What is your favorite racquet ever?

socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
What is your favorite racquet ever? Hopefully it is a racquet you used as your primary racquet for several years.

My long-term racquets have been the Dunlop Max200G, Wilson Sting, Babolat Pure Control (swirly), Babolat AeroStorm Tour and the Babolat Pure Strike Tour. I used the PST Gen 1 for 5 years from its launch in 2014 and then switched to the Gen 3 when it was launched in 2019. My favorite racquet ever is my current racquet - Gen 3 Pure Strike Tour and I keep using it even though it was discontinued a year ago. It has won me about 450 singles matches and 360 doubles matches since Oct of 2019 - hope it wins me many more.

What‘s your favorite racquet story?
 
It’s a soft spot in my heart. But it’s the Wilson K six.One Team 95.

I’m 30 now, and already talking about the good old days of being a high school junior player. Went through a few sticks leaning the game from when I was 6, until I tried this one when I was 14. Felt like it was love at first try. Used it to make varsity freshman year, played club tennis, USTA etc - and no matter what other stick I tried, I kept coming back to that one. And probably why I always had a bias towards Wilson racquets.
 
Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 strung with Solinco Confidential.

I started playing Tennis two and a half years ago at the age of 42 with a history of more than 30 years of table tennis. I tried a lot of rackets as I like play testing everything just for curiosity. My first own racket after testing a few was the Pure Strike 16x19 3rd gen. I played it a while and later switched to the same with 18x20 pattern, started preferring more control, precision and especially flatter launch. The 18x20 was the one I sticked with for the longest time until I started disliking the very muted feel. The performance was great but I could hit 10 perfect balls and the next one felt the same but missed long and I didn't know why because I just couldn't feel what went wrong. I was not able to feel the mishit. Switched to PS97V13 for the awesome feel and control. With this one every single mistake was clear for me, I could feel what I did wrong. I feels more punishing as it is less forgiving but you know it was your mistake if errors are made and the better you hity the better it feels. Best racket ever for me but I recognized that I struggled with getting tired in very long intense matches or when I had to play two matches the same day at a tournament. Got pretty exhausted after a while and also had some muscle issues in the neck occasionally due to the weight and not always perfect tecnique especially on serve.

Looked for something playing similar but easier to swing and since then play with 360+ Radical MP. This one is a great allrounder and easier to play than the Pro Staff while it performs similar. It does not have the same great feel and I will always love the PS97V13 the most, but my game improved at least in the long run with the Radical MP.
 
PS6.0 85 and Pure Drive Team+ circa 2003.

Played those frames in highschool and college. In those days I had the 85 weighted up a good amount too. Crazy to think given modern specs are so wildly different
 
Julian.Peter said:
Wilson Pro Staff 97 V13 strung with Solinco Confidential.

I started playing Tennis two and a half years ago at the age of 42 with a history of more than 30 years of table tennis. I tried a lot of rackets as I like play testing everything just for curiosity. My first own racket after testing a few was the Pure Strike 16x19 3rd gen. I played it a while and later switched to the same with 18x20 pattern, started preferring more control, precision and especially flatter launch. The 18x20 was the one I sticked with for the longest time until I started disliking the very muted feel. The performance was great but I could hit 10 perfect balls and the next one felt the same but missed long and I didn't know why because I just couldn't feel what went wrong. I was not able to feel the mishit. Switched to PS97V13 for the awesome feel and control. With this one every single mistake was clear for me, I could feel what I did wrong. I feels more punishing as it is less forgiving but you know it was your mistake if errors are made and the better you hity the better it feels. Best racket ever for me but I recognized that I struggled with getting tired in very long intense matches or when I had to play two matches the same day at a tournament. Got pretty exhausted after a while and also had some muscle issues in the neck occasionally due to the weight and not always perfect tecnique especially on serve.

Looked for something playing similar but easier to swing and since then play with 360+ Radical MP. This one is a great allrounder and easier to play than the Pro Staff while it performs similar. It does not have the same great feel and I will always love the PS97V13 the most, but my game improved at least in the long run with the Radical MP.
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Similar racquet journey to mine except that I switch to the Boom Pro from PS97 v13. I probably could have used a Radical MP or an Extreme Tour instead, but I slightly preferred the Boom Pro on my one-handed backhand and volleys. Took a while to find the right strings to tame the extra power and launchy nature of the racquet but I’m now fully adjusted to it where I’m no longer reverting back to my v13’s. I’m still keeping a few v13’s though in case I miss that precise feel again.
 
