Reviews 147 pieces

All reviews.

Every string and racquet we've put through the testing cycle, newest first. Scored against a long-running reference set, with the testing protocol shown on each page.

Page 1 of 13

001
Racquets ·10 min · July 2026

Retail vs Pro Stock: The Tennis Racquet Comparison Nobody Wants You to Read Carefully

There is a belief that circulates in every stringing room and club-forum thread, and it goes roughly like this: the racquet the pros play is a different, better object than the one on the wall at…

002
Dampeners ·6 min · July 2026

Vibration Dampener Design and the "Moisture-Wicking" Promise: Where the Standard Advice Holds and Where It Breaks

The advice you'll hear in every stringing shop and club Facebook group goes like this: if your dampener keeps falling out mid-match, buy one made of "moisture-wicking" or sweat-resistant material…

003
Dampeners ·6 min · July 2026

Vibration Dampener Design: What the Physics Actually Says About That Little Piece of Silicone

Reviewer note: I'll open in first person, because this piece started with a specific, slightly embarrassing moment.

004
Tennis Strings ·8 min · July 2026

Synthetic Gut Strings and the Durability Myth: Why the "Beginner String" Label Is Costing You Money

There is a piece of received wisdom that circulates through club locker rooms and stringing counters: synthetic gut strings are what you use when you're starting out, and the moment you can hit a…

005
Racquet Tech ·5 min · July 2026

The Tennis Racquet Review Number Nobody Explains: What an RA of 65 Actually Tells You

Sixty-five. That's the number this tennis racquet review is built around — the RA stiffness rating that sits on nearly every spec sheet, gets thrown around in every forum argument, and quietly drives…

006
Polyester ·6 min · July 2026

Tennis String Review: Does a Four-Sided Profile Really Cost You Durability?

There's a long-standing suspicion around four-sided strings, and we'll admit we shared it: the square profile bites the ball harder, sure, but it must give something back — durability, feel, or both.

007
Strings ·11 min · July 2026

String Setup for Oversized Frames: What the Oversized Racquet Reviews Actually Agree On

We'll admit the bias up front: this desk has historically treated oversized frames as a category to get to later.

008
Yonex ·4 min · July 2026

Which Yonex Racquets Fit Your Game? Matching the EZONE, VCORE, and PERCEPT Lines to Player Type

Every marketing pitch for Yonex racquets eventually lands on the same number: 7%. That's the figure Yonex publishes for how much larger the sweet spot of its Isometric head shape is compared to a…

009
String Comparison ·6 min · July 2026

Round vs. Shaped Poly: The Polyester String Review Myth That Won't Die

The myth is easy to state because it fits on a string package: shaped polys spin the ball, round polys don't. Edges grip, smooth slides.

010
Racquet Review ·6 min · July 2026

Wilson Blade 98 v8 Tennis Racquet Review: 16×19 vs. 18×20, and Whether the Update Earns Your Demo

Search any gear forum for a tennis racquet review of the Wilson Blade 98 and you will find two arguments running in parallel.

011
Reviews ·6 min · July 2026

Overgrip Reviews: The Tack vs. Sweat Tradeoff, Settled on the Evidence

The tackiest overgrip on the wall is frequently the worst one for the player buying it. That's the pattern that emerges when you read enough overgrip reviews side by side: the products marketed…

012
Gear Review ·8 min · July 2026

Vessel Tennis Bag Review: How a Golf Brand Became the "Premium" Answer, and Whether the Belief Holds

Type "tennis bag review" into a search bar in 2024 and, somewhere near the top of every roundup of premium racquet bags, you will find Vessel — a company that did not exist in tennis until 2019, has…