Diary of a Racketaholic

JGads

G.O.A.T.

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I should clarify that mine is on order. I am using the avatar as a placeholder until I receive mine (hopefully next week).

Have been playing with a coworkers here and I must say..uhh..wow..it is so fast and responsive. I am rather impressed.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I should clarify that mine is on order. I am using the avatar as a placeholder until I receive mine (hopefully next week).

Have been playing with a coworkers here and I must say..uhh..wow..it is so fast and responsive. I am rather impressed.

Cool. I'm just worried about the maps glitches since I use that constantly.. not just the mistakes, because I'm sure they'll correct them, but I just found out the maps don't show traffic, which in LA is of utmost importance.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I have a solution for you that is awesome - Waze.

It is the best way to find out about traffic since it is a social GPS, meaning it is updated by other users nearby you.

If you have not used it yet - try it. It is fantastic, would probably rule in LA.
 

mikeler

Moderator
I have a solution for you that is awesome - Waze.

It is the best way to find out about traffic since it is a social GPS, meaning it is updated by other users nearby you.

If you have not used it yet - try it. It is fantastic, would probably rule in LA.


I will probably download this along with MapQuest.
 

Ross K

Legend
Re Cameron blanking Obama to hit with his Yonex, he isn't the only Prime Minister here to like a bit of tennis bum behaviour...

tony-blair.jpg
 

mikeler

Moderator
Cool. I'm just worried about the maps glitches since I use that constantly.. not just the mistakes, because I'm sure they'll correct them, but I just found out the maps don't show traffic, which in LA is of utmost importance.


You can get traffic by going to maps.google.com in your web browser. It is slower though.
 

PED

Legend
Cheers cc for reminding me... yes, I'd entirely forgotten about that... an "improved" APD could be the answer here for me, absolutely.

Usually a 3 year cycle on APDs. The GT came out in Feb of 2010 so 2013 maybe :)

Having said that, I've found the apd's to all play pretty similarly in terms of ball output with the GT being stiffer but it still produces a similar ball to the original.
 

smirker

Hall of Fame
95D or 98D with YY Poly Tour Pro?

He (PM) knows about the quality and performance, a guy like him wouldn't settle for Chinese racquets, lol.

Tistra, got hold of an Xi 100. Any mods or string set ups you particularly advise? Got 5g in the head just to add a little stability and to move the sweetspot up a bit, seemed slightly dead up there to me.
 

Murray_fan1

Professional
The post by crosscourt earlier today got me checking this out - the new Extreme Pro TT write up and vid, for those who haven't seen it yet:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/reviews/HYTIGX/HYTIGXreview.html

Yep, it does sound like my kind of a frame...

Ummm. I do believe I had suggested this would be your kind of frame before crosscourt did :) . If I hadn't found my grail in the IG PP I would have given this stick a much longer look.

As far as the Juice goes I have yet to hit with this frame but a guy I hit with is about to pull the trigger on one so I will probably get the chance to try I out very soon. Specs seem intriguing, Wilson's version of the Pure Drive?
 

Ross K

Legend
Ummm. I do believe I had suggested this would be your kind of frame before crosscourt did :) . If I hadn't found my grail in the IG PP I would have given this stick a much longer look.

As far as the Juice goes I have yet to hit with this frame but a guy I hit with is about to pull the trigger on one so I will probably get the chance to try I out very soon. Specs seem intriguing, Wilson's version of the Pure Drive?

Yes Murray cheers for that. Maybe then I wasn't too interested purely from the memory of how horribly stiff and jarring one of the earlier Extreme Pro's was for me... yep, I've only just remembered how unpleasant it was in this regard.

You (or others) ever played IG Extreme (the one that's a bit lighter)?

What I read about it was quite varied and hard to decipher... "a great all court frame ideally suited for lobs, droppers, touch players"... "a frame that is very similar to the PDR"... that type of thing.

What did RHs make of it, I wonder?
 

tistrapukcipeht

Professional
Tistra, got hold of an Xi 100. Any mods or string set ups you particularly advise? Got 5g in the head just to add a little stability and to move the sweetspot up a bit, seemed slightly dead up there to me.

The racquets are just perfect for me the way they are, a lot of power, stability... my set up it is as my signature says, the rest is with me.

I use the Yonex Poly Tour SPIN to give me the right balance and the optimum tension for me is around 54/51, soon in the winter, as I have always done it will be either full multi and/or gut/poly.
 

