The Wilson Shift are out and not much has changed since the excellent prototype release. Here is our Wilson Shift 99 Review.

Wilson Shift 99 Review

The Wilson Shift 99 is the Shift racquet with the more widespread appeal. If you haven’t heard about the Wilson Shift, it’s Wilson’s new spin-focused line. According to Wilson, the Shift has been designed to be torsionally stiff (for added stability and power when driving the ball) and laterally flexible (for increased dwell time on vertical mechanics – think spin). The 16×20 pattern might make you think that the Shift 99 is more controlled than many 16×19 racquets on the market, but it still create quite a lot of rotations on the ball and a relatively high launch angle.

I have tested the Wilson Shift racquets with many different players. Everyone from ex-ATP pros to senior tour players to ITF junior women players, and the feedback has been similar: they all like it. Does it mean the Shift is an automatic switch? No, because it works better for players who naturally apply more topspin to their strokes. But many players will enjoy the Wilson Shift. I think the lighter 99 will be the more natural choice for most, while the Shift 99 Pro will work better for advanced players who like a bit more swing weight and heft and bit more control from the denser string pattern.

Wilson Shift 99 Specs

Is the retail different from the prototype?

You might have watched or read our Shift review of the prototype version, so a natural question is whether the Shift 99 differs from the prototype. After playing with both side by side with the same string setup, I can safely say they are the same. Wilson claims to have changed the average balance slightly on the 99, but with quality control being a classic issue for tennis racquets, it all depends on what racquet you get. I have two regular 99 and one prototype, and they all spec up pretty closely, and on a blind test, I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.

How does it play?

If you are an advanced player who hits with plenty of spin and likes a heavier racquet, the Wilson Shift 99 MP is a must-demo. You might not quite the spin potential of a Pure Aero 98, but it’s close and you get a nice solid feel. T

I wouldn’t be too worried about the high RA stiffness rating. RA doesn’t tell the whole story about how firm a racquet plays or if it’s bad for the arm or not, since racquets flex in different ways and locations. The players who have tested the Shift with me have not noticed any issues in terms of comfort.

Players mainly focused on control might find the Shift a bit too unreliable regarding launch angle as this racquet is most suited towards players who generate heavy spin on their groundstrokes. But it does deliver in terms of stability, power on shots like serves and volleys. On these shots, it’s a pretty balanced frame.

Summary

The Wilson Shift 99 is an excellent racquet. If you fit the demographic above, you should check it out. I would be happy if you considered using our affiliate links to our friends at Wilson Tennis.

Compared to the Shift 99 Pro, I like the lighter Shift 99 better since I can swing it faster and control it better. But the Shift Pro 99 offers better plow-through and stability.

But overall, the Shift racquets remain great as prototypes and retail editions.

The Wilson Shift are out and not much has changed since the excellent prototype release. Here is our Wilson Shift 99 Pro Review.

Wilson Shift 99 Pro Review

The Wilson Shift 99 Pro is the heavier, more control-oriented option of the Wilson Shift racquets. If you haven’t heard about the Wilson Shift, it’s Wilson’s new spin-focused line. According to Wilson, the Shift has been designed to be torsionally stiff (for added stability and power when driving the ball) and laterally flexible (for increased dwell time on vertical mechanics – think spin). So even if the Shift 99 Pro has an 18×20 string pattern, it creates a relatively high launch angle and works best for more spin-oriented players.

I have tested the Wilson Shift racquets with many different players. Everyone from ex-ATP pros to senior tour players to ITF junior women players and the feedback has been similar: they all like it. Does it mean the Shift is an automatic switch? No, because it works better for players who naturally apply a bit more top spin to their strokes. But many players will enjoy the Wilson Shift. I think the lighter 99 MP will be the more natural choice for most, while the Shift 99 Pro will work better for advanced players who like a bit more swing weight and heft and bit more control from the denser string pattern.

Wilson Shift Pro Specs

Head Size: 99 in² / 639 cm²
Length: 27 in / 68.58 cm
Strung Weight: 11.7 oz / 332 g
Balance: 12.75 in / 32.39 cm / 6 pts HL
Swingweight: 332
Stiffness: 68
Beam Width: 23.5mm / 23.5mm / 23.5mm
Composition: Graphite
Colors: White
Grip Type: Wilson Pro Performance
String Pattern: 18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: 8T,10T,8H,10H
String Tension: 21-26 kg/48-58 lb

Is the retail different from the prototype?

You might have watched or read our Shift review of the prototype version, so a natural question is whether the Shift 99 Pro differs from the prototype. After playing with both side by side with the same string setup, I can safely say they are the same.

How does it play?

