I looked forward to this Angell React Pro 99 Review. I had not tested an Angell racquet in a while and they tend to deliver.

Check this post for more info about the Angell React racquets. There is also a review of the Angell React 96 here.

Specifications

These are the unstrung specifications for the Angell React Pro 99.

Beam width: 21mm
String Pattern: 18 X 19
Weight: 305g / 10.8 OZ
Balance: 315mm / 9pts HL
Length: 27
Swing Weight: 288
Stiffness: 61 RA

The racquet plays a bit firmer than the 61 RA. Not arm-unfriendly, but a little more solid and forgiving than you’d expect.

String setups

For this racquet test, we tried a hybrid with a multifilament (HEAD Velocity MLT) and a poly and a hybrid consisting of two polys, Toroline Super Toro and Toroline Enso at 53 lbs and 51 lbs (crosses). Review to come about Toroline string setups like this.

The Toroline combo was great in this racquet and it produced excellent snapback and control without a harsh feel.

Comparisons

We thought this racquet played similarly to the Yonex Ezone 98. It is kind of in between this racquet and a HEAD Gravity Tour.

Who is it for?

The Angell React Pro 99 is suitable for intermediate to advanced players looking for a modern control racquet with a generous sweet spot and good playability.

How does it play?

I did this review with Juan, who you can see in the Angell React Pro 99 Review video. We both felt like this racquet had a great combination of power and control, but we are both players who prefer control racquets overall. Juan hits with a lot of spin and a semi-western grip and I use a semi-eastern grip and flatter strokes.

The style of play or technique did not matter. We both enjoyed the Angell React 99 Pro a lot. It had a nice feel and felt solid enough despite a pretty whippy 320-strung swing weight.

It is a fast-swinging racquet, which allows you to go hard at the ball with confidence. It does not give you excessive power anywhere but is more focused on balance.

The comfort of the racquet is not an issue and it is not overly muted or dampened where you don’t feel the ball.

Summary

I have always enjoyed Angell tennis racquets and this one might be the best one yet. It captures a lot of what the modern tennis player craves in terms of delivering power and spin, but not in excessive amounts.

Angell racquets can only be bought from the official website.

James is back with a guest post. The Angell React racquets have impressed him. Here is his Angell React Pro 96 review.

Angell React Pro 96 Review

The Angell React Pro 96 is made by Angell, aka Paul Angell, the man behind Dunlop/Slazenger professional custom frames and a pioneer of pro-stock ‘pin’ formats.

Angell specializes in products with high-quality control and also gives you the option to customize a finished frame to many spec levels or even your bespoke specifications within achievable reason, I’m led to believe, if you ask nicely.
The new Angell frame is called ‘React’ and comes in a couple of head sizes (96&99) and string patterns. I know that Jonas is reviewing a custom spec React 99 18×19, another exciting frame.

Check out the Angell React racquets.

The confidence of the 18×20 pattern

So this brings me to the Angell React Pro 96. Who is it for? Well, my doubles partner, for a start. He has a long history of using Head Radical MP frames in 18×20 patterns before customizing his own spec frames based on an old Slazenger 16×18 pattern frame, even custom paint jobs and grip/palette swaps. After becoming frustrated at the spec tolerances of major manufacturers, like many, he rocked up one day with some Angell React frames.

I shall be blunt: the first frames were 16×19 patterns, and both of us found the launch angle and general liveliness of the frame quite hard to reason with, BUT many people like a more open pattern, and this should not dissuade you if you do.

The frame left a good enough impression for him to change and order the same spec immediately but in an 18×20 pattern.

First impressions

Out of the box, the paint looks and feels lovely, with the design of the yoke/bridge a nice aesthetic feature of the frame. The custom serial number, personal to you, is stuck solidly in the throat of the frame. Angell keeps a record of what you ordered and, therefore, can replicate it in the future if needed.

First impressions are, therefore, pretty nice indeed. It feels like a quality product.

We have noticed that, yes, the paint chips, but I cannot be critical of this because other manufacturers, even those with the best QC, have paint that chips on some models, too, this is not any worse, it is a quality finish.

