ProKennex Ki 5 & Ki 5x Racquet Review

With the introduction of the new Ionic Kinetic line-up from ProKennex, we see an update to the popular Kinetic Pro series (now called Kinetic Classic). When we first saw the Ionic Kinetic racquet line, we thought ProKennex had made an intelligent choice in the way it chose to update its Kinetic line. Rather than introduce completely new racquets, ProKennex stayed with the proven frame design and construction of its popular Kinetic Pro racquets and updated them with an improved version of its Kinetic System technology.

So, if the construction and beam design of the popular Pro G series racquets remained the same, improving upon the popular Kinetic System seemed like the educated choice. But how does one improve upon a technology that has already garnered a strong following in its existing state? To answer that question, ProKennex took Kinetic technology and made it better. According to ProKennex, the Ionic Kinetic technology performs with up to 56% more efficiency compared to the classic Kinetic System.

In a Kinetic System racquet, thousands of micro-bearings are housed inside chambers around the racquet head. As the racquet swings forward, the micro-bearings move to the back wall of the frame, loading energy. When the racquet strikes the ball, the Kinetic mass transfers forward, adding power and reducing frame shock and vibration. The Ionic Kinetic system uses the same principals as the classic Kinetic System, however, with the classic Kinetic System, ProKennex discovered that the Kinetic mass contained an equal number of positive and negative charges, producing an electrically balanced environment under stationary conditions. When friction (through movement) was introduced, the tiny Kinetic mass elements, as well as the chamber material, exerted a tremendous force (similar to strong magnets) on any nearby materials. The result was the clinging or repelling of the Kinetic mass particles to each other and the chamber walls. The scientists at ProKennex realized the static charge created during movement was inhibiting the full potential of the Kinetic system. By finding a solution to the static condition created with the classic Kinetic System, ProKennex realized it would significantly boost the effectiveness of its already successful technology.

Research revealed that the Ionic Kinetic System in the Ki line of racquets eliminated static build up and reduced the friction created in the classic system by over 80%. The result is a more efficient Kinetic system in an already popular series of racquets.

The two Ionic Kinetic racquets tested here, the Ki 5 and the Ki 5x, are updated versions of the Kinetic Pro 5G and the Kinetic Pro 7G, respectively. Both the 5G and the 7G have a respected reputation among strong club and tournament players as solid and comfortable all-around racquets. When we reviewed the Kinetic Pro 7G back in 2001, the racquet was a hit with our team. Two members of the team were so impressed that they adopted the Kinetic Pro 7G as their regular racquet.

Could the Ionic Kinetic technology of the Ki 5 and Ki 5x wow our team as much as the Pro G Series did? We hit the courts for a month of playtesting to find out.

ProKennex Ki 5

Groundstrokes

Our team found the Ki 5 to be a solid performer from the baseline. The 11.8 ounce weight offered some useful stability, while the head light balance (7 points) helped keep the Ki 5 maneuverable in play. Enjoying his time with the Ki 5 was Josh. "The Ki 5 was a nice racquet to hit with. My groundstrokes were controlled with good pace, and I could take a full swing without over-hitting. The racquet was easy to maneuver and felt good on forehands and backhands. One sign of a controlled racquet is the ability to hit winners and approach shots down the line on a consistent basis, and the Ki 5 fit the mold. The same held true on cross-court shots. In a side-by-side comparison to the Kinetic Pro 5G, the new Ki 5 is a step up. The 5G felt softer but didn't offer the same pop or weight behind my groundstrokes as the Ki 5. Slices were easy to hit with this racquet as well. Even when I was lazy and didn't get in the best position to hit a slice, the Ki 5 offered good accuracy and control. I was also surprised by the number of slices I could drop just over the net for cross-court winners." Also impressed by the solid response of the Ki 5 was Casey. "This is another solid player's stick from ProKennex. It has some heft at 11.8 oz., but doesn't give up a lot of maneuverability. I enjoyed the racquet head speed I could generate on both my backhand and forehand. I was hitting with noticeably more topspin when compared to the heavier PSE version. This racquet had good pop, which really complimented my more compact two-handed backhand. I was prone to sailing a few balls off my more loopy and more powerful forehand. Overall, it felt great from the baseline and offered the control you would expect from a player's racquet."

