Diary of a Racketaholic

[Murray_fan1]

Picking up another Prestige Pro this weekend, so I will be able to compare strings side by side. Really liking Solinco Outlast in the Prestige thus far. Outlast like my favorite BM is a very consistent string that seems to do everything well. Hopefully this string does not drop off a cliff as quickly as BM. Time will tell....

[Ross K]

arrow and PP/RHs,

Food for thought. I confess these Head MPs like the Elite and 300 have passed me by. In fact I know next to nothing on a lot of these (like the Instinct series, there's another one).

Re the IG Extreme MP that I was all set on checking out, a big downer has suddenly appeared in the unwelcome form of a fact I hadn't realized... 72 RA.

This does bug me big-time re the high RA on frames generally (just like the hugely disappointing rumoured 74 RA on the next APD, for example... wtf?! )... 67/68 is plenty stiff IMO and is about as far as I like to go... who really wants a frame that's 72/73/74 RA?!... I tell you something, it won't be someone who's had wrist issues like me for a while.

Anyhow, if the IG Extreme plays as stiff as that suggests, I might well have a problem with that. What with the slight decrease in stiffness I believe, I'd also probably be well advised to wait for the 2.0 version.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Ross K

arrow and PP/RHs,

Food for thought. I confess these Head MPs like the Elite and 300 have passed me by. In fact I know next to nothing on a lot of these (like the Instinct series, there's another one).

Re the IG Extreme MP that I was all set on checking out, a big downer has suddenly appeared in the unwelcome form of a fact I hadn't realized... 72 RA.

This does bug me big-time re the high RA on frames generally (just like the hugely disappointing rumoured 74 RA on the next APD, for example... wtf?! )... 67/68 is plenty stiff IMO and is about as far as I like to go... who really wants a frame that's 72/73/74 RA?!... I tell you something, it won't be someone who's had wrist issues like me for a while.

Anyhow, if the IG Extreme plays as stiff as that suggests, I might well have a problem with that. What with the slight decrease in stiffness I believe, I'd also probably be well advised to wait for the 2.0 version.

I'd scratch the 300 off the list of interest, if I were you. When I was in NY I got to play a friend there at a club and I was stickless and had to demo a 300 because it was all they had, wasn't very impressed, and then in the second hour of play my buddy let me borrow his spare APD and it was just a much better stick, easier to work with. Never hit with the Elite, though, and of course I've always been somewhat of a fan of the 315 version. The 300 was the lone Speed stick that I really didn't like. Too sluggish for its light weight and did not put a lot of pace on the ball -- which is something you should be able to do pretty easily with a lighter tweener like that.... Never tried the Extremes. My $.02.

[Meaghan]

Ross,
Any more outings with the c10pro? Also Id leave the extreme well alone, maybe the new one has some favourable comments but the old one doesnt compare with the APD imo.

Had an offer (which I turned down) for a couple of brand new Volkl tour 10 X-tended sticks, shame really but collecting rackets has long gone and I just want something Im actually gonna play with. Beautiful they were and a hard decision but I prefer the beefier c10, just need a couple more and something to have a fiddle with like an x10 or a bright yellow V-engine, anyone, anyone???

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Meaghan

Ross,
Any more outings with the c10pro? Also Id leave the extreme well alone, maybe the new one has some favourable comments but the old one doesnt compare with the APD imo.

Had an offer (which I turned down) for a couple of brand new Volkl tour 10 X-tended sticks, shame really but collecting rackets has long gone and I just want something Im actually gonna play with. Beautiful they were and a hard decision but I prefer the beefier c10, just need a couple more and something to have a fiddle with like an x10 or a bright yellow V-engine, anyone, anyone???

Not sure if I'll be playing this week, which is frustrating. Still got the C10 on the launch pad ready to go with a slightly lighter version of the mods set up you gave me. Might take a little look again at the X Force Pro - just such a good frame imo. Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter.

BTW, I vetoed the Extreme... I've had on/off wrist issues for a bit and I just can't do 72 RA.

[bad_call]

pulled out the 4D100 since the yy200 tournagrip was soaked from play (high humidity lately) and remembered why it's been a keeper. just hits a nice offensive ball when u get behind it.

[Power Player]

Gads, did you ever get to try a PK Q5?

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Not sure if I'll be playing this week, which is frustrating. Still got the C10 on the launch pad ready to go with a slightly lighter version of the mods set up you gave me. Might take a little look again at the X Force Pro - just such a good frame imo. Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter.

BTW, I vetoed the Extreme... I've had on/off wrist issues for a bit and I just can't do 72 RA.

"Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter."

Which strings did you get?

Last night, I used LTEC 5 S full bed at 44/48 in my APD GT. Good control and pretty soft. Looking forward to get a bit more hours due to better tension maintenance that this string should offer. Many people say LTEC is just marketing but it feels good in the APD.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Gads, did you ever get to try a PK Q5?