The specification of the custom test frames starts as 295g unstrung weight, and I believe his were 6pts h/l, specified with the old school Head (TK82) grip shape. Frames are strung in Head Hawk Touch Pro-player issue mains and Isospeed Classic Professional cross strings, both about 1.25 gauge.

On the first swing it feels like it has decent substance and plow-through, almost familiar. Except it swings quickly through the air, which feels less familiar, but that isn’t a negative.

Comparisons

What does it remind me of? The 18×20 pattern on contact feels similar to what I’ve been used to, a head 18×20 pattern, but with seemingly easier access to launch and spin. The frame is not stiff. It feels well engineered and dampened despite not being foam-filled like its TC custom siblings. (I tried the V1 custom TC95 and thought….ooooh, this is NICE…..but that’s another story). Stable, but not at all ‘stiff,’ with familiarities would be a reasonable sum up.

On impact, with nice strings, I’m not saying this is ‘PT57A2’ buttery feel, but there is a certain familiarity, a ‘oomph’, a solidity, a familiar impact feel, which is meant as a compliment. Confusingly, perhaps therefore that the frame in some ways reminded me of an IG Radical MP and also an older model… whatever is woven into the layup of the React, I have no idea, and I won’t pander to Paul’s almost tongue-in-cheek marketing of ‘React’ fibers. This is a quality product made of what feels like top-notch materials, high modulus carbon, Taparan/Kevlar/Twaron or some form of aramid fiber and something else that feels familiar from the IG rad/prestige.

And I know Paul would understand my view on this, the wheel is still round. Whatever layup changes are made to frames can make them ‘feel’ more ‘stable’ or ‘flex’ when the same or similar materials are arranged or layered or angled a bit differently to achieve a higher RA stiffness or feel like it bends differently.

Quality (out of) control

I’m not knocking other brands here; I use them myself, but the lengths I have had to go to get matched frames or just simple things like spare grommets would raise eyebrows.

Remember, Angell guarantees the spec you order and has readily available spare grommets at a price point that is 2/3 of what mainstream manufacturers are about to attempt to quote as a retail price point. Bespoke guaranteed high qc zero-tolerance frames, that is pretty much pro-stock speak.

Who is it for?

I’m not going to describe what each shot feels like with this frame because we all have different swing styles and ideas of how a frame should feel. In the 18/20 pattern, this frame is point and shoot straight as an arrow, and the speed and spin coming off this frame at me is more than what frames he used before. There is ample touch around the net with this frame, time and time again, I have seen a lot of quality tennis produced with this frame.

So, who is this frame ‘for’. Well, it works well at high-speed competitive doubles, and clearly, the damned thing belts a ball.

I would say that the Angell React 96 suits someone with more modern, fast swings, like Taylor Fritz. Who, by a quirk of fate, uses….a pro stock lightish weight IG Radical MP…..however I don’t think this is fair because I don’t personally swing like that, and I thought the frame was great.

So, I will quote perhaps another well-known reviewer’s phrase/term. ‘ Babolat Benefits’. This frame suits someone, not just a fast-swinging modern player, but it suits someone who KNOWS their frame and likes a 95/MP slim beamed racket like a Prestige or older Radical or Dunlop 200g/300g…..but they wish they had a few ‘Babolat Benefits’ without the extra jump in head size. A bit easier power, easier access to spin, and is more forgiving when off-center….but still, a nice size head that feels nice to ‘throw’ perhaps on a one-handed backhand. It’s stable enough to knife slices and volleys, and this React 96 18×20 does that.

A modern control racquet

The more ‘aero’ beam may not be too tasty for someone who uses a thin box beam, but it is perhaps better to swallow that change rather than be unhappy with a larger head size.

So, the Angell React 96 (custom pro) 18×20. A frame that would suit seriously aspiring young swinging hard-hitting future competitive players who need access to top quality high qc identical frames for their match play.

Note that other brands quote +/-7g on their frames, and one is about to attempt to lessen the issue for ‘mortal’ players by claiming ‘each frame within 5g and the same balance point’ in actual English that still gives a potential 10g tolerance swing and random swing weights. Good idea, better, but still utter nonsense, unless your pro shop has machinery and knows how to measure and balance frames or find matching frames for you, this could be a huge issue.

