PREVIEW: Carlton Vapour Trail Tour / Elite

**j4ckie** · 07-22-2011, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by riuryK

Hi,

After reading some of the old posts, I'm really confused when some people compare the VTT with the Z-Slash. According to their technical specifications, they're completely different:

VTT: Even balanced, medium shaft, all-round play
ZS: Head-heavy, stiff shaft, attacking play

Are really so similar when in the hand? It shouldn't be so at first sight. I suppose this is a matter of feeling with the racket, of course.

Thanks.

The Z-Slash is actually a stiff medium-flex racket (not as soft as, say, the N50II, but not stiff imop). It's also not head-heavy, but balanced or slightly head-heavy, the BP should be in the same range as the VTT.

**Guillaumeg** · 10-10-2011, 08:43 AM

I've got a question...

One year ago, i bought a carlton VT elite from a reliable vendor. I did not test it, because my friend had one and it felt very good when he gave me his racket. Though, when I played with my VT elite, it was horrible, so I put it far far away.
Now i started wondering how there could be such a difference and I compared 2 VT elites.

I noticed that the balance is different, mine is heavier, the extra weight makes it nor head light nor head heavy, but simply rubbish. The color is also different, real = orange-gold and mine yellowish-gold.
The most significant difference is the way the handle is made. On the "real ones" you see a VT emblem on the cone (top of the handle) when using thumb-grip, whereas mine is rotated 90° and shows the carlton logo.

Is mine fake? Or is it possible that there's such a difference between 2 rackets from the same type(one great one worthless...).

**NickHolland** · 10-27-2011, 07:47 PM

Hello Guillaummeg,
I think you haven't got an Elite, these should be "orange/gold" at the time you bought your racket. I live in the Netherlands, work in a sportshop, and love to play more than 40 years, bought my 2 VT Elites last year as well, no.1 in august, no.2 in december, they are gold with black and I prefer them above the Yonex AT900 power,I used to play. Just to remind you, they are stiff rackets that require a "fast wrist" and good to expert tecnique. Since yesterday I have 2 new ones, played them last night, they
are chrome with black, same stifness and headheavy, and they feel as good as the old ones, altough the
strings i put in.Pacific .66,@12kg, have to be played a bit more to get the right touch. The black standard strings really suck, is good for laundry,

If your racket plays so different from the one you tried, you should immediate return to the shop where
you bought it and ask them, which will be impossible after one year :-(
grtz. Nico

**Maklike Tier** · 10-28-2011, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by riuryK

Hi,

After reading some of the old posts, I'm really confused when some people compare the VTT with the Z-Slash. According to their technical specifications, they're completely different:

VTT: Even balanced, medium shaft, all-round play
ZS: Head-heavy, stiff shaft, attacking play

Are really so similar when in the hand? It shouldn't be so at first sight. I suppose this is a matter of feeling with the racket, of course.

Thanks.

Well, I owned both at the same time strung the same. I don't really care about theory it's how they play on the court, and the VTT is the closet thing to a ZS out there.

The specs are very deceptive too, because the ZS isn't particularly stiff (I'd say the VTT is stiffer) nor is it head-heavy in the traditional Yonex sense (it is an ArcSaber afterall - Yonex' "balanced" range.)

The main reason for the comparison is they both have 'compact' isometric heads, meaning a smaller, more focussed sweet-spot. They both also have short handles and slightly longer than normal shafts.

I actually want my old VTT back! It's a great racket.

**dr_lager** · 10-28-2011, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Maklike Tier

I actually want my old VTT back! It's a great racket.

I see that there is a 2011 VTT out there. Has anyone played with it? Any idea how it compares with the previous VTT model (which I also love playing with!)?

**allyjack110** · 10-28-2011, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by dr_lager

I see that there is a 2011 VTT out there. Has anyone played with it? Any idea how it compares with the previous VTT model (which I also love playing with!)?

