Volkl Tour 10 Mid Generation I

[Elwood]

I am considering a trade with another member. My MG Prestige for his Volkl Tour 10.
I know nothing about the frame.
It has a 93 sq inch head and "quantum" printed on the side.

Please let me know anything you can about this frame so I can make a somewhat educated choice. Thanks, Elwood.

 

[TennisMaverick]

I am considering a trade with another member. My MG Prestige for his Volkl Tour 10.
I know nothing about the frame.
It has a 93 sq inch head and "quantum" printed on the side.

Please let me know anything you can about this frame so I can make a somewhat educated choice. Thanks, Elwood.

It's a great frame. Similar to the Prestige, fully capped grommet as well. It is softer than the MG, and the sweet spot is lower, so you can grind the ball a little more, whereas the Prestige allows you to club the ball a little more. The Volkl feel provides better feedback IMO, but take into account that I have been playing with Volkl 10 Mids since '93. I find the Prestige to be a little "bricky", when compared to a Volkl, but they are closer than any other two brands with regard to pure feel. If his stick has the red "TOUR" written on it, they were produced in less numbers, so they are more valuable. I sold all of mine but one to another poster.

 

[Don S]

It's a great frame. Similar to the Prestige, fully capped grommet as well. It is softer than the MG, and the sweet spot is lower, so you can grind the ball a little more, whereas the Prestige allows you to club the ball a little more. The Volkl feel provides better feedback IMO, but take into account that I have been playing with Volkl 10 Mids since '93. I find the Prestige to be a little "bricky", when compared to a Volkl, but they are closer than any other two brands with regard to pure feel. If his stick has the red "TOUR" written on it, they were produced in less numbers, so they are more valuable. I sold all of mine but one to another poster.

"TOUR" is in red? never seen one of those, I have one that has TOUR in white and "Mid" in Red. I tried to sell that one on the FS/T boards awhile back but after the buyer flaked, I kept it. They're great frames but I prefer my C10 Pro tour when it comes to 93 sq. in. Volkls.

 

[TennisMaverick]

"TOUR" is in red? never seen one of those, I have one that has TOUR in white and "Mid" in Red. I tried to sell that one on the FS/T boards awhile back but after the buyer flaked, I kept it. They're great frames but I prefer my C10 Pro tour when it comes to 93 sq. in. Volkls.

Hey! You're correct. I had it backwards. I sold my two to another poster two summers ago. Call me kcirevaMsinneT!

 

[dozu]

ha - didn't know that 'Mid' in red is rare.... I have 6 of them, only 1 is a red 'Mid' lol.

 

[Don S]

I don't know if it's quality control issue or not but my "Red" Tour 10 Mid feels and swings heavier than my "Quantum" Tour 10 Mid.

 

[dje31]

I've got three Tour 10 Mids, non-red, Quantum on the left side of the throat. None have capped grommet strips.

That aside, it's the one stick I keep coming back to, despite not playing as much, as hard, as often, as I used to.

Tried a ton of frames before committing to this several years ago. It's soft enough for comfort, and I can swing out and usually keep in in the court. Most modern frames I'd have to restrict my swing or make it modern to work...and even then, they'd make me hurt after a while.

Would normally prefer a more open pattern, but I also prefer 17g, and tend to break strings too often. The 18x20 w/17g is more economical for me.

Like so many of us, looking for more pop and less weight, but something that works with my old-fashioned swing. Tried the London, and it's a consideration, but the Tour 10 Mid still feels like home to me.

Prior to this, I had the Pure Control swirly, which hit well, and served bombs, but was too stiff on these old joints.

Me: Old school, 46 next month, 4.5-5.0 even when I'm not playing regularly, mix of top/flat/slice, OHBH, all-court/S&V, leather grip wrapped suede side out (like Lendl, but no sawdust), played since I was 8. Might experiment w/a gut hybrid, like the BB or V-Fuse next.

Call me a cranky old curmudgeon if you want, but I can't stand the modern game. And stay off my lawn, you crazy kids!

 

[TennisMaverick]

I've got three Tour 10 Mids, non-red, Quantum on the left side of the throat. None have capped grommet strips.

That aside, it's the one stick I keep coming back to, despite not playing as much, as hard, as often, as I used to.

Tried a ton of frames before committing to this several years ago. It's soft enough for comfort, and I can swing out and usually keep in in the court. Most modern frames I'd have to restrict my swing or make it modern to work...and even then, they'd make me hurt after a while.

Would normally prefer a more open pattern, but I also prefer 17g, and tend to break strings too often. The 18x20 w/17g is more economical for me.

Like so many of us, looking for more pop and less weight, but something that works with my old-fashioned swing. Tried the London, and it's a consideration, but the Tour 10 Mid still feels like home to me.

Prior to this, I had the Pure Control swirly, which hit well, and served bombs, but was too stiff on these old joints.

Me: Old school, 46 next month, 4.5-5.0 even when I'm not playing regularly, mix of top/flat/slice, OHBH, all-court/S&V, leather grip wrapped suede side out (like Lendl, but no sawdust), played since I was 8. Might experiment w/a gut hybrid, like the BB or V-Fuse next.

Call me a cranky old curmudgeon if you want, but I can't stand the modern game. And stay off my lawn, you crazy kids!

Hold onto your idea of the Mids, just for a little while. Have faith.