Chris found the Ki 5 a fitting partner for consistent and attacking hitting. "I was comfortable sitting back and trading groundstrokes, or moving forward to attack a short ball with the Ki 5. There was ample control, both when driving heavy groundstrokes or when looking for more touch and feel for an angle or drop-shot. Both topspin and slice shots felt consistent, but I was not finding an exceptional level of spin on either. The Ki 5 is a solid racquet that felt good no matter what shot I was hitting. However, there was not one particular shot where the racquet felt great, which is unlike my experiences with the Pro 5G, where a well-timed topspin backhand just felt as smooth as butter. The biggest plus for me with the Ki 5 was consistency. I felt like I always got a predictable response from the racquet. The stringbed seemed to offer a nice even amount of power with a subtle drop off if contact was outside of the sweetspot. Off the ground, I found the Ki 5 offered a firmer response compared to the 5G. I also found stringing the Ki 5 2-3lbs lower than mid tension opened up the stringbed some, and the racquet seemed to get more of the softer feel of the 5G."

Don quickly found the groove with the Ki 5. "I've always liked how the Ki 5's predecessor (Kinetic Pro 5G) swung and felt from the baseline. The Ki 5 was as good or better. There is a nice balance of maneuverability and heft. This allowed me to get the racquet around quickly, yet there was still a solid feel and good stability. The Ki 5 also has a great flex - firm enough in the shaft for necessary power and flexible enough in the middle and upper hoop for good feel and comfort. While the Ionic Kinetic system is effective in dampening shock and vibration, I still find a frame's flex to be the most influential factor in feel and comfort. The Ki 5 was just right. Similarly, I found a nice blend of power and control with the Ki 5. When I had enough setup time, I could take a full swing without fear of the ball flying. During a tight rally, I was able to pick up deep shots from my opponent with an almost half-volley, and still get the ball back with decent depth and pace. Spin is easy to generate with the 16x20 string pattern, and I loved hitting slice backhands. This was just a very easy and comfortable racquet to pick up and play."

Volleys

Our team enjoyed volleying with the Ki 5. Finding plenty of power on his volleys with the Ki 5 was Casey. "This racquet had great pop at the net. The frame felt fairly stiff for a player's frame, so it was easy to generate power. This is good for pop, but a stiff frame also takes away from the touch and feel I seek. I wouldn't compare it to the touch and feel I got from the Head Liquidmetal Prestige, Prince Diablo, or Yonex RDX 500, but maybe more to the Head Liquidmetal Radical, Babolat Pure Control, and the Wilson nSix-One 95. I was able to really pop some forehand and backhand volleys, so this isn't a racquet to get caught swinging with at the net." Finding similar results was Josh. "I don't think players will necessarily wow the crowd at net with the Ki 5, but the racquet will get the job done. I found good pace and control and average maneuverability at net."

Having more success at net were Chris and Don. Chris said, "I really liked the feel of the Ki 5 at net. It felt both maneuverable and stable at impact. There was a noticeable head light feel that seemed well suited to volleying - more so than the longer Ki 5x. However, the standout feature of this racquet at net was control. This was a real point and shoot racquet for me. I felt confident punching volleys deep to the baseline corners as well as hitting soft angle volleys." Don offered, "The Ki 5's weight and balance make it a great volleying racquet. I volleyed well with it, whether hitting routine waist-high volleys or digging out low returns when serving and volleying. I could punch the ball deep into my opponent's corner or hit a soft drop volley with equal ease."

Serves

The Ki 5 was a hit with our team when it came to serving. Finding a good combination of power, spin and maneuverability was Casey. "The maneuverability and the open string pattern of this stick really felt nice on the serve. I was able to pull my opponent off the court on the ad side with no trouble. I would say I was generating about 20% more kick than with my Volkl Tour 10 V-Engine Mid. Being headlight and decently stiff, I also got good pop on my slice and flat serve. I would say this racquet's best attributes really showed on the serve. This is a nice serving racquet." Chris found the Ki 5 to be a good fit for his serve when strung at a low tension. "I served well with the Ki 5, and I especially liked the racquet at a lower tension. By dropping a couple of pounds below the mid recommended tension, the racquet felt as if it had a bigger and more forgiving sweetspot. I found good pace on my first serves without sacrificing accuracy. Spin was also easy to generate and similar to that which I find with my Yonex RDX 500 Mid. I was able to serve consistently and get some good action on slice and kick serves, despite struggling a little with my service motion during the period of the playtest."

Also finding consistency on serve with the Ki 5 was Don. "I found the Ki 5 to be very solid and reliable on serves. I've hit harder serves with other racquets, but the combination of power, spin and consistency made this a very solid serving racquet. I rarely double-faulted, and was able to hit assertive second serves. Directional control was excellent, allowing me to hit flat serves to my opponent's backhand or slice out wide on the deuce court, seemingly at will. Probably enjoying the Ki 5 the most on serve was Josh. "The racquet felt great on serve. I was able to place the ball in just about every location I attempted, and the Ki 5 offered good spin potential on second serves. My first serves were heavier, but a little slower with this racquet compared to the 5G. The Ki 5x seemed to combine the pace and weight of the standard version and the 5G, so that should be a consideration for players looking for an edge with their serve."

