Diary of a Racketaholic

[corners]

Originally Posted by sansaephanh

Stands up to many modern stick. The feel and the specs are just in my wheel house and i've hit with it quite a couple of times recently. Its almost my dream stick. It has just a tiny bit more pop then my rebels and is just as quick through the contact.

Legendary stick imo. I'd praise it more, but i've been looking to get my hands on a few. soo... ITS SUCKS DONT BUY IT.

LOL, I'll only buy the ridiculously overpriced ones and leave the epic bargain auctions to you.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

off balance is due to footwork (rear foot not coming around) and the slow recovery is the result of holding your finish position too long.

I've found FYB's instructional video with Yann Auzoux's modern footwork quite helpful towards improving my recovery footwork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5CWAwtijVI

Always liked this vid too. Nice how Will and Yann get on.

[Ross K]

More Baily method (I'm hooked now and will look up all the stuff I can). Now, some may even view this as a bit much for a little kid in some respects, whatever, this eight-year old can coach me any day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pFMiSZ1rDY

[NickJ]

Originally Posted by corners

Just noticed in another thread that our favorite 5.0, Chris Edwards, is hitting the venerable PS 6.0 95 these days, working it in with another classic, the C10 Pro. Any of you guys ever hit extensively with the 6.0 95?

Used a 6.0 95 exclusively for over 20yrs, wouldn't want anything else. But now I have only 1 usable frame left (sniffle).

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

off balance is due to footwork (rear foot not coming around) and the slow recovery is the result of holding your finish position too long.

I've found FYB's instructional video with Yann Auzoux's modern footwork quite helpful towards improving my recovery footwork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5CWAwtijVI

I wasn't crazy about that footwork series with Yan. I never see any Pros using the "walking step" or the "hopping step". I think Baileys stuff is more relatable

[PED]

I hate to even say it but I may be switching to the apd.

Day 3 seems to done the trick. I took off the rubberband dampener and instantly got a good deal more feedback that I was missing.

It was like my first time driving a 911 and discovering what that extra half inch of throttle would do when you pinned it to the floor .

Either way, nice to have the extended demo time to make up my mind but I can tell you that as of last monday, I had NO interest in changing.

[jjs891]

PED

Which 911 are you driving? I've owned a couple of 911's before but drive Boxster S now and loving it.

My apologies for being off topic but couldn't resist.

[PED]

Originally Posted by jjs891

PED

Which 911 are you driving? I've owned a couple of 911's before but drive Boxster S now and loving it.

My apologies for being off topic but couldn't resist.

I don't have them anymore, I had an 86 Carrera and a 96 4S. Fun cars. I eventually bought a Suzuki GSXR to fill that urge.

You know exactly what I'm talking about re that extra bit of throttle

[PED]

PP, one quick question, did you find any real difference between your pd2012 and the new apd?

They've got a sweet deal on the pd's locally and I can save some major coin so if there's no big difference, I figure why not.

I never found much of a diff in the past between my leaded apd's and the pdr FWIW.

[Power Player]

Let me start off with a fresh link to a steam review verifying (possibly) some concerns of the ball sitting up too much.

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/tec...-tennis-racket

I get to the store and get handed this:



While getting gas, I realize it is the 99, NOT the 99s. The pattern was rather open on the 99, and the specs felt perfect. So I am excited about that. It came through the air like the Blade, just a bit faster. Balance felt the same..everything.

Unfortunately they screwed up and the 99S was gone. Well until it comes back in a few days, and it's mine. they felt bad, and handed me this:



The 105s. A letdown, but I still have an S stick to try at least. The main letdown is just how light it feels. I am considering slapping a little lead on at 12, but I can't find specs anywhere so that could be a shot in the dark. I really like the weight class of the apd and blade, so going lighter is going to result in some fluffy balls I am guessing. Regardless the spin should be hilarious, and I am hoping a mega slice and dice guy is up there tonight, as he hits with a similar weighted OS stick and is all about spin. It will be fun to see what he can do with it when I am not using it.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by PED

PP, one quick question, did you find any real difference between your pd2012 and the new apd?

They've got a sweet deal on the pd's locally and I can save some major coin so if there's no big difference, I figure why not.

I never found much of a diff in the past between my leaded apd's and the pdr FWIW.

Yes, the PD felt better to me and also swung lighter. I hated the PD stock, but could play the APD stock. you will probably have to lead up the PD, and it probably will aggravate the shoulder tissue so I'd think about it.

[jjs891]

Thanks PED

96 4S must have been a beast!!
Probably scare yourself more on the Suzuki Very fun indeed.

Back to the topic.

[JGads]

PP, here are the only specs I could find from another site. Not sure how the SW figure translates - is this saying that the SW on the 105 is in the 330s? ... At least it's two more points HL. Anyway, there's one dude in the "Home Run" thread that seemed to prefer the 105 to the 99. Who knows.


99S
Head Size: 99 sq. in.

Length: 27″

Strung Weight: 11.3 oz/320 g

Balance: 2pts. HL

Swingweight: 10.2 oz/304 g

String Pattern: 16 mains x 15 crosses


105S
Head Size: 105 sq. in.

