Alrighty, so after 5-6 years, I've decided it's time I need a new stick. At the moment I'm kind of choosing out of these two mentioned in the thread title, and they've both been recommended by mates. I've yet to hit with either of them, yet I'll be looking to demo them both soon.
The racquet I've been using is a Dunlop Max Reflex Ti which I have no idea if any of you are familiar with or not, but it's a light frame and doesn't seem to be powerful, definitely more control. Anyway, I'm 19, would like to consider myself to be an all-court player or at least trying to keep going in that direction as I'm an aggressive baseliner when loose and relaxed and a counterpuncher when I'm not feeling comfortable on the court.
My forehand is hit with a fair amount of topspin usually, but I'm trying to hit it a little flatter these days for better approaches and to hit through the court more. I've also got a two-handed backhand. I slice more than occasionally, will try and come in from time to time. I'm a smaller guy, 5'7, don't have the most powerful serve and hmm, not sure what else I could tell you really but yeah, looking for some suggestions/advice as for which racquet to go with out of these two. I know it's speculation until I hit with 'em myself but I wouldn't mind some feedback and comments from any of you who have used either any of these racquets mentioned. Cheers.
for an all court player the blade is a much better racket, it offers more control and more feel. the pure drive is a racket for someone who just wants to spend all their time at the back of the court spanking the ball around
The kBlade is fantastic for slice and volleys especially I've found. Never used a Babolat and don't intend to, they are for players with ugly games who want to cream the ball constantly without any thought.
there are people who swear by the pure drive but the they are mindless ball bashers who know nothing about rackets. the kblade is a really good racket and has been one of the best selling frames of the past year
So I've been demoing a K Blade 98 for the last week and it's been interesting. Only managed to play with it three times but for about four hours all up due to rain throughout the week, including three match sets at club yesterday. The weight of the racquet doesn't bother me, but as I expected, I've had a bit of difficulty adjusting to the 98 frame since I've been hitting with one that's 105 for the last five and half years. I've actually had more trouble on my forehand, my preferred shot, which I found a bit odd. My two handed backhand is struck flatter and I managed to handle the adjustment with that side a lot easier but since I use more topspin on the forehand, the swing is bigger and I've cut at the ball and just completely miscued. I've also struggled with my serve, but I've got a shitty serve already so I'm not basing that on the racquet.
Question, does the 18x20 string pattern work against spin? In case I didn't word that right, is it harder to generate topspin with that certain pattern? I hit with semiwestern, and use a fair bit of it. Some guy yesterday had a big serve and I found that I needed to stand a 2-3 meters behind the baseline and block it back defensively 'cause when I tried driving it back off the baseline a few times, I framed it. I've got the racquet for another week but are there any others I should try? Like I said, I try and play aggressively on the baseline and wish to close points out at the net when I can.
Apparently Babolat racquets aren't suited to those who wish to come forward, slice and do things other than pound away on the baseline yet someone at the club yesterday recommended I try the "Pure Storm"? Thoughts, anyone? I haven't been rated officially as a player but after looking at that criteria, NTRP?, I don't think I'm below 4.0. If I played more than once-twice a week and had more time I'd probably be higher. *shrugs* My brother recently got the Blade Team to demo as well and that's got the bigger head yet it looks strange. I'll try it out of curiosity but am hoping that I can improve with the Blade 98 in the next week. Cheers if anyone can put any input in, or make comments, or whatever really.
You will adjust to the smaller sweetspot and it will make you a better player. By all means, give the Pure Drive a shot it sounds like the topspin forehand is an important element to your game so you might find it suits you. I still recommend the kBlade though, but then again I could be biased because I have one.
Ya the stringing pattern on the blade is 18x20 which is a very closed stringing pattern. So you generate less spin than with an open string patter racket like the pure drive.
Anyways, I personally hated the kblade. I use the nblade and I got a pair of kblade from wilson but I just couldn't get used to it. Even though all the spec are similar it feels totally different from the nblade. The kblade seems to have so much more pop on both the groundstrokes and on the serve. I couldn't seem to keep the ball in the court. The pure drive which my friend uses has even more power but you get a lot more spin off that racket. The pure drive is also much stiffer. Overall both rackets are good. It just depends on which type of racket you are more used to because they are very different rackets.
I would say give them both a shot and see which one you play better with.
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