Pacific Nexus
Price: $250
Hitting area: 118 sq. in.
Length: 27 3/4 in.
Weight: 8.6 oz.
Swingweight: 301
Balance: 1 in. head heavy
Beam width: 25m/27mm/26mm
Flexibility: Stiff
String pattern: 16x20
Swing: Short
NTRP: All levels, especially senior players
Pacific must have broken one of Fischer’s molds, which the brand acquired earlier this year, with the Nexus. This super flyweight game-improvement frame—probably the lightest out there—is a 180-degree departure from Fischer’s tradition of heavy player frames with narrow beams, head-light balances, and small heads.
Racquet-makers have attempted to break the sub 9-ounce weight barrier before, but have usually ended up with frames that could barely withstand the impact of a two-ounce tennis ball, and were rough on the arm to boot. Pacific has averted those negatives by fortifying the Nexus with a host of technologies to counteract its flimsy weight: stiff basalt fibers mixed with graphite in the frame to dampen the feel, stability enhancers at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions of the jumbo face to forgive off-center hits, and a cushy dampening system in the shaft to tame vibrations.
This is not to say that the Nexus will hold up when it’s on the receiving end of a blistering ground stroke in an open tournament, but it’s certainly capable of fending off the soft bullets and moonballs from the short-swinging competition in the super senior doubles bracket.
The Nexus is a good playtest choice for 70-something players at all levels or even younger players who don’t get around like they used to. Its widebody frame and head-heavy balance combine to provide substantial power, and its extra reach helps shrink the court a little. Most of all, it’s an amazingly maneuverable. Most racquets with these dimensions have swingweights that are 10–15 percent higher than the Nexus. The only drawback is its high price.
!Pacific Raptor](/articles/articlefiles/5842-Raptor-2[5Pacific Raptor
Price: $180
Hitting area: 102 sq. in.
Length: 27 1/3 in.
Weight: 10.6 oz.
Swingweight: 304
Balance: 1/8 in. head light
Beam Width: 24mm/25mm/24mm
Flexibility: Stiff
String Pattern: 16x19
Swing: Long
NTRP: 3.0–4.0
The Raptor is a little longer and lighter than most hybrids, or racquets that are in between game-improvement and advanced-player sticks as far as weight, balance, head size and beam width. It has less power than racquets like the Babolat Aero Pro Drive, the Head Extreme, the Prince EX03 White and the Wilson Pro Open. For that reason, it requires a longer and faster swing to get the ball deep into enemy territory. But the Raptor is also more maneuverable than most hybrids. It almost effortlessly helps increase racquet-head speed and generate more topspin, especially if you have a one-handed backhand.
Intermediate-level doubles players will appreciate the Raptor’s outstanding agility, particularly during rapid exchanges at the net. And frequent double-faulters will like the extra length on serves, though the Raptor lacks the mass to power up first deliveries.
The sweet spot is generous—even balls that strike the outsides of the string bed stand a good chance of staying in play. And comfort gets high marks due to a combination of vibration-dampening basalt in the frame and a dampening system in the shaft.
Overall, the Raptor is a sensibly priced, worthy first entry for Pacific in the hybrid category.