GAMMA RZR 110 Tennis Racquet Review
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With an extended length, and one of the largest headsizes in the RZR line, the Gamma RZR110 aims to give players plenty of controllable power. The unique RZR frame geometry provides a stable response, making the110 one of the most forgiving frames in the Gamma line.
Groundstrokes
The Gamma RZR 110 is not even close to the kind of racquet that I like to play with. The static weight of the frame is very light (coming in at 10.1 ounces strung) and the hoop is enormous compared to the 95 square inch headsize that I am used to. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the 110. I was expecting a rocket launcher: a frame that could only be controlled by using short, slow, abbreviated swings. What I found was that the RZR 110 still allowed me to take a full, medium-fast swing at the ball and still keep my shots in the court. The huge sweetspot provided ample power on flat drives, and the open 16x19 pattern allowed for aggressive topspin shots with consistent results. I was able to confidently place drives and approach shots, keeping my opponent on defense.
Volleys
Again, I was shocked by how well this racquet played at the net. Obviously, the specs suggest that the RZR 110 would be easy to get around while volleying. What surprised me the most was how stable the frame felt, even on off-center hits. Unlike many of the other RZR frames, off-center shots were not as jarring and uncomfortable. I attribute this mostly to the 110 headsize and robust sweetspot. Touch/drop volleys stayed short (and one even bounced back over the net to my side of the court). Deep volleys were fast and heavy. The frame still has a similar feel to the rest of the RZR line, though it is not as prevalent in the 110. Overall, a very strong performance at the net.
Serves
Due to its lightness, I didn’t have the same feeling of fluidity on my serve that I usually achieve with a heavier racquet. Seeing that the mass of the frame is distributed over a large area, the racquet simply felt too light as it dropped behind my back, and I lost some of the momentum of the backswing. However, I was able to quickly accelerate the frame up into the ball, resulting in an acceptably fast flat serve. Spin serves had lots of movement, and I was able to keep the returner either reaching for the ball, or completely handcuffed with a body serve. Control was also great, as I had no trouble hitting locations with both first and second serves (especially, the flat serve out wide on the ad court). While the lightness may not be appealing to everyone, this frame will work well for players with restricted service motions due to injury.
Overall
While the 110 square inch headsize may be an initial turn off for some, the Gamma RZR 110 is an outstanding frame for both intermediates and advanced players that have lost some range of motion due to injury (both in court motion and stroke technique). Beginners might have a difficult time appreciating all this racquet has to offer, but will be impressed with its forgiveness. If you can get used to the “RZR feel,” the 110 is worthy of a demo.
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