Diary of a Racketaholic

PED

Legend
Ped, are you a 1hbh guy?

I swing both ways ;) split it up between looping or driving 2hbh and mix in a healthy amount of slice with the 1 hander. Slice is much better on the igrp as opposed to the Tec with that nice soft throat.

With my V9's scheduled to arrive any minute now, the quality on my 1 hander should be looking up.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Aimr is that an h22? You beast.

I must admit that my eye has wandered..well kind of.

I really love the plus length a lot..I just don't know if I like standard or plus better sometimes..it is maddening in a way, as I have a tendency to hit close to the throat sometimes.

Basically I'm thinking about trying a Roddick version out in standard length.

The madness of all this is the fact that while I have found an ideal match for me in terms of racquets, I have not dialed in the specs just yet. I like the PD+ at 325 grams a lot, but the only way to really know if I like the heavier Roddick would be have 1 in the bag as well.

I also remember demoing the last roddick in the plus and I believe in this thread I described the demo and how wowwed I was by the experience. The plus just was a little tougher to wield at that weight. I had matches with the 6.1 where I was so dominant and just crushing the ball so hard that I do miss that lovely weight sometimes...well not all of the weight, just a little.

The roddick just seems the potential game changer if I am good with the weight. Still half an ounce lighter than the 6.1 95, easier to use and got some of the most rave reviews I have ever seen.

Regardless, these new PDs are so sick...dear lord.

I figure a light XL PD at 325 and a Roddick standard is actually a collection I could keep in my bag.

Once more unto the breach, dear friend. I say go for it. We need you testing and reporting. Ever since you got into a relationship you haven't been the same, you don't come and hang out with the guys, anymore.

I noticed that it was for sale. If it had a bigger grip, I'd most likely take it. However, I can't say for sure, as I'll hit my new IG Prestige MP for the first time later today, strung with V-Pro 17 mains at 48 and NRG2 17 crosses at 52. We'll see how it goes, but a lot of early "ravers" over this new Prestige are throwing it to the curb, it would appear. I really feel like it needs a leather grip, but I don't want the added weight. So for now, I'm going with the stock grip and overgrip. Also, I wrapped head tape over the grommets from just above 3 to just above 9, and it pretty well swings itself with this fraction of added weight there.

Interestingly, after over a year of tinkering, I've gone back to my "tried-and-true" mods on my Londons, and they are really feeling like the proverbial "extension of the arm"--and might I add at the most inopportune time. The difference in the two sticks, as I see it, is that with the London, success comes by attrition, whereas with the Prestige I'm hoping for something a little more straight forward and laser-like. Should be fun either way!

Good luck, man. There is magic in the IG Midplus. I know it. I experienced it on multiple occasions. I just couldn't get back there for some reason, and this will be one of the great mysteries of my life. I hope you find the gold.
 

Ross K

Legend
I am expecting delivery on a 100s today...

Am I my brothers keeper????

new-jack-wesley-snipes_l.jpg

"YEEES, I AM!... but I'm on the run G from these crazy ass racketaholics"... :)

LMAO Fed as I know this film very well!
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Gads, you carry the torch so well..how you have ignored the new PDs and PDRs is a mystery to everyone.

It goes back to my college days, when I was first offered a bump of cortex and I wanted the experience, and to be accepted, but I was terrified of the slippery slope of addiction.

Maybe one day...

As a big server Babs have always intrigued, but outside of the Pure Storm series the feel has always bothered and I've never felt in control enough of my groundies. The fact that I have long thought Andy Roddick a punk has also not helped. Now all the kids are saying that the stuff on the streets now is different. But is it a ploy to get me hooked?

Maybe. Maybe one day I will break and order a demo box of the black stuff. If I suddenly vanish one day, never to be heard from again, you'll know what happened..
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
its good man..im going all in..as predicted over a month ago I feel myself wanting that PDR. The last time I used a PDR I wept openly on the court. It hit so big that I felt like a jerk out there.

Im going to keep my Black Drive + at 325 grams. It is magic there. Ill let the PDR be the heavy hitter.
 

aimr75

Hall of Fame
Aimr is that an h22? You beast.

yeah, i'm nuts

IG RP swings MUCH easier and better all around stick over the YTRP.

