Diary of a Racketaholic

[Ross K]

Diary of a Racketaholic

Been looking at the PSTGT+ and APD and APD/C in the last month or so. The PSTGT+ is actually a standard size that has had the extra . 5 " added later (fine work there Meaghan), and the APD/C is strung @ about 35 lbs... (oh crap)... so, yeah, I'm not going to say much about that, accept for this: 'noodle'...

Yesterday's proper session (and not just hitting with a bunch of bratty little kids) put me in bad mood. You see, having realized that my aging and lazy b-line game maybe required something more appropriate than the C10 which I settled on at the start of the summer (not quite enough of a monster, spinny, heavy ball, for me), but that hits less demanding than the tennis ball crushing oomph of the RD7 that I'd so appreciated at the beginning of this year (btw, for those who haven't had the pleasure, the best description I've heard for this beautiful but slightly unpredictable beast of a racket is 'bi-polar bear'!), well, my early impressions of both racks was this was the way to go... you want booming serve and big oomphing topspin groundies (and hitting fhs with this is just so incredibly addictive... ohhhh yeeeeees)... the APD (original with the black pj) has got it!... you want a far richer feel with less of that Serena-like big old chunky APD beam but a frame that can still produce huge power and good spin (specially with that added length)?... the PSTGT+ has got that covered as well!...

Or I thought so... with the APD, an old problem re-emerged, namely, how to customize the thing... with about 6g on the butt and 4g @ 12, the thing felt a bit too clunky and slowed down... having gone through a load of lead set ups this was/is an annoyance that I know, from past experience, can wind me up just as much as watching Andy Murray - and nearly as much as watching Gael Monfils ... anyhow, I've got to rethink the whole customization issue... again... Secondly, when I was warming up, I happened to look around the adjoining, not too packed courts, and noticed 5 players wielding the APD/C... now... I know this sounds petty and irrelevant... but this is a real turn off for me... at least no-one was carrying a black pj orig APD, but still... no, I don't like that... too common, man!

After a set with the APD, with the PSTGT+ the improvement in feel is instantly registered... this racket does what's required: gives a bit of assistance on 2hbh and serve, and hits a massive shot and you can really nail a ball (hits a bit flatter for me than the APD), when you've got the timing down... because there's no doubt about it - for the first time, I really noticed, in a negative sense, that extra length.

Anyhow, I know PP is going to lecture me about not leading up the APD at all (I'm putting my crash helmet on now!)... PED will have something to say too... I woke up this morning to hear the disappointing news that Wozzy has lost (have become a fan recently)... it already looks like winter has arrived outside and we're still in early Sept?!... I don't know when I'll be free for tennis next week... I have about 35 frames I need to put on fboy before my lady kicks me out the house... Oh... and I wish Fed Kennedy would stop his very head-turning posts about the YT Extreme Pro - LOL!


R.

[pshulam]

... I have about 35 frames I need to put on fboy before my lady kicks me out the house..

It's not that many. A typical collector has a lots more than 35 frames, e.g, Virginia (>500), Racket Hall of Frame(>4000?)

[roundiesee]

Originally Posted by pshulam

It's not that many. A typical collector has a lots more than 35 frames, e.g, Virginia (>500), Racket Hall of Frame(>4000?)

You forgot people like Equijet and JetLee........

[Fed Kennedy]

Hilarious post. We have much in common Ross.
I'm in kind of a halfway house recovery program for racket junkies with less than 10 frames now. Will probably always have that crackhead twitch but I'm trying to control myself.
I say, drink a bottle of tequila, order an extreme pro and stay in bed till it arrives. Worked wonders for me.
Fed K

[pshulam]

Originally Posted by roundiesee

You forgot people like Equijet and JetLee........

Yes, there are still many, i.e., khw72004.

I still have 16, trying to reduce to it down to 10.

[HiroProtagonist]

Always love to read ur semi-rhetorical OCD posts Ross, always makes me feel not quite as guilty for being so obsessed myself.

Also ur modified PSTGT+ got me thinking: is there a safe and reasonably easy way to modify a 27.5" racquet to make it standard length?

Tell me if this is too much of a thread jacking and Ill delete it.

