Which racquet to demo?

[ramseszerg]

The things important to me are/I need a good balance of:

Comfort (I'm getting plenty of this with my current RDX500MP)

Power (Getting nothing from current racquet)

Feel/Feedback/Control (that feeling that you can pinpoint it to the side pocket, which I'm not really getting with the mushy, boardy RDX500MP)

Maneuverability (Let's face it, I sometimes can't get the leaded up RDX500MP ready in time, especially on the run. I had to lead it up due to lack of plough through.)

Racquets I'm looking at that I would have to buy in order to playtest:

Gamma T-7 (11.4oz)
ProKennex Ionic Ki 5
Technifiber TFlash 315 V02 Max
Technifiber TFight 320 V02 Max (alot of power according to reviews) (prominent)
Volkl DNX9 (11.5oz)
Volkl Tour 9 V-Engine 16X19 and 18X20 (11.4oz, 11.5oz, respectively)
Dunlop Aerogel 300 16X18 (1 vote by KPS) (11.5oz) (prominent) (no grip size on tw, damn)
Dunlop 4D 300
Dunlop Aerogel 200 16X19
Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 (10.9oz)
Yonex RDiS100MP (Thanks T1000)
Volkl PB 10 (Thanks fuzz nation)
Becker 11 light (10.8oz) (Thanks fuzz nation)
Wilson Kobra Tour
Wilson KPro Tour (Counterpart to Tecnifibre TF320V02Max?)
Dunlop M-Fil 200 16x19
POGO and POG mid
EX03 Graphite 100
Prince TT Warrior MP

Racquets that I could demo from where I live:
Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 Tour (too low powered?) (11.3oz) (dense string pattern)
Dunlop Aerogel 300 16X19 (10.9oz)
Wilson K-Factor KSix-One Team (low maneuverability and comfort according to TripleB's playtest http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/playtests/TRIPB08.html) (also low power according to some posts)
ProKennex 5g (already bought it from tw to playtest, it's on the way)
Babolat Aero Storm (?, but I'll give it a try, thanks KPS.) (11.4oz)
Volkl C10 Pro 2008 (Thanks fuzz nation)
AeroPro Drive Cortex (thanks whstennis) (11.3oz)
Dunlop Aerogel 200 18X20
MicroGel Radical Pro (reviews say comfortable with good balance of power and control. definitely demo.)
MicroGel Prestige Pro
MicroGel Radical MP (11oz) (too flexy and low on power?)
Becker 11 (18X20)

I could just demo the 3 racquets at the bottom. I mainly need help narrowing down the racquets that aren't available to me. Which one has the best balance (I know it's impossible to have great scores on all of these characteristics) of comfort, power, feedback, and maneuverability? For example, if I have to hit the snot out of the ball to get pace with the AG 4D 300 Tour, which I hear, it's out. If a particular racquet is particularly bad for the arm, it's out. What are some other things?

 

[ramseszerg]

I've used a Babolat in the past.. But does a Babolat have the feedback aspect? The sweetspot seems to be weird, sometimes giving me feedback, sometimes being plain dead. I need one, solid sweetspot that I can trust. Also comfort is a big thing.. I'm not sure if any Babolat will do the job for me.

 

[T1000]

ag 300
maybe try the upgrade to your racqet (rdis 100 mp

 

[WHSTENNIS]

The k factors have alot of power on them i don't know what website you got that from. Maybe try APDC it would also be helpful for us to know if you are a baseliner or if you like to serve and volley or whatever your play style is...

 

[fuzz nation]

In your list of needs, you seem to be describing the Volkl C10. It's comfy, powerful, and nicely headlight for easier handling. It has a somewhat softer hoop which gives this frame its own brand of feel and feedback. A few players don't much care for that, but lots of others absolutely love it. In case it's not your cup of tea, potential alternatives could include the Volkl PB 10 along with the one of the Becker 11's. I haven't tried either of those yet, but since the C10 has so much going for it, I'm curious to see how these "siblings" of the C10 perform.

