Tennis Warehouse Playtest: ProKennex Ace Station
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
You're going to go 65lbs with the tbhb?
Are you saying this from experience or looking at the specs? I know it looks flexy but a lot of comments about the kinetic system adding power to this stick..
Having played with several different kinetics, I don't think it's just the kinetic beads in the case of the black ace.
There's something specifically about the black ace that's more poppy than you'd expect given the specs. I have no idea what it is. I find it only a hair less powerful than the ki10 305, and more powerful by some margin than the old ki5 315
I received a Black Ace 315 and I’m excited to get started. It’s been a minute since I’ve strung a racket but I’m going to do this one since I can’t really afford to wait a week for the racket to come back from my local shop. Can someone just confirm for me - do you start mains at the top on this racket? Internet searches turn up conflicting instructions. Or if anyone has Klippermate style instructions for the racket could you please share? Thanks!
4 holes in the throat usually means start at the top. Looking at the photos on the pk site the top also says "start" at 12 o'clock
Thank you - this racket has 8 holes in the throat but based on how I learned that means you start at 12 o’clock also and I don’t even know how you could do the racket right unless I did it this way but just making sure the AI overview that says to start in the throat is wrong and I’m not nuts
Received my PK BA300 earlier today, and it is only 3g over spec which is negligible. Well done, ProKennex! This is one of the sleekest looking rackets in the market right now in my opinion, and it looks even better in person.
Thinking to do Toroline Cavier 16L @50 mains and O-TORO Snap 16L @48, what do you guys think? Also have Tourna BHS7T, GoldenSet SnakeBite (both smooth and twisted), BHB 16 which came with the racket, and TRU PRO GW 17g.
"WARNING: this product causes high performance."
One of the coolest marketing lines ever.
Thinking to do Toroline Cavier 16L @50 mains and O-TORO Snap 16L @48, what do you guys think? Also have Tourna BHS7T, GoldenSet SnakeBite (both smooth and twisted), BHB 16 which came with the racket, and TRU PRO GW 17g.
"WARNING: this product causes high performance."
One of the coolest marketing lines ever. Thanks for the insight. Would you recommend stringing tighter to compensate for that power then?
I'm thinking about going 55lbs on a firm poly. Kirschbaum Max power 17g
I think it's more complicated than that. The issue is the black ace 100 string pattern is SUPER open - so I think that probably means stringing a couple pounds higher just in general.
But also - I pretty much always start with the same string/tension I'm coming from if same pattern head size, maybe +/- 2 or 3 pounds if dense pattern, smaller head size, etc.
Thanks! May I ask what string and tension you ended up settling on for the ba315?
Hesi
Rookie
Was able to sneak in a very quick 40 minute hit with the 315 strung at 52lbs with Otoro. Will need to hit with it more and a couple+ other strings before I gather my complete thoughts and post here. But first impressions were pretty positive. I don't think it's a racket I'd switch to but the experience has been better than I expected.
Not 315, modded 285s that are around 320 all in. And my string choice isn't going to help as I'm currently on velocity 16 at 57, which is a thicker gauge than I was using with my old frames.
If you like firm poly at 55 that's not something I can help with lol. I will say that I wouldn't be surprised if people also wind up going up in gauge or tension because of the pattern though.
curtstead
Professional
Haven't gotten the specs measured yet, will get them soon. Got my Black Ace Pro yesterday for the playtest, strung it with Lynx Tour 17g Champagne at 45#. Will get on court tonight and tomorrow to get everything started.
Just some initial side thoughts:
1.) This may be the prettiest paintjob on the market right now. This frame is gorgeous, man. The 300 and 315 that I've seen may be even better with the red on the inside
2.) Did some initial shadow swinging, and SW feels on the higher side. I'd say somewhere around 330 if I had to guess, but will know soon!
3.) I'm normally a L3 in grip size, and I got an L2 with the playtest. This only feels *slightly* small, and honestly, I'm even debating that. I don't remember feeling this with the '21 BAP nor the 7G, but maybe I just didn't notice back then. So I'd say grip sizes with this might run slightly on the larger side.
Just some initial side thoughts:
1.) This may be the prettiest paintjob on the market right now. This frame is gorgeous, man. The 300 and 315 that I've seen may be even better with the red on the inside
2.) Did some initial shadow swinging, and SW feels on the higher side. I'd say somewhere around 330 if I had to guess, but will know soon!
3.) I'm normally a L3 in grip size, and I got an L2 with the playtest. This only feels *slightly* small, and honestly, I'm even debating that. I don't remember feeling this with the '21 BAP nor the 7G, but maybe I just didn't notice back then. So I'd say grip sizes with this might run slightly on the larger side.
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Had a very successful first hit with the Black Ace 315. I wanted to do this playtest because I’m just coming back from taking a break due to golfer’s elbow. I’ve been back playing the last few weeks with a very flexy Volkl C10X strung with multi, then last week a PA98 strung with natural gut; and last week I tried a few games with full bed poly in both a PA100 and a Gravity Pro. While these didn’t hurt me, they definitely felt harsh and I went back to the 98 with gut.
I was pleased that the Pro Kennex seems to live up to its arm-friendly reputation. I was able to hit full bed poly (Grapplesnake Alpha with Toroline O-Toro green crosses) comfortably again, for 90 minutes. Against hard-hitting guys I was able to swing out on groundstrokes and send the ball back with good power - the feel of the BA315 was comfortably firm and not at all noodle-y. Not sure if it’s the Kinetic sand but the swing weight felt like less than that of my Auxetic 1.0 Gravity Pro while I got good rips in on the ball and I was glad to be able to get the spin and control of poly again.
Flat serves were excellent - I served a legit ace on the second point so no adjustment time needed. I got good spin on my kick serves but haven’t gone for aggressive kick yet - will try that tomorrow. Forehand was solid, not quite as much spin as my Aeros (but this is not a spin racket per se) but good spin from the 16x19 pattern. My somewhat flatter 2HBH was easy to crank up the pace on and won me points.
The one part that is not working well for me yet in the BA315 is feel on the volleys. This might be unfair to expect given that I’ve been playing with multis and gut recently but for now it felt boardy and I pushed a lot of volleys either long or too flat into the net. Too early to know if it’s just user error here, but I did switch briefly to the PA98 at the end of today’s session and immediately volleyed better (natural gut, duh).
All in all, I’m very pleased with the performance of the BA315 in an arm-friendly comfortable package so far.
I was pleased that the Pro Kennex seems to live up to its arm-friendly reputation. I was able to hit full bed poly (Grapplesnake Alpha with Toroline O-Toro green crosses) comfortably again, for 90 minutes. Against hard-hitting guys I was able to swing out on groundstrokes and send the ball back with good power - the feel of the BA315 was comfortably firm and not at all noodle-y. Not sure if it’s the Kinetic sand but the swing weight felt like less than that of my Auxetic 1.0 Gravity Pro while I got good rips in on the ball and I was glad to be able to get the spin and control of poly again.
Flat serves were excellent - I served a legit ace on the second point so no adjustment time needed. I got good spin on my kick serves but haven’t gone for aggressive kick yet - will try that tomorrow. Forehand was solid, not quite as much spin as my Aeros (but this is not a spin racket per se) but good spin from the 16x19 pattern. My somewhat flatter 2HBH was easy to crank up the pace on and won me points.
The one part that is not working well for me yet in the BA315 is feel on the volleys. This might be unfair to expect given that I’ve been playing with multis and gut recently but for now it felt boardy and I pushed a lot of volleys either long or too flat into the net. Too early to know if it’s just user error here, but I did switch briefly to the PA98 at the end of today’s session and immediately volleyed better (natural gut, duh).
All in all, I’m very pleased with the performance of the BA315 in an arm-friendly comfortable package so far.
wedge
Semi-Pro
Do you find that the 315 really, really wants to hit with topspin? I had a hard time hitting flat shots with that frame, it really wanted to launch.
Also might anyone at TW have a sense of when the Black Ace Pros will come back in stock in the popular sizes? After playing with this one I just immediately want another one, but they seem to be sold out kind of everywhere.
Hesi
Rookie
That's not something I have noticed, but I will pay some more attention to that aspect next hit. Raining a bit this week but should be at least a couple days of sun.
curtstead
Professional
Some early thoughts a few hours in to my playtest on the BAP. Stock + OG so far, Lynx Tour 17g at 47#.
-Feel is great, as expected.
-Power is low, but not as low as I thought. There's some pretty decent top end power when you really line up. I'm also finding fairly good depth pretty easily.
-Stability is very good, especially for this spec and RA. This feels more stable than the 2021.
-Control on most shots is fantastic. I can hit with spin or flatten out confidently off the ground. I am hitting all the spots I want on serve. However, I said most because... *see next*
-Slice is... difficult? VERY floaty. This is a shot I am struggling to dial in with, and I have no idea why. When I hit it right, it knifes. However, this shot is super unforgiving for some reason.
That's all for now!
-Feel is great, as expected.
-Power is low, but not as low as I thought. There's some pretty decent top end power when you really line up. I'm also finding fairly good depth pretty easily.
-Stability is very good, especially for this spec and RA. This feels more stable than the 2021.
