PV Audio's Playtest Thread

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by GarryClarke

hi Ross
nice one mate and would like to no how the scorpion feels as would like to play it in the PD & Blade 98 and will you let me no if the N.Vy moves about as its a real big bug bear for me and drives me nuts lol,going to try a full bed of scorpion in the blade 1st and if i like it i will try it in the PD.

Cheers Garry

Scorpion is new to me but N.Vy has been my main cross string for quite a while now. I haven't experienced the issue of N.Vy moving around previously.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by kaiser

Hey pv,

A bit off-topic, but in the Dunlop 4D200T thread in the rackets section I read you dumped the 200 Tour and went over to Head. I posted a question there, but I suppose you won't be looking at that thread anymore.

In the past I've seen vids of you hitting, and you seemed strong and fit enough to wield the Tour without restrictions. Could I ask you what it was about the Tour that made you look elsewhere? Have you found what you were looking for, and are you missing anything of the Tour now that you've made the switch?

I'm a happy 200 Tour user myself for the past 3 years, and it has helped me to develop my game to a new level. I can't help wondering, however, whether my current game could benefit from a slightly lighter, more forgiving package.

I'm very interested in your experiences because our games seem to be fairly similar in style.

Indeed, the weight of the stick never was an issue for me. I first played a Dunlop 200G in 7th grade, so I'm quite used to their heft. The issue was that I was stuggling to control how the racquet head came through the ball. Since the swing weight was so high, that makes it more tricky to time shots like mid-court to cross-court passing shots (say the opponent hits a short volley, going DTL over the high part of the net is quite risky). With the lighter swingweight and a bit more pop, I can impart more spin and less power. It's the flexibility over outright pace vs. spin that I was looking for. Lighter sticks don't give the power due to plow through, and heavier sticks leave the spin at the mercy of the racquet. That sweet spot to choose is what I wanted, and the Prestige Pro was bang on. It reminds me of a Dunlop 300 with the heft of the non-tour 200. As I said earlier in this thread, Dunlop does not make such a racquet, so I had to look elsewhere. The Prestige is that racquet.

[rdis10093]

Originally Posted by travlerajm

Did you ever get around to trying a kevlar/poly hybrid?
I'd be curious to hear a review from someone who tries so many strings.

kevlar/poly has been my go-to combo for the last few years, and every time I stray and try full poly or poly/syn or syn/poly, I wish I hadn't.

At the right tension, nothing compares to kevlar/poly for bite, control, and even feel. Power is a little lower than full poly, but if the tension is chosen properly (not too firm but also not too springy), I don't find it to be an issue. There is of course a break-in period because of the kevlar.

I also would like your opnion on kevlar, as I just read 38 pages about it on a different thread last night. have you ever used it and is it stiffer than poly?

[alidisperanza]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Indeed, the weight of the stick never was an issue for me. I first played a Dunlop 200G in 7th grade, so I'm quite used to their heft. The issue was that I was stuggling to control how the racquet head came through the ball. Since the swing weight was so high, that makes it more tricky to time shots like mid-court to cross-court passing shots (say the opponent hits a short volley, going DTL over the high part of the net is quite risky). With the lighter swingweight and a bit more pop, I can impart more spin and less power. It's the flexibility over outright pace vs. spin that I was looking for. Lighter sticks don't give the power due to plow through, and heavier sticks leave the spin at the mercy of the racquet. That sweet spot to choose is what I wanted, and the Prestige Pro was bang on. It reminds me of a Dunlop 300 with the heft of the non-tour 200. As I said earlier in this thread, Dunlop does not make such a racquet, so I had to look elsewhere. The Prestige is that racquet.

That could have been summarized to: Prestiges are beast. The end. I win.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by rdis10093

I also would like your opnion on kevlar, as I just read 38 pages about it on a different thread last night. have you ever used it and is it stiffer than poly?

Kevlar is 2-3x stiffer than poly, and in my personal opinion, there is a plainly obvious reason why it's pretty much obsolete since the advent of poly.

[pvaudio]

Adam, let me put it like this: of all of the players in club, one uses a Kevlar hybrid. I offered to let him try a poly string of my choosing for free just so that he could see the difference. He claimed Kevlar produces the most spin by far, so he took my offer. He's been playing full Tourna Big Hitter Silver Rough since August now.

[GarryClarke]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Scorpion is new to me but N.Vy has been my main cross string for quite a while now. I haven't experienced the issue of N.Vy moving around previously.

Thanks Ross

have used poly/syngut hybrids before in my PD and the string movement was terrible.
N.Vy sounds like its worth a try and a hybrid with scorpion is on the cards.

Cheers Garry

[rdis10093]

haha its all that jolly roger guy. I had never even heard of it until I read his thread. at first I thought it was a string name like 4g or something, not a type of string. you know its got to be tough on the arm though if they make vest out of it. I still kind of want to try it though.

[pvaudio]

There is a reason why you haven't tried it, it's pretty much useless in the modern game since the advent of poly. The only people who really benefit from it are those who break poly like mad. It seriously is simply meant to be a string which does not break and makes contact with the ball. It has no feel (nor is it intended to) and the lowest amount of power of any string type. Seriously, knowing how you hit, don't bother wasting your money.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by alidisperanza

That could have been summarized to: Prestiges are beast. The end. I win.

Yes, yes you did say this

[pvaudio]

I should also state at this point I am NOT personally biased against Kevlar string. It's just that I seriously believe that it no longer is relevant unless you hit such absurdly flat strokes that you notch poly to death within hours. If you do that, not even Kevlar will save you.

