Diary of a Racketaholic

Ross K

Legend
Ross it is cheap, so if you hate it, no biggie.

Disclaimer, I string my own. Highly reccomend it since it saves cash and no wait on sticks. It also makes me more open minded to trying string. That being said, I did not like a lot of full poly strings in the Tfight besides Hex.

Surprisingly, hybrids felt fantastic. Synth gut crosses and poly mains.

Yeah, always curious re strings/mods/tensions re the TF. Might hunt some Hexonic down. You've also got me curious with that remark about hybrids. I hadn't previously even contemplated anything other than full polys for the TF as I imagined it was kind of made for full polys.

Can see my racketaholic/string-head ways getting even more out of hand if I strung for myself:) ... Q. How long does it take to be able to string for yourself competently?

R
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
took me a while because I am very bad at :

simple concepts like tying knots

patience and not rushing

freeing up the time to do it.

Even with that against me, I still love it now. It saves me money..lots of money. Also allows me to not have to wait on a stringer. I dont have to plan out when to drop off and pick up racquets anymore. Can tinker with whatever string setups I want, and then just cut the string out if I hate it..no big deal.

If you lived near me, id sell you my dropweight for cheap so you could try it out. Use that thing for 6 months and you may get into it and upgrade a little like I did (saves time..allows me even better accuracy). Since I can't do that, Id reccomend hunting down a used klippermate and learning on that. Use one of your racquets that you dont use much and a cheap synth gut for 2-3 string jobs and you will be good to go.
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
Yeah, always curious re strings/mods/tensions re the TF. Might hunt some Hexonic down. You've also got me curious with that remark about hybrids. I hadn't previously even contemplated anything other than full polys for the TF as I imagined it was kind of made for full polys.

Can see my racketaholic/string-head ways getting even more out of hand if I strung for myself:) ... Q. How long does it take to be able to string for yourself competently?

R

With the amount of info available on these forums, about 3-5 string jobs. Well worth it IMO.

Paid around $200 for a machine some 4 years ago and I can't imagine paying for stringing anymore.
 

Ross K

Legend
el and PP,

Cheers chaps, I sense I'm starting to get interested now. I was actually going to go back into collecting records (as in the vinyl) too, but maybe I should divert into stringing... ah, the joy of a fresh compulsion to obsess about!:)

R
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
If you can get a stringway auto dropweight used..oh man..do it..thats what I did and I am extremely happy about that decision.

You could very well enjoy stringing your racquets..once you get good and have a decent machine, you will be done in 35 minutes. Just fire up the tube (or some vinyl) and do your thing. Actually, the vinyl while stringing idea is pretty amazing. I may have to try that myself..lol.
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
el and PP,

Cheers chaps, I sense I'm starting to get interested now. I was actually going to go back into collecting records (as in the vinyl) too, but maybe I should divert into stringing... ah, the joy of a fresh compulsion to obsess about!:)

R

At the end of the day, the ball makes contact with the string, not the racquet. As much as you've obsessed over racquets, you'll soon find that stringing can be just as addictive.

There's also something really rewarding about stringing your own, you feel like you're more connected to the racquet and more in control.

Also, you can't fully know a racquet until you've explored all her nooks and crannies :)
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
You could very well enjoy stringing your racquets..once you get good and have a decent machine, you will be done in 35 minutes. Just fire up the tube (or some vinyl) and do your thing. Actually, the vinyl while stringing idea is pretty amazing. I may have to try that myself..lol.

That's what I do, stringing a racquet takes about as long as an album, so it gives me time to relax and listen to some music.

Other than driving, I find it hard to find the time to listen to a record cover to cover.
 

big bang

Hall of Fame
At the end of the day, the ball makes contact with the string, not the racquet. As much as you've obsessed over racquets, you'll soon find that stringing can be just as addictive.

There's also something really rewarding about stringing your own, you feel like you're more connected to the racquet and more in control.

