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With the introduction of the new Babolat XS 102 the movemen ... Read more

With the introduction of the new Babolat XS 102 the movement into the forgiving transition frame market is in full swing The XS line named for their Xtra Sweetspot technology uses a new Pebax plastic material at the sides of the frame to create a greatly enhanced Woofer type effect The Pebax material at the sides of the frame effectively lengthen these strings giving a larger sweetspot and additional power The XS 102 has a moderate weight and near even balance to make this a solid frame from all parts of the court as it remains mobile at the net while not sacrificing stability from the baseline The increased forgiveness is most seen on offcenter shots which are not penalized as much thanks to the XS technology on this frame The XS 102 is a solid fit for transitioning juniors as well as adults seeking a forgiving frame to develop their overall game with Minimize

Players that place a premium on control and stability shoul ... Read more

Players that place a premium on control and stability should check out the Solinco Pro 10 Sharing the same mold of the other Pro models this one arrives with significantly more weight at 115 ounces unstrung and the same precisionenhancing 18x20 string pattern The Pro 10 is nothing short of a fusion of classic frame design and innovative material construction thanks to the NiMesh technology This fine mesh material is created by combining graphite with nickel anodized and then interweaving the mesh sheets within the graphite layers at the sides of the head By strengthening these areas of the frame Solinco has produced a frame with the classic firm feel complete with improved stability and control Our testers noticed a definite increase in the firmness of this frame compared to the lighter models and the higher swingweight was appreciated by our allcourt players Designed with stronger players in mind this frame provides scalpellike precision with the advantage of current technology Minimize

Offering control and power in an economic option the Pacifi ... Read more

Offering control and power in an economic option the Pacific Speed Comp is no slouch when it comes to technology either Featuring the same BasaltX technology as the other frames this versatile frame is supported by Basalt fibers throughout the frame to provide the optimal combination of flex and stiffness for excellent feel control and stability By varying the amount of flex in different areas of the frame this racquet can provide a plush comfortable feel without sacrificing in the areas of power and precision The moderate 106 ounce strung weight and 102 square inch head size make the Speed Comp a great option for a wide range of players spanning from the improving junior to the allaround player seeking that little extra forgiveness without breaking the bank Our testers got exactly what they expected with this racquet a solid performer in all aspects with a large amount of control and a forgiving sweet spot With no apparent weakness this is a great option for players that was to develop their game whether it be attacking the net or staying at the baseline Minimize

For players wanting a bit more reach without sacrificing co ... Read more

For players wanting a bit more reach without sacrificing control the Solinco Pro 10X is your answer With similar specifications to the standard length Pro 10 this model is 275 inches long for a bit extra reach The mold of the racquet remains unchanged but a longer grip makes this frame perfectly suited for baseline players that rely on a strong twohanded backhand The Pro 10X features the same NiMesh construction for improved stability and firm feel The NiMesh technology fuses carbon yarn and nickel anodized mesh and then integrates this new composite in with the graphite sheets at the sides of the head The increased strength and weight improves torsional stability for improved results even on offcenter hits Our testing staff found that the extra length provided some welcome power on serves and at the baseline but a few of our allcourt players missed the better maneuverability of the Pro 10 at the net Minimize

If you have ever wanted serious control but without all of ... Read more

If you have ever wanted serious control but without all of the weight now you can have it with the Solinco Pro 8 Weighing in at a moderate 106 ounces unstrung this midplus frame features a thin 21mm beam and comfortable flex providing excellent precision and feel Like the other Pro models the Pro 8 prominently features the NiMesh technology at the sides of the head This material construction combines nickel anodized with graphite to create a fine mesh that exhibits superior strength to traditional graphite The benefit of this material is that when placed at the sides of the head the frame exhibits improved torsional stability for improved control and feel Our testers really enjoyed this frame loving the firm feedback without feeling overly stiff Directional placement was excellent and the moderate weight provided excellent stability and maneuverability Minimize

The lightest of the series the Solinco Pro 7 still screams ... Read more

The lightest of the series the Solinco Pro 7 still screams of control but at a lighter weight for quick movements The thin 21mm beam provides a good level of feel and precision while the low 10 ounce weight provides incredible maneuverability for players of all styles The Pro 7 like all models in the Pro line features the same NiMesh construction technology at the sides of the head This material construction combines the graphite and nickel anodized into a mesh that is integrated with the quality graphite construction The advantage of this material is that it increases the strength of these areas of the frame increasing torsional stability for improved control and a solid feel Our testers loved the control of this frame and while a little light for some felt that it provided an excellent base for customization in addition to providing excellent feel in stock form Minimize

The successor to the Drive Z lineup the new Babolat OverDri ... Read more

The successor to the Drive Z lineup the new Babolat OverDrive 105 brings a cosmetic update to the popular forgiving tweener frame The combination of light weight and near even balance allow this racquet to remain stable from the baseline without compromising agility around the court The OverDrive 105 is powered by Elliptical Geometry which means that the beam cross section is rounded in shape similar to the popular Pure Drive racquets In play this elliptical beam provides greater repulsion and energy transfer for more efficient power For additional comfort and forgiveness this racquet also features the Cortex technology which is designed with the purpose of filtering and dampening high frequency vibrations commonly believed to be harmful to the arm The unique aspect of the Cortex technology is that low frequency vibrations associated with feel are not impeded resulting in a frame that offers both comfort and finesse Developed for intermediate players of all styles the OverDrive 105 is a solid performer all around the court for players with medium length swings seeking power and comfort with a forgiving sweetspot Minimize

