Volkl C10 Pro - good for me?

[MCN]

I want a forgiving racquet that still has some good plough through and decent pop with ability to hit good topspin. I currently play with the Volkl PB10 Mid and it mostly feels good but I'm getting on a bit now and can struggle with the smaller head size when I lose concentration.

I've tried the new Organix 325 and whilst it helps in some areas it just feels a bit too stiff for me even at low tensions with soft string - i.e. I miss the flexible whippy feel of the PB10. As a bit of background, by far the best racquet I ever used was the Volkl Tour 10 MP Gen 1 but these are not available now. I've tried some lighter sticks, but just can't get on with them and keep coming back to something that's thin beamed and a bit heavier.

I notice the C10 Pro is still around which I'm thinking may fit the bill. Do you think it may suit - is it forgiving at lower tensions and is it spin friendly?

 

[BillH]

I have been using the Tour 10 VE mid for some time and also use the DNX 9 occasionally. I recently demoed the C10 Pro - I ended up buying one. I really enjoy how easy this 12+ ounce racquet swings and the pop and spin I'm getting on the ball. The improvement in my serve was enough to convince me to change, but I'm really liking everything about the C10 Pro. I strung mine with NXT 18 at 56 pounds and it is comfortable and controllable.

 

[tball]

C10 Pro is different from Tour 10. It is softer; definitely more comfortable. But it does not generate the serve, the spin and the slices that T10 does.
I would say that the closest racquet to T10 is DNX 10 Mid. You get the serve, the spin, and approximately the same feel (if you string low). It plays a little wilder than T10.

DNX 10 Mid and Porsche Pro are the two racquets among the Volkls I've tried that generate the most spin, and have the most penetrating serve (apart from T10, of course).

 

[louis netman]

As a bit of background, by far the best racquet I ever used was the Volkl Tour 10 MP Gen 1 but these are not available now.

The T10 Gen 1 was great because it played like a C10 Pro without the wobbly upper hoop. You could also trim the grommet strip to make it more headlight like the C10...

On my rack I'm looking at 3 T10MPs in almost new condition with the grommet mods. I haven't advertised them... Please shoot me an email if you're interested.

Email to louis netman

 

[TennisMaverick]

I want a forgiving racquet that still has some good plough through and decent pop with ability to hit good topspin. I currently play with the Volkl PB10 Mid and it mostly feels good but I'm getting on a bit now and can struggle with the smaller head size when I lose concentration.

I've tried the new Organix 325 and whilst it helps in some areas it just feels a bit too stiff for me even at low tensions with soft string - i.e. I miss the flexible whippy feel of the PB10. As a bit of background, by far the best racquet I ever used was the Volkl Tour 10 MP Gen 1 but these are not available now. I've tried some lighter sticks, but just can't get on with them and keep coming back to something that's thin beamed and a bit heavier.

I notice the C10 Pro is still around which I'm thinking may fit the bill. Do you think it may suit - is it forgiving at lower tensions and is it spin friendly?

The best recommended upsize to help with more margin for error from the PB 10 Mid is the London.

 

[MCN]

The best recommended upsize to help with more margin for error from the PB 10 Mid is the London.

Is that the Delta Core London? Seems a bit lighter than the C10 Pro. Will it have the same stability and plough through?

 

[TennisMaverick]

Is that the Delta Core London? Seems a bit lighter than the C10 Pro. Will it have the same stability and plough through?

Stock....it doesn't have the same plow thru, but the London is more stable. The DC nano carbon allows you to do more with less. There is a big drop-off in mph from the PB 10 Mid to the C10 Pro. It will be far less of a drop-off with the London.

Another very good option is the PB 7. Just make sure to use the dampener; not for vibration, but for plow thru.

 

[MCN]

As a matter of interest, how does the C10 Pro compare with the PB10 mid (both stock and assuming similar strings and tension) in terms of spin capability and power? Some say the sweetspot in the C10 pro is small - is that really the case, especially with lower tensions?

 

[fuzz nation]

Hmm, where to start?...

I've been enjoying the C10's for a few years now, but the ones I use are from the older yellow & black generation. I got into the C10's when I found that I could get more all-court performance, including better control at the baseline, than I did with my old (stiff!) ProStaff 6.1 Classics. I grew up playing serve & volley, but had to expand my baseline skill set once I got older and started playing again. As it's turned out for me, the C10's have provided me with lots of comfort and control without being as mellow or "dead" as some other frames that also have a good measure of flex.

