Latest in Tennis Racquets

Juncheng Shang’s Racquet

by TN August 2, 2023

written by TN

China is bringing loads of excellent players to the ATP Tour. Shang beat Shelton yesterday. But what is Juncheng Shang’s racquet?

Juncheng Shang’s Racquet

Juncheng Shang is only 18 years old, but already nearing the top 100 players in the world. After beating Ben Shelton at the Washington Open ATP 500, he is likely to soon be inside the elusive group of players. I got some questions about his racquet after his rise in the rankings. It’s a rare one to see on the ATP Tour.

Juncheng Shang’s racquet is the Babolat Pure Drive 98 (click the link for my review)—the more control-oriented option of Babolat’s popular powerhouse. You can tell by looking at the red grommet strip in the pictures.

He uses what looks like Babolat RPM Hurricane, a classic among Babolat strings and a bit softer than the popular RPM Blast.

I don’t know if he customizes his racquet in any way (it might not be necessary as the swing weight of the Pure Drive 98 is pretty high) and what tension he uses, but if you have any of this information, let me know in the comments below or via Instagram).

The Pure Drive 98 is a firm and powerful racquet, especially for being a 98 sq inch racquet. It is the update to the Pure Drive VS , and we deemed it a significant improvement here at Tennisnerd. Still, it’s quite firm and players struggling with tennis elbow, might need to think twice before using this stiff racquet.

Going for a softer string and/or lower tension is usually the way to go for these firmer racquets.

What’s in the future of Juncheng Shang?

Shang has all the shots and moves well. He doesn’t seem fazed by playing higher-ranked players. The potential is significant. One issue could be the height as 180 cm is on the shorter side of the ATP Tour and will affects serve and reach a bit. But he compensates by being an ultra-fast mover and solid returner.

What do you think is in store for Juncheng Shang?

August 2, 2023 2 comments

Racquet Reviews Tennis Racquets

Epok Tennis Racquets

by TN July 29, 2023

written by TN

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.

July 29, 2023 0 comment

Tennis Racquets

Yonex Percept Racquets

by TN July 28, 2023

written by TN

Yonex VCORE Pro is no more. Instead, we get the evolution with new Yonex Percept racquets. What does this mean?

Yonex Percept Racquets

The new Yonex Percept racquets will be launched on August 25th, 2023. I have had the fortune to hit a bit with these racquets already and I’m excited to get more time with them. Our first impressions are up on the YouTube channel.

I think it makes sense to rename the VCORE Pro series, since having VCORE as spin and VCORE Pro as control, makes little sense to me alongside EZONE for power. I am not a hundred percent sold on the name Percept, but it’s not easy to come up with something new regarding racquet names.

The Yonex Percept racquets are available for pre-order from our friends at Tennis Warehouse and Tennis Only in Australia. I have not yet seen them listed at Tennis Warehouse Europe.

What is new in the Percept?

The new technology in the Yonex Percept is the SERVO FILTER*. This is what they say on the official Yonex website:

“The technology effectively reduces unwanted vibrations while providing accurate sensory feedback from the ball. The FLEXCON system in the racquet shaft extends the ball-pocketing duration, making it easier for players to place the ball accurately on court. By adding more graphite layers into the frame, the racquet’s rigidity is significantly enhanced, leading to a notable improvement in overall racquet face stability.”

The new PERCEPT racquet is set to be endorsed by players like, World No.10(*2) Frances Tiafoe (USA), three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka (SUI), and three-time WTA tour champion Dayana Yastremska (UKR).

(*1) SERVO FILTER is a vibration-absorbing film developed by the Mitsubishi Chemical Group, which has high bonding properties with graphite and excels in both flexibility and durability.

Percept racquets

PERCEPT 97D
PERCEPT 97H
PERCEPT 97
PERCEPT 97L
PERCEPT 100D
PERCEPT 100
PERCEPT 100L
PERCEPT GAME

Percept 97

Head Size	97 sq.in.
Weight	310 g / 10.9 oz
Grip Size	1 – 5
Length	27 in.
Width Range	21 mm – 21 mm – 21 mm
Balance Point	310 mm
Material	HM GRAPHITE / 2G-Namd™ Flex Force / SERVO FILTER
Color(s)	OLIVE GREEN
Recommended String	POLYTOUR REV POLYTOUR STRIKE REXIS SPEED
Stringing Pattern	16 x 19
Stringing Advice	45 – 60 lbs

