Mike tested the Nordicdots Model 100 over the past 3 weeks! This racket offers excellent controlled power, good spin and, above all, plenty of feedback for the serious (competitive) player.
Specifications:
Brand: Nordicdots
Model: Model 100
Head size: 100 sq/inch
Weight: 304 g
Balance: 31.8 cm
String pattern: 16×19
Length: 27 inches
RA: 67 unstrung, approx. 64 strung
Beam: 21.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm
Swingweight: 323
Strings: Head Hawk Touch at 22/22 kg
Introduction:
Stephan and Mike previously tested the Nordicdots Model 99 as well. Stephan spent quite a few more hours with it, so he wrote that racket’s review. The Model 99 is a fine, high-quality frame, but it is more control-oriented, partly due to its small sweet spot higher up in the hoop. Read the review again here.
Now it’s the turn of the Nordicdots Model 100, in a beautiful glossy black finish and supplied with a luxury tennis cover—really, a tennis bag. This racket has a 100 sq/inch head size, but it’s no power machine like a Babolat Pure Drive, Dunlop FX 500, Diadem Nova 100 V3 or Yonex EZONE 100. Its frame construction is clearly different, with a much slimmer profile. In terms of frame construction, it has something in common with a Wilson Steam 99, which we can expect to see again later this year under a different name (a little preview for you).
So, this is a control-oriented 100 sq/inch racket, and there aren’t many of those. It immediately caught my attention. Other rackets in this somewhat less crowded category include the Wilson Blade 100 V9, Babolat Pure Strike 100 16x20 and the Yonex Percept 100(D). I really like the control offered by most 98 sq/inch rackets, but sometimes struggle with their smaller sweet spot. That’s why I also get along so well with my current racket, the Head Gravity Tour 2025: it has a 98 sq/inch head, but a generous sweet spot. This review includes a comparison with that racket, among other things. Now, on to the playtest.
Baseline:
From the baseline, I noticed almost immediately that the Nordicdots Model 100 is a genuinely high-quality racket. It feels different from the other control-oriented 100 sq/inch rackets mentioned above. This racket feels a little “raw,” in a good way. You get excellent, direct feedback from the frame, and it rewards you handsomely when you swing through the ball with full commitment and good technique. The balls then come off the string bed easily, with plenty of depth and power. The racket does feel a little stiffer than my now-familiar Head Gravity Tour 2025. I noticed this much less during the second test session, so it’s a matter of getting used to it and not stringing it at too high a tension. Nordicdots recommends 23/22 kg for this racket, and I can see why.
The power is excellent, but thankfully it’s also very controlled. You don’t have to worry about overhitting. A little spin finishes the job. Speaking of which, the spin is solid and controlled, but don’t expect this racket to be a spin monster. All in all, it’s a lovely and highly reliable racket from the baseline.
Serve:
The Nordicdots Model 100 has plenty of serving power, too. It’s easy to hit full serves, and somehow you always retain more than enough directional control. I struggled a little more with kick serves (not my strength, either). Slice serves worked well. All in all, this racket does exactly what it needs to do on serve.
At the net with the Nordicdots Model 100:
At the net, the Model 100 feels robust and solid. It may not be the quickest frame to get moving, but it’s definitely accurate. Touch shots like drop volleys are also easy to play, although I preferred the “flexy” feel of the Gravity Tour 2025 for those. The Model 100, on the other hand, is steadier at the net.
Power/control:
I’d rate the power/control ratio at 60/40. You get plenty of power when you go after your shots, while the excellent control means you almost always retain good command of the ball. It also works really well under pressure: this racket won’t push you back easily, and with one or two good shots you can quickly regain the initiative. This makes it a great option for counterpunchers, too.
Comfort/arm-friendliness:
I’d give this racket a 7.5 out of 10 for comfort. Its excellent stability means it twists very little, so few unpleasant vibrations reach your arm or shoulder. As mentioned earlier, this racket does have a somewhat “raw” feel, which gives you excellent feedback. Naturally, off-center hits put a little more strain on your arm, but not excessively so. I think this racket works especially well with a softer poly or a hybrid string setup. Very stiff, direct-feeling strings may be a bit too much. I also agree with the recommended tension of 23/22 kg.
Nordicdots Model 100: the bottom line:
The Nordicdots Model 100 is a true premium racket that certainly holds its own against rackets from the big brands. Its excellent controlled power, feedback and stability are its biggest strengths, in my opinion. You do need to like a racket with a more direct, robust feel; otherwise, this one isn’t for you. Its look and feel are refined, too. The Nordicdots Model 100 is a little more accessible to play with than the Model 99, while still offering comparable control and a direct feel. It’s definitely a racket I’ll be keeping in my bag!
