The Official Angell Users Club

[joohan]

Hello Angell experts,

I’d like to recreate a setup I have on my Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour. Its stock specs are 305g/320mm balance/97 head/20mm beam and 64RA. As per advice from TT I’ve put a continuous strip of lead from 10-2 and also put some at 3/9. It’s all countered at the bottom of the grip (just above the butt cap) and covered with electric tape, Volkl leather and overgrip on top. Feels very polarized, whippy yet stable with more spin one would expect from a tight 18x20 pattern (the frame scored 92/100 in control on TW review). In short, it’s easily the best setup I’ve ever played with.

I’d like to attempt to recreate it with an Angell racquet as I’m tired of hunting down discontinued frames and grommets (in this case and in general, too...my holic days are behind me). It would seem that TC97 is an obvious choice but I am intrigued by Angell offerings I haven’t tried yet. K7 has perfect starting specs, almost identical as Bio300T but ASL2 is not too far off with even lower initial SW and some glowing reviews from long time Angell users. Another one in the mix would be TC95 70RA in 16x19. I played some really good tennis with 18x20 63RA TC95 but had some reservations about couple of things (feel and some shots that were, for some reason, harder for me to access) and since I really like how TC90 with 70RA plays/feels, I thought I should give Thor’s hammer another chance.

I will be playing mostly on clay which is why I’m not really keen on TC97. I’m looking for something with more “zip and kick” to it although getting that polarized setup right is more important to me at this point. Another thing - my go-to strings are RS Lyon and Kirschbaum Pro Line II which I’m using in my Yonex Tour G330s and Dunlop Bio 300Tour respectively. I’m used to them, like them a lot and would like to keep using them with the new frame.

Thank you very much in advance for your input,

j.

 

[Lphansen]

Hello Angell experts,

I’d like to recreate a setup I have on my Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour. Its stock specs are 305g/320mm balance/97 head/20mm beam and 64RA. As per advice from TT I’ve put a continuous strip of lead from 10-2 and also put some at 3/9. It’s all countered at the bottom of the grip (just above the butt cap) and covered with electric tape, Volkl leather and overgrip on top. Feels very polarized, whippy yet stable with more spin one would expect from a tight 18x20 pattern (the frame scored 92/100 in control on TW review). In short, it’s easily the best setup I’ve ever played with.

I’d like to attempt to recreate it with an Angell racquet as I’m tired of hunting down discontinued frames and grommets (in this case and in general, too...my holic days are behind me). It would seem that TC97 is an obvious choice but I am intrigued by Angell offerings I haven’t tried yet. K7 has perfect starting specs, almost identical as Bio300T but ASL2 is not too far off with even lower initial SW and some glowing reviews from long time Angell users. Another one in the mix would be TC95 70RA in 16x19. I played some really good tennis with 18x20 63RA TC95 but had some reservations about couple of things (feel and some shots that were, for some reason, harder for me to access) and since I really like how TC90 with 70RA plays/feels, I thought I should give Thor’s hammer another chance.

I will be playing mostly on clay which is why I’m not really keen on TC97. I’m looking for something with more “zip and kick” to it although getting that polarized setup right is more important to me at this point. Another thing - my go-to strings are RS Lyon and Kirschbaum Pro Line II which I’m using in my Yonex Tour G330s and Dunlop Bio 300Tour respectively. I’m used to them, like them a lot and would like to keep using them with the new frame.

Thank you very much in advance for your input,

j.

Hi J
I have only input regarding Angell rackets.
The tc95 flex 70 has in fact the same headsize as your old Dunlops. I know its called 95 sqin but it fits grommets with tc 97 and asl 2 ( which is 98). Flex 70 is unstrung, with strings its 65, also pretty close to your Dunlpos.
And the best feature of Angells: they are easy to customize, as you can open the handle and add/ subtract weights in various places.
So from my point of view Angell gives you options to achieve YOUR desired specs..

My 2 cents
Best lphansen

 

[joohan]

Hi J
I have only input regarding Angell rackets.
The tc95 flex 70 has in fact the same headsize as your old Dunlops. I know its called 95 sqin but it fits grommets with tc 97 and asl 2 ( which is 98). Flex 70 is unstrung, with strings its 65, also pretty close to your Dunlpos.
And the best feature of Angells: they are easy to customize, as you can open the handle and add/ subtract weights in various places.
So from my point of view Angell gives you options to achieve YOUR desired specs..

My 2 cents
Best lphansen

Hi LP,

Thank you. The more I’m thinking about it (and I have AMPLE time to do that right now...as Boris Johnson would put it), the more I’m leaning towards 16x19 70RA TC95. It’s kind of a synthesis of the frames I like either from performance point of view (TC100) or feel-wise (TC90) and I can’t really say I gave TC95 a fair shake first time around (I was messing with too many racquets and strings at the time). Plus I’m quite curious how Angells are evolving since I’ve only played 1st gen TC100/95.

j.

 

[TxGator]

Good afternoon everyone - I started a new thread on this a short moment ago, but figured this was the best place to go regarding advice:
I recently started playing tennis again after a 6-7 year hiatus and recognize it’s time to update my sticks as they are in pretty bad shape. I currently play with the Head Youtek IG Speed 18x20 (315) and have been pretty satisfied (strung at 57lbs with Wilson NXT) - particularly with the pop I get on flat serves and confidence I have with volleys and baseline aggressiveness (4.5-5.0 NTRP). I have been demoing racquets this last week and been generally unsatisfied - Pure Strike 16x19 (like the way the ball moves and consistency but the feel is lacking...slight arm pain after hitting for a few hours) Yonex VCORE 98 and VCORE pro 97 are okay but not blowing me away. No major preference to 18x20 vs 16x19, but I tend to lean toward flattening out most shots to overpower opponents. Big flat serves are very important to my game and a necessity.

I keep coming across Angell and feel very inclined to move in this direction and would welcome any recommendations, particularly regarding the TC95 or TC97 frames, but uncertain which frame to pursue as I understand they are very different. I’m approaching this with an open mind. Any recommendations on specs based on the above info?

Any insight is very much appreciated, as many of you know, switching racquets after several years can be a challenge.