YT is nice on clay but against hard flat hitters who take it early, it can get a bit unwieldy. If you have a compact swing though, it's doable but prefer the versatility of the IG so far.

Dgoran summed up the IG version well: the power of a PD with the feel of a PT630. Really nice frame.

I went 55/52 the first string job and it was good but I dropped to 52/50 to account for the lower mass and it def played better. The tighter stringbed of the IG leads naturally to a lower trajectory ball so the looser setup helps with that.

Thanks for the overview.. I dont have access to my stringing machine as im moving house so had TW string it up with TB at 48lbs. Its a string ive used a fair bit so should get a feel for how the IGRP plays. I like the description of it having the power of a PD with the feel of the PT630.. should be interesting! I have some pt57a's so will compare

Nice, 16/18 who'd you tempt that off of?
I have an 18/20 that looks a lot like that, i was set on a frame and very happy with it then a fellow UKRTB tempted this into my lap during a swap process, I think i like the H22, only thing making me think of selling it is i imagine grommets aren't easy to come by!

yeah grommets are an issue.. its one of those frames ive wanted to try for some time and when the 16x18 pattern came up i bit the bullet. Got it through the string forum
 

PED

Legend
had TW string it up with TB at 48lbs. Its a string ive used a fair bit so should get a feel for how the IGRP plays. I like the description of it having the power of a PD with the feel of the PT630.. should be interesting! I have some pt57a's so will compare

Good luck, I hate moving! Tour bite is what I've got it there. 48lbs should be nice. Will be interested to hear how the IG compares with your 630's.
 

aimr75

Hall of Fame
Good luck, I hate moving! Tour bite is what I've got it there. 48lbs should be nice. Will be interested to hear how the IG compares with your 630's.

Will post a comparison.. and yeah, moving is painful! especially having started a new job, tending to our 15 month old boy, wife being pregnant again and due in August, selling our house and looking for a new house. Just a few things keeping me occupied :) doesnt leave a lot of room for tennis, but i still try and squeeze in a hit whenever i can
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
A brief Yonnie report:

RDIS Midplus 100: a basher, and I will always appreciate it, but a little too rigid and a little too powerful for me long-term. Sexy paintjob. I could spend more time with it, but I know my ProKennex 7G beats it so I think I won't waste any more of this frame's time.

RQIS 1 Tour XL 95: Looks ugly, hits beautifully. Super interesting frame in that the throat is super thin - 19 mm beam here - and then it gets thick in the hoop for pop. The feel is sensational -- still rigid but there's a LITTLE more softness and/or flex, probably due to that throat -- and the pattern is 16/18 so there's some good pocketing that gives you the feel of grabbing the ball and shooting it, whereas the 100 is more of a rigid pancake kind of a feel that deflects the ball rather than holding on. Excellent serving on both first and second. Got this battered frame for very cheap a long time ago as it was a used demo from my local shop, but had never given it a proper gallop. Lot to like here - nice 95 sq inch frame, good feel, extremely maneuverable, controlled pop. Not unseating the 7G anytime soon but it's firmly in the bag now as the 7G's ugly friend.
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
Good luck, man. There is magic in the IG Midplus. I know it. I experienced it on multiple occasions. I just couldn't get back there for some reason, and this will be one of the great mysteries of my life. I hope you find the gold.

I've now tasted of its magic. I've seen the rainbow, and the gold is there for the taking . . . I think. Unbelievable frame! With my modded Londons, tennis is easy. The whole hoop is a sweetspot, and you can just swing 80% all day, not to mention that it's an all-court gem, imo. I don't know why I would deviate from this path, quite honestly. I don't really want to.

But . . . there's this Prestige. The first three balls I hit with it found the middle of the net, not even close to the tape. I thought, "Wow, this was a bad decision," and I put it down after about five minutes. However, I went back to it, considering that I haven't played in over a week, and I just started stroking the ball with a long, fluid, effortless swing. Something just happened; I can't explain it. I couldn't miss the sweetspot with this frame, and I couldn't miss a ball. This frame shows its teeth when you start finding the center of the stringbed with a long, relaxed swing. You feel it going into another gear, almost as if the stringbed is glazing the ball with control.

