93 sq in rackets questions and comments

[jamesx521]

Since I'm not going to wait for Babolat to make a 93 sq.in. AeroPro Drive (my imaginary dream-racket that may never see light), I may go for some other 93 sq in. I'm looking for something that can be as forgiving on the body (back and wrists) as the Babolat, with hopefully as much power as the Babolat, yet with as more control as possible, like the Prestige Classic and fast swing-speed (like with a 93sq.in. racket, not 100 sq.in.).

I'm a former user of the 93sq.in. Head Prestige Classic. From what I've read on tenniswarehouse's user comments, the Liquidmetal is more like the original classic (the "buttery feel"), while the newer one -- the Flexpoint gives you same great control, it is stiffer and also gives you more power.

Some questions:

1. Are less stiff frames more forgiving on the body, or the opposite?

2. Does lower number for swing weight mean faster swing speed or the opposite?

3. I'll bring in the Prince o3 tour too. Even it's not 93 sq.in., it's another one on the list of considerations. Any comments on that one?

4. What about Volkl, Technifibre and others?

Thanks.

[Masamusou]

Some questions:

1. Are less stiff frames more forgiving on the body, or the opposite?

2. Does lower number for swing weight mean faster swing speed or the opposite?

3. I'll bring in the Prince o3 tour too. Even it's not 93 sq.in., it's another one on the list of considerations. Any comments on that one?

4. What about Volkl, Technifibre and others?

1. The stiffer the frame, the more shock that is transmitted through the racquet and through your arm. That's why the Babolat frames are traditionally known as arm killers (very high stiffness, some even in the upper 70s) The more flexible frames are going to be better for the body.

2. Lower swingweight means that the weight is distributed differently in order for it to swing through the air quicker than the higher swingweight frames. A lower swingweight will swing through the air faster given the same amount of input energy.

3. Can't comment on the O3 tour, never wanted to test them

4. Tecnifibre doesn't make anything smaller than 97" in the US. Volkl just discontinued their Tour 10 VE Midsize (93") which is the frame I'm using. It provides very little power though and you have to supply pretty much everything. It doesn't have any major strengths, but no real weaknesses either. Designed more for control type players. They are coming out with a midsize DNX 10 pretty soon though, you may want to give that one a shot once it comes out. The Pro Kennex Type C (the old one before the Redondo Edition) was the most powerful 93" racquet I've ever hit with, but it was stiff and just killed my arm after only about 10 minutes of hitting. You may want to look at the Vantage 90" frame. It also is very powerful for a mid. I had to sell mine because it was just launching balls left and right and I didn't want to put the time into it to dial in the right tension because I only had the one along with 4 of my normal frames. It was just too different.