Ultimate racquet of choice - tournament players and/or coaches

galapagos said:
I think I will be doing an ultimate tournament for the selected frames to pick the ultimate winner :p 14 racquets. Any favourites ?

This will be my adventure on youtube ;p
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The Percept 97D strung at 42 lbs with PT Rev. Yonex has gotten rid of VDM & went to Servo Filter technology. It has much better feel than previous VCP 97D. Gives you a more connected feel to the ball. It’s more like the old 97 HD, but much more player friendly than the HD.
 
KC! said:
The Percept 97D strung at 42 lbs with PT Rev. Yonex has gotten rid of VDM & went to Servo Filter technology. It has much better feel than previous VCP 97D. Gives you a more connected feel to the ball. It’s more like the old 97 HD, but much more player friendly than the HD.
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I can confirm - it is on my list and i do have a set of PT rev :) its a date. But i dont string that low. Usually between 44-48 lbs with control oriented frames like prestige, blade, tf40 and tfight iso 305.
 
galapagos said:
I can confirm - it is on my list and i do have a set of PT rev :) its a date. But i dont string that low. Usually between 44-48 lbs with control oriented frames like prestige, blade, tf40 and tfight iso 305.
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I thought the same thing on tension when @SupahMan5000 sent me a Percept 97D strung at 40 lbs to demo I usually string all of those same control frames at 48. I was amazed how controllable it still was & the amazing feel. I would definitely string this one lower than your normal. I can’t wait to hear your take on it!
 
KC! said:
I thought the same thing on tension when @SupahMan5000 sent me a Percept 97D strung at 40 lbs to demo I usually string all of those same control frames at 48. I was amazed how controllable it still was & the amazing feel. I would definitely string this one lower than your normal. I can’t wait to hear your take on it!
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And was prob even looser than 40 considering I used it 2-3 times before sending it to you!
 
My current top 3:

1. 351.1
2. 293.1 . This one is actually better, but I'm waiting for a lighter one.
Both XL, 27.25
3. Shift 300 with 6g added at 12.
 
galapagos said:
TECNIFIBRE TFIGHT ISO (ISOFLEX) 18x19 REVIEW

if you follow my IG you could notice I am already testing new ISO 18x19
is it better than the previous model (RS) ? YES ! YES ! YES !
[...]

I am getting 3 more ISOs and let's see how is the quality control ! Give me some time and I will tell if I switch or not from TF40. Biggest "why" for me is hidden in serves - more power, small "why" is hidden in representation - My name is Danny (hey!) so I'm kinda vibing to Daniils Medvedev setup :) Another reason is 18x19 pattern which I really respect - ask Djokovic and Medvedev what they think about 18x19 string patterns :) It's much more versatile than 18x20 98" frames.

I now wonder how 16x19 ISO will perform... haha

7.5 / 10 rating from me. Getting L3 grip so will update you with the story :)

IG- dandan.tennis
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Just got one of these at $100 here second hand. Super excited to experiment this one!
 
galapagos said:
ANGELL TC95 16x19 63ra REVIEW

long awaited ! My racquet of choice since December 2018 :) I admit that the choice is much better now so who knows if it's still gonna be my nr 1 pick.

tc95 18x20 vs 16x19?

I had already like 3x 18x20 angells at that time so I pretty much purchased 16x19 without any expectations. Just for fun :) I heard horror stories about very high launch angle but great spin potential. I am a flat hitter so higher launch angle really was something to be scared of :)
First experence:
I used Volkl Cyclone 1.30 at 24/24kg as my first demo and wow!

The launch angle wasn't AS big as I was expecting it to be. Of course it is higher than all 18x20 racquets and a bit higher than tighter 16x19 like blade or radical but with 1.30 gauges it's ok.

So first lesson learned - angell 16x19 pattern likes 1.30 gauges !!!! I tried some 1.25 or 1.23 but always coming back to 1.30... The best strings thinner yet still working were Mayami Tour Hex (1.23) and Solinco Tour Bite (1.25)

I got more spin potential on my forehand than with 18x20 version. Serves improved, especially top spin serves. I got a bit more forgiveness - it was easier to perform better under pressure.

slices were getting more bite (but with slightly higher launch), backhand was the only thing that suffered and it took me some time to adjust to it. I was not getting enough "drive" compared to 18x20 tc95.

