Anyone else like their racquet setups boardy?

[Logic Dude]

Originally Posted by tlm

Okay but the date this was taken says January 2012. I am using gamma power play kevlar at 58 lbs. in the mains with yonex poly tour spin crosses at 63 lbs. right now. So I would not be much higher than what a lot of pro players string at. Also I could care less what the pro's string at that means nothing to me, I go by what works not what some pro uses.

Which again I will point out means nothing to amateur players unless you change your string every half hour like they do. So many here say I am using similar tensions of what the pro's use, well ya you are for a half hour or so but not 2 hours later let alone days.

But I am still experimenting with different set ups, I just put in a set of head sonic pro 16 gauge at 68 lbs. and am going for a hit with it today.

I have already tried this at the same tension with the 17 gauge and it was pretty good, but still did not maintain the control that the kevlar set up I am using as my go to string. Just trying to find a poly set up that will match it.

You say you don't care what the pros use, yet you insist on using them as justification for high tensions.

Can I ask for the logic in that?

[jason586]

I also like a boardy feel in a racquet. My favorite feel to date was my i.prestige MP 18x20 with full poly at about 55lbs, but the weight was too much over time as mine was nearly 13oz with dampener, leather, and overgrip.

I read most the TT posts on the Iontec strings and read that you thought Iontec Hexa 1.25 was too soft even after you went up to 52 lbs.
*Did you use it in a full bed or hybrid?
*Did you ever try higher than 52 lbs?
*Did you try raising the tension on the crosses to firm up the Hexa 1.25 stringbed?
*The most recent poly used is Genesis Black Magic - How would you compare BM to Hexa 1.25 and which feels softer/less crisp?
*I read that you felt you lost some feel as well with the Iontec Hexa - I have been playing with a leather grip (no overgrip), so maybe that will help with some of the the lack of feel?
*My Vantage 95" is an open pattern 16x19, but it is the firmer 70 flex. So maybe the 1.25 Hexa would play firm in it since it is a firm racquet?

[tlm]

Originally Posted by Logic Dude

You say you don't care what the pros use, yet you insist on using them as justification for high tensions.

Can I ask for the logic in that?

I don't care what tension they use, but if you notice PP said that no high level players use that high of tension so I showed that there are many that do.

[Power Player]

I saw 1 that strung full poly at 68 and he hits harder than most of the world's population.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I saw 1 that strung full poly at 68 and he hits harder than most of the world's population.

You missed Melzer he uses 75 lbs. If I used a 18 main pattern like you do I don't think I would be much over the high 50's. It has been a long time since I tried a 18x20. But what you were saying about the lower trajectory and better control you get with the tight pattern makes me wonder how that would work for me I will have to demo one.

By the way just got back from hitting with head sonic pro at 68 lbs. and it played pretty good, not harsh at all. But still not as good of control as my kevlar hybrid, but definitely more comfortable.

[pheonix6579]

Didn't Blake use poly @70?

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by tlm

You missed Melzer he uses 75 lbs. If I used a 18 main pattern like you do I don't think I would be much over the high 50's. It has been a long time since I tried a 18x20. But what you were saying about the lower trajectory and better control you get with the tight pattern makes me wonder how that would work for me I will have to demo one.

By the way just got back from hitting with head sonic pro at 68 lbs. and it played pretty good, not harsh at all. But still not as good of control as my kevlar hybrid, but definitely more comfortable.

I think Melzer is using a multi, not a full poly..but regardless, I like the 18x20 a lot and the pattern itself contributes a lot to much better ball feel.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I think Melzer is using a multi, not a full poly..but regardless, I like the 18x20 a lot and the pattern itself contributes a lot to much better ball feel.

What racket are you using? How much spin did you lose when you switched to the 18x20?

[Power Player]

Blade 98. I lost no spin because I generate that with head speed. The trajectory is just lower and I prefer the control. I like a nice swingweight, light static and tight pattern. I feel like it is an extremely powerful combo for a natural spin hitter that wants to still drive through the ball.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Blade 98. I lost no spin because I generate that with head speed. The trajectory is just lower and I prefer the control. I like a nice swingweight, light static and tight pattern. I feel like it is an extremely powerful combo for a natural spin hitter that wants to still drive through the ball.

I will have to try one, that is one of the reasons I like kevlar it hits a lower trajectory. Maybe I can get that with a 18x20 without having to use a harsh string like kevlar or high tension poly.