Percept 97D

Head Size	97 sq.in.
Weight	320 g / 11.3 oz
Grip Size	1 – 5
Length	27 in.
Width Range	21 mm – 21 mm – 21 mm
Balance Point	310 mm
Material	HM GRAPHITE / 2G-Namd™ Flex Force / SERVO FILTER
Color(s)	OLIVE GREEN
Recommended String	POLYTOUR REV POLYTOUR STRIKE REXIS SPEED
Stringing Pattern	18 x 20
Stringing Advice	45 – 60 lbs
Made In	Japan
Item Code	01PE97D

Percept 97H

Head Size	97 sq.in.
Weight	330 g / 11.6 oz
Grip Size	1 – 5
Length	27 in.
Width Range	21 mm – 21 mm – 21 mm
Balance Point	310 mm
Material	HM GRAPHITE / 2G-Namd™ Flex Force / SERVO FILTER
Color(s)	OLIVE GREEN
Recommended String	POLYTOUR REV POLYTOUR STRIKE REXIS SPEED
Stringing Pattern	16 x 19
Stringing Advice	45 – 60 lbs
Made In	Japan
Item Code	01PE97H

Percept 100

Head Size	100 sq.in.
Weight	300 g / 10.6 oz
Grip Size	1 – 5
Length	27 in.
Width Range	23 mm – 23 mm – 23 mm
Balance Point	320 mm
Material	HM GRAPHITE / 2G-Namd™ Flex Force / SERVO FILTER
Color(s)	OLIVE GREEN
Recommended String	POLYTOUR REV POLYTOUR PRO REXIS SPEED
Stringing Pattern	16 x 19
Stringing Advice	45 – 60 lbs
Made In	Japan
Item Code	01PE100

Percept 100D

Head Size	100 sq.in.
Weight	305 g / 10.8 oz
Grip Size	1 – 5
Length	27 in.
Width Range	23 mm – 23 mm – 23 mm
Balance Point	315 mm
Material	HM GRAPHITE / 2G-Namd™ Flex Force / SERVO FILTER
Color(s)	OLIVE GREEN
Recommended String	POLYTOUR REV POLYTOUR PRO REXIS SPEED
Stringing Pattern	18 x 19
Stringing Advice	45 – 60 lbs
Made In	Japan
Item Code	01PE100D

There are also the light models as mentioned in the list.

July 28, 2023 2 comments

Pro player racquets Strings

Atlanta ATP String Tensions 2023

by TN July 26, 2023

written by TN

What can we learn from the Atlanta ATP String Tensions in 2023? There are some things in the sheet that raises eyebrows.

Atlanta ATP String Tensions 2023

Before we get into the string tension sheet, I want to thank Kevin Sala for the picture. If you have some info you want to share, you can either contact us here or send info via Instagram @tennisnerdinsta.

I like how the sheet in Atlanta is drawn beautifully on a white board. The person who does this has some really brilliant handwriting!

Don’t pay too much attention to the racquets, because writing “Ultra” or “Aero” gives the stringer all the information he/she needs, but it’s not in terms of pro player racquet info.

Atlanta ATP 250 Tension sheet

Skimming through the sheet, we see that gut hybrids are still popular and there are a few of them here. It’s my feeling that tensions are going down on average. Marcelo Melo’s 19.5 kg Velocity (multifilament!) is very surprising. But doubles players seem to use lower tensions overall. Just look at Nicolas Mahut and his gut/element combo below 20 kg!

An interesting poly hybrid is Confidential and Tour Bite Soft in Evan King’s racquet. Also fun to see one of my favorite strings Toroline Caviar on the ATP Tour in Jason Jung’s racquet.

If you look in the tension column, it’s clear that there are a lot of tensions below 50 lbs (below 22.5 kg). Players are hitting with more spin and need more power, which a lower tension can help you generate. You get a little bit of a trampoline effect from the strings, which is better for comfort and power but can be difficult for players to control unless you hit with loads of spin.

A lower tension will help players that want to serve big, like John Isner (36 lbs), but at the same time, you have Maxime Cressy (54 lbs) with a more traditional string tension. It’s a matter of taste, style and technique.

Mannarino has been seen to string as low as 19 lbs in recent tournaments! He controls that using shorter swings and excellent timing. Remember that pros restring their racquets daily and will play with a fresh string bed. If you don’t want to restring often, making a very low tension work for you might be tough.

But maybe this sheet inspires you to drop your tension a bit for more power and comfort?

What is your string tension?

