The frustrating experience of a demo virgin

[newyorkstadium]

This is my first time demoing rackets and it is undoubtedly an arduous and frustrating experience. I have just demoed the BLX Blade 93 and Aeropro Drive. Neither served anywhere near as well as my current racket - A Prince Exo3 Hybrid 100, with a paltry 315 swingweight. The Aeropro Drive Served bigger of the two, had more spin, returned better and suited my one hander better. To counter that, the Blade 93, which I hit extremely flat with, had a better slice and much more control. I struggled with the serve, complete lack of topspin, tiny sweetspot and difficulty swinging on the return, with the Blade 93. I was more prone to hitting long with the AeroPro, but I'm edging towards buying it. I just really fluking wish I could combine the slice and powerful flat shot of the Blade 93 with the other characteristics of the AeroPro Drive. It is just frustrating and underwhelming that you can never find that perfect mix.

This is what leads Travlerajm et al to experiment with lead tape, in search of that perfect balance of accuracy and power, across all groundstrokes. More power to them for it. I think I can play well with any racket, but I am looking to go up a level, which will require a more advanced, heavier racket. All demo's come with a multi, which is a completely understandable business decision but frustrating. I think a poly would have suited the APD and gut/zx would have been better for the Blade 93. I may experiment with different stringbeds, to try and counter the flaws of various rackets. I have no intentions of beginning an eternal pursuit of "the one". I will try a few more rackets and if I don't get anywhere, I'll just settle with the AeroPro drive, flaws and all

 

[LeeD]

I always say, it takes over 5 playing days to get used to a different racket.
A one time demo tells you almost nothing, except color and weight.
It's a known fact APD's can serve faster than almost any other racket.
Blades also.
To me, an 03Red serves harder than the two above. As does an O3Shark.

 

[newyorkstadium]

I always say, it takes over 5 playing days to get used to a different racket.
A one time demo tells you almost nothing, except color and weight.
It's a known fact APD's can serve faster than almost any other racket.
Blades also.
To me, an 03Red serves harder than the two above. As does an O3Shark.

NOt in my hands so far. I'm just not generating the whip that I get with my hybrid 100. I am having to try too hard to generate pace and accuracy with both. The blade is just going middle to bottom of the net and my serve was way down in pace with that racket. That is another frustrating thing about demoing personally. I get a fortnight to demo racket and in winter I play once a fortnight. So I haven't had any time to get to know the rackets and adapt to them, as you say.

 

[newyorkstadium]

Gonna squeeze one more playtest in over the weekend. I'm sure there must be someone reading who can relate to some of the grievances I've detailed in this thread about demoing.

 

[ollinger]

Read a book called "The Wisdom of the Crowd." The APD is extraordinarily popular for a good reason, and it's not what pro plays with it, as lots of racquets are "endorsed" by very successful pros. It's a great racquet. I'd use it myself if my wrist could tolerate it.

 

[UCSF2012]

Ah, the Blade 93 Tour. Wilson gave me one randomly one day...

I didn't like that racket for a year, until I started tinkering with different setups. Gut/poly 16/17 with lead at 3/9 o'clock....then it started hitting some ferocious balls. Best slice of ANY racket I've ever used.

 

[newyorkstadium]

Ah, the Blade 93 Tour. Wilson gave me one randomly one day...

I didn't like that racket for a year, until I started tinkering with different setups. Gut/poly 16/17 with lead at 3/9 o'clock....then it started hitting some ferocious balls. Best slice of ANY racket I've ever used.

Its the Blade 93. I don't know if they are different rackets.

 

[UCSF2012]

Its the Blade 93. I don't know if they are different rackets.

Same. Blade Tour is the official name, I think.

 

[UCSF2012]

The "Relentless Pursuit of Perfection"....led me to Prince, with some lead modifications.

 

[Muppet]

Somewhere between APD and Blade 93 you've got to be able to find a happy medium. There are many, many racquets to choose from between those two. But it would help the process if you waited until you are playing more frequently. This Babolat is one you could consider:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Pure_Control_Tour/descpageRCBAB-PCT.html

 

[JBH]

IMO get the APD and string it appropriately for your needs. A demo with a high power multi of unknown age will likely be to high power / poor control for most.
If you are new to the demo game it can be difficult to differentiate string and racquet effects. Perfectly normal...

 

[counterpuncher]

I am one of those in the eternal pursuit for "the one" camp, but then that is a different thread.