Also, you can't fully know a racquet until you've explored all her nooks and crannies :)
Yes sir!, good post.
I have strung my own frames since I was 11 and would never let anyone string for me. I know my sticks are exactly as I like when I step on court and it gives me a small boost of confidence. The day before an important match I allways string 3-4 frames and for some reason I take my time double checking everything when stringing, these days I use around 35-40 mins on a single stringjob, normally I use around 20 min if Im not in a hurry. It has become some kind of ritual for me - new strings and new tourna grip XL, then I know everything is perfect and I can go to bed knowing that Im ready for tomorrow!.
I love doing a good job and I enjoy stringing for ppl who is interested in strings and know what the like and dont like. Its great when ppl appreciate a good stringjob, but when ppl just say "just give me some kind of cheap strings" and dont even know what tension they like, then its a bit annoying at times.
But I think Ross could end up being a string addict:). Today we got so many good strings to choose between, it was much easier 20 years ago.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
Excellent post el.... you make me want to invest in a dropweight... and probably will do so as soon as I get back to the states.

Back to multis in my prestiges... used bbace @ 40 for some time now... but now I'm enjoying the crack of multis in the upper 50's
 

retlod

Professional
Even with that against me, I still love it now. It saves me money..lots of money. Also allows me to not have to wait on a stringer. I dont have to plan out when to drop off and pick up racquets anymore. Can tinker with whatever string setups I want, and then just cut the string out if I hate it..no big deal.

Stringing myself hasn't saved me any money. :) In fact, it's made me spend *more* money on strings because instead of waiting for a job to break or become totally unplayable like I used to, now I restring whenever I feel like it or when I start seeing any slight drop in a stringbed's performance. On the other hand, I've tested out about four years of strings in just 12 months, so I'm a lot more familiar with what's out there. If I had done all the same experimenting at $10-15 labor per stringjob at the local shop, yeah, the machine has almost paid for itself.

I screwed up a weave on the first racquet I strung and didn't catch it. Since then, I rarely make a mistake that can't be fixed. I've watched all of YULitle's YouTube videos and they've helped me a ton. I've never needed to look up a frame's pattern and routinely use box and ATW patterns. I'm by no means an expert, but I can crank out a frame in about an hour from the time I arrive at my work station to the time I put the frame back in the bag. I don't think you'd have any trouble picking it up.
 

PED

Legend
not the real match, I am going through a kung-fu training montage with the 88, I am a shadow on a bamboo screen. I have to kill bill, but I have to kill some other people first...

This is another classic :)

If you keep up with quotes like these, you're going to end up with a tribute thread like Joel D.

thanks for the reply on the Hyperion, I might give it a shot. I like the sound that that rubbery action.
 

PED

Legend
Well, only ever tried BB original and Rough I think. At the same tension as CF, the Lux felt boardier.

When you said lux, I automatically assumed ALU. I used to use BBO and I can def see where you're coming from....especially on the BBO rough: that stuff sucked.
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
I love doing a good job and I enjoy stringing for ppl who is interested in strings and know what the like and dont like. Its great when ppl appreciate a good stringjob, but when ppl just say "just give me some kind of cheap strings" and dont even know what tension they like, then its a bit annoying at times.

I really enjoy doing a good job also, nothing like a smooth string job where everything goes well and you're left with just the minimum amount of string necessary to reach the tension head.

But I think Ross could end up being a string addict:).

What give you that impression ;)

Today we got so many good strings to choose between, it was much easier 20 years ago.

Agreed, there are so many options that it's hard to just focus on the game. There's all these what if's that creep in when you're not having you best day on the court: am I using the right string, is the the best tension for me, should I hybrid, go full poly, is this poly dead etc.......

I don't break poly, so I miss the days of just snapping a string. There was no mystery or intrigue about the playability of the string, it was either good, or it was broken.
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
serge...what are your thoughts on blx tour 90, k90, etc...frames of this ilk...

