Pro Stock Racquets 101 (Head) - Page 3

Stroke · 10-08-2012, 05:36 AM

Big John, You have hit with so many pro stock racquets. Could you tell me how they compare to an old school racquet like the POG OS.

Big John · 10-08-2012, 02:26 PM

Funnily enough I've never hit with the POG OS? I've hit with the OS Radical Yellow and Black and AA's actual stick though, and it seems that some of the older racquets like the pro tour 630 and the radicals that followed it had a lot more flex than the modern day racquets and they have a lovely cushioned, soft feel. I guess the problem with them was a lack of pop and that is something that I am yet to really overcome with my pt57a's on serve, there just isn't that big pop on the first serve like there is with say a pt57e that is stiffer.

Once we start talking pro stock instead of retail, there are those pro stocks that are remakes of older style racquets like the pt57a, pt10 etc and then there are TGK 238.5's etc that are lighter than the retail version but similar flex, then there are the custom layups of the retail stick like the 231.3 that has a different string pattern and different flex? Then there are some pro stocks that just don't exist at all retail, like the Grigor Dimitrov 93?

Big John · 10-08-2012, 02:35 PM

Without wishing to reopen Pandora's Box, the retail version of the pt10, the Prestige Classic 600, has the same lovely flex as the pro stock. Where the pro stock is a remake of the retail or an older retail, similar racquet just made lighter.

Where the pro stock is a different layup (made differently or with different materials), it will obviously feel and play quite differently. This is also clearly the case if it is a different string pattern like the 260.2, it will play very differently from the retail Youtek Radical MP.. The 260.1 on the other hand, will feel similar apart from the weight.

In summary, the retail racquets have the weight more evenly distributed through the frame where as the pro stocks come lighter from the factory to be customised later, which is done generally with lead in the head and silicone in the handle. The modern trend is a 'polarised' set up, with lead at 12 under the bumper.

The silicone gives a lovely dead but solid feel where are some of the retail racquets with less weight in the handle feel less solid and hollow. The lead at 12 gives your rally ball a lot more natural shape and spin and hence margin for error. Most pros seem to set up their racquets this way. My Tipsarevic sticks on the other hand, have the lead at 3 and 9 which make them hit the ball well flat, not so much spin. Roddick also had this setup?

Your pro stocks can be set up however you like mostly, some like the Grigor Dimitrov 93 that was made for Fed are so heavy in the head even with no lead that there isn't much you can add without it turning into a club!

But most can be made lighter than the retail if you like with different balances than the retail and I think that with the solid feel from the silicone and the shape from the lead in the head is what attracts most people to pro stocks over retail.

The hairpins come longer than standard and can be cut to whatever length also. This appeals greatly to me, big fan of the longer sticks, seems to hit a ball with more power and spin which helps when you move like I do..

Some people prefer the weight distribution like the retail has and the weight of the retail, great if you do because they are generally cheaper and more readily available! My preferred specs are 340 strung, 27.5 long, balance 33cms with a flex around 60 and there aren't many racquets that are like that on the retail front, hence I tend to buy and play with pro stocks and get much enjoyment from trying the different ones.

cmendez79 · 10-08-2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big John

Without wishing to reopen Pandora's Box, the retail version of the pt10, the Prestige Classic 600, has the same lovely flex as the pro stock. Where the pro stock is a remake of the retail or an older retail, similar racquet just made lighter.

Where the pro stock is a different layup (made differently or with different materials), it will obviously feel and play quite differently. This is also clearly the case if it is a different string pattern like the 260.2, it will play very differently from the retail Youtek Radical MP.. The 260.1 on the other hand, will feel similar apart from the weight.

In summary, the retail racquets have the weight more evenly distributed through the frame where as the pro stocks come lighter from the factory to be customised later, which is done generally with lead in the head and silicone in the handle. The modern trend is a 'polarised' set up, with lead at 12 under the bumper.

The silicone gives a lovely dead but solid feel where are some of the retail racquets with less weight in the handle feel less solid and hollow. The lead at 12 gives your rally ball a lot more natural shape and spin and hence margin for error. Most pros seem to set up their racquets this way. My Tipsarevic sticks on the other hand, have the lead at 3 and 9 which make them hit the ball well flat, not so much spin. Roddick also had this setup?