So ye, 1.30 strings really make the launch angle tolerable for flat hitter or someone coming from a tight string patterns. HOWEVER it's still noticable.
After I finished testing Speed Pro 360+ (great stick!) and came back to tc95 16x19 during same session I had trouble keeping the ball inside the lines. This "racquet" just doesn't like if you are cheating on her :) You will have to take some time, maybe even buy a small gift or flowers and you are all good and ready to rock on again !

It's my favourite Angell frame and everytime I find a good switchable racquet I come to conclusion that yee i could switch but i don't have to.

TC95 frames are the teachers:
this frame is still demanding. You get bigger sweet spot and spin potential from 16x19 but at the same time launch angle is slightly harder to control.
With 18x20 the launch angle is perfect but spin potential and sweet spot are slightly smaller. I simply was winning more and easier with 16x19. Also I could take a stand vs better players than me because 16x19 angell has that "x" factor that can surprise out of nowhere.
The response at the same time is so predictable. You just need to learn it and use it wisely. But I think it's pretty much applicable to every 95" frames.

Feel - one of the best on the market. It's solid, definitely not muted so many can find it even harsh but for me it's very comfortable and I put every stiff string in it without any fear :) Great for touch shots since there is no "dampened" feel YET foam takes out negative vibrations. It's a standout feature.

Specs control - game changer on the market. I changed from Wilson to Angell EXACTLY FOR THAT reason. I pick up the frame and I don't have to worry about the specs. And I can purchase another frame after x years with same specs. It's pretty much a pro-stock experience. Normally we would have to pay like 20-50 euro more for all the customizations? Finding your specs might take a while but worth it. I recommend tc95 with as heavy specs as you can handle with a headlight balance. Small headsizes like that extra mass. It wakes up the frame by a lot.

similar frames?
1.For example Yonex Vcore Pro previous models feel like a worse version of Angell TC95
2.Tecnifibre RS305 has that very specific similar feel. Maybe a bit softer!
3.Diadem Elevate - because it has less plow through the feel is less "solid" but it's somewhere there
4. Wilson Blade V7 16x19 - a bit lower launch but more power ? but totally different weight setups
5. Speed Pro 360+ and Prestige MP 360+ are kinda there but with lower launch angle and different performance yet I would put them inside the same racquets category. Maybe weird but ye...
6. Dunlop CX200 Tour is very very similar to TC95 18x20 but easier to play with and softer feel (but less stability and plow)

I rate it at 7.5/10 - it is still a very demanding frame for experienced players. It is not something you can pick up after 2 months of no tennis and play your best game BUT if you are a hard worker then this frame will reward all your efforts. I know my game improved under angell tc95 16x19. I love the ability to have the specs I want but transition from hard to clay is always a challenge...

rest of the frames (click)
say hello on IG ! (y) @dandan.tennis
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I have a bit of a dilemma with my TC 95s - just acquired second hand and they are 27.25 inches.

It plays great, similar to tc100 but the power is more tamed, feels a little stiffer compared to tc 100 (denser string bed probably), and maaybe better placement? Not sure yet.

However I find the tc95 very unstable when volleying. The racquet keeps twisting in my hand. I have played around with lead at 3/9 and am at that point where any more and it'll feel too cumbersome to swing on groundies.

Any sage ideas?
 
landcookie said:
I have a bit of a dilemma with my TC 95s - just acquired second hand and they are 27.25 inches.

It plays great, similar to tc100 but the power is more tamed, feels a little stiffer compared to tc 100 (denser string bed probably), and maaybe better placement? Not sure yet.

However I find the tc95 very unstable when volleying. The racquet keeps twisting in my hand. I have played around with lead at 3/9 and am at that point where any more and it'll feel too cumbersome to swing on groundies.

