On court – The pros
The Diadem Elevate 98 is a “classic” frame mainly oriented to control and precision. The 16×20 string pattern allows for very interesting variations in play. From the base line, the rallies are controlled with authority and you can draw precise trajectories with all the fundamentals. The backhand, in my case one-handed and slightly covered, is performed naturally and with excellent depth of ball. The back is very high level, both in defensive phase and in offensive phase, with the ball that remains low and taut and allows changes of rhythm that can overturn the inertia of the rally. The forehand is preferred in the execution “flat” or “slightly covered”. The top is not immediate and requires technique and leg to be played effectively and with the right depth.
Excellent feeling “touch” and sensitivity returned by Elevate. The ball feels very good and the impact is always soft and “mellow”. The vibrations are almost absent thanks to the graft in the handle and in the stems of the Impact Shield technology. It provides excellent stability in the execution of all shots supported by a high feeling of comfort. At the end of the game sessions I didn’t find any discomfort to the arm even when using strings of a purely competitive nature.
The sensitivity and stability described above make you appreciate the Elevate also in the net game. The volleys, both of approach and closure, are played with precision and safety. The smash is also precise and very effective, although not excessively powerful.
At service it is preferred in “flat” solutions over “elaborated” solutions. The first flat is surgical, although not very powerful. The slice is not immediate but effective and allows you to “open the field” for a subsequent closing strike. For the kick instead you need a lot of leg to make the ball jump properly.