I could wax on and on, but after an hour of hitting, my hitting partner and I played a few sets, and surprisingly, I just continued with the Prestige. I won 1 & 3, had about 8-10 aces, and just put the ball on a dime the whole match. No timidity allowed with this frame, though, as it will fall short, but this is the best serving frame I've hit, and bh slices are just a dream.

Tennis is so much easier with the London, but the tennis purist in me will most likely switch to this frame, but I'll try to make it a slow transition.

You are so right gads those rq's are ugly uglies but the design really does work.

Hey Meaghan, which grip shape do you prefer between your Beckers and this Yonex? I had a lot of trouble coming from Dunlop to BB, but now the Becker, and even Head shape, has grown on me quite a bit, especially the Head.
 

aimr75

Hall of Fame
Hey do you recommend TW in Melbourne for restringing? trying to find someone good to do my racquets in gut. Thanks!

I had them do a ps85 with full gut once before i got my machine and they do a good job. At that time I think labour was about $25
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
Stay with it then. When a racquet makes tennis easy, you have a winner. the Prestige will not be easy after the honeymoon wears off.

I know what you're saying, and it's in the back of my mind, but when I say "easy," I don't necessarily mean more effective or more conducive to winning. The London mesmerizes you with its feel, forgiving sweetspot, and smooth response, but I definitely play looser with it than the 300 Tours I came from and this new Prestige. I've never served better with another racquet than the Prestige, and surprisingly, my ball quality is better with it than the London. I can see it, and my opponents have commented on it. And while I tend to be an aggressive player, the success of my game is dependent upon precision, but the London is no slouch in that area either.

The bottom line: the Prestige is the solution to the very few problems that I experience using the London. Whether or not solving these few problems in the greater scheme of things is worth it is the real question. Time will tell, and this transition, if it does occur, will be slow, I hope. I know what you're saying though, which is why this has been such a tough decision.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
^ Prestige hungry. Prestige no like poly mains. Or high tension. Prestige like multi mains (55 or below) and poly crosses (53 or below). Prestige like. Prestige neanderthal.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I know what you're saying, and it's in the back of my mind, but when I say "easy," I don't necessarily mean more effective or more conducive to winning. The London mesmerizes you with its feel, forgiving sweetspot, and smooth response, but I definitely play looser with it than the 300 Tours I came from and this new Prestige. I've never served better with another racquet than the Prestige, and surprisingly, my ball quality is better with it than the London. I can see it, and my opponents have commented on it. And while I tend to be an aggressive player, the success of my game is dependent upon precision, but the London is no slouch in that area either.

The bottom line: the Prestige is the solution to the very few problems that I experience using the London. Whether or not solving these few problems in the greater scheme of things is worth it is the real question. Time will tell, and this transition, if it does occur, will be slow, I hope. I know what you're saying though, which is why this has been such a tough decision.

Well regardless you have a sweet little stick with the IG midplus.

I know the feel is probably ridiculously awesome. Hang on to the Londons and let it rip.

My experience is when a stick makes tennis easy,I found a winner. But I also strayed from that path many times as well.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
^PP, I smiled when you said 'snuggling with my PD+'s'.... I know the feeling... Haven't done it but have laid them across the room from the bed so I could gaze at them before nodding off to sleep. ;)

What are the specs of your +'s?
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I'm keeping them right at 325. I had them at 330 and it was a little too much tip weight for a +. Lead at 12 until they hit 325 is money.

Definitely planning on adding a roddick standard to the mix as well. That should cover the bases for me.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
^Nice.

You should try to hunt down some pre-cortex swirly's or PD Team+'s off the 'bay for cheap.

Those sticks are magical.
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
^ Prestige hungry. Prestige no like poly mains. Or high tension. Prestige like multi mains (55 or below) and poly crosses (53 or below). Prestige like. Prestige neanderthal.

I went with V-Pro 17 mains at 48, and NRG2 17 crosses at 52, and a fraction more pop wouldn't hurt:) Also, these NRG2 crosses are already frayed after two hours, and that usually means that I won't get another hour out of them. I'm thinking either a full bed of a multi at around 53-54, slightly more durable than NRG2, or, and it seems almost contradictory in this frame, a soft-copoly like V-Pro or CyberBlue 17 in a full bed at around 46-47.

