What's your top and bottom racket choice?

[time410s]

I wanna know what your top choice and last choice of racket brand would be and why.

I'll start.

Top: Yonex because amazing quality control and nice plus length offerings. Oh, and generous handle mold length even on standard length. Find a yonex you love and it's hard to beat that quality control!

Bottom: TenX because terrible QC and customer service. And since that's not such a mainstream name I will say my other last choice would be Wilson. For me, all their handles are a little too short for my 2 handed backhand and for the longest time, their QC was probably on the worse end of the mainstream racket spectrum.

What are yours?

 

[Roquestil]

Top: Yonex. Solid 3 distinctive lines and amazing QC.
Bottom: Babolat. Just cant use any line, no control line so automatic pass.

 

[time410s]

Top: Yonex. Solid 3 distinctive lines and amazing QC.
Bottom: Babolat. Just cant use any line, no control line so automatic pass.

Dang honestly babolat could be tied with wilson for me but different reasons. I like the intention and diversity of wilson better.

 

[gold325]

TOP Prince : Huge Variety of Comfortable Players Frames with decent QC
TOP #2 Yonex : They made the 2018 VCore 95

BOTTOM Babolat : No Variety of Comfortable Frames of any kind
BOTTOM #2 Wilson : Poor QC despite great variety.

 

[time410s]

TOP Prince : Huge Variety of Comfortable Players Frames with decent QC
TOP #2 Yonex : They made the 2018 VCore 95

BOTTOM Babolat : No Variety of Comfortable Frames of any kind
BOTTOM #2 Wilson : Poor QC despite great variety.

I prefer head to Wilson for the reasons I like Wilson at all. Feel me?

I loved my textreme 95! No longer have it but there was a time.

 

[Roquestil]

TOP #2 Yonex : They made the 2018 VCore 95

I use the 2021 version and absolutely love it, I only read better things about the 2018 unfortunately can’t get my hands on one.

 

[SinneGOAT]

Top: Babolat or Yonex. I know I’m cheating but I honestly think they are both racquets I may play my best tennis with.
Bottom: Wilson. They make good racquets but the quality control can give you a great racquet or a horrible racquet. Especially with the Blade, it’s almost a guarantee it’s more head heavy.

 

[mctennis]

Yonex seems to have great QC. I have enjoyed using them and I have noticed the QC has been excellent. Volkl used to have great QC as well. Not sure how the QC is here recently with Volkl. I have been using Yonex for about 3 -4 years now.

WORST- Wilson and Prince. I used to like PK but I bought two about 6 years ago and the paint job got all gummy.

 

[gold325]

I use the 2021 version and absolutely love it, I only read better things about the 2018 unfortunately can’t get my hands on one.

The Express Tennis place has a few left in #4 only for $209, If that works for you.

Top: Babolat or Yonex. I know I’m cheating but I honestly think they are both racquets I may play my best tennis with.
Bottom: Wilson. They make good racquets but the quality control can give you a great racquet or a horrible racquet. Especially with the Blade, it’s almost a guarantee it’s more head heavy.

If I had to buy Wilson I would walk into the local tennis store with a weighing scale and a alpha balance beam and get one close to specs I want... And match 2 rackets.

Or preferably pay Tennis warehouse the $20 or so extra to get a pair of matched racquets that are close to my specs. Amazing service that particular one is!

 

[joohan]

Fischer is no.1 for me (not just because their Pro No.1...). Best feel, QC and consistency through the lines/years even into present with Pacific. Don't have a worst one...

 

[Rosstour]

So hard to say. For sentimental reasons I love Wilson (started on them at 7-8, played with them until 30) but since then have played with PK and Prince (which I hated growing up) and now TF which I had no opinion on until I hit with one and fell in love. I haven't actually played seriously with a Wilson since 2009 but they are still my favorite.

 

[kevin qmto]

Top: Head. Although my experience with them only includes models from the late 90s to 2008. I’ve loved the 3 different Radicals I’ve hit with, all older OS variants.

Bottom: I’ve never gotten the Babolat hype. Then again I’ve never actually bought one before, just tested the odd one here and there so does that even count? Worst experience I ever had from a racket I actually bought was a Wilson Nano Carbon Elite. Hollow Feeling dead piece of trash.

 

[NickJ]

Yonex - because of their quality
Babolat - because of their quality

 

[time410s]

I use the 2021 version and absolutely love it, I only read better things about the 2018 unfortunately can’t get my hands on one.

Didn't like it in stock form. Some seem to prefer it or the new one. New one seems better designed but that doesn't mean people will prefer it always. I certainly think the new one is the nicest looking of the two.