BTW I couldnt bring myself to use a APD though it felt preety good and hit some monster groundies, did feel awkward in the hand though at net. I have MBDS(must be different syndrome) and it is greatly exacerbated by living in California where it has almost become a sport.

[HiroProtagonist]

Originally Posted by GameSetMatch

You aren't the smartest are you? Just saw the end off. Do you need instructions?

WTF man????

Whats with all the personal attacks????

And yes Having never done it b4 I would like instructions b4 I dig a saw into one of my babies.

Trolling and insults should be confined to the other boards, this is where I go to take a break from debating logically w illogical ppl and actually try to learn things. I suggest u do the same and at least learn some common respect.

[GameSetMatch]

Instructions:

1. Remove buttcap.
2. Saw off 0.5" inch
3. Replace buttcap.

Do you require some diagrams?

[PED]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Diary of a Racketaholic

PED will have something to say too...

R.

I only have 2 comments

1. It's hard to my mind to go back and forth between the pst and the apd simply based on their balance(length) and more importantly their beam size. I did a similar experiment back in early 08 and my strokes suffered from the switching.

It took me 6 weeks at 5 to 6 days a week before I felt at home with the apd plus. Now, you'd have to pry it from my cold dead fingers before I'd give it up. It does take awhile to get used to the various lead setups so hang in there and have fun.

2. Gooners looked great today

[Cup8489]

I suggest this: take your time with each and every setup; dont jump back and forth between them, your game will suffer. If you take your time with them, youll get used to the setup and you will better see how it affects your game.

Me, I'm sticking with the MG RAd MP, MAY try the YT, but I'm wary of doing so, having adapted to the MG. I am trying new setups with it, but taking it one modification at a time, until I find the perfect blend of weight and balance to fit my game totally.

[Ross K]

Everyone,

Yeah!... fantastic!... awoke to learn His Haughty Highness King Fed here... - he got beat!... okay... true... I might not want Novak flying my plane, but he's a great player and a fun guy.


Hiro,

Sorry buddy. I've looked but can't find much info on... I'll say this though, are you really sure you want to undergo... ("Cough, cough")... 'the procedure' ... Seriously, I've long wanted to look at XL size frames again (I use to play the PD+ years back and have played the Ra TT XL a bit as well), there's no denying the advantages therein imo, however there are also negatives and they do take some getting used to.

BTW I couldnt bring myself to use a APD though it felt preety good and hit some monster groundies, did feel awkward in the hand though at net. I have MBDS(must be different syndrome) and it is greatly exacerbated by living in California where it has almost become a sport.

Ha ha!... I've never heard that before - MBDS (must be different syndrome)!... I could have it mate I swear!... anyhow, I still don't think there's much wrong with not wanting to be one of the sheep (especially as it seems the APD is so MASSIVELY popular)?... perhaps next time I play the legions of North London Aerpro users will have decreased in number a bit?


PED, Cup,

Of course you're absolutely right, chaps. I may well just have to decide on just 1 and concentrate on that for a while... which would therefore mean deciding which appeals to me the most...

PROS... with the APD: the class A-like addictive pleasure of hitting topspin fhs and bashing out a 2hbh and serve, versus... with the PSTGT+: better feeling, equally big-hitting, more solid, better control, easier on the stretch, access to angles... CONS... APD: less control, poorer feel and touch, bigger head, stiffer, I seem to always be experimenting with lead set ups, everyone bloody plays it! ... PSTGT+: extra length creates timing issues and it can seem a tad unwieldly, less of a whooping topspin b-line machine sort of stick, less fun...

Right. Time for a cup of tea so strong I can stand a spoon up in it.

(Note to self: must resist urge to look up posts on "Novak's actual frame" which will doubtless start appearing in 'Pro rackets' section today... it can only lead to one thing: interest in yet more frames!...)


R.

[Ross K]

Gents,

Qsn... just curious... what are all your present (and presumably favourite) head-light balances? One of my reasons for me previously leading up the APD was to make the balance more head-light...


R.

[Dags]

Originally Posted by HiroProtagonist

Also ur modified PSTGT+ got me thinking: is there a safe and reasonably easy way to modify a 27.5" racquet to make it standard length?

