son is being enticed by the bling. please help!!!

Big Ed

Rookie
ok guys my 14 year old son,that started playing about 3 months ago,is progressing wayyy faster than he should be as far as skill level. I'm a big prince guy so I bought him a textreme warrior 100t and he does well with it. But, he is starting to check out the other kids bright blingy sticks from babolat and is getting enticed to go to the bright side. I guess the muted matte black of the warrior just isn't doing it for him,which I absolutely love the matte black. so, I told him we would demo a few and he wants to demo the babolat pure aero and Wilson prostaff,which I advised against due to the smaller head size for a beginner/intermediate. what other racquets from babolat and Wilson would be good ones for him preferably in a 100sq in or larger standard length frame with a big sweetspot because he still mishits a few coming off of the 100sqin prince warrior 100t. I was really trying to steer him away from babolat due to the stiffness and I told him there is no way he is playing with poly for several yrs. told him we will put dads fav multi,head velocity 16ga,in whatever stick he chooses. oh yeah I'm getting a POG 107 thrown in the demo box for pops ha!
thanks,
Big Ed
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
In terms of string options, I say goodonya for keeping your young slugger-to-be away from the poly. I've been coaching high school teams for several years and I've also been stringing for just about that same time span (well over ten years). Some of the real killers among the high school ranks who are college players in the making can benefit from that stuff, but somebody like your son simply won't - not for a while.

Yes, even young players with really strong technique can get wrist and elbow injuries. Through my coaching & stringing years, I've seen at least a dozen of the stronger local boys and girls need to switch away from poly into softer string after one issue or another reared its ugly head.

That being said, you may also want to try some good ol' synthetic gut in your son's frames. I personally love it in my racquets and I also use for lots of the locals who have me stringing their frames. Multi is a very good option for players who need an especially soft string type and don't want to get into the expense of natural gut, but I've found that multi can steadily degrade and soften up as we use it.

Syn. gut is moderately soft - fine for the vast majority of us - and it's not as prone to the same degradation as multi. It's also easy on the wallet. If your son really gets into it and starts gobbling up strings more quickly, you can easily just buy a reel of what he likes and then pay a stringer for labor. I do this for a few folks I know - it's nice for both of us because I know they they're getting exactly the string they want.

A 98" or 100" head size is just fine for anybody I think, including a beginner. I'm not much of a fan of a "beginner's frame" that somebody will grow out of rather quickly after starting out, unless we're talking about a smaller kid who maybe needs a shorter racquet length that's appropriate for their size and wingspan. I think it's smart to get your guy settled in with something he can use for at least a year or three. If he's mishitting with that Warrior, he's messing up his move on the ball. A bigger head will only reinforce bad habits.

As far as the allure of the bling?... The only thing I'd say there is maybe let him buy his own racquets with his own money. Or after you get him set up for now, you could tell him that any future switches will be on him. That way he'll probably be extra careful and deliberate with his choices. If it's his money, he'll probably be less inclined to treat his next racquet like a fashion accessory, right?
 
  • Like
Reactions: max

Big Ed

Rookie
good thoughts fuzz. I usually go by exactly what you said and make my sons,age 14 and 7,use their saved money for their purchases and they have learned some hard lessons that will hopefully help later in life. like I said I told him I would pay half of the tw demo fee,a whopping $20 total, since im going to get a prince pog 107 put in with his 3 demos. but, he said I will wait and get the racquet for Christmas from his nana ha,smart kid I'm raising. I know he likes the look of the babolat pure aero and mentioned feds pro staff. I like the idea of a lil heavier racquet for him as that will absorb some shock out of those stiff frames imho. yeah I've uses prince syn gut for most of my tennis career but just recently tried head velocity 16ga and love it.
thanks and keep the suggestions coming please,
Big Ed
 

Big Bagel

Professional
I would try out the Yonex VCore or the VCore Pro. The new VCore racquets are red and look great, so he might be interested in that one. The VCore Pro isn't as flashy looking, but I prefer its feel.

I also want to say good job on the strings. I agree with fuzz on that. I think you're doing a good job with him and thinking in the right terms overall.

Yonex racquets are good if he breaks strings a little above center of the racquet normally; their unique head shape helps bring the sweetspot up towards the head a little.
 

