Racquet Recommendation for Intermediate Player

4hand5lice

New User
I've been playing with a Pure Drive 2015 for the last 3 years strung with RPM Blast. The racquet recently cracked while I was practicing serves (RIP Pure Drive). I'm pretty sure it got slammed in the trunk of my car at some point though I do have a toddler running around so the little one could be the culprit. I never loved the racquet, I just didn't think about switching as I was concentrating on working on my game.

I'm currently playing with my friend's previous generation Pure Aero Tour while I wait for my demos to arrive from TW. I'm hitting a big serve and I can rip some super deep topspin forehands with the PAT, but it's a lot of racquet that I find myself having difficulty controlling. I find it a bit unwieldy and stiff. It is fun to play with though.

The racquets I'm most interested in based on my extensive research are...
Yonex vcore 98 (never hit with a Yonex)
Yonex ezone 98
Prince Textreme Tour 100
Pure Aero 2019 (non tour)
Wilson Clash (just because)

These are all coming in demo form from TW.

I was also looking at the Yonex DR98 due to rave reviews but it's discontinued. They seem to fit in the "all around" solid racquet category which is what I'm after.

Any tips on what to expect from these racquets? Any you think I should look at for longer than others? I'm not the type of player that wants to be continually tweaking nor switching racquets. I'd like to find one that I can hit with for 4+ years. Thanks!
 

TennisHound

Legend
I've been playing with a Pure Drive 2015 for the last 3 years strung with RPM Blast. The racquet recently cracked while I was practicing serves (RIP Pure Drive). I'm pretty sure it got slammed in the trunk of my car at some point though I do have a toddler running around so the little one could be the culprit. I never loved the racquet, I just didn't think about switching as I was concentrating on working on my game.

I'm currently playing with my friend's previous generation Pure Aero Tour while I wait for my demos to arrive from TW. I'm hitting a big serve and I can rip some super deep topspin forehands with the PAT, but it's a lot of racquet that I find myself having difficulty controlling. I find it a bit unwieldy and stiff. It is fun to play with though.

The racquets I'm most interested in based on my extensive research are...
Yonex vcore 98 (never hit with a Yonex)
Yonex ezone 98
Prince Textreme Tour 100
Pure Aero 2019 (non tour)
Wilson Clash (just because)

These are all coming in demo form from TW.

I was also looking at the Yonex DR98 due to rave reviews but it's discontinued. They seem to fit in the "all around" solid racquet category which is what I'm after.

Any tips on what to expect from these racquets? Any you think I should look at for longer than others? I'm not the type of player that wants to be continually tweaking nor switching racquets. I'd like to find one that I can hit with for 4+ years. Thanks!
All good choices, I would also include the current Pure Drive
 
I've tried Babolat Pure Aeros/Drives and a Yonex Ezone a while back.

Disclaimer: My experiences are subjective and other factors, like strings, come in to play.

Babolat tweeners all feel pretty similar so if feel was what you didn't care for from your PD don't expect much different with the Pure Aero. IMO they have a stiff and hollow feel without much connection to the ball (that said feel is subjective, and people like em), but hit crazy shots loaded with spin and power. IMO, not a good "learning" racquet since it supplies so much for you, but that makes it a deadly weapon in the right hands (especially for today's baseline players, which is why you see so many on the pro tour).

The ezones I tried were very comfortable but still had good feel to it. Some people didn't care for how dampened it is. That said it's a great all-round stick that I found does everything well: solid on contact, reasonable spin and power, comfy, enough connection to the ball. However, nothing wow'd me, but it could be because it did everything well so that nothing stood out.

Hope this helps.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
IMO, not a good "learning" racquet since it supplies so much for you, but that makes it a deadly weapon in the right hands (especially for today's baseline players, which is why you see so many on the pro tour).

I'd suggest that the percentage of pros playing Babolat is lower than the percentage of rec players playing Babolat. And I also think pro representation is skewed based on sponsorship offers. Most pros will play any brand as long as they offer them the best deal.

I think Babolat strongly appeals to the rec population because of the easy power and spin they provide to those that can't hit power and spin on their own. Which gets back to them being poor learning racquets since they foster a lot of bad habits.

As far as options for an intermediate player, I think you can't go wrong with the VCORE lineup right now. Really solid sticks. Good mix of control and power.
 

Ultra 2

Professional
I'd suggest that the percentage of pros playing Babolat is lower than the percentage of rec players playing Babolat. And I also think pro representation is skewed based on sponsorship offers. Most pros will play any brand as long as they offer them the best deal.

I think Babolat strongly appeals to the rec population because of the easy power and spin they provide to those that can't hit power and spin on their own. Which gets back to them being poor learning racquets since they foster a lot of bad habits.

As far as options for an intermediate player, I think you can't go wrong with the VCORE lineup right now. Really solid sticks. Good mix of control and power.

Yep, 50% of the guys use Babolats in our rec league, and Wilson account for about 40%. Seeing a few Princes popping up now.
 
It sure does. Thank you. I agree, my PD was super stiff. Have you tried a vcore?

Last VCORE I tried was the tour G so I can't guarantee what I say will be as relevant now.

I found them to be really solid offerings. They were low powered compared to the others, but nicer feel and connectedness (if that's even a word, lol). I could swing with confidence and have a rough idea where my shot was going to land off the hit rather than looking where it lands. More of a lower powered modern player's frame than a tweener. One knock i'd give it was it swung more sluggish than specs indicated. Not sure if that applies now.

I prefer Vcores to the rest of the line up, but that's because I gravitate towards control/feel sticks. Let's me swing like an ape with confidence (though I do miss the free power of tweener frames at times ;) ).

Those are my experiences, but I don't know how much they've changed the Vcore line since. I hear they're more crisp now with a bit more power and a bit less stable, and I believe the Vcore pro is more like the Tour G and Duel G.

I don't get many chances to demo Yonex racquets, so I feel like others could give you a more updated impression.

~thatguy
 

TennisHound

Legend
Yonex and Prince are good too. The ‘18 PD is a racquet that you can be lazy with. Probably why 50 year olds like me, like it. It makes everything so much easier.
 

hurworld

Hall of Fame
Some alternatives:
Yonex VCore Pro 97 (310)
Head Graphene 360 Extreme MP

Prince Beast range is currently having steep discount. The Bisner would be helluva serving stick, if you can wield it.
 
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