AX99Pro 4UG5
Swingweight = 88 ( Took Out The Serial Grommet )
First String = BG80 @ 28LBS
Second String = Kizuna D66 @ 32LBS
In the beginning, I was giving it a try with a impression that it is for singles.
I wanna make it drive fast enough for doubles, so that I took out the serial grommet.
The inital BG80 gives a good punch and good control, but it suffers playing drives and pushes.
The problem seems to be the wider gap of the vertical strings besides the sweetspot.
The excessive holding feel makes drives and pushes suffer.
Then I cut the string and give it another try by add extra 2 pounds of my usual setup.
This technique doesn't work out in the cases the frame itself is not stiff enough.
However, It works in the case of AX99Pro, and I get a crisp drive in doubles.
Comparing with AX88DP, Victor Dx9x :
Smash : Booya
The 68-hole system gives an extra push when doing hard-hitting techniques.
Drive : Good
It is reasonably fast, but not hella fast. Drive quality is about the same as Drivex9X.
Like the Drivex9X, it is good at baseline-to-baseline drives.
Drop : Good to Excellent
Simple drops are the same as other good-control rackets like AX88DP and Dx9x.
However, the 68-hole system gives more spin to slice-drops and reverse slice-drops.
The speed and steepness of these sliced techniques are awesome, and you feel like
urged to use slicing techniques more and more.
Defense : Poor to Good
The swingweight of AX99pro is high, and leads to slower defense. However, the nicely
designed support cap mitigates this drawback if you are good at holding up to the cap.
If your defensive controls are flawless, the maneuverability should be good enough.
However, you might have hard time defending when your partner keeps lifting half-court
or front-court. AX99pro might not be a good choice pairing with a poor teammate.
Serve : Excellent
The serves are so close to the net and spins so much that all my opponents give up on
offensive techniques when I serve.
Net : Excellent
For the more-spin and good control, net skills are very easy using strings with rough texture.
Clear : Excellent
The swingweight and resilience make clears very easy. Backhand baseline-to-baseline
cross-court clear is effortless.
Conclusion
I like AX99Pro very much in doubles for several reasons :
1. Reasonably fast, and I can do most of my trick shots and techniques without problem.
2. 68-hole system gives 2 advantages : a. high repulsion when strung 2 pounds higher
b. more spin with slicing techniques
3. The repulsion of every parts work seamlessly, and together they rock.
4. Though the stiffness is not very high, the power generated and the precision provided
are up to a very high standard. It reminds me of AT800DE.
5. When holding up to the cap, it can be a good weapon in the front-court
Requirements ( drawbacks ? )
1. 2 pounds higher stringing might damage the racket in the long run.
2. Without higher tension, this racket doesn't work well.
3. It requires finger power and explosive power. For those who with weaker finger power
to wield an 88-swingweight racket, it might not work well.
4. The spin nature of 68-hole system might require rough-texture strings. Smooth-texture
strings might not work as good
Swingweight = 88 ( Took Out The Serial Grommet )
First String = BG80 @ 28LBS
Second String = Kizuna D66 @ 32LBS
In the beginning, I was giving it a try with a impression that it is for singles.
I wanna make it drive fast enough for doubles, so that I took out the serial grommet.
The inital BG80 gives a good punch and good control, but it suffers playing drives and pushes.
The problem seems to be the wider gap of the vertical strings besides the sweetspot.
The excessive holding feel makes drives and pushes suffer.
Then I cut the string and give it another try by add extra 2 pounds of my usual setup.
This technique doesn't work out in the cases the frame itself is not stiff enough.
However, It works in the case of AX99Pro, and I get a crisp drive in doubles.
Comparing with AX88DP, Victor Dx9x :
Smash : Booya
The 68-hole system gives an extra push when doing hard-hitting techniques.
Drive : Good
It is reasonably fast, but not hella fast. Drive quality is about the same as Drivex9X.
Like the Drivex9X, it is good at baseline-to-baseline drives.
Drop : Good to Excellent
Simple drops are the same as other good-control rackets like AX88DP and Dx9x.
However, the 68-hole system gives more spin to slice-drops and reverse slice-drops.
The speed and steepness of these sliced techniques are awesome, and you feel like
urged to use slicing techniques more and more.
Defense : Poor to Good
The swingweight of AX99pro is high, and leads to slower defense. However, the nicely
designed support cap mitigates this drawback if you are good at holding up to the cap.
If your defensive controls are flawless, the maneuverability should be good enough.
However, you might have hard time defending when your partner keeps lifting half-court
or front-court. AX99pro might not be a good choice pairing with a poor teammate.
Serve : Excellent
The serves are so close to the net and spins so much that all my opponents give up on
offensive techniques when I serve.
Net : Excellent
For the more-spin and good control, net skills are very easy using strings with rough texture.
Clear : Excellent
The swingweight and resilience make clears very easy. Backhand baseline-to-baseline
cross-court clear is effortless.
Conclusion
I like AX99Pro very much in doubles for several reasons :
1. Reasonably fast, and I can do most of my trick shots and techniques without problem.
2. 68-hole system gives 2 advantages : a. high repulsion when strung 2 pounds higher
b. more spin with slicing techniques
3. The repulsion of every parts work seamlessly, and together they rock.
4. Though the stiffness is not very high, the power generated and the precision provided
are up to a very high standard. It reminds me of AT800DE.
5. When holding up to the cap, it can be a good weapon in the front-court
Requirements ( drawbacks ? )
1. 2 pounds higher stringing might damage the racket in the long run.
2. Without higher tension, this racket doesn't work well.
3. It requires finger power and explosive power. For those who with weaker finger power
to wield an 88-swingweight racket, it might not work well.
4. The spin nature of 68-hole system might require rough-texture strings. Smooth-texture
strings might not work as good
.
