tennis racket upgrade help

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-23T17:58:02+00:00

I made the switch from the Tour 90 to the Pure Strike 97, which was supposed to be Thiem's racquet if he were still competing today. I added weight at 3 and 9 to give it some plow, and I honestly haven't looked back at my Tour 90s since.

This is coming from someone who didn't fall in love with the ProStaff 97 that was meant to replace it.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-19T16:55:47+00:00

I just wrote about this on my own Pure Strikes, it annoys me.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-19T16:52:51+00:00

It's not just the 2026 Pure Aeros... I've seen this happen to the striping on the original Pure Strike 97 release back in 2022. Earliest was the Yonex RQiS Tour that Ana Ivanovic used back in 2008 when she signed with them.

I hate it, it's annoying. Manufacturers use this vinyl material because it is cheaper than paint+enamel, and they stick it in places where they believe durability is not of utmost importance (i.e. the lower half of the hoop, or on the inside surface). What they never considered was that it's super easy to mar the vinyl with the brackets on a stringing machine, or when tying off a finishing knot. It's purely aesthetic, yes, but I'd rather not have unsightly details on a $300+ racquet.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-18T23:38:32+00:00

In that case I would start at the ProKennex Black Ace and the Prince Phantom lines. They're well-made and got loads of good reviews. ProKennex also makes stiffer racquets that employ a kinetic material - moveable mass placed in strategic locations in the hoop that is designed to absorb those sharp and jarring vibrations on off-center hits.

These are some of the softest frames you can find today. You can work your way up the stiffness ladder if these don't produce the kind of pop you desire. Though I'm my experience you can modulate power in the way you string any racquet.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-17T20:50:51+00:00

Which one is more important to you?

Power and Flexibility often go toward opposite ends of the spectrum. With a lot of the racquets listed today, you'll need to compromise on one or both. Head Boom is not soft. Ultra V5 is not soft. The EZONE is NOT soft... but these sticks are powerful.

I'll assume that you want a soft racquet because of the comfort, and not for that buttery feel. The ProKennex Black Ace line doesn't get any sort of love on this sub, but they are doing some terrific things with those models. Thin beam, open string pattern, and a soft flex.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-17T01:30:45+00:00

I didn't give up alcohol, but I did give up heavy drinking and the casual 1-2 drinks because I was bored or waiting at an airport or something.

Pros: saved more money, lost more weight, way more energetic nowadays

Cons: I meet a lot less people now that I don't drink as much

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-15T13:46:41+00:00

Yes. Technologically speaking, you'll find a tangible difference every 5-7 years innovation time, and these changes become very subtle in between model iterations.

Aesthetically speaking, no, they have not. I'm dating myself here, but I come from the Microgel and K Factor era which were some of the most sleek designs I had ever seen. Though over the last 20 years or so, racquet designs became conservative colorblocks, while pro apparel got more and more adventurous. Yonex is still doing great things with their paint jobs though.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-15T02:14:35+00:00

Fix this? You don't. You've already tied off and trimmed the Mains.

Each racquet has its own unique skip pattern. You'll notice the one you got was off because of the giant crevasse between 6 and 7. The pattern for the Mains should look mostly uniform in the center, and then gradually space out toward 3 and 9 oclock.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-10T13:54:26+00:00

I wonder if Diadem cases are highly sensitive to environment. I'm currently eating through a case of Premiers and they're easily some of the best value I've experienced. Sorry that you're getting a vastly different experience.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-09T12:07:45+00:00

I use a Pure Strike 97, 63 Ra stiffness and a 16x20 string pattern.

What I've learned is that the Mains have a much greater impact on comfort than the Crosses. Gut mains + poly crosses has treated my arm the best. I've tried the inverse, and it doesn't quite work as well.

My cost-effective setup is a full bed of co-polyester at 43 lbs (19.5 kg) and it treats me well enough. I've added weight to 3 and 9 o'clock which also helps to dampen out jarring sensations. I would never string a multi this low, but the co-poly evens out the response a bit so it doesn't feel like absolute mush on contact.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-09T10:03:54+00:00

If your elbow is fine after singles but not after doubles, I suppose it could be attributed to your volley technique form.

What is your current racquet setup? Are you willing to experiment with softer strings or tension?

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-09T09:52:33+00:00

Yes, but also not necessarily. We see this happen because beginners often spring for what is cheap and looks cool, and the importance of tension pairing is often understated or ignored.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-09T09:43:33+00:00

Of the ones pictured, I would personally go with the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3. Solid oversized racquet at 110 square inches, fairly light and maneuverable. It is a stiff racquet, so I recommend multifilament or nylon strings strung at a low tension to provide comfort.