If you are an advanced player who hits with plenty of spin and likes a heavier racquet, the Wilson Shift 99 Pro is a must-demo. You might not quite the spin potential of a Pure Aero 98, but it’s close and you get a nice solid feel. The racquet also feels pretty fast for a 315g unstrung spec. I think you need to be quite an advanced player (at least 4.5 NTRP) to get the most out of the racquet, but if you can play at a high level and enjoy a higher swing weight, I think the Shift 99 Pro can be a great option for you.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the high RA stiffness rating. RA doesn’t tell the whole story about how firm a racquet plays or if it’s bad for the arm or not, since racquets flex in different ways and locations. The players who have tested the Shift with me have not noticed any issues in terms of comfort.

Players mainly focused on control might find the Shift a bit too unreliable regarding launch angle as this racquet is most suited towards players who generate heavy spin on their groundstrokes. But it does deliver in terms of stability, power on shots like serves and volleys. On these shots, it’s a pretty balanced frame.

Summary

The Wilson Shift Pro 99 is an excellent racquet. If you fit the demographic above, you should check it out. I would be happy if you considered using our affiliate links to our friends at Wilson Tennis, Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only.

The racquet is a bit too heavy and spin-focused for my game. I like the lighter Shift 99 MP better since I can swing it faster and control it better. But the Shift Pro 99 offers better plow-through and stability.

But overall, the Shift racquets remain great as prototypes and retail editions.

Yes, Donnay racquets are still around and should not be forgotten. Here is our  Donnay Formula 100 Octacore Review.

Donnay Formula 100 Octacore Review

Donnay’s trademark in recent years for tennis racquets has been various layers of foam to make them arm-friendly. This foam is called Xenecore and will help dampen the impact and also create a solid response.

The racquet I reviewed is also “unibody,” meaning it’s all in one piece. No pallet or foamed grip. That is also supposed to increase the solid feel.

I would say one benefit of Donnay racquets is their arm-friendliness, and the new Octacore Formula 100 does not disappoint.

It plays with excellent comfort, and I had no issues with my hitting arm even after using a full bed of poly. I tried it with Donnay X Poly 1.25 at 51 lbs and Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25 at 53 lbs.

Both strings worked fell in the racquet. I like hitting both the Formula 100 and the Pro One 97 when the tension has dropped a bit, so perhaps starting out around 50 lbs for both could be more sensible.

Average specifications

Head size: 100sq”
Unstrung Weight: 300g
Unstrung Balance: 320mm
Unstrung S.W: 280
String Pattern: 16×19
Stiffness rating: Unknown
Grip: Cushion
Rec. String Tension: 45lbs (+/- 10)
Beam Width: 20/27/24mm
Length: 27inches

How does it play?

The Formula 100 is kind of a comfortable Pure Drive. It has more flex than the Babolat powerhouse, but still provides excellent force.

Spin potential is good as well, and the racquet feels like it has a relatively large sweet spot.

I might like a slightly denser string pattern for these power racquets, like an Ezone 100, but the Donnay is not a wild racquet by any means. It plays somewhere in between a spin and a power racquet.

The lower stiffness can be felt at times on off-center hits when a stiffer racquet might be a tad more stable.

Summary

Overall, I was very impressed with Donnay Formula, and I have used it beyond what was needed for the play test, which is relatively rare and a positive sign.

I liked the Formula better than the more demanding Pro One 97, but both racquets are excellent.

I much prefer the Octacore line to the Hexacore. I am unsure if it’s the Unibody tech or something they’ve changed in the line-up, but I get better power and a more solid feel with these new Donnay racquets.

I don’t get quite the power of Pure Drives or Ezones, but the comfort is much more important for me and I think most players will be happy with that aspect of the racquet.

Donnay keeps being a solid option for players looking for arm-friendly racquets.  I am not sure where you can get these except for the official website—big thanks to Racket1.no, who arranged the demo racquets for me.

I think they ship within Europe at least if you are interested, and the Donnay racquets retail at a slightly lower price than the main brands.

Yes, Donnay racquets are still around and should not be forgotten. Here is our Donnay Octacore Pro One 97 Review.

Donnay Octacore Pro One 97 Review

Donnay’s trademark in recent years for tennis racquets has been various layers of foam to make them arm-friendly. This Xenecore foam will help dampen the impact and create a solid response.

The racquet I reviewed is also “unibody”, meaning it’s all in one piece. No pallet or foamed grip. That is supposed to increase the solid feel.

One benefit of Donnay racquets is their arm-friendliness, and the new Octacore Pro One 97 does not disappoint.

It plays with excellent comfort, and I had no issues with my hitting arm even after using a full bed of poly. I tried it with Donnay X Poly 1.25 at 51 lbs and Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25 at 53 lbs.

Both strings worked fell in the racquet, but I think I went a bit high and will re-string this racquet at 49 or 50 lbs with medium firm poly. 

Specifications

These average specifications come from the Donnay official website. I will measure my specs for the upcoming video review on our YouTube channel.

