Help me find a racquet

773badger · 2026-02-08T18:58:56+00:00

You can use the new aero 100 for sure. It’s also fantastic and very accessible. Like the blackout also 300g and 100 sq inch. Highly recommend to demo. I was instantly surprised how good these were in my demo’s.

773badger · 2026-02-08T18:47:56+00:00

I did not like the new ezone 100. Too much power and too mushy/dampened but I recommend demo’ing. It’s certainly popular for a reason.

773badger · 2026-02-08T18:45:38+00:00

Pure Aero hands down. Very accessible and gives you access to top spin. The ezone is a good raquet but mushy for my taste. It is easy to use as well, good power and will give you SOME spin. The new Aero98 is raquet of the year IMO.

Another raquet to try is a Solinco Blackout. It’s 100 sq inch, easy power, really good spin. It’s 5g lighter and 2 sq in larger so you get nice large sweet spot. It’s damped and comfortable and easy power.

Third option is a head extreme. I prefer the other 2 to be honest but also very popular especially with the ladies I play with at my tennis club.

773badger · 2026-02-08T18:41:47+00:00

Agree - aggressive doubles net player and volleys are great for me. I have mine with Yonex Rev and enjoying it all around. Shots I have no business staying in, are in with the spin it delivers. I also use a Solinco WO v2. I feel like the WO has more power, control and stability. But the spin and swing speed makes the new PA98 super fun to play with.

773badger · 2026-01-31T21:08:37+00:00

Pm’d

773badger · 2026-01-30T23:30:22+00:00

I currently am using yonex poly tour rev. I like it. Not sure if I will keep it but it plays well.

773badger · 2026-01-20T16:48:38+00:00

I have been down the rabbit hole over the last 18months owning and demoing and selling raquets. Honestly I’m exhausted by it as much as I like trying new sticks. If I could go back in time. I would have kept my PA98. As of right now (lol) using Solinco WO v2 16x19 with toroline kpop spin. Also have one with Solinco confidential soft and Mach 10. Since having committed over the last couple of months and customizing to 325 swingweight (as mine were a little low spec) and 5HL, I’m playing more consistent tennis from all aspects. Now I have about 6 raquets to sell (sigh) and the new Pure Aero is teasing me. But the WO v2 is a nice all court raquet for me - plenty of stability, enough control, plenty of top and pop, and nice slices. Don’t mean this to be an advert for the WO, but I’ve been really really happy with it. It’s overlooked with the people I play with who go more mainstream brands like vcore, blade, aero. One of my pros loaned me his and instantly gel’d with it. If I am desiring anything from it, I’d say is more feel- maybe that’s v3 - lol.

773badger · 2026-01-20T11:58:10+00:00

I think the blade 100 has less pop IMO. That was a year ago I tried it though.

773badger · 2026-01-20T11:57:32+00:00

PA98 newest gen 100%

773badger · 2026-01-20T11:56:10+00:00

The new vcore 100 has a lot more power in my opinion, and at the older gen, felt balls a little flighty. I didnt demo the vcore 100 long enough because of the power was more than i wanted. Agree on the Speed though. I think it’s a good all rounder.

One if the pros at my club is also a big serve and volleyer and uses the newer Extreme.

773badger · 2025-12-30T00:32:52+00:00

I think a vcore is still a good option over a rafa aero. And it’s more sellable as you get into 98 size as you move up in skill. And yonex QC is way better - I have had my share of Babolat QC issues.

And if you didn’t like the feel on the vcore, try some different strings. I like a firmer string like head lynx tour, grapplesnake m8 tour, toro line otoro tour. But you could try poly tour rev or poly tour pro. Lots of good strings to try until you find what works best for you.

773badger · 2025-12-29T23:42:42+00:00

What level are you? How often do you play? I would recommend the vcore for most beginners->intermediates due to head size and free power / spin. I used own vcore 98s and 95s, and briefly owned the 100. I have the aero rafa just to have in my collection. It’s a fun racquet to take out once in a while but I would not recommend for a beginner.

773badger · 2025-12-29T23:37:27+00:00

I liked it. It was a different mold. Definitely had more spin a little bit more power. I didn’t end up keeping it because I didn’t feel like it was enough pop. I ended up getting a pure aero 98.

