Possible racquet switch (Would love to get some insights)

N

nov

Hall of Fame
Hi,

Thinking about racquet switch for the last ~6 months. My level is about 4.0, all court player, good serve with history of TE, Wrist and Shoulder pain. My racquet history are:

Head Gravity MP 2019 < Unstrung specs unknown > - (Cured my TE, Wrist, Shoulder pain and let me play again, but later had urge to try 18x20)
Head Gravity Tour 2019 < Unstrung specs: 292 SW / 32 cm / 305 gr / 61 RA > - (This was my first 18x20 racquet, very comfortable, good control and i liked this one a lot)
Head Gravity Pro 2019 < Unstrung specs unknown > - (Bought at good price, but was too heavy for me)
Head Gravity Pro 2021 < Unstrung specs: 296 SW / 31 cm / 311 gr / 68 RA > - (Under specs one, played some amazing matches really, but usually struggle after 1 hour and it felt stiff)
Blade 98 V8 < Unstrung specs: 285 SW / 31.5 cm / 304 gr / 63 RA > - (Wasn't very bad, control great, but lacked plow through, tried lead at 12 but still felt like my shots were weak and felt like stiff racquet even with low RA. It was bummer, because control was great)
Head Speed Pro 2022 < Unstrung specs: 290 SW / 31 cm / 305 gr / 63 RA > - (Best racquet i had, great power, control, feel, touch. Played best matches in my life and had very good results at tournaments, first time i felt like i don't need any other racquet, but then my racquet broke...)
Head Speed Pro 2022 < Unstrung specs: 289 SW / 31 cm / 305 gr / 64 RA > - (Current racquet)

With my current Speed Pro 2022 i feel like it lack power and im having hard time to lift low balls. Im convinced that it may be something with this racquet but i could be wrong. One thing for sure i remember my last Speed Pro 2022 i strung Triax 1.33 at 23/22 kgs and it wasn't easy to control it. With my current Speed Pro i strung Triax 1.33 at 20/19 kgs and im lacking power :unsure: With Gut/Poly hybrid my current Speed Pro was kind of OK. But Gut became very expensive lately and even it lasts a long time, it lost grip after about 20 hours and become hard to control my shots.
Im struggle much more at doubles (which im playing a lot lately) where everything goes faster. I feel like im at disadvantage against people with 300gr low SW, stiff frames with poly strings. At singles i struggle less, because i can place the ball pretty good and have more time for my shots, but still lack power a bit.

My options:
1. Buy second Speed Pro. Maybe with a bit higher SW and perhaps RA and except, that my current Speed Pro is faulty somehow.
2. Buy 16x19 or 16x20 racquet (But im a bit worried that multi strings like Triax wont last much in 16x19 and its gonna be too expensive in the long run)

Racquets im looking at:

1. Yonex Ezone 2022 (Looks like good choice for me, but read that many people have arm issues).
2. Yonex Ezone 2024 (Wait for relase and except it to be more arm friendly).
3. Head Gravity MP Auxetic (Reviews looks nice, big sweetspot would be welcome, but might be too light and i would like to avoid customizing).
4. Head Speed MP (Might be too powerfull and string eater).
5. Head Extreme Tour (Low power and unstable?).
6. Yonex Vcore 98 2023 (Disconnected feel, too much power, string eater?).

Any ideas?Or forget about racquets and go cure my racquetholic issues? :unsure:
 
Consider the Yonex Ezone 98, Diadem Elevate V3, or the oft forgotten but fantastic Pro Kennex 5g or 7g.

The next White Out XTD 18x20 is nice, but I don't think you'll like it regarding more lift.

The Babolat Pure Aero 98 fits the bill too. I didnt find it hard on the arm at all, despite the persistent "Babolat is an arm killer" reputation that lingers from their rackets from years ago.

Lastly, try adding lead to your current Speed Pro. If you can measure the SW, do that and find your target spec. Counter balance in the handle if you must.
 
Soundbyte said:
Consider the Yonex Ezone 98, Diadem Elevate V3, or the oft forgotten but fantastic Pro Kennex 5g or 7g.

