SirCraigoryy
Rookie
What are some of your favorite non-mainstream/niche rackets you currently use or used extensively in the past that you think are incredibly underrated and what did you switch to/use now and why?
Your Favorite Non-mainstream/Niche Rackets?
- Thread starter SirCraigoryy
- Start date
zeneto1234
New User
Angell Reacts 96 and 99 PROs excellent rackets, specs rarely are not on point and they are light enough if you want to customize them for more power and stability.
R_Gasquet
New User
I bought a BLX Steam 100 about four months ago out of curiosity due to so many WTA players playing with its mold. I have since bought another 3 and switched to them as my main. They offer good balance of power and control and improve my game most when I am at defense - when I am in full-out attack mode my previous main, Extreme Tour (or previous previous main, CX200), was fine but it lacks the power and forgiveness Steam offers when I am on my back foot.
SirCraigoryy
Rookie
Assuming you use a OHBH by your signature how do you find an extended length 100 sq.in. frame on your back hand? Considering your username and profile pic I know Gasquet uses a 0.5" extended 100 sq.in. but 100s on my OHBH always felt unnatural.
R_Gasquet
New User
I am using a OHBH and I actually played with the extended LiquidMetal Instinct Tour XL for a few months. The experience with it on my backhand was indeed not good due to the clumsiness from its high swingweight (around 340) and maybe also the extended nature of it.
The Steam 100 however, actually plays nicely with a one-hander in my experience. Maybe because it is only extended slightly, maybe because the shape of the hoop is almost identical to a Blade, which cuts through the air quickly, and the swingweight is quite manageable (mine are all around 320 strung before modification).
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
Prince tour 100p
Angell anything, but particularly their Lime XL and React models.
Pro Kennex -> but their 5G/7G are legendary. I'd love for them to do a simple cosmetic refresh on these. Simliar to what Volkl does for the C10 Pro line. Don't really mess with the frame, just give me some aesthetic options.
Pro Kennex -> but their 5G/7G are legendary. I'd love for them to do a simple cosmetic refresh on these. Simliar to what Volkl does for the C10 Pro line. Don't really mess with the frame, just give me some aesthetic options.
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
Solinco blackout 285 with leather grip and overgrip. Unfortunately, cracked it last year but on lookout for a drop in the price at some point. Now playing Wilson Steam 100 with leather grip + overgrip! Always waiting for Wilson to release a pro stock or special edition. (I know- it will never happen)
I do enjoy the Diadem frames. They keep things simple and do both racket lines well.Diadem. Wanna buy one?
I'm considering a ProKennex 5G. Do you find it to be heavy? The weight specs scare me a little.
For a while I played with the Wilson (K)Strike tennis racquet. Now, versions of it are for sale on the Wilson website under its recreational line of tennis racquets. It's flexible but surprisingly good and I like it more than my Clash v1 - it's more predictable but less powerful. I added a leather grip and an overgrip.
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Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
PK 5g (and ki 5) are great rackets. Kind of a "arm saver" niche, but great hitting rackets no matter what they're compared to. I don't find them heavy, unless you get the PSE model. I also like the Fischer M Speed rackets, and the models before that.
TennisHound
Legend
I used the Dunlop CV 3.0F Tour 97” for awhile and it was an excellent racquet. It felt what a 97-98” PD or PA should feel like. I went from this to a Pure Drive and now use something else. This racquet has a fairly short run and it’s still pretty pricey to get one new or used.
mmazzinin1
Semi-Pro
PK ki15 300, Black Ace Pro and 7G
michael valek
Hall of Fame
Various Yamahas
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
The Bolts are the most fun tennis racquet experience you can buy IMO. B100 for Boltiest results.
People say that generation of cx series has inconsistent stringbed. Is this true?
pico
Hall of Fame
I read that a lot too and I noticed it initially but with my current setup of a leather grip, I dont notice it.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
The Pure Strike Tour doesn’t seem very popular. Can it be considered a niche racquet? I like it.
gino
Legend
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WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
I like your list- I would add Solinco- they are doing well with the Whiteout and Blackout.
