Review of the Head YOUTEK IG Prestige Midplus

The Head Prestige line of racquets has always been known as a solid line with many professionals wielding them. Personally, I haven’t played Head racquets much and have never owned any. My normal preference is for a small head, flexible racquet (I play the 93 sq in Volkl PB10 Mid). Still, these brand new offerings for 2012 have me intrigued mainly due to their outstanding lineage. I took this racquet out for several hits to see why they are so highly touted. This racquet was strung with a poly in the mid-range.

Groundstrokes

I have tested and played many, many racquets and this is the first one that I have picked up and had NO adjustment period. It felt like I had played with this racquet my whole life from the first hit. Balls were going exactly where I asked them to and with nice pace. My strokes flattened out (due from the 18x20 string pattern, I suspect) over my typical semi-looping, topspin groundies. The beautiful thing about it is that I didn’t hit balls long as a result, they just got to their destination sooner. This did feel a tad bit stiffer than my regular racquet (Volkl PB10 Mid, but it’s a very flexible stick). I never felt arm or shoulder pain from using this racquet. The slightly stiffer feel helped in the overall great stability, too. The result is a combination of power, control, spin, touch and comfort. Literally, the Prestige MP had it all. Keep in mind, this is a player’s stick and so a degree of skill is needed to play it. I found that if I babied the ball, it would land short. With the guys I play with, short balls relate to a fuzzball sandwich in a hurry! However, if I hit out on both sides, I could control points and feed my opponents the meal instead. Slice backhands were sick as the ball buried into the court and stayed low. Overall, this is the best groundstroke racquet I have ever tested. The only negative is that it has a bit of a tinny sound coming from the stringbed. A dampener helped, but didn’t cure it. Frankly, I forgot about it quickly when I hit great shots!

Volleys/Overheads

Both of these shots were smooth as silk. Volleys felt controlled, stable and the touch was outstanding. I really felt as though I was directing the shots and not hitting them. I think the weight is perfect for the combination of power, control and stability. Not too light or too heavy. Overheads felt as solid as a rock. This racquet was at home at the net no matter whether I was volleying or putting away an overhead. You could easily feel comfortable with this racquet if you are a serve and volley player.

Serves/Returns

Serves were very controllable but power is not its strong suit. I was able to get plenty of pop when I needed it but I had to rock back and let it rip to do it. You won’t get a lot of help in the power department, for sure. But, power was adequate. On returns, the 98 square inch head allowed me to meet every ball squarely but, just like the serve, you must help generate the power back to your opponent. When you do, returns were solid and dependable.

If you have an aggressive game and like to take big cuts at the ball, this is your racquet. At times, I felt like I could swing as hard as I wanted and the ball would stay in. That is a great feeling because it builds confidence. On the flipside, if you don’t take full strokes, the ball can land short and your lunch will be served back to you! This is a versatile racquet in that you can play baseline, serve/volley or an all-court game and not have to sacrifice anything. I love this racquet so much that that this is going to be my racquet of choice going forward. The Head YOUTEK IG Prestige Midplus is a low-powered, control racquet that is best suited for aggressive, 4.0+ baseline, serve and volleyers and all-court players.

Keep hittin!

Dan

Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution Review

Today, I have a guest reviewer reviewing a brand new string from Kirschbaum called the Pro Line Evolution. Thanks to one of my customers, Eric Berner (college player), for his insight on this test. Kirschbaum has several excellent strings and one that I actually played for several months was the Pro Line II.

The Evolution's claim to fame is that it is pre-stretched (as are all Kirschbaum's poly strings) and that it is 10% lighter than typical poly strings. However, the real test is how it performs. That's where our playtest comes in.

The playtest:

Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution is the newest offering from Kirschbaum. This new string is an update to their popular Pro Line II string. Bring a huge fan of Pro Line II, I couldn’t wait to try this new string out. Coming in a bright blue color and a new technology that reduces the mass of the string by 10% to enhance spin and power, this string is a must try. I strung this up in my Dunlop Biomimetic 200 at 58 lbs. I must say, the string looks great in this racquet.

My first hit with the Evolution was less than pleasing. My serves were flying long, my groundstrokes had very little spin and lacked pace and depth, and my volleys would sit up for my opponent to easily put away. After the first few hours with these strings I was ready to cut them out. There was hardly any feel, power, or spin potential to be found.

