| Pro Kennex Core 1 No. 22 |
Length: 27.5
in.
Weight: 9.3
oz.
Ideal Swing – Short: Yes
Ideal Swing – Medium: Yes
Ideal Swing – Long: No
Maneuverability: Medium
Control: Low
Power: High
Comfort: Medium
If you miss your old wood racquet, you’re in luck — sort of. Pro Kennex’s latest line of sticks, the Core 1, has a quarter inch lumber running through the head of the frame, a design that’s supposed to give it the soft feel of wood. The verdict? The Core 1 No. 22 definitely has a sensation on impact that’s vaguely reminiscent of a woodie, though with its light weight and thick 29-millimeter beam, you won’t confuse this stick with the genuine article. Testers said the COre 22 is best suited for baseline retrievers looking to punch up their strokes. "This racquet has quite a bit of power, and the control is good if you don’t swing too hard," said a 3.5 NTRP player. Testers also noted there was very little twisting on off-center hits, and that despite its head-heavy balance, the racquet was reasonably maneuverable at both the baseline and net.
BOTTOM LINE
A blast-from-the-past technology gives this frame a soft feel.