 

[dozu]

I can remember about 8 years ago, had the first taste of this frame.... that deep pocketing feel is so sexy, it gives the hand an orgasm every time the ball meets the sweet spot lol....

loved it so much, got a few more, and tried different strings... this frame + gut = pure heaven.

won a lot of battles over the years..... thought I've found the holy grail ha!

just the natural progression of things, when everybody around you is getting more pop, the low-powered nature of this frame sometimes do come up short in the power department (even with gut), seems this situation is quite obvious, when there is a quick exchange - e.g. very hard ball hit by opponent, or hitting in general against wind....

time to move on to more modern stuff, like the DNX10 (feels like I only work 50% as hard as with the Tour10, but the DNX doesn't quite give that sexy feel on the hand lol).

But I am keeping at least a couple of them.... I am sure I will be nostalgic, just as others have been keep going back to them

 

[dje31]

I'm really in no big hurry to replace mine, but always curious as to what's out there.

In an attempt to modernize a bit, I had 2 of the 3 re-palletted, from 5/8 to 1/2, and got both the Becker and Volkl leather grips from TW.

The BB makes it almost as big as it was with the Fox leather and 5 pallette, so that was an experiment that hasn't borne the results I was after. The Volkl isn't quite as thick, but not as thin as I'd like. They both feel fine, suede side out.

Of what I've tried lately, the London would be on the short list. Was hoping for more of a softer swirly in the Pure Storm, but that didn't pan out. Sharp looking though, and I didn't make any attempt to customize it. The Rebel 95 was decent feeling.

Anxious to try the Innegra Prestige Pro when it comes out. I'd probably be happiest with one of the Pro Stock Heads, but not anxious to hunt them down, let alone pay what they'd be asking. If I'm gonna spend that much, I'd also like to try the Vantage VT221, or maybe a Bosworth.

I should probably try the PB10 Mid, as that would get me, I'd assume, an updated Tour10Mid (by a couple of revs) in a 16x19. I just doubt it would be a significant improvement or difference from my T10Mid. But the PB10Mid will probably also be supplanted by what TM is alluding to, on either the BB or V side.

I should also invest in a stringing machine. I spent a summer during college stringing in the tennis & golf dept at Sports Unlimited in Orlando.

 

[TennisMaverick]

.... when everybody around you is getting more pop, the low-powered nature of this frame sometimes do come up short in the power department (even with gut), seems this situation is quite obvious, when there is a quick exchange - e.g. very hard ball hit by opponent, or hitting in general against wind....

time to move on to more modern stuff, like the DNX10 (feels like I only work 50% as hard as with the Tour10, but the DNX doesn't quite give that sexy feel on the hand lol).

Personally, I found the T10 Mid to be too powerful. As soon as I had the T10 VE Mid, which was even less powerful, the first thing, in less than 5 minutes, the player on the other side said, "I can't believe how much difference a stick makes, and how well you can actually play when you want to." It was that obvious.

And yes, the DNX 10 Mid makes it much easier to hit many shots; nano carbon does a lot more for less, and the PB 10 Mid is a much more refined version.

 

[dozu]

@dje31 and Maverick - when I first switched to the T10 from a Dunlop Revelation Pro years ago, I was impressed by the T10's power as well.... nowadays, I play with some juniors, who hit pretty hard, with Babs and Heads whatever, some of my older partners hit really hard also (former satellite player), it just feels like too much work with the T10..... although I have to say I never felt 'too much work' when hitting against less powerful guys, (even though their skill levels are at solid 4.5s)

the PB10 mid is on my to-do list, just can't resist all the attentions on it.... although these days I am still busy with the DNX10, trying different strings/tensions... also trying Microgel Prestige Pros (should be similar to the DNX10 in power level).

 

[dje31]

Sounds also like the Vantage BC20 might be worth putting in the demo mix.

 

[dje31]

TM: I know that Volkl lists "Titanium Lite Carbon" as one of the materials in the layup of the T10. And at that time, Ti was all the rage as the flavor of the month, much like basalt fibers are today.

Any idea just how much Ti is in there, where, or how it's used? My guess is it ain't much. I understand how carbon, kevlar, fiberglass, etc. is used in the mix...metals, not so much...unless it's in its own layer or plate like ski construction, which, given their experience in that field, makes sense.

Just curious.

 

[TennisMaverick]

TM: I know that Volkl lists "Titanium Lite Carbon" as one of the materials in the layup of the T10. And at that time, Ti was all the rage as the flavor of the month, much like basalt fibers are today.

Any idea just how much Ti is in there, where, or how it's used? My guess is it ain't much. I understand how carbon, kevlar, fiberglass, etc. is used in the mix...metals, not so much...unless it's in its own layer or plate like ski construction, which, given their experience in that field, makes sense.

Just curious.

I don't have any idea how much, but if memory serves, it was throughout the frame, but I found the T10 Mid and the Q10 tour to be far too harsh. I remember stringing the T10 Mid around 65# just to control the ball. I couldn't have been happier when the T10 VE Mid came out. The subsequent updates, even the DNX10 Mid, were all easier on the arm.

 

[dje31]

Thanks anyway, TM. And I probably misspoke/wrote/interpreted the capped grommet comment you made. They do, indeed, wrap around much of the outer part of the hoop...I was thinking about Head's, where the clamshell encloses the grommet holes.