ZUS Tennis Racquets

Tennisist said:
Comparison.

They are not similar to Angell. They are very different. In every detail.

1. Zus have a very clearly defined box frame all the way around, very similar to Head PT57 / PT280 or Wilson RF97.
2. The string pattern/configuration is different: 4 strings through the throat for starters.
The bumpers/grommets are also different. The only similar thing about them is that the top piece tapers down toward the ends.
3. Specs are different. Mine were 336g / 8 pt HL strung / ~320 SW. They swung much lighter/faster than the Angell TC97 12 pt HL that I have.
The "lightest" of Angells that I have (the 330/12 pt HL) measures ~330 SW ( and others measure towards 340 SW).
As such, I found Zus much more suited to my game.
4. Even though one has RA63 and the other RA62, I found Zus to feel significantly softer than Angell.
5. Surpisingly, Zus also has more power ( this is counter-intuitive, as softer racquets are usually less powerful than the stiffer ones ).
6. The relatively dense pattern on 16x19 pattern avoids any kind of "wildness" on the stringbed. The response is more controlled/predictable than on Angell TC 97 16x19.
7. The feel is very different as well. Zus has a much more solid feel to it, similar to Wilson PS97CV or Head PT57E. Angell feel allows much more reverberations through.
( This is talking about the 330g/12 pt HL Angell. The lighter Angells feel significantly worse than the heavy ones. )

Overall, I would sum up like this: This is a very solid racquet, with good power, soft predictable response, and specs approaching perfection ( 336g / 8 pt HL strung / ~320 SW ).
For me, it is most similar to PS97CV, but softer.
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Thank you!!! it’s the first comprehensive comparison/review of a Zus Racket…better later than never. I’ll have a first short test of my Zus racket tomorrow and your info tells me already I probably will have to add weight to increase SW…320 SW for a 336g / 8 pt HL strung racket is way low to what I’m used to.
 
Tennisist said:
For me, it is most similar to PS97CV, but softer.
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I know that it is difficult to put the feeling of a racquet into words, but since I haven´t played with a PS97CV or PT57E its difficult to assess the feel of the Zus (you played the Custom 95 not the 100, right ?) based on your comments.
You wrote that the Zus feels soft and solid. But how would you rate it on the plush - crisp scale.
For example some racquets are flexible but still feel crisp, especially on off center shots. For example the Prince TT Tour 95, the Tecnifibre Ltd. or the Angell TC 95 all felt to crisp (the latter even a little bit tinny) to me. The Angell TC 97 was better in that respect but not plush (buttery, wet noodle etc.) enough. The Yonex DR 98 on the other side feels plusher to me than any of the racquets above.
So if you could further elaborate the feel of the Zus that would be great, please try your best :p. And which racquets you played with felt softer and more comfortable than the Zus ?
 
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OK, I will try my best.

Racquets that I would call "soft" would be: Head PT57E, Volkl C10, Prince Tour 98. Dunlop Revelation Classic, Dunlop Revelation 200G. Zus is not like this.
Racquets that truly deserve the word "plush" are the Yonex DR 98, Head PT57E ( the latter is both plush and soft ). Next in line are the early Donnay Xenecores.
Racquets that I would characterize as stiff but heavily "muted" are Wilson PS97CV, Technifibre 315 Ltd DC. These racquets have some spine to them. You can feel it through the heavy layers of insulation and dampening. On impact, they produce a very short, muted, and quickly-decaying thud. Zus falls squarely into this category. You do not need a dampener.
Angell TC97 is much "livelier" in this regard ( ~ less dampening ) and feels stiffer on impact.

I guess one way to highlight the difference would be to compare the Red-Black version of PS97 (first edition) vs. the all black CV version. While they are almost identical in specs, the differences in feel are so substantial that, to me, they are two totally different racquets.

"Crisp" I usually reserve for the racquets which are both stiff and non-muted: Babolat, Volkl Tour 8, Quantum 8, Wilson Red-Black PS97. There is absolutely no give on impact. That's "crisp" to me. Neither Angell nor Zus can be called "crisp".

I think Zus has struck upon a nearly ideal (from my experience) and very pleasing combination between stiffness and mutedness.

Hope this maps out the landscape a bit.
 
Tennisist said:
OK, I will try my best.