Your pro stocks can be set up however you like mostly, some like the Grigor Dimitrov 93 that was made for Fed are so heavy in the head even with no lead that there isn't much you can add without it turning into a club!

But most can be made lighter than the retail if you like with different balances than the retail and I think that with the solid feel from the silicone and the shape from the lead in the head is what attracts most people to pro stocks over retail.

The hairpins come longer than standard and can be cut to whatever length also. This appeals greatly to me, big fan of the longer sticks, seems to hit a ball with more power and spin which helps when you move like I do..

Some people prefer the weight distribution like the retail has and the weight of the retail, great if you do because they are generally cheaper and more readily available! My preferred specs are 340 strung, 27.5 long, balance 33cms with a flex around 60 and there aren't many racquets that are like that on the retail front, hence I tend to buy and play with pro stocks and get much enjoyment from trying the different ones.

Hi Big John,

Can you get the 237.2 or 237.4????

Thanks

Big John · 10-08-2012, 03:30 PM

I had some 237.2's and traded them to Aimr75. I'm going to start a new selling thread today with what I have at the moment..

Big John · 10-08-2012, 04:40 PM

As for the POG OS, don't know much about the older Princes and what the players actually used. I know Pat Rafter apparently used a few different pj's from what was on the paint but was the racquet underneath any different from the older retail stick? I think Babolat might be a bit like this as well, players mainly using an older racquet under the paint like the Pure Control Plus under Pure Storm paint that quite a few players used rather than a completely custom pro stock?

Does anyone out there have some more insight on this?

finalfantasy7 · 10-11-2012, 09:37 AM

Hi, i ve got a question about a pro stock head, so i thought this was the best place to ask, rather than a new thread.
I ve been reading and someone said that a tgk, if its a real one should have tgk/tgt printed on to the mold of handle underneath leather grip?

Someone is selling me a tgk237.1 - it has no leather grip, on the handle, their is TKB2 molded onto the handle, is it real or fake, what does this mean?

niktub · 10-11-2012, 09:53 AM

TK82 is the pallets code

finalfantasy7 · 10-11-2012, 11:01 AM

ok, thanks

NLBwell · 12-18-2012, 07:25 PM

A question about pro stock sticks.
Generally, I believe, the pro stocks don't have all the add-on technologies like Microgel, Innegra, etc.
However, if a player wanted it (perhaps a pro who grew up playing with a Microgel as a junior) could/would they put the old add-on technology in?

Fuji · 12-18-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLBwell

A question about pro stock sticks.
Generally, I believe, the pro stocks don't have all the add-on technologies like Microgel, Innegra, etc.
However, if a player wanted it (perhaps a pro who grew up playing with a Microgel as a junior) could/would they put the old add-on technology in?

Actually as far as I know the sticks do have the same technologies. The TGK237.1's that I have for example are the same mould and layup as the stock Microgel Prestige mid. I could be mistaken, but I remember reading somewhere that the technologies do transfer over and some of the new Youtek/IG prostocks actually have Youtek in them.

Again, I could be wrong since I'm just reiterating fuzzy knowledge, but it's something to consider.

-Fuji

dr325i · 12-19-2012, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLBwell

A question about pro stock sticks.
Generally, I believe, the pro stocks don't have all the add-on technologies like Microgel, Innegra, etc.
However, if a player wanted it (perhaps a pro who grew up playing with a Microgel as a junior) could/would they put the old add-on technology in?

Again...it depends.
Examples: The TGK/TGT series do have the same "technologies"
The PT57A for example has nothing to do with the PJs it wears...

niktub · 12-19-2012, 04:35 AM

for example a 231.3(MG mold) with YT paintjob would have MG or YT technology?

dr325i · 12-19-2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niktub

for example a 231.3(MG mold) with YT paintjob would have MG or YT technology?

Good example...
231 = Microgel mold with the MG stuff
260.2 with the IG Instict PJ with the YT stuff

niktub · 12-19-2012, 04:53 AM

Thanks, it seems(or at least i have read

), that some codes have their own layup(different than retail MG YT ect...).
Obviously the older technologies PT57 A and E(not talking about those)
It might be wrong of course, but i may be just effecting the flexibility.