DrewRafter8

Professional
A couple of pages back you guys were talking about arm issues, here's mine. I've laid down my BD+ the past two weeks due to an almost hyperextended feeling in my elbow after playing. I took out my old Dunlop MW200G strung it with Tour Bite and no issues for the past week and a half. Apparently, the ole' Pure Drive will do a number on you if you play with it for any length of time (I've been using mine since January). Back to flexy sticks for me! I knew I should have pulled the trigger and switched to the IG Rad Pro when I demoed it in the summer!
 

Ross K

Legend
A couple of pages back you guys were talking about arm issues, here's mine. I've laid down my BD+ the past two weeks due to an almost hyperextended feeling in my elbow after playing. I took out my old Dunlop MW200G strung it with Tour Bite and no issues for the past week and a half. Apparently, the ole' Pure Drive will do a number on you if you play with it for any length of time (I've been using mine since January). Back to flexy sticks for me! I knew I should have pulled the trigger and switched to the IG Rad Pro when I demoed it in the summer!

Ouch. Sorry to hear that.

It's not a huge drop off compared to the PD, but 1 reason I like the APD Original is it's slightly softer flex and RA. Strung lowish and soft, my APD/O's certainly don't jar and give me problems such as you describe. However, similar type racs I've played/tested before have been just that mite too stiff for me and the vibrations down your arm/in your hand, etc has made itself known (TF 315, MG Extreme Pro, PDR/C, spring to mind).

Saying that, it's not always just the stiffness per se, as I've noticed when I've transitioned from frames with very different specs (like what happened when I went from the N95 to the YT Rad Pro a few years back), that's when I can get stiffness issues/injuries. This actually occurred earlier this year to me.

BTW, beautiful frame that Dunny MW200G... if you've got the game, that's one heck of a great frame.:)
 

Murray_fan1

Professional
The post by crosscourt earlier today got me checking this out - the new Extreme Pro TT write up and vid, for those who haven't seen it yet:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/reviews/HYTIGX/HYTIGXreview.html

Yep, it does sound like my kind of a frame...

Yes Murray cheers for that. Maybe then I wasn't too interested purely from the memory of how horribly stiff and jarring one of the earlier Extreme Pro's was for me... yep, I've only just remembered how unpleasant it was in this regard.

You (or others) ever played IG Extreme (the one that's a bit lighter)?

What I read about it was quite varied and hard to decipher... "a great all court frame ideally suited for lobs, droppers, touch players"... "a frame that is very similar to the PDR"... that type of thing.

What did RHs make of it, I wonder?


I presently have an IG Extreme Pro 2.0 ( actually it is for sale atm) and would have to agree with those who feel it is similar to the Roddick. I do agree with Andy's comment in the review in that it does seem to have a lot more feel and is a little more maneuverable. It is more in the "players"tweener category than pure tweener. I did try the previous IG Extreme and found the 2.0 to be a huge improvement in feel and comfort. I guess the s type grommets do make a huge difference. Not good enough to make me switch from my IG PP but a bloody good stick. Definately worthy of a trial run if you like the Babolat type of stick and want a bit more forgiveness and feel.

In my quest to find my grail set up for the Prestige I have just received my string order. Solinco Outlast, Scorpion and some more Black Magic. Hoping to find the "one" in this group.
 

crazyups

Professional
I would like to thank all you holics for your input in all these frames which led me to try the pro 7g. JGads, PP and all 7g users positive input influenced my purchase and I did surprisingly well against my main partner in my first match with a 27.5 " frame. He is a heavy hitter, 4.5 on good days and usually takes 2 out of 3 sets against me. We split the first two in tiebreakers before i succumbed to general fatigue 6-2 in the third. But I am impressed with arm friendliness, power, spin and control of this 7g. It will be my main frame against big hitters. I am 51 years old but athletic(played basketball a couple of years in Europe) so I know I will get in better shape to use the 7g more effectively. It's at 340 grams and 4.5 light with 3 grams at 12 and 2.5 grams between 7 and 9 and between 3 and 5 which opens the sweet zone nicely.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I would like to thank all you holics for your input in all these frames which led me to try the pro 7g. JGads, PP and all 7g users positive input influenced my purchase and I did surprisingly well against my main partner in my first match with a 27.5 " frame. He is a heavy hitter, 4.5 on good days and usually takes 2 out of 3 sets against me. We split the first two in tiebreakers before i succumbed to general fatigue 6-2 in the third. But I am impressed with arm friendliness, power, spin and control of this 7g. It will be my main frame against big hitters. I am 51 years old but athletic(played basketball a couple of years in Europe) so I know I will get in better shape to use the 7g more effectively. It's at 340 grams and 4.5 light with 3 grams at 12 and 2.5 grams between 7 and 9 and between 3 and 5 which opens the sweet zone nicely.