July 26, 2023 1 comment

Racquet Reviews Tennis Racquets

The Best Advanced Player Racquets

by TN July 23, 2023

written by TN

I don’t like saying “The Best” because it is all subjective. But these are some of the best advanced player racquets on the market today.

The Best Advanced Player Racquets

Yesterday I published a video where Jesús Echevarri and I try a number of advanced player racquets. These include racquets from HEAD, Babolat and Wilson. In a previous session, we also tested Yonex VCORE and Ezone, so I will mention those as well in this post.

There are so many good racquets out there and I can’t mention them all here so I will focus on somewhat recent releases. The racquets we tested in the video are (click for my review):

Wilson Shift Pro
HEAD Gravity Pro Auxetic
Babolat Pure Aero 98
HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic
Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin

In this written review, I will also mention the Yonex Ezone Tour 98 and the Yonex VCORE 98. There are other racquets to note as well and I will comment on the Solinco Whiteout 305 18×20 and Tecnifibre Tfight ISO 305. Jesús also tried the new HEAD Radical Pro Auxetic but wasn’t a huge fan.

Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin

The Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin was a bit of a bonus racquet in the play-test. I usually bring it because people love hitting with Rafa’s racquet specs, and even if it’s not a perfect match with what Rafael Nadal currently uses, it’s pretty damn close.

It’s a fun racquet to hit and beautiful to put on the wall. It can generate a heavy ball and with the right mechanics, you can allow the racquet to do most of the work. But if you’re late on the ball, it’s a very punishing racquet. Jesús agreed with all this, he thought it was a fun and pretty pleasant hit, but not something that can match the usability of the other frames mentioned here. If you want to feel how a “tank of a racquet” plays, consider getting this one.

You can check out the Babolat Pure Aero Rafa racquets from my friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only.

Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin specifications

Head Size: 100 in / 645.16 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.9oz / 337g

Balance: 13.38in / 33.99cm / 1 pts HL

Swingweight: 371

Stiffness: 70

Beam Width: 23mm / 26mm / 23mm

Composition: Graphite

Power Level: Low-Medium

Stroke Style: Medium-Full

Swing Speed: Medium-Fast

Racquet Colors: Pink/Yellow/Black

Grip Type: Babolat Syntec Pro

String Pattern:

16 Mains / 19 Crosses

Mains skip: 8T,8H

Wilson Shift Pro

We played with the Wilson Shift prototype, the heavier, 315g, 18×20 version. The difference between this one and the current Wilson Shift Pro is not vast. Despite it being a relatively heavy racquet by today’s standards, next to the Rafa Origin, Jesús felt it to “play like a toy”. He was half-joking, but when you change in between racquets, drastic weight differences can require some extra time to get over.

When he got dialed in, he liked the Shift Pro a lot, especially on the forehand. It’s a whippy racquet, easy to move, but if you don’t swing fast, it can sail the ball. It’s a racquet made for players who utilize a strong top spin stroke and not for flat hitters or more traditional tennis players.

It’s not as solid as some of the racquets in the play-test. The Gravity Pro is for example much more steady and stable on the backhand, but not quite as maneuverable on the forehand. If you’re a spin player that wants a racquet with a nice feel, good spin potential and decent control, the Shift Pro should be considered.

Wilson Shift Pro specifications

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

Colours: 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

These are the listed specifications from Tennis Warehouse Europe. You can also check out and purchase the Shift Pro at the official Wilson website.

HEAD Gravity Pro Auxetic

The Gravity Pro is a popular racquet on the ATP Tour. You have players like Zverev, Rublev and Safiullin using it, just to name a few.

Most advanced players just need a few shots with the Gravity Pro to realize that this is a classy racquet. It offers the control and feel of older control racquets but with added plow-through and forgiveness thanks to the teardrop head shape and 100 sq inch head size.

Jesús was like Nikki, smitten straight away. But he couldn’t get quite the speed and maneuverability on his forehand compared to some other racquets in the play test. The Gravity Pro is a solid, control-oriented racquet, but it’s not the most spin-friendly with its 18×20 string pattern and thin beam. And some players will struggle to maneuver the “beefy” 330+ swing weight.

Check out the Gravity line of racquets from our friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only.

