I've always used the radical 98. I love how versatile it is. It's not outstanding in any category but great all around. I had to switch to the percept 97 because it's more head-light and I am loving it
I'm going to try and dedicate more time to it next year. I've never meshed that well with it - always thought it lacked a sort of x-factor - but I know a lot of people like it so I'll make sure my next review is really thorough.
I recently switched from the PS97 V11 315g to the Aero 98 305g and I’m loving it. I’m still struggling to better control shorter balls, but overall it’s been better. The maneuverability is making up for the tiny loss on control, since it’s easier to set up the strike and the spin potential added so much to the aggressiveness of my shots since I’m not able to generate a lot of power.
Great video and a great take on these racquets! I have both the Speed MP and the Blade 98 16x19 in my bag. While I love the extra power on serves and ground strokes that the Speed provides, I want better maneuverability at the net - and that’s why I mostly use the Blade .
I needed to replace a Prince racquet that gave me elbow issues as I got older, so I went for a 270 gm Volkl Feel 3 with 110 head size: it proved to be a disaster. The killers were the lack of power in the top third of the string bed and the instability against big hitters and when volleying. The Head Instinct MP300 Auxetic was the answer. This is the first racquet I have used without a damper. It has enough power, good spin & manoeuvrability , sufficient control, total stability while giving no elbow issues. I'm now tempted to upgrade again to the Speed MP. I really like the Wilson Blade (with damper) and the Shift (denser string bed) that have better feel on contact, but at my age the slight Auxetic deadness is the price for protecting the elbow.
I tried one of those earlier this year. As I mentioned above, I think it was the RPM Blast in the demo racquet that put me off. Needs a controlled but more lively string IMHO.
The Head Radical Pro is definitely a top 5 racket that always flies under the radar, it's definitely a solid all around player's stick and it's so good at the net!!
Hey Luca, I always love your reviews and how spot on they are. I'm a high schooler and am finding a new love for tennis and am inspired by your passion for the sport and your job. I'm curious as to how you got in the position you are and what you would have to say for how to get into this kind of career.
Thank you very much! I think the best advice I can give you is develop whatever niche you want as a passion first, take in as much knowledge as you can during that period and then when the opportunity comes, give it everything you have.
Liked the blade on test, lovely sound when you middle it, but for me it needs a bigger swing to generate the same power as a head speed mp, so for younger players a blade is good, for older players several in the head range should work
Hopefully, you all get the Gravity 98 next year. I'd be interested in how that would compare to this list. Some early preview compares it with the VCore 98.
I have tested over 20 racquets and it came down to Blade 100 and Speed MP. Both great but I picked Blade as it was more comfortable, predictable and maneuverable. Speed MP had better power though.
Perhaps you're right but the game has developed and no one is going to win, at the highest level, playing the way tennis was played 30 years ago which is why frames are adapting. Sacrifices will always be made in one area to make another perform better and the default (even for modern all-court players) is to hit well from the baseline. Rackets will always have a tendency toward that style and I still think that's the key.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I am a recreative player, far from your level of play I think, my preferences are of course different to yours. I wish the racquet had slightly more power (strings could resolve that) but comfort and predictability were my major factors. Still looking for comfortable strings that suit the racquet well. I found both racquets to play very very similar to me.
Thanks for another great video.I was demoing racquets earlier this year and tried Babolat, Yonex and Head options. I came close to choosing the Pure Strike - need to try one again. On the Speeds I preferred the Pro over the MP, mainly because it has a lovely balance of weight from handle to tip. A tad heavier at 310g, but not polarised toward the head like the Speed MP and so many racquets are these days. I found it faster to swing than the MP and still forgiving with the right string setup. It has a surprising amount of spin for an 18/20, but obviously not in the league of Aero etc. Of course it's all personal taste. I seem to be leaning towards heavier racquets the more I play these days. I'm happiest at 310 to 320g and around 330 swing weight. My ideal, if it ever gets made, would be a 98-inch Gravity Pro 16/20. That'd be an all-round beast. Or maybe a less head-heavy Pure Strike 98-inch 16/20.
I'm 26, very light fast player and I used to be a baseline grinder but now I feel I changed my playstyle to an all court player. I started with the pure strike but it was a very stiff racket for me. I changed to babolat pure aero team 2019 and I've had that one since 2021. I want to buy a new one but I want to make sure it's the right one for me. I was thinking about the gravity MP and I tried that yesterday and it was a very good stable racket, I was very consistent with it but I realized I want a racket that helps me generate a little bit more power in my shots without losing my consistency. I'm not afraid to come to the net since I usually have to do it to close out the points and I also like to hit drop shots. Of course when it comes to the decisive points I like to rely on my consistency which is my strenght at the end of the day. I'm an intermedian high level player and I want to like kind of break that barrier to go toe to toe with the high level players here in my city. Which racket would you recommend for me to help me generate more power in my shots but of course without losing consistency. Appreciate it, thank you 🙏
Agree that the Vcore is stable and has good power. I don’t find it maneuverable, and weight in the head probably contributes to that. I had to a decent amount of weight in the handle to help. I also find the Vcore to be much less spin friendly than I expected.
Another vote here for the Ezone over the Vcore. I have used the Ezone solid for 2 years and it's fantastic. The only other racket I use from time to time is the Percept 100 if I am looking for a little more control although I wasn't expecting to see that in your top 5!!
