Diary of a Racketaholic

[klementine79]

Oh and corners?

I've put my rdti80lite up for sale in the for sale/trade section. Just letting you know.

[Power Player]

I think I have finally gotten to where I have a loose arm every time on my strokes. What a difference. I played next to some college players last night and noticed - these guys and girls don't all hit insanely hard, but they have that big huge clean contact sound over and over. It comes from that loose arm and torso twist. Once I got it going, the ball contact was sounding huge and the pace was heavier.

Finally got to where I do as well a lot more often. Effortless power now. Getting it going on serve too, which is also an eye opener.

[klementine79]

^Nice. I'm constantly working on that. Loose, loose form and just a tad bit of contraction upon hitting, then back to loose. PP, you're correct, on serve it's day and night. That looseness starts in the legs and transfers throughout body. It's fun lining it up with your body.

Was watching the Ravens/Broncos playoff game on saturday and the analyst made a comment about Anquan Boldin, how he catches the ball with his eyes, not his hands.

Which can completely carry over to tennis. In fact, that loose form helps making contact using your eyes easier. When the body is loose and timing is on, the eyes hit the ball.

Agassi was the master in this regard. Smooth, loose and impeccable timing. That's why he was so good at picking it up on the rise.

[corners]

Originally Posted by klementine79

Oh and corners?

I've put my rdti80lite up for sale in the for sale/trade section. Just letting you know.

Thanks Klem, but grips too big.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by klementine79

^Nice. I'm constantly working on that. Loose, loose form and just a tad bit of contraction upon hitting, then back to loose. PP, you're correct, on serve it's day and night. That looseness starts in the legs and transfers throughout body. It's fun lining it up with your body.

Was watching the Ravens/Broncos playoff game on saturday and the analyst made a comment about Anquan Boldin, how he catches the ball with his eyes, not his hands.

Which can completely carry over to tennis. In fact, that loose form helps making contact using your eyes easier. When the body is loose and timing is on, the eyes hit the ball.

Agassi was the master in this regard. Smooth, loose and impeccable timing. That's why he was so good at picking it up on the rise.

Yeah, the shoulder really relaxes on serve now and I got the racquet to drop to the right of my body a lot easier.

It is just crazy how loud a racquet can be once you get this down.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yeah, the shoulder really relaxes on serve now and I got the racquet to drop to the right of my body a lot easier.

It is just crazy how loud a racquet can be once you get this down.

Yeah, I've hit my very best serves when trying to swing slow and easy to protect an injured shoulder.

[Fuji]

Damn you PP, I'm GOATing with my Blades again...

-Fuji

[sansaephanh]

I'm back to 3.0. Zero fitness whatsoever. I had a UE today from a ball that landed in my strikezone but for some reason my legs refused to turn for a 1hbh. I tried to hit it like it was a serve pulling me out wide, but i just stood there and framed it like a nub. I need a daily fitness regimen just to get me from loathing stairs. lol.

[Ross K]

RHs,

Just curious, what are some ppls fav extended frames you've ever played with? Gads' tales of the 'stick of Zeus' (which is fractionally longer than standard size, I believe) has got me recalling how I do seem to get that consistent groundstroke depth I like and better serve leverage with slight addition of length. Reach and 2hbh also is generally easier too. So, am again pondering the eternal qsn of whether I shouldn't be putting some efforts into checking these out properly.

BTW, I really liked the Gonzo stick - the superb PC+ but too damned hefty. Same with the Rad TT XL. Same re the PSTGT+. I've always liked the PD+ but stiff and not great control.

Some Head frames??... I'm not so clued up on their slightly longer than standard size offerings are.

Anyhow, any plus size racs you good 'holics may care to speak highly of?

[Murray_fan1]

http://www.racquetfinder.com/?name=T...price=&x=0&y=0

Tfight 315

Have any of you guys seen this. Looks like Tecnifibre is going to release a pro stock type retail stick. Platform seems perfect for someone who wants to customize to their own custom spec.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Ross K

RHs,

Just curious, what are some ppls fav extended frames you've ever played with? Gads' tales of the 'stick of Zeus' (which is fractionally longer than standard size, I believe) has got me recalling how I do seem to get that consistent groundstroke depth I like and better serve leverage with slight addition of length. Reach and 2hbh also is generally easier too. So, am again pondering the eternal qsn of whether I shouldn't be putting some efforts into checking these out properly.

BTW, I really liked the Gonzo stick - the superb PC+ but too damned hefty. Same with the Rad TT XL. Same re the PSTGT+. I've always liked the PD+ but stiff and not great control.

Some Head frames??... I'm not so clued up on their slightly longer than standard size offerings are.

Anyhow, any plus size racs you good 'holics may care to speak highly of?

7G, of course. Man I wish that stick was available to you. Don't have much experience with other extenders, really, aside from Zeus.

But Ross: have you ever tried the Boris Becker Delta Core Pro? Not extended, but it's like an improved APD to me - easy pop and spin, better feel than Babolat, awesome maneuverability, wicked slices. An ultimate tweener, in my book.

Originally Posted by Murray_fan1

http://www.racquetfinder.com/?name=T...price=&x=0&y=0

Tfight 315

Have any of you guys seen this. Looks like Tecnifibre is going to release a pro stock type retail stick. Platform seems perfect for someone who wants to customize to their own custom spec.

Sweet looking release. Thin beam, tight (or open) pattern, lower flex than the usual Tecnifibre stiffness? Very, very nice.

