Wilson nCode nSix-One 95 Racquet Review

For 2004, Wilson introduces the third generation of the ProStaff 6.1, the ProStaff nSix-One 95. The nSix-One 95 introduces a whole new technology to the 6.1 line-up. While the basic flat beam ProStaff frame design remains, the nSix-One 95 uses a new frame construction process. Making use of the ever-expanding field of nanotechnology, Wilson's nSix-One 95 racquet uses nano sized silicone oxide crystals to create a denser frame construction at the molecular level. The result is a significant increase in strength, stability, resiliency and power.

The first 6.1, now known as the ProStaff Classic 6.1, used a graphite and Kevlar frame construction. It sported the flat beam frame design of the early ProStaff racquets, but was slightly updated with a more aerodynamic profile. The ProStaff Classic instantly became a popular choice in the pro and tournament ranks, its black, red and yellow frame often visible in the hands of accomplished players on courts all over the world.

In 2001, Wilson updated the ProStaff 6.1 Classic with the introduction of its Hyper Carbon technology. The Hyper 6.1 featured the ProStaff Perimeter Weighting System and flat beam frame design of the ProStaff Classic, but mated it with Hyper Carbon and a Double Braid of graphite and Kevlar. Like its predecessor, the Hyper ProStaff 6.1 was immediately embraced by strong club level players and touring pros. When we tested the Hyper ProStaff 6.1 in July of 2001, we found it to be a worthy successor to the ProStaff Classic 6.1, offering a more responsive and comfortable feel.

To find out if the nSix-One 95 is a worthy addition to the 6.1 lineage, we subjected it to the mercy of our testers. After three-weeks of hitting they were ready to comment. Read on for the results.

Our two test racquets were strung with a 17 gauge multifilament string. One was strung at 2lbs above mid tension and the other at 2lbs below mid tension.

Groundstrokes

Our team found the nSix-One 95 to be very maneuverable from the baseline. Fast swing speeds led to good spin production and pace of shot for most testers. Chris compared the nSix-One 95 to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. "I was able to generate a lot of spin with this racquet. Both topspin and slice came easily. I found it easier to generate spin with this racquet compared to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. Often, I would find myself generating more topspin off the forehand wing than I intended. This was especially true for the first five to ten minutes of each hitting session. After that, I would be more adjusted to the racquet and could better moderate spin production. With the 17 gauge playtest string, the stringbed felt very lively and the strings had a tendency to slide around a lot. After every long rally I'd have to take a moment to adjust the strings. I think going with a tighter string tension, a 16 gauge string or a polyester string would considerably lessen string movement. With the playtest set-up, I enjoyed the large sweetspot and found control to be alright. When hitting approach shots, I found I had to hold back slightly to keep the ball from flying - I did not have this problem when switching to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. Again, I think I could cure this by playing around with string choice and tension. If I were a nSix-One 95 user, I'd probably go with a polyester type string for more control. While there aren't many racquets out there that I wouldn't add weight to, the nSix-One 95 played well in stock form. It felt very stable even when returning a heavy ball. At only 12.2 ounces and balanced 10 points head light, the nSix-One 95 felt maneuverable on groundstrokes. I found it more maneuverable than its 330 (RDC) swingweight might indicate, and more so than its Hyper ProStaff 6.1 predecessor."

Granville also compared the feel of the nSix-One 95 to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. "The perfect blend of weight, balance and stiffness created a lethal mix for feathery touch and crisp power on both sides. Groundies were just right. The feel was not too soft and not too stiff. As compared to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1, the feel of the racquet seems a bit more dense or solid, which seemed to validate the nCode claims. However, I didn't get too hung up on marketing and technology, I just knew this was a classic and that all improvements were subtle."

Like our other testers, Wendi quickly found the groove with the nSix-One 95. "After warming up, it didn't take me long to know that I was really going to like this racquet. Once I got to the baseline I realized how much power the nSix-One 95 provides. I had no trouble hitting deep into the court, which is usually one of my challenges. My strokes felt a little loose, and I definitely didn't have the control of our last test racquet (Yonex RDX 500 Midplus HD). The control issue is maybe the only aspect of concern for me. But I will say there was something about this racquet that just felt easy. It was a very fun racquet to hit with."

