There’s nothing overly subtle about the 4D 5Hundred. If you really like to crack your serves and go after your ground strokes, it has a lot to offer. The low
swing weight on the standard model makes it easy to generate a lot of racquet head speed, and when combined with the open string pattern (16-by-18) it’s very inviting for putting spin on the ball. The racquet has a touch more weight in the head than it’s predecessor giving it a bit more juice, while still maintaining a reasonable level of control. The balance also helps with stability as does the 4D Braiding, strong aluminum pieces placed at four strategic spots on the face to prevent twisting. With almost an ounce more in weight, the Tour version provides more stability and absorbs more shock than the standard, something that appealed to the more advanced playtesters. Some felt, though, that the stiffness and power of the frame took away from their ability to hit touch shots.
If your style is to stand at the baseline and let it rip, you’ll want to take this racquet for a spin
4D Braiding All eight racquets in the 2009 range feature 4D Braiding
Touch points at the 3, 5, 7 and 9
o’clock positions around the frame. At each of these
Touch points, specially designed four‐directional
braided cloth that is wrapped in an aluminum sheath designed to minimizes the torsional twist of the
racquet, helping improve the frame’s stability, comfort,
touch and feel.
Aerogel
Despite being made up of 99% air, a block of Aerogel the size of a human body can support the
weight of a midsize car. The world’s lightest solid, Aerogel is used throughout each frame, allowing players
to feel the added power and strength of the racquets from the head to the handle.
There’s nothing overly subtle about the 4D 5Hundred. If you really like to crack your serves and go after your ground strokes, it has a lot to offer. The low
swing weight on the standard model makes it easy to generate a lot of racquet head speed, and when combined with the open string pattern (16-by-18) it’s very inviting for putting spin on the ball. The racquet has a touch more weight in the head than it’s predecessor giving it a bit more juice, while still maintaining a reasonable level of control. The balance also helps with stability as does the 4D Braiding, strong aluminum pieces placed at four strategic spots on the face to prevent twisting. With almost an ounce more in weight, the Tour version provides more stability and absorbs more shock than the standard, something that appealed to the more advanced playtesters. Some felt, though, that the stiffness and power of the frame took away from their ability to hit touch shots.
