Racquet Review: Volkl C10 Pro

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Price: $220 (buy here)
Head Size: 98 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 12.2 oz.
Balance: 9 pts. HL
Swingweight: 327
RA Rating: 63
Beam Width: 20 mm
String Pattern: 16x19

What’s New

Other than a throwback zebra and special 25th anniversary edition cosmetics, absolutely nothing. That’s one of the charms of the C10 Pro. After a quarter-century on the market, it’s the same as it ever was—heavy static weight, head-light balance, constant 20mm flexible beam, and buttery smooth response. The Twin Absorber dampening system and Soft Butt Cap in the handle filters out vibration and gives shots a solid, comfortable feel with connected ball feedback from the strings. No frills when compared to recent technology, but still effective.

What Works

So many of the seminal frames from the past—Head Prestige Mid, Dunlop 200G, Prince Graphite—are currently out of circulation. Just the fact that the C10 Pro is still available is a win. Granted, there isn’t a robust market for thin, heavy, control-oriented frames; players want more help from their equipment, not less. With that genie out of the bottle, the recreational set isn’t looking to go back in time. However, for those accomplished players who listen to Classic Rewind on their satellite radios—and those who simply prefer classic, old-school playability—the C10 Pro presents an attractive option.

The weight of the frame is substantial—there are few current racquets at 330g unstrung—but it hides it well. The head-light balance coupled with the thin beam makes it more maneuverable than its numbers would suggest. Plus, all that heft mixed with a flexible beam results in a very enjoyable hitting experience. For players with angry joints from overly stiff frames, the plush response—doubly so when laced with a multifilament—is like getting a cortisone shot for the elbow.

Even though it’s rather quick through the hitting zone, the C10 Pro still favors precision over brute force. That doesn’t mean it’s problematic to play offensively, but when weight is the power source, it takes full, fast cuts and clean contact. The potential is there to play serve+1 first strike tennis, even if other frames are arguably better-suited to that tactic.

Instead of a knockout puncher, the C10 Pro staggers opponents with combinations. Because of its superb directional control, dependable response and versatility, it encourages more patience and guile to create openings to eventually attack, or simply wait out a mistake. Players used to getting a lot of free power and easy depth from their frames, could find this an adjustment, especially when playing defense. But all-courters and shot-makers will appreciate the reliability and resourcefulness.

It’s a similar story with spin generation. The frame’s oval head shape and grommet system were conceived in an era of more penetrating, linear ball flights when spin wasn’t such an important commodity. Its 16x19 string pattern is a little denser in the sweet spot promoting a respectable level of rotation on the ball that can’t match the wicked production of some current frames with wider, broader shoulders. There’s still enough of a window to twist a useful kick serve out wide or dip a crosscourt pass. And slicing the ball is a pure delight.

As is net play. It’s tricky to call any frame a serve-and-volley racquet anymore as the strategy has evolved into a change of pace rather than a playing style. But the C10 Pro, perhaps because of its roots, seems right at home at the net. Its mass supplies the backbone to handle hard-hit passing shots, and it’s perfectly balanced for adept handling. The flex and connect feel add to its volley prowess. Punch, angle, dig, drop—it has all the bases covered with spot-on touch and control.

What Needs Work

The limitations of the C10 Pro are predominantly generational. Even though it has lots of weight, its largely positioned in the lower portion of the frame. Current frames are lighter, thicker, often stiffer and have more mass toward the head. The combination makes them more capable of thriving in the baseline and spin-centric exchanges of today’s game. It’s conceivable a player could add some weight to the racquet’s hoop to help in this regard, but it would detract from its other strengths. A better option would be to experiment with the recently released C10 EVO, which shares the same beam, flex and tech, but is 20g lighter and carries a more contemporary weight distribution.

The Pro is also not particularly user-friendly. It was originally designed for advanced players and time has only magnified its exacting nature. The small sweet spot is lower in the string bed, and contact outside of it is routinely punished. This doesn’t make it a dated relic, but it would take a skilled and pure ball-striker to make it work in serious competition.

Final Verdict

Don’t go changing C10 Pro. While certainly for a niche audience, it can still work for talented all-courters or high-level doubles specialists. And if you’re struggling to make peace with the power and spin inclinations of many current offerings, its classic feel and performance provides a comfortable bridge to the past.