-Control on most shots is fantastic. I can hit with spin or flatten out confidently off the ground. I am hitting all the spots I want on serve. However, I said most because... *see next*
-Slice is... difficult? VERY floaty. This is a shot I am struggling to dial in with, and I have no idea why. When I hit it right, it knifes. However, this shot is super unforgiving for some reason.
That's all for now!
I strung mine with Toroline Caviar 16L in the mains and O-TORO Snap 16L at 50#, and had my first hitting session (about 3 hours) with a friend and coach who is a strong D2 player and a former Davis Cup player for his home country. I mention this because, even though he is a much higher caliber player than me, I was able to have some solid rallies with him using this setup, getting the ball back deep, and even winning a few nice points here and there. He was definitely playing down lol.
The highlight of my session was how extremely comfortable this racket is. I didn’t feel any stiffness or arm fatigue whatsoever by the end of the session. It performed well across the board. I served well on flat, kick, and slice serves, as the racket moved through the air very quickly, even though it’s a 100 sq in frame. I’m sure the thinner beam helps a lot with that. I was getting a nice, higher launch angle on both forehands and backhands thanks to the open string pattern. Since I mainly use 98 sq in rackets, this one felt noticeably more forgiving on off-center hits.
Slices felt buttery smooth and very satisfying. I also felt that I volleyed better with this racket than with any other racket I own. Overall, a great first impression, and lives up to the WARNING! Haha
The highlight of my session was how extremely comfortable this racket is. I didn’t feel any stiffness or arm fatigue whatsoever by the end of the session. It performed well across the board. I served well on flat, kick, and slice serves, as the racket moved through the air very quickly, even though it’s a 100 sq in frame. I’m sure the thinner beam helps a lot with that. I was getting a nice, higher launch angle on both forehands and backhands thanks to the open string pattern. Since I mainly use 98 sq in rackets, this one felt noticeably more forgiving on off-center hits.
Slices felt buttery smooth and very satisfying. I also felt that I volleyed better with this racket than with any other racket I own. Overall, a great first impression, and lives up to the WARNING! Haha
ReopeningWed
Professional
Didn’t apply but I’m excited to hear ProKennex has offerings, they never miss when making rackets that destroy a ball but don’t destroy your elbow.
BPlain
Professional
I owned both of the prior models – 315g and 300g – in 16x19 so it looks like they are at least changed the static weight to 305g.
curtstead
Professional
Mine is stable AF. I don't really feel the need to add anything. I was originally gonna mod but I think I'm gonna finish the playtest completely in stock form.
wedge
Semi-Pro
I'll be looking forward to reading that, I wimped out on stock after one session.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
Do mean the Q+5? Or the 98? The 100s are all 16x20 pattern. And they have all 3 weights. The 305 is the XL 27.5. I remember you did play a PK or two but don’t recall which
BPlain
Professional
Sorry, I thought you were talking about the new Q+Tour which looks like it will have a similar silver paint job to the new Q+5 line.
Q+TOUR - ProKennex Racchette e Accessori
The new Q+Tour is designed for players who love control and feel on every shot. The squared frame, 16x19 string pattern, and 305 g weight make it precise, stable, and high-performing in all phases of the game, delivering excellent spin on both spin shots. The Kinetic Quadfocus system provides an...
www.prokennex.eu
I was talking about new Q+Tour line. Looks like they went from the old 300g & 315g 16x19 models and 325g 18x20 model to the new line being 305g in both 16x19 or 18x20 models.
wedge
Semi-Pro
While we're on the topic (or adjacent to it I guess) does anyone have a good solid understanding of the distinctions between the K and Q+ lines? It seems like they overlap and I can't quite figure out how they're intended to be distinct.
I've tried them and they certainly have different feels, but so many of the specs are so similar.
I've tried them and they certainly have different feels, but so many of the specs are so similar.
wedge
Semi-Pro
I can't speak for the Q+20 or Q+30, but all the other Q+ series frames (as well as the earlier Q's) have a very particular quality to the hit that I would describe as a bit "messy". They're comfortable, but it's not as "clean" a hit as any Ki's, going back to the earliest gens. It's also a more "thick and substantial" feeling to the hit. Sorry I can't be more descriptive about it, that's as best as I can do without writing poetry and doing an interpretive dance.
Like if you hit with a brand new Ki5, 10 or 15, as well as all the older ones, they have a very straightforward, clean, hollow-ish feeling. Older you get, less hollow they feel -- early Ki5's feel somewhat traditional and nice. 5G/7G have a similarly clean hit, although more solid. But Q's have a "thick, rustly, wiry" quality that took me a while to get used to back when I was playing with the first gen Q's. I liked the frames enough in terms of performance to stick with them.
The Q+Tour Pro I ended up maining for a while also had this fuzziness to the hit that went away once I added weight in the hoop. But that's a dope frame with the right setup, even with the weird feels.
From what I can tell, the Q's are using some proportion of high modulus graphite, are more expensive in general, and have a bunch more sand orb parasites infesting the hoops. Maybe the slight difference in layup and increased sand makes the difference in feel, but it's still not clear what the notional differences are. The literature just says "more arm protection". I'm more interested in what Pro Kennex think might steer a customer to one line over the other, other than price. Like I wouldn't say the Q's are very obviously "better". They just feel different and a bit more modern.
It seems possible, having a sense of the company, that the Ki's (with the exception of the newest Ki5 which has a nicely updated throat), are mostly legacy molds that they can keep using as long as it makes financial sense, and offering them at the lower price point is the point, rather than there being some conscious decisions for each silo to have its own raison d'etre. Like my Ki10 has an identical mold to a PK frame I bought 35 years ago. The Ki15 I have appears to be essentially identical to the first 15's that came out like decades ago. The Q's are obviously a properly new product. So maybe I'm coming at the question wrong -- they don't appear to be the same sort of company as a Head or Babolat so perhaps I'm coming in with incorrect priors.
Even so I'd love to receive some sort of clarification to help know what's what. Like some PK rep really needs to do some quick video describing which kinds of players should go for which rackets. But I really do bet their lineup is downstream of financial decisions rather than ground-up product design. Just a theory.
It looks like the 2026 Q+5 specs are out on Racquetfinder, and they look identical to the previous gen. Same 330 swing weight!
ProKennex Black Ace 300g Review.
String and tension used for test:
Toroline Caviar 16L/1.24 mains and O-TORO Snap 16L/1.25 crosses @50lbs.
Tennis experience/background:
I have about 8+ years of total playing experience. I started with group lessons around ages 11–12, played high school tennis, and have been playing consistently since May 2022. I regularly hit with 4.0–4.5 players, mostly on clay (Har-Tru).
Describe your playing style:
About a 70/30 split between aggressive baseliner and all-court.
Current racquet/string setups:
2023 Head Gravity Pro with GoldenSet SnakeBite 1.25 @ 47 lbs in the mains and Tru Pro Ghostwire 1.22 @ 50 lbs in the crosses.
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
12-13 hours.
Groundstrokes:
From the baseline, the Black Ace 300g felt very comfortable and easy to trust. It does a great job absorbing pace and redirecting the ball, especially when playing against stronger hitters. The open string pattern gives a higher launch angle than my 2023 Gravity Pro, which helped with net clearance without losing control. Even with the open string pattern on a 100 sq in racket, I didn’t have any problems flattening out my forehands from the baseline. My backhands were consistent and could hit flat or topspin with ease. Slices felt buttery smooth and stayed nice and low. Coming from mostly 98 sq in frames, the extra forgiveness on off-center hits was noticeable.
Serves:
Serving was one of the bigger surprises for me. The racquet swings faster than expected for a 100 sq in frame, likely due to the thinner beam. Flat serves had solid pace, and kick and slice serves were easy to shape. I never felt like I had to force anything, even later into longer sessions. I am sure it could perform even better on serves with little bit of weight in the handle to make it more headlight.
Volleys:
On the net, the Black Ace 300g felt solid and stable. There was enough pop to finish points while still maintaining good touch on softer volleys. Comfort really stood out here, with no harsh feedback on contact. Oddly enough, I felt more confident volleying with this racquet than with most others I currently own. On contact, I could feel the Kinetic technology doing its job by soaking up vibrations.
Serve Returns:
Returns were very consistent and predictable. The racquet handled pace well, making it easy to block returns back deep or take a full swing when stepping inside the baseline. Stability on faster serves was better than expected for a 300g frame.
Power = 5/10 & Control = 8/10:
Power is present but on the lower side, which I’m fine with since I usually play with lower-powered racquets anyways. Control on full swings was very good, especially when accelerating through the ball. Depth and directional control were predictable throughout the session.
Top Spin/Slice: 8/10
Topspin comes easily thanks to the open pattern. I was able to hit solid topspin forehands, though I felt the racquet could benefit from a little more swingweight for heavier balls. I may experiment with adding a few grams of lead tape at 12 o’clock. Slice shots were a highlight and felt especially clean and effective, staying low.
Comfort: 10/10
Comfort is where this racquet truly shines. I had zero arm or shoulder issues, even after multiple 3-hour sessions. The Kinetic technology clearly does what it’s supposed to do. The timing of this playtest was perfect, as I was dealing with a bit of TE, and I’ve been able to play exclusively with this racquet since receiving it with no issues whatsoever.