Serve Returns

The solid and consistent response our team found from other areas of the court made a successful transition to the return. Finding good success returning with the Ki 5 was Chris. "The Ki 5 is a great racquet for returning serve. There's a solid blend of power, control and maneuverability that allowed me to prepare quickly and then return aggressively. I was able to chip serves back deep to neutralize the point or be more aggressive. During doubles play, I was ripping returns with the Ki 5, finding the racquet to offer a solid base from which I could attack the serve." Don said, "Well, not even this racquet can make my weakest shot a strength. However, I felt about as confident as I can on returns with the Ki 5. It allowed me to take some swing against almost all serves. When blocking back the big heater, I focused on either keeping the ball deep (if my opponent stayed back) or chipping low (if he served and volleyed). This produced pretty good results. Not great, but good. I just need to improve my returns."

Finding good consistency on the return was Josh. "The Ki 5 was easy to return with. I was able to return cross-court and down the line consistently, and I didn't have a problem with off-center shots." Casey offered, "This racquet had a bit too much pop for me off the service return. I had some trouble keeping my forehand in the court, but my backhand, which is much more compact, felt good. I did like the maneuverability though, and had no trouble getting around, even on my forehand preparation."

Overall

The Ki 5 is a solid all court performer with a lot to offer intermediate to advanced players. We found good access to spin, some useful power, and plenty of control for consistent hitting from all areas of the court. Compared to its predecessor, the Ki5 offers a firmer, crisper response. While both the Ki5 and Kinetic Pro 5G offer plenty of comfort, it comes down to personal taste whether one will prefer the crisp feel of the Ki 5 or the softer feel of the Pro 5G.

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

ProKennex Ki 5x

Groundstrokes

With an extra half inch of racquet to play with, our team found some added pop to the Ki 5x compared to its standard length brother, the Ki 5. Chris said, "compared to the Ki 5, the Ki 5x offers some extra pop off the ground. I also found it to be more spin friendly, especially when it came to hitting topspin. The extra spin I was finding helped me control the extra power of the longer Ki 5x. In fact, I found lots of control from the baseline and was comfortable swinging away and playing aggressive tennis. I noticed the extra length of the Ki 5x on longer swings when I generated plenty of racquet head speed. In such situations, I was able to find some extra spin, too, resulting in good weight of shot. On approach shots, my abbreviated backswing made the extra length hardly noticeable." Josh was in agreement, saying, "this racquet played about the same as the Ki 5 in all aspects, with the exception of some added pace. Groundstrokes were controlled and easy to slice when necessary. I did have to focus on following through more with the extended-length racquet. If I didn't, my forehands had a tendency to sail long. My backhands felt really good with the 5x because of the pace I was getting during long rallies."

Casey found the adjustment between hitting with the Ki 5 and Ki 5x an easy one to make. "ProKennex did a good job hiding the extra half inch on this racquet. It still has good maneuverability, and feels only a bit heftier than its shorter brother. After switching from the Ki 5 to the Ki 5x it took me only about 5 minutes to get used to the length. I had to focus on more racquet head speed, and the length changed the balance a bit, but in general it wasn't hard to adjust." Don, a long time user of the Pro 7G, compared his experience with both racquets. "Having played with the Ki 5x predecessor (Kinetic Pro 7G) for awhile, I expected to like the Ki 5x even more than the Ki 5. After several playtest sessions, though, and efforts to ensure our comparison racquets (Kinetic Pro 7g and Ki 5x) had the right specs, I simply found the Ki 5x too firm-feeling for my liking. I enjoyed the extended 1/2" of length and the combination of heft and maneuverability. However, when hitting balls, there wasn't the same cushy, flexible feel of the Pro 7G. I also felt there was more power and less control. I could hit out with the Pro 7G with little fear of over-hitting. This wasn't the case with the Ki 5x, and I found myself holding back on some shots."