The second day I went to hit with these, my mind was changed. The strings seemed to soften up a bit which allowed from great ball pocketing. I could take huge cuts at the ball with confidence that they would drop in. I felt like my serves had more kick and slice when needed, but I could hit a strong flat serve with ease, too. The power was an added bonus once these got broken in.

Volleying with these strings is probably one of my favorite aspects about them. They feel soft like a multi, but allow me to have the control of a poly. When hitting drop volleys it feels like the strings just catch the ball and allow you to do as you please with it.

There was a little drop in tension after the first few hours that I played with these strings. That sort of softening of the string bed allowed me to feel the ball pocketing characteristic in which I enjoy in my strings. I felt that on the second day of hitting the spin, power, and feel of the string were all as advertised and even better.

I have been playing with this same set for two weeks now and there is minimal notching and absolutely no string movement at all. This string has felt the exact same as the second time I stepped on court with it. This is definitely one of my favorite poly strings that I have ever hit with.

Thanks again Eric for your review!

Keep hittin'

Dan

Tourna Big Hitter Blue Rough 16ga Review

This is an "older" string and not one of the latest strings to come out but I thought it was time to report on this poly string. After all, it got a ton of hype (to us nerd string aficionados!) when it came out a year or so ago. After the Racquet Sports Industry had tested it, they said it was the 2nd best string they tested, losing out only to a premium natural gut. With this in mind, it was way past time to try this string out.

My test racquet and setup are as follows: Volkl PB 10 Mid, Tourna Big Hitter Blue Rough string (BHBR) 16 ga @ 58#. I usually string poly at a little lower than this but I have read that this is a softer string and produces more power than usual polys so I decided to string it up for more control. I had about 1 1/2 hours on court playing indoors on a medium fast hard court.

The Test:

For serves, there's one word, WOW! I felt complete control over every shot (sure, they didn't all go in but it felt like they were going to!). On the deuce and ad sides, I could hit the outside corners better than my beloved Genesis Twisted Razor setup that I have played for 8 months. Spin was better than average and I could kick it with ease.

Running crosscourt forehands were remarkably successful with 2 or 3 outright winners on shots that are usually just "keep 'em in play" shots. I left my opponent looking at me with a "did you really just hit that shot?" look that was completely satisfying. Shots that usually would have been a few inches out landed inside the lines. The feel was excellent and there is absolutely no jarring or shock to my arm, even on mishits. This really IS a soft playing poly. Lots of strings claim softness - BHBR delivered. Power was equally impressive as I hit several balls past my opponent on forehands and backhands. Touch is better than most polys but still not as good as a natural gut or even some synthetics. I dropped a ball over the net that my opponent had no chance in retrieving. I could generate lots of spin and really pin my opponent back with a high spin, looping shot that was difficult to handle. This is definitely in the "spin string" category.

I only hit 1 overhead but it was solid and penetrating. If serves are any indication of how the overheads would go, then I see no reason why this string wouldn't be just as good. This is a soft string with good power and so the ball felt nice on the strings. I felt in complete control and could slice and dice the volleys as well. I'm no longer play a serve and volley game but the time I spent there was pleasant.

I experienced no arm pain but to be fair, I only played less than 2 hours with it. Also, I don't know how long this string will last or how long it will play this well. That's a question to be answered in the days and weeks to come.

But for now...

I loved this string test. It's a soft, powerful poly that gives excellent control, too. Lots of strings claim power and control as their attributes but few deliver. I would rank these in my top 3 polys I have ever played. They would be (in no particular order), Luxilon ALU Power, Genesis Twisted Razor and this string, BHBR. If you want spin, BHBR delivered. If you want power, BHBR delivered. If you want control, BHBR delivered again!

I tried BHBR when it originally came out and liked it but I strung it too low for maximum benefit. This time, I strung it at the proper tension and the result is fantastic. Now I see why this string was rated so high when it first came out. I think that I will be keeping this string in my racquet for a while. At least until something better comes along. However, it's going to take quite a lot to get Big Hitter Blue Rough out of my stick.

Keep hittin'
Dan

Review of the Volkl Organix 10 325

Since my current frame is the Volkl PB10 Mid, I was eager to try this racquet. I feel that my Volkl is probably the best racquet I have ever hit with and one that would be tough to match, much less beat. With the new Volkl Organix 10 325, Volkl promises that racquets with Organix materials “will be loaded up with kinetic energy during ball impact and release it back again immediately and better handling, due to extraordinary vibration-absorbing properties”. They also say that there is “up to 30% more dynamic power”. Lots of information to digest but I just wanted to see how it plays. This test model is 98 sq in and has a 16x19 string pattern. The stiffness rating is in the mid 60’s and around 12 oz strung.

