PS 6.0 85 v. PS Tour 90 v. PS Rok 93 v. nCode Tour 90

[The Ripper]

I know there's been a ton of stuff about the new nCode Tour 90. I had to have one, so here's my more than $.02 worth!

nCode was more solid and forgiving at the baseline and at the net than the PS 6.0 85, although it is not as snappy or quick as the PS 6.0. The PS 6.0 just feels quicker, lighter, more nimble. Weight is practically the same. I'm almost wondering if it comes down to aerodynamics. The 6.0 whips around very quickly and easily while the nCode feels a bit chunkier - kind of the like the difference between a sports car and a four door sedan.

I put another 3.0 ounces of weight on the handle of the nCode. That seemed to make the head come around a little easier - could just be a balance thing. Nevertheless, the added weight still didn't give it the "plow through the ball" feel the PS Tour 90 has. I'd say the nCode falls pretty smack in the middle between the 6.0 and the Tour 90. More agile and quick than the Tour 90, but a bit slower to maneuver than the PS 6.0.

For serving, the nCode definitely felt clunky compared to the 6.0. Compared to the PS Tour 90, it felt rather clumsy in that it didn't find a groove the way the PS Tour 90 did. What impressed me so much about the PS Tour 90 was it sort of told you how to swing it. I found I couldn't really muscle the racket where I wanted it to go, and when I did try I would wear myself out pushing it around. When I got out of the way, relaxed and did proper mechanics the PS Tour 90 would just do the right thing without me "controlling" it. Sounds weird, but that was my experience. The PS 6.0 does need input, i.e., you better have very good stroke mechanics or you are going to mishit and definitely not find the sweetspot. I can see now why Federer wanted a 90 sq. in. PS 85. The 85 has a magical, wonderful feel and touch to it that none of the other PS's or the nCode have. The trade off is the small head and sweetspot, you must play it very cleanly or you are in trouble. The nCode may be a worthy replacement (especially as I get more used to it). If I had to choose which one to play with the rest of my life, I'd still take the PS 85! More demanding, but with more rewards!

Just to be complete, the Rok 93 isn't in the same category with the PS 6.0 and Tour 90. the Rok 93 is much more like the PS Tour 95 - if you look closely, the Rok and the Tour 95 has the rounded neck going from the handle rather than the flat, box-type used in the 85, Tour 90 and nCode. That box frame seems to be stiffer, more feel, whatever. Rok 93 was hard to get spin with, too powerful and lacked control (for me at least in comparison).

Flex-wise, the PS 6.0 seems perfect to me and it feels "flexible," i.e, lots of feel for the ball, connection to my arm, etc. The nCode has more of that same feel than the PS Tour 90, but not as much as the PS 6.0. The nCode felt stiffer than the PS 6.0. The PS Tour 90 seemed in a category of its own in that I felt like I was hitting the ball with log or with a big hunk of steel! I loved that feel. Felt like I was knocking sh** out of the ball. The only downside on the Tour 90 for me was getting it around fast enough for the baseline backhands - I was just always late, probably my fault! nCode is definitely quicker there, but doesn't have that freight train, groove which sends the ball exactly where you are thinking it.

Oh well, that's probably way too much! But there's a first report. I may have some more after playing a few sets next week (my regular partner cancelled out this week ).

Hope this helps!

 

[BreakPoint]

Thanks for the great review!! I feel pretty much the same as you do on all of the above racquets. This is why I've been advocating that Wilson make a true PS 6.0 90!!!! Nothing I've tried matches the feel and serving power of a PS 6.0. If Wilson could just get rid of the HyperCarbon and nCoded graphite, they'd have a great racquet - likely another classic like the PS 6.0 85.

 

[roundiesee]

Thanks Ripper. What a great review! Hope you'll post some more. For people like me who have only played with the PS 85 (St Vincent's; oddly I've never played with the "6.0"), reading your review gives me a really good understanding of Wilson's latest range of player's rackets and how they actually perform in comparison to the "benchmark", ie, the 6.0 85. Your opinion definitely gives credence to the fact that Wilson should have produced an original 6.0 with a 90 square inch head size. This would seem to be the "perfect" racket for long time users of the pro-staff line.
One thing you say does puzzle me though. Most posters have almost universally agreed that the Rok is a very low-powered stick. But you feel that it is almost "too powerful and lacked control". Would you mind explaining this? I'm seriously considering buying this racket without a demo- would you personally recommend it?
Thanks and hope to read more stuff from you.

 

[The Ripper]

Hey Roundeisee, thanks for the nice comments. That's cool that you've been playing with the St. Vincent's. I had a chance to buy one but would have cost $475!! More than I could justify spending. My understanding is the St. Vincent is slightly stiffer than the "normal" PS 85's. And Pete would take all the power out with super tight stringing, etc. Like a paddle. That would probably be too much for me!

