carlton kinesis

**Derek S-H** · 02-26-2013, 07:07 PM

Well, now I'm completely confused....

My new Kinesis X90 arrived today (£104 from a well known auction site!) and written on the shaft quite clearly it says: "Balance: even, Flex: medium".

That's all well and good, but on the official Carlton website the X90 is described as: "Balance: head heavy, Flex: stiff"! It's the Kinesis that is listed as even balance with medium flex, and it's definitely the X90 I have as it's written quite clearly, "Kinesis X90", not just "Kinesis".

Funnily enough, if you do any kind of Google search all you'll come up with is the Kinesis for sale and not any of the other derivatives (X90, X80 and X70) - do they actually exist? (okay, the X90 does!)

The curse of Tennis Elbow has struck again and I'm not currently playing. But just holding the racket and choking down on the end cap with my eyes shut as if I were doing a short serve (I don't shut my eyes in real life!), it feels slightly head heavy to me, certainly a different sort of balance compared to the Razor 1.0. The simple finger balance test on the shaft shows that it's more weighted to the head than the grip.

The Carlton default strings are much softer than on the Razor 1.0, so I'll be hoping that I break a string fairly quickly whenever I go back. The matte finish is quite nice (if that sort of thing really matters) and the yellow case is horrible.

It feels different to the Razor 1.0, even though its on paper physical characteristics (balance and flex) are pretty much identical. I usually play with an even balance and medium flex anyway, attempts in the past to try head heavy and/or stiff flex just haven't worked for me, probably because I am a feel player who is more comfortable at the net.

The racket was bought as a spare as I love the Razor 1.0, but I will write a play review whenever I get a chance to actually use it on court, though I think it will probably be improved once I get my favourite BG65ti at 25 lbs on it.

Derek

**demolidor** · 02-26-2013, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Derek S-H

Well, now I'm completely confused....

My new Kinesis X90 arrived today (£104 from a well known auction site!) and written on the shaft quite clearly it says: "Balance: even, Flex: medium".

That's all well and good, but on the official Carlton website the X90 is described as: "Balance: head heavy, Flex: stiff"! It's the Kinesis that is listed as even balance with medium flex, and it's definitely the X90 I have as it's written quite clearly, "Kinesis X90", not just "Kinesis".

Funnily enough, if you do any kind of Google search all you'll come up with is the Kinesis for sale and not any of the other derivatives (X90, X80 and X70) - do they actually exist? (okay, the X90 does!)

The curse of Tennis Elbow has struck again and I'm not currently playing. But just holding the racket and choking down on the end cap with my eyes shut as if I were doing a short serve (I don't shut my eyes in real life!), it feels slightly head heavy to me, certainly a different sort of balance compared to the Razor 1.0. The simple finger balance test on the shaft shows that it's more weighted to the head than the grip.

The Carlton default strings are much softer than on the Razor 1.0, so I'll be hoping that I break a string fairly quickly whenever I go back. The matte finish is quite nice (if that sort of thing really matters) and the yellow case is horrible.

It feels different to the Razor 1.0, even though its on paper physical characteristics (balance and flex) are pretty much identical. I usually play with an even balance and medium flex anyway, attempts in the past to try head heavy and/or stiff flex just haven't worked for me, probably because I am a feel player who is more comfortable at the net.

The racket was bought as a spare as I love the Razor 1.0, but I will write a play review whenever I get a chance to actually use it on court, though I think it will probably be improved once I get my favourite BG65ti at 25 lbs on it.

Derek

Seeing as another one I am now looking at on said auction site came from the outlet store, it is probably a prototype/sample model? Colourwise it doesn't look like the X90 on the Carlton website in any case, don't think it has been released yet either?

**Derek S-H** · 02-26-2013, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by demolidor

Seeing as another one I am now looking at on said auction site came from the outlet store, it is probably a prototype/sample model? Colourwise it doesn't look like the X90 on the Carlton website in any case, don't think it has been released yet either?

