Diary of a Racketaholic

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by BC1

You may be right, but to be honest I was one of those guys who grew up playing with a heavier stick and hitting flat. I've just been toying with all the new modern tweeners since I got back in the game after a 20 year break. I try to convince myself that I got a topspin game, but I don't. That's why I've had a hard time being consistent with the PDs and APDs. Maybe I just needed to go back to my roots.

Anyway, time will tell. Right now I am loving the 95D, played with it again and liked it even more. I am playing better then I have in many months, and I can definitely attribute that to the racquet.

Question, would adding a little lead at 12 in the hoop make it stiffer and harder on the arm, or would it somehow make it easier on the arm by possibly increasing plow through and less bounce back/vibration when hit high in the hoop?

Thanks

I doubt it would make it easier. The 95D is a really, really great stick so if you do hit flatter and can handle the weight, your main issue will be playing pain free.

[BC1]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^ Oh yeah.

I buy dinosaur toys and Ninja Turtles because I can't stand to see naked barbies and stuffed pink things all over the floor all the time. Leonardo is married to Barbie btw. And tv?!?!.... I have 'dora the explorer', 'sid the science kid' and 'between the lions' theme songs eternally stuck in my head.

It's their house (wife and daughter's), I'm just a guest with privileges.

Too funny. I have 4 older girls, ages 16-22. My wife and I then had our BOY, so I am not the only male anymore. However I understand the drama thing - 4 teenage girls and a wife - unbelievable! As far as King of the house. Forget it!! My only saving grace is my five year old son - The toys and movies (spiderman, avengers, etc.) are great. And he LOVES tennis. Taking him to a tennis clinic today!! I may be able to get some tips from him!

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Ha! Obviously you're not a father of all girls. King of the house? Hardly. To coin one of the shows my kids watch: Total Drama Island.

I have a 5 year old boy, starting in tennis, soccer and karate. He may try some basketball, swiiming and volleyball later on . He loves Batman and my IPHONE. The girl, the three year old, is a cutie, is very athletic for her age and I do as she says...

[Ross K]

klem,

Many congratulations. Great news.


Meags,

Interesting shout re big mod job on a Pure Storm, a frame I've never hit with actually, and TBH, never been attracted to.


PP,

Q. What were the mods exactly you had on your PD+ earlier this year? Also, what was your reasoning/thinking behind this.

[Power Player]

PD + swung light so adding 3-4 grams at 12 gave it plow and slowed it down a little.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Power Player

PD + swung light so adding 3-4 grams at 12 gave it plow and slowed it down a little.

I'd also imagine that 3-4g @ 12 would add even more serve/g-stroke rocketing oomph to what is already a very powerful frame indeed.

[Power Player]

Yes it was a very very nice set up for that racquet. I ended up preferring standard length sticks since I hit higher up on the bed.

Figuring out Plus vs standard took me a while.

[PED]

Originally Posted by BC1

EDIT: It is very possible that my string set-up had a lot to do with my unsuccesful trial of the IG Rad Pro. Plus the fact that I didn't give it much of a chance. Balance and sw were not comfortable for me either.

You may be right there. Reading your posts further up this page, the igrp's balance and SW seems to work better with a heavy topspin kind of game-you don't have to play loopy shots with it and you can still drive the ball, but it's a hard frame to adapt to when you're demoing other sticks. It took me some time to get used to the weight and balance-the timing of the swing is quite different than my leaded apd's.

Sounds like the 95d is a good fit for your game. The 98 is supposed to be nice.

Re the Babs, it may be the thick beam and the woofer that's putting you off. I seem also to prefer the thinner beams at 21mm or so as opposed to the tapered 26mm Bab.

Did you ever try out the Wilson Juice-same specs as a PD but better feel. Nice stick and lots of fun.

[Murray_fan1]

Ok Hit with the IGRP for the first time and couldn't help but think....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74J_R9Bifj8


Seriously though, it is a major upgrade from the previous version. Racquet feels so sublime and plush. Unlike the previous version the swing weight seems very manageable and does not have that clunky feel to it. The flex will be a bit of an adjustment for some but to feels just right to me, reminiscent of the PB 10 Mid in this regard. Power is easily on tap and I think this stick will reward players who tend to have more of a topspin ( w/wiper) forehand and play with a 2HBH (Yonex level-effortless execution). Comfort is what you would expect from a stick with this type of flex and matches well with a crisp full poly string bed but I suspect it would also hybrid well.