Feel: 6/10
The feel is plush and arm-friendly without being overly muted. There’s still enough feedback to know exactly where the ball is on the stringbed. Players who prefer a softer feel will enjoy this frame. I plan to try crisper string setups to see if I can improve the feel slightly.
Maneuverability: 8/10
For a 100 sq in racquet, maneuverability was excellent. It swings quickly and feels easy to whip on groundstrokes and serves. It never felt sluggish during long rallies. To improve this even more, I may experiment with adding some weight to the handle or putting on a leather grip.
Stability: 8/10
Stability was impressive for the weight. It held up well against heavier hitters and didn’t feel flimsy on volleys or returns. I never felt like the frame was getting pushed around.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Overall, I was very impressed with the Black Ace 300g. It blends comfort, forgiveness, and modern playability extremely well without sacrificing control. This would be a great option for 3.5–4.5 players looking for an arm-friendly racquet that still performs across the board. It is easily the most comfortable racquet I’ve hit with, and the Kinetic technology does an excellent job absorbing vibrations at impact. This isn’t a negative, just my OCD, but I did notice the sound of the microspheres moving inside the frame during mini tennis which I didn’t care for, though it wasn’t noticeable at all during baseline play. I plan to continue experimenting with different string and tension setups to dial it in even further to my preferences, and will report back my findings.
As always, thank you to Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff and ProKennex for this playtest opportunity!
String and tension used for test:
Toroline Caviar 16L/1.24 mains and O-TORO Snap 16L/1.25 crosses @50lbs.
Tennis experience/background:
I have about 8+ years of total playing experience. I started with group lessons around ages 11–12, played high school tennis, and have been playing consistently since May 2022. I regularly hit with 4.0–4.5 players, mostly on clay (Har-Tru).
Describe your playing style:
About a 70/30 split between aggressive baseliner and all-court.
Current racquet/string setups:
2023 Head Gravity Pro with GoldenSet SnakeBite 1.25 @ 47 lbs in the mains and Tru Pro Ghostwire 1.22 @ 50 lbs in the crosses.
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
12-13 hours.
From the baseline, the Black Ace 300g felt very comfortable and easy to trust. It does a great job absorbing pace and redirecting the ball, especially when playing against stronger hitters. The open string pattern gives a higher launch angle than my 2023 Gravity Pro, which helped with net clearance without losing control. Even with the open string pattern on a 100 sq in racket, I didn’t have any problems flattening out my forehands from the baseline. My backhands were consistent and could hit flat or topspin with ease. Slices felt buttery smooth and stayed nice and low. Coming from mostly 98 sq in frames, the extra forgiveness on off-center hits was noticeable.
Serves:
Serving was one of the bigger surprises for me. The racquet swings faster than expected for a 100 sq in frame, likely due to the thinner beam. Flat serves had solid pace, and kick and slice serves were easy to shape. I never felt like I had to force anything, even later into longer sessions. I am sure it could perform even better on serves with little bit of weight in the handle to make it more headlight.
Volleys:
On the net, the Black Ace 300g felt solid and stable. There was enough pop to finish points while still maintaining good touch on softer volleys. Comfort really stood out here, with no harsh feedback on contact. Oddly enough, I felt more confident volleying with this racquet than with most others I currently own. On contact, I could feel the Kinetic technology doing its job by soaking up vibrations.
Serve Returns:
Returns were very consistent and predictable. The racquet handled pace well, making it easy to block returns back deep or take a full swing when stepping inside the baseline. Stability on faster serves was better than expected for a 300g frame.
Power is present but on the lower side, which I’m fine with since I usually play with lower-powered racquets anyways. Control on full swings was very good, especially when accelerating through the ball. Depth and directional control were predictable throughout the session.
Top Spin/Slice: 8/10
Topspin comes easily thanks to the open pattern. I was able to hit solid topspin forehands, though I felt the racquet could benefit from a little more swingweight for heavier balls. I may experiment with adding a few grams of lead tape at 12 o’clock. Slice shots were a highlight and felt especially clean and effective, staying low.
Comfort: 10/10
Comfort is where this racquet truly shines. I had zero arm or shoulder issues, even after multiple 3-hour sessions. The Kinetic technology clearly does what it’s supposed to do. The timing of this playtest was perfect, as I was dealing with a bit of TE, and I’ve been able to play exclusively with this racquet since receiving it with no issues whatsoever.
Feel: 6/10
The feel is plush and arm-friendly without being overly muted. There’s still enough feedback to know exactly where the ball is on the stringbed. Players who prefer a softer feel will enjoy this frame. I plan to try crisper string setups to see if I can improve the feel slightly.
Maneuverability: 8/10
For a 100 sq in racquet, maneuverability was excellent. It swings quickly and feels easy to whip on groundstrokes and serves. It never felt sluggish during long rallies. To improve this even more, I may experiment with adding some weight to the handle or putting on a leather grip.
Stability: 8/10
Stability was impressive for the weight. It held up well against heavier hitters and didn’t feel flimsy on volleys or returns. I never felt like the frame was getting pushed around.
Overall, I was very impressed with the Black Ace 300g. It blends comfort, forgiveness, and modern playability extremely well without sacrificing control. This would be a great option for 3.5–4.5 players looking for an arm-friendly racquet that still performs across the board. It is easily the most comfortable racquet I’ve hit with, and the Kinetic technology does an excellent job absorbing vibrations at impact. This isn’t a negative, just my OCD, but I did notice the sound of the microspheres moving inside the frame during mini tennis which I didn’t care for, though it wasn’t noticeable at all during baseline play. I plan to continue experimenting with different string and tension setups to dial it in even further to my preferences, and will report back my findings.
As always, thank you to Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff and ProKennex for this playtest opportunity!
Boredsurfer
Semi-Pro
String and tension used for test: I used the string supplied by TW; Tourna Big Hitter Blue 17G strung at 60/57lbs Unstrung Spec: 302g/8pts HL/295 Swingweight (excellent QC) SW Strung Spec: 319g/5HL/326 Swingweight (nice spec!) @JOSHL is my stringer and he is a perfectionist. He was surprised to find that the point of sale cardboard insert that PK supplies with the racquet also doubles as a stencil! - Very cool. Thoughtful - no one else does this apparently. Needless to say @JOSHL will be stenciling all my PK racquets in the future.
Tennis experience/background: I am 55 years old. I live in Los Angeles. I have been playing tennis 3 times per week consistently for over 20 years (2 days of singles, 1 day of doubles). There is no off-season in L.A. so I play a lot. I have SoCal 4.5 level groundstrokes but compete at the 4.0 level in tourneys.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am an aggressive baseliner (with a 1hbh). I can serve flat, slice and kick serves on each side of the box. My weaknesses are overall movement (a motorcycle accident in my 40's has slowed me down a fair bit) volleys and overhead smashes. I am a flatter hitter probably.
Current racquet/string setups: I own 25 different racquets but I always end up back at box/constant-beam control players frames that are basic graphite hairpins (customization platforms). I really like racquets from the 90's where feel and plow dominate the experience (12.5 oz string, RA under 62, 16x19 pattern usually, 5 pts headlight strung). My current "dailies" in rotation are; Prestige Pro, H22, H19, Pro Kennex Black Ace Pro, Pro Kennex Black ACE 315, Prince Phantom 97p and Prince Graphite Pro 110 - etc. etc
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 6 hours total.
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: For me, this is where this racquet shines. Despite its 305 static weight, and thin 19.5 frame I am constantly surprised how powerful and stable the Pro is and how heavy groundstrokes are from the baseline. Because the thin beam moves so fast through the air, I am able to buggy-whip strokes when I need to or lengthen my stroke for base line bashing; I am never late on shots and crafty angles and shapes are a breeze too. The open string pattern allow for plenty of topspin kick and slices are "chop suey" - deadly (skidding super low off concrete with enough set up time). The dwell time and plush feel on contact are unmatched in modern tennis IMHO. I can hit flat or spin. The previous version had even more swing weight so the plow on groundstrokes was even heavier.
-Serves: The BA Pro really punches above its weight on serves. Even though the SW has dropped 5 points from the previous gen, there is still plenty of tip speed on contact and that, coupled with the thin beam and open string pattern makes for an absolute weapon on spin and kick serves. Flat serves are still good, but this isn't a boom stick (needs addt'l weight added for that).
-Volleys: This might be the only weakness for me as my volley skill is sus at best. Hard to fault the racquet there, however the twist weight might be low in stock form as it does have the tendency to flutter against heavy strokes at net. Nothing a little lead at 3 & 9 wouldn't solve.
-Serve returns: easy to get in place as it's light - only twists slightly when blocking huge 1st serve bombs. Really good at creating creative 2nd serve returns as well. It would benefit from some lead at 3 and 9 to really beef up the performance here and make this a blocking weapon without it being sluggish.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- I wouldn't say this is a Power or Spin racquet but rather a control racquet that allows you to capture more power and spin than traditional control racquets. I hope that makes sense. For me the power and control are just right; you have the power to trade groundstrokes from the baseline, but not too much power that you are hitting the fence on mid-court approach shots or modifying your strokes dynamics to suit the racquet. If you have more traditional or flatter groundstrokes you will appreciate how it is calibrated. It's the right amount of power for full aggressive strokes but still enough power where you aren't creating sitters mid-court on defense or on less than ideal approach shots. The sweet spot is huge. It absorbs pace as well too.