Groundstrokes

When I began hitting with this racquet, it felt like I was hitting with an old friend and the larger head size (98 sq in) allowed my confidence soar. This is a heavier racquet but it didn’t feel too heavy as the weight seems to be distributed just right. My arm felt all warm and fuzzy as I felt no arm discomfort. The string in this racquet was a synthetic gut and is not known for explosive spin. However, I was still able to get excellent spin. I was impressed with it on both sides as I was able to come over the ball or slice and dice very well. I love to move my opponents back and forth on my groundstrokes and this racquet delivered. I controlled it nicely and spin it as needed. I had good, solid power on both sides. When given short balls, it was point over!

Volleys/Overheads

With the 98 sq in head, I felt very comfortable at net and I was able to power through both sides equally. Control was there whether I was trying to punch it hard or just feather it. Solid as a rock! Overheads were consistent and powerful as I had no issues. The head size provided all the confidence I needed to put the ball away every time.

Serves/Returns

Serving is the only area where I felt it was a bit lacking. However, it’s not a bad serving racquet. It just didn’t have the power I wanted when called upon. Spin and control wasn’t an issue, only power. When I really leaned on it to crank an ace (hopefully!), it just didn’t deliver. I would like to experiment with different strings such as a co-poly or even natural gut. A different string might change up the playing characteristics offering more power. Returns, however, were great. I think the size of the head along with how solid the racquet is combined for an excellent returning stick. I could block it with ease on a rocket serve or return it with pace on a floater.

Overall, this is an excellent racquet for a 4.5 and above player. Singles or doubles players will find this racquet solid, comfortable and reliable. Keep in mind that this is a heavier racquet and the faint of heart need not apply. Also, the handle shape is different than other brands as Volkls are more angular so there’s a brief adjustment period. For better players, you’ll see excellent results on groundstrokes, volleys, returns and overhead. Be willing to sacrifice a small amount

on power serves. The upside to that is that you’ll gain a bit of control, so it’s still good news! I don’t know if Organix is responsible for the excellent results I had, but it certainly didn’t hurt! I’m staying with my Volkl PB10 Mid’s but I could play with this racquet with very little adjustment.

Keep hittin!,

Dan

Review of the Prince EXO3 Tour 100 18x20

Donald Young switched to this racquet this year and his results are apparent. I don’t know if it’s just the racquet but there’s no denying the facts. His ranking has risen dramatically while using this racquet. Several other players are also using this racquet so it was time for me to take a look at why it’s gaining popularity. I was anxious to get this stick out on the court. This test racquet is about 11 ½ oz strung, 100 sq in, strung with a synthetic gut, an 18x20 string pattern and a stiffness rating in the low 50’s. This racquet had the open ports and not the optional grommets.

Groundstrokes

The first thing I noticed is that you can really feel the flexibility of this racquet. I currently use a pretty flexible racquet (Volkl PB10 Mid) but this one really bends on impact. It felt very comfortable and I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to generate good power, considering the flexibility. The flex allowed complete comfort for my arm. At first, I thought that I might need to add lead tape to the head to squeeze more power out of the frame. But after playing a set, that feeling went away. I found that with the extreme flexibility, I was able to control the ball and place it on a dime. Even with the larger head, it controlled the ball as well as my 93 sq in frame I currently have. Slice, flat or topspin, I could do it all. My confidence was way up every time I swung. The 18x20 string pattern contributed to the control factor and spin was excellent. I can imagine that if I installed a “spiny” co-poly, this might be considered one of the best frames out there (it still may be anyway). Frankly, other than possible lead tape, I don’t have any suggestions for improvement on groundies.

Volleys/Overheads

The light head and dense string pattern aided me in getting the racquet into position and control volleys but the lack of mass hurt me a bit in depth. I just needed to make sure that I punched through the ball to get the depth I needed. This is one area where lead tape would help. However, control was easy and I loved the touch. The flex allowed me to cup the ball and drop it where I wanted. Overheads were serviceable but I wouldn’t consider them powerful. The large head provided all the hitting surface I needed to put the ball away.

