Why on earth would I like one racquet but not the other (Same specs)?

[Brett]

So yeah, I tried both the Head YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro and the Pro Kennex QTour. I looked at their specs and they are basically the same. But I could not stand the YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro racquet but absolutely loved the QTour. Why would this be? I tried them on the same demo days. Here are the specs:

YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro:
Head Size: 98 square inch
Length: 27 inch
Strung Weight: 12.2 ounce
Balance: 6 Points HL
Swingweight: 321
Stiffness: 66
String Pattern: 16 x 19

QTour:
Head Size: 98 square inch
Length: 27 inch
Strung Weight: 12.2 ounce
Balance: 8 Points HL
Swingweight: 327
Stiffness: 63
String Pattern: 18 x 20


In other words, they are close to being EXACTLY the same. But I could tell a huge difference on which one I liked. This isn't helping with me trying to pick a new racquet, lol. Any ideas?

 

[UCSF2012]

So yeah, I tried both the Head YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro and the Pro Kennex QTour. I looked at their specs and they are basically the same. But I could not stand the YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro racquet but absolutely loved the QTour. Why would this be? I tried them on the same demo days. Here are the specs:

YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro:
Head Size: 98 square inch
Length: 27 inch
Strung Weight: 12.2 ounce
Balance: 6 Points HL
Swingweight: 321
Stiffness: 66
String Pattern: 16 x 19

QTour:
Head Size: 98 square inch
Length: 27 inch
Strung Weight: 12.2 ounce
Balance: 8 Points HL
Swingweight: 327
Stiffness: 63
String Pattern: 18 x 20


In other words, they are close to being EXACTLY the same. But I could tell a huge difference on which one I liked. This isn't helping with me trying to pick a new racquet, lol. Any ideas?

Because specs are relatively meaningless. They're a rough guideline at best.

 

[neil1b]

They are not the same....... Your comparing a 16x19 to a 18x20. The qtour is more flexy and more headlight....... Did you use the same strings?, tensions as if they are the same with the different string pattern will feel completely different.

 

[Chotobaka]

Different layup, different pattern. Enough to make a palpable difference. I've been demoing numerous racquets with near-identical specs over the past few weeks. There are more differences in feel and playability than similarities -- yet specs are all very, very close.

 

[yemenmocha]

racquets can have the weight distributed differently and yet have nearly identical static weight, SW, etc.

The Pro Kennex has technology in it for arm friendliness too, which could be a positive factor.

 

[BreakPoint]

racquets can have the weight distributed differently and yet have nearly identical static weight, SW, etc.

Very true. Weight distribution is not the same thing as balance. Two racquets can have the same balance but very different weight distributions which will make them swing and feel very differently when you hit the ball.

 

[Sander001]

The string pattern. I think it's one of the most important traits of a racquet.
When I was a kid I used the Prestige Classic 600 for a long time and never could get used to it. And when I would try friend's racquets, I always liked the way the ball came off the strings much more.

 

[T-Vex]

The string pattern. I think it's one of the most important traits of a racquet.

Absolutely!
There is really a huge difference in the way racket behaves only because it has 3-4 strings less.

 

[travlerajm]

So yeah, I tried both the Head YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro and the Pro Kennex QTour. I looked at their specs and they are basically the same. But I could not stand the YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro racquet but absolutely loved the QTour. Why would this be? I tried them on the same demo days. Here are the specs:

YOUTEK IG Prestige Pro:
Head Size: 98 square inch
Length: 27 inch
Strung Weight: 12.2 ounce
Balance: 6 Points HL
Swingweight: 321
Stiffness: 66
String Pattern: 16 x 19

QTour:
Head Size: 98 square inch
Length: 27 inch
Strung Weight: 12.2 ounce
Balance: 8 Points HL
Swingweight: 327
Stiffness: 63
String Pattern: 18 x 20


In other words, they are close to being EXACTLY the same. But I could tell a huge difference on which one I liked. This isn't helping with me trying to pick a new racquet, lol. Any ideas?

The two racquets have very different mass distributions. You may want to read my threads on using the MgR/I formula to optimize the specs of your racquet.
MgR/I is about optimum (21.0) for your QTour, but it is very far from optimum for the Prestige Pro (21.5).
The QTour will naturally swing through the hitting zone at the same speed as your hand, making it easy to control the shot. The Prestige Pro will come around much too fast, making control very difficult.

 

[treblings]

The two racquets have very different mass distributions. You may want to read my threads on using the MgR/I formula to optimize the specs of your racquet.
MgR/I is about optimum (21.0) for your QTour, but it is very far from optimum for the Prestige Pro (21.5).
The QTour will naturally swing through the hitting zone at the same speed as your hand, making it easy to control the shot. The Prestige Pro will come around much too fast, making control very difficult.

could you please make an effort to explain the MgR/I idea to a layman like myself. in other words as simple as possible
and how you arrive at the numbers for each racket. 21 being optimum?
i really made the effort to read through a number of your posts, i´m quite sure you´re on to something, but i don´t get it

 

[Michelle1965]

Absolutely!
There is really a huge difference in the way racket behaves only because it has 3-4 strings less.

Agreed. String pattern is the first thing I notice about a raquet. Maybe not huge difference between 16x20 or 16x19 but 18x20 is a completely different racquet to me.

 

[TennisCJC]

Also, the materials in the frame can make a big difference - graphite, kevlar, blx, organix, and what ever else they throw into them.

The are 3 points difference in the flex of the 2 rackets you demo-ed. That's almost a 5% difference which is substantial and the string patterns are different.

The beam width and shape can also make a big difference in how a racket feels. Flat beams seem to have an old school flex feel to me while oval or semi-oval beams seem a bit firmer and modern. Most flat beams seems to have more dwell time to me.