Head size: 97sq”
Unstrung Weight: 305g
Unstrung Balance: 315mm
Strung Weight: 317.5g
Strung Balance: 5 Points HL
Strung Swing Wt: 314
String Pattern: 16×19
Stiffness: unknown
Grip: Cushion
Rec. String Tension: 45lbs (+/- 10)
Beam Width: 21/21/21mm
Length: 27 inches (standard)
Technology: Octacore X?neCore™

How does it play?

I have tested the Pro One 97 in various iterations and generations. The official website talks about it being similar to a PT57A. It doesn’t have that feel and flex, but that is the inspiration.  An old-school control racquet somewhere in between a Prestige and a Pro Staff. 

With a lower string tension (dropping to something like 45 lbs), it plays with a generous amount of power for its specifications. There is also room for customization since the average swing weight is low.

The 16×19 pattern opens up for a decent amount of spin, though.

The lower stiffness can sometimes be felt on off-center hits when a stiffer racquet might be a tad more stable.

Summary

It took me a while to groove with the Pro One 97. Previous generations have been difficult to use, but I think the stiffness is slightly higher here, enlarging the sweet spot and giving you more power.

I much prefer the Octacore line to the Hexacore. I am unsure if it’s the Unibody tech or something they’ve changed in the line-up, but I get better power and a more solid feel with these new Donnay racquets.

It’s still a very control-oriented racquet, however. You need to provide the power. 

But the thin beam and small head size allow you to create lots of racquet head speed easily. When I had time to attack the ball, the racquet delivered in spades. I could swing it fast and generate lots of pace. But on defense, the Pro One is much more punishing than the Formula 100, for example.

On serve, the racquet comes through the air with generous pace and you hit heavy flat serves as well as spinny kicks serves, but it’s all in your hands. The racquet doesn’t provide any power for free.

All-in-all, when you’re on your game, the Donnay Pro One 97 Octacore delivers. 

Donnay keeps being a solid option for players looking for arm-friendly racquets.  I am not sure where you can get these except for the official website—big thanks to Racket1.no, who arranged the demo racquets for me.

I think they ship within Europe, at least if you are interested, and the Donnay racquets retail at a slightly lower price than the main brands.

I had the fortune to test Epok tennis racquets a week back or so. They are trying to bring wooden racquets onto the modern tennis scene…

Epok Tennis Racquets

Like many things in tennis, Epok is a work of passion. Founders Teo and Mikael are tennis enthusiasts and racquet collectors. Some years back they met to trade racquets and the conversation around creating their own tennis racquet brand started. After years of work and many prototypes created, they have made a racquet that has modern racquet specifications but is completely made of wood. When I joined Henrik Wallensten in Båstad for the Nordea Open, we met up with Teo and Mikael as well as two other tennis nerds in Andreas Bergen (previously with Luxilon) and racquet collector Daniel Wendel.

We got two hit with two EPOK racquets for two hours. One was strung with Alu Power Roland Garros 1.28 at 44 lbs / 20 kg and the other one was strung with HEAD Velocity at 1.25 at the same tension. Three of us preferred the poly setup, while Andreas, somewhat surprisingly, preferred the multifilament. I think the best setup for these racquets would be a hybrid with a natural gut.

You can watch the Epok tennis video review here. (Going live on July 29th, at 9 pm CET)

Specifications

• Weight (frame only without grip/butt cap) 310 grams. (+-5g)
• Weight (with Fairway leather grip and leather butt cap) 335 grams. (+-5g)
• Unstrung target balance (with leather grip/butt cap) 320mm.
• Beam width 20mm.
• Head size 98 square inches.
• Fairway leather grip in tanned brown.
• Leather Buttcap from Tärnsjö in olive green or natural with embossed DL crest.
• Grip size: L2 – L3
• Recommended tension:
  Polyester string: 40 +/- 4 lbs
  Multifilament or natural gut: 50+/-4 lbs.
• Laser cut inlay Epok logotype of walnut/maple/ash on the side of the frame

Only FSC-certified Maple, Ash & walnut woods are used in Epok rackets.

Price: €1199

The price is high, but the product is handmade using expensive materials. If they can get some capital through sales of Epok racquets, maybe they can streamline the production and bring the price down. Still, there were people during our few days in Båstad that ended up buying Epok racquets.

How does it play?

The racquets play with the excellent feel that most quality wooden racquets have. But with a larger head size, more spin potential, and forgiveness. It’s of course not quite as stable in the upper part of the hoop as a Pro Staff 97, for example, since wood is such a flexible material. But, the feel of wood is hard to beat.

After two hours with the Epok racquets, it’s my feeling that Mikael and Teo are succeeding with what they set out to do in terms of making a more playable wooden racquet. It’s still not as easy to use as modern racquets, but the feel is unmatched and you can play serious matches with an EPOK racquet. I would love to own one of these to practice with and use for fun, but the price is a little much at the moment.

But if you do purchase an Epok racquet, let me know what you think about it in the comments below.