I believe that the best way to choose racquet is to play test them. When I decided to play again tennis after 20 years of absence from tennis, my trainer suggested Pure Drive for me. Even though I could play with it, it never felt right. I struggled a lot to get the feel. Too stiff, too much power, felt like I have to force myself to hit slowly. Tried different string setup, tuning, but nothing really changed. Got some arm problems also. So I ignored all the comments from my coach, researched the closest thing to my old racquet specs (which I still have but the frame is stiff from the age) and asked for Pure Strike VS demo. From the first strokes it just felt right like when I was playing as a kid. Coach was surprised and even said that no one else from club really liked the racquet. Want to buy second one and string it with natural gut to see how it feels different from blast.
It happened to me the same. I went from a Speed MP to the PS VS. It's great but is even better once I added 3g at 12. Mine was overspec so it ended at 331g (with lead and silicone at the handle) and 337-338 SW. I'm currently testing Pro's Pro Eruption 1,24 at 20/19 and seem to work great. I started playing Velocity 1.35/ SPPP Pure 1.18 and was great but not so much durability (2h give or take)
Suggestions for questions to ask pros: 1. Tips to hit a good forehand (backhand, serve…etc). 2. What happened to the shoes pros wore ? Medvedev said he had to use two pairs every match in hardcourt. 3. Tips for juniors 12yr to 15yr old. 4. Books that help their game (mental/techniques…) 5. Is there friendship with fellow players? Judging from handshakes in WTA, it seems no?😮. 6. How to pick a coach? What to look for and what to avoid? Thanks and keep up the great work
Hi Jonás - here is the recommendation for the new series: how did you improve your game over time. What were the key milestones, critical steps and lessons learned that got you from intermediate to advanced player.
Choosing the stick that emphasizes your strengths is excellent advice. I play with a lot of power and spin but have always had poor control and consistency. I used to try to tame the power and make up for my poor control with sticks like the Prestige and Pro Staff 90s - I did this for years. Changing to a the Pure Aero has immensely improved my level - so much so that I stayed a 4.0 for years and immediately upon racquet switch, I regularly beat my 4.5 friend.
I chose a racquet which helps me with my weakness, which is my serve. So I play with the pure aero+. Knowing that I can’t have (in my opinion) a better racquet for serving helps me focusing on my technique.
Great content Jonas. I use the 360+ Radical MP. I’ve been testing other racquets recently after hitting with a friend’s Pure Aero collection (including the Rafa Origin). As someone in my mid 40’s who does hit with topspin maybe a more spinny racquet would work better. So far I can’t find anything I like more than my Radical. The Extreme Tour and the VCore 98 were amazing but didn’t dramatically improve my performance. The versatility of the Radical is hard to beat in my opinion
I know you're honest but I can't help but see a connection between your recent invitation to Head with other youtubers, and the particular focus that is made here on Head racquets. I hope your video about strings will be less focused on Head strings.
There is no connection whatsoever, I just focused on HEAD because I use one and they have the most racquets. Not sure having the most racquet models is a good thing, because it is more confusing towards the consumer.
Finding the perfect racquet is tough. I cut my teeth with a 2015 Pure Drive, my baby. I tied 2021 model and hated it. I have since tried 2021 aero. Radical, 2015? YONEX VCORE 97. And 2018 pure strike. I still want to just have another 2015 pure drive…. I recently tried EZONE, by YONEX. I was quite surprised by it. I love its power, and I love its manoeuvrability. It’s as close to a pure drive 2015 that I have. Definitely buy two of what you love
I've started playing tennis on a regular basis last year, using the Diadem Nova FS100 and Elevate V2 FS98. The Nova felt super easy and versatile to learn the game. The Elevate was quite demanding for the first year. This year, I've tested several other rackets and came back to the V2 Elevate. I'm playing much much better and the V2 Elevate fits my flat game very well (at first, my mechanics were bad and had several shots to overshoot long). Last week I got the V3 305 Elevate and played 1.5 hours and I plan to play both head-to-head with the same string to see if I can notice any significant differences. Other rackets that I liked were the Head Speed MP Auxentic. It was 317 grams with Head Lynx Tour. If I didn't have the Nova, I would keep the Speed MP and put some lead under the overgrip and at 9 and 3 and bring it up to 325 grams. Pro Kennex Ki5 295 is a great control and comfort oriented frame. I just can't gel on the backhand side with that one.
you mentioned same grip. the prestige uses the old rectangular grip do they not? did u replace it to the new grip or you replace the other 2 with the old grip? i personally prefer the old grip that's why I am thinking swapping to technifibre (iga stick most likely)
a video i would like to see is a spin/pace comparison using some kind of objective measurement (like whatever radar they use to determine spin/ball-speed during atp matches). It would be interesting to know if you really get less spin with 18/20, whether you can match the spin of a 16/19 by using a looser tension and shaped/thin-guage string, etc. Maybe conventional wisdom is true, but then maybe it's not and some 18/20 racquets produce more spin, etc.
I play with a modified HEAD Speed Auxetic (sp??). I Like it. But, I recently had an opportunity to hit with a HEAD Instinct MP 360+ that was modified with silicone (handle) and lead in the head and was just blown away by how good this "value" racquet is when played side by side with my Speed. It's soft (63RA) and feels great. Maybe a video on these "value" frames like the Instinct and the Burn? Not everyone can afford a $200+ frame.
I enjoyed the 2018 prestige MP with leather grips, RPM rough, but this year switched to Yonex Vcore Pro 97D, same strings, for a bit more forgiveness and spin. Subtle change but def feels like it's more forgiving after you get tired. 97 q inch yonex shape did reduce my shanks vs the 95sq prestige, and felt like a bigger sweet spot.
great video! I love hearing and learning about different rackets. Your point on your racket molding you as a young player is so true for me. For many years I played with a control Yonex racket - SuperRD Tour 90. Today I play with the Yonex Vcore 95. I also have an ezone 98 and have been trying to make the switch for a year, thinking that based on my level the ezone should be more forgiving and suitable for me, but the vcore 95 just works for me and gives me that confidence to swing out on my forehand. so that's it for me 🙂 thank you for all your help!