Well regardless you have a sweet little stick with the IG midplus.

I know the feel is probably ridiculously awesome. Hang on to the Londons and let it rip.

My experience is when a stick makes tennis easy,I found a winner. But I also strayed from that path many times as well.

Point well taken. In fact, my philosophy going forward is to hang on to the Prestige and keep letting the Londons rip, until I know absolutely sure that this Prestige is the better stick for me. That remains to be seen; I'm not delusional about the situation. I picked this sport up in my early thirties and I'm barely holding onto my thirties at this point, so you have to figure in the evolution of my game, coming to grips with its identity, what it might look like moving forward into middle age . . . I've really come to grips with what I need, whether that be a very playable, ever-so-slightly forgiving "player's" stick like the Prestige MP, perfectly weighted, balanced, and flexed (or) a "player/tweener" like the London, modded to the same specs, with a built-in auto pilot and a little more user friendliness. The dilemma will answer itself in time.

Btw, the feel of a well-struck shot with this IG Prestige MP is unlike anything I've experienced on a tennis court. It's a pure racquet to its core.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
^Nice.

You should try to hunt down some pre-cortex swirly's or PD Team+'s off the 'bay for cheap.

Those sticks are magical.

Yes I have seen what that can do...lol. My tennis bud Dgoran has a racquet bag loaded with those beauties. Good news is the 2012 is rather close to the swirly glory, so I feel good about them.

Also gives ross something to look forward to..the new APD should be similar to his originals.

And yeah the prestige..the feel of cracking a forehand with that stick (especially the PC600) is amazing. Believe it or not, the new pure drive gives me a similar bliss. Not the same feel as the prestige, but a wonderful nonetheless that I have never felt in a Babo before.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
I went with V-Pro 17 mains at 48, and NRG2 17 crosses at 52, and a fraction more pop wouldn't hurt:) Also, these NRG2 crosses are already frayed after two hours, and that usually means that I won't get another hour out of them. I'm thinking either a full bed of a multi at around 53-54, slightly more durable than NRG2, or, and it seems almost contradictory in this frame, a soft-copoly like V-Pro or CyberBlue 17 in a full bed at around 46-47.

Reverse your mains/crosses and the applicable tension and see if you like it better.

Nrg2/gamma pro is good in the mains (16g) at 55 or below and any decent, stiff poly (16L) like tourbite/alu power at 2-3lbs. less for the crosses. This will enlarge the sweetspot, crispen the racquet up and give longer life to the multi mains. You also get more power from the multi mains and sharp-cutting spin from the crosses.
 
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klementine

Hall of Fame
And yeah the prestige..the feel of cracking a forehand with that stick (especially the PC600) is amazing. Believe it or not, the new pure drive gives me a similar bliss. Not the same feel as the prestige, but a wonderful nonetheless that I have never felt in a Babo before.

Babolat does the best job (out of all the manufacturer's) at actually improving a racquet line, by making subtle adjustments to the frame, instead of just scraping the current model and starting fresh.

The light-blue drive was leaps and bounds better (in terms of feel) than the original cortex. This black drive sounds like it would be awesome. I'm also waiting on the APD to see what improvements they will make. The original yellow cortex felt better than the 2nd gen cortex to me. The opposite of the drives.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I am amazed Bab has not made a Rafa signature APD. The Roddick is the exact same weight and balance as Roddick's PD. When you add a tourna grip you are wielding his stick, without the hefty SW of 360 of course.
 

Meaghan

Hall of Fame
Hey Meaghan, which grip shape do you prefer between your Beckers and this Yonex? I had a lot of trouble coming from Dunlop to BB, but now the Becker, and even Head shape, has grown on me quite a bit, especially the Head.

I would love the wide, rectangular tk57 pallet on the yonex. The becker is fine, the yonex is round so the grip 2 I have feels thick still, I think I could even go to a grip 1, my hands are pretty big too!