Length: 27.5″

Strung Weight: 10.8 oz/305 g

Balance: 4 pts. HL

Swingweight: 10.8 oz/305 g

String Pattern: 16 mains x 15 crosses

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by PED

I hate to even say it but I may be switching to the apd.

Day 3 seems to done the trick. I took off the rubberband dampener and instantly got a good deal more feedback that I was missing.

It was like my first time driving a 911 and discovering what that extra half inch of throttle would do when you pinned it to the floor .

Either way, nice to have the extended demo time to make up my mind but I can tell you that as of last monday, I had NO interest in changing.

yeah, i preferred JGad's demo without the dampener, too. like you, the more time i spent with it, the better it felt and played. i hate to say it as well, but i'm considering this stick, too, assuming my shoulder and wrist are up to the task.

[Power Player]

I decided for now to play it stock and just see what happens. It will be a slight pain to switch back to the blade, but ill live.

My brief fling with the 99 dry swinging it and holding it was very very positive. It feels much more substantial than the APDC in hand. I am pretty sure the only difference in the S is the drill pattern. I have a really good feeling that the Babs may lose a bunch of sales this year to the Steam. It most likely is going to give more spin and all signs point to it having that wilson feel that makes the Blades feel so much sweeter than they should be at that weight.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by JackB1

I wasn't crazy about that footwork series with Yan. I never see any Pros using the "walking step" or the "hopping step". I think Baileys stuff is more relatable

when the pro's execute the walking step and hopping step they do it very quickly and smoothly and it's used in conjunction w/ other footwork patterns so it's easy to overlook, but they do use it. Yan breaks it down very deliberately for instructional purposes so it's easy to follow. Yann covers quite of bit in that video so there's other good stuff to take away from it like the "cross step", the "pivot step", the "inside step", and the "karaoke step" which pros use all the time. i see the "pivot step" being applicable to you. you could benefit from it since it helps you recover quickly after you hit your stroke. but that's cool if you find Bailey's more relevant for you. whatever works and helps.

[mad dog1]

i've generally placed more focus on strings and tension rather than racquets in the past. when it came to racquets, i was more interested in collecting older frames. after hitting w/ the 2013 APD GT, i've got to admit i'm rather excited about the new racquet releases. the Steam 99S has definitely piqued my interest.

[corners]

Originally Posted by JGads

PP, here are the only specs I could find from another site. Not sure how the SW figure translates - is this saying that the SW on the 105 is in the 330s? ... At least it's two more points HL. Anyway, there's one dude in the "Home Run" thread that seemed to prefer the 105 to the 99. Who knows.


99S
Head Size: 99 sq. in.

Length: 27″

Strung Weight: 11.3 oz/320 g

Balance: 2pts. HL

Swingweight: 10.2 oz/304 g

String Pattern: 16 mains x 15 crosses


105S
Head Size: 105 sq. in.

Length: 27.5″

Strung Weight: 10.8 oz/305 g

Balance: 4 pts. HL

Swingweight: 10.8 oz/305 g

String Pattern: 16 mains x 15 crosses

I think the swingweights above are rubbish. Drak measured the 99S at 325, and that's kg*cm^2, not grams. Just a punt, but I bet the 105S is in the 305-310 range which would make it match other frames in that weight class (Pure Drive, et al.)

[corners]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

when the pro's execute the walking step and hopping step they do it very quickly and smoothly and it's used in conjunction w/ other footwork patterns so it's easy to overlook, but they do use it more. Yan breaks it down very deliberately for instructional purposes so it's easy to follow. Yann covers quite of bit in that video so there's other good stuff to take away from it. but that's cool if you find Bailey's more relevant for you. whatever works and helps.

It's been awhile since I watched those Yann videos, but if I remember right his hopping step is the same as what Bailey calls "front foot hop".

Federer does the walking step sometimes when moving into the court on short balls to his forehand. He does it like a forward cross-over with his right foot crossing over into the court, he then sits and lifts off that right foot as he brings his left foot forward, and then cracks the ball. From there the footwork looks just like the front-foot hop, with a hop off the left foot followed by the right foot swinging around behind for balance as the COM moves into the court. Laver used to do this too.

I think Bailey would characterize the walking step as an out step variation prior to the actual front foot hop contact move.

[PED]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

yeah, i preferred JGad's demo without the dampener, too. like you, the more time i spent with it, the better it felt and played. i hate to say it as well, but i'm considering this stick, too, assuming my shoulder and wrist are up to the task.

I pulled the pin on a pd2012 just now. I couldn't pass up the price: $110 new. If I hate it I can flip it with little loss. Full TB at 45/44 should make it easier on the shoulder as well.

The stringbed really came alive without the damp on it and my shots were causing my partner more trouble: I felt like I was able to do more with less effort which is the whole point of the Bab I guess

Originally Posted by Power Player

It most likely is going to give more spin and all signs point to it having that wilson feel that makes the Blades feel so much sweeter than they should be at that weight.

I think spin is not going to be an issue for you and the 16X18 should give you plenty of that plus it will be a bit easier on the wallet re strings. Looking forward to your comments.