by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
It only took me hitting two or three balls to immediately notice the extra power and spin when hitting with the new Wilson BURN FST (Fast Speed Technology) tennis racket.
Hitting on a pristine clay court at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club in Vero Beach, Florida, the extra power was also noticed by my opponent.
“Whoa!” he shouted after a few short rallies, knowing that I was trying out the new racket. “It is coming at me so much faster! So much harder!”
My first reaction was that was a light racket and easy to create more racket-head speed. I could create a lot of pop on the ball without a lot of effort. Wilson writes that the BURN is “built for baseliners looking for the fastest racket possible” and features the following;
- FST Octagon frame geometry allows air to flow around the frame and cuts through the air at any angle of attack for fast racket head speed.
- Patent-pending X2 Ergo Handle provides for an optimal, personalized feel on two-handed backhands. Nearly 80 percent of modern tennis players play a two-handed backhand, and for competitive juniors that number climbs to nearly 90 percent, yet modern rackets haven’t evolved to accommodate this change. Wilson Labs developed a player-directed handle insert system that allows every player to customize an ergonomic handle shape to optimize their grip. The X2 Ergo Handle provides the ideal form for the top hand to dominate the modern two-handed backhand. This gives players more power, versatility, leverage, and feel.
- High Performance Carbon Fiber offers increased frame stiffness for aggressive, explosive power.
- Racket throat features a textured feel on key touch points to allow for extreme grip changes.
- Sleek, stealth-like graphics with racing stripes highlight the unique geometry of the frame.
I actually found the racket to be better for my serve, being able to generate a lot more pace without much effort. As my opponent and I started to play a set, I found myself winning my first 10 points on serve, only losing my first point when I realized I had not yet lost a point on serve and thought about it too much. I also felt a lot more pop on my overheads and on my one-handed top-spin backhand.
Here is a video of my initial reactions immediately after trying out the racket here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGlKtPEJIs
The BURN FST collection includes the BURN FST 95, 99 and 99S. The BURN FST 99S includes the Company’s patented Spin Effect™ technology for increased spin. This technology allows players to produce significantly more spin without changing their swing. The BURN FST will be available at tennis specialty retailers. The racquet retails for $249.00 (USD).
