis, which, often leads to more winning tennis, which can make the decision right there, if indeed winning more is the main goal.
 
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jimdontcare

Semi-Pro
Coming back to the title being about a "forgiving player’s-ish" racket, I think Ezine is not first choice despite the fact that it is a great racket if you don't worry about the muted feel. It is the mist controlled power racket, but this dies not make it a player's racket like for my understanding if what a player's racket should be.

Been lurking on this thread and want to second this idea (echoes some of Trip’s thoughts too). I’ve come to believe racquets have “DNA” that shape how a racquet feels to play. Data-based results might be pretty much the same, between two racquets of different DNA, but a player might not have the same confidence between the two. Ultimately this comes down to feel, either on contact or when swinging. Or both.

I bring this up because the Ezone’s DNA is a power frame. Wide beam, aerodynamic, more firm than not. On paper, it is similar to many other 98s, but my contention is that there’s a difference between a controlled power frame and a powerful controlled frame. The EZ98 is excellent at many things, but I think there’s a reason it’s in the hands of attackers at the highest level—it supplements but also reigns in the power and precision those players require.

Anyway, I think the Ezone (and other power frames) is great for players who derive confidence from the *type* of ball they produce. Others will derive confidence from the “connection” they have to the ball. The power player is ok with occasional fliers because they trust in their ability to make magic with the racquet enough to overcome their opponent. The control player is ok with losing depth and maybe even a flier so long as they can “feel” it happen because they trust in their ability to adjust and do better next time. There’s definitely a point in which either player could be so stuck in one way of thinking that they’re harming their game (eg maybe a control player should really examine whether they are capable of consistently making the adjustments necessary), but in general I think it’s ok confidence comes from different sources.
 

Julian.Peter

New User
I would slightly correct this. This EZ98 is arguably the most precise power frame, but not necessarily the most controlled overall. It still has a very hot string bed and that injects a lot of immediate energy at contact, and if the player isn't closing the face properly and/or imparting enough swipe, it can and will get launch-y, more often than most of the more boxy, classically-designed frames (Super G included). So, while still a great frame obviously, the EZ tends be a bit more compatible with newer-school, swipey-er, more next-gen mechanics, and less so the older more classically flatter-hitting type, which is potentially more of where @Asquared is coming from. Could he alter his technique enough to suit the frame? Maybe. But then you kind of get into the debate of "efficient vs. effective" – would doing so actually amount to anything he cares about (more winning, or more anything else)? If his spidey sense is already mixed now, I'm not sure the answer would ever be "Yes". But who knows. I've been plenty wrong before.

As for the inclination to return to more of a flatter-hitting "pleener" style frame, that's more in-line with my original suggestions, and I think it will ultimately be the place to give him the best middle ground on all qualities. Playing devil's advocate again, will that be the best move for the most winning tennis? Not sure there, either, but these kinds of frames will probably be a more natural fit right away, and that often leads to at least more consistent tennis, which, often leads to more winning tennis, which can make the decision right there, if indeed winning more is the main goal.
OK could also mean precision, but it clearly is more basically controlled then other frames in terms of low launch angle, maybe even if you could be right regarding the stringbed performance and some hit spots. I didn't feel it with the Ezone as I couldn't say if I hit cleanly or not due to the excessive dampening. Thats why I switched back to another racket. Performance was great but I struggled with the handle shape and dampening.
 

Asquared

New User
You guys have hit the nail on the head on a lot of things I’ve been considering, and DNA of the frames and me as a player come into play:

Ezone - the argument for me getting this racket is that I do play quite well with this against most people I play with. It allowed me to hit a bigger ball more consistently than I can with the Super G, with good directional control, and the pace often forces errors from my opponents. As for the hard hitter that exposed the control problems I had against hard hits, I was only able to test against him once and I might just need to learn to hit with a more topspin against him. This is ok with me in the sense that my technique has been changing in recent years in that direction, and my forehand has drifted from eastern leaning to full semi western. Might the Percept 100D be the fit I’m looking for instead?

GPro- has the classic racket DNA of beam and weight that feel familiar to me, while adding some modern tech. The Gravity Tour might be the solution to my feeling that it sometimes felt underpowered or too heavy; or adjusting string tension. The argument for me going GPro is that I do think it will encourage me to have even better technique, and I loved the feeling of being able to swing out and feel like it would almost never fly out.

Pure aero - seriously considering getting one of these as my doubles racket or forgiving frame or for when I feel like hitting more top, or against the hard hitting topspinner, rather than getting two matched G Pros. The variety would be fun.
 

Trip

Legend
Sounds like you need more evaluation time, as the EZ98, GPro (maybe GTour) and PA23 are all fairly different from one another, and while it sounds like you could make any one of them work, there's probably an "optimal" in there some where that splits all the differences best for you.

As for the multi-racquet thing, if you think it would just be super fun, then awesome (many of us 'holics enjoy it!), but as for playing your best tennis over time, it tends to hold people back beyond a certain point more often than not. So if being your best competitive self is high on the list of priorities, I would probably try and settle on a single stick for all scenarios and opponents. Again, that's if the competitive piece is of a certain amount of importance, or more.
 

Jono123

Professional
The Gpro and the other frames aren't in the same league. You're talking about a 340g racquet here. The Gpro is forgiving but not that accurate despite the 18 mains. Ive also owned a Blade 100 which is on the other weight spectrum.

The EZ is your best frame here , even though I had control issues with it. Personally, I go for a 16x19 Blade, far superior or if you can handle the weight, a pro stock, which is the same as the Gpro (340G). Mine is the most comfortable frame I've ever hit with.
 

