Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
The siz-one 95S is not so stable and solid as the PS97. I had some issues with the stiffness and spin with the 6.1 95S. The ball went pretty much straight up in the air and became a open target for my opponents.
Some live photos of RF97 and RF97 Autograph
- Thread starter Hankenstein
- Start date
The siz-one 95S is not so stable and solid as the PS97. I had some issues with the stiffness and spin with the 6.1 95S. The ball went pretty much straight up in the air and became a open target for my opponents.
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
Let me say like this. 2 hours ago i just placed an order on 2 Ai98... Have to try that frame as well. Have only tried the Ai100 and liked it very much.
0d1n
Hall of Fame
So they did it exactly as I was expecting...they put a synthetic grip on the usable version of the racquet...so if you like a leather grip, you have to make it unusable as well.
Adding some 10 grams in the handle of an already head light racquet will screw up the balance, and if you want to add weight to the head to get balance back to "normal"...you make the swing weight too high.
Well done Wilson.
Adding some 10 grams in the handle of an already head light racquet will screw up the balance, and if you want to add weight to the head to get balance back to "normal"...you make the swing weight too high.
Well done Wilson.
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Sort of like a stiffer IG Radical Pro?
macguyvur
Rookie
Hmmm... sounds like the PS 97 is the winner. I like solid and stable when it's got a bit of pop and is head-light.
Will be very interested to hear your thoughts after knocking with the Ai 98.
realplayer
Semi-Pro
I placed 36 grams in an already headlight racket. It didn't screw up the balance but made the racket feel and play exactly how I like it.
macguyvur
Rookie
How would you compare the PS97 to a YouTek IG Radical MP 18-20 in terms of control, power, feel... ? PS97 is more head-light, a bit more maneuverable, little less power, somewhat better stability, way better feel?
crosscourt
Professional
Good choice. I am hitting the AI98 at present -- probably leaving the Blade Tour behind -- and it has a lot to offer. Have you hit the new Prestige MP? If you have and are able to offer thoughts on it they would be much appreciated.
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
The PS97 is more pro-stock feeling then the light IG Radical MP. It feels like Wilson have not used low end material in these frames. It feels good.
Have installed leather grip on it now and will hit with it during the week, if the rain stops that is
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
Yes, I have one Graphene Prestige MP at home as well so can compare them as soon as i have used the Ai98.
mawashi
Hall of Fame
Hankenstein, great review, btw in one of your posts you mentioned that you had the strike tour, how does that compare against the RF97 auto and standard?
And you are right, when strung higher the RA of the strike tour goes down cus it was 62 on a machine but after it was strung lower, the ra went up to 64.
And you are right, when strung higher the RA of the strike tour goes down cus it was 62 on a machine but after it was strung lower, the ra went up to 64.
Let us know how it played! What is the weight and balance now, with a leather grip installed, and can you estimate flex and SW? Does it have more than the (too low!) SW of the PS95, and is it more stable?
Some of the synthetic grips are very similar to leather. Try a Babolat Skin Feel replacement grip - it is thin and firm and you can feel the bevels just like leather. It is denser that a loot of stock grips and may increase weight a little. Honestly, I like it better than leather.
0d1n
Hall of Fame
I'm happy for you. Now have a look at the specs in my signature, and tell me how I can customize that thing according to my preference (and most people's preference I think) after adding 10 grams in the handle by changing the grip to leather.
I think it's most people preference because I don't know ANYBODY who will play with a stick that's close to 30 cm balance (which will happen by adding significant weight in the handle of a racquet that already is balanced at 31 cm stock...which is quite head light).
But regardless...not making assumptions about other people, I'll talk about me.
I have an upper limit of 320-325 grams unstrung...and 325 is already pushing it.
If I add a leather grip to that thing, which is my preference, I'm already at that limit and the racquet will balance somewhere at 30.2 - 30.3 cm (adding 10 grams to the handle). How can I get back to a "normal" balance for me (around 31.5-ish or so unstrung ?).
Answer is ... I can't.
0d1n
Hall of Fame
Yeah, that's about the only option. I agree Skin Feel is a decent replacement grip, and it's also lighter than most (about 12-13 grams when trimmed to fit handle) so it gives even more customization possibilities.
I'm not really worried, I'm all set in the racquets department, but I actually thought about buying one of the "reasonable spec" Fed racquet just to play around with.
But given the fact they didn't keep the leather on it and I would have to accept no leather, or perform significant modifications on the racquet to make it "fit", when the specs could have been close to perfect for me stock kinda made me change my mind.
iceman_dl6
Professional
That's exactly what I am not pleased with as well.