Top Spin/Slice - Because of the super open string pattern, both top spin and slice are easy to create on serves and groundstrokes. When I got my first BA Pro I strung it at 52lbs and the stringed was launch-y with a pronounced hot spot and I would lose the ball in the stringbed. I now string higher and this goes away and any tendency for the frame to feel noodle-y leaves too. It just felt plush. The sweet spot feels like a 100 because of the string spacing.
Comfort- 11/10 - no other racquet can beat it for comfort (not even within the other PK silos). The BA Pro actually rehabs tennis/golfers elbow. Remarkable.
Feel-11/10 - again for me, next level feel and plush feedback. What I love is I can put any string, at any tension, ay any gauge and there is 0 irritation or boardy feel.
Maneuverability- 10/10 - extremely fast through the air. 19.5 mm for the win.
Stability - 9/10 - for its low static weight of 305g and 325 SW and thinner beam it is hugely stable. Adding 10g lead would make this a 11/10 experience (and it won't feel sluggish)
General reaction/comments on overall performance: So what can I say here; I am a total fanboy of Pro Kennex and I have 3 of their frames right now (and have owned 5 more in the past). My 2 current "dailies" right now are the BA Pro (prev gen) and the PK BA 315 (prev gen). I think this brand and their products are massively over looked and the Black Ace series are the only 2 racquets I own that actually ADD NEW elements to my game instead of just complimenting it. I have to first start off by saying that even after 4-5 hours on court, I have never felt a smudge of wrist, elbow or shoulder discomfort when I use PK racquets. None. Zero. Ever. In fact, my shoulder somehow ends up feeling better. If you have ever found yourself saying: "man I love the feel of my Prestige but I wish it had more power and spin to counter the frames of the modern game" OR "I love the balance and power of my Pro Staff but I hate leaving the court with a glass-elbow" than this is the frame for you. It is one of kind in the market place IMHO. With a thin and whippy beam, deeply plush feel on contact (when strung correctly - high) that doesn't feel like a noodle (rather a Cadillac), heeps of feedback from the string bed (despite the open pattern) there are no other racquets like it. Despite the low static weight, it doesn't get pushed around by heavy hitters (well maybe just a smidge at net and on returns) and serves, droppers and touch shots are a just joy to create. 12/10 would recommend. When I add my preferred string and lead at 3 and 9 and 12 this racquet is a complete weapon!
As always, thank you to Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff and ProKennex for this playtest opportunity!
Tennis experience/background: I am 55 years old. I live in Los Angeles. I have been playing tennis 3 times per week consistently for over 20 years (2 days of singles, 1 day of doubles). There is no off-season in L.A. so I play a lot. I have SoCal 4.5 level groundstrokes but compete at the 4.0 level in tourneys.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am an aggressive baseliner (with a 1hbh). I can serve flat, slice and kick serves on each side of the box. My weaknesses are overall movement (a motorcycle accident in my 40's has slowed me down a fair bit) volleys and overhead smashes. I am a flatter hitter probably.
Current racquet/string setups: I own 25 different racquets but I always end up back at box/constant-beam control players frames that are basic graphite hairpins (customization platforms). I really like racquets from the 90's where feel and plow dominate the experience (12.5 oz string, RA under 62, 16x19 pattern usually, 5 pts headlight strung). My current "dailies" in rotation are; Prestige Pro, H22, H19, Pro Kennex Black Ace Pro, Pro Kennex Black ACE 315, Prince Phantom 97p and Prince Graphite Pro 110 - etc. etc
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 6 hours total.
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: For me, this is where this racquet shines. Despite its 305 static weight, and thin 19.5 frame I am constantly surprised how powerful and stable the Pro is and how heavy groundstrokes are from the baseline. Because the thin beam moves so fast through the air, I am able to buggy-whip strokes when I need to or lengthen my stroke for base line bashing; I am never late on shots and crafty angles and shapes are a breeze too. The open string pattern allow for plenty of topspin kick and slices are "chop suey" - deadly (skidding super low off concrete with enough set up time). The dwell time and plush feel on contact are unmatched in modern tennis IMHO. I can hit flat or spin. The previous version had even more swing weight so the plow on groundstrokes was even heavier.
-Serves: The BA Pro really punches above its weight on serves. Even though the SW has dropped 5 points from the previous gen, there is still plenty of tip speed on contact and that, coupled with the thin beam and open string pattern makes for an absolute weapon on spin and kick serves. Flat serves are still good, but this isn't a boom stick (needs addt'l weight added for that).
-Volleys: This might be the only weakness for me as my volley skill is sus at best. Hard to fault the racquet there, however the twist weight might be low in stock form as it does have the tendency to flutter against heavy strokes at net. Nothing a little lead at 3 & 9 wouldn't solve.
-Serve returns: easy to get in place as it's light - only twists slightly when blocking huge 1st serve bombs. Really good at creating creative 2nd serve returns as well. It would benefit from some lead at 3 and 9 to really beef up the performance here and make this a blocking weapon without it being sluggish.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- I wouldn't say this is a Power or Spin racquet but rather a control racquet that allows you to capture more power and spin than traditional control racquets. I hope that makes sense. For me the power and control are just right; you have the power to trade groundstrokes from the baseline, but not too much power that you are hitting the fence on mid-court approach shots or modifying your strokes dynamics to suit the racquet. If you have more traditional or flatter groundstrokes you will appreciate how it is calibrated. It's the right amount of power for full aggressive strokes but still enough power where you aren't creating sitters mid-court on defense or on less than ideal approach shots. The sweet spot is huge. It absorbs pace as well too.
Top Spin/Slice - Because of the super open string pattern, both top spin and slice are easy to create on serves and groundstrokes. When I got my first BA Pro I strung it at 52lbs and the stringed was launch-y with a pronounced hot spot and I would lose the ball in the stringbed. I now string higher and this goes away and any tendency for the frame to feel noodle-y leaves too. It just felt plush. The sweet spot feels like a 100 because of the string spacing.
Comfort- 11/10 - no other racquet can beat it for comfort (not even within the other PK silos). The BA Pro actually rehabs tennis/golfers elbow. Remarkable.
Feel-11/10 - again for me, next level feel and plush feedback. What I love is I can put any string, at any tension, ay any gauge and there is 0 irritation or boardy feel.
Maneuverability- 10/10 - extremely fast through the air. 19.5 mm for the win.
Stability - 9/10 - for its low static weight of 305g and 325 SW and thinner beam it is hugely stable. Adding 10g lead would make this a 11/10 experience (and it won't feel sluggish)
General reaction/comments on overall performance: So what can I say here; I am a total fanboy of Pro Kennex and I have 3 of their frames right now (and have owned 5 more in the past). My 2 current "dailies" right now are the BA Pro (prev gen) and the PK BA 315 (prev gen). I think this brand and their products are massively over looked and the Black Ace series are the only 2 racquets I own that actually ADD NEW elements to my game instead of just complimenting it. I have to first start off by saying that even after 4-5 hours on court, I have never felt a smudge of wrist, elbow or shoulder discomfort when I use PK racquets. None. Zero. Ever. In fact, my shoulder somehow ends up feeling better. If you have ever found yourself saying: "man I love the feel of my Prestige but I wish it had more power and spin to counter the frames of the modern game" OR "I love the balance and power of my Pro Staff but I hate leaving the court with a glass-elbow" than this is the frame for you. It is one of kind in the market place IMHO. With a thin and whippy beam, deeply plush feel on contact (when strung correctly - high) that doesn't feel like a noodle (rather a Cadillac), heeps of feedback from the string bed (despite the open pattern) there are no other racquets like it. Despite the low static weight, it doesn't get pushed around by heavy hitters (well maybe just a smidge at net and on returns) and serves, droppers and touch shots are a just joy to create. 12/10 would recommend. When I add my preferred string and lead at 3 and 9 and 12 this racquet is a complete weapon!
As always, thank you to Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff and ProKennex for this playtest opportunity!
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wedge
Semi-Pro
I would chime in and just say the biggest different I noticed is in stability and the much-improved solid feel on contact. Honestly this gen feels like a substantially different racket. I bet surfer would agree there, I know he likes the solid stuff.
Boredsurfer
Semi-Pro
I have the previous 315g 16x19 model in the race car graphic. I will be curious to see how the 305g will perform in relation. PK is killing it right now!Sorry, I thought you were talking about the new Q+Tour which looks like it will have a similar silver paint job to the new Q+5 line.
Q+TOUR - ProKennex Racchette e Accessori
The new Q+Tour is designed for players who love control and feel on every shot. The squared frame, 16x19 string pattern, and 305 g weight make it precise, stable, and high-performing in all phases of the game, delivering excellent spin on both spin shots. The Kinetic Quadfocus system provides an...
I was talking about new Q+Tour line. Looks like they went from the old 300g & 315g 16x19 models and 325g 18x20 model to the new line being 305g in both 16x19 or 18x20 models.