I've just had a look at that auction site listing and you're right, the colour is different to mine (matte black with yellow splashes that looks like the Kinesis), you can't really see the X90 clearly on the Carlton website as it won't let you zoom in.

Either way, no matter what the colour, it's still described as even balance and medium flex which completely contradicts the Carlton blurb!

I haven't got a problem with mine potentially being a prototype or sample - it's new and unplayed and if it's just the colour scheme they've mucked about with that's fine. But I think they should make up their minds about the specs!

Derek

**meteor** · 02-27-2013, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by Derek S-H

I've just had a look at that auction site listing and you're right, the colour is different to mine (matte black with yellow splashes that looks like the Kinesis), you can't really see the X90 clearly on the Carlton website as it won't let you zoom in.

Either way, no matter what the colour, it's still described as even balance and medium flex which completely contradicts the Carlton blurb!

I haven't got a problem with mine potentially being a prototype or sample - it's new and unplayed and if it's just the colour scheme they've mucked about with that's fine. But I think they should make up their minds about the specs!

Derek

It hasn't been released.

**Derek S-H** · 02-28-2013, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by meteor

It hasn't been released.

How do you know please?

**mrfrewster** · 03-03-2013, 10:25 AM

Has anyone else had any issues with the Kinesis ? I got one a couple of months ago, but... playing a singles match yesterday - the frame has bent/broken at one of the twist points on the frame.
could this be a design flaw or a weak spot on the frame ? Name: IMAG0510.jpg
Views: 396
Size: 32.3 KB

Name: IMAG0510.jpg
Views: 396
Size: 32.3 KB

I've written to the supplies Sweatband.com Ltd & Carlton, and am awaiting their responses

**Benwilluk** · 03-03-2013, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Derek S-H

I've just had a look at that auction site listing and you're right, the colour is different to mine (matte black with yellow splashes that looks like the Kinesis), you can't really see the X90 clearly on the Carlton website as it won't let you zoom in.

Either way, no matter what the colour, it's still described as even balance and medium flex which completely contradicts the Carlton blurb!

I haven't got a problem with mine potentially being a prototype or sample - it's new and unplayed and if it's just the colour scheme they've mucked about with that's fine. But I think they should make up their minds about the specs!

Derek

The X90 is extra stiff and features the yellow flashes like the current Kinesis, the X80 is stiff and features blue flashes and the X70 is medium and has silver flashes. i think all these models will be slightly head heavier than the current Kinesis.

Release date in the UK will be around May.

**Derek S-H** · 03-03-2013, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by mrfrewster

Has anyone else had any issues with the Kinesis ? I got one a couple of months ago, but... playing a singles match yesterday - the frame has bent/broken at one of the twist points on the frame.
could this be a design flaw or a weak spot on the frame ? Name: IMAG0510.jpg
Views: 396
Size: 32.3 KB

I've written to the supplies Sweatband.com Ltd & Carlton, and am awaiting their responses

Haven't tried mine yet but keep us informed of what response you get?

**meteor** · 03-04-2013, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by mrfrewster

Has anyone else had any issues with the Kinesis ? I got one a couple of months ago, but... playing a singles match yesterday - the frame has bent/broken at one of the twist points on the frame.
could this be a design flaw or a weak spot on the frame ? Name: IMAG0510.jpg
Views: 396
Size: 32.3 KB

I've written to the supplies Sweatband.com Ltd & Carlton, and am awaiting their responses

Hi, a friend had his Kinesis broken at one twist point too. He purchased it from direct sports - they sent it to Carlton who replaced it under warranty. The process lasted aprox 3 weeks but he was told it could last 5...
The strange thing is that he didn't mishit or hit the frame at the time when it broke. Tension was 24lbs.

The frame on the Kinesis is extremely thin. It is possible that even the slightest mistreatment will eventually result in a broken frame. Should more cases be reported, we'll see if the frame twist areas are more prone to breaking.