Diary of a Racketaholic

[JGads]

By the way, watched Jerzy Janowicz play Brian Baker late last night in Auckland. Baker came back from a set down to beat him after narrowly edging a second set tiebreaker.

Crazy match. Extremely windy conditions and Janowicz lost his cool with the wind and losing the tiebreaker JUST long enough for Baker to firmly push ahead... It was totally a veteran staying calmer and more mature through a tight, tough situation. Went up 5-1 in the third set and Janowicz was serving down 0-40, triple match point, when he goes on a tear. Comes ALL the way back to 4-5 and deuce on Baker's serve and Baker survived the tough last game to finish it.

Janowicz is cut from a different cloth. He thwarted the first 13 - 13! - straight break points faced, and ultimately won like 17 of 19 of those points in the match. Didn't tense up at all, just lost his cool when he barely lost the breaker and especially with the windy conditions that he showed the immaturity and impatience. Ceiling still SO high, and could win a few rounds at AO.

Also have a strange feeling Tsonga might have a great tournament. Seems primed for that big, next-level run, and he's made it to the finals in Melby before. We'll see. Can't wait for next week to begin.

[klementine79]

Janowicz is definitely one to watch at Oz this year. Looking for strong showings from Tsonga and Ferrer also.

Oz is great, the only slam that you can expect a low-ranked or no-name player to catch heat and end up in the round of 32. Don't know why that is.


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PP, Dgoran, or anyone with a blade handy!

Just want to confirm I'm not hearing things. A light tap around the top half of the hoop with your finger nail might reveal a higher pitch at 10&2 o'clock. At least on mine it does.

Could this mean the weight is placed mainly at 10&2 on the hoop? For such a light frame to have such a hefty swingweight, there has to be a significant amount of grams in the hoop.

PP, I've never met a bass player without great ears, test it out, drummers are known for being tone-def.

[JGads]

You know the top dogs are all hoping Janowicz is far, far away from their section of the draw. Just a total wild card who, if he's on, can take the match right out of anyone's racquet no matter how good he is. He hit one winner so hard against Baker last night that Baker at first shook his head and said, 'No no, that wasn't in," then saw the mark and realized it was an inch or two inside the line. Of course, JJ could also buckle in the first round. But he's definitely the No. 1 guy I want to see play in the early rounds, to see how he handles himself. Him and Dimitrov, who looks like he's making a move.

This football game is getting ugly quick.

[chizzle]

Originally Posted by JGads

You know the top dogs are all hoping Janowicz is far, far away from their section of the draw. Just a total wild card who, if he's on, can take the match right out of anyone's racquet no matter how good he is. He hit one winner so hard against Baker last night that Baker at first shook his head and said, 'No no, that wasn't in," then saw the mark and realized it was an inch or two inside the line. Of course, JJ could also buckle in the first round. But he's definitely the No. 1 guy I want to see play in the early rounds, to see how he handles himself. Him and Dimitrov, who looks like he's making a move.

This football game is getting ugly quick.

JJ looked really nasty at the end of last year. And Dimitrov looked really good vs Murray. Thought he outplayed him, but just lost a bit of his mojo a few times. Was really dictating. If he can clean up 5 - 6 errors/match he'll be top10 soon. Love AO time.

What are the fav PSblx90 setups - those who play or have played it? I played it with Sensation or some multi today - felt ok but not sharp. strings were moving all over. But it was my first hit with it in quite sometime. Split with my practice partner 6-3, 3-5 today straight outta the block. He has gotten the better of me but I have closed the gap recently.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by chizzle

JJ looked really nasty at the end of last year. And Dimitrov looked really good vs Murray. Thought he outplayed him, but just lost a bit of his mojo a few times. Was really dictating. If he can clean up 5 - 6 errors/match he'll be top10 soon. Love AO time.

