Hi Gents,
After working through Volkl Quantum V1 OS, Cat 3 fire, Catapult v1 MP and OS, I settled on the Volkl V1 Classic MP. First the stats: I had heard that the anniversary edition V1 and Classic were "different", but only yesterday found the RDC data (on RSI website) for the original classic, (since it is no longer being marketed!) There is a difference! I am also including the stats on the DNX MP and OS for comparison. Why? All of these... V1 and DNX are "no catapult" racquets and there is a considerable difference.
First the stats (balance in cm from butt is calculated on DNX's from inches, one point HL = 1/8 inch.)
Model Size Lng Wt Bal cm Bal in Flx SwnWt Pwr
Volkl V1 Classic ------------ 102 27.00 313 33.50 13.19 68 320 2220
Volkl V1 Classic 10 Year Ann.102 27.00 298 34.50 13.58 72 310 2277
Volkl DNX MP -------------- 102 27.00 295 33.65 13.25 68 302
Volkl DNX OS -------------- 110 27.60 295 33.65 13.25 66 303
Through the process, at first I tried the quantum V1 OS... good overall stick, large sweet spot. But after a few weeks found I was working too hard to get the ball deep. So back to the demo pile.
Next it was Cat. 3 or 4 fire, don't recall which. Power was there, but really clunky playing racquet... more disconnect from the shot making than the QV1OS. This was early catapult (read, huge plastic inserts in the string holes... alias "big grommet technology"... a rubbery disconnect from the racquet and your arm) technology time.
Then I went through the "back to midsize" period and the next Volkl was the cat v1 MP. ( a number of other manufacturers' sticks.. so many, I lose count)
I found it an excellent stick, large sweet spot, excellent control, comfortable. But a few matches into ownership, I was once again dragging by the end of the first set... not enough power. Also,there was the haunting "disconnect" between the strings/ball and the operator. There was no "feel", and there seemed to be a wider range of velocity from center of sweetspot to the edge. (read: trampoline from the "catapults".)
Then it was Head LM 2, 4 and Flexpoint. Short love affairs then.. not enough either sweet spot, power, or control. Each lacked one or more.
Then in agony and frustration, I bought a Catapult V1 OS on sale here. With its heavy 330 swingweight and large sweet spot, I could serve big, ground stroke deep... if I got the racquet back in plenty of time.. which was a hassle with 330 SW and 10.7 ounces. Funky "volkl catapult disconnected feel" continued.
Frustrated, embarrassed to go out on the court having completely lost my game in the changing racquet hunt, I turned to the board here. I thought Volkl was the answer.. but didn't know what.
While the Catapult V1 OS was being shipped, I discovered the TW board here and read comments about the "old" V1 and the DNX. I demoed a DNX OS and thought... "if the Cat V1 OS doesn't work out, it could be the magic." Had all the attributes.. good compromise on everything.. big sweet spot, feel touch, isolation.. but I wasn't sure it had enough power for me.
Then V1 sounded intrigueing enough to pay $95 for a used one (thanks Hamed) (since there werent' any used demo programs for them!)
Goldmine... for me, for now (disclaimer... I have been in love with racquets for a short time in the past!)... this is the keeper!
I find it the perfect compromise between power and control. I find that at the same time it has enough mass behind it (320 swingweight according to RSI stats), I can also whip it for velocity, top and bailing me out of shots I haven't made in years. The impact on the arm from the shot is more noticeable.. but not a problem. Some of the "arm protection" sites rate it very highly.
The catapults all had fiberglass, and replacing some of that good braided graphite with fiberglass = more flex, less power, less precision. The new V1 Classic, the V1 Anniversary, and the DNX don't have any fiberglass. Hence my comparision.
If you want a bit more precision at the expense of shock isolation, give any of these a try. For me, the swingweight was by far the most critical aspect, once I had discovered Volkl's headlight, large sweetspot lineup. Give them a try.
PS... the DNX OS is a hugely solid, maneuverable "mid plus feeling and playing" racquet, if a few points short in swingweight. Lead tape can cure that. I was just too cheap to drop another $200 each for DNX' when I could track down the V1 the hard way for less!
Happy hunting. The industry sales numbers are going to drop now that I have what I need.