Had a couple of hours in the rain today with the vc95d. Gotta say my whole backhand side comes alive with this stick, slices and big 1hbh, so many winners. This is the main reason I've been waiting to pick up this stick, I already know that the stiffer, shorter throat of a pro staff or yonex does wonders for one handers and this is the only weakness of the Becker with its wider, rounder head and long thin throat. The isometric head is so stable so volleys edge it too, slightly as the Becker is super manoeuvrable. What I'm surprised about is how effortless it is, crosscourt fh's are very easy, its not whippy like the Becker but this was a very successful shot today. Serves wee dialled in straight away.

It was a difficult day, too wet and heavy but I'm very impressed. My game revolves around my confidence in my best shot, my 1hbh.......
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
I would love the wide, rectangular tk57 pallet on the yonex. The becker is fine, the yonex is round so the grip 2 I have feels thick still, I think I could even go to a grip 1, my hands are pretty big too!

Had a couple of hours in the rain today with the vc95d. Gotta say my whole backhand side comes alive with this stick, slices and big 1hbh, so many winners. This is the main reason I've been waiting to pick up this stick, I already know that the stiffer, shorter throat of a pro staff or yonex does wonders for one handers and this is the only weakness of the Becker with its wider, rounder head and long thin throat. The isometric head is so stable so volleys edge it too, slightly as the Becker is super manoeuvrable. What I'm surprised about is how effortless it is, crosscourt fh's are very easy, its not whippy like the Becker but this was a very successful shot today. Serves wee dialled in straight away.

It was a difficult day, too wet and heavy but I'm very impressed. My game revolves around my confidence in my best shot, my 1hbh.......

Same here, as my 1hbh goes, so goes my game. And it's this shot, topspin and slice, where the grip shape seems to affect me the most, as well as volleys. I have to mod my Becker shape with at least four layers of athletic tape on the sides, with tapered bevels, or I have trouble with my bh slice, which is a money shot for me that doesn't come off the court, so I can't have it floating on me. Somehow, and I can't figure how, the Head grip shape works perfectly for me on every stroke, especially serves. It feels like a bigger grip, fuller, so maybe that's it.

Interesting thoughts about the short/stiffer throats and a 1hbh. I find myself on the London adding at least 1.5-2grams in the throat to give a little firmer response overall, and my slice benefits the most with this mod. The Prestige works as is, and the Dunlop 200/300 grip shape, throat shape, size, stiffness and whatever else combine, imo, to be the best 1hbh sticks I've ever hit, but that's just me.

It's still a puzzle to me why I couldn't make myself like the Melbourne, considering my fondness of the London modified to almost the same specs. I just never thought that it felt "sleek" enough, for lack of a better term.

Btw, guys, I'm not a racquetaholic. I just enjoy the company.:)
 

Pneumated1

Hall of Fame
Reverse your mains/crosses and the applicable tension and see if you like it better.

Nrg2/gamma pro is good in the mains (16g) at 55 or below and any decent, stiff poly (16L) like tourbite/alu power at 2-3lbs. less for the crosses. This will enlarge the sweetspot, crispen the racquet up and give longer life to the multi mains. You also get more power from the multi mains and sharp-cutting spin from the crosses.

Actually, I'll have to reverse it next time anyway, as the Prestige requires 21' of string to do the mains, and I bought individual, 40' packs. So I only have enough V-Pro to do the crosses and just enough to do the mains with NRG2, but its 17g, and while the feel is great, I'll be lucky to get three hours out of it.

I was thinking that the co-poly mains would enhance the spin in the 18x20, while the NRG2 crosses would give it a little more pop, but I could have it backwards.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I've now tasted of its magic. I've seen the rainbow, and the gold is there for the taking . . . I think. Unbelievable frame! With my modded Londons, tennis is easy. The whole hoop is a sweetspot, and you can just swing 80% all day, not to mention that it's an all-court gem, imo. I don't know why I would deviate from this path, quite honestly. I don't really want to.

But . . . there's this Prestige. The first three balls I hit with it found the middle of the net, not even close to the tape. I thought, "Wow, this was a bad decision," and I put it down after about five minutes. However, I went back to it, considering that I haven't played in over a week, and I just started stroking the ball with a long, fluid, effortless swing. Something just happened; I can't explain it. I couldn't miss the sweetspot with this frame, and I couldn't miss a ball. This frame shows its teeth when you start finding the center of the stringbed with a long, relaxed swing. You feel it going into another gear, almost as if the stringbed is glazing the ball with control.