 

[Lphansen]

Hi LP,

Thank you. The more I’m thinking about it (and I have AMPLE time to do that right now...as Boris Johnson would put it), the more I’m leaning towards 16x19 70RA TC95. It’s kind of a synthesis of the frames I like either from performance point of view (TC100) or feel-wise (TC90) and I can’t really say I gave TC95 a fair shake first time around (I was messing with too many racquets and strings at the time). Plus I’m quite curious how Angells are evolving since I’ve only played 1st gen TC100/95.

j.

I have been using Vantage/Angell rackets almost from the beginning.
I took me a long time to adjust to the feel of the brand.
Since the start the production now is much “tighter”, meaning less variation and a wider range of specs available.
Lately its possible to order flexible and very headlight, which was very hard to achieve earlier.
Right now I am using tc100 ra 70 (or Asl 3) on the slow clay of Northern Europe, and tc95 ra 63 indoor.
I find myself needing the power of the tc100 under outside conditions like wind , sun, bad bounces etc...Inside on fast courts the tc 95 is very precise and plentyfull..
The tc 95 ra 70 is a bit more powerfull than ra 63, but its actually more about the feedback that you get...

Hope that is helping..

lphansen

 

[alejo_uc]

.

 

[joohan]

I have been using Vantage/Angell rackets almost from the beginning.
I took me a long time to adjust to the feel of the brand.
Since the start the production now is much “tighter”, meaning less variation and a wider range of specs available.
Lately its possible to order flexible and very headlight, which was very hard to achieve earlier.
Right now I am using tc100 ra 70 (or Asl 3) on the slow clay of Northern Europe, and tc95 ra 63 indoor.
I find myself needing the power of the tc100 under outside conditions like wind , sun, bad bounces etc...Inside on fast courts the tc 95 is very precise and plentyfull..
The tc 95 ra 70 is a bit more powerfull than ra 63, but its actually more about the feedback that you get...

Hope that is helping..

lphansen

It’s very helpful indeed. I’m in similar situation here in so called Central Europe. It’s almost all clay even during winter months and other surfaces are hard to come by. If I’d still be playing on UK hard courts I would most probably never have switched away from 18x20 TC97. On outdoor clay it’s different proposition altogether.

I really like how 63RA TC100/95 perform but my hands don’t like the feel that much. It’s the combination of that Angell “D” profile with lower RA, I guess. Yonex Tour G330 has 63RA, too, but I love it’s feel and I’m generally ok with lower RA in boxier frames. A bit unusual (re 63RA D beam Angells) but I’ve got better things to do than to persuade my hands to like something they clearly don’t. I like 70RA TC90 quite a lot so it’s highly probable that I’ll like 70RA TC95 as well. Plus I’ll get a lower starting SW which means more room to work with when customizing and lead tape will soften things up a touch, too.

 

[Classic-TXP-IG MID]

particularly regarding the TC95 or TC97 frames

There are several differences between the two models.

To start with all specs that are listed or can be requested on the Angell website when ordering a racquet are Unstrung specs.

The Beam design on the TC95 is a D shape (rounded on the outside and flat on the inside), whereas the TC97 has a box section design. Apart from feeling different in your hand, it means that the racquet flex profile is different. The TC95 (and all other D-Beam racquets from Angell) flexes uniformly from the throat through to the head, while the TC97 flexes more in the head and has a stiffer throat (similar to a Head Prestige).

Although both racquets are quite stable and very good, people tend to find the TC97 to be more stable due to the box beam design than the TC95. Likewise, although they can both hit flat shots very well, the TC97 tends to be a bit better in this respect than the TC95 (these are generalizations to help you have some idea, but trying things out for yourself is always the best option).

The models have different RAs, the TC97 is 66RA Unstrung (and I believe before the grip is put on), and the TC95 can be ordered as a 63RA or 70RA Unstrung. This means that after it is strung and ready to play, the TC97 will be around 62-63RA and the TC95 will be 59-60RA and 66-67RA respectively. When this is combined with the flex profiles of the two models, the result is that the TC97 will feel firmer (at least when comparing the TC95 63RA with the TC97 - as I was not interested in the 70RA TC95 version).

Both models currently come in two string patterns, 18x20 and 16x19. The 18x20 pattern is quite dense, while the 16x19 pattern is quite open. I personally don't have any problem producing all sorts of spin with the 18x20 pattern, but some feel that it is harder to achieve the spin they are looking for. The 16x19 pattern does produce a more pronounced launch angle and, IMO, requires a thicker gauge of string in order to control the launch angle. Here, I have personally found that due to the flex profile of the two racquets, and the Beam design, the TC97 16x19 produces less launch angle than the TC95 16x19 (again I have only tried the 63RA TC95). I have yet to compare the two models with 18x20 string patterns (I'm picking up the racquets from the stringer tomorrow), so I can not comment on the differences between these two (although they will flex differently and will still have the different RAs).

Having not yet tried both 18x20 models side-by-side, I will comment on the 16x19 differences between the two. The TC97 produced a shot that was more penetrating in the sense that the launch angle was not as pronounces, and the ball shot through the court more but had less weight. I could execute all my shots but the precision, directional control, and BH slices were much better with the 18x20 TC97 (for obvious reasons - I do have a TC97 18x20 as well).

In comparison, the TC95 63RA 16x19 produced a heavier weighted shot, that had more pronounced bounce and movement off the court, and a smoother feel. I could execute all my shots but found that I need to be more focused on my stroke mechanics in order to not have the shot go long or wide. The feel of the TC95 is very nice and addictive, the depth-of-shot is achieved more easily in part due to the launch angle but, IMO, also the flex of the racquet. When combined with the weight-of-shot, the result (at least for me) is a more relaxed playing style. What I mean by that is that the rally ball can be hit at 60-70% and still cause damage and keep the opponent back, then with the injection of slightly more power control of the point can be wrestled away from the opponent. It is easier to wear down your opponent with the TC95 63RA 16x19, while staying fresh yourself, than with the TC97 16x19. You can still do it with the TC97 easily, but you will have had to put more effort in yourself than with the TC95. The downside is that if you lose focus, you're tired, or your footwork gets sloppy, you will lose control of the ball and start hitting long both in width and length.

All Angell racquets are very good when it comes to serving, however, due to the flex profile and open string pattern, the TC95 63RA 16x19 is a complete monster. You can hit your flat serves with incredible power, but you can also damage your opponent with heavy kicking serves and slice serves that sap him/her of all their energy and will to continue. Mind you, I have yet to try the TC95 63RA 18x20, but I'm sure it will not be as good as the 16x19 in this respect.

