wferdinand's racquet test experiences

[wferdinand]

I'm using a Head Graphene XT Instinct MP stringed with tennisoutlet.at Orange Tiger @ 22/21 kgs. When I was comeback to court I wasn't test anything, just only bought this racquet about sympathy.

Now I'm testing some racquets. I was started with an Wilson Steam 99S which saleable from my partner. Radical difference between mine and this. Steam is really headlight, really easy to swing and hold ball inside on court which helped by 16x15 extremely spin friendly string pattern, but really underpowered to me, I can't to hit big. This is 304g which is much than my racqets 300g but feels really lighter than it.

My Instinct is less headlight, have a massive swingweight. You must to play more correct than Steam, I can hit bigger and heavier but in heavier and wider balls I have disadvantage.

Yesterday I was brought three Wilson racquet from tennisoutlet.at because my hitting partner is Wilson fan and he want to test some. These three racquets about specs are close to his needs. Today we was started this day on court, the competitors was previous Ultra 97, Blade 98L and Burn 100S. Before i can't any ideas which you and which I like. First he said: Blade? I had Blade (KFactor KBlade 93 some years ago, but now he like really lighter ones).

First look Burn 100S was great to me, but later I can't like that. This can't giving any special, this didn't burn myself, he also don't like this.

Blade 98L was great. Lighter weight than I got using, but heavier head and light grip. This was interesting, I can play with this easy but this feel too light to me. A heavier one is more interesting to me. Possibile to I test it.

Ultra 97 after this play was the best. Really. This is 310 g but a headlight one. I can play with this really nice. Other thing when this stringed really stiffer than my Instinct, but I like this. I want to play again with this. Easy to maneuverable but don't underpowered. The seller in shop said new generation is coming on next week.

I want to test Babolat Pure Strike 16x19, new Pure Drive, new Wilson Ultra Team or Ultra 100, Head Speed MP and Radical MP.

 

[ByakuFubuki]

[...] Blade 98L was great. Lighter weight than I got using, but heavier head and light grip. This was interesting, I can play with this easy but this feel too light to me. A heavier one is more interesting to me. Possibile to I test it.[...]

If the only thing you don't like about a racquet is it's too light you can always add some lead to make it heavier. Alternatively, a Blade 98 16x19, which is (on paper) similar to the 98L but heavier and a little more head-light, exists.

Wilson has updated the Ultra line, but not the Ultra 97; so you should get the old version as long as it's still available (if once you're done testing it's still your favourite racquet, of course).

 

[wferdinand]

If the only thing you don't like about a racquet is it's too light you can always add some lead to make it heavier. Alternatively, a Blade 98 16x19, which is (on paper) similar to the 98L but heavier and a little more head-light, exists.

Wilson has updated the Ultra line, but not the Ultra 97; so you should get the old version as long as it's still available (if once you're done testing it's still your favourite racquet, of course).

Now I think these are don't do enough difference to I change. I want to a really big thing, my Instinct not bad and not unplayable to me, and a pair of new racquet is about 150-170 € to me. Winter season is coming, earlier I buy something in april.

 

[beltsman]

I'm using a Head Graphene XT Instinct MP stringed with tennisoutlet.at Orange Tiger @ 22/21 kgs. When I was comeback to court I wasn't test anything, just only bought this racquet about sympathy.

Now I'm testing some racquets. I was started with an Wilson Steam 99S which saleable from my partner. Radical difference between mine and this. Steam is really headlight, really easy to swing and hold ball inside on court which helped by 16x15 extremely spin friendly string pattern, but really underpowered to me, I can't to hit big. This is 304g which is much than my racqets 300g but feels really lighter than it.

My Instinct is less headlight, have a massive swingweight. You must to play more correct than Steam, I can hit bigger and heavier but in heavier and wider balls I have disadvantage.

Yesterday I was brought three Wilson racquet from tennisoutlet.at because my hitting partner is Wilson fan and he want to test some. These three racquets about specs are close to his needs. Today we was started this day on court, the competitors was previous Ultra 97, Blade 98L and Burn 100S. Before i can't any ideas which you and which I like. First he said: Blade? I had Blade (KFactor KBlade 93 some years ago, but now he like really lighter ones).

First look Burn 100S was great to me, but later I can't like that. This can't giving any special, this didn't burn myself, he also don't like this.

Blade 98L was great. Lighter weight than I got using, but heavier head and light grip. This was interesting, I can play with this easy but this feel too light to me. A heavier one is more interesting to me. Possibile to I test it.

Ultra 97 after this play was the best. Really. This is 310 g but a headlight one. I can play with this really nice. Other thing when this stringed really stiffer than my Instinct, but I like this. I want to play again with this. Easy to maneuverable but don't underpowered. The seller in shop said new generation is coming on next week.

I want to test Babolat Pure Strike 16x19, new Pure Drive, new Wilson Ultra Team or Ultra 100, Head Speed MP and Radical MP.

Following! You should try out Volkl too! What country are you in?

 

[wferdinand]

Following! You should try out Volkl too! What country are you in?