BlueB

Legend
You bought a fantastic racquet to your son, already!
POG 107 might be a bit too much for him, unless he's fully grown already. It would still look black and "dull" so no improvement there...
Look into Willson Blade 104 (non SV) - very controlled and easy to customize up as he grows.
From Bab, I'd look into old Pure Storm GT, there are NOS still kicking around.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk
 

Big Ed

Rookie
no blueb the pog 107 is for me lol! I just ordered me a prince textreme warrior 107 as I was getting a couple mishits from my warrior 100 up at the net during league play that woulda normally been well within my wheelhouse. I've never played with a oversize but at 48 yrs young maybe its time to give one a try. I'd like to keep the weight spec for my boy at 11-11.7oz strung as he is a big strong 14yr old boy.
thanks and keep the suggestions coming please,
Big Ed
 

dsb

Rookie
I was worried when my 15 yr. old son wanted a Pure Drive, but he's been using it for nearly a year now (strung w/ syn gut) with absolutely no problems. I hit with his a couple of times and liked it enough to go from a Pure Control 95 (gut/poly) to the PD Tour. The PDs seem to be a bit hard on strings though, syn gut only lasted me a couple of hours, gut/poly about 8 hours, and for about the last 3 months now I've used a full bed of ALU Power... So far no issues, and I'm 56... YMMV
 

FedLIKEnot

Professional
I think the idea of starter racquet unless he is really young is a bad idea. He is new and young enough to be able to adapt to almost any racquet providing its playable. Cause you can always lead it up or play with the balance as he gets strong or more developed. As far as string maybe a syn gut poly hybrid and if you get him two racquets to rotate through one set of each at a time takes care of the stringing and brings down the price a touch.....My ideas are as below;

RACQUETS:
Wilson Blade Light-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Blade_98L_16x19/descpageRCWILSON-B98L.html

Wilson Burn Team-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Burn_100_Team/descpageRCWILSON-BTEAM.html

Wilson Pro Staff Light Spin-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Pro_Staff_97LS_Black/descpageRCWILSON-P97LSB.html

Head Graphene Radical-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_Graphene_Touch_Radical_MP/descpageRCHEAD-HGTRMP.html

Head Graphene Speed S-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_Graphene_Touch_Speed_S/descpageRCHEAD-GTSS.html

Head Graphene Extreme MP-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_Graphene_Extreme_MP/descpageRCHEAD-GEMP.html

Babolat Pure Drive Team 2015-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Pure_Drive_Team_2015/descpageRCBAB-PDT.html

Babolat Pure Strike Team Team-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Pure_Strike_Team/descpageRCBAB-PS1HT.html

Babolat Pure Aero Team-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Pure_Aero_Team/descpageRCBAB-BPAT.html

STRING:
Wilson Syn Gut Power-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Synthetic_Gut_Power_16_String/descpageACWILSON-WSGP16.html

Volkl Class Syn Gut-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_Classic_Synthetic_Gut_16_String/descpageACVOLKL-VCSG16.html

Babolat Spiraltek 16-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Spiraltek_16_String/descpageACBAB-BST16.html

Signum Pro Yellow Jacket-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Signum_Pro_Yellow_Jacket_16_130_String/descpageACSIGNUM-SPYJ16.html

Signum Pro Poly Plasma Pure-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Si...6L128_String/descpageACSIGNUM-SIGPPP16LW.html

Gamma Moto Soft-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamma_Moto_Soft_16_String_/descpageACGAMMA-GMOTOS16.html

Volkl Cyclone-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_Cyclone_16_String/descpageACVOLKL-VCYC.html

Volkl V-Star-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_V-Star_16_String/descpageACVOLKL-VS16S.html

Volkl V-Torque Tour-
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_V-Torque_Tour_16_String_White/descpageACVOLKL-VTTW16.html


Slow day at work, haha.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
If you aren't focused on winning and just the process of developing tennis skill, I'd absolutely suggest 95 sq in frames for smaller to teach focus and footwork. Giving someone early on a racket they can essentially "cheat' with, i.e. make a good shot from bad position and bad swing technique, will only teach them to accept faults and not force them to improve. At the same time you don't want a frame that is so prohibitively punishing that they can't swing freely. So 95 is kind of a sweetspot in that respect.

Probably the best singles frames from Babolat and Wilson are the Pure Aero and Wilson Blade. But other companies are making really good frames as well and TBH I find Babolat and Wilson to be some of the worst feeling frames out there. Good performance but I don't feel good using them.