Get the kitchen scales out, measure your favorite frame static weight, find a balance board and measure the balance point, seek advice, and find a shop to measure your swing weight and get to know YOUR preferred specifications. Talk to a quality pro shop.

And then, who knows, look at Angell, they may have the frame you are looking for.

Summary

The new Angell React range, then. The funky-colored frame benefits the up-and-coming demanding youngster who is serious about their equipment and game quality.

But also works for old farts like ………me.

Thanks to Martin at Mandls for the use of the frames. Not so much thanks for the aces.

Life in the old dog, yet.

Let us look into hidden gems. This refers to under-appreciated racquets, strings, shoes, etc. First, the Dunlop Biomimetic 200 Plus.

Dunlop Biomimetic 200 Plus

I have hit a few times with a fellow tennis nerd visiting Marbella. His name is Juan Cristobal, and for the first hit, he brought the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 from 2017 (the dark blue one), his main racquet, and a Dunlop Biomimetic 200 Plus.

I have never hit with the 200 Plus before, but I liked Dunlop’s Biomimetic racquets overall. Juan told me the 200 Plus is a hidden gem. And after hitting with it for a few minutes, I just nodded my head in agreement.

It is a rare spec, especially for a racquet from 2009.

Specs

The specs are from Tennis Warehouse.

How does it play?

The 200 Plus is plush in feel and offers excellent control with the thin beam and 18×20 string pattern. You get a little more on your shots thanks to the 100 sq inch head size, but it is more focused on control than power or spin.

This is one of those racquets that appeals to players who like control racquets, but need a bit more forgiveness than you get from your average Prestige or Pro Staff. But it does have a more traditional head shape than a Gravity, for example. The Gravity has a larger sweet spot, but I prefer the maneuverability and looks of the Prestige-style head shape.

I also find the 200 Plus to have an excellent feel. It’s not too flexible or stiff, just perfectly in the middle. It plays like a pro stock in that way.

A very nice racquet that I subsequently looked for online. I found one for 50 euros so that one joins the collection.

This brings me to another point.

You don’t need a brand-new racquet.

Racquets from 2023 are not necessarily better than 2010. However, I do feel like the average quality of racquets have improved. There are fewer bad ones these days. But the good ones from ten or even twenty years ago, compete with the best ones of today. So, if you can find a highly respected racquet in good condition, playing with it in today’s tennis should be more than okay, and you will save some money from buying a new one.

Do you have any hidden gems to recommend? Let me know in the comments!

I’ve been asked this question quite frequently: What are the best racquets for the one-handed backhand 2023?

The Best Racquets for the One-Handed Backhand 2023

This is, obviously, a subjective list. Some would argue you can hit a great one-handed backhand with any racquet. But since I got this question so often, I wanted to reply with the racquets I am most comfortable with, of the ones released in 2023, to hit my one-hander with.

What I like in a racquet on the one-handed backhand specifically is:

A thinner beam
Smaller head sizes (98 and below)
A throat that feels comfortable to grip when you’re taking the racquet back

Another note is that these things might not be what you value in a racquet. But for me, these characteristics come back time and time again.

You can watch my video detailing my one-handed backhand recommendations here.

Recommendations

I created two categories for my recommendations: spin/power and control/feel.

The spin/power category holds more modern racquets with thicker beams and higher stiffness, while the control/feel category is more traditional racquets.

Power and spin racquets

HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic
This racquet just feels RIGHT on the one-hander. It comes through the air easily and gives you good net clearance thanks to a semi-high launch angle and a good balance of power and control. It sometimes play a bit too powerful for me on other shots, but one the one-hander it is brilliant. You can check out my HEAD Extreme Tour Auxetic review. Fans of Lorenzo Musetti might want to check out the Boom Pro, but he is really using the Extreme.

Wilson Shift 99
For a 99 sq inch head size with a thick beam (23.5 mm), this racquet surprised me with good maneuverability and a solid feel. It’s a new line from Wilson and seems to have wowed most play-testers. Check out my Wilson Shift 99 review.

Babolat Pure Drive 98
I really enjoyed this racquet, but I would like to add a warning sign for the stiffness. It’s one of the highest on the market at 74, and in a dense string pattern, that type of stiffness can create issues for some players. Still, it’s an excellent frame. I was not sure whether to include this one or the Pure Aero 98. Both are great. The Aero is more comfortable, but I feel like the aerodynamic features force me to swing a bit more unnaturally if that makes sense. Check out my Pure Drive 98 review here.