Gravity Pro specifications

Head Size: 100 in / 645.16 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.7oz / 332g

Balance: 12.75in / 32.39cm / 6 pts HL

Swingweight: 334

Stiffness: 63

Beam Width: 20mm / 20mm / 20mm

Composition: Graphene 360+/Graphite

Power Level: Low

Stroke Style: Full

Swing Speed: Fast

Racquet Colors:Black

Grip Type: Head Hydrosorb Pro

String Pattern:

18 Mains / 20 Crosses

Mains skip: 8T,10T,8H,10H

Babolat Pure Aero 98

The Babolat Pure Aero 98 is the continuation of the Pure Aero VS, which has become a bestseller among advanced tennis players. I am sure the Aero 98 is doing pretty well with players like Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune using it.

This was also Jesús’ favorite racquet in the play-test and most likely the one he would choose for match play if he got back to competitive tennis again. It’s very whippy, quite powerful and offers loads of spin potential. Flat hitters might find the ball going long, but players who utilize top spin to push their opponents back will probably like this one. The Aero 98 is a bit more muted compared to the Aero VS.

Have you tried the Babolat Pure Aero 98? You can check out the specs and more at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only (Australia).

Babolat Pure Aero 98 specifications

Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.4oz / 323g

Balance: 12.79in / 32.49cm / 6 pts HL

Swingweight: 327

Stiffness: 65

Beam Width: 21mm / 23mm / 22mm

Composition: Graphite

Power Level: Low-Medium

Stroke Style: Medium-Full

Swing Speed: Medium-Fast

Racquet Colors:Black/Yellow

Grip Type: Syntec Pro

String Pattern:

16 Mains / 20 Crosses

Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H

HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic

This racquet is a strong competitor to the Pure Aero 98 and does most things similarly. They are in the controlled spin racquet category. However, while the Extreme handles flatter shots better and offers a bit more control, it doesn’t give the same power and spin potential as the Aero 98. It’s a bit more “civilized”.

Jesús liked this racquet, too but preferred the action he could get on the ball with the Aero 98. I personally prefer the Extreme for my one-handed backhand, but I also understand what he means in terms of power.

Like with most things racquets, it’s a matter of taste and game style in the end.

You can check out the HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only.

HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic specifications

Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.3oz / 320g

Balance: 12.79in / 32.49cm / 6 pts HL

Swingweight: 317

Stiffness: 63

Beam Width: 22mm / 23mm / 21mm

Composition: Graphene 360+/Graphite

Power Level: Low-Medium

Stroke Style: Medium-Full

Swing Speed: Medium-Fast

Racquet Colors:Black

Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro

String Pattern:

16 Mains / 19 Crosses

Mains skip: 8T,8H

Yonex Ezone 98 Tour

You probably see the Ezone 98 “everywhere.” I do. It’s one of those modern classics in the racquet market. It offers an excellent power level for a 98 and plays with a slightly larger sweet spot thanks to the isometric head shape, which is distinct for Yonex racquets.

The Tour model is a slightly heavier 98. It’s also good, especially if you don’t want to customize your racquet, but when I tested it with my friend Nikki, he preferred to adjust the weight himself as the extra weight in the Tour model seems to be added to the throat.

Jesús, who has a whippier forehand than Nikki, preferred more spin-oriented racquets like the Yonex VCORE 98. The Ezone Tour is a nice racquet if you want a really solid power racquet in a more controlled head size.

You can check out the Yonex Ezone 98 Tour from our friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Only , or Tennis Warehouse Europe.

Yonex Ezone Tour 98 specifications

Head size: 98 sq inches
Length: 27 in or 68.5 cm
Weight: 315g or 11.1 oz (standard is 305g)
Balance: 32 cm or 7 pts HL
Swing weight: 300 (around 330 w strings)
Stiffness: 65 (around 62 w strings)
Beam: 23/24/19 mm
String pattern: 16×19

Yonex VCORE 98 (and 95)

If the Ezone is focused more on direct power and works better for flatter hitting, the VCORE 98 has more flex and is more centered around a high launch angle and spin potential. The new 2023 VCORE line from Yonex offered more of everything and a softer feel than the predecessor. More comfort, power and spin. Not sure that is always a good thing as the VCOREs are a bit more difficult to control this time. But they are nice and soft, and if control is an issue, you can always go for the VCORE 95.

Several of my advanced playing friends (ex-pros) liked the VCORE 95 a lot, but found the larger 98 a bit too powerful and lively. I agree with that sentiment.

The Yonex VCORE 98 plays more like a 100 sq inch racquet, which is a good thing for many players and has received quite a high and consistent review score on Tennis Warehouse. You can also check it out on Tennis Only if you’re based down under.