[rdis10093]

right now I have all of these in my room and not one is strung.

6 rdis 93
2 rqis tours
2 vcore 95 D

when I get back from break though, I was mostly interested in mosquito, twisted razer, and pro plasma. If you had to pick one of those three which one and more importantly do you still have all of those?

[tlm]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

I should also state at this point I am NOT personally biased against Kevlar string. It's just that I seriously believe that it no longer is relevant unless you hit such absurdly flat strokes that you notch poly to death within hours. If you do that, not even Kevlar will save you.

I really think that there is a lot more to kevlar than just durability. It has unmatched consistent control and very good spin which works very well for top spin players, not just flat hitters.

[fortun8son]

While I also try to discourage Kevlar use, there are some that it seems to fit.
I always keep at least one set of Crossfire 18 in stock.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by fortun8son

While I also try to discourage Kevlar use, there are some that it seems to fit.
I always keep at least one set of Crossfire 18 in stock.

Is Ashway arguably the "best" Kevlar you can buy? While it is stiff, it seems by the numbers to be a lot softer than Problend. Speaking of I have a set laying around, I might string it up to see what the hype is about...

-Fuji

[fortun8son]

One of the things I like about Ashaway is that they make everything 'in-house'.
Their main business appears to be the manufacturing of industrial window sash cord.
Great use for braided Kevlar, btw. Incredible tensile strength and little or no elongation.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by rdis10093

right now I have all of these in my room and not one is strung.

6 rdis 93
2 rqis tours
2 vcore 95 D

when I get back from break though, I was mostly interested in mosquito, twisted razer, and pro plasma. If you had to pick one of those three which one and more importantly do you still have all of those?

I have many colors of Mosquito Bite, a few sets of Twisted Razor and a reel of Poly Plasma and Plasma HEXtreme, and sets of Plasma Pure (the non-orange).

[travlerajm]

Originally Posted by tlm

I really think that there is a lot more to kevlar than just durability. It has unmatched consistent control and very good spin which works very well for top spin players, not just flat hitters.

Agreed.
Also, I think the advantages of a stiffer stringbed are underappreciated. For example:
1. Since the stringbed dents less, rebound angle is lower and less dependent on the spin rate of the incoming ball.
2. More importantly, since the stringbed deflects less, a heavy incoming ball has a shorter moment arm to apply torque to the racquet at impact. So the racquet is more torsionally stable against a heavy ball. This greatly increases directional accuracy, especially on volleys against topspin or underspin passes and blocked returns.

Kevlar may not be for everyone, but it works best for me. Of course, the fact that I use a much heavier racquet than most players means shock to the arm is a non-issue. I do thank pvaudio for helping me choose my current poly cross.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by travlerajm

Agreed.
Also, I think the advantages of a stiffer stringbed are underappreciated. For example:
1. Since the stringbed dents less, rebound angle is lower and less dependent on the spin rate of the incoming ball.
2. More importantly, since the stringbed deflects less, a heavy incoming ball has a shorter moment arm to apply torque to the racquet at impact. So the racquet is more torsionally stable against a heavy ball. This greatly increases directional accuracy, especially on volleys against topspin or underspin passes and blocked returns.

Kevlar may not be for everyone, but it works best for me. Of course, the fact that I use a much heavier racquet than most players means shock to the arm is a non-issue. I do thank pvaudio for helping me choose my current poly cross.

You have made a huge amount of inference based on something that has never proven to be true. In fact, your reasoning is exactly opposite. The fact that there is less deflection means that the incoming ball's energy goes elsewhere. Compared to natural gut which will absorb an enormous amount of energy and return it, the stiffness in this case should do exactly opposite what you're saying. Think about it in extremes: a stringbed of a piece of wood vs. a stringbed made of rubber bands. Which will be more torsionally stable when hit with a huge ball?

[travlerajm]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

You have made a huge amount of inference based on something that has never proven to be true. In fact, your reasoning is exactly opposite. The fact that there is less deflection means that the incoming ball's energy goes elsewhere. Compared to natural gut which will absorb an enormous amount of energy and return it, the stiffness in this case should do exactly opposite what you're saying. Think about it in extremes: a stringbed of a piece of wood vs. a stringbed made of rubber bands. Which will be more torsionally stable when hit with a huge ball?

Actually, your example helps make it easier to make my point.

A wooden paddle is much more torsionally stable than a stringbed made from rubber bands.

Consider what happens when a heavy ball with lots of topspin and pace hits the center of a rubber band stringbed:

The stringbed will deflect several inches. And because the ball has high rpm, it will not only deflect the stringbed in the normal direction, but the downward moving leading surface of the ball will grip the stringbed with friction and pull the center of the stringbed downward. The downward force vector acting on the stringbed is not within the plane of the stringbed -- rather, it is shifted several inches out of plane by the big deflection. The torque at a given time is the cross product of the downward force vector and the deflection - that is, the deflection = the moment arm. The bigger the deflection, the more torque acting on the stringbed to twist the frame.

In contrast, a wooden paddle has negligible deflection, so the moment arm is negligible, and the torque is negligible. Thus the wooden paddle is not twisted at all by a heavy ball, and makes for very accurate (albeit low-powered) volleying.

And your point about the ball's energy going elsewhere: it goes into ball flattening of course. Ball flattening means reduced power. But ball flattening also contributes significantly to spin generation, because the ball's rotational moment of inertia causes the ball's surface to move faster than the stringbed as the ball decompresses and its radius (i.e., distance from the stringbed to the ball's center) increases with a phenomenon know as "overspinning." I'm not making this up - it's been well-documented in lab tests.