Review the craziest racquets you own - Page 4

VOLLEY KING · 03-08-2012, 05:39 PM

2 more days until "V" day .

Hitman99 · 03-09-2012, 12:29 PM

The Vortex arrived today, and I will be playing with it tomorrow night at a tennis party, might also try to hit with it a little bit during the afternoon.

It really is huge, with very nice black/yellow glossy paint scheme. It feels a tad heavier than I expected. The strings are not what I expected --- they are thick at 15g, but have a smooth surface, appear to be round. Not sure what makes them super 'spinny".

I immediately put a Power V grip on it, along with an overwrap. Can't wait to hit with it.

Meanwhile, I took my PowerAngle to have it restrung today, discovered the frame has a crack in it, next to one of the upper grommet holes. I suspect this is because the previous owner ignored the stringing instructions, strung it with Golden Set poly @ 60 pounds, when the instructions say the max is 53 pounds. Not sure whether the frame is repairable or not. Bummer.

VOLLEY KING · 03-09-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman99

The Vortex arrived today, and I will be playing with it tomorrow night at a tennis party, might also try to hit with it a little bit during the afternoon.

It really is huge, with very nice black/yellow glossy paint scheme. It feels a tad heavier than I expected. The strings are not what I expected --- they are thick at 15g, but have a smooth surface, appear to be round. Not sure what makes them super 'spinny".

I immediately put a Power V grip on it, along with an overwrap. Can't wait to hit with it.

Meanwhile, I took my PowerAngle to have it restrung today, discovered the frame has a crack in it, next to one of the upper grommet holes. I suspect this is because the previous owner ignored the stringing instructions, strung it with Golden Set poly @ 60 pounds, when the instructions say the max is 53 pounds. Not sure whether the frame is repairable or not. Bummer.

Hitman !!! Don't put the power V grip on !!!

There's is a very big learning curve .

The power V grip takes a lot of practice to get used to.

You will be hitting the ball over the fence.

I know the grip doesn't seem like a big deal .....but it's HUGE!!

You are changing the angle of the face of the racquet and you are gaining a sheetload of power. It takes time to control that power.

To play with a V grip for the very first time and use a new racquet is just too much to ask.

The racquet really looks huge because of the strings . But it's an optical illusion. Put it face to face with your 116 and you'll see that the difference is actually marginal.

Good luck!!!

Dying to hear your reviews ....especially about the power V you won't believe what a difference it makes. You will
Probably hate the grip. You will be spraying balls all over the place.....took me 6 months!

Hitman99 · 03-09-2012, 01:35 PM

We'll see. IMHO I don't think it will be that much of an adjustment, as I have always switched grips between a semi-western FH and a fairly extreme BH. I also serve with an extreme BH grip.

However, I do respect your advice. If I have any problem at all, I will pull the overwrap and grip off. No biggie....

VOLLEY KING · 03-09-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman99

We'll see. IMHO I don't think it will be that much of an adjustment, as I have always switched grips between a semi-western FH and a fairly extreme BH. I also serve with an extreme BH grip.

However, I do respect your advice. If I have any problem at all, I will pull the overwrap and grip off. No biggie....

You'll see .

Hitman99 · 03-09-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOLLEY KING

You'll see .

He says, with an evil sounding laugh.......

VOLLEY KING · 03-09-2012, 06:58 PM

Mitt Rocker 97

The first racquet ever made with moving parts. Wilson tried and failed to copy it with its "roller " technology. Remember those?

They were little wheels placed where the drilled holes were.

The mitt is supposed to catch the ball like a "mitt" by place img these little thing a ma bobs where the holes are . Tough to explain but you can see it here ( five the site an extra minute to load....it's very slow):

http://web.archive.org/web/199612190...//mittusa.com/

The racquet was designed by the legendary hall of famed Pancho Gonzalez. Unfortunately when he died so did the company.

I'm to lazy to give a full review but it was a great racquet with great feel. I only have one but I wish I had bought more.

.