 

[time410s]

Fischer is no.1 for me (not just because their Pro No.1...). Best feel, QC and consistency through the lines/years even into present with Pacific. Don't have a worst one...

So that's where pacific came from? I should check them out.

 

[joohan]

So that's where pacific came from? I should check them out.

Yes, Pacific bought Fischer’s tennis know-how/patents when they decided to shut down their tennis department. The core of Pacific line-up is basically the same as Fischer at the end of 90’s , early 00’s (with some alterations in layup). Not a bad thing as far as I’m concerned

 

[time410s]

Yes, Pacific bought Fischer’s tennis know-how/patents when they decided to shut down their tennis department. The core of Pacific line-up is basically the same as Fischer at the end of 90’s , early 00’s (with some alterations in layup). Not a bad thing as far as I’m concerned

Who carries them now? Their website is super slow for me but I like that they have 16x20. I only hit with extended length but am curious about their lineup

 

[joohan]

Who carries them now? Their website is super slow for me but I like that they have 16x20. I only hit with extended length but am curious about their lineup

Not sure to be honest, noticed some talk here at TTW that they may not have a representation in US at the moment. Hopefully someone with more insight chimes in. Their site is working fine, though.

I play with 16x20 (both Fischer and Yonex) but not sure about extended lengths re Pacific. Maybe @michael valek can help.

 

[toby55555]

Pro Kennex - arm friendly and predictable
Babolat - arm unfriendly

 

[DustinW]

I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but...

Top: Head. Although you could say they have too many racket lines, I like that they have every option covered. Thin beam, thick beam, stiff, flexy, 95-100+ head size, and most combinations at several different weights. And they are one of the few companies that make player spec frames in the 295-300g unstrung range.

Bottom: Yonex. I've just never got along with them, and I've tried quite a few (DR98, DR100, SV98, Duel G 310, and maybe others?). It might be the no-flare buttcap, but I'm not really sure. I know people love their QC, and maybe I just had bad luck, but large chunks of paint would come off of that SV98 if I just put it in my bag wrong. And I had another frame (maybe the DR100?) that was like 1/4" too long.

 

[Fairhit]

I use the 2021 version and absolutely love it, I only read better things about the 2018 unfortunately can’t get my hands on one.

Hmmm, interesting, I have the choice between the 2018 and 2021 Vcore 95 models which one would you say is better?

 

[Dartagnan64]

Top Choice: Prince - excellent variety of comfortable control oriented frames and they made the POG 107

Bottom Choice: Head - Just not a fan of the grip shape and they really turned my off with their graphene models. Didn't like their feel. So I've just never wandered back even though I hear good things about the newer frames

 

[time410s]

Pro Kennex - arm friendly and predictable
Babolat - arm unfriendly

Babolat - hates arms

 

[time410s]

I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but...

Top: Head. Although you could say they have too many racket lines, I like that they have every option covered. Thin beam, thick beam, stiff, flexy, 95-100+ head size, and most combinations at several different weights. And they are one of the few companies that make player spec frames in the 295-300g unstrung range.

Bottom: Yonex. I've just never got along with them, and I've tried quite a few (DR98, DR100, SV98, Duel G 310, and maybe others?). It might be the no-flare buttcap, but I'm not really sure. I know people love their QC, and maybe I just had bad luck, but large chunks of paint would come off of that SV98 if I just put it in my bag wrong. And I had another frame (maybe the DR100?) that was like 1/4" too long.

Their buttcaps are am acquired taste. I take them off and replace with wilson non prostaff.

My friend has one of those and it is also about 1/8" longer. What's up with that?

 

[time410s]

Top Choice: Prince - excellent variety of comfortable control oriented frames and they made the POG 107

Bottom Choice: Head - Just not a fan of the grip shape and they really turned my off with their graphene models. Didn't like their feel. So I've just never wandered back even though I hear good things about the newer frames

I think their grip shape the last few years is very standard now. I know what you mean but I only feel that on the older heads. Feel one up at a shop sometime next chance

 

[Dartagnan64]

I think their grip shape the last few years is very standard now. I know what you mean but I only feel that on the older heads. Feel one up at a shop sometime next chance

Yeah I've definitely not demo'd a HEAD in probably 6 years or more. Same with yonex for some reason. Tried lots of Wilsons in that time frame.