If the starting balance was head heavier to begin with, putting a leather grip wouldn't be as penalizing.
With the current config, if you counter balance on the head after slapping on a leather grip, it will be at least around 356 g strung! Which isn't too far from the RF97A! Hank said that the stock synthetic grip is spongy, which i hate!
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BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Yeah, but many people prefer a more headlight balance. If I bought a PS97 315, I would put a leather grip on it because I prefer leather grips AND I want to increase the static weight AND I want to make it more headlight.
Yep, those are bad, manufacturers need to figure that out.
Bab Skin Feel replacement grips are amazing if you haven't tried them. Solid, no mush, and make very sharp bevels.
Another option would be to swap out the synthetic for another synthetic (e.g. a Skinfeel if you wanted something firmer). It would keep the weight down for any additional customization.
0d1n
Hall of Fame
Why not buy the "real" version then ??
The point is, this version should be for people who want racquets under 320 grams unstrung.
That excludes people who like leather, unless the stock synthetic is really heavy in which case it might be worth the exchange.
Anyway, I don't know "many people" who play a more headlight balance than 31 cm unstrung. In fact...I know exactly ... 2. Both are using the "Fed racquet" because they are huge fans, and they don't really care about the balance in the first place...they just bought the racquet because it's what "Fed plays with"
.
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BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Because adding only a leather grip would make the 315g version only about 325g unstrung, whereas the Autograph version is 340g unstrung. That's a significant difference.Why not buy the "real" version then ??
The point is, this version should be for people who want racquets under 320 grams unstrung.
That excludes people who like leather, unless the stock synthetic is really heavy in which case it might be worth the exchange.
Anyway, I don't know "many people" who play a more headlight balance than 31 cm unstrung. In fact...I know exactly ... 2. Both are using the "Fed racquet" because they are huge fans, and they don't really care about the balance in the first place...they just bought the racquet because it's what "Fed plays with"
The stock strung balance for the 315g version is also about 7pts HL but I prefer my racquets to be 9-10pts HL strung. So just adding a leather grip is perfect for me. It increases the static weight, makes the racquet more headlight, and it gives me the firmer feel of a leather grip.
I may even add more weight inside the handle to make it even more headlight and to increase the static weight even more. It will still be easier to swing than the Autograph version.
I disagree. This version is for people who:
1. Want to have matching sticks around 338 grams gripped and strung. (Overgrip ~ 5g + several grams of lead on each racquet to match multiple frames.)
2. Anyone who wants a sub-12.5 ounce racquet with swingweight less than 335. This includes many people, including those who would prefer it to be more headlight than the stock 7HL but don't want the swingweight over 320 or 330, or whatever.
3. Anyone who likes frames like the Yonex Tour G 310g or Tour 97 310. (Stock specs are almost identical between the three frames, and would be even closer if the stock Wilson grip were swapped out for a Yonex stock grip or similar (~12 grams). For that matter, anyone who currently plays with the PS 95 and wants to see what an extra 3.5 mm in beam width and 2 square inches in head size might do for their games.
4. Anyone who likes those frames but prefers more mass in the head, but again does want to go as high as 338.
In short, it's a platform frame for many types of players that like 330+ strung weight with lots of swingweight room to play around with.
BTW, the Autograph is now in the TWU database. 'Tis a beast.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
I'm getting the autograph. Come on guys. Fed autograph: doesn't get any better that that!
0d1n
Hall of Fame
Comments below, so...I don't see what we're disagreeing about.
I just want a leather grip :
I just want a leather grip
: 
LOL, OK, carry on and happy hittingComments below, so...I don't see what we're disagreeing about.
I just want a leather grip
0d1n
Hall of Fame
LOL, OK, carry on and happy hitting
What are you using these days, or are you just waiting to change to this Fed one ???
Regarding the "happy hitting", thanks, I'm all set in the sticks department anyway.
Racquets are dialed in, have 5 of them, working on forehand and serve technique as I need some tweaks for consistency on the forehand and power on the serve
.As BHBH used to say..."sameness"
.Contrary to my own "sameness desire", I've been playtesting RIP control 16 black for a while, bought a reel of it and loved it. However now in the summer when I play more and play a fair bit of practice instead of match play only...well...it just doesn't hold up enough. Breaking it too quickly...so back to poly for me.
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iceman_dl6
Professional
Hankeinstein, could you please provide us with your strung specs of the PS97 with leather grip and overgrip?