My advice is continue to demo a couple of different racquets, it will start to become obvious what spec and type of racquet you prefer and play well with. You will have a couple of favourites at the end, from which you can have a shoot out. Then you can tinker with string and lead to fine tune.

I suspect that your preferred spec is going to be very close to your current racquet, as that is what you have grooved your strokes with.

 

[The_Racketeer]

Give the racquets at least another day of demoing. And certainly don't buy the APD just because it's the least bad of the 2. If it's not absolutely better than your current racquet, don't pull the trigger. Wait and demo more racquets. Identify which aspects of each frame work for you and try to find something that fits those criteria.

 

[max]

I always say, it takes over 5 playing days to get used to a different racket.
A one time demo tells you almost nothing, except color and weight.
It's a known fact APD's can serve faster than almost any other racket.
Blades also.
To me, an 03Red serves harder than the two above. As does an O3Shark.

. . . boy, Lee, for me it's like SIX MONTHS!

I hate the whole process.

 

[TennisCJC]

It is not unusual for a virgin to have a frustrating experience during the first demo.

 

[TennisCJC]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Lol, i feel your pain. I demoed 12-16 racquets (3-4hrs per) recently, and couldn't find one I loved. Part of the issue is that the string type and tension are not set up to my preference (and perhaps my pref would change depending on the racquet). so generally demoing didn't help enough to get me to drop $600 for 3 new racquets.

I'm sticking with the old circa 1999 head ti radical, cuz I can find them cheap ($40), and I know what I'm getting

 

[Merlin703]

It is not unusual for a virgin to have a frustrating experience during the first demo.

Yeah, he is too quick finishing his demo experience. He has to make it last longer to have a true experience. Perhaps the string bed have something to do with the frustration. It might be loose, due to usage by other guys. Perhaps changing the tension might help him.

 

[scotus]

Lol, i feel your pain. I demoed 12-16 racquets (3-4hrs per) recently, and couldn't find one I loved. Part of the issue is that the string type and tension are not set up to my preference (and perhaps my pref would change depending on the racquet). so generally demoing didn't help enough to get me to drop $600 for 3 new racquets.

I'm sticking with the old circa 1999 head ti radical, cuz I can find them cheap ($40), and I know what I'm getting

12-16?

If I am not mistaken, you're no longer a virgin after just 1.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

12-16?

If I am not mistaken, you're no longer a virgin after just 1.

Lol, but if they aren't set up with the right string and tension, isn't that just like "taking a peek"?

 

[GioV]

Yea, it takes a while for me too, but not quite 6 months.

Initially, you notice the weight, balance, whether it swing fast or slow... Then you take it out for a hit and look for things like stiffness/flex, forgiveness, stability, power level, launch angle, etc. Then you look at primary results: am I consistently hitting long/shallow? How are my bread and butter shots? Serves? Often times, you will accept or reject a racquet right then and there.

But after you consider that it's a racquet you might like, there's a tuning period where you tweak your technique to the racquet and tune your racquet by changing tensions and trying different strings, lead tape maybe? silicone? leather grip?

After all that, which may take a while, you finally have found a setup that you like. Then you try to groove with the racquet. After you groove, you search for the subtleties. Play with it in matches that really count.

In the end, you must conclude if the racquet truly fits your game and most importantly, help you be more consistent.

But by then, you have already browsed the internet and found a shiny new racquet that everyone is raving about. It's tempting to drop the current racquet before even giving the racquet a fair shot.

 

[newyorkstadium]

Thanks everyone. AS usual, talktennis have come up with helpful, witty and humorous answers. I will squeeze in one more session with them. I've strung the APD with a co-poly and the Blade 93 with ZX. This is the first time I have used a string that isn't synthetic gut or multi. I would have liked to do Gut/Poly but I'm on a budget.

I will also get both sticks measured and compare them against my current racket, to try and come up with a range of specs that I like. It's just nice to be playing again after 2 years of injuries. Tennis is an exceptionally fun sport, even with the frustrations of trying to settle down with a stick after losing my virginity.

 

[newyorkstadium]

Ah, the Blade 93 Tour. Wilson gave me one randomly one day...

I didn't like that racket for a year, until I started tinkering with different setups. Gut/poly 16/17 with lead at 3/9 o'clock....then it started hitting some ferocious balls. Best slice of ANY racket I've ever used.

I'll give this a go. How many grams of lead did you place on either side?