I play with the vcore 98 and I did demo the ezone 98. I must say, both of these can achieve a VERY similar performance depending on your strokes and string setup. I think they’re both interchangeable.
Yeah i keep an ezone 100 in my bag and don't find it that hard to switch from the vcore 98 back and forth. The ezome doesn't give as much easy topspin but its better for volleying i find@@CB-mr1ci
I have a Wilson Shift with weight added to the 2 and 10. It has everything I need from a racket and I feel like I can do everything with it. Before I added the weight and a dry grip it was unstable, but now I feel weird playing with any other racket
Another great video. I played for years with the Speed MP but found it lacking a bit of power. Switched to the VCore 98, found that lacking consistency and made a home with the Aux 1 Boom Pro. Great breakdown of all the rackets, maybe I should give the Strike or Aero 98 a try.
Speed mp for me, great racket, especially weight and stability. it is crisp for volleys with bi phase stringing even if a little muted, but this saves the arm and elbow
I loved the Head Speed line. It was my favorite for some time specially as an intermediate. Unfortunately, I had to change to a Blade 98 because it just felt too clunky and like I outgrew it and it slowed me down. I would love a 98 inch version with maybe slightly thinner beams if it can still have the positives that make it great otherwise
So I've used an aero for a long time and someone recently let me use their strike. Gotta say, I'm likely going to switch. Seeing this video helped me realize I'm not that crazy.
I currently play with the Blade v8. I agree that it feels more like a counterpuncher. It is very solid and predictable but I can't really hit big shots and put huge pressure, which seemed to work better with the aero 98 of my friend. That racket was also more fun to use if that makes sense. I will demo some of these top 5 rackets, thanks for the video!
@Estudio01deoctubre The aero feels more direct at contact making it a little harsher on the arm. But not at a point where I would feel real discomfort however. The blade is definitely softer though, but therefore also more mushy at contact
Nice one Luca, would be great if you did a similar type of video for aggressive baseliners. Also, how would you compare the Speed MP with the latest Extreme Pro?
@@filipologi I’m not Luca (obviously!), but I personally hated the Speed MP when I tried it. I found it sluggish, I think because of the balance and swing weight. The extreme pro was better, but I found the string bed inconsistent. Was launchy on volleys. Could’ve been a string thing on the demo though
I have the Speed MP and really like it. Also tried the Blade v9 100 16x19 which I highly recommend but felt it wasn’t as much of an all rounder like the Speed.
I have the speed mp and just buy the aero 98. I was searching for more precision and better touch feel. I found it. Plus I feel the aero more stable, but I think is heavier.
Hi, is the pure aero 98 comfortable and powerful compared to head speed mp? I'm playing with the blade because of the arm friendliness but I want more free power and spin so i'm looking for the 2 models you mentioned.
Speed Pro is my choice👌MP was good too but I always preferred the feel and launch on the Pro…even with my one hander I prefer the Pro than a lot of 98s
Agreed and had the same thoughts with all these rackets. I ended up with the pure strike 98 18x20. There's an addictiveness with it and have never played better tennis. I added weight at 9 and 3. The blade couldn't get past the feel. Head radical pro is my other favorite. Speed pro had great feel but felt clunky (and I'm used to heavy rackets).
That's why i reverted back to the speed mp grapheneXT ltd with the 22mm beam. It just feels better through the air than any of the follow up speeds. The graphene touch which came after also with 22mm beam is too muted. I have the following 100 inch rackets in my bag for match play: Head Gravity pro 360+ with under spec 330 swing weight strung Head gravity mp auxetic customized to the same 330 swing weight Prince phantom 100p swing weight 328 Head speed mp grapheneXT ltd swing weight 328 The speed mp is the most all round of those 4, but I'm different situations i grab one of these if I'm playing 100 inch ² that day. I also have several smaller head size rackets that i play matches with.
Ha! Ha! My racket of choice shows up first. It can be a bit wild out of the sweet spot. I just till feel I have to improve here and there to get the best out of it, but yea it's stable and supportive, makes me feel safe to play bolder, specifically going for the lines with some extra spin. Plus, people, try VCore with Solinco Confidential in mains and a rounded poly (choose this one base on the stiffness you want the string-bed to have) in crosses.
I don’t know your level, how tall pr strong are you and all this kind of things but i have a one handed backhand and i passed from the head extreme mp to the Vcore 98 and I fell way better than before.
@@Cmp0225 thanks for the input. I’ll say I’m a pretty good/strong player. 180cm. I’ve been playing with a 95 and it’s just a lot of work to win tournaments without having that little bit of extra power/forgiveness and defensive help that those other racquets would give. That’s the main reason I want to change, but I don’t want to lose that much stability or control either
I guess you just have to add a little weight to the Ezone at 3 and 9 and then its on the list, also better for 1 handed backhanded players. Use Gut on the mains for the Vcore to provide maximum feel which is the best feel you can get with VDM...
Speed mp is amazing. I have an older model Graphene 360+ Speed (2020 or 2021, not sure) and it works for me. Do you think the 2022 and 2024 have a lot more than my model? It does not have the auxetic yet
Amazing video as always. I just got the Speed MP base on your previous video. It works amazingly good on offense. But strangely it feels like a 98 instead of 100 (small sweet spot & high swing weight). And since I'm 2.5-3.0ish, it would be great if you can have a 100 list for all-court game. I'm also wondering your take on the ezone 100. I've heard it is a really good one.
