I have previously written about “the Frankenstein” or the “Frying pan Prestige”, but now it is commercially available, the Zenath Racket.
What is the Zenath Racket?
The Zenath Racket is the brainchild of Michael Gordon and the origin story is listed here in the Frankenstein racquet part 1 and Frankenstein racquet part 2.
The specifications will tell you a part of story.
Specification:
Head size: 115″
Average weight: 315g
Average balance: 310mm
Beam width: 21mm
Length: 27″
String pattern: 20×21
RA: 63 strung
As you can see, it is a control-oriented oversized frame with a thin beam. The head shape is very wide, which is why I called it the Frying pan Prestige when I tried the prototype for our YouTube channel.
What are the selling points?
I thought it would be very gimmicky, but ended up liking the feel and the performance of the Zenath when I tested it a year ago. It does not seem like much has changed for the retail version, which is a good thing. I will still make a new review for YouTube.
This is how the Michael describes his invention:
The Zenath One is a new breed of performance racket. It aims to make the modern spin-oriented game of tennis easier with an extra wide racket head. To help control this extra size, it currently has more strings than any other racket on the market.
Benefits:
- The bigger sweetspot gives more margin for error when taking big cuts at the ball to generate spin.
- The larger surface area makes returning fast serves and reaction volleys easier, making this racket particularly good for fast doubles!
- The wider headsize means the ball is able to stay on the stringbed longer when playing touch and slice shots.
- Due to the thin beam and headlight balance, this racket still maintains its speed through the air, meaning it doesn’t feel cumbersome like many oversized rackets.
- It feels more like a ‘traditional’ 300g racket weight, the extra weight is all in the handle to help with speed.
- Custom spec! You can request a racket that is lighter, heavier, or even a swing weight and we will try to match it (please contact us first to check)
There are some obvious downsides with a racquet like the Zenath. It will feel a bit slower through the air and tougher to maneuver than your average racquet. However, it is not extreme like the Big Bubba and thanks to the thin beam it still moves pretty rapidly for its spec.
Summary
It is rare to see novel ideas on the racquet market these days. To make an oversized racquet into a control frame, is not something I have seen in a while. Sure, you have the old Prince Graphite OS and the Phantom 107, which are oversized but not as wide or large as the Zenath. Also, the extra strings in the Zenath make this racquet more controlled than most OS racquets.
I think this frame could work for intermediate doubles players who want a larger sweet spot. Or players who like a thin beam and control, but want more help from the racquet than they get from a Prestige or Ultra Pro.
An interesting frame for sure! You can check out the Zenath One at their official website. It retails at 170 GBP, but if you use the code TENNISNERD10, you get 10% off.
Let me know if you have tried this frame and what you think about it.