All in all this stick has left a pretty good impression and has been placed in the # 1 spot in my bag until further notice. More to come

[Ross K]

Muzza,

Originally Posted by Murray_fan1

Seriously though, it is a major upgrade from the previous version. Racquet feels so sublime and plush. Unlike the previous version the swing weight seems very manageable and does not have that clunky feel to it. The flex will be a bit of an adjustment for some but to feels just right to me, reminiscent of the PB 10 Mid in this regard. Power is easily on tap and I think this stick will reward players who tend to have more of a topspin ( w/wiper) forehand and play with a 2HBH (Yonex level-effortless execution). Comfort is what you would expect from a stick with this type of flex and matches well with a crisp full poly string bed but I suspect it would also hybrid well.

All in all this stick has left a pretty good impression and has been placed in the # 1 spot in my bag until further notice. More to come

Oh Murray!... Every single word of the above (I've read the post twice) makes it sound completely like it would appeal to me... Oh dear, this thread is just no good whatsoever for my mental stability.


RHs,

Immediately after yesterday's session with the APDO/Pro No 1/PC+, I now realize I was slightly rushing to conclusions, especially re the Pro No 1/VT Pro 98.

To put it in perspective, compared to the elite, somewhat classic, personal favourite GROAT frames I've had the privilege to play with over the years, I'd say I found it easier to use than, say, a PT630, and more on a par with a frame like the C10 Pro, which I could use and didn't find overwhelmingly demanding. So I think I need to look at it again and not dismiss it totally because although I detected a slight but crucial lack of g/stoke depth and ability to consistently boom the b-line - (this element was rectified when I went with the APD, though it sure didn't feel anywhere near as good - and it was also the case with the PC+, which felt better and had increased accuracy over the APD) - this aside, the Fischer is a beautiful, classy, just too special a frame to dismiss out of hand just yet. I'm also aware that set up could make a big difference here.

"Cough, cough"...

Equally, I do also perhaps think I should just forget entirely about impact feel, sweet swinging, great targeting, beautiful Austrian quality build, and any deluded beliefs on my capacity to effectively wield a frame designed for higher level players etc, and just ear-mark the PD+ and go all out for 100 per cent maximum undiluted g/stroke and b-line power/spin, with virtually no other considerations!

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Murray_fan1

Ok Hit with the IGRP for the first time and couldn't help but think....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74J_R9Bifj8


Seriously though, it is a major upgrade from the previous version. Racquet feels so sublime and plush. Unlike the previous version the swing weight seems very manageable and does not have that clunky feel to it. The flex will be a bit of an adjustment for some but to feels just right to me, reminiscent of the PB 10 Mid in this regard. Power is easily on tap and I think this stick will reward players who tend to have more of a topspin ( w/wiper) forehand and play with a 2HBH (Yonex level-effortless execution). Comfort is what you would expect from a stick with this type of flex and matches well with a crisp full poly string bed but I suspect it would also hybrid well.

All in all this stick has left a pretty good impression and has been placed in the # 1 spot in my bag until further notice. More to come

Uhmmm, yeah..

So I played an away league match tonight at a club where they offered free same-day demos. Trouble. One of them was the Rad Pro. Because I'm a madman, you know what I walked out onto the court with. Proceeded to whip through a 6-0, 6-3 victory. Stellar frame. Feels very much like the pro stocks I have, with a flex that just massages the ball and throws it where you wish, poppy but not too much pop. Feel was soft, incredibly pockety, but demo was strung with cheap wilson synthetic gut. Returned the frame and the pro shop notifies me they're having a sale, plus free alu power stringjob...

Tomorrow it's in the bag, beside the Mac frame and the 7G. I couldn't ignore the bagel. And so it goes...

[sargeinaz]

^^ I liked the rad pro a lot, Comfy, controlled power, spin, amazing on serve....but it was just a little too flexy for me. I could never get comfortable with targeting and painting the lines due to the flex. I wish it were like 3 points stiffer.

[crosscourt]

Originally Posted by Ross K

(this element was rectified when I went with the APD, though it sure didn't feel anywhere near as good -

That is the problem with the APD and its successors (assuming that your elbow can stand it). The feel just doesnt persuade you that you are playing great tennis even when you are. If the next upgrade is on a par with the latest to the PDR that problem may well be sorted out.

CC

[syke]

Originally Posted by Meaghan

Looking forward to a league match tonight, its been a little trying of late with th UK being besieged by Zeus and his merry rain dance....

Anyways on another note, pushed the random cd button in the car and on came 'Different Class' by Pulp, one of the best albums ever made imo and just so typically English ("It may look to the untrained eye, Im sitting on my arse all day"), just Jarvis genius at his best. I decided to stick it out on the road til the album was finished......ha, must of looked like a nutter, singing with the cd blasting.....oh well I deserve my right to have a middle aged crisis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5WSNceUgNU

I am a huge fan of Pulp....