Boredsurfer
Semi-Pro
The addtl 5 points in SW can be felt mostly on serve tbh. I think both versions could benefit with leather grip and lead to bring static weight up to 315-320g BUT, the new version does feel even faster through the air - any differences between the 2 could be dialed in with string selection, tension I think.
Boredsurfer
Semi-Pro
Hey @wedge - you aren't wrong
- on both counts. For the recreational and club player PK is elite now IMHO. But I will still keep chasing the racquet dragon I am a holic Speaking of, anything new on your google sheet?
Just wanted to mention that I asked for an extension by email previously and I’ll be playing a few more times this weekend and will be ready to post my review after that. Thanks!
I tested the racquet (300g) strung with Hyper-G 17 gauge at 50 pounds, which is my usual setup and one I’m very familiar with. I’ve been playing tennis for about 12 years, starting in high school, continuing through college, and now competing regularly in recreational leagues. I’m a doubles player that likes to serve and approach the net as soon as I can. For this review, I spent around 15 hours using the racquet in both matches and casual hitting sessions to get a well-rounded feel for its performance.
GROUNDSTROKES (6/10)
Groundstrokes took a little time to get used to, mainly because the swingweight felt lighter than what I typically play with. I often felt like I wanted to add some lead tape and maybe a leather grip just to give it a bit more mass and stability through contact. The ball came off the strings very easily, which created a lot of easy depth but also made control tricky at times. Although the racquet’s key technology focuses on enhanced dampening with the bead system, I personally didn’t notice much additional vibration reduction or extra comfort compared to other frames.
SERVES (7/10)
Serves were generally easy with this racquet, especially when hitting flatter first serves where I could generate good pace without much effort. However, when I tried to add more spin, I felt like I lost some connection to the ball and didn’t quite feel as confident. Once again, I think the lighter overall weight played a role in that lack of feel and stability when going for kick or slice serves.
VOLLEYS (8/10)
Volleys were solid overall, and I actually felt like this was one of the areas where the racquet performed best. The lighter weight made it very maneuverable at the net, which helped with quick reactions and reflex volleys. Stability wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough that I felt comfortable finishing points up front.
SERVE RETURN (8/10)
Serve returns were also pretty decent with this racquet. The maneuverability made it easy to get the racquet into position and redirect pace when needed. The only real struggle came when returning slower-paced serves, where the lack of mass and higher power sometimes made control a bit inconsistent.
POWER/CONTROL (more power)
In terms of power and control, this racquet definitely leans more toward power than control, and at times it was difficult to keep the ball fully dialed in. With some customization, I think it could strike a better balance, but in stock form it can feel a bit lively. Players who like extra free power may enjoy it more than players who prioritize precision.
TOPSPIN (5/10)
Topspin was a bit challenging to access consistently, but not impossible—it just required some adjustment time to learn how to really work the ball with this setup. Once dialed in, I could still shape my shots, but it didn’t naturally feel like a spin-heavy frame. Slice, however, felt a bit more natural and produced solid depth and a consistent flight.
FEEL (5/10)
The overall feel of the racquet was a bit lacking compared to what I typically prefer. There were several moments where I wanted to really finesse the ball or feel a more connected touch on my shots, but the lower control and livelier response made that difficult. Because of that, I didn’t always feel completely confident in shaping or softening the ball the way I wanted.
MANEUVERABILITY (7/10)
Maneuverability was probably where this racquet excelled the most. It was very easy to whip through the swing and adjust quickly, especially at the net where quick reactions are important. The lighter weight helped make it feel fast and effortless to position during fast exchanges.
STABILITY (6/10)
Stability, on the other hand, was an area that definitely could have benefited from a bit more weight. Over time it became somewhat easier to handle as I adjusted, but it still never quite reached the solid, planted feel I usually look for. With some added customization, I could see it feeling much more stable and reliable through contact.
GROUNDSTROKES (6/10)
Groundstrokes took a little time to get used to, mainly because the swingweight felt lighter than what I typically play with. I often felt like I wanted to add some lead tape and maybe a leather grip just to give it a bit more mass and stability through contact. The ball came off the strings very easily, which created a lot of easy depth but also made control tricky at times. Although the racquet’s key technology focuses on enhanced dampening with the bead system, I personally didn’t notice much additional vibration reduction or extra comfort compared to other frames.
SERVES (7/10)
Serves were generally easy with this racquet, especially when hitting flatter first serves where I could generate good pace without much effort. However, when I tried to add more spin, I felt like I lost some connection to the ball and didn’t quite feel as confident. Once again, I think the lighter overall weight played a role in that lack of feel and stability when going for kick or slice serves.
VOLLEYS (8/10)
Volleys were solid overall, and I actually felt like this was one of the areas where the racquet performed best. The lighter weight made it very maneuverable at the net, which helped with quick reactions and reflex volleys. Stability wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough that I felt comfortable finishing points up front.
SERVE RETURN (8/10)
Serve returns were also pretty decent with this racquet. The maneuverability made it easy to get the racquet into position and redirect pace when needed. The only real struggle came when returning slower-paced serves, where the lack of mass and higher power sometimes made control a bit inconsistent.
POWER/CONTROL (more power)
In terms of power and control, this racquet definitely leans more toward power than control, and at times it was difficult to keep the ball fully dialed in. With some customization, I think it could strike a better balance, but in stock form it can feel a bit lively. Players who like extra free power may enjoy it more than players who prioritize precision.
TOPSPIN (5/10)
Topspin was a bit challenging to access consistently, but not impossible—it just required some adjustment time to learn how to really work the ball with this setup. Once dialed in, I could still shape my shots, but it didn’t naturally feel like a spin-heavy frame. Slice, however, felt a bit more natural and produced solid depth and a consistent flight.
FEEL (5/10)
The overall feel of the racquet was a bit lacking compared to what I typically prefer. There were several moments where I wanted to really finesse the ball or feel a more connected touch on my shots, but the lower control and livelier response made that difficult. Because of that, I didn’t always feel completely confident in shaping or softening the ball the way I wanted.
MANEUVERABILITY (7/10)
Maneuverability was probably where this racquet excelled the most. It was very easy to whip through the swing and adjust quickly, especially at the net where quick reactions are important. The lighter weight helped make it feel fast and effortless to position during fast exchanges.
STABILITY (6/10)
Stability, on the other hand, was an area that definitely could have benefited from a bit more weight. Over time it became somewhat easier to handle as I adjusted, but it still never quite reached the solid, planted feel I usually look for. With some added customization, I could see it feeling much more stable and reliable through contact.
wedge
Semi-Pro
I was very inspired by this playtest, and ended up popping off with an extended write-up. It’s a bit much, I get it, but I think the 2025 Black Ace Pro is something of a special frame that deserves more print space and mindshare than it gets, so I cleared this with TW Staff, and hopefully this honest glowup contributes!
Some shorter takeaways up-front about the 2025 Black Ace Pro for the longform-disinclined (no hate):
It’s a 97 that plays like a 97. Not bigger, not smaller. Sweet spot is tidy, but the frame is responsive all the way to the edge. Mishits don’t punish you too badly; no jarring sensations, or galling net balls. Even frame hits aren’t uncomfortable, and bad contact still generally makes it over. In that sense this is like an “intermediate game improvement” frame, for mid players like me who like what the smaller head and thin beam have to offer, but want to be guided to improve their game through positive motivation rather than banging your head against a wall over and over. It’s like the frame wants you to do well with it, and never raps you on the knuckles too hard for screwing up.
The feeling on perfect contact is ridiculous. Once outside that ridiculous sweetspot, you immediately begin receiving lots of feedback in the form of vibration. But since it’s low-frequency, flexy-boy feedback, it’s a comfortable sensation and you get tons of information from it. It feels like a sensitive instrument.
There’s just enough power that “low-powered” is not the first thing that comes to mind when describing this frame. There’s some “sensible power” available but you kinda have to put a quarter in the machine to access it.
The low static weight might be a tough sell to the kinds of people interested in this class of frame, especially if it’s this difficult to add weight to the handle. It works in stock spec, with above average stability for a 315g strung racket (that’s what mine came in at!), but it was a better experience with the addition of grip weight and a lower balance point. Unfortunately, the only realistic way to add weight to Kinetic handles is a heavier grip, lead under the grip, and lead on the bottom of the endcap. You can add weight inside Kinetic endcaps but it’s a nightmare.
If a shot is physically possible, it feels like the Black Ace Pro can do it. I’ve never played with a frame that makes me feel like I can hit so many crazy angles. I feel like a much more creative and capable player with this frame in my hand.
It can be mentally exhausting to play long sets with as an intermediate. There’s no such thing as “just hitting around” with this frame, not at this skill level. I couldn’t just bash balls with it; instead, every shot feels really intentional. It’s invigorating more than relaxing, and after a few hours I found myself switching out to dumbed-down frames without so many knobs and dials to adjust.
This is almost certainly the finest frame Pro Kennex have ever made, and it might not even be close. @Boredsurfer was sayin how this is a golden age for Pro Kennex and he might be right. PK have made a handful of very-good-to-excellent frames over the years, but this has to be solidly at the top. This frame is kinda nuts? Like where did this come from.
Okay now for some BAP YAPPIN. Enormous thanks to TW and also to Pro Kennex, who were my jam in 1991 when I was the only kid in Brooklyn with a Graphite Presence. PK is still my jam now.