I've played with a couple of other racquets that gave me slightly more spin potential in my serves and strokes, but this Volkl gives me plenty. Those other spin factories were either too soft to also thump the ball well or too light and stiff to be kind to my arm, yet still remain stable around the net. The happy balance of comfort and performance that I've found may not be for everyone, but now that these racquets have been in my bag for a few years, they've really infected my tennis DNA.

I'm not someone to advise going out and tuning every racquet under the sun with lead tape, but the C10 is somewhat of a unique racquet in that it seems to be "open to suggestion". A touch of 3/9 o'clock lead on the hoop can bring extra general stability and authority in a hurry (I've tried it) and some users have enjoyed adding a little 12 o'clock lead to counter a little of the hoop's flex (the C10 is mildly "tip dead"). I currently have some lead on the handles of two of my Volkls to get their balance into the HL neighborhood that I like best.

I actually had a quick try with a PB10 mid at the end of this past summer, but I'm pretty sure that this demo had a crummy string job of super rigid poly. The thing had no sweet spot for me at all - and I really like most mids! It was also apparent to me that the PB10 mid demo I tried needed some more HL balance to have the handling I prefer. My expectations weren't sky high for that racquet, but I really didn't much care for it. For the record, I string my C10's with either 16 or 17 gauge syn. gut in the range of 60-62 lbs. For me, that makes for a combo of crisp feel and semi-soft impact.

Blah-blah-blah, right? Anyway, yes, I think you'd be smart to try one of these racquets for yourself. Be warned though; they've got a bit of a unique personality and it can also take a few tries before getting a string setup that you like.

 

[Pneumated1]

I'm not one to push my own frame on others, but I should mention that my customized Londons come in around the same static weight as the C-10 Pro (08-10), but with a slightly more even balance. Others may fight me tooth and nail on this, but I find that my customized Londons outperform the C-10 Pro in every category, except maybe precision, and it's not lacking much here either. I thought I'd mention this even though you probably don't want to go through the customization crucible that I did with the London. It's worth it in the end and worth a demo, imo.

 

[MCN]

Thanks fuzz

I did have a very quick hit many years ago with the C10 Pro (one of our club players who now plays Davis Cup used it as his main racquet) but can't remember how it was strung. I do remember that I immediately noticed how good it felt in the hand and that it was nice and flexible and so long as you had smooth strokes, felt pretty good.

The T10 MP was released shortly after this and I bought 3 of those and really loved the feel but had to give up tennis for a couple of years so gave them away (daft me!).

I'm now playing again (socially, so perhaps not to the same standard) and have the PB10 mid which again feels nice but I can struggle with the smaller head size, especially when I'm getting tired. I don't hit so hard these days and want an all-round stick for mostly dubs but occasionally some singles and something that can be a little forgiving after 3 hard sets. The Tour 10 was a great all-round stick and perhaps the C10 will be as well, judging by your post.

 

[TennisMaverick]

As a matter of interest, how does the C10 Pro compare with the PB10 mid (both stock and assuming similar strings and tension) in terms of spin capability and power? Some say the sweetspot in the C10 pro is small - is that really the case, especially with lower tensions?

I used the C10 Pro for 18 months in '99-00, and the PB 10 Mid for two years, before I switched to the London Tour. The C10 is a softer frame, so in comparison, it is less powerful than the PB 10 Mid. Usually, if there is a mid and a midplus version, the MP is made stiffer to compensate for the larger head size. Since these frames are separated by multiple generations and more than ten years, this mid-midplus relationship doesn't exist. With that being said, both sticks are precision frames.

I don't remember the C10 Pro having the ability to hit more topspin than the PB 10 Mid does, but the mid slices better. The PB 10's sweet spot is larger, even though the head is smaller, but I would not say that the C10 Pro's sweet spot is small, as someone else mentioned to you. I can say that the C10's feel is superior to the PB 10 Mid's, so that should help with your performance drop-off. However, I totally agree with pneumated; the London is this generation's nano C10 Pro, and its performance is superior in every aspect, except for feel. Volkl does recommend the London as the upgrade to the C10 Pro, just as it recommended the the BB 11 Light. This lets you do more with less, since the DC stiffens the frame as lead tape would, and is much lighter, and you will need to use lead tape with the C10, since it is a traditional soft graphite frame.

 

[tball]

You should demo London. I find it much inferior to C10. It has better spin, but that's all.

