PV Audio's Playtest Thread

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by alidisperanza

I've run through 5 vcore 95Ds and with the largest range of 3 grams... It was really, really, impressive. I refuse to buy a wilson frame for the sole fact that I've picked up 2 brand new PS 95s and they were two different racquets for all intensive purposes.

Head, on the other hand is so-so. For me, balance and stiffness are more finnicky. The prestiges I've had were always pretty good. Unfortunately, I'd have to do some work on my radicals to get them the same.

All six of my 4d200Ts are fantastically similar. Four are identical to the gram, and then the other two are identical, but two grams lighter than the other four.

[Teniludius]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Anyone have any replacement grip suggestions? I went with the 4.5, but do play to re-grip them immediately.

If you replace the Prestige Pro's leather grip with a synthetic grip you could significantly alter the balance and feel, so I'd recommend caution. A Head leather grip weighs ~23g, while synthetic grips typically weigh ~15g, and an 8 gram difference in the handle is pretty significant! I have read, though, that the Gamma Hi-Tech Perforated is one of the heaviest synthetics, so if you want to go synthetic you could try it. (There's a thread in the sticky in the "Other Equipment" section on leather vs sythetic grip weight, where a bunch of the weights of grips are listed.) As for the Babolat Skin Feel, it's probably the thinnest grip out there, and basically brings you down a grip size; moreover it's extremely light and so would significantly alter the balance.--That said, if I really liked the feel and balance of the racquet but struggled with the leather, I'd probably just invest some extra money to get a Fairway or RPNY or Priority 1 leather grip, which would be much softer.

[pvaudio]

Already taken into account doc! The Hi-Tec is the one I've decided to use.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Already taken into account doc! The Hi-Tec is the one I've decided to use.

And if you don't like them, you can take them off and put something else on.

[ushynoti]

So is Weiss Cannon and Whispertouch gut still the top in your book, pvaudio?

[Logic Dude]

Well, since Up&comer seems to be on a break, I'll ask you as well.

I've been using Signum Pro strings, mostly SPPP because it seems to hold tension really well, and I'm curious as to what might give similar performance at a similar price with a little more spin (the one thing it seems to lack). Thanks!

I loved reading through your thread by the way!

[pvaudio]

So sad

Time to send in the Pros since my demo period is up. I don't want to wait two days until I get my own haha. Went serving with it tonight....feisty!

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by ushynoti

So is Weiss Cannon and Whispertouch gut still the top in your book, pvaudio?

Yep, Scorpion is still my favorite poly, and if I could cross it with anything, it'd be WT gut. However, I can't afford gut anymore and I have exactly one set of Scorpion left. I have Yonex PTP coming in (yellow), so hopefully if all the raves are real, that'll become my new go-to string. If it is good, I'll try the graphite because the yellow is ugly haha.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by Logic Dude

Well, since Up&comer seems to be on a break, I'll ask you as well.

I've been using Signum Pro strings, mostly SPPP because it seems to hold tension really well, and I'm curious as to what might give similar performance at a similar price with a little more spin (the one thing it seems to lack). Thanks!

I loved reading through your thread by the way!

That frankly is an impossible question to answer. SPPP, in my view, is the best overall poly on the market. It does everything above average besides look good haha. You're going to have to trade something. It's like a pick 3 situation: playability, price, durability. In your situation, you already have those 3, so you are going to have to go up on one, down on the other. Perhaps a thinner gauge SPPP (break sooner), or Tornado (more expensive).

[COPEY]

Hey PV, you don't think SPP HEXtreme would be what he's looking for?

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by COPEY

Hey PV, you don't think SPP HEXtreme would be what he's looking for?

I did consider this, and I actually JUST strung two frames with SPPHEX, but it's 3 dollars more. But yes, when it does wear down it becomes regular old SPPP, that's a good bet. Interestingly, and perhaps it's due to the gears, SPP Hex strings like a nasty poly: stiff, recalcitrant and sharp. SPPP doesn't. Plus, you can only get Hex in 1.25mm, so you better like that gauge!

[COPEY]

I hear ya, but I figure if it gets him the performance he's looking for, he could always opt to pick up a reel across the water. Can't beat that price!

Recalcitrant, huh? I suppose you have to make use of the $50 words somewhere because I'm sure you're not afforded the opportunity in every day conversation lol.

[Logic Dude]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

That frankly is an impossible question to answer. SPPP, in my view, is the best overall poly on the market. It does everything above average besides look good haha. You're going to have to trade something. It's like a pick 3 situation: playability, price, durability. In your situation, you already have those 3, so you are going to have to go up on one, down on the other. Perhaps a thinner gauge SPPP (break sooner), or Tornado (more expensive).

Originally Posted by COPEY

Hey PV, you don't think SPP HEXtreme would be what he's looking for?

Thanks for the help! I'll try the hex and a smaller gauge and see how those go.

[Fuji]

Hey PV, is the new Dunlop Ice possibly in the future for a test?

-Fuji

[pvaudio]

I looked at it and it has some...interesting talking points. I'm not sure, we'll see if there's some huge buzz once people start trying it. Next for me is Yonex Poly Tour Pro (yellow). It's going to look HIDEOUS, so hopefully I didn't make a mistake in buying it in reel form as Copey said, across the pond. I wasn't sure if the graphite plays the same and if it doesn't (Iontec Salmon and Iontec Black aren't even similar, as an example), then I'd rather take the ugly fantastic string.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

I have Yonex PTP coming in (yellow), so hopefully if all the raves are real, that'll become my new go-to string.

I don't think there a huge number of raves about it - certainly not from me anyway. It's a not a bad string, good(ish) would be the way I'd describe it (with the emphasis on ish). It's main strength is that it plays very consistently but there's no 'shazam' factor as far as I'm concerned.

The main downside I'd say is that the feel/feedback is a bit muted (which shouldn't really bother anyone who plays a big baseline game), and spin is okay but not as great as the best 'spin' orientated strings.

That said, I don't think it plays that differently to Scorpion, the main difference (in my view) being that there's more of a muted feel and it seems to last longer than Scorpion before going dead - it doesn't seem to 'tighten' up with hitting in the way that Scorpion does. Personally, I think Scorpion is the better string when fresh (the better feel giving it the edge), but PTP seems to remain playable longer, though it does lose tension over time. It will be interesting hearing your thoughts in due course.

[rdis10093]

I love yonex, but man I did not like that string. it has good tension over time but it does not play so great.

[pvaudio]

It's doing quite nicely over in Germany, even PTSpin is at the top of the Spin rankings:

http://stringforum.net/top5.php?cat=S

Overall by an enormous margin:
http://stringforum.net/top5.php?show=overall

Only string ever with a 100% satisfaction rating with over 25 reviews.

[pvaudio]

However, pound per pound, my Signum Pro fave is even higher rated:

http://stringforum.net/strings.php?sdnr=3651&count=1

[Torres]

^ You're well aware that the String Forum polling / voting system is flawed because people can mark down stuff that they've never even played with. It favors whatever is popular at the time, whatever string is being 'pushed' by that forum at the particular time, favors 'block reviews', and that Jans guy moderates the scores of anything you submit and even blocks reviews/scores if it doesn't 'fit' in with *his* view of a particular string. You can see that that Top 5 makes no sense anyway - 4 natural gut strings and PTP as the single poly sticking out like a sore thumb. Very skewed and subjective scoring system.