I could wax on and on, but after an hour of hitting, my hitting partner and I played a few sets, and surprisingly, I just continued with the Prestige. I won 1 & 3, had about 8-10 aces, and just put the ball on a dime the whole match. No timidity allowed with this frame, though, as it will fall short, but this is the best serving frame I've hit, and bh slices are just a dream.

This post made me weep with remembrances of the love that I, too, once had. I wish you and yours the best of luck. Make it work. Don't become another statistic.
 

Meaghan

Hall of Fame
Man, I am like so happy you are digging this frame...

The backhand maaaan

image.jpg

Yes the bh is a thing of joy, I was moving around my fh just to hit it, I must of hit 20 crosscourt winners!

Im still tinkering tho, I think this stick likes being a touch lighter, so when I started hitting my bh grooved straight away but my fh felt a tad slow to bring around, I took off 1g of weight from the 8 or so I have in the hoop and bam my fh didnt miss a beat.

I also brought out the other VC with full redcode, nice feeling string but I noticed straight away that there was too much weight up top. So I will lose a gram there too.

Tmoro I have a new Head leather tour grip to match sticks and my usual volkl overgrips so the feel will be slightly enhanced. The volkl supergrip II overgrip is sensational, if you havent tried it then do so, especially if you've got leather underneath. One racket is bang on spec so I will have a good ol' tinkering tmoro and match them.

If I have one gripe its that I would prefer the beam to be 19mm so it cut thro the air a little quicker on my fh side. I have accomodated with having less weight added so all in all it should do the trick. Probably means I will have to have a little peak at the tours, although 97" is probably too blobby and the 89" too small, saying that Ive never had a problem with yonex mids, they play larger anyway.

Got my first league match of the season next week so Im looking forward to being part of a team again.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
PP, here is a little nugget from my own experience...
Standard PD modded to Roddick specs equals more control and feel than stock Roddick. The Roddick is a bit of a brick. These sticks are fast swing all the time kind of sticks. Also...sounds crazy but the rubber band is perfect for these, better than the babo damp.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
Actually, I'll have to reverse it next time anyway, as the Prestige requires 21' of string to do the mains, and I bought individual, 40' packs. So I only have enough V-Pro to do the crosses and just enough to do the mains with NRG2, but its 17g, and while the feel is great, I'll be lucky to get three hours out of it.

I was thinking that the co-poly mains would enhance the spin in the 18x20, while the NRG2 crosses would give it a little more pop, but I could have it backwards.

Nope, you got it right. Poly in the mains does give you greater spin and multi in the crosses enhances feel. But if you want the multi to last longer, put it in the mains and drop the tension on your poly crosses, opening up your sweet spot and giving a crisper feel.

I found that it's a different kind of spin, especially in the presmid+, the tight pattern doesn't cause much string movement. The extra pace from the multi in the mains and the firm crosses gives a pace(y) ball with tight spin, meaning more velocity and lower trajectory after the initial bounce.

Poly mains and multi crosses, I've found gives you more control and plenty of 'high bouncing' spin, more rpm's, after the initial bounce.

Depends on what you want. I'd rather have someone get low and try and dig the ball off the court than take it shoulder high, which a lot of players nowadays are getting better at.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
PP, here is a little nugget from my own experience...
Standard PD modded to Roddick specs equals more control and feel than stock Roddick. The Roddick is a bit of a brick. These sticks are fast swing all the time kind of sticks. Also...sounds crazy but the rubber band is perfect for these, better than the babo damp.

You know I tried the stock PD modded and liked the roddick better. Who knows why. Something about the roddick out of the box, it just hits so big.I am kind of the opposite I guess because I swung relaxed with the roddick more than I expected. It is like a Pure Storm tour in a way, but more topspin to keep things under control for me.

Also, I already have my + so I could always mod that more, but I like how it is at 325 grams. It is kind of a magical setting for a light stick.

My goal is to have a bag of PD's..light plusses and standard Roddicks.
 

