Played 1.5 hours with the Yonex Ai98 today. As expected the Power delivery was quite low overall, mostly because of the racket. When I grabbed the Blade to hit with for a few minutes in-between, I got much easier depth. So, it's what I've always said and believed in, that it's mostly the racket doing the work and strings don't make up for the 50% of the feel and performance. With both the Ai98 and the Dr98, my forehands most of the time would get their first bounce just over the service line, regardless of the string.
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Yonex Poly Tour Strike 1.25 I had on it last time (also freshly strung) gave me a bit more (but noticable) "pop" / less ball connection (quite limited stringbed connection with the Ai and Dr, but noticable difference).
So far, the
R8zor 1.25 feels like a string leaning towards being a:
* control-oriented string, FOR SURE
* low-to-medium power compared to strings like Ghost Wire, Kirschbaum Flash, "Alu"-strings, I can't see how one could argue that the R8zor could be compared to Ghost Wire for power/comfort
* NOT A SLICK string = all about feel, meaning it rewards (my) full and flat forehands with pinpoint accuracy (when I gel with the racket I use)
* not being a slick string, I don't see myself having it on a "tweener" racket like my Diadem Nova or the YouTek Speed MP 16x19. I mean Firewire Boost is just a cheat code on "tweeners", I could not pick the R8zor over Firewire Boost, since the latter is much more comfortable at low tensions, not overpowering/launchy because of the plasticky-Firewire, with a much higher launch angle that helps with the net clearence / IF I want a higher launch angle to clear the net all the time and get the easiest depth possible I would market the "spin potential" much higher for the Firewire Boost vs the R8zor. Firewire also doesn't move around a lot, being a Δ-shaped string (like Mayami Machete), but the more elastic Ghost Wire in the crosses just does help produce a more penetrating ball after the bounce, no question.
* the backhand slices from the baseline are excellent and the slicing and volleys are mostly the shots where the "grip" on the ball is much more noticable for a player of my level compared to more slick and round strings tha just do not grip the ball this well
Used a fresh can of US Open Extra Duty balls. After the first 20 minutes, they started losing bounce quite fast I must say. I mean, I would not use them again tomorrow.
Every can of balls I've used these few times these past two years, I've experienced a very fast response and bounce for the first 15 minutes. Then, by the half-hour mark, the balls play at least 40% slower. That's a tough issue to deal with when choosing a string and tension. One would have to be very careful and patient for the first 10-15 minutes. Balls will sail long, not because of the strings or timing. It's definitely the balls breaking-in.
Low tensions is the way to go guys!
These are some "cool-down" shots towards the end. I was pretty damn tired, I could barely move. It took me more than 20 minutes to fix my timing with the Ai98. When I used my off-hand more to initiate the take-back, it fixed my timing. I had to hit my forehands with a much more bended elbow compared to the Blade. The Ai and Dr 98 feel weird to me.