 

[Pneumated1]

You should demo London. I find it much inferior to C10. It has better spin, but that's all.

If you compare them stock to stock, then all bets are off, but weight a London up comparably and you'll see the difference. It still might not persuade you otherwise, but it makes a big difference, imo.

 

[TennisMaverick]

If you compare them stock to stock, then all bets are off, but weight a London up comparably and you'll see the difference. It still might not persuade you otherwise, but it makes a big difference, imo.

Actually it's the opposite, IMPO. Stock2stock, the London is just easier to play with; it requires far less skill. Modified, the C10 Pro can do more, but it requires more lead than the average poster here will want to deal with, whereas, the London only needs 6-8 grams to play awesome.

 

[Pneumated1]

Actually it's the opposite, IMPO. Stock2stock, the London is just easier to play with; it requires far less skill. Modified, the C10 Pro can do more, but it requires more lead than the average poster here will want to deal with, whereas, the London only needs 6-8 grams to play awesome.

I can see the point in what you're saying and will agree that it should be the case, but I simply do not play the London nearly as well stock as with my 8-10 grams of hoop/throat weight and a heavier grip. We both know that the London is amazingly stable stock; in fact, it's stable enough to easily handle the ball quality of 75% of the opponents I face. Maybe it's in my head, but my tempo and timing just work better at a heavier weight.

The funny thing is that when I hit the C-10 Pro 08, I hit it stock with only head tape covering the bumper, and it worked, except I just wished that the balance was a few points closer to even and maybe a tenth or two of an ounce lighter to compensate.

 

[Ross K]

I want a forgiving racquet that still has some good plough through and decent pop with ability to hit good topspin. I currently play with the Volkl PB10 Mid and it mostly feels good but I'm getting on a bit now and can struggle with the smaller head size when I lose concentration.

I've tried the new Organix 325 and whilst it helps in some areas it just feels a bit too stiff for me even at low tensions with soft string - i.e. I miss the flexible whippy feel of the PB10. As a bit of background, by far the best racquet I ever used was the Volkl Tour 10 MP Gen 1 but these are not available now. I've tried some lighter sticks, but just can't get on with them and keep coming back to something that's thin beamed and a bit heavier.

I notice the C10 Pro is still around which I'm thinking may fit the bill. Do you think it may suit - is it forgiving at lower tensions and is it spin friendly?

Definitely give it a whirl if you can. It fits your requirements imo. One of my personal GOAT frames, and I can't even tell you exactly why... something to do with how it swings, the weight and balance + build quality... yep, a superb, unique racket - one that the racket connoisseurs used to rate VERY highly indeed as I remember it when I first got on to this forum.

 

[MCN]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. Have ordered up the C10 Pro (08) and will give it a shot. Any suggestions for strings? I usually play thinner gauge full multis at lower tensions as I used to have chronic TE so that setup helps me in my current PB10 mid and X10 325.

 

[TennisMaverick]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. Have ordered up the C10 Pro (08) and will give it a shot. Any suggestions for strings? I usually play thinner gauge full multis at lower tensions as I used to have chronic TE so that setup helps me in my current PB10 mid and X10 325.

You may want to try gut; it lasts a long time in this frame, twice as long as a multi, and even longer with string savers when the gut starts to fray.

 

[MCN]

Have had the C10 pro strung in gut and played a couple of times indoors. It's one heck of a lovely balanced stick and the spin with the gut is wicked. And yes, that upper hoop feeling is a little too 'dead' which is a shame (and is the very reason I used to play with the tour 10 mp gen 1, which seemed to fix this).
But the C10 is so fantastic for touch shots and volleys great as well.

Question for you guys, I haven't used gut for over 20 years but I'm loving it in the C10. I got the C10 Pro for its larger headsize, but am now wondering how the PB 10 mid would play with full gut in comparison. Would the sweetspot widen up and would spin potential be as good as with the C10? I may have to try this but it's so expensive here in the UK so your views would be useful.

 

[TennisMaverick]

Have had the C10 pro strung in gut and played a couple of times indoors. It's one heck of a lovely balanced stick and the spin with the gut is wicked. And yes, that upper hoop feeling is a little too 'dead' which is a shame (and is the very reason I used to play with the tour 10 mp gen 1, which seemed to fix this).
But the C10 is so fantastic for touch shots and volleys great as well.