VOLLEY KING · 03-10-2012, 05:48 AM

Hitman,

If you use the "V" grip and then decided to take it off ( which I think you will), the problem is muscle memory.

When you go back to your original grip chances are you won't be able to hit the ball correctly until a game or two .

I certainly would not try out the "V" grip in a match.

Hitman99 · 03-10-2012, 06:01 AM

Tonight I will be playing at a tennis party --- three 45 minute playing sessions, two mixed, one men's. Competition level will be pretty high, comparable to USTA 4.0 league matches. But it's all just for fun.

I am planning to go over to the club (indoors) this afternon, hit for an hour with a ball machine. In addition to the Vortex, I also want to hit with my Head Metallix, just had it restrung with low-tension (42 lbs) gut.

BTW, my other Vortex (ES 108 ) was shipped to me today by JoeSh.

So, lots of new toys to play with.

VOLLEY KING · 03-10-2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman99

Tonight I will be playing at a tennis party --- three 45 minute playing sessions, two mixed, one men's. Competition level will be pretty high, comparable to USTA 4.0 league matches. But it's all just for fun.

I am planning to go over to the club (indoors) this afternon, hit for an hour with a ball machine. In addition to the Vortex, I also want to hit with my Head Metallix, just had it restrung with low-tension (42 lbs) gut.

BTW, my other Vortex (ES 10

was shipped to me today by JoeSh.

So, lots of new toys to play with.

Then use the V grip on the head mettalix .

Hitman99 · 03-10-2012, 11:49 AM

I tried to get some time on our club's ball machine, but it was booked until 5 PM. So I wandered over to the Wakefield tennis courts, hit a little bit against the wall, then practiced a few serves.

I had little trouble adjusting to the Power V grip on ground strokes, but found that I couldn't serve a lick with it, so I removed the overwrap and the Power V insert. However, I wasn't overly impressed with the 133 racket on serves. I wasn't able to generate much pace OR much spin. Might come with more practice.

Meanwhile, I also hit a few balls with the Metallix racket, strung with the PowerMaxx Light Touch natty gut string at 42 lbs. WOW! I got much more power AND spin with it, compared to the Vortex. My serves were effortless, but had lots of action and kick, with good pace. The stringbed also has a very nice damped feel to it, should be very arm friendly. I'm going to order some more of this string immediately.

When I got back home, the other Vortex ES108 racket was sitting on my doorstep. It is strung with old, worn out MSV Hex string, but JoeSh swears it still plays very well that way. We'll see. I defitiely don't want to keep poly in it, so I might have it restrung with the PowerMaxx strings, might consider a hybrid setup.

What I will probably do is play the first mixed doubles set, serve with the Metallix, receive with the Vortex 133. The second session is men's doubles, so I will play with the Metallix, unless I'm REALLY impressed with the Vortex. Last session is mixed again, so I might try out the ES 108.

VOLLEY KING · 03-10-2012, 04:50 PM

I completely agree with everything you said.

I found the same issues with the 133. Serving is the big down side. Basically you can only push a serve with it because it's so powerful.

It's also not very good for topsin . But for volleys and return of serves....OMG!

You can practically serve underhanded and still put a volley away. And Even a bomb serve will be returned with ease.

As far a the "V" grip it takes a long time to get used to it. There is a VERY large learning curve and that is the reason it was unsuccessful .

That why I suggested using double sides mounting tape ( wilander does the same ill post it) . This way you can make it thinner and build it up as you become more used to it. I started with only one strip and built it up now to five strips.

VOLLEY KING · 03-10-2012, 05:31 PM

Hitman & Joe,

Which MSV Hex do you use and what gauge?

Hitman99 · 03-11-2012, 08:36 AM

I played with the 133 last night, and also again this morning. Everything that Volley King has said in this thread is pretty much accurate. Service returns and groundies are effortless, ball goes back to the baseline. Very good spin generation with basic strokes --- not outrageous, but very noticeable. I found the serve to be quite good, was able to generate good pace and spin without much strain. However, I am still not getting a dramatic "kick", and placement accuracy is just average. This should improve with practice.

