2 x ATS 98
1 x Tour 100 16x18 O Port
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I played with two ATS 98, one was strung with Yonex Poly Tour Spin and the second one with Volkl something. The Yonex felt a bit softer. Lots of groundstrokes, several volley and serve drills. Don't know the gauge, but felt the typical 1.25 and tension was for sure around 22kg. Both were L2 grip size, while my preffered size is L3.
Obesrvations:
Pros:
Distinctive
metallic sound upon contact, similar to what I was hearing from the Prestige MP 18*19 2021 and Prestige 360+ Mid
Tight string pattern
Narrow head-shape, felt much smaller than the Blade V5, which in turn feels larger than the Diadem Elevate
The sweet-spot was much smaller than the Diadem Elevate and the Blade v5
Super stable, regardless of the smaller grip size,
no wobbling at all
Weight is more towards the top of the hoop, great from the baseline, but from the mid-court was a bit sluggish
I really feel it doesn't need any added weight or customizing for the player it's made for.
Excellent attacking slicing.
Volleys are hit great and this coach actually uses them for doubles-matches.
Enough Power, a bit less than I get from the Diadem Elevate/Wilson Blade V5 16x19, for sure more power than the Yonex DR98, but less than the Diadem Nova
Throat shape, like I say above is not as boxy as the 2015 but for sure more boxy than the 2019. I'd say it's more towards the 2015. Feels great holding it.
Excellent for 1-handed backahands. I dialed-in right away. I would misshits all 2-handed backhands for two reasons: the small for me L2 grip size and the way the overgrip was wrapped arround high on the throat was bugging me in my off-hand grip. This coach hits one-handed backhands, so he didn't cut the extra overgrips, but had it wrapepd twice to finish it off.
Cons:
I didn't feel I could play my best defense with it, mostly because of the small-ish sweetspot (unforgiving on slight misshits).
The small sweet-spot, if I was using them regurarly, I would string them very low, but still (see below).
A bit sluggish from the mid-court.
Not enough spin assistance on second serves.
The top-spin assistance is one of the lowest I have experienced. It would need a hybrid with a shaped-main string, but still this would alter this racket's identity which is, again, a flat hitters weapon!
Attacker player's stick! Those moments I found the sweet-spot with my completely flat forehand, I got plenty of Power hitting winners and I was getting VERY CONSISTENT results. You can aimd for small targets with this one.
O3 Tour 100 (310g)
Pros:
Hits a very heavy ball.
Distinctive "whistle" when swinging. Not everybody's gonna like it. I didn't care.
Despite of it's weight class, it was VERY WHIPPY!
Very powerful response from everywhere. Better control through top-spin, which came very easily!
I could lift the low balls and drop them in from the mid-court much easier than with the ATS98.
Excellent two-handed backhands.
Cons:
Felt a bit stiff (?!) for some reason, but mostly, I think it's a bit too heavy in static weight.
I would just pick-up the 290 gram version for both of them, especially the ATS. I bet the narrow shape in the hoop with make the 100 sq inch play like 98. The O3 for me has the best throat shape for top-spin hitters. Not very bulky, slick and very aerodynamic, the o-ports enable this heavy stick to move very fast and overall it hits one of the heaviest shots on the forehand side I have experienced.