Tecnifibre IGA 298
This racquet is also listed as having a high stiffness, but the foam-filling helps the comfort and stability. It is lighter than the other racquets but gives you room for customization and plays stable enough thanks to the foam. Whippy and powerful. Here is the Tecnifibre IGA 298 review.

Yonex VCORE 95
The Yonex VCORE 95 seems to work well for Denis Shapovalov and it does move really well through the air. The 95 sq inch head size plays bigger than listed thanks to the trademark Yonex isometric head shape. This racquet has surprising amounts of power and spin for a 95! Check out the Yonex VCORE 95 review.

Dunlop FX 500 Tour
This is a bit of a sleeper racquet since it’s not seen as much as some of the others, but it works great on the one-hander and gives you good power for a 98. I noticed that it sometimes comes in a lower spec, so might need some customization. Alexey Popyrin seems happy with his change to this racquet. Check out the Dunlop FX 500 Tour review.

Control and Touch Racquets

HEAD Prestige Pro 2023
This is such a classic Prestige in terms of feel and control, but it has a more forgiving head size than the traditional Prestiges. This racquet requires a serious player but if you bring the game, it delivers. Read the Prestige Pro review here.

For a lighter and easier Prestige, I can really recommend the HEAD Prestige MP L, which was my favorite in the play test.

Wilson Pro Staff 97 V14
What is a one-handed backhand racquet list without the Pro Staff 97? This racquet comes through the air beautifully and if you don’t like the new cosmetic, you can get the Noir version. Read our Wilson Pro Staff 97 V14 review.

Babolat Pure Strike VS
This racquet is easily overlooked. It takes back to “the good old days” of the Babolat Pure Control racquets. You need to be an advanced player to benefit from it, but it does most control things really well. Check out the Pure Strike VS review.

Yonex Percept 97
This racquet has been growing on me a lot. It just delivers that excellent feel and control, and the comfort is top-notch. Yonex racquets can be somewhat muted and dampened, but I think this one balances that well with a good feel. Check out the Yonex Percept 97 review.

Tecnifibre TF40
It is sometimes difficult to figure out whether a new generation of a racquet model is an improvement or not. But no matter what, the Tecnifibre TF40 remains a great control racquet with a solid and predictable feel. And now you can also get it in a 16×19 string pattern. Our Tecnifibre TF40 review is here.

Dunlop CX 200
Did I choose too many control racquets? Maybe, but I felt like I had to mention the excellent CX 200, as used by Felix Mischker from Tennis Brothers. Great frame, due an update in 2024. The Dunlop CX 200 Review.

Summary

There you have it. I realized the last two options weren’t from 2023, so they shouldn’t have been included. But maybe you can find them on sale and get a bargain, so I will keep them there for now.

What racquet do you think is best for the one-handed backhand?

I am working on my Gear of the Year 2023 post and video, but I’m now keen to hear from you. What are the best racquets of 2023?

What are the best racquets of 2023?

I am working on a The Best Racquets of 2023 video. This year, we saw many releases that were gradual improvements. These were the best racquets of 2022.

HEAD

HEAD focused on that with the Gravity, Radical and Prestige lines. The most standout launch from HEAD was the excellent Prestige Classic 2.0.

Wilson

Wilson had a big release in the Shift, which impressed us and most other play-testers, while the Pro Staff felt more like a safe bet.

Babolat

Babolat were gutsy in bringing out the Pure Aero Rafa Origin, which played like a tank and put a big smile on my face. While the regular Aero Rafa was a bit wild in the string bed but seems to work really well for spin players. The Babolat Pure Aero 98 was one of my favorite racquets of the year because it had addictive power but wasn’t uncontrollable. The Pure Drive 98 was nice, but a bit too stiff for the play-testers.

Yonex

Yonex went for big changes in their new Yonex VCORE racquets, but most play-testers felt the change was a bit much in terms of playability. The racquets were wild, with high and somewhat unpredictable launch angles. This starkly contrasted with the Percept racquets‘ predictability, which replaced the VCORE Pro as the Yonex control line. The mold was the same, but the racquets played with improved stability and power over their predecessors.