Overview
When you were a kid you’d get these crayons in a box of just 8 colors, and it was a little depressing, kinda poverty-spec a bit, but there was no issue with them really. You could draw a house no problem.
There’s frames that are like that. Like no-nonsense, “here’s a color, now get to scribblin’” style frames. In Pro Kennex terms that’s a 5G ... “just get some orange and green down on that page already, teacher wants to go home”. And it’s no problem.
But then you could get a box with 16 colors, and suddenly you’re like “oh, so I can choose between TWO kinds of blue?” Suddenly there’s so much more you can capture in wax. You can shade things, and you feel like more of an artist. In PK world that’s like a Q+5. You can do some art with the thing and get a real picture done.
But you can also bump up to the 24 box. Who are you, Daddy Warbucks? Now you’re spoiled for choice. Suddenly, the sheer breadth of your palette is making you think more creatively. Now you want to invent a new butterfly. Kinda like a Q+Tour.
These days, you can go to Target looking for a 16, or a 24, and you realize ... whoa they have a *96* box now? And you take it home to give to your kid but you start looking through the colors and you’re like, I’m just gonna call in to work and take the day off, I’ve got a butterfly to invent.
That’s this thing. The 2025 Black Ace Pro is a box of 96 different colors.
Is that good, is it bad? Neither, both? Do you need 96 colors to get a drawing done?
I’ve been a Pro Kennex fanboy for a very long time. I find the company fascinating, unpredictable, eccentric, and capable of real greatness. Over the years they’ve had a reputation as a volume producer, putting out tons and tons of different models, but honestly if you go back and play with them, you find that even the inexpensive, tossed-off frames are all “pretty good”. Go to a Goodwill and spend $3 on a Graphite Prophecy II or a Whale 110, put some new strings in it, and you have a very solid, comfortable frame that feels quality. Ask @kevin qmto -- they're always playable.
But if “pretty good” is their norm, they’re also not known for coming up with masterpieces, which is why these 2025 Black Aces are so intriguing and noteworthy.
As it is, these do not feel like Pro Kennex frames. Whatever it is they’ve done to the layup, whatever “Aurelian Graphite” is, whether it’s that or some other change, it’s an astonishing thing. All these frames have a solidity, a communicability, and a high-quality feel that in my opinion makes almost all other modern frames feel frankly a little bit garbagey.
The Black Ace 300 and 315 are “excellent”, but if we trace the Black Ace Pro from the previous generation to this one, it feels like this particular racket is just one more iteration from being a genuine masterpiece. It’s close.
It’s an easy claim to defend honestly ... they’ve never made anything that feels this clean, responsive, solid, creative, competent and joyful, trad and modern, all in one frame. I play with PK’s every time out, and not until the ’25 BAP have I felt this sense while playing of, “I can’t wait to hit my next shot”.
The thing is so detailed and feelsy -- twelve shades of blue and all that -- that it made me feel far more creative than I actually am on a court. I came away from each session feeling like I hadn’t just played some tennis, I had experienced what tennis had to offer.
There were so, so many times over my sessions with this frame where I hit the ball and thought not only “wow, I just made that shot?” but also, “wow, that shot was even possible?”
For a solid intermediate player, this frame is a pretty compelling operator. Maybe not “ideal”, just “compelling”.
Context
I’m a middle-aged, reasonably solid 3.5. If things are clicking I lose with quiet dignity to 4.0’s, but I keep up fine. Happiest (and at my best) counterpunching against harder hitters, otherwise it’s groundstrokes and pray I don’t get distracted by a dog with a fluffy tail.
Not unhappy at net but it’s not my thing since my control is not good enough to set up really positive net play. One day.
Current Setup
My main racket going into this test has been a two-way between a trusty Pro Kennex 5G (for hitting around, relaxing, little bit of maxing etc), and a Percept 100D (for actually attempting to win). Both rackets are currently modified to around 350g static, 320 swing -- it’s just what my arm seems happiest with.
I’m a multi user although I do experiment with poly setups. I’ve got a crazy-guy style, zero-impulse-control racket collection and I’m always messing around with stuff. Not picky about multis as long as it’s not a full bed of dead nonsense like Xcel or Velocity (in crosses, fine). Sometimes I set the 5G up with a soft poly X multi hybrid to get more control out of it but the frame is so low on power that I don’t love the tradeoff. The 100D currently has Isospeed Pro 1.20 just for experimenting but here too I am fine with any rational multi like the Prince Premiers, or any of the TF’s (of course).
Other than the 5G and 100D, my recent points of comparison are a Pro Kennex Ki10 that I can’t find the right string for, and a Ki5 295 that I was supposed to be such good friends with but we’re not speaking at the moment.
As noted, I’m lowkey obsessed with Pro Kennex frames -- always have been -- so I’m hoping I can provide some value here by putting the BAP into brand context.
For this test I used the BAP in three configs: fully stock, ~30g in grip, and ~20g in grip. I didn’t change swingweight (never felt I needed to), and played with NXT 17 off the machine at 54, a really familiar setup which made comparisons more straightforward.
My frame arrived slightly under spec at 302g unstrung, 294 sw as clocked by a calibrated Briffidi SW1. It strung up at 315g, swinging at 321.5. I spent about 15 hours with the BAP over the past few weeks.
(cont'd!)
wedge
Semi-Pro
Groundstrokes
Forehands
I’m happiest hitting flatter with lower launch angles, but perfectly fine to adjust to a spinnier style of game if the frame seems more geared for it. On paper I figured BAP might have some spinny gears, but I was taken aback by just how spin-forward a frame it is.
I had issues hitting flat. As the playtest wore on, I gained confidence hitting flatter, more penetrating shots, but I never had the same kind of confidence that I have with the Percept. The 100D is similar to Ki10 in that you don’t feel so hemmed into one style of forehand -- both are spinny but not whippy, massive spin windows but equally happy to larp as straight-shooters. Ki10 in particular flattens out in a crazy way, where winners with epic depth are effortless, and feel like thunderous iron punches through the court. 100D can do that too at the right spec.
So that’s what I’ve been used to. But BAP was tricky for me; I had to adjust if I wanted to hit flatter forehands. Little by little I got there, but it just never came as naturally to me as I would have wanted. I’ve talked to other players who say it’s just fine for them, but with my skillset, I found it difficult to hit a truly flat, penetrating ball with this frame.
Once I settled into a more spinny situation with the Pro, forehands were dependable. I could really hit out and do the “more spinning, less winning” thing that you do when you’re a kid, and it seemed like I was never hitting long, and never hitting into the net (net clearance was a non-issue on forehand).
Even on groundstrokes, access to angles was shocking. Not with any other Pro Kennex frame have I felt so encouraged to go for lower-percentage, shorter angles. If some control-forward frames can feel like scalpels, this one can feel like a needle. Confidence on these marginal shots was in another universe compared to my usual frames, even the Q+ Tour.
That said, I never felt like I was truly able to dictate points from the baseline -- I would need more time with the frame to develop a game to match its strengths, and my skill level is kind of low relative to what the frame low-key demands.
But I also enjoyed a very high confidence level during rallies, never worrying about hitting long or netting a ball. And more to my own priorities, I was having the time of my life. The sensation on contact is joyful, colorful, and A+++ flexible. Spin is plentiful, and comfort is hall of fame style. It’s not the most comfortable PK frame though, in my opinion that’s still the 2025 Black Ace 315. But all told, this is almost certainly the more compelling frame.
Amongst PK frames, forehands with the BAP are most similar to the Q+Tour Pro 16x19, and in general that’s the Pro Kennex frame that this is spiritually closest to. Launch angle is similarly high-ish, and both frames are eager to spin and do a “very good but not top-tier” job producing it. Both feel terrific on perfect contact.
BAP is the more forgiving frame (the Q+ 98’s have a really traditional oval head with a narrower window and are more demanding in general). And the Q+TP -- while a brilliant tennis racket -- does not have this sense of overflowing capability and creativity. It’s just much more traditional, a straightforward box-beam frame, with all the attendant pros and cons. Frankly I think the BAP makes the new 305g Q+ Tour frames a little obsolete!
Worth noting that I came into the playtest assuming that depth would be an issue from the baseline. It wasn’t. I was consistently hitting deep balls to the line, though I will say that they weren’t exactly getting there very fast (see section on Power, pg. 73).
I don’t wanna get too deep in the weeds on the differences between the specs I messed around with (yes, this is me keeping it brief), but I found stock weight challenging. 315g strung swinging at 321 felt outta whack, and it made the frame feel too wimpy at the handle, and too head-heavy.
Mid-330 strung felt better and I suspect most players would be pretty happy at this spec, but I was only really comfortable when static weight hit 340. But that’s just because it’s the spec I’m most comfortable and familiar with, so of course it would feel the best. Happiness is 10 point headlight balance
A 315g unstrung Black Ace Pro seems to make a little bit more sense to me, especially since a significant percentage of potential Black Ace players are arm-conscious, and stringing with multis, which means many BAPs will string up very light like mine. 315g strung is too light and I think Pro Kennex should keep this in mind -- hopefully sales for BAP become strong enough that we get the stick in different weight specs, the way PK does for every other frame it makes
Obviously I’m hella biased towards the heavier stuff, and I understand how the lower static weight makes the frame more accessible (*rolls eyes*).
