Diary of a Racketaholic

[PED]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Ped, are you a 1hbh guy?

I swing both ways split it up between looping or driving 2hbh and mix in a healthy amount of slice with the 1 hander. Slice is much better on the igrp as opposed to the Tec with that nice soft throat.

With my V9's scheduled to arrive any minute now, the quality on my 1 hander should be looking up.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Aimr is that an h22? You beast.

I must admit that my eye has wandered..well kind of.

I really love the plus length a lot..I just don't know if I like standard or plus better sometimes..it is maddening in a way, as I have a tendency to hit close to the throat sometimes.

Basically I'm thinking about trying a Roddick version out in standard length.

The madness of all this is the fact that while I have found an ideal match for me in terms of racquets, I have not dialed in the specs just yet. I like the PD+ at 325 grams a lot, but the only way to really know if I like the heavier Roddick would be have 1 in the bag as well.

I also remember demoing the last roddick in the plus and I believe in this thread I described the demo and how wowwed I was by the experience. The plus just was a little tougher to wield at that weight. I had matches with the 6.1 where I was so dominant and just crushing the ball so hard that I do miss that lovely weight sometimes...well not all of the weight, just a little.

The roddick just seems the potential game changer if I am good with the weight. Still half an ounce lighter than the 6.1 95, easier to use and got some of the most rave reviews I have ever seen.

Regardless, these new PDs are so sick...dear lord.

I figure a light XL PD at 325 and a Roddick standard is actually a collection I could keep in my bag.

Once more unto the breach, dear friend. I say go for it. We need you testing and reporting. Ever since you got into a relationship you haven't been the same, you don't come and hang out with the guys, anymore.

Originally Posted by Pneumated1

I noticed that it was for sale. If it had a bigger grip, I'd most likely take it. However, I can't say for sure, as I'll hit my new IG Prestige MP for the first time later today, strung with V-Pro 17 mains at 48 and NRG2 17 crosses at 52. We'll see how it goes, but a lot of early "ravers" over this new Prestige are throwing it to the curb, it would appear. I really feel like it needs a leather grip, but I don't want the added weight. So for now, I'm going with the stock grip and overgrip. Also, I wrapped head tape over the grommets from just above 3 to just above 9, and it pretty well swings itself with this fraction of added weight there.

Interestingly, after over a year of tinkering, I've gone back to my "tried-and-true" mods on my Londons, and they are really feeling like the proverbial "extension of the arm"--and might I add at the most inopportune time. The difference in the two sticks, as I see it, is that with the London, success comes by attrition, whereas with the Prestige I'm hoping for something a little more straight forward and laser-like. Should be fun either way!

Good luck, man. There is magic in the IG Midplus. I know it. I experienced it on multiple occasions. I just couldn't get back there for some reason, and this will be one of the great mysteries of my life. I hope you find the gold.

[Power Player]

Gads, you carry the torch so well..how you have ignored the new PDs and PDRs is a mystery to everyone.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

I am expecting delivery on a 100s today...

Am I my brothers keeper????

"YEEES, I AM!... but I'm on the run G from these crazy *** racketaholics"...

LMAO Fed as I know this film very well!

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Gads, you carry the torch so well..how you have ignored the new PDs and PDRs is a mystery to everyone.

It goes back to my college days, when I was first offered a bump of cortex and I wanted the experience, and to be accepted, but I was terrified of the slippery slope of addiction.

Maybe one day...

As a big server Babs have always intrigued, but outside of the Pure Storm series the feel has always bothered and I've never felt in control enough of my groundies. The fact that I have long thought Andy Roddick a punk has also not helped. Now all the kids are saying that the stuff on the streets now is different. But is it a ploy to get me hooked?

Maybe. Maybe one day I will break and order a demo box of the black stuff. If I suddenly vanish one day, never to be heard from again, you'll know what happened..

[Power Player]

its good man..im going all in..as predicted over a month ago I feel myself wanting that PDR. The last time I used a PDR I wept openly on the court. It hit so big that I felt like a jerk out there.

Im going to keep my Black Drive + at 325 grams. It is magic there. Ill let the PDR be the heavy hitter.

[PED]

Originally Posted by JGads

Now all the kids are saying that the stuff on the streets now is different. But is it a ploy to get me hooked?

Yes the black drive is really sweet but it's def still a Bab.

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Aimr is that an h22? You beast.

yeah, i'm nuts

Originally Posted by PED

IG RP swings MUCH easier and better all around stick over the YTRP.

YT is nice on clay but against hard flat hitters who take it early, it can get a bit unwieldy. If you have a compact swing though, it's doable but prefer the versatility of the IG so far.

Dgoran summed up the IG version well: the power of a PD with the feel of a PT630. Really nice frame.

I went 55/52 the first string job and it was good but I dropped to 52/50 to account for the lower mass and it def played better. The tighter stringbed of the IG leads naturally to a lower trajectory ball so the looser setup helps with that.

Thanks for the overview.. I dont have access to my stringing machine as im moving house so had TW string it up with TB at 48lbs. Its a string ive used a fair bit so should get a feel for how the IGRP plays. I like the description of it having the power of a PD with the feel of the PT630.. should be interesting! I have some pt57a's so will compare

Originally Posted by Dave M

Nice, 16/18 who'd you tempt that off of?
I have an 18/20 that looks a lot like that, i was set on a frame and very happy with it then a fellow UKRTB tempted this into my lap during a swap process, I think i like the H22, only thing making me think of selling it is i imagine grommets aren't easy to come by!

yeah grommets are an issue.. its one of those frames ive wanted to try for some time and when the 16x18 pattern came up i bit the bullet. Got it through the string forum

[PED]

Originally Posted by aimr75

had TW string it up with TB at 48lbs. Its a string ive used a fair bit so should get a feel for how the IGRP plays. I like the description of it having the power of a PD with the feel of the PT630.. should be interesting! I have some pt57a's so will compare

Good luck, I hate moving! Tour bite is what I've got it there. 48lbs should be nice. Will be interested to hear how the IG compares with your 630's.