Interesting! Picked up the Radical MP after owning the 6.1 95 Stretch since it came out, and not having played many years, luckily I'm really enjoying the radical with Vokyl Cyclone at 52 lb.
Well, as a kid I was playing a lot tennis, then switched to golf. I just recently started playing again. Buying a racquet was quite a challenge, since so much has changed, when I stopped I was using the 1983 Model of the Pro Staff, so I chosed the recent version of this racquet. Yes it´s definetely not something I would recommend to others, but I like to make life hard for me, never chose the easy way and I need the feedback it gives me and dont want any forgiveness, so for me personally this was clearly the right decision.
Very good explanation! There's one point I do not agree with. Regarding the comfort and the weight relation. As a person who's been struggling with elbow issues I find that heavier, control oriented racquets are more comfortalble. This may be because they tend to have lower stiffness rating. I would love to be able to play with something like a Puredrive but after 30 minutes I'm sore. After much trial and error I settled on ProKennex Rendondo MP. And before you tell me this racquet is not for me.. I know. It has classic tour specs and not suitable for modern game. It is just what I can use and play for hours without elbow issues.
Hi, I've always played with the Pure Strike, but I've been experiencing elbow pain. I bought a Clash 98 to temporarily solve the problem, but in the future, I want to switch to something that gives me more control. I'm an intermediate-advanced club player. What options do you suggest for advanced players looking for comfort? I play with a lot of topspin, but I don't like the Pure Aero due to its high stiffness. I've been considering the VCore 98, Gravity Pro (or MP), or Blade 18x20. Any other suggestions? Or should I stick with the Clash 98 (which is actually very good)? The Blade has lower stiffness, but it provides less access to topspin.
Great video, bought Ezone 100SL but somehow I found Wilson ProStaff 97Team much nicer to play with, despite I am low intermediate, not sure if this normal or just need to use to ezone.
Hi Jonas! You've mantioned, that Henrik switched to Ezone100, probably from Blade V8 100? I'm playing with Ezone 98 2022 and I was thinking after I watched your review of Blade to try that racket to get more forgivness (Ezone is good on OHBH, but I'm struggling somtimes with forehands grandstrokes). Aby tips about going from 98 to 100 inch head size? When that new podcast with Henrik will be relased? Cheers mate!
Great overview. I love the extreme tour as well…but i am a switching freak too…speed pro (great fell and control but demanding after 1 hour), pure aero 2016 slightly under specs (love it but can lack touch), pure aero 2023 (too dense pattern I feel), t fight 300 (a bit light)…I just got a blade 98s. Any chance of you testing it ? Would love to hear your thoughts. 😊 ps I might try the radical mp too…your review is tempting!
Great content as always Jonas… Interview suggestions if possible, Novak Djokovic, Roman Prokes, Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Yannick Noah, Amelie Mauresmo, Chris Evert, James Blake etc etc No pressure!! 😅
Hi Jonas, thanks for the video. I think your comment around whether you look for something to enhance an asset or help a weaker stroke is very interesting. I’m currently testing power/spin frames to have in the bag as a plan b and have been using my weaker backhand as a point of reference. May need to rethink this.🤔
Hello. One question if possible. I am writing to you from Armenia. I am 33 years old. I have wanted to learn to play tennis for a long time. I found a coach for myself, and today was my 9th lesson. I was able to play with him 10 times already. I really like the videos on your UA-cam channel, and I've learned a lot from watching them too. But here's my question... Could you recommend 1-2 specific tennis rackets that are suitable for a beginner but also of good quality? I can order them from the United States, so that's not a problem. I am 1.68 meters tall and not big in terms of physical build. I'm not sure if this is relevant for the advice, but there you have it. I think I need a racket that weighs around 280 grams (I don't want something super heavy for now). I would prefer a balance point around the middle or slightly towards the handle, and currently, I play with grip size 2. Also, I believe a larger head size would be beneficial to easily hit the ball. Thank you in advance.
Any recommendations on what would be similar to the Prince Ozone Pro Tour MP? Thinking about making a switch due to wear. Current specs: 328g unstrung, 7pts HL, 65 RA, and 18x20 pattern
I need your help. At the beginning of the year I switched from the speed pro to the blade 18x20, thought I would benefit from a lower launch and more control to swing out with confidence. But doubts start to linger. For a few months I was playing amazing. But I started to play with higher level players and generating spin and pace seems harder. Balls either land short or fly long when trying to generate pace. Maybe I overestimated my capabilities and can’t generate as much spin as I thought, and the blade 18x20 demands you to have pretty good strokes . I’m told very good (also good looking) technique . But I start to think it’s not effective nor efficient . Only shot that didn’t suffer is the serve. I am thinking a spin racquet with a low launch angle may help. My options are: vcore 95, aero 98 or going back to the speed pro Open to suggestions
I think you have the answers within you, just have to ask yourself the right questions. You say you were playing amazing until you started playing better opponents. What is it really that cause you lose your confidence? you say the racquet. What other things if any may have impacted? how those other things may have impacted your swing? What is causing both short AND long balls? wouldn't the racquet cause the same issue most of the time (either almost always short,v almost always long?) what other factors on top of the racquet may be influencing this? Hope this helps. On side note, isn't the Speed Pro also 18/20 as the Wilson you changed to? if same pattern, can the launch pattern be that different?