Backhands
I hit OHBH, and these felt dependable with the BAP, provided I was concentrating on what I was doing. When I was focused and feeling good and into it, everything was great, contact was reliable, and the shots kept me in the points, even if winners were hard to come by on this wing.
One session in particular though, I was kinda tired, and it was misting outside, and I didn’t feel awesome, and that’s when the jags of mishitting took over. Lack of concentration led to real issues making solid contact -- this frame really lets you know (gently but firmly) when you're not on center -- and I found myself getting a bit mentally exhausted.
Thankfully I never felt too punished on non-ideal contact, but there were times it started to feel unproductive to play with it.
Switching back over to the 5G and 100D was a relief that day. That’s when I kinda felt like the honeymoon had officially ended ... that glorious ahhhh of returning to an extremely familiar frame, and suddenly mechanics matched the tool they were trained for.
It wasn’t as though I had soured on the BAP, I just gained greater clarity about how this frame might fit into my life. It’s still absolutely the first tennis racket out of my bag at every session. But I will also not hesitate to swap out, if it becomes clear that I don’t have what it takes to play with it that day.
In this sense, I can really see how a more skilled player, with better mechanics, concentration and coordination, would have a more seamless experience with this frame. At my level, I really need to be “on” to get what I need from it.
Slices, after a brief and floaty adjustment period, were dynamite, and a real highlight of the frame. The solid, heavy feeling through the ball created powerful, penetrating slices with great depth, and I was impressed with how the thin beam felt so dense in cleaving down on the ball.
Overall this frame inspired serious confidence on the backhand side, to the extent that I started adjusting footwork on groundstrokes to hit more BH than FH -- I don’t know if that’s the soundest strategy generally speaking, but also you gotta go with your gut right? Gotta lean on what's working best.
All told, the Pro was a joy to work with from the baseline, once I got into a rhythm of playing a more loopy forehand game predicated on depth, consistency, and placement, and leaning more into punchy slices aimed at small targets on the backhand to frustrate my opponent. Since power and pace weren’t as readily available, I was forced to be more creative and strategic, which is where this frame is most natural.
I never truly felt confident on flat winners, and had difficulty flattening the ball in general -- everything seemed to have spin, which felt like it was taking energy away from penetration. Skill issue for sure, but worth noting I think.
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wedge
Semi-Pro
Serves
I’m not “going for it” on serves lately, since I’m on the tail end of working through some minor shoulder tightness (brought on by an out-of-spec Vcore Pro 97H swinging at 342! That stupid monster is so stupid and I hate it but also ugh I love it and it’s so much fun and I can’t put it down once I pick it up.) So these days I’m just looking for consistency and spin on serves more than bombs.
Balance on this thing makes serving feel kind of mildly hammer-like in the best way. Like ball-peen hammer, let’s say. It didn’t matter whether I was playing it stock, or in 330’s or 340’s static -- it feels like Pro Kennex ensured that there wouldn’t be any extra mass in the throat to create that log-like feel that dogs frames like DR98 (fight me), the original non-+ Pro Kennex Q5, and the first-gen Phantom 100P. Those frames are all perfectly nice but they don’t whip through strokes the way it feels they oughta, given what kind of frames they ostensibly are.
But BAP nails the design. I didn’t get a sudden surge of inertia in the middle of a serve motion -- it moves smooth and accelerates predictably. I’m sure some forum experts would have much to say about its MGR/I+-4Gv2 or whatever it is.
I can say that I had a much easier time here with additional weight in the grip. At stock 315g, the 321 swing weight felt more like 331 -- again, probably just down to what I’m accustomed to, balance-wise.
Sensation on solid flat contact with this frame is just the best -- it goes *THPOCK*! Dwell time is not quite goated but it's up there.
What a feeling; it’s comfortable, modern-ish, and powerful if you really nail it. Flat serves (again, I’m only going for “dependable” here, not bombs) felt dense and big if I was able to get clean contact. I still felt like this frame wants to spin more than flatten.
But on those spin serves, BAP really did its 96-crayon thing, where I felt broadly encouraged to experiment with both slices and kicks. I’m not good at these serves, but with the BAP they were going in at a much higher percentage than they usually do, and had more action than with the 5G -- I sometimes really struggle serving with that thing.
The only PK frame that gave me more confidence on spin serves was the 1st gen Black Ace 105, which blasted kicks like it was getting paid for them. But that’s also an extended frame with a big head, with its own tradeoffs.
Volleys
I felt like BAP gave me plenty of options at net, but in my world those are very broad strokes indeed. I’m just generally trying to make solid contact and hit one of like four quadrants. An occasional drop shot to keep my opponent honest. Nothing fancy.
Within that framework I felt fine with the Pro, though I had some difficulty gauging control in a way that I didn’t have with groundstrokes. Sometimes if I was aiming for a deep volley past my partner, the ball would end a bit short. The opposite was happening as well, short chips landing at my opponent’s feet instead.
By the end of the playtest I had gotten a better read on things. I suspect the frame’s smallish strike zone made perfect, reliable contact a little challenging, and since the response really does change outside the node, it’s natural to expect some inconsistencies.
At my level I’ve always found more confidence at net with thicker-beam, bigger rackets that increase margin of error, and do more for me. Percept 100D is super dreamy at net, providing a serious sensation of deadly, point-ending intent.
I think once I stick with it I’ll get more confidence, it’s just not as plug-and-play as a slightly larger, more forgiving player’s frame like a C10 Pro or something, to which BAP is clearly a direct competitor. But I’m also not really a net player, so there’s that.
Jonas at Tennisnerd recently said he experienced inconsistency at net with the Black Ace Pro, and indicted the flexiness as the culprit -- that does make some sense. I think in general folks tend to have the feeling that the BAP could probably be closer to a 60 or even 62RA frame, at which spec it would play more capably, and not lose too much of the magic. I mean who knows, right? It’s always a set of compromises and Pro Kennex have likely thought this through already. Although it’s also Pro Kennex, so someone there may just as likely have scribbled the design for this frame on a napkin and it got greenlit before lunch
Serve Returns
In stock form I had some issues blocking back harder serves from my hitting partner. She doesn’t get too many nasty ones in but when she did, I found myself wishing for just a little more stability and twistweight.
After I got weight under the grip, I found more confidence blocking back biggies. Stability overall is pretty good for a 97 -- certainly better than the Vcore Pro 97, and similar to a Power Bridge 10 Mid in terms of “this is perfectly playable for a smaller headed frame”. Switching back over to Percept 100D put things in perspective, like “oh right, it can be like this too”.
But stability can come at the expense of feel, and I think PK dialed this tradeoff in well. I think they’re good at ensuring they never deliver a frame with any glaring weaknesses, and this is a great example.
It’s a bit of an aside, but since I liked the slice action on this frame so much, I ended up doing a lot of chippy returns with it. I never win those points but it just felt like a high-percentage way of getting the ball back deep with this frame. Feels like a habit I will need to break out of! But I think it speaks positively of its stability and general wherewithal on service return.
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Semi-Pro
Power
In Pro Kennex terms, BAP has much more easily-available power than 5G, but both frames have a similar-ish power ceiling if you’re really grasping for it. You can totally dig down, take a big big swing and smack a serious shot with the 5G, but smaller targets are hard without poly. BAP, on the other hand, will convert your heroic strike into a laserbeam incinerating an ant (what did that ant ever do to you?)
Overall power potential is less than the 7G, however. Makes you wonder what an extended BAP might be like ...
The Pro also does not have as much power potential as Ki5 295 (or any Ki5 ever) and it isn’t in the same power class as any Q+ frame. It’s also way, way less powerful than the Ki10. But Ki10 is a raunchy, crazed device that no sane person should really be using.
BAP has the power edge over the more traditional Q+ Tour Pro, which is a frame that also naturally redirects energy into spin, limiting its capabilities in the hands of an intermediate player.
If you wanna get real nuts Pro Kennex style, you could say that BAP compares well with the Core 1 No. 10, a non-Kinetic 102 frame that hits a similarly sensible ball, with room to grow for the occasional point-ending chimp-out. In fact I’d say that anyone who still plays with the Core 1 PK’s (I think it’s just Rusty, Sharon and Herb by now) will feel right at home with any of the Black Aces.
Anyway, there’s adequate power here, it’s just not delivered on a silver platter, and even if you put your all into a shot, this is just never going to be a bossy frame. But I don’t think that’s the recipe here. The BA315 does a better job of that for sure. Like on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is a Pure Storm GT LTD, and 10 is a Secret-04, the BAP is like a solid 5.
In non Pro Kennex terms, it feels similar to a Vcore Pro 97 (with a more confident, stable and solid oomph behind the power), and here again compares well with PB10 Mid, which in practice is really not a bad comparison point, despite the 93 vs 97 head spec difference. Both can get their mass moving quick, and on solid contact can really drive. Both have lively stringbeds for their size, and both spin well thanks to thin beams, sensible modern string patterns, and great aero. Any PB10 players looking for something a bit more modern and luxurious should look no further.