Hey Luca, I’m wondering if a should pick the pure strike 98 16 by 19 or the Wilson rf 01, I want a racquets that gives me a lot of control and above average power and it has a lower launch-angel but still has good manoeuvrability and spin potential?
How does the speed mp compare to its previous aux 1.0 version? I currently play with the older one and love its ease of play, comfort, and predictable response.
How do you feel about the new Pure Strike 100 16x20? Could that take the spot of the PS 98 16x19? My main stick is the Blade V9 98 18x20 with the only customization being a leather grip, and I consider myself an all-court player and I feel like it gets the job done. I probably should be using the 16x19 but something about dense string patterns just feels right to me when I'm hitting. It gives me the trajectory that I want. That's why I'm playing around with the idea of the 16x20 Strike. I can get the feel and control of a denser string pattern with a bit more power when I want it and I'm assuming it'd be more forgiving.
Completely agree re: the 23mm beam thickness of the Speed. It's the one reason, that it does not agree with my one handed backhand - 100 sq.in. + 23 mm beam is just too much to drag around on the backhand side. I used to play with the Head YouTek Graphene Speed Pro Limited from 2013 (which has a 22mm beam). Hitting with that compared to the 2024 version, the 2013 version is significantly easier to manoeuvre. My current racquet is the HEAD Prestige MP 2021 with a bit of added weight to lower the balance point to just under 33cm (32.8 - 32.9cm) using an overgrip and a bit of lead. This is an excellent all rounder: 18x19 string pattern (good blend of spin and control), 99 sq.in., 21.5mm constant beam, 66 RA, 337grams strung (with customisation), and 32.9cm balance (listed as 33cm, but mine were all over 33cm). Feel is great as part of the Prestige heritage, but it is much more modern than the Pro without being too muted. Volley stability is excellent. Not sure about the swing weight, as I don't have easy access to the right machinery, but it is listed as 334 grams, and it certainly plays like a racquet with plenty of plow through to flatten out the shot and add pace. I was taught tennis back in the 80'ies, so I don't mind the heavier weight for serving and really enjoy serving with it, but some have found it too much (note the TW review).
Speed MP has one huge downside - it’s swingweight is barely manageable by average player. And since it’s already so high, if you won’t get lucky with QC (as it was in my case), you will end up with 340sw sledgehummer that will destroy your technique and arm. Luka, it would be very interesting to take Speed MPL and customize it to 300 static and 320sw, to check if it will have all the good characteristics of MP, while being much more accessible for not so advanced players
@RacketsRunnersVancouver (Luca) - I have 2022 Speed MP (Aux. 1), and it is close to 2.0 swingweight. Would you still consider and rank 1.0 this high as the all court frame?
Would you mind sharing what factors make Speed MP much ahead of EZONE 98? I am struggling between choosing one of these two as my permanent frame. I am an all court 3.75 player.
I'm always a little careful when talking about specific strokes, at least in my reviews, and I really don't want to make them any longer than they already are but I'm always looking to improve so I'll definitely try some new stuff in 2025.
I use the head radical pro and honestly i was surprised to not see it on this list. So my question here is what do you think it lacks compared to the 5 rackets that you mentioned in this video
First off, I appreciate Luka for his enthusiasm and passion, and most of the racquets in the video are great for their own reasons. That said, I think this list is a bit off-base in a way, mainly due to the conflation of what it means to be truly "all court", at least in the classic sense, versus what's being construed here, which is more baseline-centric play that happens to bring the player into the court, but not necessarily as a first intent. Those are two different animals, and this list seems primarily based on the second. True thoroughbred all-court sticks are equally, if not more, at home actually playing most of the point in the mid and fore court (ie. up at net), and such a group would include silos such as Pro Staff, Prestige, C10, even Percept or CX. But the problem of course is "modern" all-court is devoid of the kind of gentler cat-and-mouse tennis that would call for such tools (and thus why they're dying out). Instead, "modern all-court" is much more centered on baseline bashing one's way into a close-out position, possibly ending the point with a drop shot or maybe a mid-court put-away. That's not true all-court tennis, at least not in the classic sense. And thus, the list in this video isn't a list a true all-court frames. As such, I think a better video name might be "Attacking baseliner frames with all-court tendencies", or something like that. I know that probably seems like splitting hairs to some, but I think it's a distinction worth noting, considering how the game has changed.
I understand your sentiment and I agree but I also want to say, you won't win at the highest level playing the way true all-courters did 30 years ago. The all-court gamestyle has adapted to the modern game and because of that the rackets are too, and the focus is still more toward the baseline. To me, that just means the needle has shifted but I know some people do still play a true all-court style.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Very good point. Like it or not, the all-court game style has shifted, and the all-court racquets have, too. And playing an older-school style all-court game with older-school all-court frames will leave a person in the dust the further you climb up the competitive ladder.
@@outcometechnologygreat analysis of how the defimition of all court has changed. And now i understand why as a traditional all courter i've found myself switching from the ezone to the vcore. While i don't volley as well with the vcore i find the easier topspin helps me from the baseline and baseline performance is pretty important now. Traditional net rushing/approach shot game is not as effective in todays game even at 4.0.level and definitely less so at higher levels
I think this list is ridiculous. Speed MP as a all court racquet??? Are you nuts? 300g (too light), open 16x19 pattern (favour baseline) etc. Ezone is also more versatile than the baseline orientated Vcore. RF01 Pro is the best all court racquet that's been released this year by a measure of lightyears provided you're at a decent technical level of play.