You know me well, my friend. I sent out for a demo this week actually (must check out all things PK). But I wasn't impressed. Seems like there's a lot of love for this frame on the Q5 thread, which is part of what suckered me into trying it, but to me the frame felt like a 5G/7G that had its soul taken away -- they both have the kinetic system, but whereas the 7G is still more of a full thump upon ball contact, the Q5 was more of a hollow crack. Not old-school Bab tweener hollow or anything, but enough of a hollow feel to turn me off. Someone in the other thread described the frame as being particularly 'plush,' but I didn't find that at all. The IG Prestiges (with the right string), Yonnie 200, Black Ace -- those are some plush sticks, not this one. And nothing about the frame's performance stood out to me -- nothing too bad, but also nothing at all that made me go, ''ooh-la-la."

7G and Black Ace remain head and shoulders above everything else in the PK line, for me.

By the way, congrats on Month 5. Impressed.

[mikeler]

JGads,

I think I'm going down in weight and pulling the trigger on some Exo Tours? You wouldn't happen to need anymore 7Gs at a special racketaholic discount would you?

[Power Player]

Thanks Gads. The only stick I am intrigued by is that Ps95. I have it on my "gut list" in case my arm gets annoyed with the poly but so far it has been smooth sailing and I have no complaints. there is no doubt my game has gotten better from removing all the variables.

Nice review on the Q5.

Mikeler you would love the 200, but since you want to go lighter it may be a hair heavy.

I will say I am interested in what Prince will release next year..the EXO tour felt so good, but those ports were a nightmare to string.

[bad_call]

^ thought Prince went chapter 11 or something. is the company back in business?

[Power Player]

Yes they have new ownership who wants to return to normal grommets.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Boricua

"Other than that, nearly all the strings have arrived now, so I'll be checking out a load of stuff across the board this early winter."

Which strings did you get?

Last night, I used LTEC 5 S full bed at 44/48 in my APD GT. Good control and pretty soft. Looking forward to get a bit more hours due to better tension maintenance that this string should offer. Many people say LTEC is just marketing but it feels good in the APD.

Scorpion, SS, Iontec, TCS (your rec), Xcel, RIP, Mantis Comfort, Nvy, Pacific Gut, Co-Focus... should keep me (and my stringer) occupied for quite a while.

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Scorpion, SS, Iontec, TCS (your rec), Xcel, RIP, Mantis Comfort, Nvy, Pacific Gut, Co-Focus... should keep me (and my stringer) occupied for quite a while.

If you like TCS when you try it out keep in mind that LTEC 5S feels similar but lasts more. You will pay more for the string but reduce stringing costs or time spent stringing.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Thanks Gads. The only stick I am intrigued by is that Ps95. I have it on my "gut list" in case my arm gets annoyed with the poly but so far it has been smooth sailing and I have no complaints. there is no doubt my game has gotten better from removing all the variables.

Mikeler you would love the 200, but since you want to go lighter it may be a hair heavy.

I will say I am interested in what Prince will release next year..the EXO tour felt so good, but those ports were a nightmare to string.

It's too bad I bought my stringer right before Gamma upgraded their brake. I've done the ports before and just use the hip method. At least the Exo Tour has 2 less cross strings than the 7G.

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yes they have new ownership who wants to return to normal grommets.

I think the ports allow you to swing faster but it could be my imagination.

[Power Player]

They do. That stick feels really good and solid too. I had trouble getting the tension right when I strung it ,but it is a little tricky on my stringway with O Ports. Half of the hitting partners and coaches I saw at the Sony were using the EXO tour because it is so comfortable.

[bad_call]

uh oh...mikeler might want to buy back the partial reel of B5E for his Exo Tours.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by bad_call

uh oh...mikeler might want to buy back the partial reel of B5E for his Exo Tours.

Not so fast my friend! I'm done with poly for good...I think. I have to admit, I can't imagine what B5E mains in the Exo would do to the ball. Just with full sensation, I was making the ball oblong at times yesterday against the little lobber.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by mikeler

JGads,

I think I'm going down in weight and pulling the trigger on some Exo Tours? You wouldn't happen to need anymore 7Gs at a special racketaholic discount would you?

Actually, maybe. The only one I have left (cracked the other that was perfect) is head-heavier than it should be, which makes it pummel the ball but it gets a bit unwieldy at times. Are yours pretty much on spec? I may have my people call your people.

Originally Posted by Power Player

They do. That stick feels really good and solid too. I had trouble getting the tension right when I strung it ,but it is a little tricky on my stringway with O Ports. Half of the hitting partners and coaches I saw at the Sony were using the EXO tour because it is so comfortable.

Noticed this, too. Lot of Exos out there among coaches, including Annacone... O-Port is one of the few new techs that really, genuinely worked. Made the sweet spot huge, and the frame fly faster. I just could never get used to that feel for the life of me.