I've actually never tried any. Here's my playing history : PS 85, PS 95, nCode 6.1 95, K 6.1 95 and then I moved on to Head.

I disliked the K6.1 95's so much that I never gave the K90 a chance. I felt like the K6.1 was so much more demanding than my beloved ncodes and the feel was so different.

Today though, based on my time with the 88, I feel like I would really dig the 90's.
 

ryushen21

Legend
I am weak. I have given in to temptation. I just made a trade deal for a Donnay X-black 94 and am working on another for an i.Prestige Mid. I've been lusting after both of these frames for a while and it looks like some pretty good deals are working out.

Full reviews will come as soon as I get the frames in my hands. It can be guaranteed that both will be strung with full poly around 50 lbs.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
This is another classic :)

If you keep up with quotes like these, you're going to end up with a tribute thread like Joel D.

thanks for the reply on the Hyperion, I might give it a shot. I like the sound that that rubbery action.

I am Stan compared to JoelrogerDali, he is Wilt Chamberlain, I am Robert Horry.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
I've actually never tried any. Here's my playing history : PS 85, PS 95, nCode 6.1 95, K 6.1 95 and then I moved on to Head.

I disliked the K6.1 95's so much that I never gave the K90 a chance. I felt like the K6.1 was so much more demanding than my beloved ncodes and the feel was so different.

Today though, based on my time with the 88, I feel like I would really dig the 90's.

oooh, I think you might like...
 

retlod

Professional
What...is your name? Retlod.

What...is your quest? To find the perfect racquet.

What...is the capital of Assyria?

AYYIIEEEEEEEGGGGHHH!!!

Many a frame I have now trialed to see if there is a better racquet for me than the Babolat Pure Drive GT+ that I came to love two summers ago. First, there was the 16x19 Speed MP, then the Rad Pro, the Prestige Pro, and the Aero Pro. The Aero Pro was close, but not as solid feeling. Last summer I flipped back and forth between the PD's, the Speeds, and the quirky Ozone Tour MP. This winter, I matched a pair of YT Extreme MPs to the PDs and had a blast with them. Most recently, I experimented with the IG Speed and the EXO3 Tour, then went bargain shopping and picked up an O3 White and a Volkl PB8 295. The O3 White was not my cup of tea, but the PB8 was close. An Organix 8 followed and still has potential if I can lead it up a bit and get it to swing like...you guessed it, a Pure Drive. I'm currently getting to know a gently used bargain-priced TFlash 315 SpeedFlex, which I think I might like a lot. I have a TFight 315 VO2 Max from the same guy on the way.

Like Ross, though, I keep coming back to three frames--the Pure Drive GT+s, the Extremes weighted to match them, and the wildcard--that pillowy Ozone. Once I adjust to a SW grip with the Babs and start kicking forehands into my opponents shoulders I feel like I'm playing such pure, topspin, baseline tennis that I just have to smile. Win or lose, that purity is awesome. The Ozones give me so much feel, though, and I feel I have more control over the ball. I have a feeling that if I don't end up in love with these new TF's, I'll be stocking up on the discontinued Extremes like I have been with the Ozones and waiting for the 2012 PD's. Maybe all this racquetaholism is a pointless addiction. If I had never gotten the urge to experiment, I'd be right where I was two years ago.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Last thing I expected when checking into the Diary today was a reminder of my beloved championship Houston Rockets of '94 and '95. Kenny Smith and Robert Horry, Hakeem the Dream, Clyde the Glide. Thank you for pointing my mind that way, even if you didn't intend.

All quiet on my front of late. Haven't gotten to play much in the last week, so just eyeing the boards with amusement. Couple more sets of Tour Bite are on the way from TW, so there's that. And I have to admit that I'm waiting for the Donnay Platinum to become available to demo somewhere (can't even do it through Donnay yet, only for sale at the moment), for I am too weak not to try it. Power Player's Black 99 love has me feeling fuzzy about just how good the Donnay Dark Red was, sans feel, and rumor has it the Dual Cores actually feel stiffer/crisper, which basically makes it a must-demo, even if I'm very happy with everything that's already in the racquet bag. What can I say, I have a problem.
 

