*****THE OFFICIAL HEAD PRO TOUR 630/280 Club*************

[OnyxZ28]

Originally Posted by jayserinos99

^ So when you get caught and need bail money, I'll be sure to take your Treks and PTs as collateral.

I'll assemble a crack team called Twaron's 11.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by jayserinos99

^ So when you get caught and need bail money, I'll be sure to take your Treks and PTs as collateral.

I guess I wont post the photos of inside the factory then.

[tlimster]

So I ended up getting the PT 630s I asked about earlier -- they are a pair, they look to be matched. I purchased them from one of the local club pros, but he never used them, bought them off of ****. He was a satellite pro and used PC600s, then got sponsored by Babolat when he became a club pro, and for whatever reason did not renew and decided to go back to Head rackets even without a sponsorship. He's looking for PC600s but is in the meantime using the Microgel Prestige Pro.

The PT630s: There is lead underneath the CAP grommets, which are new, at 12 O'Clock. The butt cap on each is the black head butt cap but has 4 numbers stamped into it as well. The seller said he's seen this before, where they lead up at 12 and counterweight in the handle to increase the static weight but keep the headlightness. When crudely balanced against a Fisher M Pro NT (pencil at the throat), they end up around the same place, the racket handles tilting downwards at around roughly 45 degrees. They were unstrung and about 8/10 condition, cosmetic wear but very little frame wear. The grip pallet is not the standard rectangular grip that head rackets come with -- it feels like a Wilson or Prince grip pallet.

I strung one up with NXT at 55lbs, then took it out on the ball machine and compared it to my standard Pure Storm Tour, which has lead and 3 and 9 and weighs in at around 12.2 oz., and the Fischer M Pro NT which weighs in at less than 12, I think. The PT630 was the most muted, and the Fischer the "crispest." It was a little wet, so I set up the machine for 4 bh, 4 fh, at three different power levels: standard, hard, and setup shots. The PT630 was the best at attacking the setup shots, but it really requires time to set up.

The PT630 felt great, crushes the ball, but I'm guessing it weighs in at over 13oz., maybe even 14oz. I can't wield this thing for three sets. I'm guessing stock form -- 12.2 oz., would actually be better for me. I can weigh it at my local shop, and if I want them to remove the customization it will cost me about $20.

The customization is definitely professional. I'm guessing balance is the same as stock and static weight is what changed.

Am I committing a big no-no remove the customization? My big concern would be that I'm tampering with a "pro" customized racket, since there is a 4 digit serial number stamped into the Head butt cap.

I'd rather just trade these for stock 280/630s and give someone else the opportunity to play with them if I can't handle the professional customization. I will probably give these a few more tries in matchplay before making a final decision. Any advice would be appreciated.

[jayserinos99]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

I guess I wont post the photos of inside the factory then.

have you seen the austrian jails? they're 5-star hotels!

http://ahboon.net/2007/04/05/a-5-sta...on-in-austria/

[m1stuhxsp4rk5]

the pt280 serves some bombs. this is without the cap grommets. im curious if you guys recommend it with the caps because if feels a little unstable on groundies. what strings and tension would you guys recommend?

[jayserinos99]

Originally Posted by m1stuhxsp4rk5

the pt280 serves some bombs. this is without the cap grommets. im curious if you guys recommend it with the caps because if feels a little unstable on groundies. what strings and tension would you guys recommend?

you can look at my signature for strings and tension.

as for adding caps to the 280, i'd suggest adding lead if you really think it's unstable before adding caps. if you're used to hitting with stiffer frames, the 280 may feel unstable b/c of the flexy nature of the frame. imo, i'd give it time to get used to hitting groundstrokes with it before adding lead.

[m1stuhxsp4rk5]

before i got to the pt280 i was using the head prestige classic 600. ill probably hit with it some more to see if i get used to it. would you recommend gut with poly hybrid or poly synthetic?

[jayserinos99]

I'm currently using the PC600 as well. My preference is for gut hybrids but I lean toward using soft strings in general. I still use the gut/isospeed combination and right now I'm trying to snap the gut/syngut in my other PC600s because I don't like cutting strings during the off-season (waste of money).

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

Hi guys thought I would show you what the HEAD Sports AG Facility looks like in Austria.

Nice photo VS. I got to know three high profile Austrian connection citizens that will help me around when I go to Austria in summer of 09. I will pay homage to this plant and the old one, you never know they might have few PT630's laying around.

[Pro_Tour_630]

Just an update and a heads up for the club

My PSK88 will be here this week and I will do a review comparing it to our beloved PT630.