The Rest

Tecnifibre did not launch any updates to their racquets in 2023, while Dunlop’s power line, FX, improved with a softer and more responsive feel.

I might have missed some releases. I am just in the process of going through and summarizing the year. I’m keen to hear what you think.

What was your favorite racquet release in 2023?

Our excellent contributor and racquet nerd, Oak Gast, is back with an awaited Yonex Percept 100D Review. Is this the best racquet in the line?

Yonex Percept 100D Review

Yonex’s latest foray into the control market comes in the form of the newly established Percept line. The 100D is the only truly “new” racquet here, as the others come off the legacy of the Vcore Pro; a well-regarded precision line amongst “player’s” frames.

You can check out our reviews of the Yonex Percept 97, 97H and 100 by clicking the links and you can purchase the racquet from our friends at Tennis Warehouse.

Specifications

One thing that immediately distinguishes the 100D and the regular 100 from the rest of the Percept lineup is their comparatively higher stiffness. From a design perspective, pairing the 100” head size with a 66 stiffness rating allows for more power to offset the additional forgiveness the larger hoop offers.

The 100D starts to shimmer on paper when you see that Yonex chose to pair a niche string pattern with a fairly common static weight. The 18×19 pattern is somewhat rare these days, as the Prestige MP, TFight 305, and the SW102 are the only other market-available frames with this arrangement of strings.

Comparisons

As far as the weight is concerned, 305 grams unstrung seems to be a sweet spot for a lot of modern classics (Blade 98, Aero 98, Ezone 98, Whiteout, etc.). Here though the 100D takes a turn with its head size, as I can’t think of that many other 305-gram frames with a 100” hoop. Of the ones that do have this combination (Volkl V8 pro, Phantom 100P, Gravity Tour, and the Ki Q+ 5X Pro), none have that more elusive 18×19 pattern. However, all are going with denser 18×20 or 16×20 patterns overall. This seems to suggest that 305-gram frames, when paired with the 100” hoop, benefit from some additional stability and swing weight sourced via these denser string patterns. With said patterns, the power aspect of the 100” frames is lessened in favor of more directional input through having more strings contact the ball.

Denser patterns are typically understood to give us faster rebound rates, which usually leads to more precision and less shot depth. Higher degrees of control align with what the 18×19 is aspiring to do while simultaneously being slightly more spin-friendly than an 18×20. The 100D then distinguishes itself from the other current 18×19 frames by being the only option with a 100” head size. As such, it is more powerful than the Prestige or Tfight but more refined than the SW102. Where it really stands out, though, is the swing weight, down at sub-320 strung, compared to the other 18x19s, all at 330 plus strung for swing weight. This lower swing weight means that with the 100D, you get a frame that is more maneuverable compared to its pattern siblings, allowing for much faster racquet head speeds.

How does it play?

For testing purposes, I was fortunate enough through Tennis Warehouse to use a near-stock version of the frame strung with Polytour Pro in a 1.25 gauge.

Initially, I was very much thrown by the frame’s lower launch angle. I was expecting the frame to feel similar to the Tfight 305, but this was not at all the experience that I was continuing to get on court. As someone working with more spin-based modern mechanics, the 100D was initially extremely unforgiving and demanding. If you are someone who finds lots of success with flicking your wrist, then this frame may not be for you… The 100D practically forced me to move forward through my shots and to drive the ball flat. Attempting to spin the ball into the court proved detrimental both for the quality of the shot and my own comfort. I moved away from my one-handed ideations and let myself trust the two-hander on the backhand side, which felt incredibly stable as long as I timed my weight transfer properly. On the forehand, this need to move forward became even more apparent, as when I was countering shots of heavier pace, I was only then able to flick my forehand in. Otherwise, the frame required me to finish a couple of feet forward on nearly every shot, necessitating more engaged footwork.

After a few weeks with the frame, the heftier feel (thanks partly to the Isometric beam) combined with the sub 320 strung swing weight started to feel more harmonious. The forehand will probably never feel truly natural to me with the 100D, but it did change my play style a little bit during point play to be more aggressive, which is always a fun testing bonus.