I disagree that 300 grams is too light and 16x19 is heavily baseline favoured (Pro Staff, Percept H, etc.) but you do bring up some good points. The RF01 is great for attacking all-court play but it is tough to use defensively, that's really the key there.
Thanks for the video, never easy to compile any ‘best’ type list content… you’re on a hiding to nothing. For what it’s worth I’m in the Blade 100 camp for all round playability, a recent discovery that I’m loving.👍🏻
I’m more of an all-courts player as I can routinely hit the ball into the neighbouring courts.
Spot on 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hear hear
All-neighborhood player
U need more spin
I've always used the radical 98. I love how versatile it is. It's not outstanding in any category but great all around. I had to switch to the percept 97 because it's more head-light and I am loving it
Kinda surprising it wasn’t in the top 5. It’s the racquet whole identity pretty much to be an all rounder.
I'm going to try and dedicate more time to it next year. I've never meshed that well with it - always thought it lacked a sort of x-factor - but I know a lot of people like it so I'll make sure my next review is really thorough.
Great video(as always)! This new on-court footage style is a big step up 💪
Thank you! Let’s not get too used to it 😅
Love the mp stock. Super good feel and really good accuracy!
I recently switched from the PS97 V11 315g to the Aero 98 305g and I’m loving it. I’m still struggling to better control shorter balls, but overall it’s been better. The maneuverability is making up for the tiny loss on control, since it’s easier to set up the strike and the spin potential added so much to the aggressiveness of my shots since I’m not able to generate a lot of power.
Glad it's working for you!
Great video and a great take on these racquets! I have both the Speed MP and the Blade 98 16x19 in my bag. While I love the extra power on serves and ground strokes that the Speed provides, I want better maneuverability at the net - and that’s why I mostly use the Blade .
Thank you!
I needed to replace a Prince racquet that gave me elbow issues as I got older, so I went for a 270 gm Volkl Feel 3 with 110 head size: it proved to be a disaster. The killers were the lack of power in the top third of the string bed and the instability against big hitters and when volleying. The Head Instinct MP300 Auxetic was the answer. This is the first racquet I have used without a damper. It has enough power, good spin & manoeuvrability , sufficient control, total stability while giving no elbow issues. I'm now tempted to upgrade again to the Speed MP. I really like the Wilson Blade (with damper) and the Shift (denser string bed) that have better feel on contact, but at my age the slight Auxetic deadness is the price for protecting the elbow.
Great detailed video Luca! Would love to see aggressive baseliner, serve and volley, counterpuncher, etc. type videos like this.
I think the babolat pure strike 16x20 the best option for a all-court is
Great video again!😅
I tried one of those earlier this year. As I mentioned above, I think it was the RPM Blast in the demo racquet that put me off. Needs a controlled but more lively string IMHO.
Wish I could try it, I’ve heard so many good things about it
Such a great job! Love your content!
Thank you!
The Head Radical Pro is definitely a top 5 racket that always flies under the radar, it's definitely a solid all around player's stick and it's so good at the net!!
Hey Luca, I always love your reviews and how spot on they are. I'm a high schooler and am finding a new love for tennis and am inspired by your passion for the sport and your job. I'm curious as to how you got in the position you are and what you would have to say for how to get into this kind of career.
Thank you very much! I think the best advice I can give you is develop whatever niche you want as a passion first, take in as much knowledge as you can during that period and then when the opportunity comes, give it everything you have.
Liked the blade on test, lovely sound when you middle it, but for me it needs a bigger swing to generate the same power as a head speed mp, so for younger players a blade is good, for older players several in the head range should work
Hopefully, you all get the Gravity 98 next year. I'd be interested in how that would compare to this list. Some early preview compares it with the VCore 98.
I don't know about the Vcore 98 but you can check out our initial impressions video if you'd like!
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I did see it but that was preproduction, right?
Honestly, it's been a year since I've been waiting for your review on Yonex Percept 100D. 😢😢
We just don't carry it, unfortunately.
I have tested over 20 racquets and it came down to Blade 100 and Speed MP. Both great but I picked Blade as it was more comfortable, predictable and maneuverable. Speed MP had better power though.
Perhaps you're right but the game has developed and no one is going to win, at the highest level, playing the way tennis was played 30 years ago which is why frames are adapting. Sacrifices will always be made in one area to make another perform better and the default (even for modern all-court players) is to hit well from the baseline. Rackets will always have a tendency toward that style and I still think that's the key.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I am a recreative player, far from your level of play I think, my preferences are of course different to yours. I wish the racquet had slightly more power (strings could resolve that) but comfort and predictability were my major factors. Still looking for comfortable strings that suit the racquet well. I found both racquets to play very very similar to me.
Thanks for another great video.I was demoing racquets earlier this year and tried Babolat, Yonex and Head options. I came close to choosing the Pure Strike - need to try one again.
On the Speeds I preferred the Pro over the MP, mainly because it has a lovely balance of weight from handle to tip. A tad heavier at 310g, but not polarised toward the head like the Speed MP and so many racquets are these days. I found it faster to swing than the MP and still forgiving with the right string setup. It has a surprising amount of spin for an 18/20, but obviously not in the league of Aero etc.