On the whole, the 18x20 patterns are brilliant but don't achieve as much spin and movement off the court as the 16x19, yet are more precise. The 16x19s do produce that spin and movement but have a high launch angle and less precision than the 18x20. Therefore, there are many that feel that the true "Goldielocks" Angell racquet will be a TC95 63RA 16x19 with a slightly tighter pattern with 8 Mains in the throat, should Angell (Paul) ever choose to produce it.

Sorry for the long post... hope it was helpful.

 

[Mirdad]

First, keep in mind you’re comparing a 97 to a 100 so there will be some inherent mobility/forgiveness compromise. TC100 is a terrific racquet with excellent power and good feel. The one thing that anyone has to be critical of is they’d like more control. The ASL2 is not what I think of as a control racquet. The smaller head size is a bit more precise but it was engineered for a bit more response and it does give you that. It is a different design beam but you can feel the heritage of the TC line. It is an explosive frame once you start hitting with intent to overpower and does a better job in versatility of shots of flat or loopy heavy spin. The TC100s response is more uniform with a bit higher launch angle. ASL2 feel is more responsive and it can go to a different gear

Topspn, I have been reading your posts regarding the ASL 2 and Dahcor racquets. That Dahcor is sure something to drool over, expensive for sure but it has peaked my interest.

I’m trying to narrow down my decision which one to buy and would like to ask you a few questions since you have both of them. I’m curious as to how you would compare the ASL 2 versus the Dahcor in the following aspects:

Stability
Power
Comfort
Flex: uniform which is what I prefer or is it like the TC 97?
Spin potential including trajectory comparisons

A little bit about the racquets I like to hit with:
1)TC100 63RA, static weight including strings, dampener, over grip and lead tape in the upper hoop 343 grams, H/L bal 31.8mm

2)Wilson Clash Tour, also weighted similar to the TC100. I have found it to be very comfortable but can be unpredictable at times. It’s a fun racquet to hit with especially when giving lessons as it’s easy on the arm.

3)RFA, static weight with strings, over grip and dampener 363 grams, H/L bal 31.5mm

I love the TC100 but as most people have found it is lacking in accuracy but still a blast to hit with as it hits a heavier ball than anything out there. However, I normally hit a heavy ball with a high trajectory and the TC100 hits even a higher trajectory than most racquets……too high for me to be accurate. The RFA is just too stiff and heavy for my aging shoulder although it’s my favorite racquet to hit with.

As you can see, I prefer a more head light set up for my looping topspin shots. Unfortunately, Paul does not offer a custom option for an ASL 2, but I suppose I can make it more head light by adding a leather grip. I’d also add a few grams of lead to the hoop, enough to bring the total weight to around 339 to 343 grams. Anything heavier than that is probably too heavy but anything lower is to fast.

If I ordered the Dahcor it would probably be (assuming unstrung specs):
320 static weight (will assume adding strings, dampener, and overgrip will add another 23 grams for a total static weight of 343 grams. I can always add a few more grams of lead if the balance is too light or weight too light)

30.5 H/L balance. Will assume adding strings, over grip and dampener will reduce the balance to about 31.5mm.

65RA (I prefer a low RA as I find it comfy and like the increased dwell time.

I normally string my racquets with a full bed of poly (Grapplesnake Tour Sniper) and on the low side around mid 40's.

Overall, I’m looking for a powerful, arm friendly racquet, that has great spin potential and is more accurate. I’m not asking for too much….LOL.

Any feedback will be very useful.

Thank you very much

 

[topspn]

Topspn, I have been reading your posts regarding the ASL 2 and Dahcor racquets. That Dahcor is sure something to drool over, expensive for sure but it has peaked my interest.

I’m trying to narrow down my decision which one to buy and would like to ask you a few questions since you have both of them. I’m curious as to how you would compare the ASL 2 versus the Dahcor in the following aspects:

Stability
Power
Comfort
Flex: uniform which is what I prefer or is it like the TC 97?
Spin potential including trajectory comparisons

A little bit about the racquets I like to hit with:
1)TC100 63RA, static weight including strings, dampener, over grip and lead tape in the upper hoop 343 grams, H/L bal 31.8mm

2)Wilson Clash Tour, also weighted similar to the TC100. I have found it to be very comfortable but can be unpredictable at times. It’s a fun racquet to hit with especially when giving lessons as it’s easy on the arm.

3)RFA, static weight with strings, over grip and dampener 363 grams, H/L bal 31.5mm

I love the TC100 but as most people have found it is lacking in accuracy but still a blast to hit with as it hits a heavier ball than anything out there. However, I normally hit a heavy ball with a high trajectory and the TC100 hits even a higher trajectory than most racquets……too high for me to be accurate. The RFA is just too stiff and heavy for my aging shoulder although it’s my favorite racquet to hit with.

As you can see, I prefer a more head light set up for my looping topspin shots. Unfortunately, Paul does not offer a custom option for an ASL 2, but I suppose I can make it more head light by adding a leather grip. I’d also add a few grams of lead to the hoop, enough to bring the total weight to around 339 to 343 grams. Anything heavier than that is probably too heavy but anything lower is to fast.

If I ordered the Dahcor it would probably be (assuming unstrung specs):
320 static weight (will assume adding strings, dampener, and overgrip will add another 23 grams for a total static weight of 343 grams. I can always add a few more grams of lead if the balance is too light or weight too light)

30.5 H/L balance. Will assume adding strings, over grip and dampener will reduce the balance to about 31.5mm.

65RA (I prefer a low RA as I find it comfy and like the increased dwell time.

I normally string my racquets with a full bed of poly (Grapplesnake Tour Sniper) and on the low side around mid 40's.

Overall, I’m looking for a powerful, arm friendly racquet, that has great spin potential and is more accurate. I’m not asking for too much….LOL.

Any feedback will be very useful.