 

[gold325]

Bottom: Yonex. I've just never got along with them, and I've tried quite a few (DR98, DR100, SV98, Duel G 310, and maybe others?). It might be the no-flare buttcap, but I'm not really sure. I know people love their QC, and maybe I just had bad luck, but large chunks of paint would come off of that SV98 if I just put it in my bag wrong. And I had another frame (maybe the DR100?) that was like 1/4" too long.

One issue I have noted with Yonex and heard from multiple people is WEIGHT & BALANCE are top notch but SWING WEIGHTS seems to have a larger than expected variation. It is easy to match WEIGHT & BALANCE especially if frames are built underweight but Swing Weight is apparently much harder to control. I bought my 2018 VCORE 95s used and chucks of paint are already off it as well..

 

[Strayfire]

Top is probably Yonex for QC.

Bottom is probably Goodbuddy. We had so many of them at school. Teachers would bring them out for P.E when we had tennis and they were some of the worst most garbage racquets I have ever played with. Nothing sold Wilson/Babolat/Head racquets at the time better than Goodbuddy and their god-awful kids racquets.

 

[golden chicken]

In the bottom would be the Battisone 'Natural' two-handled rackets. Slightly above the bottom would be the Curvstar or Snauwert Ergonom styled rackets.

And in the top would be my Wilsons. Pry them from my cold, dead hands.

 

[SinneGOAT]

In the bottom would be the Battisone 'Natural' two-handled rackets. Slightly above the bottom would be the Curvstar or Snauwert Ergonom styled rackets.

And in the top would be my Wilsons. Pry them from my cold, dead hands.

If you could choose one Wilson to live with forever, what would it be?

 

[time410s]

One issue I have noted with Yonex and heard from multiple people is WEIGHT & BALANCE are top notch but SWING WEIGHTS seems to have a larger than expected variation. It is easy to match WEIGHT & BALANCE especially if frames are built underweight but Swing Weight is apparently much harder to control. I bought my 2018 VCORE 95s used and chucks of paint are already off it as well..

Paint could be due to matte or Satin finishes being inherently weaker.

SW definitely harder to control. Does TW matching service include SW?

 

[gold325]

SW definitely harder to control. Does TW matching service include SW?

Yes

OPTION #1
We offer racquet matching and customization services for small additional fees. When 2-3 racquets are being matched to each other, there is a $10 matching fee applied per order. These racquets will be as close as possible to each other in static weight, balance point and swingweight.

OPTION #2
Matching racquets to a specific target spec (i.e. lightest possible, lowest swingweight, specific weight/balance point) will require additional materials added to the frames and will result in a $20 customization fee per racquet. We will have a certified Master Racquet Technician carefully alter your racquets to your requested specifications and email you with the results. The additional MRT costs are non-refundable labor fees.

 

[time410s]

Yes

OPTION #1
We offer racquet matching and customization services for small additional fees. When 2-3 racquets are being matched to each other, there is a $10 matching fee applied per order. These racquets will be as close as possible to each other in static weight, balance point and swingweight.

OPTION #2
Matching racquets to a specific target spec (i.e. lightest possible, lowest swingweight, specific weight/balance point) will require additional materials added to the frames and will result in a $20 customization fee per racquet. We will have a certified Master Racquet Technician carefully alter your racquets to your requested specifications and email you with the results. The additional MRT costs are non-refundable labor fees.

And they sort though a handful of rackets that they test and pick two that match well, right? Or however many.

 

[Crocodile]

I don’t know at the moment. I feel that the brands are changing and there are different reasons for liking or disliking a brand. I used to like Volkl the most because they made great feeling comfortable frames but right now they feel stiff and muted. The PB 10 Mid is still a great stick but the market for them is quite limited. Their engagement with the local community has slipped.
I think Prince in the USA are showing some enthusiasm which I like but in the rest of the world there is not much going on.
Lot of people are nominating Yonex as having the best quality and I did like them a few years ago with the Tour G range and DR series but since then I think both these ranges have declined a bit with perhaps the red V Cores the shining light.
I quite like what Tecnifibre have done with the TF 40 range and the new frame coming out next month could make things interesting.
Babolat not my cup of tea, too stiff, but people are saying the new pure drives have improved.
Head is too expensive for what you get except the Pro Tour 2.0, Wilson too unreliable with their specs.
Do like PK and Pacific but hard to get here in Australia, particularly Pacific. Dunlop a bit pricey and grips too small.
I think Angell seem to possibly be the brand with some nice options and I’m keen to hit with the Heysill frames from Australia which come from Taiwan

 

[time410s]