Of course it's all personal taste. I seem to be leaning towards heavier racquets the more I play these days. I'm happiest at 310 to 320g and around 330 swing weight. My ideal, if it ever gets made, would be a 98-inch Gravity Pro 16/20. That'd be an all-round beast. Or maybe a less head-heavy Pure Strike 98-inch 16/20.
I'm 26, very light fast player and I used to be a baseline grinder but now I feel I changed my playstyle to an all court player. I started with the pure strike but it was a very stiff racket for me. I changed to babolat pure aero team 2019 and I've had that one since 2021. I want to buy a new one but I want to make sure it's the right one for me. I was thinking about the gravity MP and I tried that yesterday and it was a very good stable racket, I was very consistent with it but I realized I want a racket that helps me generate a little bit more power in my shots without losing my consistency. I'm not afraid to come to the net since I usually have to do it to close out the points and I also like to hit drop shots. Of course when it comes to the decisive points I like to rely on my consistency which is my strenght at the end of the day. I'm an intermedian high level player and I want to like kind of break that barrier to go toe to toe with the high level players here in my city.
Which racket would you recommend for me to help me generate more power in my shots but of course without losing consistency. Appreciate it, thank you 🙏
I would try the Blade 100 or the Speed MP. Both are great for helping with power but don't sacrifice much control/consistency.
@RacketsRunnersVancouver Thank you! Appreciate it
Dear Luca
How the Tecnifibre T-Fight 295 or 305 isn’t on this list is astonishing! Snooze you lose.
Ps. Love the content. Regards
What string would you recommend for Head Speed? A great video!
Great video, as always 👍
Although I do feel like no radical mp or radical pro on this list is a bit of a crime.
Percept 100D it's a good all-court game. Right now my favorite racket.
You mean Percept?
@Batwam0 hahaha yes, I ment percept.
Yes, it's a great racket.
Agree that the Vcore is stable and has good power. I don’t find it maneuverable, and weight in the head probably contributes to that. I had to a decent amount of weight in the handle to help. I also find the Vcore to be much less spin friendly than I expected.
I found the same thing, i like the vcore 98 bjt it feels a bit sluggish at net. How much weight did you add to the handle?
@@The4.0Guy I added 8 grams in the butt cap.
Hey Luca. Great video as always! How would you rate the Pro Staff v14 in this list? Is it too underpowered compared to these rackets?
Another vote here for the Ezone over the Vcore. I have used the Ezone solid for 2 years and it's fantastic. The only other racket I use from time to time is the Percept 100 if I am looking for a little more control although I wasn't expecting to see that in your top 5!!
100% agree.
Ezone is the definition of a Jack of all Trades. Way more than a Vcore, which specialises more towards spin.
I play with the vcore 98 and I did demo the ezone 98. I must say, both of these can achieve a VERY similar performance depending on your strokes and string setup. I think they’re both interchangeable.
The Ezone is easy top 6, maybe I'm wrong here because there are certain things the Ezone does better than the Vcore but it's so close between them.
Yeah i keep an ezone 100 in my bag and don't find it that hard to switch from the vcore 98 back and forth. The ezome doesn't give as much easy topspin but its better for volleying i find@@CB-mr1ci
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver it might just depend on stroke style, maybe?
Excellent video , thank you very much! What string and tension would you recommend for RF01 Pro?
Hi Luka, what string setup do you use in the Speed MP? Keep up the great work!
Babolat RPM Blast at 52 pounds. And thank you!
I have a Wilson Shift with weight added to the 2 and 10. It has everything I need from a racket and I feel like I can do everything with it. Before I added the weight and a dry grip it was unstable, but now I feel weird playing with any other racket
Yes, the Shift is awesome.
Another great video. I played for years with the Speed MP but found it lacking a bit of power. Switched to the VCore 98, found that lacking consistency and made a home with the Aux 1 Boom Pro. Great breakdown of all the rackets, maybe I should give the Strike or Aero 98 a try.
Thank you very much!
What about Blade 100, Luca? It sounds like the Speed w/ 22mm beam you wished for?
Blade 100 is garbage. Simply not a proper Blade at all.
That would be the gravity tour 98 comming up
@@googlereviewer1944 what dont you like about it?
There was 22mm speed and not hard to gain😂
I love that racket but it’s just not quite as well rounded as the Speed.
Speed mp for me, great racket, especially weight and stability. it is crisp for volleys with bi phase stringing even if a little muted, but this saves the arm and elbow
another amazing video as always. please add back the music in the beginning
Thank you! We’re trying something new but might go back to it.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver i prefer vids without added music
I loved the Head Speed line. It was my favorite for some time specially as an intermediate. Unfortunately, I had to change to a Blade 98 because it just felt too clunky and like I outgrew it and it slowed me down. I would love a 98 inch version with maybe slightly thinner beams if it can still have the positives that make it great otherwise
So I've used an aero for a long time and someone recently let me use their strike. Gotta say, I'm likely going to switch. Seeing this video helped me realize I'm not that crazy.
It's an awesome racket!
I currently play with the Blade v8. I agree that it feels more like a counterpuncher. It is very solid and predictable but I can't really hit big shots and put huge pressure, which seemed to work better with the aero 98 of my friend. That racket was also more fun to use if that makes sense. I will demo some of these top 5 rackets, thanks for the video!
Is the babolat pure aero arm friendly? compared to the wilson blade. Did you felt the stiffness of the aero compared with the blade?