Ross K

Legend
And with the days counting down, so it is that the great event approaches... "CHOIR SINGS 'RULE BRITTANIA"... But in the meantime, turning away from such joyous festivities for a milli-second, I must stop to address my fellow racketaholics...


ry,

Good to see you getting in the spirit of things here now. I expect you to dutifully go off on a month long, Power Player/Homer-like racket testing odyssey spanning many great and varied frames! :lol:


ret,

Look forward to hearing about the TFs and how you find them. In theory, the TF V02 320 should be the frame for me. Had a brief hit with mine today. I need to put some lead @ about 10 and 2 I think. Still continue to find it, rather like, I don't know, Mac D's or fast food or whatever, oddly unsatisfying.:roll:


JG,

I'm getting a bit curious re the new Vantages, the 20 and the 30... how's it going? A good fit in your opinion for a b-liner, into spin, Western gripping, appreciates a bit of 'oomph assistance', 2hbh, etc?


Fed,

Er, is it a good thing to be Charles Barkley?!



El,

You don't break poly eh? And I thought I was the only one?!


Speak anon, gents... I have to now go and pitch up my tent close by to the route the Royal carriage shall be taking... my Union Jack flag is with me, as is four gallons of tea, three butlers, Dawson, my valet, my hunting rifle, Tabitha, my nanny, and just a small quantity of opium to help with the cold nights...

God save the Queen!:)


R
 

PED

Legend

Fed,

Er, is it a good thing to be Charles Barkley?!




R

Uhh, yeah, it's great to be charles lol :)

I can't think of a football counterpart to compare him to but he's a BIG personality, literally and figuratively.

He's funny as hell. Google charles barkley mcgruber for the SNL skit, he's awesome.



Kenny Smith, what a player, he was the point guard when I was in school, he did a great job with a subpar unc team.


My Hyperion and Barb Wire on the way, I'll try out the Hyperion first, can't wait. Fed, would you drop the tension on Hyperion versus TB.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Ross,

The 20 remains the head of the pack for me. It's simply the first stick I reach for now and the other night was yet one more where I never even reached for another. We've reached a very serious point in the relationship, I'm just not ready to bring up "the talk" about "where we are" and such JUST yet. I'm just sensing that the Biscuit might bring it up first, asking what the deal is with all these other frames still in the bag....

Like I said, haven't played enough in the last week to really do too much updating, but two nights ago I played with only the 20 again it's just so dang sweet. The recoil and solid-but-plush feel makes for a frame that almost NEVER overhits, and yet I still get easy depth and spin on the forehand wing. My absolute favorite part of the frame is dealing with the sitter. Sometimes, I'm a total idiot with sitters, sending them to the back fence. The 20 just rips them just inside the baseline. There's this odd sort of power reserve that I've found with the 20: when hitting in the middle of a point (or rally) at 70-80 percent, the frame is solid but not necessarily overpowering. But when you load up on a sitter and fire, what you think is the frame's 100-percent power potential sometimes ramps up to like 120 percent; so much extra power just shoots out of the frame than you think. Hence my delight at putting away sitters with such ease.

NOW, on the backhand wing, it's very solid directional wise BUT ... this is where the Head IG Speed outshines it. I can just rip two-handed backhands about as well as I possibly can with the IG in hand. Bigger headsize, touch of extra length, it just equates to backhand bombs that even get me winners. With the 20 I have to work harder on the backhand. This is why the Speed is still in the bag. While I generally am feeling more comfy with the 20, the IG is just awesome for two-handed backhands. This is also why I feel like the IG Speed may be right up your alley. Easy depth and high spin, all day long. It's like an APD (at least what I remember of it), but just a little more control oriented and with way better feel.