Finding good access to spin was Casey. "The open string pattern allowed me to generate good topspin off both my forehand and backhand. I had quite a bit of trouble controlling the ball off my two-handed backhand, and found myself having to take advantage of the ease of generating spin to keep the ball in the court. However, this is not my natural stroke and I would much rather drive through the ball more off the backhand side. I felt much more comfortable off the forehand side because of my western grip. Topspin came naturally, and I was able to adjust to the added spin I received from the 16/18 string pattern. The racquet also felt a little light, and there just wasn't enough weight for me to feel comfortable driving through the ball. In general, my groundstroke game became lighter with quite a bit more spin. I think this was a combination of the string pattern and the lack of weight in the head. My slice backhand had similar results. The racquet created good bite on the ball, but I had some trouble driving into the slice, and found myself hitting a light, fluffy ball. With a bit of weight, I think this racquet could be a perfect choice for a player who prefers a more open string pattern, but still likes to hit a heavy ball. The racquet had good feel and a decent amount of touch from the ground. I would just need to customize it a little to suit my game."

Josh found the nSix-One 95 added a lot of power to his baseline game. "The nSix-One 95 was a bit powerful on the forehand side. I hit a bunch of balls deep during rallies and close points, reminding me of my experiences hitting with the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. Once I shortened up my stroke, I found more consistency in depth. I was able to generate good topspin and didn't have any trouble picking up lower, flat balls. I also found more control with this racquet compared to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. My backhand felt really good with the nSix-One 95. The whip-like feel, which I also found on serves, came in handy when I was pressed for a quick backhand response during rallies. I could also attack short balls with a good amount of topspin or slice, setting me up for a trip to the net. Players who like to use a lot of spin should have a good experience with this racquet's open string pattern."

Volleys

As from the baseline, the 10 points head-light balance gave the ProStaff nSix-One 95 a maneuverable feel at net. Even our 3.0 playtester found the 12.2 ounce racquet easy to maneuver. Wendi said, "the nSix-One 95 was very stable at the net, yet the maneuverability was still outstanding. It was very comfortable and solid feeling, with decent control. There was a nice response off the strings, and overall I found it to have a fun and lively net presence." Equally impressed at net was Granville. "There are just a few racquets out there that make me feel I'm using a scalpel when volleying. The nSix-One 95 is one of those racquets. Maneuverability is just right. I felt as though I could do anything with the ball, which opened up new opportunities for finishing the point. Whether it was a touch cross-court volley drop shot or a crisp punch to the open court, this racquet had the goods to compliment my game." Josh also enjoyed the maneuverability of the nSix-One 95 at net. "The racquet was great in transition to the net. It was very maneuverable, and I picked up a ton of balls hit to my feet. I didn't have trouble putting balls away or volleying during quick exchanges, but I never really 'felt' the ball on the racquet. I did find a little better touch with the more tightly strung racquet, but the feel of the ball never really transferred from the racquet to my hand. While this made the racquet more comfortable, I missed having the confirmation that a ProStaff 6.0 or Yonex RDX 500 delivers."

Like Granville, Casey found good touch and control with the nSix-One 95 at net. "I enjoyed volleying with this racquet. The touch and feel were all there, and the pop was very appealing at the net. I also liked the maneuverability. I felt my reaction time was quicker and more responsive, and that I could have volleyed all day long. I was able to play with a good mix of deep driving volleys, touch angle volleys, and the occasional drop shot." Chris found the nSix-One 95 to be very maneuverable, too. "I was able to quickly reach wide for passing attempts, and I also found the racquet felt quick when playing shots close to my body. Despite this, the racquet remained stable, and offered the same comfortable feel that I felt from the baseline. For a little more punch, I would have liked a bit more weight. When volleying a heavy hit ball, I felt like my volleys were falling short of their intended target. I think a little extra weight would have gotten me closer to the extra punch needed when up against opponents who really rip their passing shots. In this situation, I definitely missed the mass of my weighted up Yonex RDX 500 Mid."

Serves

Our team enjoyed some good spin and pace when serving with the ProStaff nSix-One 95. Both Wendi and Chris felt the nSix-One 95 was well suited to their serving. Wendi said, "this was my favorite shot while playtesting the nSix-One 95. Serving was just so effortless. My husband said I had never served harder, and I wasn't even trying to. I also found decent control when serving, but I wasn't able to pick my spots as accurately as with my regular racquet. I was able to generate some pretty good spin." Chris said, "I found the nSix-One 95 to be an easy racquet to serve with. I was getting plenty of pop on first serves with good direction and placement. I never felt like the ball was going to fly on me, and despite a lively stringbed, I was able to retain a good first serve percentage. Slice and topspin came easily, and I felt like I was getting some good grip on the ball with this racquet. I definitely noticed some nice action on topspin serves, and I found some good angle with slices serves to the deuce court. I also enjoyed serving with the Hyper ProStaff 6.1 and I would be hard pushed to pick one over the other."