@Estudio01deoctubre The aero feels more direct at contact making it a little harsher on the arm. But not at a point where I would feel real discomfort however. The blade is definitely softer though, but therefore also more mushy at contact
Nice one Luca, would be great if you did a similar type of video for aggressive baseliners. Also, how would you compare the Speed MP with the latest Extreme Pro?
Yes, definitely looking to do it. The Speed MP and Extreme Pro are quite different so really difficult to describe.
@@filipologi I’m not Luca (obviously!), but I personally hated the Speed MP when I tried it. I found it sluggish, I think because of the balance and swing weight. The extreme pro was better, but I found the string bed inconsistent. Was launchy on volleys. Could’ve been a string thing on the demo though
Suggestion for video: top 5 for doubles!
I have the Speed MP and really like it. Also tried the Blade v9 100 16x19 which I highly recommend but felt it wasn’t as much of an all rounder like the Speed.
I agree 100%. Ezone 100 would be my runner up but the Speed MP gave me tad more comfort too.
That was my experience as well.
I have the speed mp and just buy the aero 98. I was searching for more precision and better touch feel. I found it. Plus I feel the aero more stable, but I think is heavier.
Hi, is the pure aero 98 comfortable and powerful compared to head speed mp? I'm playing with the blade because of the arm friendliness but I want more free power and spin so i'm looking for the 2 models you mentioned.
Speed Pro is my choice👌MP was good too but I always preferred the feel and launch on the Pro…even with my one hander I prefer the Pro than a lot of 98s
Agreed and had the same thoughts with all these rackets. I ended up with the pure strike 98 18x20. There's an addictiveness with it and have never played better tennis. I added weight at 9 and 3. The blade couldn't get past the feel. Head radical pro is my other favorite. Speed pro had great feel but felt clunky (and I'm used to heavy rackets).
I'll also add the pure drive but it's not great on touch and requires softer hands.
Glad you like it, it's such a good stick.
That's why i reverted back to the speed mp grapheneXT ltd with the 22mm beam. It just feels better through the air than any of the follow up speeds. The graphene touch which came after also with 22mm beam is too muted.
I have the following 100 inch rackets in my bag for match play:
Head Gravity pro 360+ with under spec 330 swing weight strung
Head gravity mp auxetic customized to the same 330 swing weight
Prince phantom 100p swing weight 328
Head speed mp grapheneXT ltd swing weight 328
The speed mp is the most all round of those 4, but I'm different situations i grab one of these if I'm playing 100 inch ² that day. I also have several smaller head size rackets that i play matches with.
That sounds like a great racket bag!
Ha! Ha! My racket of choice shows up first.
It can be a bit wild out of the sweet spot. I just till feel I have to improve here and there to get the best out of it, but yea it's stable and supportive, makes me feel safe to play bolder, specifically going for the lines with some extra spin.
Plus, people, try VCore with Solinco Confidential in mains and a rounded poly (choose this one base on the stiffness you want the string-bed to have) in crosses.
hey Lucca! and what about the Boom Pro? It's not more all arounder than the Speed MP?
Great video! Which one you would recommend for a one hand backhand between speed MP, pure aero 98 and rf01/rf01 pro?
I don’t know your level, how tall pr strong are you and all this kind of things but i have a one handed backhand and i passed from the head extreme mp to the Vcore 98 and I fell way better than before.
@@Cmp0225 thanks for the input. I’ll say I’m a pretty good/strong player. 180cm. I’ve been playing with a 95 and it’s just a lot of work to win tournaments without having that little bit of extra power/forgiveness and defensive help that those other racquets would give. That’s the main reason I want to change, but I don’t want to lose that much stability or control either
RF01 or Pro and by far!
Hey Luca, would you consider the new gravity 98 an all court racquet? How would it stack up against this top 5?
Hi Luca, did you customized the Speed MP? Which swingweight works fine? Leather, Lead?
Isnt the radical a sort of a speed 98?
No constant beam and the throat is not aerodynamic, actually the Extreme Tour (now the Extreme Pro) is more of a Speed 98 in that sense
@@jlparcerisa agree specs differ but the purpose is similar.. Whereas the extreme is spin oriented
@@jlparcerisa design actually would be the correct word
I always thought a Speed 98 wouldn't make sense b/c the Radical exists at the 98 sq in level (just like a 100 sq in Radical wouldn't make sense).
@@padflash same
I guess you just have to add a little weight to the Ezone at 3 and 9 and then its on the list, also better for 1 handed backhanded players. Use Gut on the mains for the Vcore to provide maximum feel which is the best feel you can get with VDM...
Speed mp is amazing. I have an older model Graphene 360+ Speed (2020 or 2021, not sure) and it works for me.
Do you think the 2022 and 2024 have a lot more than my model? It does not have the auxetic yet
Amazing video as always. I just got the Speed MP base on your previous video. It works amazingly good on offense. But strangely it feels like a 98 instead of 100 (small sweet spot & high swing weight). And since I'm 2.5-3.0ish, it would be great if you can have a 100 list for all-court game. I'm also wondering your take on the ezone 100. I've heard it is a really good one.
The Ezone 100 is an amazing racket. Super forgiving but not demanding and great all around the court as well.
Random question for Luca, what's your UTR?
I have no idea, I don't really play matches anymore but definitely not high.
Can you introduce what racket suits for western grips players?
