And while not technically flexible, it has a unique—what one tester called “rubbery”—presence through the air. The concave V-Energy Shaft almost seems to lag, then snap forward to impact for a kind of slingshot effect. This causes the frame to perform more consistently on fuller strokes. Rolling angles or topspin lobs are more manageable than when trying to be cute on in-between shots.
At net the racquet is reasonably quick and predictable with a crisp response. It has enough stability to stand up to incoming pace and routinely punch volleys away with authority. The ball doesn’t want to stay long on the strings, so it takes some deft hands to hit softer touch shots and drop volleys.
What Needs Work
Whereas the stiffer layup provides some undeniable benefits, particularly on the serve and return, a slightly softer feel would provide a bit more control and responsiveness on touch shots. Because of the dampening technology and how quickly the ball shoots off the strings—there’s not a great deal of ball connection—it’s difficult trusting distance control on drop shots and other more subtle strokes.
It can also be a bit wild when compared to other frames with the same head size and weight. The racquet is perfectly fine with bigger targets, but it’s no laser pointer. It actually has a playability similar to a 100 square-inch racquet, which could be attractive to players looking for a more cooperative model in this category.