There are no free points for making life harder for yourself. Use what you feel helps you to play your best tennis. For instance, if a player excels at topspin, using a Blade, even if you're a pro, has high chances of not being a suitable choice unless it's part of a compromise to gain something else your game needs. As for your Blade, it sounds like it could possibly be down to 1) better opponents are giving you less time on the ball and you're not getting to put the necessary work in to get the spin and pace you want out of it and/or 2) that against better opponents you're not finding enough effective mass (hitting weight, which is not the same as static or swing weight) at your contact point on the stringbed and it's resulting in a loss of control, power etc when needed against pressure shots. Point no 2 is an easy but possibly fiddly fix. Simply up the effective mass where you make contact with the ball. You can do this by increasing swing weight/twist weight and static mass relative and balance to your swing style needs. I say fiddly as it can take some back and forth, trial and error, till you find something that works. A potential issue though is that you may find that you need it at a certain spec say that has a significantly negative impact on the first point (time on the ball). In which case, the answer would be to use a racket that literally hits harder per gram so to speak. And yea, an Aero 98 or something could very much be that for you. Other potential factors of course include stringing setup, your game itself, and so on. The launch angle is going to shoot up a bit with an Aero 98 compared to the blade or speed pro even. You can work with that or adjust stringing setup to balance it more how you want. Things like changing to a lower launching string, a thicker gauge, a higher tension, and/or increasing the tension of the crosses relative to the mains can all help. As can a hybrid setup. Increasing twist weight can help as well with lowering launch.
@@elchanclascocina yeah, I was thinking a lot that my issue was with a better player making me work harder, but I find that in practice matches I do very well against them, but tournament and other a bit more serious matches seem to change completely. I thought the problem was me and matchplay was the issue, but I see players opting for a tad more power in their racquet and it helps them compete. I was thinking maybe I wasn’t good enough to be using a blade and may benefit from a bit help from the racquet while I get better solid strokes. Don’t get me wrong the blade is fantastic, there’s a reason I switched to it. It’s just maybe it’s a bit demanding for me and need to be better before I can reap the benefits from the racquet
@@sjjapp solid answer. I like higher tensions in my racquet, which I can’t do with the blade just yet. I thought for a while my tennis was just lacking and I would get better if I just stuck with the blade. But in tournaments it seems I just make it harder on myself. Blade requires solid strokes and maybe I’m not consistent enough. While getting better is part of the process, I feel I make it more hard for myself bc I need to feel good in order to play good with my current racquet. Just thought that in the meantime I could get a bit help from the racquet while I get better. And it’s not that I need a lot of power on the racquet. I hate for example the vcore 98 as I feel the ball flies of the racquet too much for my liking. But I heard great things from the options I listed . Someone recommended I just lower the tension on my blade, but playing in altitude with
@@luistorressantos654 if you're an advanced and upwards player, and the blade isn't working out, it's either one or multiple of the points I mentioned in the previous reply or the racket simply doesn't suit you. The blade requires no more skill than a pure aero for instance at any kind of decent level. A pure aero is much more friendly at lower levels though, generally, and the reasons for that actually overlap with why the line and similar lines from other brands are dominating modern tennis. They hit harder per gram so to speak. For a lower level player, this means they can have a light racket that helps them get the ball deeper, with more margin over the net on paper, with more pace, and more forgiveness when it comes to poor timing and shot mechanics etc. The blade is very punishing in this way if ones fundamentals are poor. But it's very rewarding and easier to play with for higher level players that say hit a more direct or flatter ball and play with precision etc. A high level player with mechanics that don't align with the pure aero are going to struggle with a lot of things. Control is going to be one of them. With the blade, the control comes from directional control. With the pure aero, the control comes from spin control. High arc over the net and drop that ball back down heavy into the court with kicking spin. That's what it was designed for. And if you can do that, there's no racket out there almost, other than other similar rackets, that are going to offer more control. So control is relative. And players with different styles are going to find different rackets better or worse, harder or easier, more or less beneficial etc. Another factor is power. Most pros using what are called control sticks when buying at retail will actually be using them at specs that give them more power than a Pure Drive. The Pure Drive actually isn't even the most powerful retail racket. Heavy control sticks are like the Yonex Vcore Pro 97 and such. There's a reason why pros have typically had rackets with high mass, high swing weights etc. Unlike recreational players, their careers depend on them winning matches. Going in with a racket that has no power isn't a great start in most cases. And my point here is it's not about using a Blade because you can generate your own pace, but rather that you don't feel you're making the ball you should with the blade, and then you're struggling to bring enough of your own control with the vcore 98. In simple terms, the ball launches from your vcore 98 stringbed and you're not applying enough spin to the ball to bring it back down relative to the angle and pace etc that you're hitting at. There are pros using spin rackets that hit flat, but it's down to something like them liking the margin for error from high launch or it's part of a compromise to get something else. It's very hard gaining control with something like an aero without injecting a lot of spin into the ball though. And the vcore 98 is a spin racket like that, just dialed down a bit more. The best way to determine what you need is to make a note of what design choices are actually helping your game. What is hurting your game. Is it down to problems with your technique or is it a clash of interest so to speak with a frame? Customizing frames can be a great way of furthering this. So I'd actually suggest that you start by adjusting the spec of your blade. See what happens. What do you need to do to hit the ball you want, and have you sacrificed too much to get it? An example would be a player I played with that used a vcore 95. Now they use a vcore 98. It was actually quite simple in the end. They came to a certain custom spec with the vcore 95, and they were able to achieve the same result with the vcore 98 but at a lower spec. More swing speed. More time on the ball. More spin. More control. As a spin player they benefited more from above than the extra directional control with the 95. So the sacrifice of extra mass at custom specs with the 95 wasn't worth it for them. If you get an aero 98, it will hit a better ball at same spec as your blade. On paper. Swing styles etc aside. So your blade may need to go up in spec to match it while still gaining that directional control etc. But is that compromise worth it? Can you alter any of these rackets to perform how you want? This is stuff you can play with. Mess around with if you want till something clicks. Lowering string tension can help with increasing ease of depth with a shot. It also increases the launch angle though. Higher tensions increase directional control. There's no better or worse option universally. Pro or not. It's what works for you. The trampoline thing with lower tensions is something you'd get used to if you find a tension that lands the ball where you want it. Note though that contrary to popular belief lowering the tension will not increase power in any actual real life practical way. It can feel like more power though because you can potentially hit a higher and deeper shot. So same speed of ball but one has lower flight path and doesn't go deep in court Vs same power of shot but higher launch and deeper landing in court, the deeper higher one will put more pressure on opponent and feel more powerful. It can also feel more powerful if you can't control it and you're flying balls out of the court. But that's not the same thing as actually hitting a faster ball.