Yonex VCORE 98 Specifications

Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.4oz / 323g

Balance: 12.79in / 32.49cm / 6 pts HL

Swingweight: 318

Stiffness: 62

Beam Width: 23mm / 23mm / 21mm

Composition: 2G-Namd FlexForce/H.M. Graphite

Power Level: Low-Medium

Stroke Style: Medium-Full

Swing Speed: Medium-Fast

Racquet Colors:Red

Grip Type: Yonex Synthetic

String Pattern:

16 Mains / 19 Crosses

Mains skip: 7T,9T,8H

Solinco Whiteout 98

For players looking for a more controlled response, but not all the way to Prestige-land, consider the Solinco Whiteout 98. It plays with a solid response, excellent control and a decent power level for the spec range.

Most high-level players who tested it with me liked it, but it’s not as spinny as most other racquets in this play-test and more comparable to the Gravity Pro.

You can find the 18×20 version at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only. There is also a 16×19 version for players looking for more spin and maneuverability (fewer strings lower the swing weight).

Solinco Whiteout 98 18×20 specifications

Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.4oz / 323g
Balance: 13in / 33.02cm / 4 pts HL
Swingweight: 324
Stiffness: 66
Beam Width: 21.7mm / 21.7mm / 21.7mm
Composition: 40T Carbon/Graphite
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors: White
Grip Type: Solinco Synthetic
String Pattern: 18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: 8T,10T,8H,10H
(Two Pieces, No Shared Holes)

Tecnifibre Tfight ISO 305

This has been a huge hit among advanced players. The high swing weight, solid feel and nice power feels “pro stock” in a way. Not everyone is in love with the feel. Nikki was not a fan, I found it excellent but a tad heavy, but some of my other tennis friends really love the solidity and plow-through that this racquet. I find the TF40 to still be my favorite Tecnifibre racquet, but I do understand the appeal of the ISO 305. It’s a very competent racquet for advanced players who look for control and can handle the swing weight.

Buy the Tecnifibre Tfight ISO 305 from Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.

Tecnifibre Tfight ISO 305 Specifications

Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.3oz / 320g

Balance: 13.12in / 33.32cm / 3 pts HL

Swingweight: 338

Stiffness: 64

Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 22.5mm

Composition: Dynacore HD/Graphite

Power Level: Low-Medium

Stroke Style: Full

Swing Speed: Fast

Racquet Colors:White

Grip Type: Tecnifibre Synthetic

String Pattern:

18 Mains / 19 Crosses

Mains skip: 8T,10T,8H,10H

HEAD Radical MP Auxetic

I worried about adding too many racquets to this list, but I felt like I wanted to include my own racquet of choice at the moment (this tends to change, but this has been my main frame since it came out). The Radical MP Auxetic is a control frame, but offers a bit more power and spin potential than Prestiges and Pro Staffs.

I found the Auxetic version to play more solid and comfortable than the predecessor. It’s one of those racquets that give you exactly what you put into it, which I like.

This is overall a very versatile frame, but doesn’t give you anything extra and players who want to maximize spin or power have many better options above. I just wanted to mention this one as it is a pretty recent release.

You can check out the new HEAD Radicals at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only.

HEAD Radical MP Auxetic specifications

Head Size: 98 in / 632.26 cm

Length: 27in / 68.58cm

Strung Weight:11.2oz / 318g

Balance: 13in / 33.02cm / 4 pts HL

Swingweight: 323

Stiffness: 65

Beam Width: 20mm / 23mm / 21mm

Composition: Graphene 360+/Graphite

Power Level: Low-Medium

Stroke Style: Medium-Full

Swing Speed: Medium-Fast

Racquet Colors:Orange/Blue

Grip Type: Head Hydrosorb Pro

String Pattern:

16 Mains / 19 Crosses

Mains skip: 8T, 8H

Summary

These are all excellent modern racquets for advanced players. You hit with loads of spin? Maybe a Shift or an Aero? You want great control and plow-through? Maybe a Gravity Pro or a Tfight ISO 305? You put priority on control but want something slightly easier to swing? Maybe a Radical MP or Whiteout 305? You want easy power and forgiveness in a control frame? The Ezone 98 is your friend. But if you prioritize spin, I do go for the VCORE series.

If you want to feel like Rafael Nadal for a while and you love heavy bats, you need to demo the Rafa Origin!

I hope this helps you. Please use the links to the racquets if you want to purchase anything. We get a small commission if you do, which helps Tennisnerd stay afloat.

