GAMMA RZR 95 Tennis Racquet Review
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Groundstrokes
From the baseline, the RZR 95 was capable of generating effortless power. Flat shots hit directly in the sweetspot pocketed nicely and exploded off of the stringbed, especially when slowing down my swing speed. In addition, the combination of the 303 swingweight and the 16x18 string pattern make this frame a real spin monster. I was able to swing aggressively on topspin strokes without the ball drifting long. Slice shots cut nicely into the court, and definitely had more pace than I usually achieve with my 18x20 racquet of choice. In fact, I found my slice shots to be more offensive with the RZR 95, so I didn’t have to rely as much on placement. Defensive shots, including “squash shots” and reaching shots, had a good amount of pace, keeping my opponents deep in the court. The stringbed felt rather dead on hits towards the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the hoop, but no more so than on most players’ frames.
Volleys
At 11.5 ounces strung, and 8 point HL balance, I did not have any issues with maneuverability at the net. I was more than able to hit reflex volleys with pace and depth. Though the frame doesn’t allow for the same level of precision and placement that I’m used to, the RZR makes up for it with the additional energy it adds to the ball on well struck shots. The head light balance also allowed me to access short angles and drop volleys without the ball floating out.
Serves
Performance on serves was comparable to performance on groundstrokes: easy access to power and spin. I found the shape of the racquet head to easily drop, then accelerate up to the ball, allowing the serve to feel smooth and fluid. Flat serves popped off the strings with pace, while kicks and slices had ample movement/break while traveling towards my opponent.
Overall
In terms of performance, the RZR 95 might be one of the best “modern” players’ racquets on the market. However, the stiff feel and instability on off-center shots might turn away hitters that prefer to play a more feel-based game. 4.0 level players and up will best appreciate what the RZR 95 has to offer, though hitters that enjoying slugging it out at the baseline with loads of topspin should really give this frame a try.
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