I'd look into the Head 360 Speed Pro MP, Prince Phantom Pro 100P, Yonex VCORE 95. A 14 year old should have no problem handling those frames and they are really nice feeling tennis frames. They are low powered enough you can easily string them with a quality multi or gut/poly hybrid and he will learn to hit with good footwork and technique to produce spin rather than letting the strings do it for him.
 

styksnstryngs

Professional
I don't think he's interested in flashy looking frames if he wants to try the pro staff. More likely he doesn't want to play with a prince, which is understandable. Try the head graphene 360 mp, which is nice and soft and 100".
 

styksnstryngs

Professional
I was worried when my 15 yr. old son wanted a Pure Drive, but he's been using it for nearly a year now (strung w/ syn gut) with absolutely no problems. I hit with his a couple of times and liked it enough to go from a Pure Control 95 (gut/poly) to the PD Tour. The PDs seem to be a bit hard on strings though, syn gut only lasted me a couple of hours, gut/poly about 8 hours, and for about the last 3 months now I've used a full bed of ALU Power... So far no issues, and I'm 56... YMMV
It's pretty hard to get tennis elbow with syn gut or multi even if you string at 60.
 

PMChambers

Hall of Fame
Might be enticed by light and powerful, rather than bling. You get instant gratification with light and powerful. As long as arm holds out don't personally see an issue. Might not be optimal as developes physically but should develop a modern game to tame the power or become a pusher.
If worried about physical stress ProKennex 5G fits the bill.
 

BlueB

Legend
It's pretty hard to get tennis elbow with syn gut or multi even if you string at 60.
Many years ago I've got tennis elbow from syn strung at about 60. It was in the racquet for long enough to lock in, it played like a board.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk
 

Titochop77

Semi-Pro
ok guys my 14 year old son,that started playing about 3 months ago,is progressing wayyy faster than he should be as far as skill level. I'm a big prince guy so I bought him a textreme warrior 100t and he does well with it. But, he is starting to check out the other kids bright blingy sticks from babolat and is getting enticed to go to the bright side. I guess the muted matte black of the warrior just isn't doing it for him,which I absolutely love the matte black. so, I told him we would demo a few and he wants to demo the babolat pure aero and Wilson prostaff,which I advised against due to the smaller head size for a beginner/intermediate. what other racquets from babolat and Wilson would be good ones for him preferably in a 100sq in or larger standard length frame with a big sweetspot because he still mishits a few coming off of the 100sqin prince warrior 100t. I was really trying to steer him away from babolat due to the stiffness and I told him there is no way he is playing with poly for several yrs. told him we will put dads fav multi,head velocity 16ga,in whatever stick he chooses. oh yeah I'm getting a POG 107 thrown in the demo box for pops ha!
thanks,
Big Ed

Try the Wilson Pro staff 97L cv
I recently bought it. Super light. 10.2 unstrung and 10.8 strung. I’m going to add lead tape to it.
 

tata

Hall of Fame
Gloss finishes don't take shanks well. They leave marks. See if that steers him away. Otherwise go standard warrior 100. The T version serves as a great platform frame though. Maybe ask what he wants more of and try add small amount of weight. My younger brother just had a heat shrink added to his 100t as he is still growing. It feels different just swinging it in the lounge.
 

DJ-

Hall of Fame
Get your son a wilson burn fst and string it with lux 4g @62lbs... that will quickly deter him from the bling and have him screaming for prince phantoms and textremes :)
 

max

Legend
It's interesting to me how racquet choices are made for younger teenagers. There's a swarm mentality. "I see everyone using an X brand racquet, therefore it must be the really good one." For some reason, it's Babolat.

The interesting dynamic here is that young kids aren't buying and using many frames to find out what works for them. So if they get a Babolat, they tend to stick with it, and friends see it and figure that's the brand for them. They're too young to really be good consumers.

I think I realized this a few years back when I went to a high school meet and all the kids were swinging currently available frames. . . but of course, they're just getting into the game, so their racquets are all new.

Hate the idea of poly for most people, especially kids. In my experience, I think poly works best for advanced players who play the baseline, and who own a stringing machine so they can do the frequent maintenance for it.
 

Big Ed

Rookie
well, now I got the real story from him. yes he does like flashy paint jobs,like most 14yr old young men, but he said"dad I wanna use what the pros use". I was the same way about 1985ish. I had to have a Dunlop 200g like big mac. glad he will be able to demo 4 at a time. I'm gonna let him choose.somewhat, what he thinks he wants and I'm the dude doing the homework and y'all are helping a great deal.
thanks and keep the ideas coming,
Big ed
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Watched a couple tennisBC Juniors out working with their coach this morning on our clay courts. Boys were 12-14 and could hit the crap out of the ball.
Racquets in use: Yonex DR 98, Yonex VCORE 98 and Babolat Pure Strike 98.
 

FedLIKEnot

Professional
I don't think he's interested in flashy looking frames if he wants to try the pro staff. More likely he doesn't want to play with a prince, which is understandable. Try the head graphene 360 mp, which is nice and soft and 100".