Serves/Returns

Even though I didn’t have all the power I wanted on serves, I was able to control the ball with ease. I was placing the ball in the deep outside corner on the ad side with ease and good pace on the ball. That’s a tough serve to hit but I was very consistent with it. Spin was good but not earth-shattering as I could hit a kick serve that was average in “kick-height”. Returns were as expected: fantastic! Whether blocking a big serve or blistering a weak serve, this racquet delivered. The tight string pattern helped keep the ball in play no matter the situation. Again, this is one area where lead tape may aid some in power and depth but I didn’t feel it would be necessary.

Overall, I loved this racquet. This is a great racquet for singles or doubles players in the 4.0 and above range and those who are looking for more control and/or comfort. If there is any thing to change, I might add lead tape to the head to beef it up a little. That is my only “iffy” thing about this frame. Additionally, there will be an adjustment period for most players coming from any of today’s stiff racquets. There will be a noticeable difference and they might feel that the racquet is bending too much. However, with persistence, you’ll see a great difference in the control of the ball and your arm will thank you for it. I want to lead the charge for players to switch from stiff racquets and play more flexible ones. This can help compensate for the stiff strings being used today and arms can be saved. I can see myself switching to this racquet which says quite a bit. It would be tough to rip my Volkl PB10 Mid from my hands but this racquet might be able to do it!

Better late than never to the Luxilon party

Luxilon is the company that began all this poly string stuff back in the 90's with the Original Big Banger. Gustavo Kuerten started it all when he strung up his racquet with the stuff and proceeded to win the French Open 3 times and get to number 1. When pros figured out that they could hit the ball as hard as they wanted and the ball would stay in the court, the poly floodgates opened. Heck, it was actually known as the "Luxilon dip" because of the pronounced dip the ball would take near the end on the court, seemingly on a string, and falling in at the last moment.

I'm sure that every tennis professional on the planet has tried Luxilon in one form or another, but I read and listened to the negative Nellys about these killers. I read about the horror stories about after hitting with them for only an hour, your arm will literally fall off! OK, maybe that's stretching the truth a bit but many people have avoided this string, some have been abused by this string but for those using it correctly, wow!

Many poly strings can cause arm issues if they are not strung properly. Too tight and the vibration will cause havoc with your tendons. Generally, you need to string any poly string 10% lower (or more) to reduce the effects these strings inherently cause. Also, not everyone SHOULD use poly strings. Beginners through intermediates shouldn't because they won't realize the benefits. They just don't have the racquethead speed to make it work properly. Also, if you have or are prone to have any arm issues, don't get any poly string in your racquet. It can mess you up for a long period of time. Face it, any tennis is better than no tennis due to arm problems.

The main reason for using this type of string is due to the low power they provide. They are generally more "dead" than synthetics and certainly more "dead" than natural gut. More on that later. The big deal with advanced players and pros is that they can swing harder and get more spin and control without fear of the ball going out.

On to my testing. I have been testing one of the most popular strings on tour, the Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power (I actually used the "rough" version but they are essentially the same string). Now, I have not gone all the way with this string as a full bed but rather, I used a hybrid in the cross. I used a soft, synthetic gut, Wilson Hollow Core. This does have a softening effect on the stiffer Luxilon. Using this combo, I was able to up the tension a bit to 55# in the mains (Luxilon) and 59# in the crosses (Hollow Core). Generally, for any hybrid, the main string will contribute 60-70% to the playability with crosses giving 30-40%.

After testing, I'm in love! This combination provides tremendous power, spin and control. I have never hit a more powerful, consistent and controlled serve. Also, my groundstrokes are powerful and quite spinny. The control is exceptional as I feel like I can put the ball on a dime no matter what position I'm in. All-in-all, this is a great setup and I have never felt a twinge in my wrist, arm or shoulder. I do plan to try this full bed and with other cross hybrids for comparisons.

When reading about Luxilon strings, durability problems have come up. When I say durability, I don't mean how long before they break. Poly strings are known for not breaking but they are known for "going dead". After a certain period of time, polys stretch out and won't return to the original position. Think of a rubber band stretching, coming back, stretching, coming back and finally stretching but not coming back. That's "dead". Most synthetics and natural gut strings stretch and come back for a longer period of time. Many felt like ALU Power strings go "dead" very quickly after only a couple hours of play. Obviously, this isn't a problem for the pros because they change racquets after only a few games. No big deal for them. But for the rest of us, durability is an issue, especially since these are not cheap strings. I was well into 12 hours of play and I did not detect any major changes in playability. Perhaps this was due to the hybrid effect since the Hollow Core will stay lively for a good amount of time in comparison to the Luxilon.