My personal favorites right now are

HEAD Radical MP Auxetic – just so dependable
HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic – A bit more power than the one above, easy to switch in between.
Babolat Pure Aero 98 – I have a lot of fun with this frame, although it doesn’t suit me that well.
Wilson Shift Pro – Excellent frame, but like with the Aero I tend to hit long with it.
Yonex VCORE 95 – Very good, the most powerful 95 I have played. A bit muted perhaps.
Solinco Whiteout 98 18×20 – Feels pretty much at home, but also a little too dampened compared to the Radical.
Yonex Ezone 98 Tour – Great frame, but I prefer the regular Ezone not to have a lot of weight in the throat.
Tecnifibre Tfight ISO 305 – I really like this, but sometimes I struggle with its weight
HEAD Gravity Pro Auxetic – Same here. It’s a solid frame, but to me, it feels a bit too heavy to swing effectively.
Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Origin – I hit some best tennis in my life with this racquet, but it doesn’t last long. Fun one!

Thanks for reading this far and for supporting Tennisnerd – a work of pure tennis passion.

July 23, 2023 3 comments

Tennis Racquets

The Wilson Shift Pro

by TN July 19, 2023

written by TN

The Wilson Shift Pro is out. It’s not drastically different from the Wilson Shift prototypes that I tested in my Shift review, but we will review them anyway.

The Wilson Shift Pro

The Wilson Shift Pro is the heavier model, with an 18×20 string pattern. Mainly tailored toward advanced players that look for extra spin. It’s an aerodynamic racquet with a thicker beam than most control-oriented racquets, so it should be placed in the spin category and compete with racquets like the HEAD Extreme Tour or Babolat Pure Aero 98. But the weight makes it more reminiscent of a Pure Aero Tour, while the string pattern and thinner beam are similar to a HEAD Speed Pro.

What has changed from the prototype to the retail model except a slight change in the cosmetic? Wilson claims to have changed the balance of the racquet based on feedback from play-testers.

Wilson Shift Pro specifications

The swing weight seems a tad higher, and the balance point more toward the head (less headlight). These are the listed specifications from Tennis Warehouse Europe. You can also check out and purchase the Shift Pro at the official Wilson website.

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

Colours: 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

Alongside the Wilson Shift Pro, there is the lighter version, which they call the Shift 99.

Wilson Shift 99 specifications

This one has a lower swing weight, a more spin-friendly string pattern and is generally lighter and easier to use. Intermediate players should be happy with this racquet, but flatter hitters might find the ball sailing a bit, as the Shift racquets are “engineered for spin”. You can check out the Shift 99 at Tennis Warehouse.

Head Size: 99 in² / 639 cm²

Length: 27 in / 68.58 cm

Strung Weight: 11.2 oz / 318 g

Balance: 12.75 in / 32.39 cm / 6 pts HL

Swingweight: 317

Stiffness: 67

Beam Width: 23.5mm / 23.5mm / 23.5mm

Composition: Graphite

Colours: White

Grip Type: Wilson Pro Performance

String Pattern:

16 Mains / 20 Crosses

Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H

String Tension: 21-26 kg / 48-58 lb

Have you tried the new Wilson Shift racquets?

July 19, 2023 2 comments

Pro player racquets Tennis Racquets

Pro Player String Tensions from Halle 2023

by TN July 8, 2023

written by TN

I love that I have many fellow tennis nerds out there. So big thanks to you who sent pro player string tensions from Halle 2023. But what can we learn?

Pro Player String Tensions from Halle

These pictures are not super easy to read due to glare, but let me comment on the most interesting stuff.

Pro player string tension sheet 1

I have noticed many players drop their tension on the grass. That seems counter-intuitive, right? You would need more control and therefore you would increase tension. But there is a lot more block/touch/feel on grass, and lower tensions will help with ball pocketing, feel and getting some extra power on serve. On clay courts, you can swing like a mad man, but on grass, you don’t have time for that, so you need the equipment to help you a little bit more.

Karatsev is usually around 24 kg on the clay for example. Sonego tends to be about 20 kg with his Alu Power Soft but has now dropped below that. Medvedev is kind of like Rafa in a way that he doesn’t like to mess with his equipment too much. Sinner is another player like that who always seems to stay at 28 kg, no matter what.

Hugo Gaston‘s gut/alu hybrid at 21 kg is interesting. 21 kg gut! That will be a powerful setup, but he is a touch player, so it makes some sense.

Pro player string tension sheet 2

Look at Carballes Baena’s 29 kg for his Luxilon Original. Wow. He is a clay-courter with big swings, but that surprised me. Luxilon Original is a softer string than for example 4G, though. And another clay courter that likes that one is Jarry. And Bautista Agut who seems to have dropped his tension in his Six One 95, though. Is Rublev not using Adrenaline anymore? I thought he was…

Altmaier is one of few Yonex players that don’t use Yonex strings and stay with 4G and gut.