Thank you very much

ASL2 will be in the realm of the TC100 and neither one will be really like a Clash or RFA. The clash being very flexy, thick beam, has power and pretty open string bed. RFA the weight and sledge hammer playability. The ASL2 will have that comfort of the TC100, open pattern allowing easy rotation and natural higher trajectory and a bit more springy or responsive. There is bit more precision over TC100, however that is not its forte, it is still the easy heavy rotation and power. The Dahcor 97 is different then any of the those racquets. It is comfortable but in a more firm crisp response. Although the way you perceive the connection to the ball is different but if i had to pick an Angell most similar, it would be the TC95 70RA. Still Dahcor has higher precision with the 8 mains in the throat. It still hits a heavy ball and pretty good on serve as well. Slices are just plain sick. I made changes to mine with leather grip, weight in the head for more SW and OG. They do sit around 343-344g.

Stability: Both are decent on stability and some weight to have more of it which i did do on both.
Power: ASL2 has a little more
Comfort: ASL2 feels plush. Dahcor comfortable but crisp
Flex: Both have uniform flex and I am sensitive to head flex like the TC97 but again neither is like that at all.
Spin: Both provide excellent spin, ASL2 does it with a more naturally higher launch angle and Dahcor a moderate launch angle.

 

[Mirdad]

ASL2 will be in the realm of the TC100 and neither one will be really like a Clash or RFA. The clash being very flexy, thick beam, has power and pretty open string bed. RFA the weight and sledge hammer playability. The ASL2 will have that comfort of the TC100, open pattern allowing easy rotation and natural higher trajectory and a bit more springy or responsive. There is bit more precision over TC100, however that is not its forte, it is still the easy heavy rotation and power. The Dahcor 97 is different then any of the those racquets. It is comfortable but in a more firm crisp response. Although the way you perceive the connection to the ball is different but if i had to pick an Angell most similar, it would be the TC95 70RA. Still Dahcor has higher precision with the 8 mains in the throat. It still hits a heavy ball and pretty good on serve as well. Slices are just plain sick. I made changes to mine with leather grip, weight in the head for more SW and OG. They do sit around 343-344g.

Stability: Both are decent on stability and some weight to have more of it which i did do on both.
Power: ASL2 has a little more
Comfort: ASL2 feels plush. Dahcor comfortable but crisp
Flex: Both have uniform flex and I am sensitive to head flex like the TC97 but again neither is like that at all.
Spin: Both provide excellent spin, ASL2 does it with a more naturally higher launch angle and Dahcor a moderate launch angle.

Thanks very much for the informative and quick response. I sure like the attributes of both racquets. I think I'm better off going with the ASL2 as it's appears it will be more comfortable than the Dahcor. But then again, I am looking for more precision that the TC100. However, it sounds like the ASL2 will at least offer a bit more control than the TC100 and perhaps more maneuverability too given the smaller head size. I also imagine the ASL2 possesses a lower trajectory than the TC100 but higher than the Dahcor. I can see why you own both racquets......LOL. Tough decision.......hmmmm.

I'll have to sleep on this one.
Thanks again.

 

[Mirdad]

ASL2 will be in the realm of the TC100 and neither one will be really like a Clash or RFA. The clash being very flexy, thick beam, has power and pretty open string bed. RFA the weight and sledge hammer playability. The ASL2 will have that comfort of the TC100, open pattern allowing easy rotation and natural higher trajectory and a bit more springy or responsive. There is bit more precision over TC100, however that is not its forte, it is still the easy heavy rotation and power. The Dahcor 97 is different then any of the those racquets. It is comfortable but in a more firm crisp response. Although the way you perceive the connection to the ball is different but if i had to pick an Angell most similar, it would be the TC95 70RA. Still Dahcor has higher precision with the 8 mains in the throat. It still hits a heavy ball and pretty good on serve as well. Slices are just plain sick. I made changes to mine with leather grip, weight in the head for more SW and OG. They do sit around 343-344g.

Stability: Both are decent on stability and some weight to have more of it which i did do on both.
Power: ASL2 has a little more
Comfort: ASL2 feels plush. Dahcor comfortable but crisp
Flex: Both have uniform flex and I am sensitive to head flex like the TC97 but again neither is like that at all.
Spin: Both provide excellent spin, ASL2 does it with a more naturally higher launch angle and Dahcor a moderate launch angle.

I also wanted to add that I ever since I began stringing my own racquets I have had the luxury of experimenting with various tensions. I have discovered that I really am gelling with low tension polys in the mid 40's and stiff polys in the high 30's. I enjoy the pocketing feeling and was wondering if you had any insight as to whether the ASL or the Dahcor would perform better in lower tension set ups. Or perhaps a better question is which racquet offers better pocketing? I've been getting some real nice kick on the ball a la Jack Sock on the forehand and sometimes on the backhand.
Thanks

 

[t_pac]

Close to pulling the trigger on a TC95 (having played previously with both versions of the K7). Pretty sure what I want for the majority of the specs, just torn between string patterns.

Anyone played both 16x19 and 18x20?

I love the predictable response of my PK Q Tours (18x20) but could also do with a little extra forgiveness and spin potential. On the flipside, I don't want to sacrifice control with the more open pattern. Is the spacing pretty similar to the K7 Red?

Also, could someone remind me what the average SW range is for the V3?

 

[landcookie]

Yeah, the 63 is also a possibility, which would probably put the specs even closer to the ASL2 - so just a little unclear over the difference between the two lines. The Angell website tags the ASL line as 'made for power' - but it seems the TC100 is also by no means short on power. I'm probably inclined to go for the TC100 as I've always had 100sq. inch rackets in the past...

I dont have the asl2 but own a tc100 at both 70 and 63 RA. Feel aside, they are pretty identical. The 70RA has a crisp feel whereas the 63 is more plush (think ezone Dr 98 but less plasticky feel). I personally prefer the crisper 70RA but get minor elbow discomfort from it, so it's become my doubles stick. I play singles with the 63 RA.

The asl2 looks like it has a boxier beam, coupled with the low RA I would have no idea how it would perform (generally relate box beams with crisper feel) , so it'll be intriguing as to how other people have experienced it.

 

[joohan]

V2 18x20 70RA TC95 is on sale on Angell website, 100£. Not bad at all.