Recovering from a very late night watching Monfils-dolgopolov. Shot making quality was absurd. That was about as much fun as one could possibly have watching a tennis match. Glad to have Monfils back, he's a showman in a sport that could use a few more. But he genuinely played very well and served out of his mind - 5 straight aces to open the match! If you missed and can find highlights, highly recommended.

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by Murray_fan1

http://www.racquetfinder.com/?name=T...price=&x=0&y=0

Tfight 315

Have any of you guys seen this. Looks like Tecnifibre is going to release a pro stock type retail stick. Platform seems perfect for someone who wants to customize to their own custom spec.

This is bad, bad news for me. What lovely specs! Flex and beam width. 98sq.in., instead of the typical tecnifibre 95. Again, (just like the 1st gen speeds), why make the 16x19 pattern stiffer than the 18x20? Just don't understand that.


Ross,
Don't know of any Head sticks (currently) that are extended, except for these ProStocks floating around, if you're lucky enough to get a hold of. They use to make extended prestiges as well.

Can't groove with XLs, don't know if my height/arm span have anything to do with it? They just don't gel with me.

[Power Player]

The 315 sounds sweet if it is flexing at 61. I wonder why it is 315 though? A customizable stick should be less than that. Basically it will take around 4 grams on the head to get the SW somewhat decent, then you will want to rebalance the handle and suddenly it's over 12 ounces.

[klementine79]

^ Agree. If it's going to be that heavy (315gr unstrung) the sw should be bumped up (301sw for the 16x19.. really?) The sw on the 18x20 seems nice as a platform, 309.

But, again, why make the 18x20, stiffer than the 16x19? The 18x20 string bed will feel automatically stiffer than it's 16x19 counter-part. Head did the same cr@p with the speeds. Don't understand this logic?!!?

I'll be ordering one up. Haven't been this excited about a racquet coming out in a long time.

[klementine79]

Check. That's a leather grip on the t-fight 315 ltd. Which means a swap for a thin syn.grip could push them down to 305 unstrung. More room for modding.

Great for me because I'm starting to dislike leather grips all together and much prefer the feel of thin syn.grip. Racquet bends a lot more and it's more comfortable.

[Power Player]

I dont think one actually is stiffer. I think it's just QC. But 61 is a wonderful flexpoint. Oh man. 61-65 seems to work best for me, but I do like how soft my Mfil feels at 61 and the blend of soft and firm like the Blade at 65.

The work to get that tfight's SW up to where I can do the loose arm swing on serve and groundies is probably too tough for me to mess with. I like how I can make the Blade heavier just by leading up the throat and handle.

Good point on that leather grip though..that changes it to a 305 if you dropped to something like a Bab skin feel.

I'd do 6 grams at the top with no layer..just go from 10 to 2.

Then another 6 around the handle. That may do it.

[corners]

Originally Posted by klementine79

This is bad, bad news for me. What lovely specs! Flex and beam width. 98sq.in., instead of the typical tecnifibre 95. Again, (just like the 1st gen speeds), why make the 16x19 pattern stiffer than the 18x20? Just don't understand that.

Yeah, basically the same specs as the Ti80 lite. I think the 58 vs. 61 stiffness showing between drill patterns is just random QC fluctuation showing through in the particular sticks TW has measured. I bet the two drill patterns are meant to be identically specced.

[klementine79]

You guys are probably spot on, it's probably just QC issues.

My soiree with the PS90 actually had me feeling confident about a sub-330 sw stick with a high static weight. Plow was there but it was just so maneuverable compared to other 90s, especially on serve.

I'm so stoked about this stick, did I mention that?

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

The 315 sounds sweet if it is flexing at 61. I wonder why it is 315 though? A customizable stick should be less than that. Basically it will take around 4 grams on the head to get the SW somewhat decent, then you will want to rebalance the handle and suddenly it's over 12 ounces.

True. Plus I think it said it comes with a leather grip, so if you don't like leather, there's more adjusting to account for the loss of weight there though that's not the biggest issue as you could just lead up the grip.

I've been liking a touch of lead in the throat of my standard length tgks. Doesn't affect the SW as much, I don't think, but adds some more pop. Perhaps this could be doable on these Tecs.

Man, some interesting new releases. New 18/20 Speed has really nice specs aside from high stiffness rating (and an improved hoop shape to the wide-bodied previous release), the Volkl X10 Mid appears to be a much more user friendly and crisper frame than the PB10, and these Technifibres. If I wasn't so happy with my tgks I'd be a racaholic mess right now.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I dont think one actually is stiffer. I think it's just QC. But 61 is a wonderful flexpoint. Oh man. 61-65 seems to work best for me, but I do like how soft my Mfil feels at 61 and the blend of soft and firm like the Blade at 65.

The work to get that tfight's SW up to where I can do the loose arm swing on serve and groundies is probably too tough for me to mess with. I like how I can make the Blade heavier just by leading up the throat and handle.

Good point on that leather grip though..that changes it to a 305 if you dropped to something like a Bab skin feel.

I'd do 6 grams at the top with no layer..just go from 10 to 2.

Then another 6 around the handle. That may do it.

At this stock balance, after adding 6 grams from 10 to 2 the stick would still be less polarized than a Blade 98, and more headlight. Not sure why you'd need to counterbalance at all, unless you prefer depolarized and very headlight, old-school players' frames.