Rackets411.com

With more than 15 years of experience as a professional tennis player, Boris Becker brings a new aspect to the game of tennis: his own line of racquets. As a co-owner of the Volkl tennis division, Becker’s tennis racquets utilize the famed DNX material for stability and the Sensor Plus technology for comfort. From the great mind of Becker comes the BB V1, a user-friendly racquet that focuses on comfort. The Midplus version of this racquet, with a 102 sq. in. headsize, weighing at 10.1 oz. unstrung, and a string pattern of 16×19, proved to be a solid racquet offering comfort and feel on the courts.

Groundstrokes

From the baseline the BB V1 delivered spin, power, and maneuverability. With a 102 sq. in. headsize, the sweetspot was very generous and forgiving on off-center shots. The comfortable response from the racquet was very nice as well. The lightweight of the BB V1 facilitated a faster swing, allowing me to generate more spin on the ball. I found the BB V1 added pop to my groundstrokes, adding depth to my shots. It was no trouble to place shots where I wanted them. Slices and dropshots from the baseline proved to be quite lethal with the BB V1, though I needed some time to adjust to the livelier stringbed. In terms of power, the larger sweetspot, lively stringbed, and being slightly head heavy added a bit of power to my shots, but my shots were definitely controllable.

Volleys

At the net, the BB V1 maintained the same comfortable and solid feel I experienced from the baseline. Again, the larger sweetspot and forgiveness proved to be just right at the net. I felt added punch on my volleys due to the racquet’s lively stringbed that really gave me confidence. A clean and crisp response was very comfortable and easy on my arm. Also, the easy handling of the racquet allowed me to execute a variety of shots at the net, from drop shots to slices. Although the BB V1 is light weight, the stability of the racquet on volleys was excellent.

Serves

Serving with the BB V1 required some adjusting, but it did not take long for me to find the right motion. The maneuverability and lightweight of the racquet presented an opportunity to try a variety of serves. It was easy to mix up my serves to keep my opponent guessing. It was also easy for me to swing the racquet up and get good topspin on my serves, allowing for great placement and control. However, when I needed a big serve, the BB V1 lacked some of the added power I was looking for.

Serve Returns

On the returning side, the BB V1 was a good performer. On the big serves, I was able to easily deflect them back to my opponent with some directional control due to its forgiving headsize. The racquet was easy to move and helped a lot when reaching for the wide serves. On shorter shots, I was able to rip through them with spin, placement, and power with the faster head speed I could generate. However,when my opponent decided to rush the net, I had trouble hitting low returns past the net and ended up in trouble. (Maybe I should aim higher!)

Overall

The Boris Becker V1 Midplus was a solid performer from all parts of the court and proved to be a racquet with a lot of variety and potential. I was able to produce a wide range of shots with the racquet, having a comfortable, solid feel on each one. One of the most appealing characteristics of this racquet is the comfort I experienced while playing with it. The BB V1 Midplus is definitely a good fit for an all-around player looking for a balance between power and control - a nice frame with a comfortable feel.

Reviewed by: Michael Tan

To purchase the Boris Becker V1 MP click here