I must say that I am sold on this string and that it will stay in my racquet. At least until I find the next great string. ;) However, it's going to take a lot to top Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power. Sure, I may be late to the Luxilon party but at least there's enough time to have fun!

Review of the Genesis Twisted Razor string

Most of my experiences with textured strings have been less than exciting. The strings I have tested have had underwhelming results. Usually, they’re hyped and used as a great marketing tool but the texture makes little difference. Enter Genesis Twisted Razor 16L (1.27mm). Is this just another in the long line of twisted, shaped, textured, etc. strings? I took it to the court to experience it during a week-long playtest.

The setup racquet is my usual: the Volkl PB 10 Mid. I strung it near the middle of the racquet’s range at 55#. My usual setup is Kirschbaum PL II 17ga (mains) at 57# and Natural Gut 16ga (crosses) at 60#.

The first time I went for a playtest I actually hated the string. It felt boardy and had no feel. As time went on, however, I realized that it was my fault because I started out at too high of a tension. I nearly cut them out and thought that it’s the usual over-hyped string but thought twice and decided to give it one more try. I’m glad I did because it turned out to be one of the best, if not the best, string I have ever tested.

The test:

Feel:

Touch shots were very nice. I could feel the ball on the strings and drop shots, touch shots and those little feel shots were there for me. The ball pocketing is noticeable and appreciated. Not quite natural gut but it was getting close. 8.5/10

Power:

My playing partner remained the same for the 5 times I played with this string. He commented that the ball was getting to him quickly and it was difficult for him to do much with the ball. My serves were going through the court with excellent pace and I could tell the ball was traveling as fast as any other “power” strings I have played before. I can’t give this string a 10 because I have tested some rocket launchers. Those strings will get a 10 for power but a 2 for control. The Twisted Razor is the perfect blend of power with control. 9/10

Control:

I felt like I was in complete control on every shot and my confidence was riding high. I was placing the ball with an accuracy that usually only comes in streaks. Every time I played with this string I was placing it where I was aiming. I rarely lost control on anything within reach. My opponent really didn’t like how I kept hitting great shots but I loved it! 10/10

Spin:

This is where it got crazy. My opponent said that he had almost no chance on balls I could set up on and came over with heavy topspin. The ball would leave my racquet with its usual trajectory but would come down violently on the other side. It was quite remarkable to see the ball dive! My kick serves were jumping high and my backhand slice was staying so low that my opponent frequently couldn’t dig them out. I have a picture of one of the balls after 3 sets and the nap was coming through. I guess Razor is the perfect word for it. One word for the spin it produces: WOW! 10/10

Durability/Tension Maintenance:

After 5 playtests, there is virtually no wear on the strings and they haven’t moved. I have never had to straighten them during play. This isn’t that unusual for poly strings. I forgot to check the tension after the first time out but after the 2^nd time, the tension loss was only -10.4%. After the 4^th time, -15.3% and the 5^th time, -17.3%. Overall, tension maintenance is excellent and well within acceptable range. Like a fine wine, the feel, control and spin just keep getting better with time. 9/10

Arm Issues:

I have seen a slight increase in arm pain during this playtest, but certainly not alarming. I suffered a wrist injury from a few years ago and so polys in general do have a tendency to cause a flare-up. This is why I usually play with a poly/natural gut hybrid. It softens the blow. However, I’m not concerned since this has been very minor and seemed to go away after the first couple of times of play. I would contribute this to the tension loss and finding my personal best tension. Personally, I am planning to string this up at around 48-50# next time. This should take care of any arm/wrist issues in the future. 7.5/10

Overall, I’m am very impressed with this string. Luckily, I stayed with the string through that first time out and went back on the court to keep trying. I am getting great control, spin and feel from the ball. If you are a better player and are looking to increase power, spin and control (who isn’t?!), this might be your string. I would suggest that you string it a bit lower than a normal poly, especially if you have any arm twinges. This string comes highly recommended (except to my opponents! – shhh, don’t tell ‘em). Genesis keeps cranking out great strings dating back from their initial offering, Black Magic, all the way through to this string. They’re all winners.

Keep hittin’,

Dan

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