I use 2021 Radical Pro and I’ve been pretty happy with it. I just ordered Radical Pro 2023. Is Radical Pro really pro racquet more than club player racquet? Should I move down to MP? I mean is there difference between those two? I have been playing tennis for 2 years and more of baseline and flat ball player
So I have a Regna 98 with 5 grams of lead equally added to 12,9,3 to 315g. Been loving it. Problem is I can't get a spare as a back up.. Tennis comparison web site says the closet is vcore 98 or pro staffv13. I m actually thinking of getting an ezone since I like to hit both flat and spin with an aggressive play style. Wondering if you have any thoughts on a similar playing racquet?
in terms of feel regna 98 would be closer to vcore 95 either the current one or from the 2 generation ago (the darker red one without any tinge of blue). if you can get a demo try the current vcore 95
great content and advise! I have a question about Wilson BLX Pro Open, would you categorize it a spin or power racquet (I know its yellow :) but I think it feels more like pure drive? )?
Great video as always. Thanks Jonas. What grip size do you use by the way? I purchased a racket just a few days ago. I thought the 2 was what felt best but both the pros in the store suggested a size 3 which I went with. Don’t know if I’ve been playing with grips that are too small for me all these years but this feels too big.
Grip size is a performance choice. Not a hand size one. I do not know exactly why this has been confused in general in marketing etc, but just guessing I'd say it's just there, like recommended string tension range and string choices, which are sometimes printed on the racket, to give players without knowledge of their game a more limited range of choices to simplify things. In reality your grip size, string choices, and tension choices should be personal to you and may or may not fall within such guidelines. It's better to just ignore them entirely unless you need somewhere to start. In basic terms, the smaller the grip size the easier it is to bring the racket around faster. Smaller grip sizes are often used by pros who excel at heavy topspin (Nadal, Thiem, and so on). Larger grip sizes feel a little more stable.
@@Tennisnerd Thank you! I currently play a big game (because I am 6'3) with a big serve and forehand, and I use the 2020 babalot pure drive. I feel like it fits my game pretty well, but I am leaning toward switching to a more control-focused racket to make my game more rally-tolerant. Any suggestions?
A few points. ‘Tennis rackets have not changed in the last 20 years’ ??? When you say change you have to include the variety available. There are 200 rackets to choose from today. 20 years ago you had 25 rackets to choose from. Most all are large. And you have to include the strings when you speak of change. There are hundreds of strings today compared to 20 years ago, there were just a few. So the change is actually dramatic. And finally when you discuss smaller heads like the 95 compared to the 97 , 98 in reality there isn’t a difference in size. You can hardly tell the difference. And players generally stick to the baseline today which is not anywhere near as difficult as a net volley s/v game.
that's his tournament set he likes the 2022 ezone both the 98 and 100 and he did mention the rafa origin just not for tournaments. he also likes a few princes ( the twists and tours) also he likes head boom as well if you wanna be more biased
If the data shows 61 yo as the average tennis viewer then is completely skewed.. The young tennis fans are watching online, obviously. EDIT: I'm Brazilian and Thiago last name is pronounced with the "ild" part sounding like the word "build" not the word "wild"... The "W" sound in Portuguese in this case DOES NOT sounds like the letter "V", but the letter "U". Just a heads up. Love your content.
I believe that the best way to choose racquet is to play test them. When I decided to play again tennis after 20 years of absence from tennis, my trainer suggested Pure Drive for me. Even though I could play with it, it never felt right. I struggled a lot to get the feel. Too stiff, too much power, felt like I have to force myself to hit slowly. Tried different string setup, tuning, but nothing really changed. Got some arm problems also. So I ignored all the comments from my coach, researched the closest thing to my old racquet specs (which I still have but the frame is stiff from the age) and asked for Pure Strike VS demo. From the first strokes it just felt right like when I was playing as a kid. Coach was surprised and even said that no one else from club really liked the racquet. Want to buy second one and string it with natural gut to see how it feels different from blast.
Coaches aren't taught about rackets or stringing so not the right person to ask about either.
You need to test a racket before you buy it.
I tried it too… very stable
It happened to me the same. I went from a Speed MP to the PS VS. It's great but is even better once I added 3g at 12. Mine was overspec so it ended at 331g (with lead and silicone at the handle) and 337-338 SW. I'm currently testing Pro's Pro Eruption 1,24 at 20/19 and seem to work great.
I started playing Velocity 1.35/ SPPP Pure 1.18 and was great but not so much durability (2h give or take)
@@JLKV22 i switched from leather to syntec pro + overgrip+dampener and one PSVS weights 326g and other 333. 318 and 320 SW (diy method).
Trust this guy. He is spot on with everything he said.
Suggestions for questions to ask pros: 1. Tips to hit a good forehand (backhand, serve…etc). 2. What happened to the shoes pros wore ? Medvedev said he had to use two pairs every match in hardcourt. 3. Tips for juniors 12yr to 15yr old. 4. Books that help their game (mental/techniques…) 5. Is there friendship with fellow players? Judging from handshakes in WTA, it seems no?😮. 6. How to pick a coach? What to look for and what to avoid? Thanks and keep up the great work
Hi Jonás - here is the recommendation for the new series: how did you improve your game over time.
What were the key milestones, critical steps and lessons learned that got you from intermediate to advanced player.
I find prestige to be great racquet for the serve. It goes so fast through the air! And the precision and control is also awesome.
And I think Goran Ivanišević would agree..
Choosing the stick that emphasizes your strengths is excellent advice. I play with a lot of power and spin but have always had poor control and consistency. I used to try to tame the power and make up for my poor control with sticks like the Prestige and Pro Staff 90s - I did this for years. Changing to a the Pure Aero has immensely improved my level - so much so that I stayed a 4.0 for years and immediately upon racquet switch, I regularly beat my 4.5 friend.