Nice. Epic frame, ESPECIALLY when facing hard hitters. Just crushes the ball back effortlessly. You'll get better and better with it, too, the more you play and get adjusted to the plus length.
 

Ross K

Legend
And the lesson for today is do not mix drinking Aspalls cider with Timothy Taylor's Landlords... you may struggle to make it home to your bed.

thhangover-1.jpg


Urgh... lesson learned though. :)
 

Meaghan

Hall of Fame
Back to my all court best with this stick. Really comfortable at the net, hitting mid court balls with plenty of confidence, easy to flatten out. Baseline groundies are a doddle, flat, loopy, angles, lobs, whips, drops, whatever you want, this stick does it with aplomb!

Volkl I am never leaving you again..............

20120930_133728.jpg
 

bad_call

Legend
And the lesson for today is do not mix drinking Aspalls cider with Timothy Taylor's Landlords... you may struggle to make it home to your bed.

thhangover-1.jpg


Urgh... lesson learned though. :)

lesson for this player - don't eat spicy foods 20 minutes before playing in 90+ degree heat else risk stomach cramps, belching, etc.

despite that issue - fought thru and had good workout (sweat fest) and match play with PP.
 

corners

Legend
Back to my all court best with this stick. Really comfortable at the net, hitting mid court balls with plenty of confidence, easy to flatten out. Baseline groundies are a doddle, flat, loopy, angles, lobs, whips, drops, whatever you want, this stick does it with aplomb!

Volkl I am never leaving you again..............

20120930_133728.jpg

Meaghan, where do you get the dense lead tape you use? And does it come in 1/4" width or do you have to split it?

Is your commitment to the C10 strong enough to result in Angell being withdrawn from the queue?
 

Meaghan

Hall of Fame
Meaghan, where do you get the dense lead tape you use? And does it come in 1/4" width or do you have to split it?

Is your commitment to the C10 strong enough to result in Angell being withdrawn from the queue?

I get mine off the bay uk, it comes in quarter inch rolls yes.

As for the angell, I will try it but just had to use my tennis fund for something else recently.
 
And the lesson for today is do not mix drinking Aspalls cider with Timothy Taylor's Landlords... you may struggle to make it home to your bed.

thhangover-1.jpg


Urgh... lesson learned though. :)

Both fine tipple's Ross. Especially TT Landlord......very nice! I hope it was good, it was not an easy ale to keep well (I'm an ex-landlord myself), but when it was good it was one of the best......!
 

mikeler

Moderator
lesson for this player - don't eat spicy foods 20 minutes before playing in 90+ degree heat else risk stomach cramps, belching, etc.

despite that issue - fought thru and had good workout (sweat fest) and match play with PP.


I learned that in a tournament.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
lesson for this player - don't eat spicy foods 20 minutes before playing in 90+ degree heat else risk stomach cramps, belching, etc.

despite that issue - fought thru and had good workout (sweat fest) and match play with PP.

any time i've eaten indian food before playing (even if it's 3 or 4 hrs before), my body is really sluggish.
 

bad_call

Legend
any time i've eaten indian food before playing (even if it's 3 or 4 hrs before), my body is really sluggish.

instead of trying to fuel up too soon before play, need to bring power bar or something similar and eat as needed.

anyway PP keeps playing better and his fitness has measurably improved. need to watch the calories here or i'll start feeling (and moving) like an old guy with a beer belly. :shock:
 

Ross K

Legend
Both fine tipple's Ross. Especially TT Landlord......very nice! I hope it was good, it was not an easy ale to keep well (I'm an ex-landlord myself), but when it was good it was one of the best......!

So you used to run a pub, Will? I'd imagine that must be very hard work, plus very easy to become a total soak. I like both the drinks mentioned, but having three pints of each, is not quite what I'd recommend. Add the 1am take-away and, well, it's no wonder I was feeling more than a bit queasy.:)


All,

Re consuming food/drink that doesn't agree with us prior to playing, the one I've learnt is not to have is strong coffee... On two occasions over the years I've been given really strong coffees and have taken to the court a jittery, buzzing, shakey, caffeine-fueled wreck... sounds a bit OTT, but it was horrible actually.
 

Ross K

Legend
Anyone else played with or care to say a word about their impressions of the Head Extreme MP frames (any version, ie Youtek, IG, 2.0, etc)? BTW, I don't mean the slightly heavier Extreme Pro.

I'd be interested to know as well how the different Extremes match up in ppls opinions.

I'm close to taking a look at one as I've always liked Head frames (PT630, Prestige Pro, Prestige mid, etc) but have found them previously probably a tad too demanding for me if I'm being honest.