Dave M

Hall of Fame
I am amazed Bab has not made a Rafa signature APD. The Roddick is the exact same weight and balance as Roddick's PD. When you add a tourna grip you are wielding his stick, without the hefty SW of 360 of course.
I've had a roddick cortex and a swirly modded to match it's specs and i felt they were so different, did you find that they were close then? I think i'm missunderstanding swing weight here, but if the weight and balance match, how can the Sw be that far apart?
I've still got swirly pd's i quite liked the GT, thought it was an improvement on the cortex but not enough to warrant a change.

I am currently down to a H22, yamaha secrets, (I have an 02,04 and 06) they are so solid they make the wilson feel a bit weak and pure drives, down to only 3 swirlies and 2 1st gens now though.
I think the bio 300 tours i've been test hitting with are while good not really doing anything any different to others i have in the bag so they'll find their way onto the FS section along with the PD's.
Anyone know of any good mods for the 300 tour?
 

PED

Legend
Arod's specs are a touch heavier than the version that Bab sells:

Andy's at 345g static, 33cm balance

Stock is same balance but 338g strung with OG.

I will say that that every g over 342 or so makes big difference for me.

PP, you are right though, the pdr hits massively right out of the box, it's got to be the mass I guess.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
Played with the 100s today boys, leather grip full blackcode 16. No lead. No need to add lead!
What an awesome frame! This is my sunday driver for sure. It is like a PD with a thinner beam and better touch. Black string, black OG, this is the real Roland Garros APD. YY for life lol.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
^ my man..... do tell more....can't leave us hangin' like that.

How'd they flex?.... I've seen the ra at 68 and 65.

Compared to other 100sq.in. canons, (ProOpen/PD,etc..) how'd they do in the control department? Specifically, return/mid-court passing shots?
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
^ my man..... do tell more....can't leave us hangin' like that.

How'd they flex?.... I've seen the ra at 68 and 65.

Compared to other 100sq.in. canons, (ProOpen/PD,etc..) how'd they do in the control department? Specifically, return/mid-court passing shots?

This frame is very comparable to the pro open. Basically it is a tweener with a surprising degree of feel. There is no cortez or woofer muddling up the feel. I dig the pro open, but the beam on this one is slimmer which I like...of course the epic vcore pj is awesome too :)

I was knocking around with the demo in stock form but the leather grip on the one I just bought plus the fresh low tension blackcode 16 added that little extra beef.

Worth noting: all these frames are around 300 g, however the yonex stock grip is insanely light...so the yonex stick actually has 5-10g more actual graphite. The pro open has the hybrid grip which is kind of heavy...so the racquet itself is a little sturdier.

Anyway, control is not near the precision of my 95d but it is way more than pd/apd. My passes were on fire today. I hit a few slice return winners because I was able to cut the ball so hard...I noticed I can do that with Apd as well, but I like the rest of the shots better with the YY...
Throw the specs out the window, the frame has a lot of power, just need the heavy grip for stability.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
^ Fed, you have taken over the void left behind by the banishment of 'buckethead', as TT's resident UN-official Yonex rep.

Might I add at this time, that you do it with much, much more class and a superior comprehension of English grammar rules. ;)

I got PayPal bucks burning a hole in my short/long term memory. The rave reviews of the Vcore series is getting to me and I'm still a good 2 months away from strikin' groundies.

Should I wait for the Vcore Tours.... jump on the chance to get a good Yonnie tweener, as you say, it could be a nice 'sunday drive'......... must hold out. Tempting.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
^ Fed, you have taken over the void left behind by the banishment of 'buckethead', as TT's resident UN-official Yonex rep.

Might I add at this time, that you do it with much, much more class and a superior comprehension of English grammar rules. ;)

I got PayPal bucks burning a hole in my short/long term memory. The rave reviews of the Vcore series is getting to me and I'm still a good 2 months away from strikin' groundies.

Should I wait for the Vcore Tours.... jump on the chance to get a good Yonnie tweener, as you say, it could be a nice 'sunday drive'......... must hold out. Tempting.