Biggest improvement was with volleys and overheads. This racket was indeed made for doubles.

Despite the specs posted on the Vortex website, this racket does not seem to me to be head light, it actually feels a bit head heavy. It does appear to be HUGE, until you hold it next to a more normal oversize racket.

Re the question about MSV Hex, I haven't used it yet. JoeSh told me the 108 was strung at 50 lbs about two years ago, didn't mention the string gauge. I'm not really sure that I want to restring it with a poly string good for only 8 - 12 hours of play, even though the MSV Hex feels very soft and playable as is. I might try the PowerMaxx Light Touch natty gut at 40 lbs or so, see how I like it.

VOLLEY KING · 03-11-2012, 11:57 AM

I understand what Joe is saying .

Poly strings play pretty soft when they are dead. I personally like dead strings better than fresh new polys.

When you get a new poly job they are quite stiff and the tension only lasts a short time anyway. As opposed to dead strings they stay that way.

With dead poly you actually get a nice combination of a softer string but the spin potential of a poly. It's a personal preference.

As far as the 133 it's easy to see if it's headlight or head heavy. Just stick a ruler through the shaft . If it tilts downward with the head facing down then it's head heavy but if it tilts down with the handle side then it's head light.

The big disadvantage with that 133 is serving. I can basically only push the ball and that's why I don't use it. I also have a lot of trouble generating topspin .

It's for a player who has shorter ground strokes or a chip and charger.

For the right player it's the right stick.....but at the net it's really hard to get it by you. It's just a dream for volleying .

I think you will enjoy the 116 better because you can serve harder with it.....but be forewarned its not a great serving stick or topspin stick either .

For both the 116 & 133 you have to stop thinking about aces and start thinking that you will have to win the point on a volley. They are both lethal volley sticks.

The 108 & 100 on the other hand just does everything very well. No weakness .....just not as strong on volleys and returns as the 133 and 116.

I hope that helps? Can't wait for you to try the 108!!

Tim Tennis · 03-11-2012, 06:21 PM

Volley King, first let me congratulate you on your never ending quest to improve. That is what makes tennis so exciting, you can always get better. You can experiment with new technologies. You can experiment with changing and improving your mechanics. You can improve your physical fitness. You can also work on the mental aspects of the game. By practicing and drilling you can greatly improve your consistency and develop new shots that will take your game to the next level.

If you bear with me I will make some comments about some of the posts, by the way, which I greatly appreciate.

Volley King, loved your comments on post # 41
“ Ok I know this isn't a racquet but this tiny little gadget has changed my game more than any racquet or string there is . In fact it's the most important of the three!!

I never knew how important your grip is but everything starts from there.

The right grip will give you more power , control and feel than any racquet or strings ....I swear.

This grip changes the angle of your racquet face. You get a far more powerful ball . It's like having a nunchuck in your hand."

My comment, the Power V Grip will definitely close the racquet face angle on both the Semi-Western grip and the Continental, if you place your hand where the Power V Grip encourages you to.

The Power V Grip II may change your racquet face slightly but basically adds significant leverage for all the grips without requiring significant changes in you mechanics.

It also allows you to feel each grip clearly and it locks your hand in strong . For example if your in a continental you can't really cheat and slide into an eastern unless you go out of your way to do it . It's tough to explain.

My comment, You are right on. Thanks!

Babolat tried to copy this recently with a grip with a small bubble or hump in it. But it's not as nearly pronounced as the V grip.

My comment. I don’t know if they tried to copy it or not. I did wonder about that. If they did, what greater compliment could I get? I actually built up some grips like their's and came to the conclusion that it was great for some grips but not so good for others.

Post 41 Your review

continental

The V grip really works well here. The top end of the grip works like a shelf for your index finger .

This V grip has increased the power of my serve , the accuracy and the spin.

For volleys you get increased angels. You can really hit those pro volleys like you see on tv. Love it.

eastern

The V grip actually does not work so well for eastern at all.