Zus no longer has a website - so not sure it is still an option. Do you know if TruPro (formally Tier One) is still planning on a racquet release
ekucheraw
Rookie
Oh boy my time to shine:
Angell TC 97
Yamaha Secrets and the ceramic series 90
KPI KClassic
Volkl VSense8
Furi Arma Pro
Also the Prince Twistpowers are shockingly good though that's probably a tad more mainstream than the other picks haha
Angell TC 97
Yamaha Secrets and the ceramic series 90
KPI KClassic
Volkl VSense8
Furi Arma Pro
Also the Prince Twistpowers are shockingly good though that's probably a tad more mainstream than the other picks haha
Last I heard they were planning a crowdfunding campaign for them, right? I assumed a kickstarter or something would be sent out at some point if they go that route.
Prince Vortex 310g with the 14x21 string pattern. I played with it today and it's surprisingly very good- easy spin, power and stability. It's a lot of fun to play with and the 21 crosses are excellent for slice serves. I bought it late last year when injured (shoulder injury that required Cortisone shots) and not sure I'd ever play tennis again. (A co-worker suggested buying it to pick up my spirits and give me a reason to try to play again.) I chose the 310 gram version because the RA was 3 points lower than the 300 gram version. It's also a comfortable racquet. At my age, I get tired after an hour playing with such heavy racquet but its uniqueness makes playing feel fresh.
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
I saw TW had that on sale last year but I didn’t get one…..it does look fun. I have a Wilson Steam 105S 15 X 16 and it is also fun (in a much different way haha) but it eats strings
I thought the strings in the Vortex would be sliding all over the place with only 14 mains but, so far, that's not happening. And, I don't need to use an extreme forehand grip to keep the ball in play either.
Yeah, a very open string pattern like the one on your Steam 105S will eat strings! I think that string pattern favors poly strings because of their snapback property and short life span (12-15 hours of play).
I’ve used the the blade 104 many versions v4 to v8, liquidmetal instinct xl, head fire series extended to 27.5, Dunlop cx200+ was a pretty good 27.5 for 1hbh, steam 105s (terrible for 1hbh) and many others, recently started using the Solinco BlackOut XTD 27.5 and it’s the best 27.5 I’ve used for 1hbh. I really try to avoid hitting 1hbh with extended racket or regular ones because in the long run you just get grinded down on that side. But the BlackOut has enough power where I can rip it and avoid those rallies. I need to get a hold a Steam 100.
BlackOut XTD is one you should look into for 27.5 1hbh, HL enough to let it rip without getting too tired, very aerodynamic imo, thick enough for put away power, the throat area tapers off and is rather skinny where the off hand holds it so it just feels right, I’ve tried some Babolats and it’s too wide/thick so the off hand ready position feels awkward. It’s hard to explain but I’m sure some other 1h have run into that
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
I previously played with a Blackout 285 + 10g buttcap, leather grip, and overgrip and then I switched to Steam 100 16x20 leather grip + overgrip. I love both set ups but Blackout has more power (noticeable even for a tennis hacker like me
(Strings were X-one mains/ Ytex Protour crosses or Ytex Hexagon X mains/Ytex Protour crosses)
BenC
Hall of Fame
I use the regular length CX200 and I've never felt that my errors were anything but my own dumb fault. Then again, I'm not that good either.
Thanks you saved me some money since I was going to try to get some Steam 100 on the bay but I’m not looking for less powerful racket, plus the grommets for the Steam 100 must be hard to findI previously played with a Blackout 285 + 10g buttcap, leather grip, and overgrip and then I switched to Steam 100 16x20 leather grip + overgrip. I love both set ups but Blackout has more power (noticeable even for a tennis hacker like me
(Strings were X-one mains/ Ytex Protour crosses or Ytex Hexagon X mains/Ytex Protour crosses)
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It wasn’t, I still have like 5 of them and occasionally hit with them. I still spray shots with every racket, cx200+ was one of my favorite extended rackets, I think you put a heavier/leather grip and it’s magic. I believe the Star Tennis Academy guy that took a set off Federer uses that racket on his channel.