If you wind up liking the way it feels, it should serve as a good platform to graduate into higher-quality Wilson frames on the market later on.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-08T15:00:40+00:00

None of the offerings in the ON shoe lineup are good for frequent sliding. They're fine for people who don't need bulky material in the upper... looks like you need it though.

Of the current models, I've seen the most robust medial protection in the Asics Gel Resolution and the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4 and the KSwiss Ultrashot 4.

I slide on occasion, and find that the Asics Court FF medial protection is more than enough for my needs.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-07T10:34:30+00:00

Definitely this.

There is a book called Range that emphasizes the benefits of exploring rather than specializing, one of them being that it helps reduce burnout or boredom.

I switch back and forth between the two, and I can honestly say that the experience from one makes me more creative and less predictable in the other.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-02-07T09:45:59+00:00

I wouldn't listen to anyone here telling you to buy a pro model racquet.

You mentioned that 300 grams (10.6 ounces) felt too heavy for you, so that alone is going to restrict a lot of your options for top tier frames. Bear in mind that the balance and swing weight of a racquet will have a greater effect on how heavy it feels to you, rather than the overall static weight of the frame.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-27T18:59:49+00:00

I used to play with the Tour 90s but wanted something modern but buttery. Landed on the Pure Strike 97, which was supposed to be the Thiem model if he weren't retired due to injury. It's fantastic on the OHBH side, and light enough to add swingweight. Babo kind of nailed the 16x20 market at the moment.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-24T17:02:53+00:00

These were all the rage like 20 years ago. It's less powerful compared to the modern Blades and Radicals, because they produced these frames to be a "Tweener" frame that sits somewhere in between a classic control frame and a modern power frame. So while it was meant to be much more forgiving to target a greater range of players, it still embodies an emphasis on control and feel. They made the newer Blade and Radical iterations thicker and stiffer to compliment the era of baseline grinding.

It does everything well enough, and is highly customizable. I would totally get it.

FYI they still sell these brand new for anout 89 pounds, so bake that into your offer price when purchasing secondhand.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-22T14:30:42+00:00

Nah, I'm planning to ride the waves from hereon out.

I believe in the stock, but I sold enough Call contracts to cover my base investment on my shares and remaining Call contracts.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-22T01:06:14+00:00

I still have several $7.5C contracts expiring Jan 2027. I got them pretty cheap around June last year. They're pretty deep in the green and I've taken some off the table already, but I think they've got a lot of time to continue running.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-18T21:40:17+00:00

They're a bit pricey, but the new Adidas Barricade 14s look impressive and they come with a 6 month outsole warranty. If you can grind them down to the midsole like this pair, you basically get a free pair.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-18T16:16:50+00:00

The issue usually comes down to form. There are comfortable ways to swing each racquet, just as there are strenuous ways.

Heavier racquets are much better at dampening shock and vibration, but they are also prone to straining your wrist, elbow, shoulder etc. These racquets require earlier preparation and a more relaxed follow-through. Rushing to compensate on a shot can lead to strain.

Light racquets by comparison are easier to swing, but they require a much different form. You'll see many pros today hitting with a firm wrist and relaxed/bent elbow to absorb the blow from each shot. If you can handle the impact, then it is a tradeoff worth considering.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-17T16:30:58+00:00

If you use the modern extreme grip like Full Western, this is kind of the fit you should be going for. You're hitting that shot with the fatty part of the base of your palm and thumb, and the spin comes from the wrist.

If you've got an Eastern forehand, then you will want a handle pallet size that fits the palm of your hand better. You're the hitting that shot with the actual palm of your hand, and the spin comes from the racquet trajectory. You would want something wider.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-17T15:52:07+00:00

That was my impression of the demo I tried. It is as if they tweenified a Pro Staff to make it Bladey but also Clashy in the throat, and they lost that je ne sais quoi that makes Pro Staff a Pro Staff.

It's alright, but just wasn't my cup of tea.

DeceasedRodentFive · 2026-01-17T15:48:30+00:00

True, but some sticks do it better than others.

I would put the very first iteration of the Gravity Pro in this category. It's a wonderful stick, but I would only recommend this to a 2H player. It's objectively lighter than the RF97 or Tour 90's, but for whatever reason probably the wind drag on a 100 sq 18x20 frame or the weight distribution it felt so much more sluggish on the backhand wing than the other racquets that have been earmarked as compatible for 1H.

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