It takes away from the space as it goes right on the bevel where the palm of your hand would go.

It does however increase your power but the accuracy goes down a bit.

It also increases the power of the serve with an eastern.

I use it with an eastern (as well as all the grips) but it tool a loooong time to get used to.

semi western

WOW!!! What can i say? You will increase your power your accuracy everything . Just awesome for this.

western

No freaking clue. I can't hit western if my life depended on it ....lol

Conclusion

If you try it you will immediately see a HUGE difference in the way you hit the ball.

My comment. I think you are right on. I can’t hit a Western forehand either. As far as the Eastern, well, I do use it occasionally, probably more then I realize. As far as too how much the Power V Grip benefits the Eastern forehand grip, I think it is the only grip that a standard shaped handle is really good for. Some of my customers are big Eastern forehand users and they love it. Figure that out.

There is a learning curve though because you tend to spray balls all over the place because of the increased power.

It took me actually about 6 months! But I'm glad I stuck with it and I would never go back.

My comment. Wow, not many people would have stuck with it for so long. The SECRET is in understanding your mechanics and how to adjust them to accommodate the changes that the Power V Grips might require. One quick example and I will leave it at that. If you use the Continental grip on your serve and you start hitting the ball into the net, what adjustments do you have to make to get your serve in. Well, you may have to generate more racquet head speed, change your contact point slightly, probably a slight modification in the swing path to generate more forward/horizontal energy. All I can say is that the Power V Grips give you an opportunity to greatly improve you game if you understand the relationship of what grip you are using, swing path, contact point, racquet head speed and the all important racquet face angle.

Post 43 Hitman 99 said: Checked this out on their website. What is the difference between the two grips? I've read the descriptions, can't really tell them apart. Do they both have the sorbothane cushioning?

My comments. Very interesting, a lot of customers order 1 of each, so apparently they have the same problem. I normally encourage them to order the PVG II. I feel it is easier for most people to use yet still greatly benefit their game. Yes, both of them are made of Sorbothane.

Post 44 Volley King said, “Small family owned company so don't be too hard on them.”

Thank you. Yikes!
Post 63 (Volley King to Hitman) Hitman !!! Don't put the power V grip on !!!

There's is a very big learning curve .

The power V grip takes a lot of practice to get used to.

You will be hitting the ball over the fence.

I know the grip doesn't seem like a big deal .....but it's HUGE!!

You are changing the angle of the face of the racquet and you are gaining a sheetload of power. It takes time to control that power.

To play with a V grip for the very first time and use a new racquet is just too much to ask.

My comment. Interesting, what can I say, some people adjust immediately and for some it takes some time. I think a lot depends on how well you move your hand on the handle now and how well you understand your mechanics and what adjustment you may need to make. Don’t quit.

Post 68 Volley King I certainly would not try out the "V" grip in a match.

My comment. I agree. You should really practice and experiment with the PVG before you play a match with it. In a match you are under too much pressure to perform. You do not have the luxury of analyzing and adjusting your mechanics. You become too critical.

Post 71 Hitman I had little trouble adjusting to the Power V grip on ground strokes, but found that I couldn't serve a lick with it, so I removed the overwrap and the Power V insert.

My comment. So what happened on your serve? What aspects of your mechanics do you need to change? Understanding and adjusting could lead to a serve with action, spin and power that you never dreamed you could produce. Who knows? You may have passed over a tremendous opportunity to improve.

Thanks so much for your interest.

Best regards,
Ed

Tennis Geometrics
www.tennisgeometrics.com

mhj202 · 03-11-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Tennis

Best regards,
Ed

Tennis Geometrics
www.tennisgeometrics.com

Ed- PLEASE learn how to use multi-quotes because that post was painful to even try to read through.

Tim Tennis · 03-11-2012, 06:34 PM

Thanks, you are so right. I'm even confused and I wrote it. Yikes

Ed

VOLLEY KING · 03-11-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Tennis

Thanks, you are so right. I'm even confused and I wrote it. Yikes

Ed

Tim ,

Thanks....it's been a battle but I would never go back to a regular grip.