The next White Out XTD 18x20 is nice, but I don't think you'll like it regarding more lift.

The Babolat Pure Aero 98 fits the bill too. I didnt find it hard on the arm at all, despite the persistent "Babolat is an arm killer" reputation that lingers from their rackets from years ago.

Lastly, try adding lead to your current Speed Pro. If you can measure the SW, do that and find your target spec. Counter balance in the handle if you must.
Click to expand...
I cannot measure SW, thats the problem.
Your arm isn't sensitive?Mine is pretty sensitive, that i cannot use poly. Hard to imagine playing with Babolat racquet without poly strings. I actually liked Restring Zero 1.23 poly a lot and played great with it in my Speed Pro, but it gave me arm pain. Atter first stringjob i didnt felt any pain and only at about ~25hours played with poly pain started appear.
 
nov said:
I cannot measure SW, thats the problem.
Your arm isn't sensitive?Mine is pretty sensitive, that i cannot use poly. Hard to imagine playing with Babolat racquet without poly strings. I actually liked Restring Zero 1.23 poly a lot and played great with it in my Speed Pro, but it gave me arm pain. Atter first stringjob i didnt felt any pain and only at about ~25hours played with poly pain started appear.
Click to expand...
If your arm is that sensitive, then please please please pick up a Pro Kennex frame. For standard length, the Classic 5g or Q+5 Pro (7g or Q+5X Pro, respectively for 27.5" frames).
You're not going to find a better, more arm friendly racket than those.

For polys, I would try stringing lower than you are. Try the 38-42 lbs range. But you don't have to use Polys. You could use multis or a hybrid in even a Babolat and be fine.

You could even try something like a Gosen OG Sheep Micro and TruPro Ghostwire hybrid. That's plenty soft, best of both worlds, and doesn't break the bank.
 
Second the Ezone, but if you like the Speed Pro you should like the Speed MP more given issues you're having. It isn't too powerful for someone at your level. The Extreme Tour is great - both of these are fairly arm friendly. You might wanna throw in the Extreme MP if you're playing a lot of doubles.
 
Fintft said:
47/44 here with a soft poly. And the OP needs to remember to cut it after 10-15h of singles.
Click to expand...
I think i will never be able to play poly. I like Triax 1.33 and it last for me around 20 hours in 18x20, but in Blade 98 it lasted around 10 hours if i remember correctly.
 
I don't get how there can be such variation between two specimen of the same frame. Manufacturing variance is a thing ik but I didn't think Head had a bad reputation for QC and the differences seem too drastic to fall within acceptable bounds.
 
Clash v1

42 and about a year removed from a torn rotator cuff in my dominant arm. I can barely pour a glass of milk sometimes but I'm hitting bigger serves and groundies than ever. Has to be the racquet
 
optic yellow said:
I don't get how there can be such variation between two specimen of the same frame. Manufacturing variance is a thing ik but I didn't think Head had a bad reputation for QC and the differences seem too drastic to fall within acceptable bounds.
Click to expand...
SW can be very different, im aware of that. But it doesnt feel like SW is much lower, but i could be wrong. Most rational explanation is that it got measured wrong and has less SW like 280-284 unstrung.
 
jimmy8 said:
Prince ATS Textreme Tour 100P - comfortable, has good power, 18x20, 305g unstrung, sw to your liking, it meets everything you like and need.
Click to expand...
I was choosing between Speed Pro and Prince Tour 100p in the first place, but took Speed Pro. Why do you think it has more power?Its lighter, less SW, less RA, thinner beam. Where does the power come from?
 
nov said:
I was choosing between Speed Pro and Prince Tour 100p in the first place, but took Speed Pro. Why do you think it has more power?Its lighter, less SW, less RA, thinner beam. Where does the power come from?
Click to expand...
I think it's the maneuverability increases racket head speed, combined with the string spacing is larger for more topspin, and the textreme stiffness is a little stiffer in the hoop to add power.
 