Angell Custom Racket TC95

The frame with a dual personality, but one serious intention. Whatever string pattern you choose, the TC95 is bound to impress. … Read More

www.angelltennis.com

 

[topspn]

I also wanted to add that I ever since I began stringing my own racquets I have had the luxury of experimenting with various tensions. I have discovered that I really am gelling with low tension polys in the mid 40's and stiff polys in the high 30's. I enjoy the pocketing feeling and was wondering if you had any insight as to whether the ASL or the Dahcor would perform better in lower tension set ups. Or perhaps a better question is which racquet offers better pocketing? I've been getting some real nice kick on the ball a la Jack Sock on the forehand and sometimes on the backhand.
Thanks

I have not went too low in tension in either, i have Dahcor @48lbs and ASL2 @49lbs. I can go a bit lower on Dahcor but for me at least, I won’t go down in tension for ASL2. The response is good at that tension and i don’t need to heighten it. Both frames pocket nicely with ASL2 a bit more responsive off the stringed.

 

[ed70]

It’s very helpful indeed. I’m in similar situation here in so called Central Europe. It’s almost all clay even during winter months and other surfaces are hard to come by. If I’d still be playing on UK hard courts I would most probably never have switched away from 18x20 TC97. On outdoor clay it’s different proposition altogether.

I really like how 63RA TC100/95 perform but my hands don’t like the feel that much. It’s the combination of that Angell “D” profile with lower RA, I guess. Yonex Tour G330 has 63RA, too, but I love it’s feel and I’m generally ok with lower RA in boxier frames. A bit unusual (re 63RA D beam Angells) but I’ve got better things to do than to persuade my hands to like something they clearly don’t. I like 70RA TC90 quite a lot so it’s highly probable that I’ll like 70RA TC95 as well. Plus I’ll get a lower starting SW which means more room to work with when customizing and lead tape will soften things up a touch, too.

I play outdoors in Uk, played on clay, synthetic clay, shale, grass, synthetic grass, but only a few times only on hardcourt this season. I use TC97 16x19, I don’t really feel a change of racquet would serve me better on one specific surface to the next. I guess my game tactics change on a slow surface where you have to build a point up more, but still want to be using the same racquet what I’m totally used to.
Personally don’t think there’s that much difference between the Tc 95-97’s power wise in all RA’s / String patterns, not enough to say ones low powered and another’s powerful.

 

[darklore009]

I tried TC97 twice already in hopping to get used to it, but the way it flexes and how the weight distributes throughout the racket is very odd for me compared to the TC95. I find it way heavier to swing the 97 than the 95.

 

[joohan]

I play outdoors in Uk, played on clay, synthetic clay, shale, grass, synthetic grass, but only a few times only on hardcourt this season. I use TC97 16x19, I don’t really feel a change of racquet would serve me better on one specific surface to the next. I guess my game tactics change on a slow surface where you have to build a point up more, but still want to be using the same racquet what I’m totally used to.
Personally don’t think there’s that much difference between the Tc 95-97’s power wise in all RA’s / String patterns, not enough to say ones low powered and another’s powerful.

Well..I switched quite some time ago and, to be honest, TC97 doesn’t really excite me. For me, D beamed Angells have another gear available both in spin and power.

TC97 18x20 is a sensational frame. Exquisite feel and solid performance. I enjoyed hitting slices, half volleys and volleys with it but I can’t really say it suits all styles or that it’s claycourters dream. My natural shots are more modern, with SW grip and sometimes I like to go full Nadal, too. I struggled when I started to play on clay because I was playing against better (clay) players than I was and my algorithms from hardcourts were not working. When you’re struggling to keep up tactically (because what you’re used to just doesn’t work), there’s not much space for playing out of your technical comfort zone. I naturally reverted to my SW/full W strokes and leaded up TC97 didn’t really agree with that. For instance, I wasn’t good enough to cope with constant high balls to my BH. I couldn’t take them on the rise all the time because of bad bounces, heavy leaded frame didn’t really help when hitting hip and above...that’s when TC100 comes in and I realized how easy tennis can be if you play with a racquet that suits you well.

Could I have buckled down and improve both technically and tactically while using TC97? Absolutely. Again, it didn’t excite me that much for me to try at the time. For instance, I didn’t play much/almost at all from October 2018 until June 2019. Returned to face the same good players that have gotten even better in the meantime. Had a couple of sessions playing with my beloved Tour G330 and quickly conceded I’m just not good enough at the moment to use it. I customized my first ever tennis racquet (Wilson K Rush FX) with a lot of lead into nicely polarized setup and, playing 2-3x a week I got back to business. I even won all six sets of my last two sessions. That experience convinced me I’d be able to adjust to almost any frame...given time and effort. Between Tour G330, TC100, Bio300T and TC90, I’ve got everything I need on tennis court. This project of recreating a setup that I like best is a matter of excitement and exploration. Long story short, TC97 is neither of those things to me.

Sorry for this long post, I could have (...and probably should have) ended after first two sentences.

 

[dnlcarvalho]

ASL2 will be in the realm of the TC100 and neither one will be really like a Clash or RFA.

The ASL2 will have that comfort of the TC100, open pattern allowing easy rotation and natural higher trajectory and a bit more springy or responsive. There is bit more precision over TC100, however that is not its forte, it is still the easy heavy rotation and power.

@topspn ,Does the ASL2 have a lower launch angle and better precision than both the TC100 16X19 63 RA and the TC95 16x19 63 RA?

Therefore, there are many that feel that the true "Goldielocks" Angell racquet will be a TC95 63RA 16x19 with a slightly tighter pattern with 8 Mains in the throat, should Angell (Paul) ever choose to produce it.

@Classic-TXP-IG MID, fantastic comparison between TC95 and TC97. Seems very coherent with other users' experiences. Do you feel the ASL2 has the potential to be close to this true "Goldielocks" racket, based on specs and comparsions that topspn has shared?

 

[Paulo Braz]

ASL2 will be in the realm of the TC100 and neither one will be really like a Clash or RFA. The clash being very flexy, thick beam, has power and pretty open string bed. RFA the weight and sledge hammer playability. The ASL2 will have that comfort of the TC100, open pattern allowing easy rotation and natural higher trajectory and a bit more springy or responsive. There is bit more precision over TC100, however that is not its forte, it is still the easy heavy rotation and power. The Dahcor 97 is different then any of the those racquets. It is comfortable but in a more firm crisp response. Although the way you perceive the connection to the ball is different but if i had to pick an Angell most similar, it would be the TC95 70RA. Still Dahcor has higher precision with the 8 mains in the throat. It still hits a heavy ball and pretty good on serve as well. Slices are just plain sick. I made changes to mine with leather grip, weight in the head for more SW and OG. They do sit around 343-344g.