Drak has reviewed the PSK88 and has played with a PT630 said that it reminded him of the PT630 in terms of balance, plow thru and that solid thumping feel only a little firmer.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=236348

this is what Drak did not like about the PT630 which BTW was a made in Austria on the side which had a bit higher SW,

Originally Posted by drakulie

SERVES

This is where I least enjoyed hitting with the frame. Again, as a result of the SW, I was not fully comfortable controlling the swing, therefore making it difficult to control ball placement. However, once I got more adjusted, I was managing very good pop, spin, and directional control. If this frame were more head-light, I’m positive my experience in this department would be much more enjoyable. The pop was easy to come by, as was spin. By the time we started playing tie-breaks, I was generating as much pop as with my MG, but I never truly became comfortable with it.
.

this was my question

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

Same with me with my serves.

So serving with the 85 is better than serving with the 88. Care to explain that more? even though the 85 is more HL than the K90. It is not the head speed with the more HH balance on the 88? How about second serves? You really need to play a full match under stress to finalize this IMO.

With me I found the best first serve flat bombs is with the PC600 but on seconds I was more comfortable with the PT630 (because of fear of mishitting).

Care to compare the 88 "plow thru" to the groundies of a PT630? or even a PC600?

thanks Drak

Sometimes soon give me the specs of your 85 and I will try to spec an 88 to match that and see what happens

and this is the response
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=236348

With the PSK88 Drak though that the serve could have been better, which IMO could be the overall SW.

Like I said. We need to lower the SW of the PSK88 and try to redistribute the balance to match a low swinging PT630.

This will be a challenge for my review

Taking off bumper from the PSK88 installing a very thin string at high tension, replacing with synthetic grip and warping the difference in lead around the butcap will reduce SW by more than 15 points at least.

[vsbabolat]

[Pro_Tour_630]

^^^ this is kennelbach could it be the CZ plant? or the new plant in the photo before

[drakulie]

vsbabolat>>> you are definitely the effen man!!! Thanks for sharing that with us. I've always wanted to see a step-by -step process from beginning to end of how a frame is produced.


Pro Tour 630, thanks for your post regarding our discussion related to the pt630/kps88.

I look forward to reaading your thoughts.

one question>>> you state you will be removing the bumer guard on the kps88??? what will you be using from grommets?? Thanks.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

^^^ this is kennelbach could it be the CZ plant? or the new plant in the photo before

That is supposed to be Kennelbach. It is definitely Austria.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by drakulie

vsbabolat>>> you are definitely the effen man!!! Thanks for sharing that with us. I've always wanted to see a step-by -step process from beginning to end of how a frame is produced.


Pro Tour 630, thanks for your post regarding our discussion related to the pt630/kps88.

I look forward to reaading your thoughts.

one question>>> you state you will be removing the bumer guard on the kps88??? what will you be using from grommets?? Thanks.

Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed the photos.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

Hi guys thought I would show you what the HEAD Sports AG Facility looks like in Austria.

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

Nice photo VS. I got to know three high profile Austrian connection citizens that will help me around when I go to Austria in summer of 09. I will pay homage to this plant and the old one, you never know they might have few PT630's laying around.

That is supposed to be the facility in Hoerbranz, Austria.

[hyogen]

Originally Posted by MichaelChang

I wanted to ask for some comparison between the PT280 and the other HEAD rackets that share the same mold. Such as the i.Prestige MP, the HEAD radical TT MP, and the original Radical 260MP. I have had all these siblings to the 280, but never had a 280 so I am just wondering how different are they?

anyone else wanna chime in? I just got my zebra twin tube MP today i'm sure it'll feel similar to the 98 version of the twin tube radical mp.

I'm guessing it's just a tiny bit lighter than a PT630 but feels very similar...maybe just as buttery? If that's the case, then I think I'm set until I finally get my hands on the prettier blue pt630.

[Lendl and Federer Fan]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

Nice, thanks for sharing. For whatever reason, I always thought the process is more automated than that. Well, no wonder the racquet costs over $100

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by drakulie

I look forward to reaading your thoughts.

one question>>> you state you will be removing the bumer guard on the kps88??? what will you be using from grommets?? Thanks.

I will trim the bumper guard only with an exacto knife leaving the grommets. that should take off around 4 grams from hoop,

look at how i lowered the sw of the k90 to 305 LOL, the same can be done to the psK88


http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=123179

[gymrat76]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

That is supposed to be the facility in Hoerbranz, Austria.

Instead, show us the pics of the pro room filled with PT57As, VsBabolat!