You are right. Carlton have updated their entire range of rackets, including the Vapour Trail and Air Rage series. To answer your question though, I suspect that both versions of the VTT and VTE will feel and play very similar to the originals. Aside from the obvious change in cosmetics (I prefer the 'old' style), the new VTT weighs 86g, 2g heavier than its predecessor. Both are still rated medium-stiff with an even-balance. However, a few people on this forum have reported that they have felt a noticeable difference in playability when comparing their existing Yonex model to the newly updated version, namely the Armortec 700 and TI-10. The original VTT is an amazing racket.

**riuryK** · 10-28-2011, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by dr_lager

I see that there is a 2011 VTT out there. Has anyone played with it? Any idea how it compares with the previous VTT model (which I also love playing with!)?

I cannot compare because I don't know the previous model, but I own two VTT 2011, and they're simply great: lightweight, with an amazingly fast swing, and at the same time thanks to its medium balance you get enough power in your smashes. With regards to net play or drops, the racket really performs great. Incredibly accurate.

I first owned two Babolat, and after having moved to a high-end racket like the VTT, my play has improved a lot.

Take care.

**dr_lager** · 10-28-2011, 04:40 PM

Thanks riuryK and allyjack110. I love my earlier version of the VTT and was recently attempting to buy another one in UK for the same £69 that I paid in June or July of this year...but Directsports didn't have it in stock any more. They offered the 2011 version for £85...but I currently live in the US, so once I figured out shipping it slipped beyond what I wanted to pay. I'll wait for a sale I think!!!

**Maklike Tier** · 10-28-2011, 05:00 PM

You must get a friend to ship, right? Because directsports won't ship to me. Milletsports will though, for USD205 and then I can claim the VAT back, apparently.....racketworld has them for USD185 inc shipping. I bought mine originally from Wisdens of hastings but they don't seem to stock them anymore.

**dr_lager** · 10-28-2011, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Maklike Tier

You must get a friend to ship, right? Because directsports won't ship to me. Milletsports will though, for USD205 and then I can claim the VAT back, apparently.....racketworld has them for USD185 inc shipping. I bought mine originally from Wisdens of hastings but they don't seem to stock them anymore.

I've used Racketworld (for my Powerblade Tours) and their shipping was pretty reasonable. And Directsports ships for £30 = approx $50.

Otherwise I wait till I visit my parents to pick up rackets - which is what I did this summer

**Maklike Tier** · 10-28-2011, 07:44 PM

Does anyone know exactly how the 2011 model spec differs from the original? I hope it's just cosmetic.

**NickHolland** · 10-29-2011, 05:07 PM

Hello,
I got my 2 new VT Elites this week, 2011/12, Chrome black, I used to play the "golden" VT Elites.
Played 2 trainingsessions and can't really notice any difference, so I think they only changed the
looks

**twobeer** · 10-29-2011, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by NickHolland

Hello,
I got my 2 new VT Elites this week, 2011/12, Chrome black, I used to play the "golden" VT Elites.
Played 2 trainingsessions and can't really notice any difference, so I think they only changed the
looks

They have learnt from YY that repainting is cheaper than creating new molds and graphite ?? :-)

**Maklike Tier** · 10-29-2011, 09:49 PM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

**jerby** · 10-30-2011, 03:54 AM

I heard from 2-3 players that the "new" VT Elite was 1-2grams heavier than the old one. I even saw one player who got a bunch of the new ones switch back mid-game to his old rackets, so maybe there is a difference?

**riuryK** · 10-30-2011, 03:58 AM

Originally Posted by jerby

I heard from 2-3 players that the "new" VT Elite was 1-2grams heavier than the old one. I even saw one player who got a bunch of the new ones switch back mid-game to his old rackets, so maybe there is a difference?

But 2 grams is ridiculous, I mean you don't even notice it. Not even 5-7 grams, I would say.

**Maklike Tier** · 10-30-2011, 04:04 AM

I patently disagree. I have an MX70 that is identical to my MX80's except for the fact that it's 2g heavier and I can absolutely feel it. It sounds ridiculous, but it's enough for me to miss the sweetspot and hit too low on the stringbed.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to adapt to it, but it does mean it's not straight-forward to swap between rackets mid-game or anything.