TravelinMan
08-13-2007, 10:15 AM
As many others here, I'm searching for a new stick. First the basics:
Age - 47
Size - 6'3"
Yrs Playing - been playing on and off for over 25yrs
Level - low 3.5
Left Handed
FH - eastern grip, flat forehand with occasional minor topspin
BH - one handed slice, trying to develop a flat backhand but I can make the ball dance with my slice
Serve - first serve slice, second is a weak kick. developing a stronger flat serve
Game - All court junk baller and I like to shoot for the lines (playing more doubles these days than I used to)
Current Racquet - Babolat Pure Drive Roddick, NXT 17 on the mains, Luxilon Ace 18 on the crosses, both at 60lbs (been playing this stick for about a year). I went to this string set up to be able to control the PDR.
Reason for Change - With more doubles play, I feel that I can't manuver the PDR very well at the net. Also, near the end of a long match, my arm starts to feel like putty and some lingering soreness in my middle deltoid.
So looking for something a little lighter, more maneuverable, a little more control and less power.
Here's my take on the demo's so far (in order of how I tried them):
Head Extreme - Liked the racquet but had a little trouble with control. Could not serve well with it. May try it again.
Prince Speedport Black - Really liked this racquet. Manuverable, good spin, great serving. This is my main contender.
Head Microgel Radical 107 - Hated this one from the get go. Could not get the head around for most of my shots.
Prince Speedport Red - Nice feel, served well with it but could not control my ground strokes, was taking half swings to keep the ball from flying.
Prince Speedport Tour - I played well with this all around in a doubles match but it felt a little heavy and that my game is not up to the ability of the racquet.
Wilson K Zen - OK on ground strokes but could not serve or volley well with it. Just did not feel comfortable swinging it.
Prince O3 White - This was my runner up to the PDR last year. I still like the racquet all around and served very well with it but it was a little too powerful. I could go with this and string near the high end of its range or the Black and string middle to low end. Liked the Black better.
Next Up - Yonex RDS003, Babolat Pure Storm?, Any others to suggest given my current trend?
I plan to narrow this to the top 2 then try them again.
Thanks,
T
Age - 47
Size - 6'3"
Yrs Playing - been playing on and off for over 25yrs
Level - low 3.5
Left Handed
FH - eastern grip, flat forehand with occasional minor topspin
BH - one handed slice, trying to develop a flat backhand but I can make the ball dance with my slice
Serve - first serve slice, second is a weak kick. developing a stronger flat serve
Game - All court junk baller and I like to shoot for the lines (playing more doubles these days than I used to)
Current Racquet - Babolat Pure Drive Roddick, NXT 17 on the mains, Luxilon Ace 18 on the crosses, both at 60lbs (been playing this stick for about a year). I went to this string set up to be able to control the PDR.
Reason for Change - With more doubles play, I feel that I can't manuver the PDR very well at the net. Also, near the end of a long match, my arm starts to feel like putty and some lingering soreness in my middle deltoid.
So looking for something a little lighter, more maneuverable, a little more control and less power.
Here's my take on the demo's so far (in order of how I tried them):
Head Extreme - Liked the racquet but had a little trouble with control. Could not serve well with it. May try it again.
Prince Speedport Black - Really liked this racquet. Manuverable, good spin, great serving. This is my main contender.
Head Microgel Radical 107 - Hated this one from the get go. Could not get the head around for most of my shots.
Prince Speedport Red - Nice feel, served well with it but could not control my ground strokes, was taking half swings to keep the ball from flying.
Prince Speedport Tour - I played well with this all around in a doubles match but it felt a little heavy and that my game is not up to the ability of the racquet.
Wilson K Zen - OK on ground strokes but could not serve or volley well with it. Just did not feel comfortable swinging it.
Prince O3 White - This was my runner up to the PDR last year. I still like the racquet all around and served very well with it but it was a little too powerful. I could go with this and string near the high end of its range or the Black and string middle to low end. Liked the Black better.
Next Up - Yonex RDS003, Babolat Pure Storm?, Any others to suggest given my current trend?
I plan to narrow this to the top 2 then try them again.
Thanks,
T