What Works
The Pro is the Boom’s heaviest and most demanding model in the lineup, but don’t let that scare you—it’s a got a very friendly demeanor. It requires little break-in period, and delivers impressive thump for a 98. Especially one with a constant beam that isn’t too stiff, heavy or a chore to swing. Where the lighter, larger Boom MP perhaps doesn’t live up to the racquet’s name, the Pro can certainly make some noise with its shots.
Compared to the outgoing model, the updated Pro may have slightly more flex, and the additional areas of Auxetic give it a more stable, pleasing feel at contact. But otherwise, it plays quite similarly to its predecessor. Not a huge surprise since that was the first iteration. Users of that frame should have little trouble transitioning to this one.
What they—and anyone trying it—will find is a solid hitter with respectable command. The Boom has a unique head shape that’s somewhat squared off at the top of the hoop, giving it broad, stable shoulders comparable to the latest Yonex VCORE. This raises the sweet spot, which gives the frame extra clout. At contact, it just feels like there’s a bunch of mass behind the ball. You can use that momentum created by the upper part of the hoop to crank forehands and swat serves. If you put effort into your shots, there’s more payoff than you typically get from a “Pro” model.
The racquet has the flexible throat and firmer head combination that’s become popular in many current models. It offers good stability and another layer of power, while remaining rather arm-friendly and comfortable. The wide string pattern also promotes a cushy pocket as well as an attractive spin window. Kick and slice serves have long tails that are headaches for opponents to return.
The mixture of its dimensions and the added Auxetic, give the Pro a solid and rather unique response. The constant beam offers pretty accurate feedback that’s also a little muted. So the racquet seems to respond best when crunching a volley at net or nailing a return, more so than when those shots require subtlety.