Hungary, really close to Austrian border. In my shop only have Head, Wilson, Babolat and Technifibre test racquets. I'm wondering about how in USA few guys now using Volkl, I nothing see in court here. Only my father had one, some old Becker model.

 

[beltsman]

Hungary, really close to Austrian border. In my shop only have Head, Wilson, Babolat and Technifibre test racquets. I'm wondering about how in USA few guys now using Volkl, I nothing see in court here. Only my father had one, some old Becker model.

Oh that's right, I remember now. I love Hungary. Hmm strange that you have Technifibre but not Volkl. If you ever visit the US you're welcome to demo mine! Or maybe I'll bring them to Hungary

 

[wferdinand]

Oh that's right, I remember now. I love Hungary. Hmm strange that you have Technifibre but not Volkl. If you ever visit the US you're welcome to demo mine! Or maybe I'll bring them to Hungary

I just only one pro player can say who playing with Volkl: Laura Siegemund. With Technifibre? Nobody. I was heard from Angell only from here.
Where are you from?

 

[BillKid]

Oh that's right, I remember now. I love Hungary. Hmm strange that you have Technifibre but not Volkl. If you ever visit the US you're welcome to demo mine! Or maybe I'll bring them to Hungary

Could you bring your Vsense 8 to Montreal too, please?

 

[beltsman]

Could you bring your Vsense 8 to Montreal too, please?

You don't have Volkls up there?

 

[beltsman]

I just only one pro player can say who playing with Volkl: Laura Siegemund. With Technifibre? Nobody. I was heard from Angell only from here.
Where are you from?

I'm not sure why pros don't use them. Guess Volkl can't or won't spend the money. But they make some high quality frames.

I'm in Washington DC.

 

[junk]

With Technifibre? Nobody.

ever heard of Donald Young, Janko Tipsarevic, Denis Istomin, Jeremy Chardy, Aljaz Bedene, Denis Kudla, Taylor Townsend, Marius Copil, Daria Kasatkina, Daniil Medvedev, etc? should I keep going?

 

[wferdinand]

I'm not sure why pros don't use them. Guess Volkl can't or won't spend the money. But they make some high quality frames.

I'm in Washington DC.

I was in DC 10 years ago in 4th july.

ever heard of Donal Young, Janko Tipsarevic, Denis Istomin, Jeremy Chardy, Aljaz Bedene, Denis Kudla, Taylor Townsend, Marius Copil, Daria Kasatkina, Daniil Medvedev, etc? should I keep going?

I heard some from these guys but I don't watched our racquet.

 

[beltsman]

I was in DC 10 years ago in 4th july.



I heard some from these guys but I don't watched our racquet.

Oh cool, I hope you enjoyed it.

 

[BillKid]

You don't have Volkls up there?

Unfortunately no
Racquets offering is rather poor here

 

[beltsman]

Unfortunately no
Racquets offering is rather poor here

Hm strange.

 

[BillKid]

@OP
Someone recently bumped this amazing thread
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/the-j011yroger-guide-to-racquet-selection.160692/
All is said
Obviously this thread was created by a racquet Jedi master

 

[wferdinand]

Today I was tested two others: Wilson Pro Staff RF97 and Babolat Pure Strike 18x20.

RF97 is heavy. Another universe. Otherwise not good to me when I was thinked before. Nothing swing is the biggest problem for me, put there where racket can contact with the ball and driving racquet head on this line which is ideal. This is the question.

Pure Strike was a disappointment to me. I think before this can better than my Instinct MP. No, this was worser. After I put this and play again with Instinct I find the feeling in all my hits.

Previous Ultra 97 was the best to me, but I don't feel I want to changing. Instinct is great to me. My Instinct was worked about selecting racquet blindly.

 

[haqq777]

I'm not sure why pros don't use them. Guess Volkl can't or won't spend the money. But they make some high quality frames.

I'm in Washington DC.

Didn't know you were in DC. I lived near Dupont Circle for the longest time before moving to Arlington. Still visit often for work/business. We should meet up for a hit. Where do you play at mostly?

 

[beltsman]

Didn't know you were in DC. I lived near Dupont Circle for the longest time before moving to Arlington. Still visit often for work/business. We should meet up for a hit. Where do you play at mostly?

I usually play around Arlington - I forgot, what level are you? We might have met already!

 

[haqq777]

I usually play around Arlington - I forgot, what level are you? We might have met already!

That would be pretty cool having already met you. I'm 34, 5'9, strong 5.0 (former DII player) see if that rings a bell? How old/level for you?

 

[beltsman]

That would be pretty cool having already met you. I'm 34, 5'9, strong 5.0 (former DII player) see if that rings a bell? How old/level for you?

I'm a 20s 4.0 on a good day, 3.5 on a bad. I wouldn't mind a hit but I think it'd be pretty one sided Feel free to PM me

 

[haqq777]

I'm a 20s 4.0 on a good day, 3.5 on a bad. I wouldn't mind a hit but I think it'd be pretty one sided Feel free to PM me

No worries. I am open to a hit with almost any level. Been there myself - will drop you a PM once I finalize visit dates.