For a first demo round, I picked the folowing frames:
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| From Racquets |
Federer's weapon of choice has always felt great to me, until actually hitting a ball :) I've been hoping for a softer version for a long time, so maybe this is the one!
As for the 6.1, I did enjoy my nCode for a couple of years and played some good matches with it.
The specs of the new black-yellow "Pro Tour" promised a pleasant hit.
Finally, Justine Henin's comeback frame seemed interesting to me too: some extra length and a relatively open string pattern, plus Justine came back with a more aggressive style of play and pretty crips volleys.
My impressions after taking the demos out for a couple of hits:
Wilson Six-One Tour BLX
(Roger Federer's racquet, at least officially)- Same great feel as always when you pick it up. Does not seem quite as stiff as the N and the K predecessors. Great control, but can't see myself putting someone under serious pressure from the baseline with it. If you have refined technique and like to win with control & finesse, this one might be for you. Don't string it too tight and remember to keep a loose arm :)
- Liked it a lot. Even tightly strung it was comfortable to play with. Might be the best volley racquet out there, rock-solid. For me, it felt great for long baseline swings, like a one-handed backhand. I did see someone with a compact swing hit the fastest forehand I have ever seen, so that seems to be possible too :) As always, I appreciate the open string pattern for some extra bite, and an easier string job.
- Friendly feeling control racket, reminded me a bit of my beloved Hyper Carbon 6.5 which I played for a record ~5 years. Personally, I'd prefer a more open string pattern, and I don't think I could hit winners from anywhere on the court. However, I would enjoy casual hitting or teaching with this stick. Don't think that Juan Martin del Potro can hit as hard with the stock version, so if he's playing something like this racquet, my guess is that it's very much customized and a lot heavier.
- Not bad. Quite powerful and swings nicely. When I pick up a slightly longer racquet I tend to find the sweetspot more easily, and no exception here. Could imagine more baseline rallying or playing up to 4.5 guys with it. Don't think it will be versatile enough for me stand up against 5.0+ players. Might improve the game for folks with long swings and a baseline game, especially on clay or hard court.