I think you should come out with thinner versions and then build up to the thicker version you sell regularly .

It's such a radical change that people don't want to deal with it. You have to walk before you can run. That's why I told Hitman to first start off with one layer of mounting tale until he felt comfortable enough to use the thicker V grip you sell.

As you can see Hitman couldn't even hit one ball and ripped off the V grip. That's should be proof.

I personally did not give up because I saw how much more power I got . I thought to myself "all I need to do is control that power".

So I started with one piece of mounting tape then two then three until
I got to five . Now I use the V grip without a problem and my game has improved exponentially.

The Angeles I get on the continental grip at the net are amazing ! I never had that before. In fact I never even had topspin until the V grip. My serves are bigger with more angle. It's absolutely amazing! Thank you !

I don't know about the power grip 2 unless that's the softer version?

Fuzzball7 · 03-11-2012, 10:19 PM

WOW.. These sticks are so sick

03-09-2012, 06:58 PM	#67
VOLLEY KING Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,013	Mitt Rocker 97 The first racquet ever made with moving parts. Wilson tried and failed to copy it with its "roller " technology. Remember those? They were little wheels placed where the drilled holes were. The mitt is supposed to catch the ball like a "mitt" by place img these little thing a ma bobs where the holes are . Tough to explain but you can see it here ( five the site an extra minute to load....it's very slow): http://web.archive.org/web/199612190...//mittusa.com/ The racquet was designed by the legendary hall of famed Pancho Gonzalez. Unfortunately when he died so did the company. I'm to lazy to give a full review but it was a great racquet with great feel. I only have one but I wish I had bought more. . Last edited by VOLLEY KING : 03-09-2012 at 07:03 PM.

03-10-2012, 06:01 AM	#69
Hitman99 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Annandale, VA Posts: 118	Tonight I will be playing at a tennis party --- three 45 minute playing sessions, two mixed, one men's. Competition level will be pretty high, comparable to USTA 4.0 league matches. But it's all just for fun. I am planning to go over to the club (indoors) this afternon, hit for an hour with a ball machine. In addition to the Vortex, I also want to hit with my Head Metallix, just had it restrung with low-tension (42 lbs) gut. BTW, my other Vortex (ES 108 ) was shipped to me today by JoeSh. So, lots of new toys to play with. Last edited by Hitman99 : 03-10-2012 at 06:43 AM.