jimmy8 said:
I think it's the maneuverability increases racket head speed, combined with the string spacing is larger for more topspin, and the textreme stiffness is a little stiffer in the hoop to add power.
Click to expand...
I have no issues with maneuverability playing Speed Pro. Played tournaments with 2-3 matches a day and 4-5 hours of play without issues. Stiffer in the hoop makes sense, but not sure about comfort then. I had Blade 98 V8 with 60 RA strung and it felt stiff.
 
nov said:
I have no issues with maneuverability playing Speed Pro. Played tournaments with 2-3 matches a day and 4-5 hours of play without issues. Stiffer in the hoop makes sense, but not sure about comfort then. I had Blade 98 V8 with 60 RA strung and it felt stiff.
Click to expand...
It's a comfortable racket. It's flexible at the throat.
 
Have you measured your speed pros?
Maybe try the Speed MP with 1.38 Triax and see how that feels in terms of lift/durability etc.
Definetely a bit of a string eater but I doesn't sound like you break strings that quickly.
 
@nov. - In some ways you're splitting hairs, but I can appreciate the want to pursue the "one stick quiver". Considering your history and all that you've tried, I don't think you're too far away from a middle ground with what you have now, quite honestly. Beyond that, being able to actually know your strung spec (via a swing weight machine), would unlock MGR/i and recoil weight tuning, which will allow you to get the absolute most out of the frame, as well as play the most aggressive string bed possible with the most amount of arm comfort, but very few players go to those lengths, so you should be fine without.

Putting the Speed Pro aside for a moment, it seems the following specs are most recurrent in the setups you play best with:
- Head Size: 98-100", but leaning more towards a 100
- Unstrung Weight: 295-310g
- Mid-Beam: 22-24mm
- Balance: 31-32.5cm (6-10pts HL) stock unstrung
- Flex: low-mid 60's RA, erring on more flexy, less thuddy
- String Bed: Balanced tighter 16-main or more open 18-main, and a bed that is more "firm, full-coverage weave" than "bouncy island", if that makes sense
- Feel: more direct/raw than muted/dampened

All that considered, I would look at the following:
- Babolat (maybe PA98, but probably too harsh, or open, or both, otherwise nothing)
- Dunlop (maybe CX 400 Tour, but prob nothing)
- Head Auxetic Gravity MP
- Head Speed MP (maybe too open, but worth a try)
- Prince ATS Tour 98 or 100P (you've already tried the 100P and chose the Speed Pro over it)
- ProKennex (can't find one whose specs I think are appropriate)
- Solinco (maybe WO 18x20, but WO 16x19 + 18x20's probably straddle what you really need, and BO nope)
- Tecnifibre (TF40's too low powered, TFight 290/298/300/315 too open, 305 too cumbersome)
- Volkl (all probably too muted)
- Wilson Blade 100 v8
- Yonex Percept 100 & 100D

I'd say, give the Gravity MP, Speed MP, Blade 100 v8 (with large string bed, might be more comfortable than Blade 98) and both Percept 100's a shot versus the Speed Pro, then commit to a frame, optimize strings, and re-focus on just playing tennis.

Hope that helps.
 
Trip said:
@nov. - In some ways you're splitting hairs, but I can appreciate the want to pursue the "one stick quiver". Considering your history and all that you've tried, I don't think you're too far away from a middle ground with what you have now, quite honestly. Beyond that, being able to actually know your strung spec (via a swing weight machine), would unlock MGR/i and recoil weight tuning, which will allow you to get the absolute most out of the frame, as well as play the most aggressive string bed possible with the most amount of arm comfort, but very few players go to those lengths, so you should be fine without.