I don’t know at the moment. I feel that the brands are changing and there are different reasons for liking or disliking a brand. I used to like Volkl the most because they made great feeling comfortable frames but right now they feel stiff and muted. The PB 10 Mid is still a great stick but the market for them is quite limited. Their engagement with the local community has slipped.
I think Prince in the USA are showing some enthusiasm which I like but in the rest of the world there is not much going on.
Lot of people are nominating Yonex as having the best quality and I did like them a few years ago with the Tour G range and DR series but since then I think both these ranges have declined a bit with perhaps the red V Cores the shining light.
I quite like what Tecnifibre have done with the TF 40 range and the new frame coming out next month could make things interesting.
Babolat not my cup of tea, too stiff, but people are saying the new pure drives have improved.
Head is too expensive for what you get except the Pro Tour 2.0, Wilson too unreliable with their specs.
Do like PK and Pacific but hard to get here in Australia, particularly Pacific. Dunlop a bit pricey and grips too small.
I think Angell seem to possibly be the brand with some nice options and I’m keen to hit with the Heysill frames from Australia which come from Taiwan

Might try heysil. Likely to try Angell.

 

[joohan]

hard to get here in Australia, particularly Pacific

Ironic and bit funny

 

[esm]

Might try heysil. Likely to try Angell.

i think it'd be a cool comparison between Tenx and Angell

for me, i think the Yonex and Angell QC is difficult to beat.

 

[golden chicken]

If you could choose one Wilson to live with forever, what would it be?

Been living with the Mighty Pro Staff Tour 90 for 18 years. I like to think I could play with it forever. Have recently been toying with Pro Staff Tour 95s. Could switch, haven't decided. Have two of each. Should last me forever at this rate.

 

[mctennis]

I hear a lot of good things about Angell racquets. I had one a few years back. The quality was very, very good. However, I never really could connect with it even though it was right in my spec range. I tried liking it for a couple of years and finally had to say " bye-bye" to it.

 

[time410s]

i think it'd be a cool comparison between Tenx and Angell

for me, i think the Yonex and Angell QC is difficult to beat.

I don't. I think every single detail would make ten x look even worse, no? Haha ok it might be fun but it certainly wouldn't be fair.

 

[time410s]

I hear a lot of good things about Angell racquets. I had one a few years back. The quality was very, very good. However, I never really could connect with it even though it was right in my spec range. I tried liking it for a couple of years and finally had to say " bye-bye" to it.

It felt good but never just right or what? How would you describe your disconnect? I'm trying to talk to them about some handle length questions I always have. I generally get annoyed when an extended length racket has a handle so long you can never wrap it all the way. Thankfully this is something Dahcor can adjust which is dope..

 

[mctennis]

It felt good but never just right or what? How would you describe your disconnect? I'm trying to talk to them about some handle length questions I always have. I generally get annoyed when an extended length racket has a handle so long you can never wrap it all the way. Thankfully this is something Dahcor can adjust which is dope..

The specs were exactly what was in my wheelhouse. It just did not have the plow through or feel that I was getting with my regular racquet I had been using. At the net I was not getting the put away precision I had with my other racquet with the same specs. Sort of a muted and less power/control racquet. So after changing up the strings and tensions many times I finally sold it.

 

[esm]

The specs were exactly what was in my wheelhouse. It just did not have the plow through or feel that I was getting with my regular racquet I had been using. At the net I was not getting the put away precision I had with my other racquet with the same specs. Sort of a muted and less power/control racquet. So after changing up the strings and tensions many times I finally sold it.

can i ask what was your last Angell and the other racquet you were comparing with?

 

[time410s]

The specs were exactly what was in my wheelhouse. It just did not have the plow through or feel that I was getting with my regular racquet I had been using. At the net I was not getting the put away precision I had with my other racquet with the same specs. Sort of a muted and less power/control racquet. So after changing up the strings and tensions many times I finally sold it.

Gotcha. Yeah paper specs only go so far. Did it have that old school flexy metallic type of feel to it? I kinda hate that style of racket. I want more of a pop or whipping style of contact through the ball. Not this bendy new-wood type of feel.

 

[mctennis]

can i ask what was your last Angell and the other racquet you were comparing with?

I cannot remember which model it was actually. It was a few years back. I went through my old email and thought I would have it but I did not. I had to go through and delete a lot of them since I was at my storage limit. Sorry.

 

[mctennis]

Gotcha. Yeah paper specs only go so far. Did it have that old school flexy metallic type of feel to it? I kinda hate that style of racket. I want more of a pop or whipping style of contact through the ball. Not this bendy new-wood type of feel.

No it was not a flexy metal feel. It was just a muted feel with no feedback when you hit the ball, if that makes sense.