Volleys

The 11.7 ounce weight, 9 points head light balance and 27.5 inch frame length made for a solid combination at net. Finding the Ki 5x to feel similar to its standard length brother were Josh and Chris. Josh said, "again, the Ki 5x wasn't much different than the standard length racquet. Maneuverability was a little more cumbersome with the 5x, but I was still able to put away winners with authority. I thought the Pro 7G was actually more maneuverable than both Ki 5x racquets we tested. Chris found more maneuverability. "At net I found the Ki 5x very manageable. The extra length wasn't as noticeable in the power department with the short swing of a volley, and I welcomed some extra heft. For the most part, volleying with this racquet pretty much mirrored the standard length version - good control, some nice pop, and enough feel for the dropper. If anything, I found slightly more stability with this longer version. Compared to the Pro 7G, the Ki 5x felt slightly boardy, especially when catching volleys in the upper hoop. The racquet on the whole felt stiffer than the Pro 7G, making for a slightly less forgiving stringbed. Comfort was still good, it was just that this racquet had a different feel."

Also noticing a firmer feel to the Ki 5x was Don. "The longer Ki 5x makes reaching for wide shots easier, but didn't really adversely affect maneuverability for me on volleys. I enjoyed the same ability to hit penetrating volleys deep into the court, or touch angle volleys. Similar to groundstrokes though, there was still a fairly stiff feel on most shots, especially during off-center hits." Not faring quite as well was Casey. "I had the most trouble adjusting to the volley. The extra half inch took away from some touch and feel at the net, and also made volleys hit close to my body more difficult. I really wished I had the shorter version in my hand when I was at the net. The added pop also made it more difficult to control."

Serves

Our entire team enjoyed serving with the Ki 5x. With enough mass to hit heavy serves, an extra half-inch of length for added reach and a spin friendly stringbed, the Ki 5x proved to be a very useful serving tool. Josh really enjoyed serving with the Ki 5x. "I had a bunch of confidence hitting serves with the 5x. The added length gave me a little more pace with the same control. I also found more success moving the ball out wide to the Ad court. Despite the stiffness that many of the playtesters noticed, my shoulder and elbow felt fine after three sets of play." Compared to the Ki 5, Casey found the Ki 5x a better fit for serving. He said, "I loved hitting the slice and flat serve with the extra length, more than hitting the kicker. On the kick serve I had to really try to get extra head speed to keep the same amount of kick as with the Ki 5. That made the Ki 5 better suited for second serves, as I mostly rely on the kicker."

Finding better access to spin was Don. "I served well with the Ki 5x and seemed to get more jump on my spin serves. If there is one stroke where I felt this racquet performed as well or better than the Kinetic Pro 7g, it was the serve." Probably enjoying the Ki 5x the most on serve was Chris. "My favorite shot with the Ki 5x was the serve. I was definitely finding some extra pace on my heater down the T to the deuce and ad sides. I was able to maintain pace and also add a little slice fade to my serves down the T on the ad side to really attack my opponent's forehand. I had good results when hitting spin serves, too. I got good action kicking the ball out wide with either slice or topspin. The serve was the one shot that I really felt like I benefited from the extra length on a consistent basis."

Serve Returns

The Ki 5x performed well on the return of serve, too. Finding plenty of control was Chris. "As with the volley, the shorter swing of the return negated the power of the longer Ki 5x for me. I found good control and I was able to stay aggressive most of the time. When forced to block back a stronger serve, I was able to find plenty of control and accuracy to either punch the ball deep or hit a short angle. The racquet remained nice and stable, no matter how heavy the serves became. While I found a good level of comfort, I missed the softer and more forgiving Pro 7G." Also having good results on the return was Don. "Returning serve was similar to hitting groundstrokes, except I was able to block back returns pretty effectively. However, there was the same firm feel, especially on off-center hits (which happen frequently with me on returns). On second serve returns, I could hit an aggressive return without having to take a big swing."

Josh enjoyed driving his slice backhand return with the Ki 5x. "Aside from having to prepare a little earlier against the serve, the Ki 5x performed well during match play. I really liked the racquet on the backhand side. I was able to return the ball cross-court from the ad side and consistently find angles that immediately put my opponent on the defensive. I also noticed that I could drive my slice returns better with the Ki 5x than the standard length version." Casey offered, "I choked up on the return so I didn't feel much of a difference from the Ki 5. It had a bit too much power for my forehand, but I was able to hit my backhand really well. Choking up with the extra length really made this racquet manageable."

Overall

Like the Ki 5, the Ki 5x is very much an all court racquet. Both baseline and serve and volley players will find that this one has a lot to offer. The extra length of the Ki 5x proved a hit with our team when it came to serving. Our team found plenty of spin, both on serves and off the ground, enabling some aggressive yet controlled play. At net, the Ki 5x will benefit players looking for a little extra pop and reach, without sacrificing much control. Like the Ki5, we also found the Ki 5x to offer a firmer feel compared to its Pro G series predecessor. Players who prefer a "crisp" feel from their racquet will like the Ki 5x.

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

Review date: January 2005. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

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