Putting the Speed Pro aside for a moment, it seems the following specs are most recurrent in the setups you play best with:
- Head Size: 98-100", but leaning more towards a 100
- Unstrung Weight: 295-310g
- Mid-Beam: 22-24mm
- Balance: 31-32.5cm (6-10pts HL) stock unstrung
- Flex: low-mid 60's RA, erring on more flexy, less thuddy
- String Bed: Balanced tighter 16-main or more open 18-main, and a bed that is more "firm, full-coverage weave" than "bouncy island", if that makes sense
- Feel: more direct/raw than muted/dampened

All that considered, I would look at the following:
- Babolat (maybe PA98, but probably too harsh, or open, or both, otherwise nothing)
- Dunlop (maybe CX 400 Tour, but prob nothing)
- Head Auxetic Gravity MP
- Head Speed MP (maybe too open, but worth a try)
- Prince ATS Tour 98 or 100P (you've already tried the 100P and chose the Speed Pro over it)
- ProKennex (can't find one whose specs I think are appropriate)
- Solinco (maybe WO 18x20, but WO 16x19 + 18x20's probably straddle what you really need, and BO nope)
- Tecnifibre (TF40's too low powered, TFight 290/298/300/315 too open, 305 too cumbersome)
- Volkl (all probably too muted)
- Wilson Blade 100 v8
- Yonex Percept 100 & 100D

I'd say, give the Gravity MP, Speed MP, Blade 100 v8 (with large string bed, might be more comfortable than Blade 98) and both Percept 100's a shot versus the Speed Pro, then commit to a frame, optimize strings, and re-focus on just playing tennis.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
I watched reviews on youtube and got pretty hyped out with Solinco Whiteout 305 18x20. It seems that many prefer it to 16x19 version. And just found out that TWE not selling this frame. Maybe they will in the future?Im thinking between Whiteout 18x20 or another Speed Pro with higher SW, around 293-295 unstrung.
 
nov said:
I watched reviews on youtube and got pretty hyped out with Solinco Whiteout 305 18x20. It seems that many prefer it to 16x19 version. And just found out that TWE not selling this frame. Maybe they will in the future?Im thinking between Whiteout 18x20 or another Speed Pro with higher SW, around 293-295 unstrung.
Click to expand...
Yeah, honestly, I would find a way to double-down on the Speed Pro. There's a reason why it's more or less the most well-reviewed (by customers) frame on the TW USA website, and that's because, well, it's simply one of the most well-balanced frames out there right now. As the saying goes, it may not do anything insanely well, but as a result, it has no real glaring weakness, so, especially if you have the game to dictate a frame like that -- one which gives you back exactly what you put in, more often than not -- then I would say stick with it, and try to optimize one or more with at least a mild amount of customization and altering of strings.

Strings-wise, I would think that a mildly-shaped, slightly crisp poly, in a slightly thinner gauge, would be a great fit in the frame -- a nice balance of power, control, spin and a little less weight in the face as well. Something like Tour Bite 1.15 or 1.20, or if that's too harsh, Tru Pro DuraFluxx 1.18 or 1.23. Or do a p/p hybrid of either one of those in the mains, coupled with a super-slick, slightly softer cross, like MSV Co-Focus 1.18. Or if you need more pop, one of those shaped mains with Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro (17 gauge) crosses (ZX handling: at least 1/2" from clamp to frame, 10% pre-stretch, double-pulls and hand-tied finishing knots).

From there, if you can get a shop to give you the strung specs of one or more of your Speed Pro's, we (I) can help tune your MGR/i and recoil weight to better match your arm-length/height and play style, and you can lightly customize to move the frame in the right direction towards the most efficient strung spec for you.
 
Trip said:
Yeah, honestly, I would find a way to double-down on the Speed Pro. There's a reason why it's more or less the most well-reviewed (by customers) frame on the TW USA website, and that's because, well, it's simply one of the most well-balanced frames out there right now. As the saying goes, it may not do anything insanely well, but as a result, it has no real glaring weakness, so, especially if you have the game to dictate a frame like that -- one which gives you back exactly what you put in, more often than not -- then I would say stick with it, and try to optimize one or more with at least a mild amount of customization and altering of strings.

Strings-wise, I would think that a mildly-shaped, slightly crisp poly, in a slightly thinner gauge, would be a great fit in the frame -- a nice balance of power, control, spin and a little less weight in the face as well. Something like Tour Bite 1.15 or 1.20, or if that's too harsh, Tru Pro DuraFluxx 1.18 or 1.23. Or do a p/p hybrid of either one of those in the mains, coupled with a super-slick, slightly softer cross, like MSV Co-Focus 1.18. Or if you need more pop, one of those shaped mains with Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro (17 gauge) crosses (ZX handling: at least 1/2" from clamp to frame, 10% pre-stretch, double-pulls and hand-tied finishing knots).