Paul/shovel
After working through Volkl Quantum V1 OS, Cat 3 fire, Catapult v1 MP and OS, I settled on the Volkl V1 Classic MP. First the stats: I had heard that the anniversary edition V1 and Classic were "different", but only yesterday found the RDC data (on RSI website) for the original classic, (since it is no longer being marketed!) There is a difference! I am also including the stats on the DNX MP and OS for comparison. Why? All of these... V1 and DNX are "no catapult" racquets and there is a considerable difference.
First the stats (balance in cm from butt is calculated on DNX's from inches, one point HL = 1/8 inch.)
Model Size Lng Wt Bal cm Bal in Flx SwnWt Pwr
Volkl V1 Classic ------------ 102 27.00 313 33.50 13.19 68 320 2220
Volkl V1 Classic 10 Year Ann.102 27.00 298 34.50 13.58 72 310 2277
Volkl DNX MP -------------- 102 27.00 295 33.65 13.25 68 302
Volkl DNX OS -------------- 110 27.60 295 33.65 13.25 66 303
Through the process, at first I tried the quantum V1 OS... good overall stick, large sweet spot. But after a few weeks found I was working too hard to get the ball deep. So back to the demo pile.
Next it was Cat. 3 or 4 fire, don't recall which. Power was there, but really clunky playing racquet... more disconnect from the shot making than the QV1OS. This was early catapult (read, huge plastic inserts in the string holes... alias "big grommet technology"... a rubbery disconnect from the racquet and your arm) technology time.
Then I went through the "back to midsize" period and the next Volkl was the cat v1 MP. ( a number of other manufacturers' sticks.. so many, I lose count)
I found it an excellent stick, large sweet spot, excellent control, comfortable. But a few matches into ownership, I was once again dragging by the end of the first set... not enough power. Also,there was the haunting "disconnect" between the strings/ball and the operator. There was no "feel", and there seemed to be a wider range of velocity from center of sweetspot to the edge. (read: trampoline from the "catapults".)
Then it was Head LM 2, 4 and Flexpoint. Short love affairs then.. not enough either sweet spot, power, or control. Each lacked one or more.
Then in agony and frustration, I bought a Catapult V1 OS on sale here. With its heavy 330 swingweight and large sweet spot, I could serve big, ground stroke deep... if I got the racquet back in plenty of time.. which was a hassle with 330 SW and 10.7 ounces. Funky "volkl catapult disconnected feel" continued.
Frustrated, embarrassed to go out on the court having completely lost my game in the changing racquet hunt, I turned to the board here. I thought Volkl was the answer.. but didn't know what.
While the Catapult V1 OS was being shipped, I discovered the TW board here and read comments about the "old" V1 and the DNX. I demoed a DNX OS and thought... "if the Cat V1 OS doesn't work out, it could be the magic." Had all the attributes.. good compromise on everything.. big sweet spot, feel touch, isolation.. but I wasn't sure it had enough power for me.
Then V1 sounded intrigueing enough to pay $95 for a used one (thanks Hamed) (since there werent' any used demo programs for them!)
Goldmine... for me, for now (disclaimer... I have been in love with racquets for a short time in the past!)... this is the keeper!
I find it the perfect compromise between power and control. I find that at the same time it has enough mass behind it (320 swingweight according to RSI stats), I can also whip it for velocity, top and bailing me out of shots I haven't made in years. The impact on the arm from the shot is more noticeable.. but not a problem. Some of the "arm protection" sites rate it very highly.
The catapults all had fiberglass, and replacing some of that good braided graphite with fiberglass = more flex, less power, less precision. The new V1 Classic, the V1 Anniversary, and the DNX don't have any fiberglass. Hence my comparision.
If you want a bit more precision at the expense of shock isolation, give any of these a try. For me, the swingweight was by far the most critical aspect, once I had discovered Volkl's headlight, large sweetspot lineup. Give them a try.
PS... the DNX OS is a hugely solid, maneuverable "mid plus feeling and playing" racquet, if a few points short in swingweight. Lead tape can cure that. I was just too cheap to drop another $200 each for DNX' when I could track down the V1 the hard way for less!
Happy hunting. The industry sales numbers are going to drop now that I have what I need.
Paul/shovel