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by PED

Good luck, I hate moving! Tour bite is what I've got it there. 48lbs should be nice. Will be interested to hear how the IG compares with your 630's.

Will post a comparison.. and yeah, moving is painful! especially having started a new job, tending to our 15 month old boy, wife being pregnant again and due in August, selling our house and looking for a new house. Just a few things keeping me occupied doesnt leave a lot of room for tennis, but i still try and squeeze in a hit whenever i can

[JGads]

A brief Yonnie report:

RDIS Midplus 100: a basher, and I will always appreciate it, but a little too rigid and a little too powerful for me long-term. Sexy paintjob. I could spend more time with it, but I know my ProKennex 7G beats it so I think I won't waste any more of this frame's time.

RQIS 1 Tour XL 95: Looks ugly, hits beautifully. Super interesting frame in that the throat is super thin - 19 mm beam here - and then it gets thick in the hoop for pop. The feel is sensational -- still rigid but there's a LITTLE more softness and/or flex, probably due to that throat -- and the pattern is 16/18 so there's some good pocketing that gives you the feel of grabbing the ball and shooting it, whereas the 100 is more of a rigid pancake kind of a feel that deflects the ball rather than holding on. Excellent serving on both first and second. Got this battered frame for very cheap a long time ago as it was a used demo from my local shop, but had never given it a proper gallop. Lot to like here - nice 95 sq inch frame, good feel, extremely maneuverable, controlled pop. Not unseating the 7G anytime soon but it's firmly in the bag now as the 7G's ugly friend.

[Meaghan]

You are so right gads those rq's are ugly uglies but the design really does work.

[rlau]

Originally Posted by aimr75

Will post a comparison..

please include the donnay pro one if you would!

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

This is a way of announcing to the world: I am only going to use 1hand, and I am going to abuse you!

Like this fed......

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by rlau

please include the donnay pro one if you would!

Will do

10char

[Pneumated1]

Originally Posted by JGads

Good luck, man. There is magic in the IG Midplus. I know it. I experienced it on multiple occasions. I just couldn't get back there for some reason, and this will be one of the great mysteries of my life. I hope you find the gold.

I've now tasted of its magic. I've seen the rainbow, and the gold is there for the taking . . . I think. Unbelievable frame! With my modded Londons, tennis is easy. The whole hoop is a sweetspot, and you can just swing 80% all day, not to mention that it's an all-court gem, imo. I don't know why I would deviate from this path, quite honestly. I don't really want to.

But . . . there's this Prestige. The first three balls I hit with it found the middle of the net, not even close to the tape. I thought, "Wow, this was a bad decision," and I put it down after about five minutes. However, I went back to it, considering that I haven't played in over a week, and I just started stroking the ball with a long, fluid, effortless swing. Something just happened; I can't explain it. I couldn't miss the sweetspot with this frame, and I couldn't miss a ball. This frame shows its teeth when you start finding the center of the stringbed with a long, relaxed swing. You feel it going into another gear, almost as if the stringbed is glazing the ball with control.

I could wax on and on, but after an hour of hitting, my hitting partner and I played a few sets, and surprisingly, I just continued with the Prestige. I won 1 & 3, had about 8-10 aces, and just put the ball on a dime the whole match. No timidity allowed with this frame, though, as it will fall short, but this is the best serving frame I've hit, and bh slices are just a dream.

Tennis is so much easier with the London, but the tennis purist in me will most likely switch to this frame, but I'll try to make it a slow transition.

Originally Posted by Meaghan

You are so right gads those rq's are ugly uglies but the design really does work.

Hey Meaghan, which grip shape do you prefer between your Beckers and this Yonex? I had a lot of trouble coming from Dunlop to BB, but now the Becker, and even Head shape, has grown on me quite a bit, especially the Head.

[ramos77]

Originally Posted by aimr75

I dont have access to my stringing machine as im moving house so had TW string it up with TB at 48lbs.

Hey do you recommend TW in Melbourne for restringing? trying to find someone good to do my racquets in gut. Thanks!

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Pneumated1

Tennis is so much easier with the London

Stay with it then. When a racquet makes tennis easy, you have a winner. the Prestige will not be easy after the honeymoon wears off.

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by ramos77

Hey do you recommend TW in Melbourne for restringing? trying to find someone good to do my racquets in gut. Thanks!

I had them do a ps85 with full gut once before i got my machine and they do a good job. At that time I think labour was about $25

[Pneumated1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Stay with it then. When a racquet makes tennis easy, you have a winner. the Prestige will not be easy after the honeymoon wears off.

I know what you're saying, and it's in the back of my mind, but when I say "easy," I don't necessarily mean more effective or more conducive to winning. The London mesmerizes you with its feel, forgiving sweetspot, and smooth response, but I definitely play looser with it than the 300 Tours I came from and this new Prestige. I've never served better with another racquet than the Prestige, and surprisingly, my ball quality is better with it than the London. I can see it, and my opponents have commented on it. And while I tend to be an aggressive player, the success of my game is dependent upon precision, but the London is no slouch in that area either.

The bottom line: the Prestige is the solution to the very few problems that I experience using the London. Whether or not solving these few problems in the greater scheme of things is worth it is the real question. Time will tell, and this transition, if it does occur, will be slow, I hope. I know what you're saying though, which is why this has been such a tough decision.