For 2011 the new Babolat OverDrive 110 brings a cosmetic up ... Read more

For 2011 the new Babolat OverDrive 110 brings a cosmetic update to the popular offering from the previous Drive Z line With a light 92 ounce unstrung weight this racquet is extremely nimble at net providing plenty of maneuverability for quick exchanges while the head heavy balance ensures excellent stability from the baseline The OverDrive 110 is powered by Elliptical Geometry which means that the beam cross section is rounded for greater energy return and maximum repulsion for additional power Enhancing comfort and forgiveness is the Cortex technology which sits at the interface of the throat and the handle The innovative design of Cortex allows it to dampen and filter unwanted high frequency vibrations while not impeding low frequency vibration The result is a racquet that offers excellent feel with added comfort The oversize head provides a large forgiving sweetspot and excellent power Recommended for players with compact swings looking for power and comfort this racquet is at home anywhere on the court Minimize

For extra forgiveness the Babolat CDrive 105 offers a large ... Read more

For extra forgiveness the Babolat CDrive 105 offers a larger sweet spot than its smaller cousin Along with the increased head size is a slight increase in power and comfort thanks to a more forgiving string bed The Side Cortex system works further away from the hand to remove harmful shock and vibration before it reaches the player What makes Cortex different than most dampening technologies is that it is selective in nature meaning that it still allows some vibration through to give the sense of feel that players want without being uncomfortable The CDrive 105 is an excellent transition frame for juniors moving to their first fulllength frame as well as adults that prefer the lighter 93 ounce unstrung weight We found that this racquet provided solid depth for intermediate swing types and the larger sweet spot really benefitted a frame this light Minimize

Known for its light weight the Babolat CDrive 102 toes the ... Read more

Known for its light weight the Babolat CDrive 102 toes the line between power and control With a 102 square inch head size and 93 ounce unstrung weight this frame is a versatile option either for juniors transitioning towards a fulllength frame or an adult that simply wants an allaround frame without the weight The replacement for the popular XS102 the CDrive 102 boasts a more comfortable design thanks to the Side Cortex system which places a barrier along the throat of the racquet to filter out harmful and unwanted vibration for a pure crisp feel Our testers found that this racquet was extremely maneuverable and was most effective moving into the court rather than staying back where stability was an occasional issue for the hardhitters Minimize

Based on the continued use on the ATP circuit of its predec ... Read more

Based on the continued use on the ATP circuit of its predecessor the expectations must be high for the Prince EXO3 Tour 100 18x20 which offers a slightly stiffer feel and enhanced control compared to the more open patterned version Featuring a slightly lighter weight and larger head than the player frames of the past this is still definitely a control racquet as seen by the thin 1820mm beam Most importantly the EXO3 technology has been updated with new enhanced string suspension inserts that utilize thermoplastic resin in the carbon fiber matrix to combine properties of the two materials The carbon fiber offers responsiveness and a solid feel while the softer thermoplastic resin effectively dampens string vibrations for a more comfortable and forgiving stringbed Coming in around 115 ounces strung the EXO3 Tour 100 18x20 offers enough heft to plow through groundstrokes from the baseline while the head light balance keeps it quick at the net This model offers the ability to customize the response by replacing the string port inserts with string hole inserts which will act as standard grommet providing a very solid feel and additional control Using the string port inserts will allow the strings to move more increasing comfort and power According to Prince EXO3 holes increase the aerodynamics of the racquet lessening drag for increased racquet speed leading to greater power and spin generation The flexibility of the string bed increases the sweetspot ensuring more consistent ball response even on off center shots This racquet is recommended for strong baseline and all court players seeking a great control frame with added comfort and forgiveness Minimize

Updating a player favorite racquet the new Prince EXO3 Blue ... Read more

Updating a player favorite racquet the new Prince EXO3 Blue 110 features enhanced stability and comfort to deliver a classic oversize package with extraordinary performance The updated EXO3 technology utilizes a thermoplastic resin interwoven into the carbon fiber Energy Bridge matrix in order to take advantage of properties inherent to each material The softer thermoplastic material effectively reduces string vibration for greater comfort while the carbon fiber supplies the pop and responsive feel that players want The EXO3 Blue 110 still takes advantage of the port hole design which allows for greater string movement by freely suspending the strings leading to a larger sweetspot and greater repulsion for more power In order to increase stability without adding weight to the head of the racquet the cross section has been reengineered at the area where the throat meets the head This change adds torsional stability to the frame helping to resist twisting for greater power and accuracy on offcenter shots Further increasing the comfort is the addition of the Double Bridge technology which acts as a builtin vibration dampening system to lessen frame shock and reduce string vibration The added stability and throat stiffness tells why Prince claims that the new EXO3 Blue 110 is slightly more powerful than the previous models The overall light weight and aerodynamic enhancement from the EXO3 ports make this racquet highly maneuverable at net while the extra stability helps generate power and directional control from the baseline This frame is a solid choice for players with a compact to medium length swing seeking an impressive sweetspot in a forgiving oversize racquet with easy access to power Minimize