Pick an in between raquet. Im the same as you and my raquet of choice is the ezone 100. Perfect stick for us
I chose a racquet which helps me with my weakness, which is my serve. So I play with the pure aero+. Knowing that I can’t have (in my opinion) a better racquet for serving helps me focusing on my technique.
Great content Jonas. I use the 360+ Radical MP. I’ve been testing other racquets recently after hitting with a friend’s Pure Aero collection (including the Rafa Origin). As someone in my mid 40’s who does hit with topspin maybe a more spinny racquet would work better. So far I can’t find anything I like more than my Radical. The Extreme Tour and the VCore 98 were amazing but didn’t dramatically improve my performance. The versatility of the Radical is hard to beat in my opinion
I know you're honest but I can't help but see a connection between your recent invitation to Head with other youtubers, and the particular focus that is made here on Head racquets.
I hope your video about strings will be less focused on Head strings.
There is no connection whatsoever, I just focused on HEAD because I use one and they have the most racquets. Not sure having the most racquet models is a good thing, because it is more confusing towards the consumer.
You forgot to mention selecting the correct grip size. Very important for beginners and intermediates.
Go Prestige!! 😀 Just shows that the choice of racquet is a very personal, as the Prestige is best serving racquet for me.
Really enjoyed this and the podcast with Karue. Thanks. Good and entertaining content. No Head Boom Pro love?
Thanks! I find the Boom Pro is a little erratic for my taste.
Finding the perfect racquet is tough. I cut my teeth with a 2015 Pure Drive, my baby. I tied 2021 model and hated it. I have since tried 2021 aero. Radical, 2015? YONEX VCORE 97. And 2018 pure strike. I still want to just have another 2015 pure drive…. I recently tried EZONE, by YONEX. I was quite surprised by it. I love its power, and I love its manoeuvrability. It’s as close to a pure drive 2015 that I have. Definitely buy two of what you love
I've started playing tennis on a regular basis last year, using the Diadem Nova FS100 and Elevate V2 FS98. The Nova felt super easy and versatile to learn the game. The Elevate was quite demanding for the first year. This year, I've tested several other rackets and came back to the V2 Elevate. I'm playing much much better and the V2 Elevate fits my flat game very well (at first, my mechanics were bad and had several shots to overshoot long). Last week I got the V3 305 Elevate and played 1.5 hours and I plan to play both head-to-head with the same string to see if I can notice any significant differences.
Other rackets that I liked were the Head Speed MP Auxentic. It was 317 grams with Head Lynx Tour. If I didn't have the Nova, I would keep the Speed MP and put some lead under the overgrip and at 9 and 3 and bring it up to 325 grams.
Pro Kennex Ki5 295 is a great control and comfort oriented frame. I just can't gel on the backhand side with that one.
you mentioned same grip. the prestige uses the old rectangular grip do they not? did u replace it to the new grip or you replace the other 2 with the old grip? i personally prefer the old grip that's why I am thinking swapping to technifibre (iga stick most likely)
a video i would like to see is a spin/pace comparison using some kind of objective measurement (like whatever radar they use to determine spin/ball-speed during atp matches). It would be interesting to know if you really get less spin with 18/20, whether you can match the spin of a 16/19 by using a looser tension and shaped/thin-guage string, etc. Maybe conventional wisdom is true, but then maybe it's not and some 18/20 racquets produce more spin, etc.
very exciting to hear about your plan! Looking forward to the tour.
Thanks so much!
On paper that Prestige Tour is very much like a Radical prior to the 360+ shape change. 95 inch head, mid 60s RA, tighter 16x19 pattern, 22mm beam.
I play with a modified HEAD Speed Auxetic (sp??). I Like it. But, I recently had an opportunity to hit with a HEAD Instinct MP 360+ that was modified with silicone (handle) and lead in the head and was just blown away by how good this "value" racquet is when played side by side with my Speed. It's soft (63RA) and feels great. Maybe a video on these "value" frames like the Instinct and the Burn? Not everyone can afford a $200+ frame.
Thank you very much. I'm really looking forward to a video about strings! Would appreciate that very much
I enjoyed the 2018 prestige MP with leather grips, RPM rough, but this year switched to Yonex Vcore Pro 97D, same strings, for a bit more forgiveness and spin. Subtle change but def feels like it's more forgiving after you get tired. 97 q inch yonex shape did reduce my shanks vs the 95sq prestige, and felt like a bigger sweet spot.
great video! I love hearing and learning about different rackets. Your point on your racket molding you as a young player is so true for me. For many years I played with a control Yonex racket - SuperRD Tour 90. Today I play with the Yonex Vcore 95. I also have an ezone 98 and have been trying to make the switch for a year, thinking that based on my level the ezone should be more forgiving and suitable for me, but the vcore 95 just works for me and gives me that confidence to swing out on my forehand. so that's it for me 🙂 thank you for all your help!
Interesting! Picked up the Radical MP after owning the 6.1 95 Stretch since it came out, and not having played many years, luckily I'm really enjoying the radical with Vokyl Cyclone at 52 lb.
I imagine future racquets will have a bit of flex in the handle. Also will be able to adjust tension a bit without restringing.
Well, as a kid I was playing a lot tennis, then switched to golf. I just recently started playing again. Buying a racquet was quite a challenge, since so much has changed, when I stopped I was using the 1983 Model of the Pro Staff, so I chosed the recent version of this racquet. Yes it´s definetely not something I would recommend to others, but I like to make life hard for me, never chose the easy way and I need the feedback it gives me and dont want any forgiveness, so for me personally this was clearly the right decision.
Really informative video, thanks Jonas.
more in depth about strings!
Very good explanation! There's one point I do not agree with. Regarding the comfort and the weight relation. As a person who's been struggling with elbow issues I find that heavier, control oriented racquets are more comfortalble. This may be because they tend to have lower stiffness rating. I would love to be able to play with something like a Puredrive but after 30 minutes I'm sore. After much trial and error I settled on ProKennex Rendondo MP. And before you tell me this racquet is not for me.. I know. It has classic tour specs and not suitable for modern game. It is just what I can use and play for hours without elbow issues.