A junior hacksaw will do the job just fine. Clamp the racquet securely, and take your time. Below are a couple of pictures from when I cut mine. I was changing the pallets too so had already removed them, but there's no reason why you shouldn't cut the whole handle provided you can keep the racquet stable.

[Dags]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Gents,

Qsn... just curious... what are all your present (and presumably favourite) head-light balances? One of my reasons for me previously leading up the APD was to make the balance more head-light...


R.

For me, this is rather relative to the overall weight of the racquet. I'm currently playing with 8 point HL (strung), but that's mainly because the racquet is around 370g (also strung). With a lighter racquet, I tend to prefer the balance to become closer to the head to make up for lack of mass. I've never really thought of a rule of thumb for this, but if there were one it would probably be something like 1 point per 10g or so.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Dags

For me, this is rather relative to the overall weight of the racquet. I'm currently playing with 8 point HL (strung), but that's mainly because the racquet is around 370g (also strung). With a lighter racquet, I tend to prefer the balance to become closer to the head to make up for lack of mass. I've never really thought of a rule of thumb for this, but if there were one it would probably be something like 1 point per 10g or so.

Quoted for truth: this is the key formula. It is not so much the balance itself but the balance relative to the overall weight of the stick you are using.


A more HL balance on a heavier stick will still have more relative weight behind it as compared to a lighter stick but with a less HL balance.

I think if you lead your APD up to the low 340g area, it will improve the feel and weight of the ball; HOWEVER, given your dislike of its popularity, you might not want to invest the effort

I still think you should concentrate on your PD +. If you are trying out 2 different sticks, the pd plus and the pst + won't "conflict" as much with your strokes.

[Larrysümmers]

Originally Posted by GameSetMatch

Instructions:

1. Remove buttcap.
2. Saw off 0.5" inch
3. Replace buttcap.

Do you require some diagrams?

yeah. you need to calm down. whats wrong with making sure you have everything correct before digging a saw into a $200 racket?

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Dags

For me, this is rather relative to the overall weight of the racquet. I'm currently playing with 8 point HL (strung), but that's mainly because the racquet is around 370g (also strung). With a lighter racquet, I tend to prefer the balance to become closer to the head to make up for lack of mass. I've never really thought of a rule of thumb for this, but if there were one it would probably be something like 1 point per 10g or so.

Interesting. Thx.



PED,

I think if you lead your APD up to the low 340g area, it will improve the feel and weight of the ball; HOWEVER, given your dislike of its popularity, you might not want to invest the effort

In truth, we're okay on the popularity issue really as the black original APD has far less users.



R.

[HiroProtagonist]

Thnx for the info and pics Dags!!!

I was mainly fretting about what kind of saw to use, hack saw seemed the most logical. Im just glad I have a MG Extreme to experiment w/ b4 the real test. I take it since u didnt mention ne, there were no complications or ill effects? Did u find the difference in balance and weight to be dramatic or negligible? I assume it doesnt affect it all that much, but as we all know, racquets and the smallest tweaks...........

Thnx again.

[hrstrat57]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Diary of a Racketaholic
I have about 35 frames I need to put on fboy before my lady kicks me out the house... LOL!

R.

My bride just let me pop for 2 new YT Prestige MP's from TW after listening to me whine about none of my multitude of frames playing the same and enduring a quest of myriad acquisitions and searches for frames.

I haven't put the dozen or so frames up on the big auction site yet.

she reminded me today of my promise....

Let's wish each other good luck and bravery as we embark on this perilous quest to clear inventory.....

I was going thru some of the planned sale items and I was getting very depressed....2 mint Prince Equipe MP's, a near mint Yonex Super RD tour a Wilson HH 6.3 MP a Prince Precision Graphite 640...you get the idea.

I love my new frames but selling off tennis racquets is going to be painful.

I am frantically trying to hide several.....

[user92626]

I saw off my apdc+ by .5", back in the days that I was struggling to learn everything. In hindsight it probably doesn't matter with this xtra .5".

The sawing part was easy. Taking off the staples was bloody hard. I used a table saw, conservatively slicing several times to get to .5. Actually it's very easy. It doesn't matter if you miss a few millimeter. You can put back the cap on and stuff it with a few slices of whatever to extend it. The key is to super glue everything back strongly so the racket won't accidentally fly out of your hand. Use ALOT of glue. That's it.