Asquared

New User
Got to hit a bit with the GT, 100D and Speed Pro. All excellent rackets: the GT has a lot of that plush and stable feel I like from the GPro with definitely more power (maybe a shade too much) and maneuverability from the lighter weight, but it also feels a tad unstable at times. On that front, the Speed Pro felt more solid, probably owing some to it being 310 grams, and it had good power but maybe the launch angle felt a bit low and I wasn’t able to get as much spin as with the GT and the Percept. Serve on all 3 quite good, and the Percept gave me the most swing-out control and predictability on groundies and surprising power when you really clock it. Playing more this weekend including some doubles so I’ll come back with more impressions after those hitting sessions.
 

Asquared

New User
A few more thoughts after mixed doubles today:

All of these rackets are pretty great for someone with a swing path like mine - driving the ball more than going for heavy topspin.

The Percept 100D has emerged as the favorite among these three, and the overall co-favorite with the GPro. Very controlled but also allowed me to swing out and when I hit it right on; I could hit zoomy winners, enough spin potential for some safety that made the launch angle feel higher than the Speed Pro and probably higher than the G Tour too. Felt very much like the Blade and I served well with it when I dialed it in. Does feel a shade light for me but my results were best with this.

The G Tour was great on serve and felt heavier and more stable even though it’s the same weight as the 100D. Love the plush feel and weightiness but unfortunately there’s too much power here on the groundies. Do you guys think the power level of the Pure Aero 98 is similar to the G Tour? If so, maybe I don’t really need to try the PA98.

For people who follow Yonex racket prices; do they ever go on discount? Wondering if I get the G Pro now and pick up a 100D later if there’s ever a good sale on it or it drops in price the way the Speed Pro and Blade 98 18x20 are selling for less right now. Similarly, will Ezone 98s go on sale before or just after the new model hits?

Essentially, the Percept is the best “everything in one racket” for me but I enjoyed the feel of the G Tour and Pro because of plushness and what the weight added to my shots. It was a bit of a relief to get back to the feel of the GT after playing well with the Percept. And I partly just think it might be better for my arm and my strokes to simply go with the racket with more mass so that my arm absorbs less.

That could be mitigated by me stringing with softer string and lower tension on the Percept and maybe adding some weight. Or I go with the GPro and string looser, maybe even ask TW to give me one under spec for slightly lower static weight.
 

Asquared

New User
Completed play tests on this round of rackets by playing doubles with the guys and came out to pretty much the same place: the Percept 100D is a great all around racket for me - great mix of control and power that is accessible when I really want to crank it up. I played almost as well with the G Tour but in the end I think the things I like about it are things I like about the GPro too, with a bit more control and stability in the GP.

Ultimately, I think I’m likely going with the GP and trying to get one that’s under spec on static weight because I think I have a higher upper bound with it as a player and I love the feel which lends to fun factor (Trip, to answer your question above, I don’t play in leagues or ladders currently so my interest is not purely results but also feel, comfort, fun and growth as a player). Also, I think the extra mass is probably better for my arm, gives some weight to my shots and is good for giving backhand slices some oomph. But, both really great rackets i’d be super happy to own and play with.

I think I’m done testing but I’ll take a shot at getting my hands on a PA98 before my gal has to pull the trigger on getting a racket for me for Christmas.
 
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Asquared

New User
Just to give an update: I finally did get my hands on a demo of the PA98. Nice racket - did feel a bit stiff to me at first, but the spin-friendliness meant that I found more control than I was expecting (and I did not find that the sweet spot was small the way some people have said). I found I could really swing all out and keep it in, and the whippiness did encourage me to play with more topspin than I normally do, right down to some Rafa-esque finishes above my head. When really hitting out, I might’ve gotten more MPH with this racket than any other on the forehand and the serve: Ultimately though, I did find that the control would get a bit wild at times. One of my top rackets in the end, but there were others I liked for more comfort and/or fun factor in the end. My final results were:

1. Gravity Pro 2023. Just tons of control, that was unmatched for me, and the weight of the racket helps me to hit a heavier ball that yields results and near-top MPH for me. Big spin window helps too, and the weight of the racket helps me with touch and getting some oomph on backhand slices and also gave me confidence that I’m being good to my arm. Super happy to have settled on this as my new #1 racket and looking forward to really getting to know this well. Picked one up at the discounted price and put O-Toro (48/46) in it and loving the combination.

1a. Percept 100D - I played just as well with this as the G Pro probably - at a lower static weight. If I really prioritized going lighter this would’ve been the choice - low powered with tons of control and a stable feel that reminded me of the Blade.

3 (tie): Ezone 98 and PA98. Perhaps slightly greater control when swinging all out from the PA98, but for me the Ezone is more comfortable and more fun to play with, and I seem to volley better with the Ezone. Ended up getting an Ezone 98 from TW Europe (and used tennisnerd’s code as I found his content really helpful (Beckett and Luca and AC Tennis, ZeroLoveTennis and other YouTubers too)) on discount; and super happy to have this as my “fun” racket when I don’t need the ultimate control of the GPro and just want to have fun and hit lights out. Put in Tour Bite at 48 and really happy with it.

Anotrher note: I wish I had tried the GPro or Prestige years ago. I always assumed I wasn’t good enough to play with that kind of racket but it turns out a super low power racket and poly strings is what I needed all along: I’m already playing like I’m almost at the next NTRP rating class. Thanks all for your help and I’d be happy to help anyone on a similar racket journey. I welcome favorite string combo suggestions on the GPro (stringing to add power) and the Ezone 98 (aiming on the control side and I do like dead-feeling strings so I might go RPM or similar next time, maybe some packs of Black Code that I have, or Confidential or Restring Sync or Caviar?).
 
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