I shake my head in wonder when I think about it...all those years, buckethead was right!!! I have not crossed over into acceptance of yonex apparel shoes and strings but I am damn well thinking about it!
Fedace was a yonex guy too...he was a wise wise man. Lol. I hope I dont get banned.
Dont laugh at me if I buy some yonex zip polos. Please guys dont laugh. Lol.
Made in japan guys. Think about it. Or let me quote stringers world "as alwaays the build quuality is secund to nun"
As your attorney I advise you to buy vcore and vcore tour...
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
I hope I dont get banned.

:razz: HA HA HA!!!!

That's what Yonex does to you! It brings about the 'manson effect', in where you try to convince the world you're right, turning reality into a playground of falsities and aberrations led by your disbelief in that very same reality. A viscous cycle.

I loved the rds001mid and rds002tour. Couldn't gel with the Rqis' or rdis'. But everyone needs a 100sq.in. tweener for when you don't feel so fresh on that particular day/outing. They are the super-absorbent maxi pads of tennis mechanics gone wrong. The 100s could be MY super absorbent maxi pad.

I'm leaving the office now. Arrive home, eat my crab-cake dinner. Put the little girl to bed, then the big girl ;) . Then I will pour some hennessy over 2 ice cubes, pack my churchwarden with some plum cake and enjoy a repeat of 'family guy'. All the while, pondering isometric head designs and the role WW2 played in the innovation of such Japanese post-war industrial evolutions.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I shake my head in wonder when I think about it...all those years, buckethead was right!!! I have not crossed over into acceptance of yonex apparel shoes and strings but I am damn well thinking about it!
Fedace was a yonex guy too...he was a wise wise man. Lol. I hope I dont get banned.
Dont laugh at me if I buy some yonex zip polos. Please guys dont laugh. Lol.
Made in japan guys. Think about it. Or let me quote stringers world "as alwaays the build quuality is secund to nun"
As your attorney I advise you to buy vcore and vcore tour...

That cracked me up. Those guys are somehow funny to me without even trying, can't place my finger on it. "This racquet... you're gonna get out of it wut you put in." Good hitters, though. The bigger dude said the Mantis 305 was his favorite racquet in a long long time and raved about the feel of it, which Chris Edwards also did in his vlog -- further fueling a little JGads racaholic interest, especially in that 95 sq. inch, closed pattern tour 315 version.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Ped you are correct, my pdr came in right on spec at 315 and weighs 339 fully loaded.

Next impression is how stinking light this bad boy swings...wow. I give gads a ton of credit because switching from a plus to a regular like he has done with the pks inspired me, but it is not easy. It was a big time adjustment and I am not sure what I like better. The plus is so awesome, but you have to really have prime footwork at all times. That being said, I still am not sure wha I prefer, which is why I bought this pdr.

I strung it up with tour bite mains and nvy crosses (goat setup) and I think i went a little low, but good god. At one point I was practicing against 2 guys and I could hit forehand winners past them with half a court for them to cover. This thing hits to freaking big with so much spin that it is insane. I would say while the + is a secret weapon, the pdr is the stick to demo if you want to try a pd.

It reminds me of a much easier to use 6.1. Right under 12 ozs, and swings so fast. I'm seriously considering adding a little lead, maybe 4 grams at 3 and 9 any style, but we shall see.

As much as feddie loves his yys, I am sorry bro, your wozzy is not going to beat this bad boy. It just slugs the ball without mercy, but the lower swing weight stil gives you a lot of control.

A bonus of the pdr is it has that nice 6.1 punch, where you can just punch balls back if needed and you will hit a solid shot.

I need more time with it..and I am still down with the plus..so this is one of those things where I'm gadsing my face off and really am not sure what I will end up doing..but seriously, a must demo for a lot of you guys.

Also, the comfort of the pdr is actually a little better than the plus..very very nice.

To add to the goat level of this racquet, the ladies team was watching me play and had me hang out with the and drink beers that they brought. There was some nice talent there as well. I also verified the thing we all know- the forehand..chics dig it. They brought it up more than once that they were all about how hard I was hitting..interesting...the night ended with us playing and I had to take them on with a beer in hand. One of the hottest girls there had a swirly pd as well..I was highly intrigued. We plan to play again next week.

Anyway..goat stick.
 
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