Stephan has been working on the past few weeks Diadem Elevate 98 Tour tested and was impressed with the stability, control and comfort!
Specifications Diadem Elevate 98 Tour
Brand: Diadem
Model: Elevate 98 Tour
Blade size: 98 sq/inch
Weight: 315 grams
Balance : 31.5 cm
Stringing pattern: 16×20
Length: 27 inches
RA: 67
Beam: 21.5 mm flat beam
Stringing: Diadem Solstice Power 16L, 22/21 kg
The Diadem Elevate 98 Tour is now available in our webshop and will be strung for free with a string of your choice!
Intro
I have already the Diadem Elevate 98 may test. A nicely balanced frame. The foam filled frame felt super stable. Given my preference for the somewhat heavier classic frames I have high expectations of this Tour version.
The Elevate 98 Tour is similar in feel to the Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16×19 which I tested a while ago. Both frames are super stable and hit the ball wonderfully when you let your arm go. Just a solid, maneuverable and pleasant feeling racket. The specifications seem perfect for the advanced players who like a control racket with enough power. The Diadem Elevate Tour fits in the line of the Dunlop Srixon CX 200 Tour, Wilson Blade 98 18×20 CV and the Babolat Pure Strike . The Diadem Elevate Tour is an accessible racket with beautiful classic features supplemented with a single modern touch. Further little fuss but simply a good quality frame that can measure itself with any other leading brand.
Baseline
From the baseline, the Diadem Elevate 98 Tour plays super stable as expected. Just like with the regular Elevate 98, the foam filling ensures perfect vibration dampening. Truly an arm-friendly racket in this Tour segment. However, you do need a full long stroke to achieve the optimal result. If you let your arm go well, you get more than enough length in your strokes. Even when you are put under pressure, the stability and weight of the frame will help you out of trouble. You do need sufficient strength for that. I can generate sufficient spin with both my forehand and my backhand. It is not a spin monster like a Babolat Pure Aero, but for a control-oriented frame it still produces quite a bit of spin. My backhand slice can also be placed nicely against the lines thanks to the nice balance of the racket.
Just
At the net, the balance and weight of the racket come into their own. Just like from the baseline, the Elevate Tour performs excellently at the net. You can also parry and put away hard incoming shots. You can also hit the more subtle balls well with this racket. The Tour is slightly less easy to maneuver than the regular Elevate 98 due to its weight.
Service and returns
Serving is also a party with the Diadem Elevate Tour. You can hit hard and the balls seem to fall in by themselves. The Tour is a little less easy to accelerate compared to its lighter brother, but still more than enough in combination with the weight to deliver heavy serves. The service return is also very stable. The weight and the foam filling ensure that even hard serves can be controlled well. Simply place the racket against it and the balls are returned tightly and in the desired direction by return post. This is where these more control-oriented frames differ from the lighter comfort frames. If you are going to play at a slightly higher level where you hit hard, a racket like the Diadem Elevate Tour will certainly help to control hard-hit balls well.
Diadem Elevate 98 tour: bottom line
There are more control oriented racquets but this one works well for almost everyone. I found it great on serve where it delivered more power than most 98 sq/inch racquets. I think it has more to do with the heavier weight. Otherwise very solid and stable on volleys, nice heavy hits from the baseline and still maneuverable enough to get the swing speed you want.
This playtest reminded me of my Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16×19 test. It is a racket where I can not find many shortcomings. It is a nice allrounder with the arm-friendly character as a striking feature (just like its lighter brother). Just a very good racket! In short, are you looking for a more control-oriented frame but can't get by with a 95 inch chainring and are you afraid of arm problems due to the weight? Then wait no longer because the Diadem Elevate 98 Tour will pleasantly surprise you.
The Diadem Elevate 98 Tour is now available in our webshop and comes strung with a string of your choice for free!