From there, if you can get a shop to give you the strung specs of one or more of your Speed Pro's, we (I) can help tune your MGR/i and recoil weight to better match your arm-length/height and play style, and you can lightly customize to move the frame in the right direction towards the most efficient strung spec for you.
Click to expand...
For strings i think i settled with Triax 1.33, because it plays between poly and multi and wont hurt my arm. I actually tried Restring Zero 1.23 in my Speed Pro and liked it a lot, had good results. It even give me decent power somehow more than 1.33 Triax. But the problem that my arm started to hurt. It was weird that first stringjob i didnt felt any pain and only with second stringjob i started to feel my arm.
How you tune MGR/i and recoil weight?And what it gives me?I actually tried customize frames but give up, because its hard to make it right. I prefer use TW matching service to get sepcs i like and play stock form.
 
Much though I am a racquetoholic, I think your challenge is technique, @nov. Do you hit the ball late often? Are you engaging your core? Are you trying to hit too hard to overcome for stringing too tightly? The Speed Pro is definitely enough racquet to hit a powerful ball. I'd get with a coach first and figure out why you keep hurting yourself, then get a new racquet if you want to, but don't expect the racquet to fix your mechanical issues. How long have you been playing?
 
nov said:
For strings i think i settled with Triax 1.33, because it plays between poly and multi and wont hurt my arm. I actually tried Restring Zero 1.23 in my Speed Pro and liked it a lot, had good results. It even give me decent power somehow more than 1.33 Triax. But the problem that my arm started to hurt. It was weird that first stringjob i didnt felt any pain and only with second stringjob i started to feel my arm.
How you tune MGR/i and recoil weight?And what it gives me?I actually tried customize frames but give up, because its hard to make it right. I prefer use TW matching service to get sepcs i like and play stock form.
Click to expand...
All well and good, however lifting lower balls is going to more difficult with Triax that with an edged co-poly in the mains and/or crosses, so you might give a really soft one of those a try, something like MSV Focus Hex +38 1.15 or 1.20.
 
Winners or Errors said:
Much though I am a racquetoholic, I think your challenge is technique, @nov. Do you hit the ball late often? Are you engaging your core? Are you trying to hit too hard to overcome for stringing too tightly? The Speed Pro is definitely enough racquet to hit a powerful ball. I'd get with a coach first and figure out why you keep hurting yourself, then get a new racquet if you want to, but don't expect the racquet to fix your mechanical issues. How long have you been playing?
Click to expand...
I string Triax 1.33 at 20/19 kgs, its really low tension for a multi. But you're right, my technique isn't perfect like most of us and i hit ball late sometimes. I have more issues at doubles than singles. I play almost 10 years, but only 4 years more frequently and im self thought, never been couched. Still i think my technique at my level is decent compared to most.
 
Speed MP. I have both the Auxetic Speed Pro and MP. Both are great but the MP to my arm feels a little more comfortable (more comfortable than even my Pro Kennex Black Ace). It will have some of the inherent feel and playability of the Pro but trading off some control for more power and spin. Very easy to use racquet and IMO maybe the best overall 300g racquet out there because of how it does everything well while being very comfortable on the arm.
 
heavyD said:
Speed MP. I have both the Auxetic Speed Pro and MP. Both are great but the MP to my arm feels a little more comfortable (more comfortable than even my Pro Kennex Black Ace). It will have some of the inherent feel and playability of the Pro but trading off some control for more power and spin. Very easy to use racquet and IMO maybe the best overall 300g racquet out there because of how it does everything well while being very comfortable on the arm.
Click to expand...
Its much more open and powerfull compared to Speed Pro?You probably put poly in MP?
 
@Trip Im very interested in Head Extreme Tour. Would you think it will fit me?I won't customize frame, but could use matching service and opt for a frame with most possible SW but still maintaining unstrung balance 31.5 or less.
 
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