What are the fav PSblx90 setups - those who play or have played it? I played it with Sensation or some multi today - felt ok but not sharp. strings were moving all over. But it was my first hit with it in quite sometime. Split with my practice partner 6-3, 3-5 today straight outta the block. He has gotten the better of me but I have closed the gap recently.

I have RIP Control 16 in mine, and it hits very "gummy" to say the least. Definitely very muted and disconnected for my tastes. I'd venture to say that a poly in the mains or crosses would REALLY solve that problem!

-Fuji

[chizzle]

Originally Posted by Fuji

I have RIP Control 16 in mine, and it hits very "gummy" to say the least. Definitely very muted and disconnected for my tastes. I'd venture to say that a poly in the mains or crosses would REALLY solve that problem!

-Fuji

Thanks! Yea, I agree a poly main, multi cross seems to be perfect. BTW, so much fun serving with the 90 if you just relax and let it go. Prob hit 7 or 8 aces today, and plenty more forced errors.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by chizzle

Thanks! Yea, I agree a poly main, multi cross seems to be perfect. BTW, so much fun serving with the 90 if you just relax and let it go. Prob hit 7 or 8 aces today, and plenty more forced errors.

Most likely that would be a great set up!

I actually find it a bit lower powered for serving, compared to my PSLGT. It gets waaaay better directional control, but it doesn't have the same raw firepower I get with the PSLGT.

-Fuji

[Power Player]

Wanted to rest my arm a little from poly and hit relaxed so i grabbed the mfil 200 for a bit. The 200 series is just so good. The thing feels like butter, and i just have syn gut in it. It plays rather similar to the blade, just more demanding. The blade is definitley the modern 200, but they both swing around the same with the 200 coming around less fast of course. The 200 is just trickier to serve with compared to the blade but the mfil and 4d are pretty much the same and in my top 3 of all time greats. If you want to pound the ball blake style, this stick is the one. The Tw reviews on the 4d are very positive. Granville and chris love it.

[Uvijek Argen]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Wanted to rest my arm a little from poly and hit relaxed so i grabbed the mfil 200 for a bit. The 200 series is just so good. The thing feels like butter, and i just have syn gut in it. It plays rather similar to the blade, just more demanding. The blade is definitley the modern 200, but they both swing around the same with the 200 coming around less fast of course. The 200 is just trickier to serve with compared to the blade but the mfil and 4d are pretty much the same and in my top 3 of all time greats. If you want to pound the ball blake style, this stick is the one. The Tw reviews on the 4d are very positive. Granville and chris love it.

Hey PP, funny you post about this rackets. Bought two 4D 200 and played tonight and its a great racket. No elbow problem cause is pretty flexy but crisp in the same time, if that make sense. The IG radical pro did good for me on my arm and it got healthy, but I never lost so many matches in my time like I have done with the Rad Pro(its dgoran's fault ).
2 brand new racket for $150?? come on!!

[Power Player]

That's awesome. Yeah I used the heck out of the 4D before I wrecked my bike and it's weight was too hard on my wrist. Only weakness for me was on serve. I just get more pace with the Blade. But if I ever wanted to go heavy again, I could mod the Blade to the specs of the 4D pretty easily. The 4D is a total steal, especially if you want a tour frame like a TGK or PT57. It feels like butter.

I need to restring my Mfil today if I have time with syn gut or a multi again. I played the 4d with full syn gut rather often at around 58#s. The reason you can pull this off is because it is a low powered stick, so you don't have to tame the power with poly unless you want to. Obviously a hybrid works as well.

[Uvijek Argen]

Originally Posted by Power Player

That's awesome. Yeah I used the heck out of the 4D before I wrecked my bike and it's weight was too hard on my wrist. Only weakness for me was on serve. I just get more pace with the Blade. But if I ever wanted to go heavy again, I could mod the Blade to the specs of the 4D pretty easily. The 4D is a total steal, especially if you want a tour frame like a TGK or PT57. It feels like butter.