Racquets that I would call "soft" would be: Head PT57E, Volkl C10, Prince Tour 98. Dunlop Revelation Classic, Dunlop Revelation 200G. Zus is not like this.
Racquets that truly deserve the word "plush" are the Yonex DR 98, Head PT57E ( the latter is both plush and soft ). Next in line are the early Donnay Xenecores.
Racquets that I would characterize as stiff but heavily "muted" are Wilson PS97CV, Technifibre 315 Ltd DC. These racquets have some spine to them. You can feel it through the heavy layers of insulation and dampening. On impact, they produce a very short, muted, and quickly-decaying thud. Zus falls squarely into this category. You do not need a dampener.
Angell TC97 is much "livelier" in this regard ( ~ less dampening ) and feels stiffer on impact.

I guess one way to highlight the difference would be to compare the Red-Black version of PS97 (first edition) vs. the all black CV version. While they are almost identical in specs, the differences in feel are so substantial that, to me, they are two totally different racquets.

"Crisp" I usually reserve for the racquets which are both stiff and non-muted: Babolat, Volkl Tour 8, Quantum 8, Wilson Red-Black PS97. There is absolutely no give on impact. That's "crisp" to me. Neither Angell nor Zus can be called "crisp".

I think Zus has struck upon a nearly ideal (from my experience) and very pleasing combination between stiffness and mutedness.

Hope this maps out the landscape a bit.
Click to expand...
So, it's not soft or stiff, it's not plush or crisp and it's only muted, is that it? The red and black PS97 was a racket I hated and I felt deceived coming from a PS90, the PS97CV was way better but too muted for my liking and now I'm worried because I didn't and I still don't expect my Zus to be anything like the PS97CV. Within a few hours I'll know
 
What's happening with the website and marketing? It would be a good time now AO time and mixed doubles player John Patrick Smith waving the Zus in the final!

johnpatrick-smith-plays-a-forehand-in-his-match-against-jeremy-beale-picture-id1070862610
astra-sharma-of-australia-and-johnpatrick-smith-of-australia-during-picture-id1087892824
 
About a year ago the guy who runs ZUS told me the website is getting major update. And that he was going to have one more EU dealer apart from Italian one. Not sure what is going on, but when I wanted to order 100 square inch 18x20 from Italy I never got a replay from them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
scotus said:
I have 3 of their racquets, which are foam-filled just like Angell.

I have the 95 sq in model with 62RA. The paint job is predominantly black, and grommets look just like those on the Angell.

The head shape is rounder in comparison to the more oval elongated shape on Angell TC95, and the string spacing is denser than the Angell on the 16x19.

The handle is just like Angell. You open up the pallets and you see slots in the handle for weights for custom configuration.

So it's like an estranged brother of Angell. I prefer the rounder head shape of Zus (closer to ProStaff 95 shape), and the string spacing all depends on individual preferences.

I bought these off the auction site and just finished extending the length and customizing one of them, but am waiting for my foot injury to heal, so I can take it for a spin.
Click to expand...
Thank you, are you still using the rackets?
 
So these racquets are made in USA, Greg. I just sent an email asking whether you can make my racquets either PS85 or PS90?

You might be busy making them if eveyrone want this!
 
dnguyen said:
So these racquets are made in USA, Greg. I just sent an email asking whether you can make my racquets either PS85 or PS90?

You might be busy making them if eveyrone want this!
Click to expand...
Hi Dan, yes they are finished in Florida. I have sent an email to the racket maker Sven and once he replies I will let you know. Thank you for your question.
 
Interesting! Always good to have one more smaller name in the mix. But $399 mama mia. Question for Greg? Can a 100 be ordered in 16x20 pattern with 8 mains in the throat for a more controlled string bed and beam around 22mm?

And the Chicago location on Bernard. Is that a store we could go to?
 
zus_greg said:
Hi Dan, yes they are finished in Florida. I have sent an email to the racket maker Sven and once he replies I will let you know. Thank you for your question.
Click to expand...

I forget to ask another question. Can you make PWS at 3 and 9 but with my own choice of weight. Can zus paint the deisgn of Pro Staff 85 in 90 without their brand to avoid legal stuff :P
 
Yes. Interesting indeed. Good to have another active player in the custom market - healthy competition will always benefit the customers.
the current details looks interesting but with a hefty price tag thought.
good luck with the venture this time and look forward to reading buyer reviews.
 
topspn said:
Interesting! Always good to have one more smaller name in the mix. But $399 mama mia. Question for Greg? Can a 100 be ordered in 16x20 pattern with 8 mains in the throat for a more controlled string bed and beam around 22mm?

I've sent the question to Sven and I'll reply when I get an answer.

