Hey all!
Thanks in advance for reading this and trying to help
I have been playing for over 21 years (now 28 years old). Unfortunately, I do not understand anything about racquets. I think it is about time that I changed my 7 year old Head Prestige Pro IG. Since I did not like the new Prestige at all, and I have tested many other racquets, I am a bit desperate and asking for help. Also, it is very hard to find and test some racquets in my country.
Playstyle:
Defensive, lots of forehand topspin, flat atacking backhand (2 hands), flat 1st serve > 170km/h, sliced second serve. Very long and fast swing - I count on my long swing to really attack or put spin on the ball.
Previous racquets (my thoughts):
1. Prestige IG Pro (+lead tape @ 11 and 1) - I used love this racquet (playing 7 years with it), especially how serves come off it. Now I feel it is a bit stiff, and it takes me a lot of effort to return defensive shots into the court.
2. Prestige Pro Microgel - Very similar to the IG. Voleys felt much much worse on this racquet, so I quickly changed it to the IG version.
3. Head iTour L4 - played with this from 12-17 competitively. Still use it sometimes.
4. Head Titanium S2 - junior raquet does not count
Racquets tested (starting from most recent):
1. Wilson Blade 16/19 @ 305g - Felt better than most I have tested recently, but too light. I found it much harder to put spin on the ball.
2. Wilson Burn @320g - Definitely not my racquet.
3. Latest Prestige Pro, Speed Pro & Radical - The Prestige felt the same in the hand, compared to my Prestige Pro IG, but balls were flying everywhere. I had no control what-so-ever. The Speed Pro is just not my racquet. The Radical is ok, but still not my racquet.
4. The predecessor of the Babolat Pure Strike @320g - My tennis partner told me that my balls were 10% faster and with more speed. Felt ok in the hand, but slightly more HL than I am used to. Lighter than what I am used to. The only one I liked in my recent tests so far.
5. Wilson K-factor Six one @ 340 or so grams - Unless I hit the ball very accurately in the sweet spot, it was very hard for me to handle this racquet. Felt unnaturally heavy, due to the extra weight in the handle (compared to my Prestige). That was waaaay back, so things may have changed with the newer models.
6. Babolat Aero Pro Drive (6-7 years ago) - Felt like no matter how much power I put, nothing was happenning. This was waaaay back, so the racquet may have changed (same as 5.)
7. Pure Drive @300g (many years ago) - It was a very hard decision for me to choose between the iTour and the (maybe first ever?) Pure Drive. I ended up with the Head, but I really liked the Pure Drive back then.
My latest thoughts..:
I have ordered a Babolat Pure Drive Tour Plus to test. I was advised to go with the Pure Strike VS Tour but the reviews were not so great, so I decided against it.
I read and watched great reviews of the Yonex VCore Pro 330g, but there is no way for me to test it so I have to order one and see if I like it. Selling it afterwards will be difficult.
The reviews of the Wilson Pro Staff Autograph are also fantastic, but I am afraid it will be similar to the K-factor version I tested a while back.
What do you guys/gals think? Any suggestions or comments?
PS: Sorry for the long post and thanks for taking the time to read it.
Thanks in advance for reading this and trying to help
I have been playing for over 21 years (now 28 years old). Unfortunately, I do not understand anything about racquets. I think it is about time that I changed my 7 year old Head Prestige Pro IG. Since I did not like the new Prestige at all, and I have tested many other racquets, I am a bit desperate and asking for help. Also, it is very hard to find and test some racquets in my country.
Playstyle:
Defensive, lots of forehand topspin, flat atacking backhand (2 hands), flat 1st serve > 170km/h, sliced second serve. Very long and fast swing - I count on my long swing to really attack or put spin on the ball.
Previous racquets (my thoughts):
1. Prestige IG Pro (+lead tape @ 11 and 1) - I used love this racquet (playing 7 years with it), especially how serves come off it. Now I feel it is a bit stiff, and it takes me a lot of effort to return defensive shots into the court.
2. Prestige Pro Microgel - Very similar to the IG. Voleys felt much much worse on this racquet, so I quickly changed it to the IG version.
3. Head iTour L4 - played with this from 12-17 competitively. Still use it sometimes.
4. Head Titanium S2 - junior raquet does not count
Racquets tested (starting from most recent):
1. Wilson Blade 16/19 @ 305g - Felt better than most I have tested recently, but too light. I found it much harder to put spin on the ball.
2. Wilson Burn @320g - Definitely not my racquet.
3. Latest Prestige Pro, Speed Pro & Radical - The Prestige felt the same in the hand, compared to my Prestige Pro IG, but balls were flying everywhere. I had no control what-so-ever. The Speed Pro is just not my racquet. The Radical is ok, but still not my racquet.
4. The predecessor of the Babolat Pure Strike @320g - My tennis partner told me that my balls were 10% faster and with more speed. Felt ok in the hand, but slightly more HL than I am used to. Lighter than what I am used to. The only one I liked in my recent tests so far.
5. Wilson K-factor Six one @ 340 or so grams - Unless I hit the ball very accurately in the sweet spot, it was very hard for me to handle this racquet. Felt unnaturally heavy, due to the extra weight in the handle (compared to my Prestige). That was waaaay back, so things may have changed with the newer models.
6. Babolat Aero Pro Drive (6-7 years ago) - Felt like no matter how much power I put, nothing was happenning. This was waaaay back, so the racquet may have changed (same as 5.)
7. Pure Drive @300g (many years ago) - It was a very hard decision for me to choose between the iTour and the (maybe first ever?) Pure Drive. I ended up with the Head, but I really liked the Pure Drive back then.
My latest thoughts..:
I have ordered a Babolat Pure Drive Tour Plus to test. I was advised to go with the Pure Strike VS Tour but the reviews were not so great, so I decided against it.
I read and watched great reviews of the Yonex VCore Pro 330g, but there is no way for me to test it so I have to order one and see if I like it. Selling it afterwards will be difficult.
The reviews of the Wilson Pro Staff Autograph are also fantastic, but I am afraid it will be similar to the K-factor version I tested a while back.
What do you guys/gals think? Any suggestions or comments?
PS: Sorry for the long post and thanks for taking the time to read it.