Anyhow, this range - and I do mean the non-Pro one - has escaped me over the years, but in my quest to find something Bab-like but with a tad more control and feel, I'm wondering if I haven't missed a trick and should check this out.
 

smirker

Hall of Fame
So you used to run a pub, Will? I'd imagine that must be very hard work, plus very easy to become a total soak. I like both the drinks mentioned, but having three pints of each, is not quite what I'd recommend. Add the 1am take-away and, well, it's no wonder I was feeling more than a bit queasy.:)


All,

Re consuming food/drink that doesn't agree with us prior to playing, the one I've learnt is not to have is strong coffee... On two occasions over the years I've been given really strong coffees and have taken to the court a jittery, buzzing, shakey, caffeine-fueled wreck... sounds a bit OTT, but it was horrible actually.

Ross, try doing the above with an empty stomach (I don't do breakfast and thought it would be a good idea to play a match without having eaten). Seriously, it was a like a junkie who needs their next fix! I was shaking and had to get a banana down me quick. Learnt that lesson.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
Re the extremes... I'd be interested as well to find out people's opinions. I know FedK had his court time with some and I with the Microgel version.

Updates: Still have the YY200, BLX 6.1team and exo3T100s (all modded) just laying around.... Been playing with the stock nCode 6.1-95 18x20 I found in Germany over the summer and loving it! Goes nice with Lux's 4g 16L at 57lbs.

Wifey still can't let go of her MgPresMids (my old frames and some hunted down and bought). She demo'd the IGPres-S and liked it a lot but still can't commit. I truly envy her at times.... she has no idea of frames, strings, grips, etc.... and doesn't care. I, on the other hand, recall specs in bed before I sleep and make calculations. :smile: Truly mad!!!
 

corners

Legend
Anyone else played with or care to say a word about their impressions of the Head Extreme MP frames (any version, ie Youtek, IG, 2.0, etc)? BTW, I don't mean the slightly heavier Extreme Pro.

I had a brief hit with the Extreme 2.0 MP recently. I thought it swung pretty light but had good plow. Based on the hit I thought it must have specs like the Black Drive - low swingweight - but it actually has swingweight in the mid 320 range. The only difference between the MP and the Pro appears to be that the pro has additional weight in the handle.

I also had a YY 100S on hand and the Extreme had pretty decent feel in comparison. (Although I would give the edge to the 100S which feels pretty sweet for stiff, wide beam.) Not thin beam feel or anything, but the Extreme 2.0 felt solid with good feedback. If a person is looking for a tweener it's definitely worth a hit.
 
ross k, just a thought even though ive personally never hit with this frame,

Head IG speed 300

thin beam, feel, comfort in a lighter weight maneuverable and apparently control orientated, very spin friendly package

specs seem to be a carbon copy of the black drive except with an RA of 60 and a constant beam width of 20mm

also a lot of the customer comments seem to be from ex APD users. have been a long time head fan with bumblebee radicals and pt630s. bit confused as to if this frame would be categorised as a tweener but very intrigued never the less. would love to hear some first hand thoughts and opinions on this frame!
 
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Power Player

Bionic Poster
I hit with the speed elite this spring and it was awesome. Just great for volleys and had a nice feel. I came away pretty impressed with the stick to be honest, but it was a little light for me.
 

Murray_fan1

Professional
Picking up another Prestige Pro this weekend, so I will be able to compare strings side by side. Really liking Solinco Outlast in the Prestige thus far. Outlast like my favorite BM is a very consistent string that seems to do everything well. Hopefully this string does not drop off a cliff as quickly as BM. Time will tell....
 

Ross K

Legend
arrow and PP/RHs,

Food for thought. I confess these Head MPs like the Elite and 300 have passed me by. In fact I know next to nothing on a lot of these (like the Instinct series, there's another one).

Re the IG Extreme MP that I was all set on checking out, a big downer has suddenly appeared in the unwelcome form of a fact I hadn't realized... 72 RA.:(

This does bug me big-time re the high RA on frames generally (just like the hugely disappointing rumoured 74 RA on the next APD, for example... wtf?! :shock:)... 67/68 is plenty stiff IMO and is about as far as I like to go... who really wants a frame that's 72/73/74 RA?!... I tell you something, it won't be someone who's had wrist issues like me for a while.:evil:

Anyhow, if the IG Extreme plays as stiff as that suggests, I might well have a problem with that. What with the slight decrease in stiffness I believe, I'd also probably be well advised to wait for the 2.0 version.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
arrow and PP/RHs,

Food for thought. I confess these Head MPs like the Elite and 300 have passed me by. In fact I know next to nothing on a lot of these (like the Instinct series, there's another one).