10-08-2012, 02:26 PM	#42
Big John Rookie Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 137	Funnily enough I've never hit with the POG OS? I've hit with the OS Radical Yellow and Black and AA's actual stick though, and it seems that some of the older racquets like the pro tour 630 and the radicals that followed it had a lot more flex than the modern day racquets and they have a lovely cushioned, soft feel. I guess the problem with them was a lack of pop and that is something that I am yet to really overcome with my pt57a's on serve, there just isn't that big pop on the first serve like there is with say a pt57e that is stiffer. Once we start talking pro stock instead of retail, there are those pro stocks that are remakes of older style racquets like the pt57a, pt10 etc and then there are TGK 238.5's etc that are lighter than the retail version but similar flex, then there are the custom layups of the retail stick like the 231.3 that has a different string pattern and different flex? Then there are some pro stocks that just don't exist at all retail, like the Grigor Dimitrov 93? Last edited by Big John : 10-08-2012 at 03:01 PM.

10-08-2012, 02:35 PM	#43
Big John Rookie Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 137	Without wishing to reopen Pandora's Box, the retail version of the pt10, the Prestige Classic 600, has the same lovely flex as the pro stock. Where the pro stock is a remake of the retail or an older retail, similar racquet just made lighter. Where the pro stock is a different layup (made differently or with different materials), it will obviously feel and play quite differently. This is also clearly the case if it is a different string pattern like the 260.2, it will play very differently from the retail Youtek Radical MP.. The 260.1 on the other hand, will feel similar apart from the weight. In summary, the retail racquets have the weight more evenly distributed through the frame where as the pro stocks come lighter from the factory to be customised later, which is done generally with lead in the head and silicone in the handle. The modern trend is a 'polarised' set up, with lead at 12 under the bumper. The silicone gives a lovely dead but solid feel where are some of the retail racquets with less weight in the handle feel less solid and hollow. The lead at 12 gives your rally ball a lot more natural shape and spin and hence margin for error. Most pros seem to set up their racquets this way. My Tipsarevic sticks on the other hand, have the lead at 3 and 9 which make them hit the ball well flat, not so much spin. Roddick also had this setup? Your pro stocks can be set up however you like mostly, some like the Grigor Dimitrov 93 that was made for Fed are so heavy in the head even with no lead that there isn't much you can add without it turning into a club! But most can be made lighter than the retail if you like with different balances than the retail and I think that with the solid feel from the silicone and the shape from the lead in the head is what attracts most people to pro stocks over retail. The hairpins come longer than standard and can be cut to whatever length also. This appeals greatly to me, big fan of the longer sticks, seems to hit a ball with more power and spin which helps when you move like I do.. Some people prefer the weight distribution like the retail has and the weight of the retail, great if you do because they are generally cheaper and more readily available! My preferred specs are 340 strung, 27.5 long, balance 33cms with a flex around 60 and there aren't many racquets that are like that on the retail front, hence I tend to buy and play with pro stocks and get much enjoyment from trying the different ones. Last edited by Big John : 10-08-2012 at 03:00 PM.

10-11-2012, 09:37 AM	#47
finalfantasy7 Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 401	Hi, i ve got a question about a pro stock head, so i thought this was the best place to ask, rather than a new thread. I ve been reading and someone said that a tgk, if its a real one should have tgk/tgt printed on to the mold of handle underneath leather grip? Someone is selling me a tgk237.1 - it has no leather grip, on the handle, their is TKB2 molded onto the handle, is it real or fake, what does this mean? __________________ TGK 237.1 Owner

10-11-2012, 11:01 AM	#49
finalfantasy7 Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 401	ok, thanks __________________ TGK 237.1 Owner

12-19-2012, 04:53 AM	#55
niktub Semi-Pro Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 643	Thanks, it seems(or at least i have read), that some codes have their own layup(different than retail MG YT ect...). Obviously the older technologies PT57 A and E(not talking about those) It might be wrong of course, but i may be just effecting the flexibility. Last edited by niktub : 12-19-2012 at 04:58 AM.