Hi, I've always played with the Pure Strike, but I've been experiencing elbow pain. I bought a Clash 98 to temporarily solve the problem, but in the future, I want to switch to something that gives me more control. I'm an intermediate-advanced club player. What options do you suggest for advanced players looking for comfort? I play with a lot of topspin, but I don't like the Pure Aero due to its high stiffness. I've been considering the VCore 98, Gravity Pro (or MP), or Blade 18x20. Any other suggestions? Or should I stick with the Clash 98 (which is actually very good)? The Blade has lower stiffness, but it provides less access to topspin.
Great video, bought Ezone 100SL but somehow I found Wilson ProStaff 97Team much nicer to play with, despite I am low intermediate, not sure if this normal or just need to use to ezone.
Goldberg variations in the background? I have a new fav channel!!
thanks! interesting to hear your thoughts on more general subject
God tier Content, cheers Joans
Thanks!
I would definitely appreciate a half hour string video just like this one.
Deal!
Hi Jonas! You've mantioned, that Henrik switched to Ezone100, probably from Blade V8 100? I'm playing with Ezone 98 2022 and I was thinking after I watched your review of Blade to try that racket to get more forgivness (Ezone is good on OHBH, but I'm struggling somtimes with forehands grandstrokes). Aby tips about going from 98 to 100 inch head size? When that new podcast with Henrik will be relased?
Cheers mate!
Great overview. I love the extreme tour as well…but i am a switching freak too…speed pro (great fell and control but demanding after 1 hour), pure aero 2016 slightly under specs (love it but can lack touch), pure aero 2023 (too dense pattern I feel), t fight 300 (a bit light)…I just got a blade 98s. Any chance of you testing it ? Would love to hear your thoughts. 😊 ps I might try the radical mp too…your review is tempting!
I have a Wilson NCode Pro Open, which racquet would be a good replacement?
Great content as always Jonas… Interview suggestions if possible, Novak Djokovic, Roman Prokes, Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Yannick Noah, Amelie Mauresmo, Chris Evert, James Blake etc etc No pressure!! 😅
Thanks! All good options.
Hi Jonas, thanks for the video. I think your comment around whether you look for something to enhance an asset or help a weaker stroke is very interesting. I’m currently testing power/spin frames to have in the bag as a plan b and have been using my weaker backhand as a point of reference. May need to rethink this.🤔
What would be the closest option available today to a Babolat Pure Storm GT 295g 98 inch square head size 16x20? Best racquet I have ever played with.
Pure Strike VS 97
310 g tho
Hello. One question if possible. I am writing to you from Armenia. I am 33 years old. I have wanted to learn to play tennis for a long time. I found a coach for myself, and today was my 9th lesson. I was able to play with him 10 times already. I really like the videos on your UA-cam channel, and I've learned a lot from watching them too. But here's my question... Could you recommend 1-2 specific tennis rackets that are suitable for a beginner but also of good quality? I can order them from the United States, so that's not a problem. I am 1.68 meters tall and not big in terms of physical build. I'm not sure if this is relevant for the advice, but there you have it. I think I need a racket that weighs around 280 grams (I don't want something super heavy for now). I would prefer a balance point around the middle or slightly towards the handle, and currently, I play with grip size 2. Also, I believe a larger head size would be beneficial to easily hit the ball. Thank you in advance.
Any recommendations on what would be similar to the Prince Ozone Pro Tour MP? Thinking about making a switch due to wear.
Current specs: 328g unstrung, 7pts HL, 65 RA, and 18x20 pattern
love all the content! i am definitely a tennis nerd!!!!
How would you categorize the EZone 98? Power, Spin, Control, Modern Player Frame?
all around racket
I need your help. At the beginning of the year I switched from the speed pro to the blade 18x20, thought I would benefit from a lower launch and more control to swing out with confidence. But doubts start to linger. For a few months I was playing amazing. But I started to play with higher level players and generating spin and pace seems harder. Balls either land short or fly long when trying to generate pace. Maybe I overestimated my capabilities and can’t generate as much spin as I thought, and the blade 18x20 demands you to have pretty good strokes . I’m told very good (also good looking) technique . But I start to think it’s not effective nor efficient . Only shot that didn’t suffer is the serve. I am thinking a spin racquet with a low launch angle may help. My options are: vcore 95, aero 98 or going back to the speed pro
Open to suggestions
I think you have the answers within you, just have to ask yourself the right questions. You say you were playing amazing until you started playing better opponents. What is it really that cause you lose your confidence? you say the racquet. What other things if any may have impacted? how those other things may have impacted your swing? What is causing both short AND long balls? wouldn't the racquet cause the same issue most of the time (either almost always short,v almost always long?) what other factors on top of the racquet may be influencing this? Hope this helps. On side note, isn't the Speed Pro also 18/20 as the Wilson you changed to? if same pattern, can the launch pattern be that different?
There are no free points for making life harder for yourself. Use what you feel helps you to play your best tennis. For instance, if a player excels at topspin, using a Blade, even if you're a pro, has high chances of not being a suitable choice unless it's part of a compromise to gain something else your game needs.
As for your Blade, it sounds like it could possibly be down to 1) better opponents are giving you less time on the ball and you're not getting to put the necessary work in to get the spin and pace you want out of it and/or 2) that against better opponents you're not finding enough effective mass (hitting weight, which is not the same as static or swing weight) at your contact point on the stringbed and it's resulting in a loss of control, power etc when needed against pressure shots.
Point no 2 is an easy but possibly fiddly fix. Simply up the effective mass where you make contact with the ball. You can do this by increasing swing weight/twist weight and static mass relative and balance to your swing style needs. I say fiddly as it can take some back and forth, trial and error, till you find something that works. A potential issue though is that you may find that you need it at a certain spec say that has a significantly negative impact on the first point (time on the ball). In which case, the answer would be to use a racket that literally hits harder per gram so to speak. And yea, an Aero 98 or something could very much be that for you.