Re the IG Extreme MP that I was all set on checking out, a big downer has suddenly appeared in the unwelcome form of a fact I hadn't realized... 72 RA.:(

This does bug me big-time re the high RA on frames generally (just like the hugely disappointing rumoured 74 RA on the next APD, for example... wtf?! :shock:)... 67/68 is plenty stiff IMO and is about as far as I like to go... who really wants a frame that's 72/73/74 RA?!... I tell you something, it won't be someone who's had wrist issues like me for a while.:evil:

Anyhow, if the IG Extreme plays as stiff as that suggests, I might well have a problem with that. What with the slight decrease in stiffness I believe, I'd also probably be well advised to wait for the 2.0 version.

I'd scratch the 300 off the list of interest, if I were you. When I was in NY I got to play a friend there at a club and I was stickless and had to demo a 300 because it was all they had, wasn't very impressed, and then in the second hour of play my buddy let me borrow his spare APD and it was just a much better stick, easier to work with. Never hit with the Elite, though, and of course I've always been somewhat of a fan of the 315 version. The 300 was the lone Speed stick that I really didn't like. Too sluggish for its light weight and did not put a lot of pace on the ball -- which is something you should be able to do pretty easily with a lighter tweener like that.... Never tried the Extremes. My $.02.
 

Meaghan

Hall of Fame
Ross,
Any more outings with the c10pro? Also Id leave the extreme well alone, maybe the new one has some favourable comments but the old one doesnt compare with the APD imo.

Had an offer (which I turned down) for a couple of brand new Volkl tour 10 X-tended sticks, shame really but collecting rackets has long gone and I just want something Im actually gonna play with. Beautiful they were and a hard decision but I prefer the beefier c10, just need a couple more and something to have a fiddle with like an x10 or a bright yellow V-engine, anyone, anyone???
 

Ross K

Legend
Ross,
Any more outings with the c10pro? Also Id leave the extreme well alone, maybe the new one has some favourable comments but the old one doesnt compare with the APD imo.

Had an offer (which I turned down) for a couple of brand new Volkl tour 10 X-tended sticks, shame really but collecting rackets has long gone and I just want something Im actually gonna play with. Beautiful they were and a hard decision but I prefer the beefier c10, just need a couple more and something to have a fiddle with like an x10 or a bright yellow V-engine, anyone, anyone???

Not sure if I'll be playing this week, which is frustrating. Still got the C10 on the launch pad ready to go with a slightly lighter version of the mods set up you gave me. Might take a little look again at the X Force Pro - just such a good frame imo. Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter.

BTW, I vetoed the Extreme... I've had on/off wrist issues for a bit and I just can't do 72 RA.
 

bad_call

Legend
pulled out the 4D100 since the yy200 tournagrip was soaked from play (high humidity lately) and remembered why it's been a keeper. just hits a nice offensive ball when u get behind it. :)
 

Boricua

Hall of Fame
Not sure if I'll be playing this week, which is frustrating. Still got the C10 on the launch pad ready to go with a slightly lighter version of the mods set up you gave me. Might take a little look again at the X Force Pro - just such a good frame imo. Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter.

BTW, I vetoed the Extreme... I've had on/off wrist issues for a bit and I just can't do 72 RA.

"Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter."

Which strings did you get?

Last night, I used LTEC 5 S full bed at 44/48 in my APD GT. Good control and pretty soft. Looking forward to get a bit more hours due to better tension maintenance that this string should offer. Many people say LTEC is just marketing but it feels good in the APD.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Gads, did you ever get to try a PK Q5?

You know me well, my friend. I sent out for a demo this week actually (must check out all things PK). But I wasn't impressed. Seems like there's a lot of love for this frame on the Q5 thread, which is part of what suckered me into trying it, but to me the frame felt like a 5G/7G that had its soul taken away -- they both have the kinetic system, but whereas the 7G is still more of a full thump upon ball contact, the Q5 was more of a hollow crack. Not old-school Bab tweener hollow or anything, but enough of a hollow feel to turn me off. Someone in the other thread described the frame as being particularly 'plush,' but I didn't find that at all. The IG Prestiges (with the right string), Yonnie 200, Black Ace -- those are some plush sticks, not this one. And nothing about the frame's performance stood out to me -- nothing too bad, but also nothing at all that made me go, ''ooh-la-la."

7G and Black Ace remain head and shoulders above everything else in the PK line, for me.

By the way, congrats on Month 5. Impressed.
 

mikeler

Moderator
JGads,

I think I'm going down in weight and pulling the trigger on some Exo Tours? You wouldn't happen to need anymore 7Gs at a special racketaholic discount would you? :)
 
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