Too bad you're in a non demo area, Ross, because I really think you'd dig it, but now I understand even more why you do ask so many Qs on different sticks on these boards. As far as the 20 and the IG Speed, I don't know. I'd be more inclined to recommend the BC20 to MOST players on these boards, because it has a certain 'special' quality/feel/build/quality construction to it that I know so many players would just fall in love with like I have, but knowing what you like (APD, TFight, etc), I'm thinking the Speed might actually be preferred by someone like you.

Now, the BC30, with its larger head and such? Seems like that may even be be your holy grail, but I can't comment as I haven't hit with it yet.
 

ryushen21

Legend
Ross,

Yes, I have given in. I'm very excited for both frames. The black looks like it may just be everything I've always wanted and the I.prestige is just an awesome frame. Having two different prestige mids won't be too much of a digression but should be plenty of fun. I'm still keeping one of the youteks though. I just can't make myself completely part ways yet. I think the more interesting bit will be the change in string tension....
 
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Ross K

Legend
PED,

Happy to be Charles Barkley! :) Be curious to see how you find Hyperion in the APD. I liked it a lot in the Pres Pro.


JG,

Be sure to remain sensitive to Sea-buiscuit's feelings now! :grin: ... Thx for follow up on the Vantage 20... and you're right, the 30 possibly interests me a tad more. You are also right that I do routinely ask a load of QSNs as demoing isn't really an option where I am - I have to buy outright. Anyhow, I'm checking out a few things re these racks, although I do recall being very impressed with the quality build, control aspects and and great crisp feel of the previous VT 95, but it wasn't really ultimately quite my thing... VERY INTERESTING re IG 16x19 and the 2hbh, as I always notice very fast if my slightly under-powered bh is being helped by the frame, ie it's a big consideration as I do look for certain big hitting, 2hbh 'assisting' qualities when assessing a frame's suitability.:wink:

R
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Ross have you ever tried aero storm tour? Love child of pstgt and apd...

^^
I had this EXACT same thought regarding Ross' hunt a few days back. Have always really backed this frame. Thinner beam than the AeroPro, better feel BUT it is, however, more control oriented than the APD, whereas the APD gets the super easy depth with its stiffness. That depth for me often translated into overhitting, so I preferred the AeroStorm, but Ross may feel differently and might want to stick with the APD. Only thing that bothered me about the AeroStorm Tour was I remember the top of the stringbed feeling a little more dead on serves where I made contact up there (as I often do). It bothered me enough that I stopped testing it out.

Anyway, had a shorter hit today - a guy called me actually just after I'd just posted about the IG Speed to Ross, so I decided to give the Speed more of my attention tonight since it's been pretty much all BC 20 of late. Well, kind of the same findings tonight:

Speed:
The Good: awesome, fun, easy bashing. When we decided to play a set at the end after just playing rally points, was just CRUSHING my first serves. Backhands, yep, rip city.
The Bad: sailed a few more balls long than I would like.

BC20:
The Good: Pocket-and-shoot. This frame just holds onto the ball so well and it's this characteristic that's making it so frikkin' addicting. Creates so much control on the forehand wing. Also makes for a dream slicing stick as well. Make so few mistakes sending the ball long with this one. Second serve kickers are just grooving and exploding.
The Bad: Backhand rippers tougher to generate, really have to step into the ball. [One-handed backhand (which I go to about 15 percent of the time) is AWESOME, though, and I'm hitting it more and more the longer I hit with this] While second serves are improved/easier than the Speed, first serves just do not have the consistent pace as the Speed. Speed is solid, and I know I CAN BLAST the heaters, but those huge heaters are tougher to get, the mechanics have to be just right. Been struggling a touch lately with this stick on the big heaters, so a lot of second serves, but then the frame saves itself by making the second serve kickers so easy and effective.