Stability: Both are decent on stability and some weight to have more of it which i did do on both.
Power: ASL2 has a little more
Comfort: ASL2 feels plush. Dahcor comfortable but crisp
Flex: Both have uniform flex and I am sensitive to head flex like the TC97 but again neither is like that at all.
Spin: Both provide excellent spin, ASL2 does it with a more naturally higher launch angle and Dahcor a moderate launch angle.

Can you upload photos of the asl-2 to show its string spacing?

Enviado de meu MI 6 usando o Tapatalk

 

[topspn]

ASL2 has the same string spacing of TC95 and grommets fit. Launch angle is on par with TC95 I would say. As you’d expect, precision is somewhere between TC95 and TC100

 

[ed70]

I find it way heavier to swing the 97 than the 95.

Don’t understand why on earth that would be? unless the TC 97 was actually heavier,higher SW or different balance.
Was complete opposite to my experience as the 63Ra tc95 V2 came in with a considerable higher SW to my TC97’s with the same weight & balance.

 

[ed70]

Well..I switched quite some time ago and, to be honest, TC97 doesn’t really excite me. For me, D beamed Angells have another gear available both in spin and power.

TC97 18x20 is a sensational frame. Exquisite feel and solid performance. I enjoyed hitting slices, half volleys and volleys with it but I can’t really say it suits all styles or that it’s claycourters dream. My natural shots are more modern, with SW grip and sometimes I like to go full Nadal, too. I struggled when I started to play on clay because I was playing against better (clay) players than I was and my algorithms from hardcourts were not working. When you’re struggling to keep up tactically (because what you’re used to just doesn’t work), there’s not much space for playing out of your technical comfort zone. I naturally reverted to my SW/full W strokes and leaded up TC97 didn’t really agree with that. For instance, I wasn’t good enough to cope with constant high balls to my BH. I couldn’t take them on the rise all the time because of bad bounces, heavy leaded frame didn’t really help when hitting hip and above...that’s when TC100 comes in and I realized how easy tennis can be if you play with a racquet that suits you well.

Could I have buckled down and improve both technically and tactically while using TC97? Absolutely. Again, it didn’t excite me that much for me to try at the time. For instance, I didn’t play much/almost at all from October 2018 until June 2019. Returned to face the same good players that have gotten even better in the meantime. Had a couple of sessions playing with my beloved Tour G330 and quickly conceded I’m just not good enough at the moment to use it. I customized my first ever tennis racquet (Wilson K Rush FX) with a lot of lead into nicely polarized setup and, playing 2-3x a week I got back to business. I even won all six sets of my last two sessions. That experience convinced me I’d be able to adjust to almost any frame...given time and effort. Between Tour G330, TC100, Bio300T and TC90, I’ve got everything I need on tennis court. This project of recreating a setup that I like best is a matter of excitement and exploration. Long story short, TC97 is neither of those things to me.

Sorry for this long post, I could have (...and probably should have) ended after first two sentences.

With the TC97’s both string patterns I feel that they are so stable even at 330g strung , can really keep the racquet head speed high which is pretty beneficial on clay with high balls.
TC100 was a pretty easy frame to use more spin than tc97’s, higher launch angle, less control, needs some lead at 3 & 9 if your playing any one really good, nice frame but prefer 97/98’s.

 

[joohan]

With the TC97’s both string patterns I feel that they are so stable even at 330g strung , can really keep the racquet head speed high which is pretty beneficial on clay with high balls.
TC100 was a pretty easy frame to use more spin than tc97’s, higher launch angle, less control, needs some lead at 3 & 9 if your playing any one really good, nice frame but prefer 97/98’s.

One man’s duh is another man’s yabba dabba doo...

 

[Envy]

Guye help me out,

Planning on purchasing my first angell. Im looking at a tc97(18x20) or an anglell k7. How do they differ in spin power stability and most of all feel? They are so similar and I cant find a review that differentiate them. Which do you guys think is the better overall? My previous frames are the Ig prestige mp and ultra tour.

 

[Caol-ila]

I had them, then I sold my TC97 18x20 and kept my K7red and K7lime. The TC97 18x20 and the K7red have opposite features. The former is stiffer, precise, low launch angle, the latter "soft", spinny, high launch angle. K7lime stays in the middle, closer to the red for feeling, closer to the TC97 for precision and launch angle. I think the K7lime is quite an extraordinary stick, even if it makes me think I have to feel ok with my legs, just as the TC95, otherwise it is better to go K7red/TC100. Actually in my bag now I have the two K7s, a TC95 and a TC100. I like to feel free to choose according to my feeling, even if I mostly use my K7red. It makes me feel confident to develop my game without too many mistakes. Yesterday night I even did not miss a single smash, quite unusual for me.

 

[Gee]

Guye help me out,

Planning on purchasing my first angell. Im looking at a tc97(18x20) or an anglell k7. How do they differ in spin power stability and most of all feel? They are so similar and I cant find a review that differentiate them. Which do you guys think is the better overall? My previous frames are the Ig prestige mp and ultra tour.

I played with all frames you mentioned (K7 Lime, TC97 18x20, Ultra Tour and IG Prestige MP). I customized them all to similar specs (350 grams and 32 cm balance. Unfortunately I am not sure about the swingweights but they felt similar to me). They all play very similar with very good control and a pretty flat trajectory as you can expect of a 95-98 sq inch 18x20 frame.

Hitting with topspin is most a technical issue in my opinion. I am able to hit kick serves and deep topspin groundstrokes with all of them but I think the K7 Lime is probably the easiest frame in that respect whereas the IG Prestige MP is the most demanding with its smallest sweetspot.

Regarding feel I like the Ultra Tour most that has a sensational distinct sweetspot. I can feel the ball on my strings even the amount of spin I generate.
The TC97 has a firmer feel with a more pronounced feedback like the IG Prestige MP than the other ones. The K7 Lime has a much softer (more muted) feel whereas the feel of the Ultra Tour is somewhere between these ones that is pretty similar to the feel of the TC95 18x20 63RA that I played before I switched to the K7 Lime and the Ultra Tour.

So it all depends on what kind of feel you prefer. You should demo them if possible in order to judge what feels best to you.

 

[ed70]

One man’s duh is another man’s yabba dabba doo...