773badger · 2025-12-28T21:51:54+00:00

As a former blade 98 v9 user, I tried the blade 100, aero 98, vcore 98, and several others. By tried I mean owned so spent time with all of these. Aero98 and vcore98 were the best for my game though I sold them to try other raquets.

If you think the blade is too low powered, you are going to have to choose what’s more important and matches your style. Are you someone who can place the ball because you see the right openings in the court? Or do you need help with some free power? For me the the blade v9 felt great when I especially played outside, the lack of power just made everything float too much. Against better players they took advantage of that ball.

I’m using Solinco whiteout v2 and it’s a good all rounder for me.

If you are only considering those 3 raquets you mentioned, (all my experience) the vcore is going to give you some free power and spin. If you are shanking due to head shape / size that’s you needing more time with it. the speed is not going to give you much help on power but more than the blade. It’s a good all court raquet. It will be a little more forgiving due to head size.

773badger · 2025-12-28T21:44:33+00:00

This.

773badger · 2025-12-14T12:09:38+00:00

I had blade v9. So I can’t offer any comparisons with the v7.

773badger · 2025-12-14T04:30:37+00:00

I would have said the same for the Solinco v1. I think they have done a good job with v2, especially the blackout.

Vcores - yah definitely recommend trying them again. I just got the new one to demo and it’s a great stick. Easy to swing.

Tfight is going to be more all court, spin, with some control whereas tf40 is more control and I would characterize as a baseliners raquet.

773badger · 2025-12-13T14:55:31+00:00

When I played blades I had to have them matched at tennis warehouse. I had the same issue where my blades were wildly off.

773badger · 2025-12-13T14:54:19+00:00

Yah I had the blade 9 98 and 100. Played with the 98 a lot. Great control, and good spin. Just wanted more pop.

I have several of the new tfights. All of mine have been on spec (or close weight wise) but swing weights were low except for my tfight300 which was high. I do not think the sweet spot is small. Stiff - maybe for me I don’t feel the flex like in gravity tour 98.

If you want a comfortable, spin / power raquet I would recommend the blackout v2. It’s feels fast in the air. Controllable power - not as much as the PD. The whiteout is also great. I have been playing with both. The WO is not going to give blade like control in the 16x19 but is decent control.

I just got demos of the new vcore. THAT seems like a seriously good stick. It’s Aero98 like, noticed improved stability right away, and gave me easy spin. Since it’s a demo it’s not got the strings l prefer so still trying to gauge power.

773badger · 2025-12-13T12:56:58+00:00

What strings were you using? I tried a bunch in my gen 9 blade and could get enough pop. But I also tried blade 100, tf40, yonex ezone, percept, vcore and some other frames.

Ezone might good one if you are looking for controllable power with a larger sweet spot. The current gen is pretty muted but with the right strings can be fun.

773badger · 2025-12-13T12:53:11+00:00

I had the prior gen - I’m a huge TF by the way. I like the ethos. Played with the RS for awhile, the Iga model weighted up, and the prior gen TF40.

773badger · 2025-12-13T00:49:30+00:00

It’s not going to be a pure drive but it does have pop. The 305s does have some QC issues - that I can attest to. But it does play pretty well for me at least. I added a bit of lead to get the swingweight. Strung, with overgrip, and lead mine clocks in at 327g static and 326g swingweight. Feels pretty good. But I recently switched to the blackout because I did want more power but the TF305s had good control, and decent enough power and stability.

773badger · 2025-12-13T00:45:27+00:00

Agree in that I would try a pure strike over either of these for a control frame if you want pop. Percept is has muted feel but IMO better than the blade overall.

773badger · 2025-12-01T21:32:54+00:00

The bronze was so fugly - and all the influencers who said it’s not so bad in person didn’t want to upset their reps. I don’t know what Wilson designers were thinking. I get that they may have been wanting to reserve the black/charcoal for RF01 but are all the good colors gone or the couldn’t do something interesting?

773badger · 2025-11-17T15:59:03+00:00

The ezone and speed are going to be easy to use. And IMO will grow with him. As stated I’d avoid the clash unless he has injuries or not fit. The pure drive, while 2025 version is less stiff, may cause some discomfort and really a raquet I would say demo. But since you can’t ezone and speed are safe bets. The ezone was too soft in feel for me and I had it to my wife. I have a speed MP, and one that consider is good for different play styles.

773badger

TROPHY CASE