I need to restring my Mfil today if I have time with syn gut or a multi again. I played the 4d with full syn gut rather often at around 58#s. The reason you can pull this off is because it is a low powered stick, so you don't have to tame the power with poly unless you want to. Obviously a hybrid works as well.

You and the TW reviewers are right about the low power. Thats when I thought that it will be perfect with my full bed of gut and so it did.

[corners]

[quote=JGads;7104577]You know the top dogs are all hoping Janowicz is far, far away from their section of the draw. Just a total wild card who, if he's on, can take the match right out of anyone's racquet no matter how good he is. He hit one winner so hard against Baker last night that Baker at first shook his head and said, 'No no, that wasn't in," then saw the mark and realized it was an inch or two inside the line. Of course, JJ could also buckle in the first round. But he's definitely the No. 1 guy I want to see play in the early rounds, to see how he handles himself. Him and Dimitrov, who looks like he's making a move.[quote]

I'm with you on both guys. Maybe the highest upside of any of the early 20s prospects. Both fun to watch too, which is fantastic.

This football game is getting ugly quick.

I went through a big football phase some years ago, totally geeked out with stats (footballoutsiders.com!) and such, then lived abroad and didn't hardly watch a game for years, switching to tennis and global football. Watched a couple NFL games this winter and I have to say, Football Sucks compared to tennis.

[klementine79]

The extended Blade98 experiment is a 'no-go' gentlemen.

Played last night with my buddy's tecnifibre 320 XL, the older one. 96sq.in., 18x20. Could not get in a groove, except off the 2hdr. Felt really awkward. Maybe an hour session wasn't enough but I felt as if I was getting too much extension on everything and lost my timing/control.

Really got in a nice tempo with the MgPresMid (yes.. I know... again!). Reminded me of why I like the head-light, heavier sticks. Smoother strokes, less erratic and effortless power/placement on serve.

Always mod any stick I have (or try to) to reach that 330gr PresMid unstrung weight. Just got so used to that spec over the many years of playing with it. Might just go back to it, despite the hawks.

What a crazy rackoholic world?.... what a world?.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by corners

I'm with you on both guys. Maybe the highest upside of any of the early 20s prospects. Both fun to watch too, which is fantastic.

I went through a big football phase some years ago, totally geeked out with stats (footballoutsiders.com!) and such, then lived abroad and didn't hardly watch a game for years, switching to tennis and global football. Watched a couple NFL games this winter and I have to say, Football Sucks compared to tennis.

Yeah, I'm really excited to see how they handle themselves. Those are the two guys I'm really going to be eyeing early on, and on a much larger level, I really have a feeling Tsonga could be primed for a very big run. Have yet to look at his draw, though -- about to go check those out, I just heard about Murray of course ending up in Federer's draw again. Ugh.

On Football, it really makes a huge difference if you have a horse in the race. I'm from Houston so it's been a big year with the Texans, though I am fully prepared for a possible demise on Sunday, as we are just having such an awful finish to the year, including last week's very ugly win over the Bengals. The other big thing that gets me into football: fantasy football. That stupid game makes following the game and parking your butt on the Sunday couch very, very addicting.

But of course, in total agreement: tennis is king. In fact I'm even a much bigger baseball guy than football, but tennis is king. It's sad to me that the interest in the game in the States is waning so much at the moment while it seems to be thriving elsewhere. US tennis desperately needs a men's star to emerge, but it doesn't look like we're close to seeing a legitimate Slam contender anytime soon.

Originally Posted by klementine79

The extended Blade98 experiment is a 'no-go' gentlemen.

Played last night with my buddy's tecnifibre 320 XL, the older one. 96sq.in., 18x20. Could not get in a groove, except off the 2hdr. Felt really awkward. Maybe an hour session wasn't enough but I felt as if I was getting too much extension on everything and lost my timing/control.