Any sage ideas?
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I think if the frame is already demanding yet unstable then you probably wont like it anyway.
With my angell collection I noticed that tc95 needed quite high SW and static weight to play stable. For me it was minumum 320g and 292 SW. Maybe shifting static weight for the head heavier balance would somehow keep things on the level balance-wise but i havent gone there
 
galapagos said:
I think if the frame is already demanding yet unstable then you probably wont like it anyway.
With my angell collection I noticed that tc95 needed quite high SW and static weight to play stable. For me it was minumum 320g and 292 SW. Maybe shifting static weight for the head heavier balance would somehow keep things on the level balance-wise but i havent gone there
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My 95s are 320g unstrung, SW 304 unstrung - "stock" ie pre lead at 3/9.

I have decided to dumb things down and try a thicker grip (added another overgrip) to see if it helps with volleys; otherwise happy with how it performs in everything else. Holds up against UTR 11+.

Wish me luck!
 
galapagos said:

lets try something new. i still need to figure out how to be more time-efficient and increase the quality but i am up for the challenge! Also I have a quite exciting collection of racquets so this can be fun (I guess).
Hello everyone :)
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Great to put a face to the comments.

You are brave to come out of the "shadows" and test your comfort zone, and I wish you only the best.

All the racquets you discussed I also liked (apart from the TFight ISO 305, which I haven't been able to gel with).

Great hitting... and I hope your channel grows and you find it very rewarding.
 
@galapagos - Awesome putting yourself out there like this. I wish your channel success and I am definitely in that camp that likes a control-oriented frame that offers some tweener characteristics to help bail you out in those moments where you're compromised and/or not in the optimal setup for the shot that needs to be played -- "pleeners" if you will (player/tweener crossovers). Of all the frames you've highlighted, it seems like the TF40 315 16x19 -- with a bit of hoop lead -- might be the best option for you, but since you have a 2HBH, an under-spec ISO 305 might be even better. That challenge is getting enough matched under-spec ISO 305's to last you long enough to be worthwhile switching to. I would email TWE and see how many they could find you that would be sub-300 swing weight, and weigh your options at that point.
 
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Trip said:
@galapagos - Awesome putting yourself out there like this. I wish your channel success and I am definitely in that camp that likes a control-oriented frame that offers some tweener characteristics to help bail you out in those moments where you're compromised and/or not in the optimal setup for the shot that needs to be played -- "pleeners" if you will (player/tweener crossovers). Of all the frames you've highlighted, it seems like the TF40 315 16x19 -- with a bit of hoop lead -- might be the best option for you, but since you have a 2HBH, an under-spec ISO 305 might be even better. That challenge is getting enough matched under-spec ISO 305's to last you long enough to be worthwhile switching to. I would email TWE and see how many they could find you that would be sub-300 swing weight, and weigh you options at that point.
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TF40 305 1 gen whit leather grip is amazing!
 
galapagos said:

lets try something new. i still need to figure out how to be more time-efficient and increase the quality but i am up for the challenge! Also I have a quite exciting collection of racquets so this can be fun (I guess).
Hello everyone :)
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Hi galapagos, nice to see you on YouTube finally! I subscribed your channel. :)
As you know the TC95 16m is also my favourite Angell. Great versatile frame that suits my game very well. I only missed that (18x20) Prestige like precision.
That's why I switched to the Prince Phantom 100x 18x20 this year. That one has a similar precision control, lots of feel/touch and a bigger sweetspot than the Head Prestige Pro. I only added about 4 grams of lead at 10 and 2 for a bit more plowthrough.
 
Gee said:
Hi galapagos, nice to see you on YouTube finally! I subscribed your channel. :)
As you know the TC95 16m is also my favourite Angell. Great versatile frame that suits my game very well. I only missed that (18x20) Prestige like precision.
That's why I switched to the Prince Phantom 100x 18x20 this year. That one has a similar precision control, lots of feel/touch and a bigger sweetspot than the Head Prestige Pro. I only added about 4 grams of lead at 10 and 2 for a bit more plowthrough.
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oh man, thank you for the kind words :) I was a bit skeptical if this makes any sense but so far I received a lot of positive feedback despite not being so proud of the quality. We are all friends here so I wanted to record it the way as I was talking to someone I know. The insider group xd We had many conversations before it goes back in years probably. I will add this frame to my list and check what I can do. Time is my biggest obstacle. Right now I am demoing Percept line, I feel like I want to create a dedicated Angell video as well... there is a lot...