Stroke by stroke

Serving with the 100D feels extremely rewarding if you enjoy laying down flat serves. As for more spin-based service motions, the 100D does not do you any favors, but it doesn’t really feel designed to. It is a frame that is true to its design theory, managing to stay mostly flat regardless of the shot. The precision on serving felt great, as seamless as other classic 100” frames for serving like the Pure Drive or the Ezone 100. I enjoyed the denser pattern’s impacts here, as the serve felt incredibly solid upon contact compared to some 16×19 100” frames.

Volleys with the 100D mainly felt natural, having both good control and easy stability. The frame actually excelled on high volleys and overheads, as the wide-body isometric shape allowed for some expanded hitting zones higher up. Lower volleys were sufficient enough due to the maneuverability of the frame, and the square beam shape should feel traditional enough for most players. The most discernible difference was a lower level of spin access than I’ve grown accustomed to, which changed the shot’s shape on many volleys. Again, this is not a knock on the frame but a testament to the adherence to its design vision.

Summary

I was initially torn on this frame, but I have grown to probably like it the most out of this new Percept lineup. The regular 97 is a close second, but the 100D is simply an outrageously fun frame to play with. Once you start driving through the ball with the frame it begins to really take off upon impact, allowing for heavy line drives from all angles. Any time I catch myself smiling on the court and have the racquet to thank for it, I pay attention.

You can check out our reviews of the Yonex Percept 97, 97H, and 100 by clicking the links and you can purchase the racquet from our friends at Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Only.

The HEAD Prestige 2023 Review deals with the Prestige Tour, Pro, MP and MP L. It has also been called Prestige Auxetic 2.0.

HEAD Prestige 2023 Review

There is a new line of Prestige racquets on the block. We have had four racquets to test over a period of weeks and below you can read our verdict. If you prefer, there is also a Prestige Auxetic 2.0 video review here.

So, what is new in the HEAD Prestige 2023? The racquets play similarly to the HEAD Prestige 2021 racquets, but they are somewhat refined. I prefer the Auxetic 2.0 version over the predecessor, but I understand if some players struggle to tell a difference. You can read more about the Auxetic technology here.

You can purchase the new HEAD Prestige 2023 racquets from Tennis Warehouse.

HEAD Prestige Tour

The Tour model is the most unforgiving, with a true 95 sq inch head size. This was Nikki’s favorite, and he liked it so much he could play a tournament with it. The specifications are similar to the previous generation, but the stiffness is slightly lower, and the swing weight is also reduced. Both changes are positive.

The racquet played with excellent plow-through, stability, feel, and control. But it was too demanding for most play-testers. If you are an aspiring pro or just love smaller head sizes and heavier racquets, this one might be a great option.

It’s easier to use than the predecessor, but still a demanding racquet with a relatively small audience.

HEAD Prestige Pro

I loved the HEAD Prestige MP 360+, which is the model that predated the first Auxetic Prestige. They changed the name from MP to Pro, which makes sense since this racquet is difficult to play with. Dense string pattern, thin beam, low stiffness. It’s a classic racquet with a slightly larger head size. Great for precision, tougher on defense. But if you love being connected to every shot, this is one of the best racquets on the market. I didn’t like the Prestige Pro 2021, but this one felt softer to me. Looking at the specifications below, I can see they really dialed down the stiffness towards PT57A levels.

Fantastic racquet, just too demanding for most players.

HEAD Prestige MP

This is the most complicated racquet to understand for me. It has a relatively high swing weight (around 330 strung), a 99 sq inch head size and an 18×19 string pattern. It is smack down in the middle of control racquets, but it makes it lack a bit of identity. The Pro and the Tour are tough to use, but they offer a beautiful feel and precision when you are playing well. This one is somewhat easier to use, but the rewards are not that strong. The feel and control is simply not quite as good as with the racquets above. I struggled to understand this one, but I know it has a fanbase out there.

Specifications are not yet live on the Tennis Warehouse website for the Prestige MP 2023.

HEAD Prestige MP L

This is what I would call a “sleeper” racquet. An excellent frame that is easily overlooked because it has the name Midplus Light. Yes, it is lighter than the racquets above, but still, 300 grams unstrung, and with some customization it can turn into quite a solid weapon.