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Ross K

To put it in perspective, compared to the elite, somewhat classic, personal favourite GROAT frames I've had the privilege to play with over the years, I'd say I found it easier to use than, say, a PT630, and more on a par with a frame like the C10 Pro, which I could use and didn't find overwhelmingly demanding.

Funny you mention the C10 Pro as that was what I used prior to the M Pro No. 1/X Force Pro. My only complaint of the C10 Pro was it seemed a tad heavy, and during long matches vs. younger players my shoulder would become fatigued, and I could no longer generate anything on shots shoulder-height & above. This was especially the case on clay.

Switching from one to the other was rather easy, the only adjustment being looking down at the profile & seeing a 20-25mm tapered beam vs. 20mm straight beam. Once I got past that, the love affair began, and 1 year later is still going strong...

[Power Player]

Rad Pro makes total sense for Gads. It has that lower static weight, higher SW ratio of the Black ace. I am not surprised by him digging this stick. If I was not so happy with the 200, I would revisit, but I found the yonex gave me more control and a little less power, which is what I needed.

The Rad Pro has some serious power..impressive for that type of flex.

You RP guys should try my Courier setup if you want a change from full poly. It will feel incredible in that stick, I can about guarantee it. Full poly really takes away the feel and volley advantage I am getting with a syn gut or gut main.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Rad Pro makes total sense for Gads. It has that lower static weight, higher SW ratio of the Black ace. I am not surprised by him digging this stick. If I was not so happy with the 200, I would revisit, but I found the yonex gave me more control and a little less power, which is what I needed.

The Rad Pro has some serious power..impressive for that type of flex.

You RP guys should try my Courier setup if you want a change from full poly. It will feel incredible in that stick, I can about guarantee it. Full poly really takes away the feel and volley advantage I am getting with a syn gut or gut main.

Exactly. That lower static and higher SW felt right at home. No transition.We'll see if it sticks, but first impression was just great. My bag is madness again.

[Dave M]

Any thoughts on the head L/M instinct? Not that I have changed my mind o the exo3 tours without using it due to awful weather but it sounds interesting.....

[Boricua]

I played tonight with the Babolat Aerprodrive GT with LTEC 5S at 48. This string compliments the Aeropro quite nicely as it has a muted feel that takes away the boardy feel of the APD. The mix of power and control was there. I felt much better hitting with a racket with a much higher swingweight if compared with the VCORE 100. Now I have to decide if I will trade the almost new VCORE for a second APD. This is hard to decide especially when I had good hopes with the VCORE before receiving it. If I dont trade it I suppose it will stay in the closet collecting dust.

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by Ross K

klem,

Many congratulations. Great news.

Thanks Ross. Hope this time around it'll be a boy! But if it's not, I'll still be excited for a girl, healthy and happy.

Originally Posted by Murray_fan1

Ok Hit with the IGRP for the first time and couldn't help but think....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74J_R9Bifj8


Seriously though, it is a major upgrade from the previous version. Racquet feels so sublime and plush. Unlike the previous version the swing weight seems very manageable and does not have that clunky feel to it. The flex will be a bit of an adjustment for some but to feels just right to me, reminiscent of the PB 10 Mid in this regard. Power is easily on tap and I think this stick will reward players who tend to have more of a topspin ( w/wiper) forehand and play with a 2HBH (Yonex level-effortless execution). Comfort is what you would expect from a stick with this type of flex and matches well with a crisp full poly string bed but I suspect it would also hybrid well.

All in all this stick has left a pretty good impression and has been placed in the # 1 spot in my bag until further notice. More to come

It's a nice frame for sure, then I read reviews like this and I wonder if I had not spent enough time with it. Like I've said before, anything with flex catches my eye.

Originally Posted by Ross K

Muzza,



Oh Murray!... Every single word of the above (I've read the post twice) makes it sound completely like it would appeal to me... Oh dear, this thread is just no good whatsoever for my mental stability.

^Seriously . I'm going to be green with jealousy for the next year or so reading this thread. My racquetholic days are behind me guys. Not only do we have another kid on the way but we're looking into becoming first time home-owners. Can't pay rent anymore. Moving to Virginia. Less taxes. Closer to work.

I'll have to make do with my 2 6.1teams until they go on sale, or hunt down some used racquets. Can't justify paying close to $200 for a racquet anymore. Good thing too, just got my set-up dialed in with the 6.1teams. Looking for string set-ups now and some brush-up lessons before the fall indoor season. Good Luck to all the rh's... I'll be reading!