Babolat Pure Aero 2016, I finally stopped using it this past year. I also love this racket because one of my sons used it all during high school.
 
Regna 98. If I objectively remove nostalgia for what I could do with it when I was younger.

The Wilson K88 if I ignore good old days thoughts, but that has to be more remembering me/my tennis ability then..... than the actual racket I think.
I bet I would have played better tennis back in those days if I had a Regna 98 , probably any yonex If I had tried them.
 
Soundbyte said:
I used to have those....they're good, but not as magical as the 85 IMO
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For sure. Nothing as sweet as the PS85. I do appreciate the little extra forgiveness!

Re the PS85, I found an excellent condition Chicago a few months ago and it has quickly become my favorite of the bunch. Something about it being bumperless and still so beefy.
 
Fischer Magnetic Speed Pro 1 has been and still my primary rackets for ~ 15 years. McLovin hooked me up with some pallets.

I win this thread :)

socallefty, we're nearby, let's hit. PM me...
 
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I had my best results in competition with Fischer. The most sucessfull was the vacuum pro 90, but I wouldn't want to play it today. Still very good memories.

There is a certain time for certain sticks.
 
Pro Staff 6.0 85. My only experience with the racquet is with my pair of 2022 reissues that I've been using ever since, but hitting with it is a religious experience. It feels like such a love letter to tennis. The sweet spot is the most emotionally connected I've ever felt to the sport, and all I want to do is keep finding it over and over again. The feedback that you get from the frame tells you exactly where on the stringbed you made contact, and it genuinely helps me iron out some of my mistakes and play maybe 2-3% better than when I started the hitting session. The thin beam and low twist weight make it so easy to effortlessly generate RHS. The 16x18 open string pattern lets you play whatever offensive style of tennis you want. No matter where you are on court, it just eggs you on to go for the big shot. It is so perfect for the eastern forehand that I genuinely don't think I have a higher forehand winner rate with any other racquet. I just don't have the same confidence to redline on other racquets like I do with the PS85. On my off days the racquet is cruel and punishing, but on my best days there is no sweeter prize than the highlight reel tennis I feel I can play with it.
 
M-fil 200, Muscleweave 200 95 and CX200 Tour and I still use them although mostly the CX200 T for everyday use due to a lack of grommets for the other two.
 
socallefty said:
What is your favorite racquet ever? Hopefully it is a racquet you used as your primary racquet for several years.

My long-term racquets have been the Dunlop Max200G, Wilson Sting, Babolat Pure Control (swirly), Babolat AeroStorm Tour and the Babolat Pure Strike Tour. I used the PST Gen 1 for 5 years from its launch in 2014 and then switched to the Gen 3 when it was launched in 2019. My favorite racquet ever is my current racquet - Gen 3 Pure Strike Tour and I keep using it even though it was discontinued a year ago. It has won me about 450 singles matches and 360 doubles matches since Oct of 2019 - hope it wins me many more.

What‘s your favorite racquet story?
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Yonex VCore Duel G 97. Used one from my friend in high school when I couldn’t afford a racket. Everything I hit turned to gold with that thing. Easily the best feeling racket I’ve hit, Ultra Pro/H19’s and 1st gen Diadem Elevate aside.
 
I have a few, all of which I’ve played with for the most time since becoming a racquet nerd. The blade v7 was awesome and I played with it until the v8 came out, then switched to the microgel extreme mp cause I wasn’t able to swing the blade for as long as I was playing. The next one is the pure aero, super fun and easy to play with and arguably played my most effectively with it. Then my other frame that’s my most favorite is the ezone. The 98 and 100 are awesome feeling frames and I play super well with them and are always fun to hit with. I played the longest time with the microgel extreme but i like the ezone more, has a surprisingly similar feel and playability.
 
Sorry long post but I have each paragraph separate.