Most rackets nowadays complement the western grip quite well.
Any chance of a review of the Wislon Pro Staff 6.1 95 v14? A relic but still used by many ATP pros.
Thanks for the good videos. I bought aero98 and speed mp. Is ther any string recommendation which last its tention longer and stable?
4G is always my recommendation for tension maintenance.
Have you tried VCore 95? Would love to hear why you prefer the 98 over the 95! I have heard that the feel in the 95 is much better😁
I actually prefer the 95 because it's more controlled and doesn't have that wild side the 98 tends to have on some shots.
i'd pick the 100 version of each for rec players :D
even pros have been playing with 100 rackets
Totally agree!
Head Prestige Tour Auxetic 1.0 16x19 👍🏻
Dunlop CX 200 16x19 👍🏻
Hey Luca, I’m wondering if a should pick the pure strike 98 16 by 19 or the Wilson rf 01, I want a racquets that gives me a lot of control and above average power and it has a lower launch-angel but still has good manoeuvrability and spin potential?
And above average stability
Go for the Strike!
How does the speed mp compare to its previous aux 1.0 version? I currently play with the older one and love its ease of play, comfort, and predictable response.
It's a little bit more muted but more stable too. It also has a much higher swingweight so it doesn't feel as qucik.
@RacketsRunnersVancouver thanks!
Speed tour with 99 head, 305g, 18x19 strings
Any thoughts about adding a leather grip to the Speed MP?
I don't find it necessary but it will boost that stability a little bit.
Hey Luca! Did you customize the Speed MP? If so, how did you do it?
Nope! Totally stock.
Could you rank them in that order on a 100 size ?
Hi do you use leather grip or have any customization for ps 98 16x19 in this video ? 8:22
I actually don't I really like it in stock form.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver do you use leather grip for this PS 98 16x19 ?
would Gravity tour 98 even come close to making this list?
Hey Luca, I also suffer from ankle injury flare ups, what ankle brace do you use? Thanks!
This one! racketsandrunners.ca/products/medspec-aso-evo-ankle-brace?variant=39614797250595
How do you feel about the new Pure Strike 100 16x20? Could that take the spot of the PS 98 16x19? My main stick is the Blade V9 98 18x20 with the only customization being a leather grip, and I consider myself an all-court player and I feel like it gets the job done. I probably should be using the 16x19 but something about dense string patterns just feels right to me when I'm hitting. It gives me the trajectory that I want. That's why I'm playing around with the idea of the 16x20 Strike. I can get the feel and control of a denser string pattern with a bit more power when I want it and I'm assuming it'd be more forgiving.
I haven't played with it yet because we don't carry it.
what did you string your blade with? is that your favorite string for the blade
Alu Power and yes it is.
Completely agree re: the 23mm beam thickness of the Speed. It's the one reason, that it does not agree with my one handed backhand - 100 sq.in. + 23 mm beam is just too much to drag around on the backhand side. I used to play with the Head YouTek Graphene Speed Pro Limited from 2013 (which has a 22mm beam). Hitting with that compared to the 2024 version, the 2013 version is significantly easier to manoeuvre. My current racquet is the HEAD Prestige MP 2021 with a bit of added weight to lower the balance point to just under 33cm (32.8 - 32.9cm) using an overgrip and a bit of lead. This is an excellent all rounder: 18x19 string pattern (good blend of spin and control), 99 sq.in., 21.5mm constant beam, 66 RA, 337grams strung (with customisation), and 32.9cm balance (listed as 33cm, but mine were all over 33cm). Feel is great as part of the Prestige heritage, but it is much more modern than the Pro without being too muted. Volley stability is excellent. Not sure about the swing weight, as I don't have easy access to the right machinery, but it is listed as 334 grams, and it certainly plays like a racquet with plenty of plow through to flatten out the shot and add pace. I was taught tennis back in the 80'ies, so I don't mind the heavier weight for serving and really enjoy serving with it, but some have found it too much (note the TW review).
Speed MP has one huge downside - it’s swingweight is barely manageable by average player. And since it’s already so high, if you won’t get lucky with QC (as it was in my case), you will end up with 340sw sledgehummer that will destroy your technique and arm.
Luka, it would be very interesting to take Speed MPL and customize it to 300 static and 320sw, to check if it will have all the good characteristics of MP, while being much more accessible for not so advanced players
A 340 swing weight on the Speed is wild. I've never measured one even close to that high so you must have gotten really unlucky.
@@КузьминыхМаксим idk if my sw was that high on my demo (doubt it), but I definitely found it sluggish when I tried it.
what stringing do you recommend for Speed MP ?
I like RPM Rough and Lynx Tour.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Thank you Chef !!
Radical Pro?
Semi-Western or Eastern grip Luca? I couldn't quite tell which you were using.
Semi-western.
@RacketsRunnersVancouver (Luca) - I have 2022 Speed MP (Aux. 1), and it is close to 2.0 swingweight.
Would you still consider and rank 1.0 this high as the all court frame?
Yes, for sure!
Would you mind sharing what factors make Speed MP much ahead of EZONE 98?
I am struggling between choosing one of these two as my permanent frame.
I am an all court 3.75 player.
What about the Head Graphene Gravity Tour?
A bit too clunky to be a top-tier all-courter IMO.
Head should make the Speed MP lighter and make a Speed Tour with 305g and 22,5mm consistent beam and 100 in head size
Volkl C10 Pro . See for yourself .
