What Racquet Most Similar to Angell TC97?

[2kay]

Hi all,

I had a question about the Angell TC97 (16x19) custom racquet. Specifically, what other player's frames does it most resemble? I'm particularly interested in comparing it to,

- Volkl PB10 Mid
- Volkl C10 Pro
- Dunlop CX 200 Tour
- Yonex VCore Pro 97

Also, is it in general a good frame? Thanks!

 

[CosmosMpower]

Tc95, K7 red, VCP 310 or 330, prestige 360 pro

 

[PT280 Fan]

I've never used one but from what I've garnered here, I assume it plays closest to the Donnay (Xenecore) Pro One 97. Those foam filled sticks have a very plush feel with a generous sweet spot - really nice combination of power and control IMO.

 

[Crocodile]

With the TC 97, it depends on whether you get the 66 ra version or the 70 ra version and the weight and balance you choose along with whether you buy the 16/19 or 18/20 frame.
I have a TC 97 that is the 330g and 305 mm balance with a 66 ra and 16/19 pattern and to me it feels closer to the 2013 Tecnifibre T Fight 325.

 

[CosmosMpower]

With the TC 97, it depends on whether you get the 66 ra version or the 70 ra version and the weight and balance you choose along with whether you buy the 16/19 or 18/20 frame.
I have a TC 97 that is the 330g and 305 mm balance with a 66 ra and 16/19 pattern and to me it feels closer to the 2013 Tecnifibre T Fight 325.

tc97 only comes in 66 RA

 

[gvsbdisco]

I thought the TC97 played firmer than its RA. Its a nice racquet and hits a big ball. I ultimately sold mine because my arm was acting up (I don't necessarily blame the racquet). I have also owned cx200 tour 16x19. I found this racquet in stock form to be very easy to use, was comfortable but it really needs lead to perform. In stock form it has significantly less juice than the TC97.

 

[slchsu]

Hi all,

I had a question about the Angell TC97 (16x19) custom racquet. Specifically, what other player's frames does it most resemble? I'm particularly interested in comparing it to,

- Volkl PB10 Mid
- Volkl C10 Pro
- Dunlop CX 200 Tour
- Yonex VCore Pro 97

Also, is it in general a good frame? Thanks!

I have the TC97 in both 16x19 and 18x20 and think it's a great frame in general. Crisp (but not stiff), good feel, swings fast. The 16x19 is noticeably more lively and has a higher launch angle than the 18x20. The 18x20 reminds me A LOT of the Dunlop Muscle Weave 200g, which is probably not surprising since Paul Angell worked at Dunlop for years. Hard for me to come up with a good comp for the 16x19. Maybe the Head Prestige Pro? I came from the Yonex VCore Tour 97 and find the TC97 less muted and more connected to the ball. I would disagree with the poster who compared the TC97 to the TC95. These are very different sticks, IMO. TC95 (16x19) is more flexible, more powerful, more muted, and swings heavier. Plays much more like the C10 Pro than the TC97. I've never hit the it, but the Tecnifibre Tfight 315 LTD 16M has pretty similar specs and might be comparable.

Good luck!

 

[Gee]

I have the TC97 in both 16x19 and 18x20 and think it's a great frame in general. Crisp (but not stiff), good feel, swings fast. The 16x19 is noticeably more lively and has a higher launch angle than the 18x20. The 18x20 reminds me A LOT of the Dunlop Muscle Weave 200g, which is probably not surprising since Paul Angell worked at Dunlop for years. Hard for me to come up with a good comp for the 16x19. Maybe the Head Prestige Pro? I came from the Yonex VCore Tour 97 and find the TC97 less muted and more connected to the ball. I would disagree with the poster who compared the TC97 to the TC95. These are very different sticks, IMO. TC95 (16x19) is more flexible, more powerful, more muted, and swings heavier. Plays much more like the C10 Pro than the TC97. I've never hit the it, but the Tecnifibre Tfight 315 LTD 16M has pretty similar specs and might be comparable.

Good luck!

I played with all of these frames (TC95 16m TC97 18m and C10 Pro) and I agree with this.

 

[2kay]

I have the TC97 in both 16x19 and 18x20 and think it's a great frame in general. Crisp (but not stiff), good feel, swings fast. The 16x19 is noticeably more lively and has a higher launch angle than the 18x20. The 18x20 reminds me A LOT of the Dunlop Muscle Weave 200g, which is probably not surprising since Paul Angell worked at Dunlop for years. Hard for me to come up with a good comp for the 16x19. Maybe the Head Prestige Pro? I came from the Yonex VCore Tour 97 and find the TC97 less muted and more connected to the ball. I would disagree with the poster who compared the TC97 to the TC95. These are very different sticks, IMO. TC95 (16x19) is more flexible, more powerful, more muted, and swings heavier. Plays much more like the C10 Pro than the TC97. I've never hit the it, but the Tecnifibre Tfight 315 LTD 16M has pretty similar specs and might be comparable.