Of course we are all different & have different games, I was saying I use the same frame for all matches on whatever surface.
The high bounce on clay is all about footwork & technique, whatever your hitting with. I hit upwards if stuck well behind baseline & horizontally if i’m on baseline or just behind, it’s a tough shot, especially when the winds blowing.

 

[joohan]

Of course we are all different & have different games, I was saying I use the same frame for all matches on whatever surface.
The high bounce on clay is all about footwork & technique, whatever your hitting with. I hit upwards if stuck well behind baseline & horizontally if i’m on baseline or just behind, it’s a tough shot, especially when the winds blowing.

I understand that as well as the benefit of using one/the same frame all the time. Thing is, and I’m sure we can agree on that, some frames are better for ones game than others. The fact I was using TC97 for a year or so doesn’t necessarily mean it was the right frame for me (at least as far as competitive tennis and results are concerned). I understand the need for good footwork and technique overall, even more so on high balls to my BH on clay. Thing is, I’m much more capable of taking them on the rise with TC100 which allows me to enjoy the game more, not even going to things like serve and put-away forehands. I do like the feel of box beams better but my performance and results speak clearly - I’m much harder to play against while swinging TC100/TC95.

Tour G330 is my golden ticket, it blends almost everything I need and like. Unfortunately, it’s rather throat heavy and I’m struggling to get it going approx after two hours of hitting. It will get better with practice and there’s a high chance it might become my ultimate weapon of choice going onwards if I manage to have a regular/frequent tennis schedule.

 

[ed70]

I understand that as well as the benefit of using one/the same frame all the time. Thing is, and I’m sure we can agree on that, some frames are better for ones game than others. The fact I was using TC97 for a year or so doesn’t necessarily mean it was the right frame for me (at least as far as competitive tennis and results are concerned). I understand the need for good footwork and technique overall, even more so on high balls to my BH on clay. Thing is, I’m much more capable of taking them on the rise with TC100 which allows me to enjoy the game more, not even going to things like serve and put-away forehands. I do like the feel of box beams better but my performance and results speak clearly - I’m much harder to play against while swinging TC100/TC95.

Tour G330 is my golden ticket, it blends almost everything I need and like. Unfortunately, it’s rather throat heavy and I’m struggling to get it going approx after two hours of hitting. It will get better with practice and there’s a high chance it might become my ultimate weapon of choice going onwards if I manage to have a regular/frequent tennis schedule.

Yes I know what you mean about getting the frame going very important to my game (RHS) I tend to favour frames around the 325-330sw. Enables me to hit out at every ball, I’ve struggled with too much SW in the past so I know exactly where I need a frame.
The new blades are worth a try was hitting them last week a club pro had a few, the 16x19s a definite improvement on the last decent blades back in 2015, the 18x20 felt pretty much the same as the 2015 to me tho. Bit of extra weight in the handle and they are ready to go

 

[joohan]

Yes I know what you mean about getting the frame going very important to my game (RHS) I tend to favour frames around the 325-330sw. Enables me to hit out at every ball, I’ve struggled with too much SW in the past so I know exactly where I need a frame.
The new blades are worth a try was hitting them last week a club pro had a few, the 16x19s a definite improvement on the last decent blades back in 2015, the 18x20 felt pretty much the same as the 2015 to me tho. Bit of extra weight in the handle and they are ready to go

Yes, I was contemplating a V7 Blade for a while. One of my friends is planning to get one so I’ll have a chance to try it.

 

[topspn]

Yes, I was contemplating a V7 Blade for a while. One of my friends is planning to get one so I’ll have a chance to try it.

Yep, I have one V7 16x19. Leather grip, some weight 2&10 and OG. Pretty sweet racquet with very good control/power balance

 

[Carreau]

Well..I switched quite some time ago and, to be honest, TC97 doesn’t really excite me. For me, D beamed Angells have another gear available both in spin and power.

TC97 18x20 is a sensational frame. Exquisite feel and solid performance. I enjoyed hitting slices, half volleys and volleys with it but I can’t really say it suits all styles or that it’s claycourters dream. My natural shots are more modern, with SW grip and sometimes I like to go full Nadal, too. I struggled when I started to play on clay because I was playing against better (clay) players than I was and my algorithms from hardcourts were not working. When you’re struggling to keep up tactically (because what you’re used to just doesn’t work), there’s not much space for playing out of your technical comfort zone. I naturally reverted to my SW/full W strokes and leaded up TC97 didn’t really agree with that. For instance, I wasn’t good enough to cope with constant high balls to my BH. I couldn’t take them on the rise all the time because of bad bounces, heavy leaded frame didn’t really help when hitting hip and above...that’s when TC100 comes in and I realized how easy tennis can be if you play with a racquet that suits you well.

Could I have buckled down and improve both technically and tactically while using TC97? Absolutely. Again, it didn’t excite me that much for me to try at the time. For instance, I didn’t play much/almost at all from October 2018 until June 2019. Returned to face the same good players that have gotten even better in the meantime. Had a couple of sessions playing with my beloved Tour G330 and quickly conceded I’m just not good enough at the moment to use it. I customized my first ever tennis racquet (Wilson K Rush FX) with a lot of lead into nicely polarized setup and, playing 2-3x a week I got back to business. I even won all six sets of my last two sessions. That experience convinced me I’d be able to adjust to almost any frame...given time and effort. Between Tour G330, TC100, Bio300T and TC90, I’ve got everything I need on tennis court. This project of recreating a setup that I like best is a matter of excitement and exploration. Long story short, TC97 is neither of those things to me.

Sorry for this long post, I could have (...and probably should have) ended after first two sentences.

Why don't you use TC100 anymore? It was 1-year experiment only? I remember your commitment.

 

[Carreau]

My both TC95s will be on sale section this week. Almost new, max 12 hours of hitting each.
And adding a few more TC100s.

 

[joohan]

Why don't you use TC100 anymore? It was 1-year experiment only? I remember your commitment.

I switched to Yonex Tour G 330 in April 2018...feel and better accuracy were main reasons for that. Serves, power and topspin are easier to access with TC100, but in absolute numbers, there’s not too much between the two. If TC100 is Thor’s hammer, Tour G is a laser cannon (if you can swing it). I was able to do 1 hour of high intensity drills (20-30 min warm up before that) and then 2-3 sets of match play with only slight decrease in racquet head speed and overall shot quality.