The set result: I was up 3-2 when I dropped the Speed for the BC20 and my partner said to me, "You really play well with that frame. I can't handle your serve with it. It has pace and a lot of crazy action on it, too. I'd stick with that frame, you just play so well with it." So, you know, I switched. Then took the next three games straight with the BC20 to close it out, 6-2. Serves were not overpowering him like they were with the Speed, but the general solidity and consistency of the rest of my game made up for what I lost on serve. "Yeah, you play pretty good with that one, too," the partner said. "I don't know."

So yeah, no change. Seabiscuit still out front by a couple lengths.
 
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Ross K

Legend
Fed,

Ross have you ever tried aero storm tour? Love child of pstgt and apd...

Negatory, FK. I wouldn't mind a hit with it though one day.


JG,

whereas the APD gets the super easy depth with its stiffness.

Yes, that's it. Plus also, the groundie ball just seems generally a bit heavier than the TF, PST, etc (though modding up, string set up, etc, would obviously factor and my APDs are modded up a bit in the butt and at 10 and 2.) I'm looking a bit more at my TF though right now and am probably going to follow suit with my APD and shift the small amount of lead from 12 to 10 and 2 and see if that helps anything... side-note: went to look in the trap door yesterday and stopped as it seemed like I was stripping off the TF logo itself... anyone taken off the butt cap okay without damaging it on these TF V02 320s?... and is it true there's sillicone inside?

R
 

Meaghan

Hall of Fame
^^
I had this EXACT same thought regarding Ross' hunt a few days back. Have always really backed this frame. Thinner beam than the AeroPro, better feel BUT it is, however, more control oriented than the APD, whereas the APD gets the super easy depth with its stiffness. That depth for me often translated into overhitting, so I preferred the AeroStorm, but Ross may feel differently and might want to stick with the APD. Only thing that bothered me about the AeroStorm Tour was I remember the top of the stringbed feeling a little more dead on serves where I made contact up there (as I often do). It bothered me enough that I stopped testing it out.

Anyway, had a shorter hit today - a guy called me actually just after I'd just posted about the IG Speed to Ross, so I decided to give the Speed more of my attention tonight since it's been pretty much all BC 20 of late. Well, kind of the same findings tonight:

Speed:
The Good: awesome, fun, easy bashing. When we decided to play a set at the end after just playing rally points, was just CRUSHING my first serves. Backhands, yep, rip city.
The Bad: sailed a few more balls long than I would like.

BC20:
The Good: Pocket-and-shoot. This frame just holds onto the ball so well and it's this characteristic that's making it so frikkin' addicting. Creates so much control on the forehand wing. Also makes for a dream slicing stick as well. Make so few mistakes sending the ball long with this one. Second serve kickers are just grooving and exploding.
The Bad: Backhand rippers tougher to generate, really have to step into the ball. [One-handed backhand (which I go to about 15 percent of the time) is AWESOME, though, and I'm hitting it more and more the longer I hit with this] While second serves are improved/easier than the Speed, first serves just do not have the consistent pace as the Speed. Speed is solid, and I know I CAN BLAST the heaters, but those huge heaters are tougher to get, the mechanics have to be just right. Been struggling a touch lately with this stick on the big heaters, so a lot of second serves, but then the frame saves itself by making the second serve kickers so easy and effective.

The set result: I was up 3-2 when I dropped the Speed for the BC20 and my partner said to me, "You really play well with that frame. I can't handle your serve with it. It has pace and a lot of crazy action on it, too. I'd stick with that frame, you just play so well with it." So, you know, I switched. Then took the next three games straight with the BC20 to close it out, 6-2. Serves were not overpowering him like they were with the Speed, but the general solidity and consistency of the rest of my game made up for what I lost on serve. "Yeah, you play pretty good with that one, too," the partner said. "I don't know."

So yeah, no change. Seabiscuit still out front by a couple lengths.