Though the mostly black frame with pops of color might be the bling in question. And yea most of his friends likely arent using Prince racquets and that goes a long way into influencing him.

Get your son a wilson burn fst and string it with lux 4g @62lbs... that will quickly deter him from the bling and have him screaming for prince phantoms and textremes :)

This sounds more like child abuse via tennis to me. Haha.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ-

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Be less controlling; 14 year olds need to start to find their own way and don't usually want to use what dad is using; this is an instinctual way to start to individuate and become an adult.
 

Big Bagel

Professional
Be less controlling; 14 year olds need to start to find their own way and don't usually want to use what dad is using; this is an instinctual way to start to individuate and become an adult.
He's not being controlling, he's letting him demo racquets. And the string part is just smart not letting him use poly yet; it's for his son's health.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
He's not being controlling, he's letting him demo racquets. And the string part is just smart not letting him use poly yet; it's for his son's health.

All the juniors I saw bashing the ball this morning were using full poly. But with their technique and really loose arms, I'm sure their tendons are safe. I wouldn't worry too much about arm health in a junior if he's doing things right.
 

Traffic

Hall of Fame
It's interesting to me how racquet choices are made for younger teenagers. There's a swarm mentality. "I see everyone using an X brand racquet, therefore it must be the really good one." For some reason, it's Babolat.

The interesting dynamic here is that young kids aren't buying and using many frames to find out what works for them. So if they get a Babolat, they tend to stick with it, and friends see it and figure that's the brand for them. They're too young to really be good consumers.

I think I realized this a few years back when I went to a high school meet and all the kids were swinging currently available frames. . . but of course, they're just getting into the game, so their racquets are all new.

Hate the idea of poly for most people, especially kids. In my experience, I think poly works best for advanced players who play the baseline, and who own a stringing machine so they can do the frequent maintenance for it.
This is so true. My son played PS97LS for his freshman year last season. After the season, we looked around for new racquets. The top 2 players played with Pure Strike 98 (16x19). So we added that to our demo list. In the end, my son picked that one.

For this year, there have been 3 other players on the team that switched from Head Radical and Bab Pure Aero to the Pure Strike. We also know a kid from another school that also wanted to hit with the Pure Strike. But I could tell from his strokes, that it wasn't the right racquet for him. He has a very whippy FH and BH and I just don't think the PS98 gels well with that style. It's a more even balanced racquet so it works better with full swings.

In terms of the use of poly, we went from hybrid last year to full poly in the Pure Strike. But we use a thin gauge and re-string every 12hrs.

My son's buddy is going through PT right now with some TE symptoms. The first question I asked was when was the last time he re-strung his racquet. And it was at the beginning of the season. So my recommendation was to NOT play with poly unless he is ready to re-string every 12hrs. If that doesn't sound appealing, then hit with multi or s-gut.
 
ok guys my 14 year old son,that started playing about 3 months ago,is progressing wayyy faster than he should be as far as skill level. I'm a big prince guy so I bought him a textreme warrior 100t and he does well with it. But, he is starting to check out the other kids bright blingy sticks from babolat and is getting enticed to go to the bright side. I guess the muted matte black of the warrior just isn't doing it for him,which I absolutely love the matte black. so, I told him we would demo a few and he wants to demo the babolat pure aero and Wilson prostaff,which I advised against due to the smaller head size for a beginner/intermediate. what other racquets from babolat and Wilson would be good ones for him preferably in a 100sq in or larger standard length frame with a big sweetspot because he still mishits a few coming off of the 100sqin prince warrior 100t. I was really trying to steer him away from babolat due to the stiffness and I told him there is no way he is playing with poly for several yrs. told him we will put dads fav multi,head velocity 16ga,in whatever stick he chooses. oh yeah I'm getting a POG 107 thrown in the demo box for pops ha!
thanks,
Big Ed

Smaller head size is actually better to learn with in my opinion . Forces him to use his skills .
 
  • Like
Reactions: max

atatu

Legend
My 18 year old has been using a PD for 4 years at least with no problems, currently Hyper G at 54 lbs and he destroys me from the baseline.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
My 18 year old has been using a PD for 4 years at least with no problems, currently Hyper G at 54 lbs and he destroys me from the baseline.

Gotta use your old man wiles to slice low and come in. Most juniors have very underdeveloped slices and don't handle off speed stuff. They all just like to bash each other off the court.
 
  • Like
Reactions: max

tata

Hall of Fame
I find low penetrating slices hardest to handle. But you'd have to have perfect technique and the right frame to hit it. Forces them to hit up and loop it over because it is so low and hard to read when and where it will bounce. They can only react to such shots and takes them out of the zone.
 
Top