Dino Lagaffe
Hall of Fame
There has been some talk on the boards about a new series of racquets from Volkl. I'm testing the BB Power right now with the following specs, as Match-Point provided earlier:
102 in2 / 25mm frame width /27” length / 10.6 oz unstrung (300 g)/ 1.1 HL / RDC na /16 x 19
The racquet was strung with a new Volkl Boris Becker string at around 55 pounds.
This is my background (as previously posted): Over the past few years I’ve played with hundreds of racquets. This is partly due to the fact that I’m a racquet collector and like to try my racquets out, but also because a general interest in what’s on the market. During bouts with tendonitis in my shoulder I was also trying to figure out what made racquets feel and react the way they did, and what would be ideal for me. I do have a Völkl (coach) contract, and have used their racquets for almost 3 years now. (Year one = Tour 10 MP, year 2 = Catapult 10 customised, year 3 = Tour 10 MP generation II.) The racquets I used right before that were the Estusa Power Beam Braided followed by the Head Prestige Tour 600. After having used many, and tried even more, I generally prefer rather heavy, evenly balanced/head light and flexible racquets.
So far, after just two hours of play, my impressions are quite favorable. Normally I play heavier racquets, and thought this one would feel too light. It does, however, play heavier than the specs indicate. When TW reviewed the Tour 9 V-Engine they said that it offered the maneuverability of a lighter player's racquet, while offering the solid and stable feel usually associated with heavier racquets. That can be said about the BB Power, too. It does feel solid, but at the same time it is light enough even for not so strong players to take a full swing. People with faster swings to begin with will appreciate the spin potential. What really stands out though, is that it's really comfortable, which I attribute to the fact that it's a wide body but has a flexible graphite/fibreglass composition. It kind of reminds me of the old Dunlop Max 800i, if somebody remembers that one.
So, groundstrokes could be hit with both power and spin. Obviously, there is only so much "power" in a frame as the combined mass and racquet speed will cater for, so people who really generate massive racquet speed would definately want to add weight. BTW, I see great lead potential in this frame.
Volleys worked fairly well because of the maneuverability, but I missed the extra weight from my regular T10 MP gen. II, as my volleys weren't as deep as I wanted them to be. Serves worked well, both flat and kickers.
I've played a lot with the Tour 9 VE 18x20, which is almost one full ounce heavier, but must say I prefer the BB Power. The T9VE had a tendency to feel boardy, and despite the extra weight it didn't really feel more solid than the Power did.
To sum it up, the Volkl Boris Becker Power, is a nice addition in the tweener category. It lives up to its name quite well since the moderate weight allows for getting good racquet speed, while at the same time it feels solid. I'd recommend people who for instance are considering the Dunlop 300G, the Wilson nCode nPro Surge, or the Volkl Tour 9 VE, among others, to give the Power a try.
102 in2 / 25mm frame width /27” length / 10.6 oz unstrung (300 g)/ 1.1 HL / RDC na /16 x 19
The racquet was strung with a new Volkl Boris Becker string at around 55 pounds.
This is my background (as previously posted): Over the past few years I’ve played with hundreds of racquets. This is partly due to the fact that I’m a racquet collector and like to try my racquets out, but also because a general interest in what’s on the market. During bouts with tendonitis in my shoulder I was also trying to figure out what made racquets feel and react the way they did, and what would be ideal for me. I do have a Völkl (coach) contract, and have used their racquets for almost 3 years now. (Year one = Tour 10 MP, year 2 = Catapult 10 customised, year 3 = Tour 10 MP generation II.) The racquets I used right before that were the Estusa Power Beam Braided followed by the Head Prestige Tour 600. After having used many, and tried even more, I generally prefer rather heavy, evenly balanced/head light and flexible racquets.
So far, after just two hours of play, my impressions are quite favorable. Normally I play heavier racquets, and thought this one would feel too light. It does, however, play heavier than the specs indicate. When TW reviewed the Tour 9 V-Engine they said that it offered the maneuverability of a lighter player's racquet, while offering the solid and stable feel usually associated with heavier racquets. That can be said about the BB Power, too. It does feel solid, but at the same time it is light enough even for not so strong players to take a full swing. People with faster swings to begin with will appreciate the spin potential. What really stands out though, is that it's really comfortable, which I attribute to the fact that it's a wide body but has a flexible graphite/fibreglass composition. It kind of reminds me of the old Dunlop Max 800i, if somebody remembers that one.
So, groundstrokes could be hit with both power and spin. Obviously, there is only so much "power" in a frame as the combined mass and racquet speed will cater for, so people who really generate massive racquet speed would definately want to add weight. BTW, I see great lead potential in this frame.
Volleys worked fairly well because of the maneuverability, but I missed the extra weight from my regular T10 MP gen. II, as my volleys weren't as deep as I wanted them to be. Serves worked well, both flat and kickers.
I've played a lot with the Tour 9 VE 18x20, which is almost one full ounce heavier, but must say I prefer the BB Power. The T9VE had a tendency to feel boardy, and despite the extra weight it didn't really feel more solid than the Power did.
To sum it up, the Volkl Boris Becker Power, is a nice addition in the tweener category. It lives up to its name quite well since the moderate weight allows for getting good racquet speed, while at the same time it feels solid. I'd recommend people who for instance are considering the Dunlop 300G, the Wilson nCode nPro Surge, or the Volkl Tour 9 VE, among others, to give the Power a try.