[Povl Carstensen]

I am liking my 18/20 rackets at the moment around 50 (and the Fischer Vac Pro 16/20). It motivates you to hit through the ball instead of brushing (which I think 16/19 and lower tensions makes you do more). I think Andreas Seppi is a good example of this through the ball hitting. Wonder what his setup is.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Povl Carstensen

I am liking my 18/20 rackets at the moment around 50 (and the Fischer Vac Pro 16/20). It motivates you to hit through the ball instead of brushing (which I think 16/19 and lower tensions makes you do more). I think Andreas Seppi is a good example of this through the ball hitting. Wonder what his setup is.

Really agree with this. I can hit with a lot of spin so whenever I start brushing the ball, I can get caught into a trap of overspinning.

I think that is the main reason I love the 18x20, tight patterns as well.

I have settled back on 4g mains and OGSM crosses at 50/52. It is simply the best setup I have used for this racquet by a mile.

[Povl Carstensen]

To be more precise, what I am looking for is perhaps not boardy, but pocketing without being mushy. So I have abandoned my K and BLX 90's for a while.

[3fees]

I have several 18x20, I like soft setups,one is syn gut mains 16/poly crosses 17, currently using 55/51, the string bed is more firmer(boardier) than using 18 ga Lux ace and Gen. Hexonic 18L in mains and crosses at about the same tension, one thing I have noticed is I can swing easier to get the ball placed with power using the hybrid setup and it costs are minimal,,I think i try a hybrid setup with syn gut/lux ace and see if I can improve the present hybrid.

From these playtests, I can understand why Pro's are using thicker gauge.



For Rod "The Rocket" Laver fans whom dont know, his strings were textured nylon-these cost an arm and a leg in the day, i seen these strings come out on eray 5 sets for about two weeks out of australia, some time ago..

[Povl Carstensen]

Yes, thicker strings somehow put more meat, more beef behind the ball, imo. Which is positive for through the ball hitting.

[Relinquis]

Have any of you had success with Multis or Natural Gut strung at high tensions (upper limit of recommended range)?

I'm trying to avoid poly as I don't want to put stress on my joints.

[NLBwell]

I played ProBlend for many many years. I like a very stiff stringbed with an open string pattern. It allows me to get spin when I want and yet control my harder flatter shots.
Full Alu Rough works well for me. Also, Alu Rough with AlphaGut2000. Both in the mid 50s.
I've tried gut/poly low 60s/high 50s - 4lb differential between mains and crosses. I put in stringsavers around the outer 3 or 4 strings of the stringbed as the poly loosens up (I've got ~65 of them in now) to keep a stiff controllable stringbed. I'm using these rackets during the winter for arm comfort.

[rdis10093]

I love it, but my arm hates it

[theyhatethecans]

Big fan of boardy. Springy es no bueno.

[martini1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Finally came to a realization after some solid racquet and string experimentation - I love a boardy racquet setup. It is almost used sometimes as a bad word, but to me it is sublime. When you hit through the ball, the feel on the sweetspot is absolute bliss, and the control gives me a ton of confidence in a pressure situation.

What I notice is with softer setups, I have to brush more and use more spin to control the ball. With a tighter, boardy setup I can hit through the ball more and not overspin the ball. I also am able to hybrid my poly mains with a syn gut and therefore have a tighter tension which helps me do this even more.

The final equation is the 18x20 pattern. The tight pattern definitely feels better to me. I firmly believe open patterns are more launchy and lose ball feel. More strings = more feel for me.

What about spin you say? This is a setup for players that can hit with spin already and want to be able to come through the ball more. An 18x20 pattern makes you work a little harder for spin, but the result is a very penetrating ball that does not sit up, and instead kicks forward - speeding the ball up off the bounce. A lot of players dont see this ball as much so that is a nice bonus. a little less weight on the racquet can help generate this.

Anyway, the point of this thread is to find the best boardy control setup out there. Here is mine so far: 4G 17 and OGSM 16 at 52/54. I really would like to find a cheaper replacement for the 4g, but so far nothing has come close. I have tried Cyberflash/OGSM (too soft..not enough feel - but a solid budget option) Cyclone/NVY (too springy - Nvy is an amazing cross but not for a boardy setup).

Cost advantage of 4g is it holds tension for a long time. You can play this setup for close to 2 weeks. The control level is off the charts as well.

My next setup to challenge : Tour bite 17 and Wilson Stamina - 52/54.

I demoed the Head speed 18x20 with some multi full bed and I got nothing going with that stick. I think with 18x20 and "feel", you need natural gut in the formula.