Hi folks,

I realised I have a slightly ridiculous problem.

There are now a lot of Indian specialty coffee roasters, and I still keep ordering from the same few names over and over again.

So I put together a directory of 54 Indian coffee roasters on Indian Coffee Stories, and then added a random selection wheel at the top of the page.

The idea is simple: spin the wheel, let it choose a roaster for you, and maybe try someone you would not normally come across.

I mainly made it because discovery gets weird once there are too many choices. I can scroll through 50 options and still somehow end up ordering from one of the same three roasters I already know.

Here it is if anyone wants to try it:

indiancoffeestories.com/roasters

I’d also really appreciate additions. I’m sure there are Indian roasters I’ve missed, so if you know one that should be on the list, drop the name or website in the comments.

And if you try the wheel, let me know whether it actually helps you discover someone new or whether there is something you’d change about it.

https://preview.redd.it/ymg15f317xhh1.png?width=1434&format=png&auto=webp&s=eadbbb6a85cd814fc9cd96e89a6210ff959bf308

I wanted to share my experience moving from the Wilson RF97 v13 to the Yonex VCORE 95 (2023), because I think there's a lesson here that goes beyond racket reviews.

A bit of background:

Back in 2019, I learned most of my current game using a Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310g. It wasn't a perfect racket, but it taught me how to play. I learned to generate my own pace and spin, play from the baseline, take balls on the rise, hit running forehands, and generally build points around timing and racket head speed.

Eventually, I started playing against stronger hitters. One of my flatmates was a big gym guy with a solid core and could absolutely crush the ball. Against that pace, the VCORE Pro 97 started feeling unstable. The frame would occasionally rattle in my hand, and instead of looking into customization, I convinced myself that I needed more stability.

That's how I ended up with the RF97 v13.

Looking back, I made a few mistakes:

• I bought an L5 grip when I should probably have been using an L2 or L3.
• I didn't pay enough attention to swingweight.
• I didn't understand how much racket balance affects playability.
• I didn't understand how closely racket choice should match your natural swing style.

The RF97 did exactly what it was designed to do. It was unbelievably stable. Serves were bombs. The slice stayed low. The backhand felt rock solid when I was on time.

The problem was that it slowly pushed me away from my natural game.

My particular frame felt very difficult to accelerate, and I suspect the balance wasn't especially head-light either. Whether that was QC variation or simply the realities of a 357g racket, I don't know.

Over time I developed shoulder issues, recurring tennis elbow, and a lot of tension in my swing. I could still play well with it, but it always felt like I was managing the racket rather than expressing my game through it.

Three weeks ago I switched to a VCORE 95 (2023).

The change has been surprisingly emotional.

My game is coming back. The fast whippy motion, the shape on the ball, the trust that I canswing fully and shape the ball as I see fit, honestly it's been such a relief because I thought I will never play like I used to.

My shoulder isn't 100% yet, but it's improving. My tennis elbow has improved dramatically. The forehand feels alive again. The shape on the ball is actually better than what I remember from the old VCORE Pro 97, probably because of the VCORE 95's spin potential.

What's surprised me most is that my game has become more aggressive while my body is under less stress.

Instead of trying to end points with one shot, I'm building points better. The ball has more shape. My consistency has improved. I'm creating problems for opponents rather than trying to hit through them.

I want to dive into this a bit because it's so fascinating to me. I am now back to controlling pace, shape and depth as I see fit. I was in a longish rally with a friend and I noticed that if I reduced the spin on the ball just a shade, hit through the ball instead, the ball would land a little more deep and not bounce to his comfort hitting zone. Every time I did that my friend hit the ball on the net. He lost the game to his own unforced errors but I know what I was doing to make him make those unforced errors!

But with the RF97, I was in so much pain swinging that thing around that I wanted to end points quickly, whether in my favour or otherwise.

If there's one takeaway from this experience, it's this:

Don't just chase stability, power, or whatever the latest review says.

Pay attention to:

• Grip size
• Swingweight
• Balance
• Your injury history
• The type of swing you've developed over the years

Use the Tennis Warehouse comparison tool, the Similar Rackets tool, and as much data as you can before making a major jump.

I spent 3 years trying to adapt myself to a racket.

In hindsight, I should have been looking for a racket that supported the game I already knew how to play.

Curious if anyone else has had a similar experience moving away from the RF97 or coming back to a frame that better matched their natural style.