Hi, I demoed the RF97A 2014 ver. for two days to see if I want to buy the upcoming tuxedo RF97, and was not very happy with how it went.
My normal setup is a K90, Tonic+ 15L @58lbs grip size 4 with one overgrip.
The demoed RF97A was strung with wilson sensation, probably initially at 55lbs, there were some string movement but not too severe, grip size 3 with one overgrip.
Day 1:
Got the RF97, hit with it for about hour and half, played about 10 or so tiebreaks with it. To my surprise it felt very light, about as powerful as my K90, and it felt very soft. I felt nothing in my arm after the session, even for a Monday. I didn't like the lightness and the softness of the frame.
In between:
Went home and compared the balance of the RF97 and my K90, found the RF97 is 2pts more HL than my K90 at 9pts. Thus the lightness.
<EpicFail>
So I had a brilliant idea, I added 6 grams of weight to 12' of RF97 and brought the balance down to 9pts, thinking I have eliminated the difference in balance. (I did not have much prior experience in modifying a racquet)
Day2:
I usually rest a day between sessions, but since I have to return the demo racquet in two days, decided to give it another go.
With 6g at 12', the power was off the charts, I just couldn't find the right angle to hit a shot without it going long or into the net. within the first 45 minutes my arm is already tired, my already near-nonexistent footwork are completely gone, just felt horrible on the court, might just be the first time I actually hated playing tennis.
I then took off about 2 grams of weight off, hoping it would get better, no luck.
</EpicFail>
Decided to put the RF97 down and went back to K90, immediate felt more maneuverable to swing, feels better to hit with, but my body was not able to play much better after the RF97 fail so that concluded probably my worst tennis session in two months.
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I think I was expecting some subtle differences between RF97 and K90, since the two racquets at least have the same specs, but they were two completely different racquets after all. I think it would've been better if the RF97 had a multi/poly hybrid at a higher tension.
I will probably buy the new RF97 anyway, but the demo has done me no good and left me with a very fatigued arm.
Anyway, what do you guys look for in a demoed racquet when......
strings - probably not optimal, loose
gripsize - probably won't match
racquet specs - probably very different
My normal setup is a K90, Tonic+ 15L @58lbs grip size 4 with one overgrip.
The demoed RF97A was strung with wilson sensation, probably initially at 55lbs, there were some string movement but not too severe, grip size 3 with one overgrip.
Day 1:
Got the RF97, hit with it for about hour and half, played about 10 or so tiebreaks with it. To my surprise it felt very light, about as powerful as my K90, and it felt very soft. I felt nothing in my arm after the session, even for a Monday. I didn't like the lightness and the softness of the frame.
In between:
Went home and compared the balance of the RF97 and my K90, found the RF97 is 2pts more HL than my K90 at 9pts. Thus the lightness.
<EpicFail>
So I had a brilliant idea, I added 6 grams of weight to 12' of RF97 and brought the balance down to 9pts, thinking I have eliminated the difference in balance. (I did not have much prior experience in modifying a racquet)
Day2:
I usually rest a day between sessions, but since I have to return the demo racquet in two days, decided to give it another go.
With 6g at 12', the power was off the charts, I just couldn't find the right angle to hit a shot without it going long or into the net. within the first 45 minutes my arm is already tired, my already near-nonexistent footwork are completely gone, just felt horrible on the court, might just be the first time I actually hated playing tennis.
I then took off about 2 grams of weight off, hoping it would get better, no luck.
</EpicFail>
Decided to put the RF97 down and went back to K90, immediate felt more maneuverable to swing, feels better to hit with, but my body was not able to play much better after the RF97 fail so that concluded probably my worst tennis session in two months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think I was expecting some subtle differences between RF97 and K90, since the two racquets at least have the same specs, but they were two completely different racquets after all. I think it would've been better if the RF97 had a multi/poly hybrid at a higher tension.
I will probably buy the new RF97 anyway, but the demo has done me no good and left me with a very fatigued arm.
Anyway, what do you guys look for in a demoed racquet when......
strings - probably not optimal, loose
gripsize - probably won't match
racquet specs - probably very different