Great video as always. What court is that? I also live in Vancouver and was looking for a solid indoor
Thank you! That’s UBC.
What about SERVING Review?. As amazing of detail and insight from your reviews A critical part of the rackets performance is never discussed
I'm always a little careful when talking about specific strokes, at least in my reviews, and I really don't want to make them any longer than they already are but I'm always looking to improve so I'll definitely try some new stuff in 2025.
Any recommended string setup for vcore 98 yet?
I like something a little stiffer like Alu Power.
The ezone 98 needs a review 🙏
There’s an older one, and a comparison video to the vcore
@@willfaust471is it the 2022 model?
@@greg5892 yes, and the new vcore
@@greg5892yes, and compared to the new vcore
All in due time 😉
How about radical mp 2023 300g 16×19?
I find it to be a bit lacking in certain performance characteristics but, on paper, it's great all around the court.
I use the head radical pro and honestly i was surprised to not see it on this list. So my question here is what do you think it lacks compared to the 5 rackets that you mentioned in this video
Maybe it's just a personal issue I have with the Radical Pro but I always seem to think it lacks an x-factor that a lot of these other rackets have.
Why not the speed pro rather than the mp ?
Why not solinco wo ?
What about extreme mp ?
The Speed Pro is a little too sluggish IMO. The Whiteout we don't carry. The Extreme MP is a true spin racket - not really an all-courter.
First off, I appreciate Luka for his enthusiasm and passion, and most of the racquets in the video are great for their own reasons. That said, I think this list is a bit off-base in a way, mainly due to the conflation of what it means to be truly "all court", at least in the classic sense, versus what's being construed here, which is more baseline-centric play that happens to bring the player into the court, but not necessarily as a first intent. Those are two different animals, and this list seems primarily based on the second. True thoroughbred all-court sticks are equally, if not more, at home actually playing most of the point in the mid and fore court (ie. up at net), and such a group would include silos such as Pro Staff, Prestige, C10, even Percept or CX. But the problem of course is "modern" all-court is devoid of the kind of gentler cat-and-mouse tennis that would call for such tools (and thus why they're dying out). Instead, "modern all-court" is much more centered on baseline bashing one's way into a close-out position, possibly ending the point with a drop shot or maybe a mid-court put-away. That's not true all-court tennis, at least not in the classic sense. And thus, the list in this video isn't a list a true all-court frames. As such, I think a better video name might be "Attacking baseliner frames with all-court tendencies", or something like that. I know that probably seems like splitting hairs to some, but I think it's a distinction worth noting, considering how the game has changed.
I understand your sentiment and I agree but I also want to say, you won't win at the highest level playing the way true all-courters did 30 years ago. The all-court gamestyle has adapted to the modern game and because of that the rackets are too, and the focus is still more toward the baseline. To me, that just means the needle has shifted but I know some people do still play a true all-court style.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Very good point. Like it or not, the all-court game style has shifted, and the all-court racquets have, too. And playing an older-school style all-court game with older-school all-court frames will leave a person in the dust the further you climb up the competitive ladder.
@@outcometechnologygreat analysis of how the defimition of all court has changed. And now i understand why as a traditional all courter i've found myself switching from the ezone to the vcore. While i don't volley as well with the vcore i find the easier topspin helps me from the baseline and baseline performance is pretty important now. Traditional net rushing/approach shot game is not as effective in todays game even at 4.0.level and definitely less so at higher levels
Blade all the way
No love for the EZone 98? I feel like that’s more all Court friendly than a vcore, even if it’s more stable stock.
I'm not sure. It's really close between the two, maybe I was wrong here but they're both great all-courters.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I don’t doubt you! I see your logic. And I might be biased since I play with the Ezone!
What about the Tfight?
Also a great all-courter.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver I have both speed mp and tecnifibre Tfight 295 (100inch) I have to say they are both excellent in their own way
No more love for t fight 305 staff pick?
Is that Beckett that you're hitting with?
Yes it is!
head speed mp and head speed mp legend is the same racket ?
Yes
Percept 97 😮
Definitely good as well but very true control.
percept 97?
A little too control oriented for me to have it on this list but it's great.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver understandable
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver would that mean it’s more of a serve and volley stick, or for counterpunchers?
My you are not reviewing Technifibre racquets TF40 and TF-X1.
98 Speed is basically a Radical MP, no? 🙂
No, it would have a constant beam.
I think this list is ridiculous. Speed MP as a all court racquet??? Are you nuts? 300g (too light), open 16x19 pattern (favour baseline) etc. Ezone is also more versatile than the baseline orientated Vcore. RF01 Pro is the best all court racquet that's been released this year by a measure of lightyears provided you're at a decent technical level of play.
I disagree that 300 grams is too light and 16x19 is heavily baseline favoured (Pro Staff, Percept H, etc.) but you do bring up some good points. The RF01 is great for attacking all-court play but it is tough to use defensively, that's really the key there.
Thanks for the video, never easy to compile any ‘best’ type list content… you’re on a hiding to nothing. For what it’s worth I’m in the Blade 100 camp for all round playability, a recent discovery that I’m loving.👍🏻
Thank you and glad the Blade is working for you!
Speed MP is great, but quite ugly. Legend is cool though. Babolat and Yonex are way ahead with looks imo
2024 Speed MP ranked #1?…
My man 😏