isnt this frame old (Prince Phantom 100x) ? should we expect the update around the corner? :)
 
galapagos said:
oh man, thank you for the kind words :) I was a bit skeptical if this makes any sense but so far I received a lot of positive feedback despite not being so proud of the quality. We are all friends here so I wanted to record it the way as I was talking to someone I know. The insider group xd We had many conversations before it goes back in years probably. I will add this frame to my list and check what I can do. Time is my biggest obstacle. Right now I am demoing Percept line, I feel like I want to create a dedicated Angell video as well... there is a lot...

isnt this frame old (Prince Phantom 100x) ? should we expect the update around the corner? :)
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Yes the PP100X has been released from 2020. I also wonder when the next version will come.
 
Gee said:
Yes the PP100X has been released from 2020. I also wonder when the next version will come.
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I've dug deep into Prince this past month.
There have been some new Phantoms released in Japan 2 years ago. Main difference seems to be the parallel drilling.
*Phantom F1 22 is our current Synergy 98, but with parrallel drilling.
I don't know if they have changed anything about the Textreme "material". On the Japanese Beasts of 2024, the Textreme "material" extends higher towards the upper part of the throat.
Personally, got myself the current Synergy 98 and will start playing with it in about 2 weeks from now.
https://www.princeshop.jp/shop/c/c1250/
 
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konstantinos kalfountzos said:
I've dug deep into Prince this past month.
There have been some new Phantoms released in Japan 2 years ago. Main difference seems to be the parallel drilling.
*Phantom F1 22 is our current Synergy 98, but with parrallel drilling.
I don't know if they have changed anything about the Textreme "material". On the Japanese Beasts of 2024, the Textreme "material" extends higher towards the upper part of the throat.
Personally, got myself the current Synergy 98 and will start playing with it in about 2 weeks from now.
https://www.princeshop.jp/shop/c/c1250/
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Yes I read that earlier as well.
Unfortunately no PP100x 18x20 on this site.
Curious about your experiences with Synergy 98 though it is not really my cup of tea. Too thick beam to my taste.
 
little teaser. ouch $$$$$ :X3:
teaser.png
 
My level is... not sure. I am trying itf seniors and in the past I was top ranked in mens open in Vermont in 1999 and played also some futures qualies. A part time palyer. Can still kick it at 50

Even though in the past I was sponsored with racquets by Wilson (6.0) and Volkl (C10 Pro) or Dunlop (200g) I am open to trying anything. Can play both old school serve and volley orall court with a woodie or modern fast tennis.

Here is my experience: i got the Babolat Team version, 285g. I put babolat balancer tape at 12, 2 strips one on each side so 6g total. Used rpm blast 20/19kg It feels very good. I gor another two and had them customized to longer, 69.2cm and silicone filled handles and lead 3 and 9 for a 33.1 strung balance and a 305g unstrung static weight. Still RPM Blast at 22/21kg.. after 6 months still killing my elbow and it just not right overall. Go back to off the shelf 285g team version with 6 grams balancer tape, 20/19kg and plays great! I have to go with what feela best. Excellent control, I do recommend this simple do it yourself setup. Even though it is "light", I can play some real tennis with it.
 
So… what racquet should be in my final 14? I have 1 more spot.

Thinking about Head Prestige Tour (anyone?), Dunlop CX200 and Blade v9 16x19 ? Did I miss anything? :)
 
KC! said:
Blade V9 16x19, its seems to be hottest new release
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Ye but the Quality control seems tragic if you follow blade thread. I am a little scared since i had issues in the past with blades and that cost me wrist injury. I can take up to 330 SW usually but the combo of the HH balance can really hurt me. No issues with ISO 305 for some reason…
 
Hehe i want something switchable and increase the chances of a switch. Im not sure i will be reviewing like crazy after i select my racquet. We will see how the channel (dandan.tennis) develops. If i bring any value ;p

