Diary of a Racketaholic

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by JGads

Ball striking? I'll give you ball striking by taking your video and raising you this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VASqsQFovW0

One of the the most stunning displays of clean, mean forehands I've ever seen.

how about this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx8XmintxSE

[Power Player]

Ross , awesome vid. Agassi is just killing the ball..wow. That is how you hit a tennis ball. He gets such a nice drop on the ball as well, and you can see him vary it up from shallow to deep.

Absolutely love that blake agassi vid. Two of my favorites going at it. I went blake when i first started back in to tennis. Got a tfight and a dunlop 200 while trying to figure out what he was really using. Those dunlop 200s are beastly.

Just cant believe how hard those guys were hitting. Tennis is really getting ruined with these slow courts.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Ross , awesome vid. Agassi is just killing the ball..wow. That is how you hit a tennis ball. He gets such a nice drop on the ball as well, and you can see him vary it up from shallow to deep.

Absolutely love that blake agassi vid. Two of my favorites going at it. I went blake when i first started back in to tennis. Got a tfight and a dunlop 200 while trying to figure out what he was really using. Those dunlop 200s are beastly.

Just cant believe how hard those guys were hitting. Tennis is really getting ruined with these slow courts.

And these boring Americans. Watching all this Agassi footage, and thinking about him, Sampras, Blake, Courier, Mac...

Wow, is American tennis so sad and boring by comparison. So much more talent and personality back then with those guys. And the little rivalries that developed, just so much fun.

Now we have Sam Querrey.

[Power Player]

American tennis is bad. I like sock, johnson,,etc but none of them have the star power and the magic of the past. We need a star player again. It will happen..just takes time.

Hit more with the steam 99. This is a pretty nice racquet if i slow my strokes down and dont hit as hard as i like to. In other words...officially out of the steam room.

[LeeD]

Could they have targeted weaker, slower, swinging players?

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

American tennis is bad. I like sock, johnson,,etc but none of them have the star power and the magic of the past. We need a star player again. It will happen..just takes time.

Hit more with the steam 99. This is a pretty nice racquet if i slow my strokes down and dont hit as hard as i like to. In other words...officially out of the steam room.

Yep, agree about the magic. Nobody really has it right now. I thought - and still think, if he can somehow find a way to put it all together for more consistency - that Harrison might have something special, something to really rally behind, because I love his fire, guts and game. Really nice strokes and love the fact he comes up and volleys on occasion. But he's also bordering on being a bit punk-ish with some of his antics when things don't go right (Olympics was the worst). And he plays 'down' to bad players just as much as he sometimes plays 'up' to better players. In other words, there's potential in his game and fire, but he really needs to step up several levels in the mental and maturity department. Still pulling for him. Maybe in 2013 he can move forward.

Good hit tonight with MD. At least from the forehand wing. With the tgk I'm cracking the forehand so well right now, just crushing it when I want to, but on the backhand wing I'm totally lost, launching the ball a lot or fluffing it, unless I slice the ball, in which case the tgk is the nastiest slicing stick I've ever held. With my 7G, my drive backhand comes back, I can hit it again. Really struggling for some reason with the tgk on backhands specifically, but it's gotta be something mechanically I'm just not doing right. Or many things. Gonna try and take a lesson next week and focus on that wing, as it's been awhile since I've taken a lesson and the backhand just really needs work.

[Ross K]

PP, RH's,

Originally Posted by Power Player

Ross , awesome vid. Agassi is just killing the ball..wow. That is how you hit a tennis ball. He gets such a nice drop on the ball as well, and you can see him vary it up from shallow to deep.

Absolutely love that blake agassi vid. Two of my favorites going at it. I went blake when i first started back in to tennis. Got a tfight and a dunlop 200 while trying to figure out what he was really using. Those dunlop 200s are beastly.

Just cant believe how hard those guys were hitting. Tennis is really getting ruined with these slow courts.

Glad you like it, PP. He's just something else, isn't he? Often cited is how he hits on the rise, but I always think he just hits the ball so cleanly. Haven't had the chance to watch the plethora of AA vids posted here lately but will try and do so later.

On something else, I'm looking forward (if the weather holds out) to experiencing 2 new strings in the next few days. Poly Pro Tour (in my J100) and Big Ace (in my black PD).

So... what are diary RH's ultimate thoughts on the Yonnie PPT and Big Supex BA?

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Ross K

PP, RH's,



Glad you like it, PP. He's just something else, isn't he? Often cited is how he hits on the rise, but I always think he just hits the ball so cleanly. Haven't had the chance to watch the plethora of AA vids posted here lately but will try and do so later.

On something else, I'm looking forward (if the weather holds out) to experiencing 2 new strings in the next few days. Poly Pro Tour (in my J100) and Big Ace (in my black PD).

So... what are diary RH's ultimate thoughts on the Yonnie PPT and Big Supex BA?

Yonex string didn't really care for, but if you string it low tension you might be much better off. I think I strung it too high. Just felt kind of dead and plastic-like. Didn't hold a candle to TB. But again, at low tension, maybe it's a different string.

Never tried Big Ace.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

how about this one compute?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx8XmintxSE

Great stuff. Overwhelming thought: 'Poor James.'

To run into Agassi and Fed consecutive years, ouch. Awesome to come back after the bagel second set.

Did Blake ever play a better match than against Agassi?

For me the best match I ever saw Roddick play was that epic Wimby loss to Fed. The ONE guy that could have beat him that day happened to be on the other side of the net. Feel like the Agassi match was the same deal with James.