Really got in a nice tempo with the MgPresMid (yes.. I know... again!). Reminded me of why I like the head-light, heavier sticks. Smoother strokes, less erratic and effortless power/placement on serve.

Always mod any stick I have (or try to) to reach that 330gr PresMid unstrung weight. Just got so used to that spec over the many years of playing with it. Might just go back to it, despite the hawks.

What a crazy rackoholic world?.... what a world?.

Extended length can definitely be an adjustment. If going back to the Mid game, Klem, I've got a good deal on a couple of Mids (a battered but well hitting MG Mid, and a 2012 Black Ace) in the FS section, if interested. Would add a racaholic card-carrier discount for you as well, or even be up for trading for the Black Blade if you're not into it anymore. But no pressure or anything, just mentioning it one last time since looking to close that FS thread up.

Finally, where art though, Rossy? Starting to get a bit worried that we haven't heard from our fearless leader.

[corners]

Originally Posted by JGads

Yeah, I'm really excited to see how they handle themselves. Those are the two guys I'm really going to be eyeing early on, and on a much larger level, I really have a feeling Tsonga could be primed for a very big run. Have yet to look at his draw, though -- about to go check those out, I just heard about Murray of course ending up in Federer's draw again. Ugh.

Rats.

On Football, it really makes a huge difference if you have a horse in the race. I'm from Houston so it's been a big year with the Texans, though I am fully prepared for a possible demise on Sunday, as we are just having such an awful finish to the year, including last week's very ugly win over the Bengals. The other big thing that gets me into football: fantasy football. That stupid game makes following the game and parking your butt on the Sunday couch very, very addicting.

But of course, in total agreement: tennis is king. In fact I'm even a much bigger baseball guy than football, but tennis is king. It's sad to me that the interest in the game in the States is waning so much at the moment while it seems to be thriving elsewhere. US tennis desperately needs a men's star to emerge, but it doesn't look like we're close to seeing a legitimate Slam contender anytime soon.

I hear you about having a horse in the race. The thing about football though is that only one team wins in the end. Well, you probably don't want to think about that now. But it seems different in tennis, where a tough loss can be a triumph of sorts. A third round exit a great accomplishment for some players. Ah, maybe not that different after all. One winner, 125 losers in Melbourne? Somehow the exit seems more brutal in football, maybe simply because there is only a single tournament in football, whereas there is a the whole season ahead after the Aussie Open. Well, I'm getting unnecessarily philosophical. Go Texans!

BTW, it's interesting that you've gone long and big with your new TGK. I recall that not long ago you flirted with a series of "lightweight playa's" sticks - Ti80 lite, PS95, BlackAce lite. What sold you on the big lumber after rapiering it up with those lightweights?

[mad dog1]

^^

corners, i'm not gadsy, but i can tell you what it's like on the other side of the court. with the lightweight player's sticks, gads doesn't get enough court penetration on the ball. lots of spin, but without the heaviness, the balls land short or sit up

with the extended length TGK, otherwise known as the "stick of Zeus", it is so hard to hit through gads. the ball comes back like a ton of bricks. even defensive stabs get lofted back deep and the slices are positively devilish. Evil with a capital E straight from the gates of hell. he's just so solid w/ the long stick of zeus.

matched with the TB/Iontec Hexa stringbed, the action that he gets on the ball makes it so hard to handle. the ball accelerates off the bounce on TS drives often with unpredictable sideways movt as well...heavy balls w/ lots of unpredictable spin are tough to handle. then he mixes in a few low skidding slices that either accelerate or die off the bounce. + i see less UEs from him now. can't see him using anything else.

[corners]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

^^

corners, i'm not gadsy, but i can tell you what it's like on the other side of the court. with the lightweight player's sticks, gads doesn't get enough court penetration on the ball. lots of spin, but without the heaviness, the balls land short or sit up

with the extended length TGK, otherwise known as the "stick of Zeus", it is so hard to hit through gads. the ball comes back like a ton of bricks. even defensive stabs get lofted back deep and the slices are positively devilish. Evil with a capital E straight from the gates of hell. he's just so solid w/ the long stick of zeus.

