the radical would probably be better as the wilson would be too much of a weight jump
Can't decide between Wilson nTour 95 or Head Liquidmetal Radical
I'm an intermediate player switching from an oversized Prince TT Thunderlite to a midsize racquet. I love hitting with great power and smashing overhead shots. My control is decent.
I want something good and affordable, so I've narrowed my choices down to a Wilson nTour 95 and a Head Liquidmetal Radical. Which should I get?
I want something good and affordable, so I've narrowed my choices down to a Wilson nTour 95 and a Head Liquidmetal Radical. Which should I get?
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
What do you mean by "weight jump"?
well the ntour 95 is a very heavy racket and its a hell of a lot more difficult to generate power with than the racket you are currently using
One of us has something mixed up. I held the nTour 95 (Orange racket with black grip) in my hand and its very lightweight compared to my Prince racket.
This is what I was looking at, except this one is red:
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/250733
This is what I was looking at, except this one is red:
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/250733
Hi there, greetings from another professional [double]bass player...
Another thing you may want to consider, along with weight, balance and stiffness, is string pattern: in my opinion, a 16x18 (or 16x19) feels very different compared to a 18x20, and can have a major factor in your playing. I don't think one pattern is better than the other. You just have to find which one suits you the best.
Best regards from the hot, humid Buenos Aires.
F. Martin
Another thing you may want to consider, along with weight, balance and stiffness, is string pattern: in my opinion, a 16x18 (or 16x19) feels very different compared to a 18x20, and can have a major factor in your playing. I don't think one pattern is better than the other. You just have to find which one suits you the best.
Best regards from the hot, humid Buenos Aires.
F. Martin
Would you mind explaining how the string pattern affects playing? Thanks.Hi there, greetings from another professional [double]bass player...
Another thing you may want to consider, along with weight, balance and stiffness, is string pattern: in my opinion, a 16x18 (or 16x19) feels very different compared to a 18x20, and can have a major factor in your playing. I don't think one pattern is better than the other. You just have to find which one suits you the best.
Best regards from the hot, humid Buenos Aires.
F. Martin
Also, I held the nTour 95 at a store recently and discovered I was wrong. It IS pretty heavy. But its probably what I'm going to get.
it will effect on how many strings you have in contact with the ball when hitting the ball the more strings you have the more fell supposedly and the less the more spin due to bite and your string tension should be adjusted accordingly
That's pretty much it. Less dense string patterns have [a bit] more power than more dense ones, and it's a bit easier to generate spin as well (or, at least, it is easier for me with the 16x18 6.1 compared with its 18x20 version 
).
).I did a bit more research and this racquet appeals to me:
Wilson K Pro Tour 98
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/296678#
It has a bigger head size than the nTour 95 (by 3 inches), but it is heavier by 1.26 ounces.
Would this be a good racquet for an intermediate player? As I said, I'd like to make a transition from beginner oversize racquet to something more advanced. The change in head size and weight will undoubtedly be quite a jump for me, but I am sure I can adjust to it within a matter of weeks (Maybe less, maybe more. Doesn't make a difference)
Wilson K Pro Tour 98
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/296678#
It has a bigger head size than the nTour 95 (by 3 inches), but it is heavier by 1.26 ounces.
Would this be a good racquet for an intermediate player? As I said, I'd like to make a transition from beginner oversize racquet to something more advanced. The change in head size and weight will undoubtedly be quite a jump for me, but I am sure I can adjust to it within a matter of weeks (Maybe less, maybe more. Doesn't make a difference)
I haven't test-played the new Blade racquets, but I did so the 'older' ones. Very nice racquets, although I wouldn't consider them 'intermediate' racquets, but 'players' racquets.
Have you considered a Head Instinct? http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCHEAD-HGINST.html
Probably on the same lines with the K Blade, but (I think) a bit more intermediate-friendly.
In any case, IMHO, the best way to go is to talk with your tennis instructor about what you're expecting from your new racquet, and try on the court as many candidate models as you can (and not buying a model you couldn't try), as there's no substitute for experience, even if that's only about 10 minutes in the court. That's a helluva lot better than wielding a racquet at the store and reading thru tens of reviews and subjetive descriptions.
Have you considered a Head Instinct? http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCHEAD-HGINST.html
Probably on the same lines with the K Blade, but (I think) a bit more intermediate-friendly.
In any case, IMHO, the best way to go is to talk with your tennis instructor about what you're expecting from your new racquet, and try on the court as many candidate models as you can (and not buying a model you couldn't try), as there's no substitute for experience, even if that's only about 10 minutes in the court. That's a helluva lot better than wielding a racquet at the store and reading thru tens of reviews and subjetive descriptions.
You see, I WOULD consider checking into the Head racquets (or any other brands that is), but the tennis instructor in my community is sponsored by Wilson. He sells high-end Wilson racquets with nearly $100 discounts. To be honest, I would like a superb racquet to last me for years, but I don't want to blow my bank in the process. Although the K Blade is $190 at a store, I would probably get it for less than a 100 from my tennis instructor.
However, that does not mean I've narrowed my choices to simply the K Blade. Any other Wilson racquets will be taken into consideration if suggested...
However, that does not mean I've narrowed my choices to simply the K Blade. Any other Wilson racquets will be taken into consideration if suggested...
Then you probably should try to test-play several models. Don't let specs tables or other people opinions influence too much your choice: it's you who will have to use it. Try as many models as you can, even those racquets who may seem a bit outside your search range (like the 6.1 95" 16x18, for example). Try different groundstrokes, volleys, serves, etcetera...
Wilson has several models for you to choose from. You have the K-Blade, K-Zen, K- Factor 6.1 Team (if it has some of the qualities of its big brother, it must be an interesting tool), then there's this one not available here but probably within your search, the K- Pro Open (its older version, the n-Pro Open, is a nice racquet, and probably a good deal).
Best luck!
Wilson has several models for you to choose from. You have the K-Blade, K-Zen, K- Factor 6.1 Team (if it has some of the qualities of its big brother, it must be an interesting tool), then there's this one not available here but probably within your search, the K- Pro Open (its older version, the n-Pro Open, is a nice racquet, and probably a good deal).
Best luck!
Wow, thanks for the help! I'll definitely check into those.
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