Somewhat surprisingly, they really managed to capture the Prestige feel with this one. This racquet is soft on the arm, pockets the ball well, and despite being a control racquet, can offer some power and spin.

Control freaks might struggle with the higher launch angle from the 16×19 pattern. But this is something you can reduce with the right string choice, perhaps adding a gut or multi in the mains.

This turned out to be my personal favorite, with the Prestige Pro coming in at a close second. Excellent racquet.

Summary

This is a slight update from the 2021 version. The improvements are subtle, even when looking at the cosmetic, but the more you play with the racquets, the stronger they become. The softer feel and reduction in swing weight in some models are clear steps in the right direction. I think all racquets played better, and I did enjoy the play-test immensely. However, the Prestige MP is still difficult for me to place in terms of playing demographic.

In short, if you want control and feel, the Prestige line still delivers in spades!

The Prestige Classic is back! Prestige fans rejoice. Here is our HEAD Prestige Classic 2.0 Review and man, it’s nice to see it again.

HEAD Prestige Classic 2.0 Review

The Prestige Classic 600 is an icon among racquet aficionados. A racquet used by tennis legends like Goran Ivanisevic and Marat Safin, as well as tennis nerds worldwide. Sure, the 89.5 sq inch racquet head will be demanding in the modern, more spin and power-focused game of tennis, but it’s still such a joy to hit with this stick.

You can buy this racquet at Tennis Warehouse.

So far, I have only tested this racquet with a multifilament string, but that is really how it SHOULD be played. The excellent HEAD Velocity MLT 1.30 black and 1.25 natural. If you want a control-oriented multifilament string (arm-friendly!), HEAD Velocity is one of the best on the market. Maybe I will test it with a poly or a hybrid string setup later on, for a bit more spin potential. But talking about spin, you can actually swing this racquet head so fast thanks to the small head size, that spin is not hard to come by.

Specifications

Regarding the head size measurement, HEAD used to measure the frame from the outside, while other manufacturers did the inside. That is why 93 sq inches, is really more like 89.5 here. This changed when they moved over to Graphene racquets, but even the Radical Pro IG edition, which is said to be 98, is more like a 95.

How does it play?

The racquet is butter on impact. On attack, you can whip up some aggressive shots and count on pinpoint precision from the small frame. There is little power here, but you can’t complain about control and feel.

It performs surprisingly well, still, so many years later, when you’re aggressive. But as soon as you need to get on the defense, that is when the head size and difficulty level of the racquet can be too punishing.

But playing with this racquet brings a smile to my face. It’s just fun! I won’t bring it into a tournament match, but for a warm-up or a fun hitting session with a buddy – why not?

How does it compare to the Prestige Classic 600?

The re-issue of the HEAD Pro Tour 2.0 was great, but it did not quite have the plushness of the HEAD Pro Tour 630. It played a bit stiffer, more like an old Radical MP. In the case of the Prestige Classic 2.0, I struggle to detect a difference from the original. It offers the same classic feel, not too soft, not too stiff. Kind of just perfect. Like the Wilson Pro Staff 85. There is a reason those racquets still garner so much love.

Summary

If you love classic racquets, old school feel, or just want an icon to put on your wall. This is it. It’s a beauty in terms of design and playability. I talked to HEAD about the idea of bringing these legends back some years ago and I’m happy to see it happen. I’m sure I’m not alone!

Check out this racquet at Tennis Warehouse alongside the new Prestige 2023 racquets.

We have a new contributor on the website, Oak Gast, a 4.5 NTRP player from San Luis Obispo, CA. Here is his Solinco Whiteout 18×20 XTD Review.

Solinco Whiteout 18×20 XTD Review

Before we dip into the review, let’s look at the specifications from Tennis Warehouse. You can also check out our review of the Solinco Whiteout 18×20 or the Solinco Whiteout 16×19.

The frame’s design feels ultimately balanced in the purest sense of that word. Spec-wise, practically every characteristic has a perfect complement otherwise located in the frame’s construction. From a top-down perspective, the racquet exists in a class of its own. It is the only extended-length 18×20 frame you can get from mainstream manufacturers. The pairing of these two particular specs outlines the approach to the frame in that control comfortably melds with power from a highly intentional design angle.

