As the old saying goes, size does matter. With the additional 1/2" added to the length of the racquet, one might think that power would be the main feature. When you look at the racquet, it looks longer. When you play with it, you can’t tell the difference. As you will see, this racquet has more than size on its side.

 

 

I expected some loss of control with the plus version but I was very pleased that I didn’t even notice the added length. Groundstrokes were consistent and smooth and I got good results with my usual strokes (long and fast). Topspin was generated easily but it’s not a “topspin racquet”. I must say that this racquet was the best racquet I have ever hit on slice backhands. I was the surgeon and the court was my patient! My opponent frequently complained that the ball never came up and was very difficult to get a play on it. Ohhh, I like that!!

 

 

As much as I loved the slice backhand with this racquet, I also was in love with the serve. I got excellent kick and I frequently handcuffed my opponent with the jumping ball. I could generate excellent power and control, too. This was a true servers’ racquet. I’m sure the additional 1/2” helped with all this. On the return, I only needed short strokes to get the ball back with plenty of power and control. Since this is a fairly powerful stick, a shorter stroke on returns is necessary to get the job done. The extra reach came in handy on those wide serve returns. I surprised myself a couple of times on how far I could reach with this racquet.

 

 

With the midplus head, getting the racquet on the ball was no problem. Just don’t swing on the volley (you shouldn’t anyway!) because it’ll fly. A short, sharp punch is sufficient for power and control. It was a bit cumbersome on tight shots in close to the body but it’s not a deal-breaker, especially if you don’t visit the net too often. Overheads were a breeze and with the 98 sq in head, I felt confident that I would put the ball away every time.

 

This is a great racquet for the good to better player. The extra 1/2” was beneficial on those wide reach shots and serves, and the backhand backspin was like a little “slice” of heaven! As I was looking at the specs, I was surprised to see that it’s not a stiff racquet. However, it plays firm and no matter where the ball hits on the face, it feels very solid. This racquet has plenty of power, control and spin. If you’re a 4.0+ aggressive player who is looking for solid racquet with a bit of power, here’s your stick. Babolat really got it right with this racquet.