And this was the coolest thing James ever did... a few years later, during Agassi's final Open:


Amazing.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Could they have targeted weaker, slower, swinging players?

Yes, without a doubt. BUT I know some higher level players can use this racquet, it just matters the swing type. For me, the extra work required with an 18x20 pattern actually computes to a routine stroke. With the 99s, I have to hold back so much in comparison. Now and then I would let it rip and get a nice sharp drop on the ball, but the trajectory is higher and my friend could still get to it (kick off the bounce doesn't bug him - he grew up seeing that) - so the only advantage is if you play 3.5-4.0 max and just want to screw with people's timing. Anyone who is really solid at tennis knows how to chop down topspin balls and redirect that pace so I dont get why people are so obsessed with high bouncers.

Gads, on the backhand - you think it is your footwork? The videoing is really accelerating my improvement. I can see every little stupid thing I need to fix so much clearer in my head when I hit now. I hit a really flat backhand and while I can drive it DTL hard with my Blade, even with the Steam, I was able to hit decent backhands. What I am getting to is that I think you are making the right choice to get a lesson. Lessons >>>>>> new racquets. I will probably do the same thing so I can revisit my serve and backhand and footwork. I have an amazing Open player at my disposal that is the same size as me and has beaten the likes of TonLars in $$$ tournies so I need to work with him more. Anyway, after you do that lesson, use the bungee cord/iphone trick to film your strokes and see what you think, regardless if you post or not. I'd personally love to see you and Mad Dog ripping it up off the PCH.


Ross - PTP is a nice string. I liked it, but I didnt love it. I am all about the boardy feel of the 4G/syn gut. My favorite setup was Flouro/Stamina at a high tension..hoping tour Bite can give me some of that magic with a stamina cross, but I do love syn gut crosses. I think it is just the feel I grew up with - solid racquets with tight syn gut = a super nice sweet spot when you crush one.

[Ross K]

Well, I can confirm that Poly Pro Tour @ 47 lbs in my J100 was a lot to my liking.

[klementine79]

^It's a good match for the more powerful, stiffer and open patterned racquets. No good in 18x20's. Along with kirschbaum's pro line, pro poly tour is the deadest I've ever played.

They get better on the 2nd and 3rd outing, but 47lbs is a good starting point for that string.

[Power Player]

Dirty rumor of the day - Petros be Bladin'.

[Boricua]

Tomorrow I am expecting two Yonex VCORE 97 Tour (330). I am expecting hefty weight but also the stability and control that comes with it. Also, the comfort and the big sweet spot.
Luxilon 4g in one and Yonex Poly Tour Pro black in the other one.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Well, I can confirm that Poly Pro Tour @ 47 lbs in my J100 was a lot to my liking.

is that Yonex Poly Tour Pro?

I have the yellow one in my Juice with multi crosses at 52/55.
it felt pretty stiff the first time out, but then improved. Maybe
I went to high in tension?

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^It's a good match for the more powerful, stiffer and open patterned racquets. No good in 18x20's. Along with kirschbaum's pro line, pro poly tour is the deadest I've ever played.

They get better on the 2nd and 3rd outing, but 47lbs is a good starting point for that string.

Well, as someone who's hit with a ton of polys, all I can say is, this really stood out for me today. Really surprised and impressed me, klem.

So many polys are either a bit too stiff, or too mushy, or whatever. But my early impressions on this are of a string that's comfortable, you get that slight pockety sensation and lovely soft feel without it being mushy and Cyclonish, it bites on to the ball with a lot of spin, some really ripping power, allied with nice control. Okay, I still need to get better acquainted with PPro Tour, but, yep, seems to be much more my cup of tea, much more distinctive than so many of the current popular polys du jour.

Of course you could have hit the nail on the head, i.e., it's simply just a very good fit for the J100.

Whichever, I'm seriously considering buying some more of this.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by JackB1

is that Yonex Poly Tour Pro?

I have the yellow one in my Juice with multi crosses at 52/55.
it felt pretty stiff the first time out, but then improved. Maybe
I went to high in tension?

Yes, full-job Poly Tour Pro, yellow, 1.25 @ 47 lbs (though I think I want to experiment a bit tensions-wise).

BTW, this stuff looks really nice in the Juice!

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Yes, full-job Poly Tour Pro, yellow, 1.25 @ 47 lbs (though I think I want to experiment a bit tensions-wise).

BTW, this stuff looks really nice in the Juice!

did it feel stiff the first hit with it?

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by JackB1

did it feel stiff the first hit with it?

Not to me it didn't. I mean, sure it's firm, but straight off I noted it felt like there was some give and flex. That said, I've also noticed the J100 has these characteristics to an extent when applied to strings generally. I don't think there's a string-job I've yet disliked in this frame, rather the issue is getting the right tension as this frame can be too powerful from the b-line if you're not careful.

[GarryClarke]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Well, I can confirm that Poly Pro Tour @ 47 lbs in my J100 was a lot to my liking.

Ross,im very surprised you liked YPTP 125 in the j100 at that tension and expected to hear you say balls were hitting the fence!!!!

i played YPTP in my PD @ 52/50 and felt i could have raised the tension to 54/52 as it does have an initial breaking in period and just felt it was a tad too powerful!!!
i enjoyed the softness of it and i like full beds of poly in the PD,have got a couple of sets left and fancy trying YPTP in my blade 98 but im not sure it will give me the control i really like from that frame but you can only try


cheers garry