Recs for new racquet?

J

jimothy

New User
Hi! Looking into buying a new racquet and was considering between the Radical MP (2023 version) and the pure aero 98. Could anyone provide a comparison between the two? My understanding is that they're both good all-around and versatile racquets with the radical maybe inching more towards control and the aero more towards power/spin. Also open to any other suggestions.

A bit about my tennis history: I'm an aggressive baseliner that likes to mix in net play and I used to play with the 2015 wilson blade 18 x20. Awesome racquet btw. However, I've been playing on and off for the better part of the last ten years and realizing I'm definitely not as good as I used to be. Previously tried the vcore 95 and the v9 wilson blade, but found that unless I was playing at 100 percent, I was really struggling with them. So hoping to find a more forgiving option with easier access to spin and power without necessarily losing too much control. Nowadays I'm probably around a 3.5. Appreciate any advice!
 
Curious to hear your insight on the pa98. Plays very differently or too demanding? will def look into a clash though.
 
jimothy said:
Hi! Looking into buying a new racquet and was considering between the Radical MP (2023 version) and the pure aero 98. Could anyone provide a comparison between the two? My understanding is that they're both good all-around and versatile racquets with the radical maybe inching more towards control and the aero more towards power/spin. Also open to any other suggestions.

A bit about my tennis history: I'm an aggressive baseliner that likes to mix in net play and I used to play with the 2015 wilson blade 18 x20. Awesome racquet btw. However, I've been playing on and off for the better part of the last ten years and realizing I'm definitely not as good as I used to be. Previously tried the vcore 95 and the v9 wilson blade, but found that unless I was playing at 100 percent, I was really struggling with them. So hoping to find a more forgiving option with easier access to spin and power without necessarily losing too much control. Nowadays I'm probably around a 3.5. Appreciate any advice!
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Try a 100” racquet, with a more controlled 16x19 or 16x20 pattern. Maybe a CX400 Tour, Blade V9 100” or Prince ATS Tour 290 with some extra weight in the handle.
 
jimothy said:
Curious to hear your insight on the pa98. Plays very differently or too demanding? will def look into a clash though.
Click to expand...

Both! lol

It's a demanding racquet relative to the Clash, not a lot of free power especially on the serve.

If you don't want to have to put in maximum effort on your shots, I don't think it's the answer.

Which Blade did you try? The v9 100 is supposedly one of the finest racquets out there right now.
 
Give the new pure strike a try, my preference is the 98 16/19. The strike is more controlled than the aero but is really good feeling. I’d seriously consider that racquet or the ezone 98.
 
Rosstour said:
Both! lol

It's a demanding racquet relative to the Clash, not a lot of free power especially on the serve.

If you don't want to have to put in maximum effort on your shots, I don't think it's the answer.

Which Blade did you try? The v9 100 is supposedly one of the finest racquets out there right now.
Click to expand...
ohh gotcha! I tried the 18x20 hoping that if I could click with it if I just had enough practice. Felt great on my backhand, slice, and volleys, but too demanding for my forehand which is my less consistent side which would def benefit from more forgiveness. I also heard good things about the v9 100 though so I think I'll check it out. Thanks!
 
SinneGOAT said:
Give the new pure strike a try, my preference is the 98 16/19. The strike is more controlled than the aero but is really good feeling. I’d seriously consider that racquet or the ezone 98.
Click to expand...
Ohh thanks for the suggestions! Never really considered the strike before just cuz I didn't love the design, but not a great reason I know. I'll give it a shot!
 
jimothy said:
ohh gotcha! I tried the 18x20 hoping that if I could click with it if I just had enough practice. Felt great on my backhand, slice, and volleys, but too demanding for my forehand which is my less consistent side which would def benefit from more forgiveness. I also heard good things about the v9 100 though so I think I'll check it out. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I don't like closed patterns. The Blade I played with was a v8 98 with the open pattern and it was amazing. Never had that amount of control and shape on the ball
 
Give the Prince ATS 98 a go. Really good pop, but still very controlled. If it's not forgiving enough the ATS 100 310 is good also.
 