I think the Rok 93 felt "powerful" to me because it was so light. I compared it to a Bobalat Pure Control 360. The Rok served better and had better control than the 360 so I bought the Rok. At that same time I was also demoing the PS Tour 90. I loved the Tour 90 but was frightened away by its weight. My first couple times with it and my arm was plumb wore out, especially for serving. However, after a couple months with the Rok, I just missed the great feel and control I got with the Tour 90, much, much better in all respects. So I said WTF, and bought the Tour 90 which I played with for about a year (it took about 2 weeks to get over the weight issues). Finally, I got tired of missing my baseline backhands (and some forehands), wimped out and demoed the PS 85. Wow!! What a difference. I immediately fell in love with the 85's feel and touch, so been playing with the 85 ever since (about another year). I'm not sold yet on the nCode, but I do get frustrated by the 85 when I miss easy volleys (and not so easy volleys) because I'm hitting the frame or a little off center. I'll bet even the great Federer found he was getting some mis-hits and probably thought an extra 5 sq. ins. would help. Yeah! Why didn't Wilson just keep everything the same and add that extra bit of string bed? Who knows. Heck, they can call it anything they want and paint it any way they want. Who cares? I'm just looking for the racket I play the best with. Of course Federer could probably play with a ping pong paddle and beat any of us!

Thanks again for your input! I envy you that St. Vincent's!

Terry

 

[The Ripper]

Whoops, didn't answer your question, Roundiesee!

I think you should really demo the Rok before buying it. Compared to the St. Vince, I don't think you'd like it at all! To me that "round" frame design used on the Rok and the Tour 95 takes all the "feel" and control out of the racket. Ends up feeling like most of the other rackets on the market, nothing special. I tried the Tour 95 and it had the same feel as the Rok, but bigger and sloppier. Kind of like an air mattress. I hit pretty hard and maybe there's something about the box construction or something that gives the other PS's a solidity and control missing from the Rok and Tour 95. Just IMHO.

I just sold my Rok 93 for $34 on ****. If you're going to get one, see if you can get a deal!!

 

[roundiesee]

Thanks for your advice Ripper, but where I come from a demo is next to impossible. I'll definitely keep my eye open for a good deal, but after what you just said, I might even consider getting a 6.0 85. Cheers!

 

[ktowntennis]

PS 85 And Then Everything Else

Simply put, the PS 85 is the best "player's racquet" in at least the last twenty years.

 

[carlosrothstein]

And we must to have in consideration on the 6.0 85" that the swing index is 6.0 not 6.1 like on the new nCodes 95" and 90", which makes a difference in the same way that we couldn't compare a Wilson PS Classic 6.1 with the Wilson PS 6.0 85", the index shows very clear the diff. on this frames and the type of players to whom they are oriented, that is why many people including myself are disappointed with the new frames and go back to the trusty 6.0 85" still there isn't a frame made to replace it.

 

[Tigerarp1]

It seems that EVERYONE and thier dog wants a true PS 6.0 (90). Why dont you do something about it, get like 200 - 300 people to all e-mail wilson asking them to make a REAL PS 6.0 (90) w/ out all the hyper carbon and CRAP. I mean... if wilson had any Idea of the size of market for this racquet... im sure they would make it in a heart beat... I mean... they already have the moldr for the (90) all they have to do is fill it up w/ the old-school material and set the balance just like the 85. I thinks its at least worth a try!

 

[bcaz]

THe ROK has to be one of the lowest-powered sticks produced in the last 20 years.

 

[The Ripper]

I have no investment in the Rok one way or the other. I bought one because I thought it was a very good racket, and it is!! I think it seemed "overpowered" to me because I was comparing it to the Tour 90. Also, I was coming from an oversized Dunlop "Quake 8.2" which is in my opinion a "game improvement" racket designed for people who take a very short swing and don't generate much of their own power. I went to the heavier rackets because when I started playing more seriously and hitting the ball harder I was knocking it out of park with the Dunlop. Using the Pro Staff 6.0 or Tour 90 (and now the nCode) I can hit the ball pretty darn hard and not have it go sailing over the back fence!

To be honest, since that time (about 3 years ago) I have learned the value of hitting at a moderate pace and concentrating more on where the ball is placed, i.e., I'd rather play like Federer than try to be a Roddick - although as we saw at Wimbledon, Roddick is becoming quite the all-court player. Perhaps now he will start use something besides sheer power to win tournaments. Even with more work, I don't think he can sustain the level of athleticism and power he exhibited in his first set against Federer.

Anyhow, the PS 85 is the best I have found for feel and control because it gives lots of feedback from the ball and strings. And if you get the ball on the sweetspot with some muscle behind it, it is unbelievable!! Like hitting a 300 yard drive that lands on the green. Makes it all worth it.

IMO the Rok is a great racket for transitioning from the oversized "game improvement rackets" to the "players" rackets. It's a very individualized thing, so each to his own!

 

[10isbum]

When the Prostaff appeared on the market during the 1980's, it came in 3 head sizes, 85, 110, and 125. The SI was actually advertised to be 6.1. The Prostaff 6.1 Classic was designed to replace the Prostaff but rumor has it that a guy name "Pistol" Pete would not play with the new racket and so Wilson decided not to discontinue the racket and renamed it the 6.0 Original. Wilson changed the SI to 6.0 in order to not confuse the players with the two rackets. So the current 6.0 Original may actually be a 6.1.

 

[vincent_tennis]

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWWW
it really help ppl like me trying to find something to sub my ps85 (bumperless)

Vince