Good luck!

Thanks!

To clarify, do you mean that the TC95 or the TC97 plays similarly to the Tfight 315 LTD?

Also, I was told that the TC97 flexes more in the hoop, like the C10 Pro, than does the TC95, so it's interesting that you find that the TC95 is more like the C10 Pro.

 

[slchsu]

Thanks!

To clarify, do you mean that the TC95 or the TC97 plays similarly to the Tfight 315 LTD?

Also, I was told that the TC97 flexes more in the hoop, like the C10 Pro, than does the TC95, so it's interesting that you find that the TC95 is more like the C10 Pro.

Sorry for the confusion. I meant to say that the TC97 might play similarly to the Tfight.

I suppose for me the location of flex is just part of the overall impression. And both the C10 Pro and TC95 felt more on the plush/sluggish end of the spectrum while the TC97 is more crisp/whippy.

 

[BallBasher247]

Hi all,

I had a question about the Angell TC97 (16x19) custom racquet. Specifically, what other player's frames does it most resemble? I'm particularly interested in comparing it to,

- Volkl PB10 Mid
- Volkl C10 Pro
- Dunlop CX 200 Tour
- Yonex VCore Pro 97

Also, is it in general a good frame? Thanks!

The TC97 16x19 is actually kinda unique in that it's a 97 with a thin beam but a very open 16x19 pattern. It's probably most similar to the Wilson PS97 v11 w/o Countervail, or maybe Angell's own ASL2.
-Has more free power and less precision than the PB10 Mid
-Similar power to the C10 Pro, also similar control but slightly more precision from the C10 Pro. The feel is different too because the TC97 is foam-filled.
-The CX200 Tour is anemic stock and requires weight to be playable, but once weight's added I'd say it's decently powerful for a 95. Control and accuracy are incredible. TC97 has more power and spin though, and much better feel. The 2019 CX200 Tour didn't have as much feel as you'd expect from a 95 (used to be my racket of choice) and was harsh on the elbow, and the 2021 seems to have gone overboard with dampening. Foam fill would've solved all those problems
-The VCore Pro 97 will be a little more controlled and precise than the TC97, but the newer green ones are more muted in feel. These need some weight too.

 

[2kay]

The TC97 16x19 is actually kinda unique in that it's a 97 with a thin beam but a very open 16x19 pattern. It's probably most similar to the Wilson PS97 v11 w/o Countervail, or maybe Angell's own ASL2.
-Has more free power and less precision than the PB10 Mid
-Similar power to the C10 Pro, also similar control but slightly more precision from the C10 Pro. The feel is different too because the TC97 is foam-filled.
-The CX200 Tour is anemic stock and requires weight to be playable, but once weight's added I'd say it's decently powerful for a 95. Control and accuracy are incredible. TC97 has more power and spin though, and much better feel. The 2019 CX200 Tour didn't have as much feel as you'd expect from a 95 (used to be my racket of choice) and was harsh on the elbow, and the 2021 seems to have gone overboard with dampening. Foam fill would've solved all those problems
-The VCore Pro 97 will be a little more controlled and precise than the TC97, but the newer green ones are more muted in feel. These need some weight too.

Thanks for the comparisons.

The Pro Staff (v11 or otherwise) is rather stiff though, no? Is the TC97 that stiff? The TC97 is listed as 66 RA unstrung and sans grip, so I'd expect it to drop a little bit once its play-ready, especially since I've heard that the TC97 has a notable hoop flex, which definitely doesn't apply to the Pro Staffs.

 

[BallBasher247]

Thanks for the comparisons.

The Pro Staff (v11 or otherwise) is rather stiff though, no? Is the TC97 that stiff? The TC97 is listed as 66 RA unstrung and sans grip, so I'd expect it to drop a little bit once its play-ready, especially since I've heard that the TC97 has a notable hoop flex, which definitely doesn't apply to the Pro Staffs.

The main similarity is that they're both 97 headsizes and very open 16x19's. The PS97 v11 is stiffer and more powerful though. The TC97 is around 63RA with strings, down from 66 unstrung.

 

[smithie]

People say that Wilson Ultra Tour/Pro 18x20 is very similar to the TC97 18x20. So by that logic, the new Wilson Ultra Pro 16x19 should be similar.

 

[BallBasher247]

People say that Wilson Ultra Tour/Pro 18x20 is very similar to the TC97 18x20. So by that logic, the new Wilson Ultra Pro 16x19 should be similar.

They are pretty similar in every other way except the string pattern. The UP 18x20 and TC97 18x20 both have super dense patterns so they're pinpoint precision machines, but the 16x19s couldn't be more different: the Angell has a very open 16x19, which means high launch angle, more spin, and less precision. The UP 16x19 is still very tight for 16x19 so it's got a much lower launch angle; less spin friendly and more precise.