And the Chicago location on Bernard. Is that a store we could go to?
Click to expand...
Lol. this is actually my home address. I'm working on getting an office space. If you're around I'm doing a free tennis lesson at 6:30pm tonight, at Independence Park 3945 N. Springfield Ave. at the tennis courts. I'll have the rackets with me if you wanted to try. text me at 773.469.1804 if you have questions.
 
zus_greg said:
Lol. this is actually my home address. I'm working on getting an office space. If you're around I'm doing a free tennis lesson at 6:30pm tonight, at Independence Park 3945 N. Springfield Ave. at the tennis courts. I'll have the rackets with me if you wanted to try. text me at 773.469.1804 if you have questions.
Click to expand...

Yeah I’m in Chicago. I’d love to try them but am not around this weekend. Maybe another weekend or time you can let me know
 
I had a white Zus that weighed similar to the RF97. All I can say from the experience was that it was one of the most solid rackets I’ve hit with. If there is a lighter version that can feel just as solid as the heavy version, I’d use it.
 
mhkeuns said:
I had a white Zus that weighed similar to the RF97. All I can say from the experience was that it was one of the most solid rackets I’ve hit with. If there is a lighter version that can feel just as solid as the heavy version, I’d use it.
Click to expand...
Yes, we can make it into a lighter version. How did you get your white Zus?
 
Subaruvich said:
About a year ago the guy who runs ZUS told me the website is getting major update. And that he was going to have one more EU dealer apart from Italian one. Not sure what is going on, but when I wanted to order 100 square inch 18x20 from Italy I never got a replay from them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
We'll reply. We're in Chicago and rackets shipped from Florida.
 
SOZ got out of the bag today for some serve practice. I am staying away from playing due to a torn meniscus and the healing process is lengthy. I figured some serve practice wouldn't be too much for the knee. The frame is completely stock, just added an OG. I have no experience with this string, a round poly from Zus. Frame has a nicely connected old school graphite feel to it, not terribly dampened although its foam filled. It does however make contact with authority as foam filled frames have a tendency to do. It is fairly easy to serve with and does induce a good level of smack on the ball. This frame breaches a gap between a deep pocketing feel and a shoot out babolat sensation. The dwell is enough to feel but the ball shoots out with urgency.

Targeting was good in spite of me being rusty and i could hit down the line flats with consistency. Spin serve really did spin and made an arc that was nasty looking when i really put side spin. Kickers were good but i wasn't really using my legs to crank the kinetic chain into whip on the ball. Seemed pretty respectable though given my compromised form. One thing is obvious, the feel and feedback you get is quite good. I need to take my slinger bag out and see what else can this racquet do. First early impression is it may earn its SOZ name.

Specs on this frame strung and with OG are as follows: 327.9g, 32.8cm balance and 327SW.

xkUE69o.jpg
 
topspn said:
SOZ got out of the bag today for some serve practice. I am staying away from playing due to a torn meniscus and the healing process is lengthy. I figured some serve practice wouldn't be too much for the knee. The frame is completely stock, just added an OG. I have no experience with this string, a round poly from Zus. Frame has a nicely connected old school graphite feel to it, not terribly dampened although its foam filled. It does however make contact with authority as foam filled frames have a tendency to do. It is fairly easy to serve with and does induce a good level of smack on the ball. This frame breaches a gap between a deep pocketing feel and a shoot out babolat sensation. The dwell is enough to feel but the ball shoots out with urgency.

Targeting was good in spite of me being rusty and i could hit down the line flats with consistency. Spin serve really did spin and made an arc that was nasty looking when i really put side spin. Kickers were good but i wasn't really using my legs to crank the kinetic chain into whip on the ball. Seemed pretty respectable though given my compromised form. One thing is obvious, the feel and feedback you get is quite good. I need to take my slinger bag out and see what else can this racquet do. First early impression is it may earn its SOZ name.

Specs on this frame strung and with OG are as follows: 327.9g, 32.8cm balance and 327SW.

xkUE69o.jpg
Click to expand...
@topspn thanks for the review.

sorry for my ignorance.
what does SOZ mean?

what do you mean “The frame is completely stock, just added an OG.?”
 
zus_greg said:
@topspn thanks for the review.

sorry for my ignorance.
what does SOZ mean?

what do you mean “The frame is completely stock, just added an OG.?”
Click to expand...
Ha! Sorry for the cryptic naming, its Son of Zeus, a nickname for the frame ;)
Stock as in i did not make any alterations in weight, balance etc.
 
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