When I moved away from home in October 2018, I took my main Tour G and two TC100s with me. I was expecting I wouldn’t play as much as back home but, because of work and other stuff, I ended up playing 3-4 times in total between October 2018 and the end of June 2019. I used Tour G because I wanted to have at least some continuity and a friend of mine used one of the 100s. It was more of a messing around than proper tennis anyway, a bit of work out before heading out for beers (what else would you do in Prague...).

I went back home for two months at the end June ‘19 with my regular tennis gear back at my rental flat in Prague. I have some Tour Gs back home but I quickly realized I’m not anywhere near to my tennis level from summer 2018. I needed some help from my racquet until I got better and TC100 would have been my obvious first choice but it was 700km away. Apart from Tour Gs and some classic midsize frames, I had either DR98 or my old tweener frame to choose from. I remembered Chris from TW and his experiment - he tailweighted a super light tweener frame with excellent results so I went that way. I’ve added some 40g to a 280g stock tweener - heat shrink sleeve to up the gripsize, lead at both ends, leather replacement grip...I managed to build a very interesting racquet indeed, kind of like my personal Aero Pro Drive. Plays really decent but it forced me to re-think and rebuild my tennis a bit. It doesn’t have precision and power of Tour G so I was forced to hit bigger targets and construct points more carefully instead of forcing the issue or going for winners too soon.

I learned a lot and developed my game quite nicely but after those two months of compromising, I’m really looking forward to hitting with TC100 again as I will have much more time for tennis from now on. Tour G is still my main aspiration but TC100 is a machine of a frame and the most reliable servant. I’ll experiment with either 70RA TC95 or ASL 2 to see if I can create something with more accuracy than TC100 and more polarized/whippy action than Tour G while keeping the good stuff. I haven’t bought any tennis racquet for some two years now and I’m curious how Angell frames are evolving. TC100, however, will always be my match-play standard by which other frames are measured.

 

[Carreau]

I was experimenting a lot with my TC100s. And I found that accuracy will depend on two things (in my case) - weight/balance and string. A slightly not enough head light - and I'm missing control. Same with strings - more control oriented strings and strictly 2 weeks maximum. However, it works for me but it is very individual. Seems you are very analytic and you know your gear, I'm sure you will like both ASL2 and TC9570RA.

 

[Deleted member 54265]

I was experimenting a lot with my TC100s. And I found that accuracy will depend on two things (in my case) - weight/balance and string. A slightly not enough head light - and I'm missing control. Same with strings - more control oriented strings and strictly 2 weeks maximum. However, it works for me but it is very individual. Seems you are very analytic and you know your gear, I'm sure you will like both ASL2 and TC9570RA.

Could you elaborate about the weight/balance (I also have TC100 in 310/315 as well as TC95 in the same spec) and also the string and tension.

Thanks, Toby

 

[Carreau]

Could you elaborate about the weight/balance (I also have TC100 in 310/315 as well as TC95 in the same spec) and also the string and tension.

Thanks, Toby

I'm using same 310g versions currently. And any version that is more head heavy than 315mm (unstrung) becomes too powerful and difficult to control.
I'm using stiffer control oriented strings in summer - Tour Bite, Cyclone, SPPP, Kirschbaum Pro Line Rough. Softer strings works good in winter - Black Code, MSV FocusHEX Ultra, etc.
HyperG and Ultra Cable works good both in summer and winter.
I'm stringing them 21,5/21,5 typically with a pre-stretch. A bit less for Kischbaums and SPPP and a bit more for HyperG, Black Code.
By the way, combination of low powered mains and softer crosses works nice as well. For example SPPP + Co-Focus/BlackCode.

 

[AesBinz]

Finally got my matching TC100, not I'm waiting for my strings.

 

[TheBaseliner]

I am playing with TC 95 RA 63 v2 and SW is 332 measured on machine. I see that on V3 version SW can be 10 points lower for same specification. What can I get, what to loose with lower SW if make transition, except maneuverability?

 

[tpro2000]

Finally got my matching TC100, not I'm waiting for my strings.

Awesome! I have 4 I got from a TW member, all matching. They're super fun. I've been messing around with different strings though to figure out the best setup

 

[aehjmeyer]

ASL2 back from stringer with Black Knight 1.28. (Aside: found a new stringer who clearly knows what he's doing! Grommets look pristine.)

Using TWU tool and my scale, 333gm/322mm/320SW with OG/strings. League match Wednesday and maybe some serves this weekend if weather allows. Gonna try stock for awhile before attempting any customization.

 

[what_army]

Quick question to all wrapped-tc95 users: has anyone experimented with the colour wraps and has an idea as to whether they change much in terms of playing? How much weight / swingweight do they add? Thanks

 

[Classic-TXP-IG MID]

Quick question to all wrapped-tc95 users: has anyone experimented with the colour wraps and has an idea as to whether they change much in terms of playing? How much weight / swingweight do they add? Thanks

From memory, I think it adds 1.5g total at 3 & 9.

 

[joohan]

I am playing with TC 95 RA 63 v2 and SW is 332 measured on machine. I see that on V3 version SW can be 10 points lower for same specification. What can I get, what to loose with lower SW if make transition, except maneuverability?

A bit of plow through, authority on the ball perhaps, less stability on volleys...

I’d like to extend this question to feel and overall performance. I only played with V1 TC95 (V2 TC97), but I’d hope that V3 “D” beam Angells are not too far off from previous generations.

 

[Rysty]

I have V2 16x19 and V3 18x20 with same specs, I can't recognize any differences but the effects of string pattern.

On the other hand, I bought all of these straight from Paul so it is possible that he has matched the swingweight, too. I bought the V2s last year and V3s about 2 months ago. Edit: 4x V2, 4x V3, all are TC 95s.

 

[what_army]

From memory, I think it adds 1.5g total at 3 & 9.

That will be about +3 sw points which is perfect. Would you happen to know if I can stick the wraps without removing the grommets? Thanks

 

[Classic-TXP-IG MID]

That will be about +3 sw points which is perfect. Would you happen to know if I can stick the wraps without removing the grommets? Thanks

Not sure as mine came to me with the wrap already on the racquet... sorry

 

[JCK011]

Can anyone tell me which Angell frame has the most power everything else being equal?