Melo’s 17.5 kg makes me smile, but recently I heard Mannarino string 9 kg, so anything is possible these days!

The big takeaway is that players on average seem to drop their tensions a bit on the grass, but that, like with everything, it depends on their swing style and personal taste.

What string and tension do you use?

July 8, 2023 0 comment

Pro player racquets Tennis Racquets

Mirra Andreeva’s racquet

by TN July 8, 2023

written by TN

I got some questions about the 16-year-old tennis sensation, Mirra Andreeva’s racquet. So let’s get into it.

Mirra Andreeva’s racquet

Mirra Andreeva is one to watch. She is in the third round of Wimbledon at the time of writing. She has a record of 61-12 in matches and, at age 16 has already won six ITF titles. Does this mean she will be an automatic number one in the world in a few years? No, it depends on so many factors, but at the moment, she is the most exciting up-and-coming player on the WTA Tour.

I had a conversation with Christoper Clarey a while back, where he talked about so many female players using the Wilson Blade. This is in part correct because there are players that use the actual Blade like Aryna Sabalenka, for example. But many players that use what looks like a Blade, play with a popular pro stock racquet on the WTA Tour, the Wilson Steam 100 BLX mold.

There are many players using this racquet, but to mention a few superstars we have Emma Raducanu, Paula Badosa and Beatrice Haddad Maia.

This is also Mirra Andreeva’s racquet.

Why is this pro stock racquet mold so popular?

Well, as a pro player getting signed to a particular brand, there are not a million options unless you already have a frame that they can’t paint to look like the latest cosmetic. Wilson offer a bunch of pro stock molds to their players, but there are many retail racquet options you don’t see often or at all on the pro tours like the Clash or Shift, for example.

Many players use a Blade pro stock or a so-called H22 or Blade Pro. There are of course different versions of the Pro Staff 97 too, Dimitrov uses on style of Pro Staff with an 18×17 string pattern and Ons Jabeur uses a regular 97 customized to her specs. The H22 is more popular among men as the swing weight is higher. The Steam 100 BLX is a more powerful, Pure Drive-style racquet and that is why we see it frequently on the WTA Tour. The way you can tell on this particular model is that the four center mains have a white grommet strip.

Strings and customization

The pic above might not clearly show it, but the white grommets are there, so the mold is the Steam 100 BLX. Mirra also has four strips of lead tape at 12’o clock on the racquet face. And she strings her racquets with a full bed of Luxilon 4G (could be 4G Soft). We see many Blade players use 4G in some combination. It is one of Luxilon/Wilson’s best strings, but it’s a firm one so some players feel the need to hybrid the string with natural gut to create a softer feel. We see that with Alex De Minaur, Grigor Dimitrov, and Stefanos Tsitsipas (although recently, he has been going back to a full bed of 4G again).

I don’t know Mirra Andreeva’s racquet specs or string tension, so if you do, let me know in the comments or via Instagram.

No matter what gear she uses, she is an exciting player to watch with loads of potential to become a star on the WTA tour. Time will tell.

July 8, 2023 0 comment

Tennis Racquets

HEAD Ti.S6 Frankenstein

by TN July 5, 2023

written by TN

Michael Gordon is back to update us on his racquet experiment with the HEAD Ti.S6 Frankenstein. Which is no longer the HEAD Ti.S6!

HEAD Ti.S6 Frankenstein Part 2

So hopefully, some of you read my article on my HEAD Ti.S6 Frankenstein experiment. Here is the Frankenstein Racquet part 2. You can read part 1 here.

(If you don’t know what the famous/infamous HEAD Ti.S6 is, you can read more here. Or you can check it out at Tennis Warehouse. But the HEAD Ti.S6 was just the inspiration for Michael’s Frankenstein racquet.

That HEAD Ti.S6 Frankenstein racket has been my go-to for quite a few months until I felt confident the concept was actually a good idea! Having been convinced it was worth pursuing, I was determined to get my perfect concept of the idea made. A genuine oversized ‘players’ frame for the modern game. To me, this meant a large head size but with the majority of those extra square inches going into the width of the stringbed, not the length. The logic being with the current game being so dominated by spin, a larger width of racket would allow players to take a bigger ‘cut’ at the ball without the risk of missing the sweetspot. So my next job was drawing it.

