Wilson HPS6.1 and Ncode Six 95 or Tour ???

[Jacques_66]

Hi,
I'm writing from Italy; I was evaluating to buy 2 HPS6.1 but then found out that Ncode six 95 and Tour just came on the market so I was thinking now of buying 1 HPS6.1 and one of the two Ncode models.
From what I read here it looks like the 95 is whippy and there is the risk to lose control of the ball with groundstrokes while comments were much more positive on the Tour.
It seems to me the logical substitute of the HPS6.1 is the 95 not the Tour but as it looks so interesting the Tour...
Also what attracts me towards Ncode is the fact that in the past with a Pro Staff Classic I got tennis elbow (racket was old and had much vibration in comparison with other Pro Staff Classic, so maybe that's the reason) and someone said here that they look more arm friendly than HPS6.1.
I tried a HPS6.1 for over 20 hours now and I like it although after 2 hours play your arm gets tired, not tennis elbow, just tired arm.
Maybe these two rackets are less demanding, someone can give me his advice.
By the way, I'm 1.90, 93 kg., aggressive player mostly from the baseline with powerful forehand and serve. I don't know how you rate the kind of play in USA but I'm a good, complete player.
With the HPS6.1 I have some difficulties to find again my serve, but maybe it just takes some time.
One last thing, somebody wrote that 4-1/2" grip seems now bigger than in the past, is this true at all ? Else I have to buy a 4-3/8" which normally is far too small for me. But on the other hand I can't order 2 rackets which I cannot use in the end.
Best regards
Marco

 

[BreakPoint]

The nCode Six-One 95 is more similar to the HPS 6.1 95 than the nCode Six-One Tour is. The Six-One Tour is more like the PS 6.0 85 and 95 or the Tour 90. If you really like the HPS 6.1, you may not like the Six-One Tour as it will feel underpowered. Both the HPS 6.1 and Six-One 95 are much more powerful than the PS 6.0 or Six-One Tour. The feel is also quite different as the HPS 6.1 and Six-One 95 feel stiffer than the PS 6.0 and Six-One Tour.

I hope this helps. I recommend that you demo them if you can.

 

[peter]

If you really like the HPS 6.1, you may not like the Six-One Tour as it will feel underpowered. Both the HPS 6.1 and Six-One 95 are much more powerful than the PS 6.0 or Six-One Tour. The feel is also quite different as the HPS 6.1 and Six-One 95 feel stiffer than the PS 6.0 and Six-One Tour.

I've read that many times now (that the HPS 6.1-95 is supposed to be more powerful than the PS6.0-85). That's not my experience...

I have, and normally play with, two PS6.0-85's that I bought, uh, two years ago. I play pretty often and they are starting to show signs of wear (I'm considering replacing the head guard on one of them since it has started falling apart .

I also have a (much) used HPS 6.1-95 that I got for a very good price and that I play with every now and then (mostly when both my PS60 rackets are getting their strings replaced at the same time).

Anyway, I just played with the HPS6.1-95 for two days (about 5 hours of tennis) and I just can't get the same amount of power with it (atleast not as easily as one can get the same amount with the PS60). It feels boardy and very hard to move around making me play pretty badly. About the only thing where I like the HPS61 is the flat serve - were it works just as good as the PS60.

Today I played one set with the HPS6.1 and then switched to my 4:th racket - a Wilson Avenger bought sometime around 1985. This racket is basically identical to the PS6.0 is size, weight and balance. (But vibrates horribly these days so I try to avoid playing with it if I can - and *voila* - most of my strokes were back and kicking.

It would be interesting to try an nCode Tour 90 racket some day, but I suspect I'll stick to my PS60's...

Anyway, just my little piece of experience.

 

[16]

i would go with the n95 if you are worried about injuring your arm and just pick up the tension a bit if you find it to powerful. Although the hps6.1 is a stiff racquet i found it more arm friendly than other racquets around the same stiffness. So if you really like the way the hps swings i would go with that and put a soft string in it.(since the n95 does feel quite a bit lighter)

 

[Jacques_66]

Thank you for the replies. In any case I have not tried the Tour90, 95, etc. so the fact I like the HPS6.1 does not mean I can't find anything better. Moreover, sometimes I notice that I lose control of my shot from baseline if I hit very hard with the HPS6.1
It is my understanding from what I read here that Ncode 95 is very similar to HPS6.1, maybe also more powerful.
To me, if I may have a still better control that's better, it's also important though that the Ncode Tour doesn't feel more tiring on the arm than the HPS6.1
I'm much tempted to buy one HPS6.1 + one Ncode Tour as they should be different but not too different, so I could choose which one I like best and use the other one as reserve racket. If then I should hate the Tour (which I doubt) I could still sell it...
While if I buy the HPS6.1 + Ncode 95 I have more or less the same racket and lose a chance to find a better racket.
Also because I would like to find a racket which I like and use it as long as possible without changing it every time a new model comes out.
Best regards
Marco

 

[Jacques_66]

Still one thing: my best strokes are serve and forehand, I need one racket to allow me that, I saw one of you selling one Ncode 95 bacause he couldn't properly control his groundstrokes....
Marco

 

[Keroppi]

Jacques_66, maybe a poly string @65 would fix those control issues. Andre.

 

[speedofpain88]

I'd reccomend the n90. At the same specs the n90 outperforms the n95 in all respects if you're a good player (which you seem to be). As far as the grip sizes Wilson screwed up on the Ncodes especially. The grips are usually very tight on the racket, but Wilson did a poor job and they are looser and therefore they feel bigger. I should really be using a 4 5/8 grip, but at 4 1/2 plus an overgrip it feels exactly the same. Still it's not something that's overly noticeable, but it is there.

By the way are you considering getting the European versions of the nCodes (18x20 for both I believe) or the regular 16x19 and 16x18 pattern. This will also make a difference.

 

[Jacques_66]

I'm actually thinking of buying one N90 and one N95, then choose which one fits more to my game. I believe, reading the comments of all of you, that it will be the N90.
Nevertheless I liked the HPS6.1 so I should also like the N95. On the other hand I never tried the Tour 90 so I have no idea about the N90. In any case, having had in the past the tennis elbow, it may also be that one of those two rackets is easier on the arm, so in case my arm would get tired at the end of the season I could switch from one racket to the other.
Then I believe the 95 is more for a baseliner and the N90 more for serve & volley. I'm more a baseliner, although I became more a baseliner these 3 last years when I bought the Hyper Hammer 4.3, in fact it's not so easy to go to the net with that racket...
I don't want to have the 18x20 version, I guess it has still less power and doesn't help the topspin. That's why I'll buy it in the States. Moreover it will likely arrive in autumn the Ncode versions here.
Thank you for the help !
Marco

 

[SamBruin]

You should demo the nCode 6.1 and see if you like it better than the HPS 6.1. I'm in a similar situation as you except that i'm about to switch from an older model Babolat PC. The PC tires my arm also and it seems like the nCode 6.1 will help. I have tried the HPS 6.1 and thought it played really similar to the PC in terms of weight, stiffness, etc.
The nCode is lighter, and slightly more flexible so it seems like the logical choice.

 

[GuyPerez]

Marco,
In response to your original post, I found the Ncode 95's grip to be larger than usual also.
Guy