From your description I believe you should try the wilson shift 99 300. Made for spin, very stable, very maneuverable, forgiving 99 head size, still good control, you can control the ball with spin, and I love the feel, it's very solid.
 
jimothy said:
Ohh thanks for the suggestions! Never really considered the strike before just cuz I didn't love the design, but not a great reason I know. I'll give it a shot!
Click to expand...
The new version is softer and better feeling than the prior which is good. It doesn’t feel as hollow and flexes better which may be what you’re also wanting rather than traditional Babolat feeling.
 
If you wanted to stick with a 98 head size I would definitely try...

Babolat Pure Aero 98 - I don't know why some people think it's low powered. It's one of the best well rounded rackets with plenty of natural power, great control, and access to spin. If you think it's too low powered string in the mid to high 40s and it has plenty of power, pocketing, and a nice plush feel to it.

Yonex Ezone 98 - one of the best all around frames out there right now and just shy of magic. It has a closed 16x19 string patters that's better suited for flatter drives but offers plenty of access to spin and boy does this thing have power on tap. My only grip with it was that I did not like the thick chunky throat on my OHBH.

Solinco Whiteout 305 18x20 - I don't have any experience with this frame but I've heard it's fantastic. I've heard that it is one of the most spin friendly and open 18x20s out there, has plenty of pop in it, and provides the dialed in control your typical 18x20s do. In addition it comes in fairly light at 11.4oz and 324 swing weight and should be easily manageable for you.

Good luck!
 
Blade v9 100, RF 01, both easy to play with, comfortable, play great both flat or spinny, can be easily modded a bit also. Demo them with silver alu 1.25 at a low tension, like 46lb

Many racquets in this 300g category can come lighter in the head than what TW spec sheet says, so you need to be able to measure their swingweight somewhere, and tune it to 320-325kgcm2 strung. If the factory sw is below 315 they will feel weak, no matter the brand or racquet model
 
@jimothy - Without knowing more than what you've shared here, if you stay with a <=99" frame, then I would try to make it as forgiving, large in the sweet spot and high-powered as possible, otherwise you may want to look at select 100" frames. The 3.5 to 4.0+ level, the amount of added forgiveness, consistency and free-depth one tend's to gain in doing so, usually more than overshadows any perceived loss of precision and/or maneuverability. As such, I will summarize what I think are the best suggestions from this thread, along with certain other frames that I think are worth a look, as well as certain ones to avoid (and why):

- Babolat Pure Strike 100 16x20 (Caveat: only via a retailer's matching service, to ensure you get an on-spec or under-spec sample, as the QC is atrocious, and you don't want one that's too far over-spec, trust me)
- Dunlop CX 400 Tour
- Head Gravity Tour (not the Pro, too cumbersome)
- Head Radical MP - marginal, might be too low-powered
- Prince ATS Tour 98
- Prince ATS Tour 100P maybe w/ light hoop lead
- ProKennex Ki 5 w/ light hoop lead (lower SW) or Ki Q+ 5 (firmer, higher SW)
- Solinco WhiteOut 18x20 - on the edge for ease-of-playability
- Wilson Blade 100 v9
- Yonex EZone 98 w/ some hoop lead
- Yonex Percept 100 w/ some hoop lead (maybe the 100D)

Frames to avoid and why:
- All thinner-beamed players frames <=97" - too unforgiving, too low in power-to-SW ratio
- CX 200 - Needs way too much customizing
- PA98 - Demands more technical proficiency and consistently aggressive play than most 3.5's can muster
- Shift - Too erratic unless you hit with a lot of swipe
- RF 01 - Feedback is mixed; at the very least, no flyer purchase, demoing first is a must
- TFight ISO 300/315 - Mains are probably too open for your liking
- TFight ISO 305 - Way too cumbersome for most 3.5's

Of all those listed above, my first-demo litmus test for you would be a Blade 100 v9. If you felt you still needed more free power, then Dunlop CX 400 Tour, Strike 100 16x20 and ATS Tour 98 would be my next demo's. If you wanted more control, I'd go Radical MP, WhiteOut 18x20, Gravity Tour, possibly a ProKennex. Yonex's should be demo'd as well, if you have time.

Hope that helps!
 
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