Other potential factors of course include stringing setup, your game itself, and so on.
The launch angle is going to shoot up a bit with an Aero 98 compared to the blade or speed pro even. You can work with that or adjust stringing setup to balance it more how you want. Things like changing to a lower launching string, a thicker gauge, a higher tension, and/or increasing the tension of the crosses relative to the mains can all help. As can a hybrid setup. Increasing twist weight can help as well with lowering launch.
@@elchanclascocina yeah, I was thinking a lot that my issue was with a better player making me work harder, but I find that in practice matches I do very well against them, but tournament and other a bit more serious matches seem to change completely. I thought the problem was me and matchplay was the issue, but I see players opting for a tad more power in their racquet and it helps them compete. I was thinking maybe I wasn’t good enough to be using a blade and may benefit from a bit help from the racquet while I get better solid strokes. Don’t get me wrong the blade is fantastic, there’s a reason I switched to it. It’s just maybe it’s a bit demanding for me and need to be better before I can reap the benefits from the racquet
@@sjjapp solid answer. I like higher tensions in my racquet, which I can’t do with the blade just yet. I thought for a while my tennis was just lacking and I would get better if I just stuck with the blade. But in tournaments it seems I just make it harder on myself. Blade requires solid strokes and maybe I’m not consistent enough. While getting better is part of the process, I feel I make it more hard for myself bc I need to feel good in order to play good with my current racquet. Just thought that in the meantime I could get a bit help from the racquet while I get better. And it’s not that I need a lot of power on the racquet. I hate for example the vcore 98 as I feel the ball flies of the racquet too much for my liking. But I heard great things from the options I listed . Someone recommended I just lower the tension on my blade, but playing in altitude with
@@luistorressantos654 if you're an advanced and upwards player, and the blade isn't working out, it's either one or multiple of the points I mentioned in the previous reply or the racket simply doesn't suit you. The blade requires no more skill than a pure aero for instance at any kind of decent level.
A pure aero is much more friendly at lower levels though, generally, and the reasons for that actually overlap with why the line and similar lines from other brands are dominating modern tennis. They hit harder per gram so to speak. For a lower level player, this means they can have a light racket that helps them get the ball deeper, with more margin over the net on paper, with more pace, and more forgiveness when it comes to poor timing and shot mechanics etc. The blade is very punishing in this way if ones fundamentals are poor. But it's very rewarding and easier to play with for higher level players that say hit a more direct or flatter ball and play with precision etc.
A high level player with mechanics that don't align with the pure aero are going to struggle with a lot of things. Control is going to be one of them. With the blade, the control comes from directional control. With the pure aero, the control comes from spin control. High arc over the net and drop that ball back down heavy into the court with kicking spin. That's what it was designed for. And if you can do that, there's no racket out there almost, other than other similar rackets, that are going to offer more control. So control is relative. And players with different styles are going to find different rackets better or worse, harder or easier, more or less beneficial etc.
Another factor is power. Most pros using what are called control sticks when buying at retail will actually be using them at specs that give them more power than a Pure Drive. The Pure Drive actually isn't even the most powerful retail racket. Heavy control sticks are like the Yonex Vcore Pro 97 and such. There's a reason why pros have typically had rackets with high mass, high swing weights etc. Unlike recreational players, their careers depend on them winning matches. Going in with a racket that has no power isn't a great start in most cases. And my point here is it's not about using a Blade because you can generate your own pace, but rather that you don't feel you're making the ball you should with the blade, and then you're struggling to bring enough of your own control with the vcore 98. In simple terms, the ball launches from your vcore 98 stringbed and you're not applying enough spin to the ball to bring it back down relative to the angle and pace etc that you're hitting at. There are pros using spin rackets that hit flat, but it's down to something like them liking the margin for error from high launch or it's part of a compromise to get something else. It's very hard gaining control with something like an aero without injecting a lot of spin into the ball though. And the vcore 98 is a spin racket like that, just dialed down a bit more.
The best way to determine what you need is to make a note of what design choices are actually helping your game. What is hurting your game. Is it down to problems with your technique or is it a clash of interest so to speak with a frame? Customizing frames can be a great way of furthering this.
So I'd actually suggest that you start by adjusting the spec of your blade. See what happens. What do you need to do to hit the ball you want, and have you sacrificed too much to get it?
An example would be a player I played with that used a vcore 95. Now they use a vcore 98. It was actually quite simple in the end. They came to a certain custom spec with the vcore 95, and they were able to achieve the same result with the vcore 98 but at a lower spec. More swing speed. More time on the ball. More spin. More control. As a spin player they benefited more from above than the extra directional control with the 95. So the sacrifice of extra mass at custom specs with the 95 wasn't worth it for them.
If you get an aero 98, it will hit a better ball at same spec as your blade. On paper. Swing styles etc aside. So your blade may need to go up in spec to match it while still gaining that directional control etc. But is that compromise worth it? Can you alter any of these rackets to perform how you want? This is stuff you can play with. Mess around with if you want till something clicks.
Lowering string tension can help with increasing ease of depth with a shot. It also increases the launch angle though. Higher tensions increase directional control. There's no better or worse option universally. Pro or not. It's what works for you. The trampoline thing with lower tensions is something you'd get used to if you find a tension that lands the ball where you want it. Note though that contrary to popular belief lowering the tension will not increase power in any actual real life practical way. It can feel like more power though because you can potentially hit a higher and deeper shot. So same speed of ball but one has lower flight path and doesn't go deep in court Vs same power of shot but higher launch and deeper landing in court, the deeper higher one will put more pressure on opponent and feel more powerful. It can also feel more powerful if you can't control it and you're flying balls out of the court. But that's not the same thing as actually hitting a faster ball.