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Guttersnipe
Rookie
Modern day prince as a whole.
-Twistpower 97x Tour
-Synergy 98
-Phantoms (not being used by oldies with ailing TE/GE)
Japanese only marketed brands.
-Toalson & Bridgestone
-Forty Loves & X-Blades
(So many great and different iterations over the years to pick from, in both round or box beams)
Underrated Babs.
-Babolat Pure Control (95/+/Tour/Team/Swirly) is better than the strike
-Babolat Pure Power
gets absolute no love what so ever but it’s the best over sized thin(ish), squared off squash-like head with 4 tight mains in the throat...makes it feel like the original E-Z One
Really want to try a Donnay one day but there are almost none on the second hand market here & shipping internationally is a B (the Penta or Octa Cores look sick)
-Twistpower 97x Tour
-Synergy 98
-Phantoms (not being used by oldies with ailing TE/GE)
Japanese only marketed brands.
-Toalson & Bridgestone
-Forty Loves & X-Blades
(So many great and different iterations over the years to pick from, in both round or box beams)
Underrated Babs.
-Babolat Pure Control (95/+/Tour/Team/Swirly) is better than the strike
-Babolat Pure Power
gets absolute no love what so ever but it’s the best over sized thin(ish), squared off squash-like head with 4 tight mains in the throat...makes it feel like the original E-Z One
Really want to try a Donnay one day but there are almost none on the second hand market here & shipping internationally is a B (the Penta or Octa Cores look sick)
R_Gasquet
New User
Just to share that regarding grommets I tried Blade 101L V7/V8/V9 grommets and they all fit BLX Steam 100 perfectly - with V9 grommet set being about 4 grams heavier than stock and V7/V8 version tho.
SirCraigoryy
Rookie
To be fair, a large part of the tennis community never thought we would get consumer access to an H22 mold (Blade Pro). Yes I know it's not THE H22 mold with the super low flex but it's more than we had access to before and considering the Steam 100 is a classic with a good following and used by some touring pros I think there's a hope we could get something similar in the future.
SirCraigoryy
Rookie
I'd say that qualifies considering it's a monster of a frame that is under the strike name but no one ever mentions. I've hit both the first and third gen. Which one are you using?
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Played Gen 1 from 2014 till Gen 3 was released in 2018 or 2019 - Gen 3 since. Gen 3 is more comfortable, but otherwise very similar.
SirCraigoryy
Rookie
I liked the gen 1 but I thought it was too sluggish for me at the time and had too much weight in the throat but it was probably the most stable frame I've ever hit. I liked the gen 3 much better because the weight was more polarized.
You didn't have a hard time switching from an 18x20 to a 16x19?
WacTennis2017
Semi-Pro
You bring up a great point here! If Wilson were to add it to the “ProLabs” line (Like Blade Pro or Ultra Pro), it would be less risk compared to a new line of racquets (like shift or clash) that is produced in massive quantities. Then if the Steam 100 is popular in the ProLabs , Wilson could increase production. Any chance - Wilson reps read this forum like other companies (Babolat and TruPro)
GodlessEndeavor
Professional
Toalson Power Swing 500. It's not a racquet meant for playing with, it's a super heavy racket for warming up and forcing you to use your whole body to swing. It builds good muscle memory if used sparingly.
It will also show you how a heavy ball looks
It will also show you how a heavy ball looks
Which is toalson racket for 4.5 or 5.0 players?Toalson Power Swing 500. It's not a racquet meant for playing with, it's a super heavy racket for warming up and forcing you to use your whole body to swing. It builds good muscle memory if used sparingly.
It will also show you how a heavy ball looks
GodlessEndeavor
Professional
I have no idea, but Tennisnerd has reviewed a couple of their rackets: https://tennisnerd.net/gear/racquets/racquet-reviews/toalson-s-mach-pro-97-310-review/26070
PistolPete23
Hall of Fame
This was my first players racquet; used it in my junior year in high school. Plush feel off the string bed with duraflex synthetic gut. Used to serve bombs with this stick.