Question for you guys, I haven't used gut for over 20 years but I'm loving it in the C10. I got the C10 Pro for its larger headsize, but am now wondering how the PB 10 mid would play with full gut in comparison. Would the sweetspot widen up and would spin potential be as good as with the C10? I may have to try this but it's so expensive here in the UK so your views would be useful.

If you can handle it, put a little weight at 2/10 or at 12:00 and that will solve your "dead" feeling.

The PB 10 Mid's sweet spot is larger than the C10 Pro's, believe or not. The PB 10 Mid plays larger than its 93in2. The dwell time is also similar, and provides as much spin, IMPO. The PB 10 Mid is also easier to play with since it is a nano carbon frame; it does more with less. You need to have better strokes to play with the C10 Pro.

 

[MCN]

If you can handle it, put a little weight at 2/10 or at 12:00 and that will solve your "dead" feeling.

Thanks TM. How much is a little at 2/10 please?

 

[TennisMaverick]

Thanks TM. How much is a little at 2/10 please?

If you have a leather grip, you can add a little more, but, (.5-.625) grams should do it.

 

[MCN]

0.5g? That seems awfully low. Will that make a discernible difference?

 

[TennisMaverick]

0.5g? That seems awfully low. Will that make a discernible difference?

Yep. You'll definitely feel its weight.

 

[MCN]

Thank you, will try that.

 

[EDK]

MCN,

I tried a gut hybrid in the PB10Mid, it felt way too mushy. I'd imagine full gut would be more so. Spin potential was still there, tho, and the sweepspot did feel bigger, but oddly I felt more confident with a soft co-poly hybrid setup.

 

[galain]

Perhaps I missed something along the line here, but if you're looking for a little more room, why not just move up to the midplus PB10? Wouldn't that keep pretty much all the other variables in line with what you have now?

 

[TennisMaverick]

Perhaps I missed something along the line here, but if you're looking for a little more room, why not just move up to the midplus PB10? Wouldn't that keep pretty much all the other variables in line with what you have now?

It's 18 mains.

 

[MCN]

I briefly hit with the PB10 MP and preferred the mid probably because of the 16x19 string pattern. The mid just felt more lively and suited my game better. The sticks I most liked were the older Tour 10MPs - they felt so comfortable and were slightly more forgiving than the pb10 mid. The C10 is quite close to the Tours although more flexy. But I'm now wondering how the pb10 mid would play with full gut (because I love the feel in the C10) and whether that's the setup I should be staying with. Guess I'll have to try it.
Either way, both C10 and PB10 mid are really nice and seem to suit my game.

 

[TennisMaverick]

I briefly hit with the PB10 MP and preferred the mid probably because of the 16x19 string pattern. The mid just felt more lively and suited my game better. The sticks I most liked were the older Tour 10MPs - they felt so comfortable and were slightly more forgiving than the pb10 mid. The C10 is quite close to the Tours although more flexy. But I'm now wondering how the pb10 mid would play with full gut (because I love the feel in the C10) and whether that's the setup I should be staying with. Guess I'll have to try it.
Either way, both C10 and PB10 mid are really nice and seem to suit my game.

Personally, I preferred full gut in the c10 Pro, to give the flexi 98in2 head a little more pop. Conversely, I prefer a soft multi, like Gripper, V-Feel, NXT Tour, or Tecnifibre TGV, to give me feel with less pop, because the DNX in a 93in2 gives me tons of plow-thru.

 

[MCN]

Thanks - I do use NXT Tour in the PB10 mid (or sometimes X1 Biphase). I'm still wondering about the 0.5g lead weighting at 2/10 in the C10 though. Surely the engineering tolerance values between C10s will be more than that? If a C10 comes in at say 350g, 0.5g is just about insignificant?

 

[sargeinaz]

0.5g spread across the frame is, but 0.5g at the 10 and 2 will be felt because it's right at the top of the hoop. You can always add more if that's not enough

 

[TennisMaverick]

0.5g spread across the frame is, but 0.5g at the 10 and 2 will be felt because it's right at the top of the hoop. You can always add more if that's not enough

.....Exactly!!!

 

[Pneumated1]

I'd like to try the C-10 Pro with four layers of athletic tape on the side bevels and maybe a few on the top/bottom bevels and wrapped with two overgrips, instead of the stock grip, and the second only high enough to clear my hand/grip. Then I would put Maverick's recommended .5 gram, maybe 1 gram, at 2/10 or 3/9. The grip shape and slightly too headlight balance (for me) were my only gripes with the frame when I hit it, and I would love to try the stick with these mods.