I think match play is a great way to test racquets! Multiple times I've tested racquets that feel amazing when just rallying, but as soon as I try to play a match with it, it feels like all control went out the window. On the other side, I've tried racquets that felt a little underwhelming in rallies, but felt perfectly controlled in matches.
Exactly. it's one thing to just hit and get a feel for the racquet, it's another thing to be put in difficult situation and "trust" the new racquet in pressure points.
I have the whiteout 18x20 and added the 5g buttcap, lead tape to the V and head, making it more stable and more powerful. Its amazing. I also did similar to the blackout xtd 28, with a 10g buttcap. In stock form there was too much power and not enoigh control, but with added weight, its perfect.
Very nice review. Thorough. Wish you could do the whiteout 16x19 vs the 18x20. Also, though I know your video is edited and not a complete match with either racquet, but I thought the video showed you playing as well, if not better, with the blackout over the 305. I get that the 305 felt better. I've played matches with the whiteout 18x20 and loved it (matter of fact, I'm looking for a good deal on one now). I think you should try the whiteout with a softer poly than Confidential, as this racquet is built for feel and Confidential is a stiffer, control based string that I'm not sure let's the true intention of the whiteout's construction layup shine through ( I get the Confidential string thing. like many do. I don't use Confidential, but I do like some stiff, spin-friendly strings also like Head Lynx Tour 17, Tourna Silver 7 Tour 16, and MSV Focus Hex 1.23) I hit the whiteout 18x20 with a softer poly like Head Lynx (not Tour) and it felt so good, like butter and the power vs control was perfect. I'm not sure that the 18x20 pattern was or was not the biggest factor in that perfect blend of control and power with feel, but it really worked for me. I would love to see you hit the whiteout 18x20 vs the whiteout 16x19 and see your review on that versus match up. Thanks.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! You're right about playing with a softer poly on the whiteout would be better. The reason why i put a stiff poly on it is because that's my usual string of choice and i want to keep strings and tension consistent across all the demos. I haven't played much with 18x20 and but i'll probably try out soon. thanks!
@@sandratoplaystennis yes of course, when doing a review is not the time to change string setups for obvious comparison reasons. Smart. My demo of the 18x20 had TW inhouse poly in it which is a softer poly like I sometimes like in my stiffer racquets. Sometimes the stiffer strings and higher tensions are used to add control to powerful racquets and sometimes softer strings take the edge off and add feel to stiffer racquets. It's a personal preference not a requirement and it's why I think players who play regularly should buy a 2nd hand string machine and learn to string so they can experiment and find the right string and tension for them with the particular racquet they use. Strings and tensions are often overlooked by most club players and often many keep dead strings in their racquets way too long, too.
@@ReidVV you make some really good points, and I appreciate the thoughtful comment. One thing about club players playing with dead strings is that they don’t want to have to restring too often because it could get really expensive, especially if it’s just to practice and play clinics.