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
Will do. I remember the Babolat Leather grip added 8 grams over the wilson synt. grip
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
Was a long time since i tried it last time, but from my memory it felt good if you string it tight. With tight i mean +55 lbs. If strung loose it feels strange in some way. It´s to stiff for such a control oriented frame.
mawashi
Hall of Fame
Well when I last checked the previous stringing job mine was just 62ra which was perfect but it does feel stiffer then say the prestige mp series.
At lower tensions, the ra ranges between 64 and 65... very weird.
So far it seems to fit my game as I am a baseline player but hit flattish.
How does it compare against the RF97 series?
At lower tensions, the ra ranges between 64 and 65... very weird.
So far it seems to fit my game as I am a baseline player but hit flattish.
How does it compare against the RF97 series?
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WhereIsMacMac
Professional
Because adding only a leather grip would make the 315g version only about 325g unstrung, whereas the Autograph version is 340g unstrung. That's a significant difference.
The stock strung balance for the 315g version is also about 7pts HL but I prefer my racquets to be 9-10pts HL strung. So just adding a leather grip is perfect for me. It increases the static weight, makes the racquet more headlight, and it gives me the firmer feel of a leather grip.
I may even add more weight inside the handle to make it even more headlight and to increase the static weight even more. It will still be easier to swing than the Autograph version.
So BP, you gonna order some 97s?
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Nope. If it's convenient and I have ready access to one, I might hit with it. But I doubt I will buy one.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
So you are going to add weight to the handle and mod it right on the courts?
It sounds like you want to buy one and put a leather grip on it from your last quote.
It sounds like you want to buy one and put a leather grip on it from your last quote.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
No, that's what I WOULD do IF I had one. Just letting 0d1n know some people prefer a more headlight balance so adding a leather grip to the PS97 is not a problem for everyone, and also explaining how I would mod such a racquet. Doesn't mean I actually want to buy one. Now if someone gave me one for free, that would be a different story.
mawashi
Hall of Fame
No, that's what I WOULD do IF I had one. Just letting 0d1n know some people prefer a more headlight balance so adding a leather grip to the PS97 is not a problem for everyone, and also explaining how I would mod such a racquet. Doesn't mean I actually want to buy one. Now if someone gave me one for free, that would be a different story.
Isn't it ironic that someone who posts incessantly about mids, classic woodies, former players etc etc, yet you have zero, that's right zero posts in any of these sections.
Why is that since, you are a certified mp hater yet you hang around the modern stick section?
There must be a certifiable reason lol?
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BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
I thought this was the "Racquets" forum, is it not?
Where is there a "modern stick section"?
If you haven't noticed, I'm a big Federer fan.
Oh, and you haven't seen my posts in the threads about Mids because you don't read them!
mawashi
Hall of Fame
I thought this was the "Racquets" forum, is it not?
Where is there a "modern stick section"?
If you haven't noticed, I'm a big Federer fan.
Oh, and you haven't seen my posts in the threads about Mids because you don't read them!
No offense but, its no wonder your posts are so one dimensional, you only read what you want to see. So I'll highlight the points again :-o!
Zero posts in an area of supposed expertise.
Classic Racquet Talk
Zero posts in another area of supposed expertise.
Former Pro Player Talk
It's hard not to miss your seemingly endless posts in the "modern/new" stick section about mids, classic sticks, woodies etc etc...
Racquets
I suspect you are a fan of Fed only cos he plays with a mid lol!
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Um....what's this?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=349997&p=7625564
And why would I want to talk about racquets I can no longer buy?
Really? What's this?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=505718
And isn't it more fun to talk about pros and matches that we just watched today?
So explain to me exactly what is wrong with that? Are Mids not "racquets"? If so, why shouldn't people post about Mids in the Racquets forum? The "Racquets" forum is for all kinds of racquets, not just for "modern/new sticks" or else it would be labeled the "Modern/New Racquets" forum. The PS 6.0 85 is over 30 years old and is certainly neither modern nor new, yet there are tons of threads about it in the "Racquets" forum.
It's obvious you're just a Mid hater (probably because you need a humongous racquet just to hit a tiny little tennis ball). LOL
Oh, and have you noticed that most of your posts in threads in which I post are about me instead of the subject of the thread? What does that say about you?
ccmtennis
Semi-Pro
Hey Hamkenstein I was hoping you could update us with your playing experience especially with the 315. In stock , prior to adding leather, what is your estimate on the swing weight ?
pug
Semi-Pro
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
aimr75
Hall of Fame
How does the stiffness feel compared to the RF97?