Granville reminisced about his old Hyper ProStaff 6.1 racquets when hitting with the nSix-One 95. "This was where the racquet felt just like my old Hyper 6.1s. I did not notice any extra pop on the serve, which I'd expected. That being said, my placement was on the mark. I was seeing considerable action (spin) on the deuce side, which made me rethink my current preference for a racquet with 18 mains. I seemed to get what I felt was missing in that regard." Josh said, "the nSix-One 95 has much to offer in the service department. I was able to generate a surprising amount of pace and control on first and second serves. The racquet responded whether I was trying to drive a first serve down the middle, hit a kicker out wide to the ad court or slice a second-serve wide to the deuce side. The nSix-One 95 had a whip-like feel which gave me confidence to go for bigger first serves than I normally would." Casey found lots of spin, but struggled to find an overall groove with the nSix-One 95. "My serving with this racquet is best described as decent. I was able to generate good spin with both my kicker and slice, but I had a bit of a time controlling the ball. The racquet felt a little light in my hand, and it had just a bit too much pop to hit the corners. I felt this most when hitting flat serves. I felt like Shaquile O'neal trying to hit a free throw. It wasn't pretty, so I stuck with slice and kick serves."

Serve Returns

Each member of our team enjoyed the maneuverable feel of the nSix-One 95 on the return. Wendi said, "when returning serve, I was able to really catch my opponent off guard with a deep return. Cross-court returns were a little more dependable with this racquet than when I went down the line. For some reason, I wasn't able to depend on the same accuracy going down the line. I did have some trouble when receiving harder serves, I just couldn't keep my returns from going all over the place." Also finding good depth on his returns was Josh. "The nSix-One 95 played lighter than I expected it to. I was able to return from the forehand and backhand side with good depth and pace without taking a full stroke. The maneuverability of the racquet provided decent touch on almost every first serve. I also had more confidence than usual returning from the backhand side."

Casey said, "the maneuverability was a big plus on the return, but it was still a little too powerful to hit with accuracy. I sprayed the ball a bit, and had some trouble against the serve/volley player for this reason. It worked well for a block return because it generated some of its own pace, and was maneuverable enough to get the racquet in position off the big bomb. Some added weight would help with the slice return because then I could let the racquet lead into the ball, rather than using so much wrist." Chris also found the nSix-One 95 to offer a lively feel on the return. "I found the stringbed of the nSix-One 95 very lively on returns. I had no problem generating power and had to be careful not to over-hit. Due to the lively feel, I found I could be very aggressive with only minimal effort. I had the most success when going for very controlled returns. I was able to hit deep with plenty of pace, as long as I gave myself a large margin for error. Comparing this to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1, I found it more maneuverable but less controllable." Perhaps finding the best fit for his return game was Granville. "As expected with a racquet of this mass, returns were solid and the racquet remained stable. In short order, I was aggressively going after returns with good success. This racquet was well suited to both singles and doubles play. In dubs, I was taking the ball on the rise and blocking it back - often approaching on the return to steal the offensive. I really found I was able to control the points. Once I had this racquet in my hand I never looked back."

Overall

Our testers agreed that the nSix-One 95 is more than worthy to carry the ProStaff 6.1 name. The nSix-One 95 offers a slightly more dampened and solid feel compared to the Hyper ProStaff 6.1. Each member of the team found the nSix-One 95 to be very maneuverable, no matter what the situation or position on the court. Hyper ProStaff 6.1 users can expect to find a slightly livelier stringbed, more maneuverability and a slightly more dampened feel from the nSix-One 95.

Wilson nCode nSix-One 95

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

Technical Specifications Length 27 inches 69 centimeters Head Size 95 square inches 613 square centimeters Weight 12.2 ounces 346 grams Balance Point 12.25 inches 31 centimeters 10pts Head Light Construction 22 mm straight beam Composition 10% nCoded Hyper Carbon / 75% nCoded High Modulus Graphite / 15% Kevlar String Pattern 16 Mains / 18 Crosses

Babolat RDC Ratings Score Grade Flex Rating 65 Range: 0-100 Swing Weight 330 Range: 200-400

Playtester Profiles

Granville: 5.5 all-court player currently using a Head LiquidMetal Prestige Midplus. Granville is an aggressive player who uses an eastern forehand grip and goes continental on everything else, hits with a flat swing and a one-handed backhand.

Chris: 5.0 baseline player currently using a Yonex MP Tour-1 Midsize. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.

Josh: 5.0 all court player currently using the Wilson ProStaff Original 85. Josh has a long, loopy swingstyle, hits with a one-handed backhand and a semi-western forehand.

Wendi: 3.0 player currently using a Babolat Pure Control Plus. Wendi is a steady but aggressive player who hits with a semi-western forehand grip and a two-handed backhand.

Casey: 5.5 all-court player currently using a Volkl V-Engine Tour 10 Mid. Casey uses a full-western forehand grip with a fast swing speed, and hits with a two-handed backhand.

Review date: July 2004. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

All content copyright 2004 Tennis Warehouse.