Our regular reviewer Stephan has spent the past few weeks thoroughly enjoying testing the Nordicdots Model 99! Here is an in-depth review of this model from a relative newcomer to the racquet market. 

Tester:

Player name: Stephan Couzijn
Level: 6/6
Player type: 49-year-old all-courter, Eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat strokes
Current racquet: Yonex Percept 100D

Player’s racquet history: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95, Wilson Six-One 95, Head Radical, Dunlop Aerogel 300 Tour, Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson Juice Pro, Yonex Ezone DR 98, Wilson Clash 100, Head Gravity MP, Wilson Pro Staff 97, Yonex Vcore 98, Head Extreme Tour, Wilson Pro Staff X, Yonex Percept 100D.

Nordicdots Model 99: a rough diamond!

Then, all of a sudden, a stylish Scandinavian brand appeared with a racquet of its own, the Nordicdots Model 99. I’ve known Nordicdots for some time as a stylish tennis and padel clothing brand. For its clothing, Nordicdots uses high-quality materials that not only feel great to wear but also look incredibly stylish and refined, with its two distinctive “dots.” A little research tells me that the subtle logo is inspired by an aerial view of a tennis or padel court. I think that’s a really cool detail. I love wearing Nordicdots on court, so I’m just as curious to see how the brand’s first steps in the pretty crowded tennis racquet market turn out. Given the quality of all its products, I have high expectations for the Nordicdots Model 99.

This new racquet is unique right from the start, with its own layup, a 99-square-inch head, a 16x20 string pattern, and an almost-isometric head shape. Its most striking feature is a denser string pattern higher up in the head, with wider spacing in the middle and lower sections. It’s designed specifically for modern tennis, where we tend to hit the ball higher up the string bed. In short, the specs are a “dream come true” for me. I love control racquets with a head size of 98 square inches or smaller, but as I get older, I need more help from my racquet. I’ve also struggled to get on with 100-square-inch heads, so a 99 with a 16x20 string pattern feels like a gift from heaven. 

I currently play regularly with the Yonex Percept 100D and the new Head Gravity Tour 2025. I’m very curious to see whether the Model 99 comes close to these two frames, which I’d put in the “modern player’s frames” category. I have the special privilege of testing this “newborn” in the glossy gray finish. It’s a beautiful, minimalist design, and I personally love the “less is more” approach. My fellow tester Iris really appreciates the glossy finish, though she would have preferred a different color than gray. I think it’s a unique and cool look. It also reminds me a little of the Sand Beige version of the Yonex VCORE 98 that came out recently, but in a glossy finish. Now, time to hit the court.

Baseline performance:

The Nordicdots Model 99 feels very solid from the baseline right from the start. As expected, the 99-square-inch head feels more like a 98 than a 100, with its more “player-like” characteristics. If you’re thinking of it as a 100-square-inch racquet and expecting lots of extra help from it, this racquet may not be for you; you might be better suited to the Model 100: “What a difference an inch makes.” I did notice straight away that I needed to get used to the unfamiliar layup, with its denser string pattern high in the sweet spot. We’ve been seeing more sweet spots positioned higher up in modern frames lately, but the distinctive string pattern on this Nordicdots Model 99 accentuates that even further. It forces me to create good spacing for my forehand, “à la Holger Rune.” When I do, my shots feel like a hot knife through butter.

The feel at impact is lovely, and I can feel the ball well, which makes it easy to judge depth. The racquet demands not only good spacing but also a full swing. I found that I got the best results when I went for it. Half-hearted shots didn’t go anywhere, but shots driven through fully landed deep and heavy near the baseline. Shots hit with spin were also excellent, provided I followed through fully. As the playtest progressed, I felt confident enough to swing all out. In short, trust the frame and create space for your shots with this Nordicdots Model 99.

My one-handed backhand generally doesn’t cause me many problems, but with this Nordicdots Model 99, my shots felt solid right from the start. Slices were easy to execute, too, and stayed inside the lines. In short, I needed a little time to adjust to creating space from the baseline, which is something I should be doing anyway. The sweet spot isn’t especially generous, but if you hit it cleanly, your opponent will have a serious problem on their hands.

Serves and volleys:

I have no complaints about serving with the Nordicdots Model 99. There’s plenty of control and more than enough power to deliver flat rockets (especially on first serves), while slices and kick serves work well too. I noticed that I also felt confident hitting through my second serve. You know how it is: down 30–40 and serving a second serve, you might hold back because you’re afraid of hitting it long. That absolutely wasn’t an issue with the Model 99. I confidently served those 30–40 points away. Compared with my Yonex Percept 100D, I could serve just as hard and with the same precision. Apparently, I naturally find the sweet spot of the Nordicdots Model 99 when serving. I didn’t have to adjust my contact point.

My returns were also on point. I could get the racquet moving easily, which helped me meet the ball out in front. I could also handle hard serves well. If I were to play with the Model 99, I might consider adding a little lead tape at 10 and 2 for stability on returns, but no more than about 2 grams. The Nordicdots Model 99 performs well at the net. It’s easy to maneuver, and I can place my volleys with ease. It’s not exceptional at the net, but it does what it needs to do. For me, though, this racquet really shines from the baseline and holds its own against the competition.

Conclusion: the Nordicdots Model 99 in a nutshell

In my title, I call the Nordicdots Model 99 a “rough diamond.” I’m convinced that Nordicdots has introduced a unique layup that’s hard to compare with any other racquet. I’d describe it as a blend of Yonex’s isometric shape, the broad shoulders of a Head Boom, and a hint of the teardrop shape of the Head Gravity.

The Nordicdots Model 99’s denser string pattern may take some getting used to, depending a little on where you hit the ball. I think it encourages me to commit to my shots and create enough space while still maintaining control. However, if you’re not yet consistent about where you hit the ball on the string bed, it can sometimes produce surprising results, because balls hit in the middle have a different power level from those struck a little higher up.

All in all, I’m impressed by the quality Nordicdots has delivered, both in the specs listed on the box and in the bold choices made in the layup. I also think this particular model is suited to advanced players. Beginners might be better off with the Model 100, which we may get to test later. As a tennis nerd, I personally love seeing a newcomer dare to offer something different from what’s already out there. So, not a copy, but perhaps the first version of a new generation of racquets? Who knows—I’m looking forward to the next iterations of this Nordicdots Model 99. For now, it’s definitely worth a demo for advanced players looking to try something different.  “Nordicdots is on to something”!