How does it play?

The extended nature of the racquet offers greater reach and additional leverage due to its 27.5” length. From a groundstroke perspective, users now have a larger wingspan and hitting zone, which can be converted into additional power and pop if appropriately timed. Length-sensitive players will notice how the additional half-inch gives you some extra capability in terms of defensive play. I also found the length to change the overall launch angle on my forehand slice, arriving later to the ball in terms of timing. Additionally, the slice felt lower to the net but had compensated with more directional control to make up for a smaller clearance margin. The length makes itself known on the serves for providing an increased downward angle on the ball. As someone who has always struggled with height on the serve, I was pretty satisfied with this impact.

On volleys, the length does make it more challenging to maneuver, but the pros outweigh the cons here. The extra length gives you more reach, which is extremely helpful on stretch volleys, high volleys, and tougher overheads. Further, the extended contact point encouraged me to get to my volleys faster and more in front of my body, which also ended up manifesting well results-wise.

Summary

What makes this Whiteout so captivating though, is that it has a denser string pattern to offer increased control in relation to all of the aforementioned power capabilities. The 18×20 essentially reigns in all of the pop the frame is working with, encouraging good timing, hitting through the ball, and better targeting. By having more directional input with more strings, the frame allows for players to control and experiment with the length-based power impacts. The 18×20 feels surprisingly open too, which mitigates the often heard complaint of denser patterns not being spin-friendly enough. Furthermore, the racquet is able to get away with a somewhat high stiffness (65 RA) due to the foam-filled interior. Solinco has seemingly taken a page out of Tecnifibre’s book here, as the foam adds additional comfort due to shock distribution.

On top of that, I’ve noticed foam-filled frames typically allow for some additional maneuverability, which is a nice bonus considering the less-wieldy 27.5” length. You combine all of this with a swing weight that averages above 330 pts strung, and you get a seriously versatile frame.

The Whiteout has exceeded my expectations in nearly every aspect of the hitting experience. It is a frame that toes the line perfectly in terms of versatility, and I cannot recommend it enough in terms of something that can both encourage good technique as well as mix up one’s playing styles.

About the reviewer

Oak Gast is a 4.5/5.0 tennis player in San Luis Obispo, CA. As a product specialist at Tennis Warehouse, Oak oversees orders and customer communication internally within the racquets department. Additionally, Oak uses his M.A. degree in English to develop writings around various equipment, such as racquets, strings, and shoes, and the geopolitical significance of tennis as an international sport. Personal research topics include modality of information, Romantic literature, and film studies.

The VCORE Pro is no more. The Yonex Percept is here. If you’re curious about a modern control racquet, read this Yonex Percept 100 Review.

Yonex Percept 100 Review

The Yonex Percept 100 is a control racquet but more forgiving and powerful than the smaller head sizes in the Yonex Percept family. Of all the Percept racquets we tested, the Percept 100 was the most exciting. It offers good power, feel, and a nice balance of pop and control.

Compared to the Yonex VCORE Pro 100 predecessor, this racquet plays a bit firmer, with better stability and slightly less flex. I feel like the layup is improved and you get a bit more power and stability than the previous version. The other guys I tested it with agreed and for all of us, the Percept 100 was the winner.

You can check out the Yonex Percept 100 from our friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only.

Let’s have a look at the average specs of the Percept 100.

Specifications

How does it play?

The Percept 100 balances a modern racquet with the control and feel of a more control-oriented stick. It’s a very balanced racquet and an excellent competitor to racquets like the Wilson Blade 100 V8 or HEAD Speed MP. I feel like it plays a bit more controlled than the Speed and works better for me on flatter shots, while it’s quite similar to the Blade 100 in power level. Maybe the Percept 100 is a bit more stable in stock form.

So you do get a good level of spin and decent power. It’s nothing extreme or excessive in either aspect, so if you want that, you have the VCORE or EZONE lines from Yonex. However, the balanced nature of this racquet makes it very appealing to a large audience. As Nikki said in our video review, it’s hard to fault this racquet. It might not be love at first hit for everyone, as some players might not enjoy the slightly muted feel, but it’s a great racquet for many levels and styles of tennis players.

Two thumbs up from Tennisnerd for the Yonex Percept 100.