Nice. The perspective of the friend and antagonist. Thanks. Yeah, nothing beats a heavy, flexy stick for the slice. I'm in the middle of a magic wand phase myself, but I always get tempted back by the heavy effortless slice, and the crushing volleys not needing backswings.

[JGads]

Corners,

Yep, MD just about covered it. It's just such an effortless big banger no matter if I'm going after the ball or if I'm just punching a defensive ball. Everything just seems to land deep. With the lighter frames, more short balls. On the forehand side I hit with a LOT of spin. It's just my tendency. With the lighter sticks, that spin gets to be too much sometimes and I'm hitting spinners that hit around the service line. The tgk, I'm still getting serious spin but it just hits THROUGH the ball more and most everything is in the back half of the court. While sometimes I'd like more maneuverability and angles (which I get with my standard length Radicals), it's tough to deny the ability of constantly peppering the ball near the baseline and keeping the other guy back behind there. Much the same on serves, too, where I actually seem to get more aces with my more whippy, standard-length Rads because of the angles I seem to get, but the .2 keeps the ball so consistently heavy both on first and second serves that I seem to get a load of service winners and/or sitters for returns. And as MD mentioned, the slice. Holy cow, can this thing carve through a tennis ball on that shot.

The No. 1 shot I feel like I've gained with the tgk more than any other, though, is the service return. That depth-of-shot I was talking about, I just feel like if I'm getting my stick on a serve, I'm getting into the point because I know the ball is going back deep. A mere outstretched stab at the ball still gets the ball back near the baseline, and on softer second serves I'm just going after the ball and getting a ton of points on that shot, or triggered by that shot by just getting it at the feet of the server with a really tough shot that immediately swings the point in my direction.

I'd say the only things that are less than stellar with the .2 are A) down the line shots, especially on the run. That's a shot I just seem to be able to make more easily with a stiffer and lighter frame -- like my standard-length Rad, which has a firmer feel and directs the ball more on a line. The flexiness of my .2 can sometimes slide the ball just a tad wide of the target, but I am getting a better feel for that. And B) there are times when I feel the weight and added length of the .2 against lighter hitting players or guys that do a lot of change-of-pace. The other day I played against a guy who did a ton of this (soft shot followed by a heater followed by another change-up), and I seemed to be better able to adjust on the fly -- and create my own pace at the last second from basically nothing -- with the lighter and more maneuverable stick.

So I'm still dabbling with the lighter, standard tgk Rad (weighs about 11.7 compared to the 12.0 extended) depending on how I'm feeling and who I'm playing, but all in all, the extended tgk is the truly 'special' stick and most definitely my No. 1 and main squeeze. It just puts a smile on my face time and time again with what it can do and also how amazingly plush it feels.

[mad dog1]

^^ i was joking w/ gads last night during another great hit...said he's still a positively addicted 'holic. but the only difference is that he's no longer dabbling w/ the lightweight drugs. he's gone to the dark side and started experimenting with the hard drugs.

[JGads]

And thanks for the Texans shout-out. We need all the positive vibes we can get heading into New England again on Sunday. Everyone thinks we'll get trounced again, and they're probably right, but of course there's a glimmer of hope that we can somehow return to being the team we were in the first 12 weeks of the season instead of the last five. And our playcalling has to get more creative and bold.

Also, just looked at the AO draw. As a Federer guy, I'm not feeling very well. Paire, Davydenko, Tomic, Raonic, Tsonga, Murray and Djokovic could be his path. I see potential danger in every one of those guys, certainly any of them can push him into some long matches if they're loose and feeling good. I say Tsonga takes him out in the quarter, then possibly upsets Murray, and then loses to Djokovic in the final?

Who does everyone else like?