 

[ramseszerg]

Thank you. Could someone help me rule out some stuff as well? I can't buy all the racquets on the list of racquets that aren't locally available to me!

T1000: Does the rdis100MP have a concentrated sweetspot that provides feel instead of the whole face being a boardy sweetspot?

WHSTENNIS: I never said the KSixOne Team had no power. Is the APDC immune to the Babolat associated stereotypes I mentioned above? And I am an all courter with a two handed backhand, and I play both topspin and flat groundstrokes.

fuzz nation: I'll try the C10 since it's locally available. I think if it's really maneuverable at 12.2oz it might be a sick racquet, but I have to make sure not to kid myself. Also by powerful do you mean really powerful or powerful with a fast swing? Because those are two different things, and powerful with a fast swing really means low powered. I'm looking for a little bit of help from the racquet in the power department.

 

[T1000]

Thank you. Could someone help me rule out some stuff as well? I can't buy all the racquets on the list of racquets that aren't locally available to me!

T1000: Does the rdis100MP have a concentrated sweetspot that provides feel instead of the whole face being a boardy sweetspot?
WHSTENNIS: I never said the KSixOne Team had no power. Is the APDC immune to the Babolat associated stereotypes I mentioned above? And I am an all courter with a two handed backhand, and I play both topspin and flat groundstrokes.

fuzz nation: I'll try the C10 since it's locally available. I think if it's really maneuverable at 12.2oz it might be a sick racquet, but I have to make sure not to kid myself. Also by powerful do you mean really powerful or powerful with a fast swing? Because those are two different things, and powerful with a fast swing really means low powered. I'm looking for a little bit of help from the racquet in the power department.

IDK, sorry. I've only used the mids. the midpluses feel completly different so i've never used them. read the comments on TW or search the boards. I'm sure someone has written a review or posted their thoughts on this somewhere

 

[ramseszerg]

How would you guys rate the POGO and POG mid in terms of the things I want that I outlined? And the EX03 Graphite 100?

 

[ramseszerg]

So.many.options.cant.buy.them.all.to.try.

 

[T1000]

^^ have you demoed any yet? if not, how many do you plan on demoing?

 

[fuzz nation]

I think I know what you're getting at. I have a couple of different frames that are relatively dead and they only let me work the ball well with a full swing. These include my NXG mids, LM Prestige mids, and perhaps my Donnay mp. My C10's have larger stringbeds and just a little less flex than these racquets - I'd say that the Volkls are definitely somewhat more lively by comparison and will pop a ball nicely without needing my biggest swings.

 

[BayRacquetReview]

I would demo a APDC. It is a very soild. I have one myself. All my forehand always go over very soild.

 

[ramseszerg]

^^ have you demoed any yet? if not, how many do you plan on demoing?

As soon as my exams are finished I will play with the 5g that already arrived. That's gonna be the first I try, and I will try as many as necessary before I find the stick I'm looking for. But most of the sticks (the ones on the first list) need to be imported from the U.S. to here in Canada, so there might be monetary limitations.

 

[T1000]

As soon as my exams are finished I will play with the 5g that already arrived. That's gonna be the first I try, and I will try as many as necessary before I find the stick I'm looking for. But most of the sticks (the ones on the first list) need to be imported from the U.S. to here in Canada, so there might be monetary limitations.

i would try one of the dunlop 300gs, probably the 4d because you could experiment with lead to get that plow through. if you can, try the pure storm tour. if not, demo the aerostorm.

 

[ramseszerg]

re. the EX03 Graphite MP, you have the option to put string port inserts or not? And the inserts I presume gives it a more traditional feel as opposed to muted?

 

[ramseszerg]

Also I think the microgels may be too muted to get the feel I need, is this true?

 

[ilikephobo]

I've used a Babolat in the past.. But does a Babolat have the feedback aspect? The sweetspot seems to be weird, sometimes giving me feedback, sometimes being plain dead. I need one, solid sweetspot that I can trust. Also comfort is a big thing.. I'm not sure if any Babolat will do the job for me.

wow dude, i had the same expirience yesturday at practice.
I guess its just me adjusting to ther racquet.