recommend me a new racquet please!

[jamesmajin]

Hi guys,

Long time lurker on the forum but havent posted for a while. Anyway, i'm looking for a new racquet and was hoping for some advice.

I've currently got a couple of steam 99s racquets but feel i need a change. I've suffered from tendonitis in my wrist so could do with the new one being fairly flexible/comfortable. I like the sound of the yonex dr98 but i can't find it anywhere here in the uk and i'm not keen on the balance of the blade racquets (had the amplifeel versions)

I guess therefore the main priorities are good power, good control and decent feel and absolutely must not be stiff/sore on joints. Head size must be no bigger than 100. Weight wise, i quite like the steam 99s, so 323g strung. Are there any good offerings from prince/babolat/technifibre? I'm a fairly advance player but do tend to lean towards modern racquets rather than classic racquets. I play with poly strings fwiw and tend to prefer 16x19 rather than 18x20. I used to have wilson kobras back in the day and quite enjoyed them, along with mantis pro 295

Thanks all

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Angel TC100 I know nothing about your game etc... but It is a stick everyone should check out. Serves, backhands (both topspin and slice.. .. nice spin. Wont kill your arm. Even great on volleys

my main hitting partner uses it.... I use the TC95 but if I didnt play like I do (ballstriker) Id go tc100.

 

[jamesmajin]

interesting, will check it out. Im an aggressive baseline player , i like my 99s just sometimes feels a little flimsy and not much power on the serve

 

[PanDa]

Maybe the Prince Textreme Beast 98 (haven’t tried it, but specs look okay)

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

interesting, will check it out. Im an aggressive baseline player , i like my 99s just sometimes feels a little flimsy and not much power on the serve

then definitely check out the tc 100... Serve beast and never flimsy. Think of it as a thinner and softer pure drive with better touch and infinitely more comfort (so not puredrive like at all in feel). 63ra if you can dig a higher swingweight... produces a very heavy ball and strong spin potential.

 

[CopolyX]

Yep Paul Angell is the UK, also what abut stringer world and tennis-point?
Your really need to demo and try..
And I always question a player blaming the frame.
If you have read any of my threads, from my end in is never one thing....
Remember, for me, the ball hits the strings not the racket. Also vid or have someone monitor your form...
So think it through....

 

[jamesmajin]

I can try them out first beast sounds interesting. Angel probably too expensive. Is the new yonex ezone no good? Do the new blades vary much from the amplifeel versions?

Also on a side note when a racquet is described as soft/plush does that mean it is flexible rather than stiff? What are the advantages of flex instead of stiff? Thanks

 

[TennisHound]

Bubba 137

 

[Lecild]

Arcsaber 6 is a good choice, but i have found that the quality varies a bit between different pieces. It most likely due to the fact that its made in taiwan. Having said that i have a Voltric 5 racquet, which is made in taiwan as well, but its an excellent piece and served well as a great racquet for my initial days.

Arcsaber FB - stay away. This racquet is a travesty in my opinion. I have seen this racquet break after one or two bat clashes.

Nanoray series is not necessarily head light. Some of the racquets in this series are kind of even balance, though yonex claims its to be head light. (For ex: Nanoray 700-RP is an even balance racquet in my opinion, though yonex claims that its head light).

Adizero Pro is a very nice racquet and i would rate it as even balance. The little bit of a higher balance point aids in your smashes and backcourt clears. For all net shots and mid court rallies, i would rate this racquet as even balanced unit.

 

[NickJ]

I switched to DR98 and not looked back since. Beautiful frame. I'm in the UK and had no problem choosing where to buy from.

 

[DustinW]

I guess therefore the main priorities are good power, good control and decent feel and absolutely must not be stiff/sore on joints. Head size must be no bigger than 100.

prince beast 98
prince textreme tour 100p
head radical mp
head speed mp

 

[Ramon]

Maybe the Prince Textreme Beast 98 (haven’t tried it, but specs look okay)

I have the Beast 98 O3. It's quite comfortable and has very good control. I'd say my Pro Kennex Ki5 320 is a little more arm friendly and has a bit more power.