JG just great stuff and interesting reading.
I agree with your serve analysis. i don't find any problem getting into the groove but sometimes i have to really think about the biggy. Tbh tho my serve is pretty big anyway and I've been concentrating on placement and differently spin etc and raising first serve percentage so im quite happy to bring out the heater when required. The same goes for the 30 but i have to get the balance right with this racket. I seem to have found it and it does everything the 20 does but when in a hole it often comes up with a winner! Great for more extreme grips other than that there's not a lot in it as they are both light enough to adjust spec....
 
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Fed Kennedy

Legend
I am quietly building my paypal...growing it...the dark knight returns...I know not where he will strike...only that the boxes will show up at my door...there is much to be done.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I am quietly building my paypal...growing it...the dark knight returns...I know not where he will strike...only that the boxes will show up at my door...there is much to be done.

The world awaits.

Also, we holics should come up with our own version of the Bat Signal for when it's new-search/racquet time.

My mind keeps thinking of the beginning of the Superman song:

"bum-ba-dum..."
 

Ross K

Legend
J

The world awaits.

Also, we holics should come up with our own version of the Bat Signal for when it's new-search/racquet time.

My mind keeps thinking of the beginning of the Superman song:

"bum-ba-dum..."

Anyone want to photoshop this?:wink:

bat-signal-1.jpg



PED,

The older version swung like a log, 340SW The new one is supposed to be better.

Pah! A mere twig compared to the almighty PC+! Swirly:)


R
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I have a challenge to you guys based on prior discussions with other players.

Judge a racquet by how it serves over everything else. Some coaches and I were talking, and they said people get hooked on groundies with racquets and overlook the serve. The proper balance, power, weight..etc really factors more into your serve then anything else. The groundies are easier to adjust to because you are going to hit 100x more then serves.
 

ryushen21

Legend
The Great Mid Battle: Prologue

The deals are made. The frames have been shipped. By early next week the battle shall commence. The contenders are: 1) old reliable YT Prestige Mid 2) iPrestige Mid 3) Donnay X-Black 94. And there may possibly be 4th in the PK Black Ace 93 but that is uncertain as of yet.

Initial thoughts:

I love the YT Mid. It does everything so well and has helped my game and my focus tremendously. Hits unbelievable groundies and the best serves I ever could have imagined. It all has a crisp and lively feel that provides tons of feedback and lets me know the instant that I get lazy.

But it's big brother, the i.Prestige mid, called the last great Prestige Mid by some, may be coming to take the thunder. I've hit with this one previously although it was brief. I remember big booming groundies but a slightly softer feel to it. Serves were still amazing and responsiveness was there as well but not as crisp as the YT version.

Lastly there is the X-Black 94. Have read and heard so many good things about this frame that it was just stupid for me not to try it out. The classic feel and build but made for the modern game. The specs are right in my butter zone and I can't see any reason that I shouldn't like this frame. But will it be as good as the Prestige? Will it blast serves and boom out groundies while still having all the feel that I have grown accustomed to with the prestige.

And lastly, do I even want to consider the black ace? It also seems like it would be right in my spec range. It would mean having to trade away my last YT mid and I don't know that I am ready to do that just yet. Have the YT and i.Prestige is basically like having the same frame just with different layups so it's not really a huge difference.

In order to give all of the frames a fair consideration, they will all be strung at 52 lbs with BC. I'm going to start with the Donnay and hit exclusively with it then the i.Prestige then back to the YT. That should give me ample time to develop opinions on all three frames and their merits.

The good thing is that I have another Donnay on hold should I decide that I want to go that way. Finding another i.Prestige mid in good condition may prove to be difficult and there are plenty of YT mids on the board here.