I was recommended a prince racquet but to be honest i am not sure i want to explore 100” racquets. Its such a specific in feel frame-type. Im not sure i am getting more than i am loosing from such setup. Used to play with 95” for many years. Maybe i am doomed?
Happi said:
What about a total WC like Prince Phantom 107G dont be too predictable.
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galapagos said:
Hehe i want something switchable and increase the chances of a switch. Im not sure i will be reviewing like crazy after i select my racquet. We will see how the channel (dandan.tennis) develops. If i bring any value ;p

I was recommended a prince racquet but to be honest i am not sure i want to explore 100” racquets. Its such a specific in feel frame-type. Im not sure i am getting more than i am loosing from such setup. Used to play with 95” for many years. Maybe i am doomed?
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I switched from TC95 16x19 to Phantom 100x 18x20.
No regrets as I gained in directional control and touch/feel. In stock form it played too whippy and it also had a bit of lack of plow through but I fixed that with some lead at 12. The extra foregiveness of the bigger sweetspot is also a nice benefit that helps with my defending game.
The Phantom 97p also seems a very underrated frame that I would consider to demo if you prefer a smaller increase in head size.
So I would definitely recommend to add one of the Phantoms to your demo program.
 
My recommrndatiins
Other than Tc95 16 x19 u have
1,Angell react pro 96 18 x 20 315g 10 points headlight Most precision
2. Pure aero 98. Precision from spin.
3. Dunlop cx200 tour 2024. All the cx200s people seem to say r massive improvements. I am still waiting on my irder 4 16x19 tour .
I think u r correct with heavy thin beamed racket 4 stability & light swinging racket to whip ur shots 10 points headlight at 315g is good 2 me.Too Stiff lighter frames r much more tiring & my reflexes to volley, smash r much slower with them.
 
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PCunique said:
Nice to see you on YT! I'm a TF40 305 (1st gen, 18*20) user myself and curious to know your thoughts on the power/spin level, compared to the 16*19 version.
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Thank you !
I think this week i will finally drop the first review from my tournament picks. tf40 is first in line. I will make sure to answer your question hahah its a matter of days.
 
Gee said:
I switched from TC95 16x19 to Phantom 100x 18x20.
No regrets as I gained in directional control and touch/feel. In stock form it played too whippy and it also had a bit of lack of plow through but I fixed that with some lead at 12. The extra foregiveness of the bigger sweetspot is also a nice benefit that helps with my defending game.
The Phantom 97p also seems a very underrated frame that I would consider to demo if you prefer a smaller increase in head size.
So I would definitely recommend to add one of the Phantoms to your demo program.
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320g/31.5 balance too whippy for you? xd what about 100P ?
 
galapagos said:
320g/31.5 balance too whippy for you? xd what about 100P ?
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Yeah, that was what I experienced when I first hit a few rallies with my TC95 with a beefy sw (of about 335 like it felt to me) and then tried my PP100x (in stock form) with a 323 sw and a more HL balance (31.5 vs 32).
Unfortunately I didn't hit with the 100p so I can't tell you much about that one.
 
Gee said:
Yeah, that was what I experienced when I first hit a few rallies with my TC95 with a beefy sw (of about 335 like it felt to me) and then tried my PP100x (in stock form) with a 323 sw and a more HL balance (31.5 vs 32).
Unfortunately I didn't hit with the 100p so I can't tell you much about that one.
Click to expand...
perhaps the most similar racquet on the market would be gravity pro right? what would be the closest thing?
 
galapagos said:
perhaps the most similar racquet on the market would be gravity pro right? what would be the closest thing?
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Yes. From what I read about these ones I think the Gravity Pro (that I didn't play with) will play very similar especially how I customized my PP100x 18x20s.

The Phantom 100x 18x20 has a better touch/feel and control whereas the Gravity Pro has a little more plow and a slightly firmer flex according to TW tester Andrew.
Besides the Phantom is more maneuverable than the Gravity Pro as well because of the lower balance and swingweight.
See the comments with the PP100x review on YouTube.

Both are great and one of the best 100sq inch 18x20 frames.
 
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