Finally got my new 320g 10pt HL V3 TC95 63RA 16x19 out for some playing. Strung it with a hybrid- klip 16 nat gut mains vs kirsch max power @ 58/55 lbs. OG and dampener, lead at 3/9. Probably somewhere around 345-355g strung? I can usually tell how I feel about a racquet when playing mini tennis, and this started very well. Ton's of feel and control. I have heard people complaining about the launch angle being a bit high - but I felt it was really easy to flatten out and actually lower than my RF97A. My fears about the launch angle were pretty much immediately gone once I started.
The guy I played is a bit of a really athletic mixed junkballer. So, not the best playtest because of my opponent. I'll get a chance to play with my 4.5 level partner tomorrow for a better judge of things.
The overall take away with the TC95 is power and spin, and an overall dynamic versatility that was really "fun" to play with. I could not believe how much power this thing had for its size, and I found my forehand sailing long many times. My two handed backhand is going to take a little time to find center. OHBH was awesome when I set up for it. Slice backhand is amazing and precise. Volleys were stable and I could place them well. Took me a little bit to find my serve, but once I did - a lot of them were simply unreturnable. High bouncing kick serves and wide corners were easier than most other racquets. It can be a serious weapon in the right hands, and I look forward to getting adjusted to the power of this thing. Maybe once I finish with this hybrid, I'll try a full bed of poly in the low 50s or high 40s. I experienced zero arm pain.
I was losing the first set badly1-4 when I came back 2-4, then 3-5, evened it up at 5-5, and won 7-5. Second set, I found my serve and forehand a bit better and won 6-1. I just could not put it down and change racquets because of how much fun and versality I found. So a successful match against a guy that gives me a lot of trouble at times.
The strengths: power, spin, and good control for a frame that has this much power and spin. The feel was plush and comfortable - I would characterize it as a "solid" feel. It's not the softest feeling frame, but it's not stiff either...just felt right in the middle. Slice backhands, OHBH, volleys, and big serves with english'. More power than the K7, more control than the RF....power is on par with the RF. When I wanted to "turn it on", I could dial it up and back with effectiveness.
Negatives: Going to take me a little while to reign in some of the power on my forehand and serve to keep them inside the baseline, and access all of that spin potential to bring my balls down. My two handed backhand will take time to find center. It's less forgiving than my K7 Lime and V7 blade, and a lot of other 98 sq in frames out there. Less control than my K7 lime and old ti radical head mp 18x20. I was however able to hit more unreturnable winners than most other racquets I've used.
Bottom line: my interest is piqued and I will put in the time to keep adjusting and getting better with it, really really fun play test.