I'm scared gents. Really am. I hate being in this uncertain in between purgatory of racquets. I dread that it will cause me excessive stress and lead to me drink myself into a stupor which could lead to more racquet purchases and a neverending downward spiral of demoing and modification.......Lord help me.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Yeah it is kind of a PITA. I hated it. I should never have switched from the pure storm Tour, but I am glad I did in the end. The Tour is on my very select racquet GOAT list to this day, but serving with it was not as good as a Prestige or Donnay.

Not throw a wrench in anything, but I got some emails about the dual platinums. Donnay sent X series demos to a lot of folks and many said they lacked power, but were amazing. So the dual platinums are tweaked up to hit bigger, and Donnay is ditching most of the X series..but not the Blacks. The Black and Blue are money sticks and I think that the platinum may be unreal as well. I have talked to a few guys using them and they say you want to pick between black, blue or platinum.

Like I said, I am going to buy a plat and try using it on hardcourts and black on clay. I may hate the plat and just use the blacks..I am good with that..the platinum may be the GROAT and I will use that instead..exact same specs though regardless as the black, just a different string pattern and stiffness.

I have to say the blacks serve so well that it is ridiculous..I have had to take time off and cant serve due to my wrist being sprained, but man I can not wait to go out there again hit serves again. I really miss it.

So I will have 2 blacks and 1 platinum in the bag some point soon. A lethal rotation. At a certain point you just want to hit balls and get better. The rest of this stuff is what it is.

Nobody notices what racquet you have at a club. They just notice if you can rip or not. That is all that matters.
 

cheers

Rookie
TF and silicone

Ross,
All VO2 Tecnifibres over 295g have silicone in the handle. Having played other racquets with silicone, it definitely has that same muted feel. it almost feels like you're not hitting all that hard, but the balls are coming off hotter than you think. Make sure you ask your hitting partner after rallies.

I'm at 48 lbs in the TF320 with black magic 17g full and it hits pretty big. I'm gonna take my rubber band dampener off to get some of the feel lost from the silicone, but I highly recommend trying low full poly with no damp.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
The platinum isn't as appealing to me spec wise as the black based on the RA. I like my flex at 60 or less.

You can't go by those flex ratings..you will see soon enough..lol. No way would I buy a stick with a stiffness of 70. If you go to the site, you will see how they get their stiffness ratings.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
PP,

Regarding your serve challenge, the Donnay Dark Red served better than anything else, so by that alone I should have never sold my frame. I will admit I still have a brand new one I'm trying to get rid of, and the Donnay love has given me thoughts of keeping it around, but I think I'd rather sell it new for a higher cost and then flip the money toward a Platinum, if anything. I'm itching to try the Platinum since the Dark Red gave me Everything I wanted except a feel that I could never get comfy with. And I'm a feelmonger. The Platinum intrigues because of these rumors of it being crisper/stiffer/more graphitey, which, if true, may end the game for me. Plus I'm intrigued about the closed pattern. Only thing I'm unsure of is whether I'd prefer the 94 or 99, so was hoping to demo both but you can't yet, from anyone, even Donnay. Probably a good thing so I can feel things out much more with my BC 20, which just drips with old school awesomeness.

MEANWHILE, a wrench has been tossed into my holic engine. I came across a Cali guy looking to get rid of his PC 600. And, lo and behold, he's accepting a trade for my YT Prestige Mid and some string. I didn't want to get rid of my YT Prestige, it's been so good to me and I wanted to keep it in the bag. But this is an opportunity I can't pass up, and I can always reclaim a newer Prestige in a trade or something but the PC, I just have to do it to finally 'see'. Will surely end up being a frame I keep to the side and use once in a while for fun, but what the hell. It's in great condition, too.

Ry,

Those four frames would make for an epic battle and it should be interesting. Where are you located? If you can't get a Black Ace yourself, then maybe I could offer up the spare frame I have yet to use (bc of old string) for you to try out. If you paid for shipping, or tossed me a set of string when you return the frame or something, then I could probably toss it your way for a couple weeks to enter into your new Battle Royale. Email me if interested.
 
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