ProKennex aluminum 25 inch Jr Ace Pro with the Power Contour on the frame of the Head preferring the older Taiwan blue & Red color becuse the handle is 4.25 inches over the Chines 4 inch on the yellow & black that I got as a when I am tired model.

I still use the model today and found besides original I got on sale as the older version in 2002--2003 winter all but one of the 7 models from 2022 and 2024 under $40 including shipping and one in yellow & black needed a new string job becuse the racquet came to me stings almost broken hidden on the e-Bay photos by never showing the bad side.

I did some grip style few are going to like using Hocky tape, some waterproof glue at the bottom to hold the grip on, then add a bit of dirt/soil then brush off and use a damp paper towel/rag to remove and work in the rest so that sticky tacky issue is gone. On the red & blue I used some black Rubber spray from Rust Oleum brand on a paper towel then used as a protective layer on the top of head where the plastic would go on nicer higher end frame becuse most of the red & blue used a paint under a polyurethane had the head scrapped up unlike the yellow & black using a flat matte enamel that is more durable so they are in better shape.

Now the reason I use such a small light frame is because of my size of 62 inches/5 foot 2 inch or 157.5 cm tall and max of 110 pounds or 50 kilograms with lightest being 105 pounds or 47.5 kilograms.

The one yellow and black model I got Restrung I asked for white nylon gut string for it as clear/gut look is hard to find now, but I went 55 pounds probably a mistake by about 5 pounds given how stiff the model is compared to one I got that was never used that feels lighter.

With the 7 I have 5 in the red & blue with 4 in the yellow & black.

If I did ever switch models there is a cheap 95 square inch aluminum 27 inch model on Amazon 2 for normally $70 that is a full sized model but I would modify the grip on by removing the over grip and putting what I like on ending a few inches short so I know where on the model to grip to have same length as a 25 inch and if that did not work feeling off, I am cutting the model down to 25.5 inches.
 
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Head youtek ig radical pro!
Have been using it for 12 years thanks to Andre agassi and then Andy Murray!
From a simpler time before square inches and crosses/mains, string tension, swing weight.

Still hard to find a racket that feels like it.
 
Yonex vcore pro 97 310 teal (2019 green) and first HD edition was amazing to ;
Yonex vcore 95 2018 ;
Head gravity tour ;
Prince tour 100p 2015 ;
Wilson blx pro open

And if I had to chose an all time favorite, would be the gravity tour but it killed my shoulder, then I'd go with the vcp97 310.
 
Head TGT 293.1 in Prestige PJ
Control, power and feel. Nothing swings as easily with the above mentioned characteristics.
 
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Troicki’sCat said:
It’s a soft spot in my heart. But it’s the Wilson K six.One Team 95.

I’m 30 now, and already talking about the good old days of being a high school junior player. Went through a few sticks leaning the game from when I was 6, until I tried this one when I was 14. Felt like it was love at first try. Used it to make varsity freshman year, played club tennis, USTA etc - and no matter what other stick I tried, I kept coming back to that one. And probably why I always had a bias towards Wilson racquets.
Click to expand...
As long as your first own racquet was not a Wilson Duke 16 oz/453.5 grams with the extra wide hoop and as big as they ever made throat.

See my post as to why I have a thing for the cheap aluminum ProKennex racquets. I had a cheap Jr Wilson 24 inch I traded my brother for the Wilson Duke but the Jr Wilson model was a small single kids hand foam handle with head so thin with the string tension so low of nylon gut even today using Polyester would be too low even for modern poly strings. The ProKennex felt like a model I got a single one age 12 I felt like could use to play Tennis with and was not too small like a kids size. I am not sure how until the foam on brothers racquet handle became hard how he played with that model given at age 9, (he is 3.75 years younger) his hand size was the same as mine. That Wilson kids model my mom tried to force on me when I was asked to make my pick she did not let me leave with any other model without foam, was so bad it felt like a toy with the graphics & color a either several layers of paint/thicker plastic wrapping being like a thin layer to the model having it act as part of the racquet deign.

l do she where my was coming from when I used an I can see why it was left in the front lobby area for people to take, super budget department store 90 square inch model Wilson Stainless Steel tubing frame from early 1990's pre 1993 that had 1990© on it that my brother and I owned as kids that before the racquet broke on the welds. I had only ever used the model one single ball hit as a kid for tennis and all the model did was send pain though the arm in a massive, big shock as well as smaller deep vibrations that might have been just pulsating vibration after becue this model sent light vibrations even when you missed. She knew the Steel model was bad and in early 2000's she assumed the aluminum being metal would be like steel frames given it was also a metal. Aluminum has more flex unlike steel or the modern titanium steel alloys so aluminum can take the shock unlike steel/steel alloys.
 