I initially chose to do this on paper with a 1:1 scale to get the perfect idea of the size. I didn’t have a head size I was specifically aiming for, just that I wanted the stringbed to be 11″ wide (the max-width allowed is 11.5″). I started out by tracing a few rackets I liked and extending that shape out in the places I wanted until I got what I desired. When I was happy with this I then looked into beam width in both height and width.

After a bit of fiddling, I ended up with what I wanted and found someone to help me take this 2D drawing into a 3D CAD program.

Finding a factory to make it

Amazingly after a bit of searching, I found a factory willing to make a small production run of just 10 of my frames. Like last time, these were coming ‘undrilled’ so drilling holes for the grommets and string pattern would be up to me. After six weeks, the frames arrived. To say I was pretty nervous opening them up is an understatement. I’d put a lot of faith in people I’ve never met to make something very specific. Thankfully they were exactly what I’d asked for and the quality really did look good. I was very relieved!

Next was the most time-consuming bit for me. Designing the exact string pattern and drilling it! I based my design off a fairly standard 18×20 pattern of a racket I like, adding 2 extra mains and 1 extra cross to compensate for the bigger head. So a 20×21 pattern. Like last time I made a stencil, marked it up on the frame and drilled all the holes with a high-speed Dremel. All went smoothly and after 246 passes of the drill through the frame, I had the correct diameter for each grommet. Individual replacement grommets were placed in (no bumper guard or premade grommets for this one), and the frame was then strung up and ready to go.

Specs

Current specs (unstrung):

Headsize: 115.9″
Weight: 320g
Balance: 310mm
Swingweight: 303
Beam width: 21mm
Stiffness: 65RA
String pattern: 20×21

I say current specs because I’m still tinkering with weight and distribution, but first impressions are very impressive. It really does play as I hoped. Plays, feels and even moves (despite the big head) like a classic player’s frame. Control is good, it has that solid classic feel on volleys and actually spin potential is great, simply because you can take such a cut as the ball with such a big surface area. The sweetspot also seems to be significantly more forgiving. I’m not saying all players will love this frame. At a very high level, I can’t see the size being needed. However, anything below that for aspiring hard hitters who can’t get on the court 4+ times a week, it just offers something very forgiving whilst still playing like a ‘players’ frame.

The next step, if I get enough interest, I’m planning to start a crowdfunding campaign to get some of these to market. If all goes well I will get one to Jonas for a review in the future too.

If you want to be kept informed, do email me.

July 5, 2023 0 comment

News Pro player racquets

Alcaraz won in Queens

by TN June 26, 2023

written by TN

Carlos Alcaraz won in Queens, which means he is back to number one in the rankings. Bublik also had a great week in Halle, to capture his first ATP 500 title.

Carlos Alcaraz won in Queens

Alcaraz is only 20 years old, but it feels like he has been around for quite a while already. And he is already conquering all the surfaces, with his first grass court title, at the prestigious ATP 500 in Queens. It has become so natural to watch him winning, that the only real concern for his tennis dominance is his fitness (avoiding injuries), as he is expending a lot of energy launching himself around the tennis court to hit spectacular shots. Learning to manage his energy and intensity could be a part of him maturing into an even better player, and that is a frightening thought for other players.

Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur in the final 6-4 6-4.

“It means a lot to me. Being able to win this amazing tournament in the first time that I played here for me is fantastic,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. “To know that I’m [capable of] a good level on grass, obviously [to be] champion of every tournament feels special.”

The title in Queens means that Alcaraz is up to five titles for the year, tied with Daniil Medvedev.

Bublik is showing his talent

We all knew that Alexander Bublik was talented and could hit crazy shots. But we haven’t seen him string it together often for a whole tournament. At the ATP 500 in Halle, he did. He showed some spectacular tennis, great serving and, most of all, somewhat surprisingly, competitive composure.

“It really means the world to me,” said Bublik. “I’ve been struggling for half a year and now having this a reward, I don’t take it for granted. It was hard work. I was walking through the little hall of fame here before entering the court for the very first time against Struff [in the second round], and I was like ‘Wow, the different names, a lot of guys I’m familiar with. That would be nice maybe to have it one day.”

“But I could not even imagine that I would win this tournament, and I’m really, really happy.”

Bublik was struggling with racquets for a while, went from his Ezone 98 to a Gravity Pro briefly, (which I’ve been talking about on my YouTube channel) but now seems to have found home with his Tecnifibre Tfight 305.

June 26, 2023 0 comment

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