Depth was never an issue with BAP, though I do still struggle to get flat balls deep -- I can’t help but imagine what this frame might be like with an extra cross (or a better player
)Outside the sweetspot, power does drop off. But it doesn’t fully go away either.
Control
I straight up didn’t know it could be this way.
It’s a little wild, since I swim in tiny-headed tradframes like Pro Staff 90’s and Yonex Rexkings. I thought I knew what control meant, but the Black Ace Pro has expanded my concept of what control even is.
@thenewbig3 once said that confidence=control and I think I get that now. Yes, directional control is I think top-tier with this frame, but directional control is also top tier with PB10 Mid, and I don’t feel nearly as in-control with that frame as this one.
So what accounts for the differential? Well, with the Pro I feel like I have access to so many different kinds of shots, and so many different targets on the court. It feels like in order to call up the shot I want, the BAP isn’t going to fight me -- rather it’s going to help me get the job done. I tell it I need the walls painted and it’s right there with 50 different paint swatches to choose from -- exhausting maybe, but a happy problem. It’s that confidence that gave me a “feeling of control”, which I’m realizing is a more powerful thing than just “control”.
Towards the end of the playtest, directional control suffered as string tension dropped. Moreso than I would have expected. I think in general I will string this frame up quite a bit higher -- the increase in power doesn’t feel worth the compromised predictability. Honestly I think this frame would play vividly with a crisp multi like Multifeel strung closer to 55 or 56. I also think it would crush a little bit with a soft poly like Element, piling on the control without too much of a power hit.
But if it can control the ball this well with NXT at like 51 pounds, just imagine.
Top Spin/Slice
Slice was so solid with this frame that I just ended up slicing constantly. I was buying quite a few points off my opponents this way on both wings, and my practice partner was getting pissed off with me and told me to quit it. A good sign!
But quitting slice was hard to do -- this just feels like a primary weapon of the frame.
NXT is adequate for topspin, so I didn’t get a real sense of BAP’s potential here. That said, the spin window is beautiful thanks to the slender beam, and at the 321 swing weight of my example, I was able to get a little wristy and wring decent spin when out of position.
I felt like I could dial up as many RPM’s as I could muster without fear of shanking; honestly if you were to give this frame to 97 skeptics who only play with 100’s, they would cite limited topspin potential as one of their top concerns. And this frame would change their mind about 97’s forever -- it really is that conducive to topspin.
It’s a lot like a Pro Staff 90 in that sense. “How could this tiny doodad actually make a ball do a spin”? Then you hit with it and go “oh”. Then you buy another Pro Staff 90. Then you take a Yonex RX-32, cup your chin and go “hmm”, and weight it up exactly to Pro Staff specs, even down to simulated PWS bulges at 3 and 9, to see if you can craft an inexpensive simulacrum you’re not afeared of scraping on the hardtop. Then you wonder if you’ve lost touch with reality.
Anyway even with a full bed of NXT, the confidence to truly swing away encouraged enough topspin to bring everything down into play, but never a kind of attacking topspin. On shorter shots, I got amazing shape on the ball. But I did better with deeper balls that looped high, unfast, and diving down at the baseline. I won plenty of games this way ... if my partner wanted to push in to approach before the bounce, I let her try -- that’s a lower-percentage shot than my groundies are.
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Semi-Pro
Comfort/Feel
I don’t wanna be coy about it: anyone who cares about how a racket feels to hit with, needs to stop whatever they’re doing, and immediately get into one of these. Like honestly don’t even bother demo’ing -- if you care about sensation on impact, and you can roll with a slightly smaller sweet spot, it’s just a must-have frame. Run don’t walk, etc.
In terms of pure sensation, there’s nothing else like it for sale today, and you’d have to go back pretty far to find something with this perfect balance between solidity, silkiness, info transmission down the shaft, and pleasingly rubbery flexiness. Like I’m thinkin hard over every frame I’ve ever played with over who knows how many years and there’s just no obvious analogue.
Pro Tour 280 is ultra plush and pleasing but it’s not THAT much plusher than this (if at all, even), it doesn’t transmit info with the same expansive vocabulary, plus it lacks so much of the playability dimensions on offer here. PT280 is a 16-crayon box where all the colors are super clean and dope but it’s still just 16.
There’s maybe a couple open-pattern Prestiges with this liveliness and access to shots, but when Prestiges start getting lighter and more playable, they start losing the crazy sensation on contact. BAP kinda has it all goin on, the plush response, the versatile playability, spinny with the right launch angle, with the stability of a heavier frame with a larger head. And whereas Prestige frames have great touch and feel, what the BAP is offering isn’t just plushness or feel -- it’s offering clarity.
Volkls have their own brand of plush feel but they’re not flexible the way this is. You’re constantly aware, on each shot with the Black Ace Pro, exactly where it’s flexing, and how much. The entire frame vibrates from crown to cap. It’s a good kind of vibration, like some kind of precision instrument, like a violin that you don’t actually own, it’s being loaned to you by the Smithsonian. It fills you with a sense of intrigue, and purpose, and joy. It’s got by far the most character of any frame Pro Kennex have made in the past 20 years.
Obviously this frame has real drawbacks in other areas. At my level I play super fulfilling tennis with it but winning tennis will take some more training. But if feel and sensation are top of list criteria, surely in 2025 this is THE place to get it.
All that said, you do have to work for the full BAP experience if you’re not a 4.0+. Off-center hits are not jarring, but they happen far more frequently here than other 97’s, and even some 95’s.
I guess I could open up the sweet spot a bit with modification, especially since my BAP is only swinging at half past 321 with thin multi. But muh maneuverability.
Regardless, the sensation on perfect contact is just bananas. It reminds me of the Volkl V1 Classic/EVO, where the reward for perfect contact is so powerful that you wanna go tell the important people in your life how much you love them.
It makes you wanna buy some plants, repaint your bedroom, and check whether your state allows you to own a ferret as a pet (damn you California ...)
Maneuverability
Tip top. The only way an effective frame could be more maneuverable would be to reduce its physical mass, but then what's the point? Play with some 250g Instinct Rev if the pure ability to move a frame from here to there is the goal. However, if the point is maneuverability without sacrificing overall playability, surely this is where it's at.
Stability
Very good stability and returned pace with little issue. It’s not rock-solid or anything, but I’ve come to feel that the stability benefits of Kinetic are just as impressive as the arm-protection. I have never played a Kinetic frame at any spec that felt unstable. Never, not once, and that includes the weird 270g 5G I found in Japan. It wasn’t STABLE, but it also was not “unstable”.
BAP feels “more stable than you’d expect for a mid-weight, thin-beam, small-head frame”, tho I would be very interested to read what stronger players have to say about stability at stock spec against heavier hitters.
It felt even more stable with weight in the grip, obv. I do wish this was a 310 or 315g frame, since adding weight to the handle on Kinetic frames is limited to lead under the grip, which can get into sizing complications. And I don’t recommend anyone attempt to do any business inside the hairpin -- it’s a destructive process, PK buttcaps are practically welded on, and even once you’re in, the horror is only beginning.
I had a theory once that the Comfort Cap in PK handles doesn’t do anything, so I ran some experiments, and can say pretty confidently that they definitely do stuff. Kinda raw without them. I have to imagine that if PK thought it could redesign the Caps to permit modification, they’d have done it by now. Surely they understand the compromise ... but I’m hopeful they eventually come up with something, because woof, having to undo grips and overgrips every time you wanna change things up a bit is let’s just say inelegant.
wedge
Semi-Pro
Cosmetics
Just a quick note on the design of the Black Ace Pro. Many people seem to go kinda gaga over how this frame looks. It’s “nice” but I don’t love it. I think the quality of the paint and clearcoat is awesome, and the hatched gold filament design on the throat is a really swishy design element to look down at on the court, especially when the lights are on and glinting off it just so.
I think the spade symbol, while it is legacy Black Ace iconography, is a little cheesy and cheap, like the sort of logo you’d find on a generic pool cue.
The grey inside the throat and hoop is a very flat shade that’s a bit of a letdown. The lines are also not sharp where the grey meets the black at the bridge, similar to Wilson nCode frames with contrast throats.
Also not representative of the quality of this frame is the random darker grey decals throughout, which resemble a tribal tattoo, again not representative of the character of the Black Ace. This is all subjective of course, but it’s not hard to imagine a design for this frame that really takes the high road.
The main BLACK ACE typeface is cool but a bit tryhard. The PRO KENNEX script across the hoop looks great, and has always looked great ever since they incorporated this design element decades ago.
Overall I wish it were a little less “cool” and a little more “professional”, and in my opinion they miss out on a class of traditional customer who will parse the paintjob and iconography as unserious.
That said, in a world of 2026 Booms and Ezones, the glossy, quality paint of the Black Ace Pro deserves a lot of credit, and it’s a massive, massive improvement over the partial-matte mishigos of the previous generation Black Aces.
FINALLY
Anyway this was fun
Great frame, great playtest, thank you Tennis Warehouse! Pro Kennex, you just keep on doin you.If you’ve read this far, thank you, and I certainly hope you got something out of it, whether you’re considering tracking one of these down (not always easy!), or whether you already have one, and just love reading other people popping off on a frame you already love. I see you.
BAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