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naturalexponent said:
My answer for this thread is the PS85 but I just played with a 6.0 95 for the first time this morning and I'm definitely wanting to track down a few more...
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I have a couple of 85s, one being a St Vincent, but back when my game was at its best, I still wasn't good enough to use them exclusively. The 95 was just a bit more forgiving for my game & playing level. I wasn't playing pros but i also wasn't playing absolute beginners. UK County level. The 95 was a joy to use, I must've grown my collection to have about 12 of them at one point, but over the years I now only have 2 left to the point where I'm scared to use them in case I accidentally break one with it slipping out of my hand. My current collection is up near 100 frames with me recently switching from Ezone DR98 to Head Gravity Tour as my daily user. This summer I had the chance to play at the Rafa Nadal Academy and I wanted to take a 6.0 but ended up taking the Gravity purely on the thought that if I lost my luggage, or it broke in transit, I could easily replace it but not so easy to replace a 6.0 95. I'm glad I did as at one point the racquet slipped out of my hand from sweat as was over 40 degrees on the court. The Grav survived but i doubt the Pro Staff would have . . .
 
gburgh said:
Thought I was Marcelo Rios with my Yonex RD Power 10
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I thought that as well when I used that frame. Sadly, that was before TT, and the realization of “paint jobs”, and the fact that he didn’t play with the RD Power 10 Long. I believe it was a customized (extended) RD7.
 
Best results were with the Wilson Hammer 5.0
My heart goes back to the Slazenger Challenge 1 for old school
Modern rackets, I have to say the Volkl C9/10
 
Too many good racquets to choose from!

Pure control (95+) with its thin beam just does something for me.

Prince Twistpower 97 with its twisted box beam, foam filling, tight 16x19 is special. Forgot to mention the blacked out paint job that’s matte at the throat and gloss in the hoop!

TF40s (18m) is the best released frame in past decade! And the original paint job with the French flag goes hard.

I’m a sucker for Japanese frames, Tolason & Bridgestone make some beautiful sticks (Forty loves & X-Blades)
 
Guttersnipe said:
Too many good racquets to choose from!

Pure control (95+) with its thin beam just does something for me.

Prince Twistpower 97 with its twisted box beam, foam filling, tight 16x19 is special. Forgot to mention the blacked out paint job that’s matte at the throat and gloss in the hoop!

TF40s (18m) is the best released frame in past decade! And the original paint job with the French flag goes hard.

I’m a sucker for Japanese frames, Tolason & Bridgestone make some beautiful sticks (Forty loves & X-Blades)
Click to expand...
If you like Japanese Kawaski still makes some budget Carbon Fiber models you can find on AliExpress.

https://kawasaki.aliexpress.com/store/1101247951/pages/all-items.html

Now the tennis models that have the cheaper model with backpack are a Graphite with a handle below the grip being Carbon Fiber over an Aluminum tube bent into shape for the cheaper version with backpack and the other almost $90 USA with backpack is apparently different material of Carbon Fiber despite the same paint job, weight, flex, and shape as the cheaper that is using same handle under the grip as the cheaper version. I suspect the backpack models are the same just up charging idiots to buy the more expensive models and the cheaper models with backpack have slightly less quality control.

On Amazon you can find a few Kawasaki Tennis Racquets but they are mainly for Soft Tennis only with one or two of the soft tennis models used sometimes for Kings Tennis becuse they are made to look like the unbent beginner versions of Kings Tennis Racquets.
 
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mtommer said:
M-fil 200, Muscleweave 200 95 and CX200 Tour and I still use them although mostly the CX200 T for everyday use due to a lack of grommets for the other two.
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I too use a MW200 95 and CX 200 Tour. Luckily i was able to get two sets of grommets for the muscleweave a year or two ago.
 
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