 

[Irvin]

I hate to recommend strings or frames to anyone because I'm not sure that what I like will be the same as what they like. You said you like Babolat - Prince - and Tecnifibre. Why not use the Racket Finder tool (http://www.racquetfinder.com/) and select the manufacturer, stiffness maximum, weight, and pattern to come up with a list of rackets you think may fit the bill. The order demos of the rackets that appeal to you and make up your own mind?

 

[Dartagnan64]

If you are coming back from injury, I'd suggest keeping things in the 95-100 Sq in, 11-12 oz (strung) static weight, HL balance, 60-64 RA range.

If you like modern frames but they hurt your arm, you aren't doing yourself any favors.

Yonex DR 98 is pretty good for a comfortable tweener. Prince Beast series as well. You might also look at the Prokennex Ki5 series. Babolat Pure Strike line is comfier than most Babolats. And the new Graphene Touch Head rackets like the Radical MP.

 

[dnguyen]

Best solution is demo one to see if you like.

 

[mhkeuns]

I second the Textreme Tour 100P. It almost feels like cheating, kind of like hitting with Aeropro Drive, but it has better feel and accuracy. Don’t be put off by the string pattern. The spin will be there, just not as much as Steam 99S, which I think is a good thing.

 

[jamesmajin]

If you are coming back from injury, I'd suggest keeping things in the 95-100 Sq in, 11-12 oz (strung) static weight, HL balance, 60-64 RA range.

If you like modern frames but they hurt your arm, you aren't doing yourself any favors.

Yonex DR 98 is pretty good for a comfortable tweener. Prince Beast series as well. You might also look at the Prokennex Ki5 series. Babolat Pure Strike line is comfier than most Babolats. And the new Graphene Touch Head rackets like the Radical MP.

thanks. it's actually ligament damage in my wrist which i think I will need surgery for. I think it was heavier rackets that contributed to it so youre probably right in suggest a light ish racket. Quite interest in the beast series, do they tend to get good reviews?

 

[jamesmajin]

I switched to DR98 and not looked back since. Beautiful frame. I'm in the UK and had no problem choosing where to buy from.

where abouts did you buy yours?

 

[NickJ]

where abouts did you buy yours?

I'd been looking at various online stores and had my choice pretty much made, when a friend told me about an independant shop called Hagley Sports which is about an hour from where I live so I contacted, the owner said he'd beat any price I could find online and I said I'd visit. But, my wife went to London for a weekend and went to Wigmore Sports and we were there, they had it in stock, I had a match coming up I wanted to use it in, so I bought from there. Cost me a bit more but I had it in hand and could feel the weight, swing etc which I think is the benefit of going to an actual shop rather than looking at pictures on a computer screen!
I don't know if you be able to get one now, as new from a shop, as the new model has come out, so unless someone has old stock . . . .
Good luck!

 

[hurworld]

Yonex's UK stockists finder, if it helps. Make sure the "Tennis" option is checked on left side.

http://yonex.co.uk/stockists/

 

[WestboroChe]

I second the Textreme Tour 100P. It almost feels like cheating, kind of like hitting with Aeropro Drive, but it has better feel and accuracy. Don’t be put off by the string pattern. The spin will be there, just not as much as Steam 99S, which I think is a good thing.

Totally. The directional control with the denser string pattern is soooo much better than on my old 6.1 95. That racquet offered the illusion of control, but compared to the 100P it was a catapult.

 

[jamesmajin]

Thanks for the advice guys. Whichbis the best prince racket for power/control/comfort (good blend of all 3). Not sure im going to be able to find a yonex dr98 at a reasonable price anywhere.

 

[NickJ]

Thanks for the advice guys. Whichbis the best prince racket for power/control/comfort (good blend of all 3). Not sure im going to be able to find a yonex dr98 at a reasonable price anywhere.

Now, seeing as how you're having trouble getting a 2/3 yr old Yonex, you're not going to like my advice! But I bought a 2nd hand Prince Classic Graphite midplus and it's got to be about 20yrs old, and I LOVE it. Strung it up with some Hyper G and its an absolute treat! So get one of them.
But, back to your question, I've got Textreme Tour 95 thats very good, and the first Phantom 100 (with O-ports), but if you can I'd try & get the Phantom 93P. Good blend of everything so I hear on these boards. Demo demo demo, if at all possible.

 

[jamesmajin]

93 will be far too small headsize wise. Thanks for the suggestion though. Seem to read good things about the textreme tour 100p?