03-11-2012, 06:21 PM	#76
Tim Tennis Professional Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charleston, TN Posts: 1,073	Thanks for your interest Volley King, first let me congratulate you on your never ending quest to improve. That is what makes tennis so exciting, you can always get better. You can experiment with new technologies. You can experiment with changing and improving your mechanics. You can improve your physical fitness. You can also work on the mental aspects of the game. By practicing and drilling you can greatly improve your consistency and develop new shots that will take your game to the next level. If you bear with me I will make some comments about some of the posts, by the way, which I greatly appreciate. Volley King, loved your comments on post # 41 “ Ok I know this isn't a racquet but this tiny little gadget has changed my game more than any racquet or string there is . In fact it's the most important of the three!! I never knew how important your grip is but everything starts from there. The right grip will give you more power , control and feel than any racquet or strings ....I swear. This grip changes the angle of your racquet face. You get a far more powerful ball . It's like having a nunchuck in your hand." My comment, the Power V Grip will definitely close the racquet face angle on both the Semi-Western grip and the Continental, if you place your hand where the Power V Grip encourages you to. The Power V Grip II may change your racquet face slightly but basically adds significant leverage for all the grips without requiring significant changes in you mechanics. It also allows you to feel each grip clearly and it locks your hand in strong . For example if your in a continental you can't really cheat and slide into an eastern unless you go out of your way to do it . It's tough to explain. My comment, You are right on. Thanks! Babolat tried to copy this recently with a grip with a small bubble or hump in it. But it's not as nearly pronounced as the V grip. My comment. I don’t know if they tried to copy it or not. I did wonder about that. If they did, what greater compliment could I get? I actually built up some grips like their's and came to the conclusion that it was great for some grips but not so good for others. Post 41 Your review continental The V grip really works well here. The top end of the grip works like a shelf for your index finger . This V grip has increased the power of my serve , the accuracy and the spin. For volleys you get increased angels. You can really hit those pro volleys like you see on tv. Love it. eastern The V grip actually does not work so well for eastern at all. It takes away from the space as it goes right on the bevel where the palm of your hand would go. It does however increase your power but the accuracy goes down a bit. It also increases the power of the serve with an eastern. I use it with an eastern (as well as all the grips) but it tool a loooong time to get used to. semi western WOW!!! What can i say? You will increase your power your accuracy everything . Just awesome for this. western No freaking clue. I can't hit western if my life depended on it ....lol Conclusion If you try it you will immediately see a HUGE difference in the way you hit the ball. My comment. I think you are right on. I can’t hit a Western forehand either. As far as the Eastern, well, I do use it occasionally, probably more then I realize. As far as too how much the Power V Grip benefits the Eastern forehand grip, I think it is the only grip that a standard shaped handle is really good for. Some of my customers are big Eastern forehand users and they love it. Figure that out. There is a learning curve though because you tend to spray balls all over the place because of the increased power. It took me actually about 6 months! But I'm glad I stuck with it and I would never go back. My comment. Wow, not many people would have stuck with it for so long. The SECRET is in understanding your mechanics and how to adjust them to accommodate the changes that the Power V Grips might require. One quick example and I will leave it at that. If you use the Continental grip on your serve and you start hitting the ball into the net, what adjustments do you have to make to get your serve in. Well, you may have to generate more racquet head speed, change your contact point slightly, probably a slight modification in the swing path to generate more forward/horizontal energy. All I can say is that the Power V Grips give you an opportunity to greatly improve you game if you understand the relationship of what grip you are using, swing path, contact point, racquet head speed and the all important racquet face angle. Post 43 Hitman 99 said: Checked this out on their website. What is the difference between the two grips? I've read the descriptions, can't really tell them apart. Do they both have the sorbothane cushioning? My comments. Very interesting, a lot of customers order 1 of each, so apparently they have the same problem. I normally encourage them to order the PVG II. I feel it is easier for most people to use yet still greatly benefit their game. Yes, both of them are made of Sorbothane. Post 44 Volley King said, “Small family owned company so don't be too hard on them.” Thank you. Yikes! Post 63 (Volley King to Hitman) Hitman !!! Don't put the power V grip on !!! There's is a very big learning curve . The power V grip takes a lot of practice to get used to. You will be hitting the ball over the fence. I know the grip doesn't seem like a big deal .....but it's HUGE!! You are changing the angle of the face of the racquet and you are gaining a sheetload of power. It takes time to control that power. To play with a V grip for the very first time and use a new racquet is just too much to ask. My comment. Interesting, what can I say, some people adjust immediately and for some it takes some time. I think a lot depends on how well you move your hand on the handle now and how well you understand your mechanics and what adjustment you may need to make. Don’t quit. Post 68 Volley King I certainly would not try out the "V" grip in a match. My comment. I agree. You should really practice and experiment with the PVG before you play a match with it. In a match you are under too much pressure to perform. You do not have the luxury of analyzing and adjusting your mechanics. You become too critical. Post 71 Hitman I had little trouble adjusting to the Power V grip on ground strokes, but found that I couldn't serve a lick with it, so I removed the overwrap and the Power V insert. My comment. So what happened on your serve? What aspects of your mechanics do you need to change? Understanding and adjusting could lead to a serve with action, spin and power that you never dreamed you could produce. Who knows? You may have passed over a tremendous opportunity to improve. Thanks so much for your interest. Best regards, Ed Tennis Geometrics www.tennisgeometrics.com

03-11-2012, 10:19 PM	#80
Fuzzball7 Semi-Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 530	WOW.. These sticks are so sick __________________ If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same;

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