I use 2021 Radical Pro and I’ve been pretty happy with it. I just ordered Radical Pro 2023. Is Radical Pro really pro racquet more than club player racquet? Should I move down to MP? I mean is there difference between those two? I have been playing tennis for 2 years and more of baseline and flat ball player
different beams. a lot of people like the mp because it is a lot better to customize to suit the owner's game
great video - thanks so much
Glad you liked it!
Hi Jonas, what do you think of the Blade and vcore pro?
So I have a Regna 98 with 5 grams of lead equally added to 12,9,3 to 315g. Been loving it. Problem is I can't get a spare as a back up..
Tennis comparison web site says the closet is vcore 98 or pro staffv13.
I m actually thinking of getting an ezone since I like to hit both flat and spin with an aggressive play style. Wondering if you have any thoughts on a similar playing racquet?
in terms of feel regna 98 would be closer to vcore 95 either the current one or from the 2 generation ago (the darker red one without any tinge of blue). if you can get a demo try the current vcore 95
@@ek2140 Does the 1 generation ago Vcore (the blue stripe one) really suck that much? MyTennisHQ reviewed it favourably when it was the newest one.
great content and advise! I have a question about Wilson BLX Pro Open, would you categorize it a spin or power racquet (I know its yellow :) but I think it feels more like pure drive? )?
Thanks! I think that one is more Pure Drive than Pure Aero, yes
@@Tennisnerd please what do you mean by play with control
Great video as always. Thanks Jonas. What grip size do you use by the way? I purchased a racket just a few days ago. I thought the 2 was what felt best but both the pros in the store suggested a size 3 which I went with. Don’t know if I’ve been playing with grips that are too small for me all these years but this feels too big.
Grip size is a performance choice. Not a hand size one.
I do not know exactly why this has been confused in general in marketing etc, but just guessing I'd say it's just there, like recommended string tension range and string choices, which are sometimes printed on the racket, to give players without knowledge of their game a more limited range of choices to simplify things. In reality your grip size, string choices, and tension choices should be personal to you and may or may not fall within such guidelines. It's better to just ignore them entirely unless you need somewhere to start.
In basic terms, the smaller the grip size the easier it is to bring the racket around faster. Smaller grip sizes are often used by pros who excel at heavy topspin (Nadal, Thiem, and so on). Larger grip sizes feel a little more stable.
Would like to see a video dedicated to the 'tuning' of racquets, like the pro's do.
Is this a head tennis ad/commercial?
Can you test 2023 gravity mp lite and prestige mp lite ...build them to your spec first then test. ..supposedly great platform rackets
Respect for TI radical 🙌🏻
Thanks, I enjoyed watching it although I felt a little lack of relevance because I am a Volkl person :)
how about the new wilson swift for a beginner?
Hi Jonas, I don’t hear you talk about Angell rackets anymore. Previously you were very positive about their rackets. Something changed?
No, no, still great racquets. I can talk endlessly about all brands and racquets at the risk of boring myself and the audience to death.
Not boring at all my friend. Really enjoy your content. Where would you compare the K7 Red and Lime with?
should I play choose my racket based on how I play now, or should I choose based on how I want to play?
Great question - how you play now is what I would go for
@@Tennisnerd Thank you! I currently play a big game (because I am 6'3) with a big serve and forehand, and I use the 2020 babalot pure drive. I feel like it fits my game pretty well, but I am leaning toward switching to a more control-focused racket to make my game more rally-tolerant. Any suggestions?
Thank You! 🙏 appreciate
What racquets you use or would use now for competitive play for urself?
Reads a bit like a Head advertisement, but appreciate the tips overall. Thanks for sharing!
That was not intentional, just thought it would be sensible since they have the CPI scale and many different racquets..
Don’t you like the Blade 98 v7 or v8 then? More flex than the Rad. Closer to the Prestiges
I do like the Blade 98 V7 a lot!
A few points. ‘Tennis rackets have not changed in the last 20 years’ ??? When you say change you have to include the variety available. There are 200 rackets to choose from today. 20 years ago you had 25 rackets to choose from. Most all are large. And you have to include the strings when you speak of change. There are hundreds of strings today compared to 20 years ago, there were just a few. So the change is actually dramatic. And finally when you discuss smaller heads like the 95 compared to the 97 , 98 in reality there isn’t a difference in size. You can hardly tell the difference. And players generally stick to the baseline today which is not anywhere near as difficult as a net volley s/v game.
Ti. Radical is the mold of Djokovic...softer layup , 1 less cross string and tons of lead tape😂😂
Do you have a string video? I’m so lost!
Coming very soon!
3 favourites, 3 heads. No Yonexes, no Wilsons, no Babolats? Hmm...a bit weird...
that's his tournament set
he likes the 2022 ezone both the 98 and 100 and he did mention the rafa origin just not for tournaments.
he also likes a few princes ( the twists and tours)
also he likes head boom as well if you wanna be more biased
Jonas with hair!!🎉
If the data shows 61 yo as the average tennis viewer then is completely skewed.. The young tennis fans are watching online, obviously.
EDIT: I'm Brazilian and Thiago last name is pronounced with the "ild" part sounding like the word "build" not the word "wild"... The "W" sound in Portuguese in this case DOES NOT sounds like the letter "V", but the letter "U". Just a heads up. Love your content.
I will improve my Portuguese pronunciation! Thanks :)
Almost 10 minutes before the video starts.. 7:14
On a non-tennis note.. I like the longer hair.. =)
Babolat really messed up the colors in Nadal's racquet
wow badosa at 32kgs tension. real life wonder woman
ONE owns a “house “ but NEVER owns the property on which it sits
Tasteless upload for today.
Use 100 inches racket on clay fellowss
Badosa plays with 32 kg? Thats insane, especially for a woman.
Looks 90%
In first!
Im brazilian an Thiago should be forgoten. It doenst matter how good you are if you are nazi, racist, misgonist, etc
All that “we need younger fans” is overrated… if anything, what I love about tennis’s demographics is that it’s not football’s/basketball’s
Please stop talking about yourself!!!
You talk too much