The pro stock to end all pro stocks: The Fed racket

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Big John

*stuff you said*

I read all of the posts in this thread.

The posts by people who have supposed Federer frames can be summed up such: they want everyone to believe them.

I don't know nor am bothered either way if you have a pro room frame or if you think your 'logic' on why it is likely to be a Federer frame is definitive (it's not - not even close, discussed in previous posts). What interests me most are the ongoing posts discussing how one might replicate Federer's frame characteristics - when you are really here just trying to find a frame that suits you. Really, what do they have to do with each other?

The details people usually post about customising their frames sounds less like an interest in the particulars/nuances of Federer's set-up and far more like a back-door justification for their often insane attempts to mimic his frame characteristics. Attempts which, in the past, have sometimes resorted to plain fabrications of details or seriously poor conclusion forming based on faulty logic, poor information or plain myopia.

The vast majority of these poster come across far more like: "yippee, I have mastered the Federer feel" than having worked out anything particularly salient or interesting.

I've met approximately a dozen people here or in person claiming to have a Federer pro-stock frame direct from Wilson (I mean a frame which never made it into his playing stock, not used frames bought at charity auctions etc). None have ever been able to justify their claims with anything I'd consider overly reliable. The whole "no-one else on tour uses a 90sq in head" sort of logic is not really indicative of anything in relation to the pro room frames, let alone that since Federer is the only pro using 90s (he isn't by the way - as discussed earlier in an earlier post) it therefore must have been made for him.

It's fine for me to accept that you have a frame made for Federer which is outside of the stock they send for him to actually use. Short of dissecting/x-raying it almost everything said about the internal composition is just guesswork, not logic.

[Povl Carstensen]

Originally Posted by Povl Carstensen

Personally I really like to play with my K90, and feel it has some of the same juicy, solid, spinny, controlled feel that I would reckon Federer plays with. My set up is 5 grams lighter though, it has to be admitted...

This was my answer to someone who critized my interest in Federers racket/specs. Whether or not this racket would be my wisest choice if I was serious tournament player I dont know. But it is currently my favourite racket to play with along with my PS Classic. Because it is juicy, solid, spinny and controlled.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Povl Carstensen

This was my answer to someone who critized my interest in Federers racket/specs. Whether or not this racket would be my wisest choice if I was serious tournament player I dont know. But it is currently my favourite racket to play with along with my PS Classic. Because it is juicy, solid, spinny and controlled.

Yep, the k90 is a fine, fine racquet, no matter who it was made for or not made for.

[Big John]

I completely agree, the k90 and in fact, pretty much all of the tour 90's in my opinion are great racquets. Not super easy to play with but if I'm ever playing against weaker players, I often use it as playing with it is really fun. I pull out my St Vincents sometimes as well under similar circumstances.

Against guys that rip it, I find myself late and particularly later in the match, find myself tiring as it is, particularly in the retail stock form, a little demanding for me. That's why I'm particularly enjoying this pro stock one, more head light than the retail kfactor and nowhere near as demanding. If I leaded it up like Fed's, different story I'd imagine. If I was a true Fed wannabe, I'd have done it. I also tried his string setup and struggled for control after the first hit, I prefer these racquets strung at early 50's in full poly, really great spin for putting away short balls, love how easy it is to move the small head.

My main observation out of all of this is that I think more Fed and Tour 90 lovers out there should get hold of Asian Tour 90's, put silicone in the handles and enjoy!

[Big John]

At the risk of repeating myself, I hit with the pro stock Fed stick and liked it! For reasons that we've discussed, I prefer playing matches with bigger headed sticks. Hence, now looking for a spec that is similar to it with a bigger head to play with. Is that hard to understand, sounds pretty simple to me?

Just got a tight pattern pro stock blade XL today, we'll see how that goes.

What pro stocks do you have Bobby Jr? Please tell me about your experience of pro's sticks from what you've owned and hit and why you're so interested in it? I think I've explained my reasons for being interested, what are yours?

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Big John

What pro stocks do you have Bobby Jr? Please tell me about your experience of pro's sticks from what you've owned and hit and why you're so interested in it?

I have a couple of Sampras PS85s "pro stock" frames and about 4 or 5 Edberg and Courier "pro stock" fames.

My Sampras pro stock frames even have blue Tourna-Grip on them... I definitely play better than when I have used another colour grip.

[JoelDali]

I have a Pro stock Eric Clapton Blackie and I can play 'Wonderful Tonight' on it but that's it. I tried to play Who songs with it but it doesn't work for Townsend material. Pro stock guitars are a fail. Waste of money and a killer of dreams.

[Big John]

Well there you go, that was really helpful, thanks.

I'm all Fedded out, I'll let you know what happens when I go to the Aussie Open.

[Povl Carstensen]

Originally Posted by Big John

My main observation out of all of this is that I think more Fed and Tour 90 lovers out there should get hold of Asian Tour 90's, put silicone in the handles and enjoy!

I am afraid one might experience that they are too soft and mushy.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Povl Carstensen

I am afraid one might experience that they are too soft and mushy.

Nope. Flex and feel seem to be the same. Actually the asians I've found to be a bit crisper, probably because the vibration frequency is higher due to the lower weight. But in all respects the asian k90 appears to be identical to the us version at a lower weight and swingweight.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by corners

Nope. Flex and feel seem to be the same. Actually the asians I've found to be a bit crisper, probably because the vibration frequency is higher due to the lower weight. But in all respects the asian k90 appears to be identical to the us version at a lower weight and swingweight.

Actually, I find the Asian K90 to be a tad flexier than the US version. I'm talking about a very minute difference. It might be because of less graphite used in the layup to make it lighter.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Actually, I find the Asian K90 to be a tad flexier than the US version. I'm talking about a very minute difference. It might be because of less graphite used in the layup to make it lighter.

You are right. I've used one an it was more boaty than the non-Asian K90.

It is noticeable so maybe not all that minute. That said, given Wilson's infamous quality control, it could be I just lucked a more flexible one and a stiffer normal frame.

[UCSF2012]

Alright, someone send me Fed's racket, and I'll run it thru the x-ray machine. We'll see what the distribution of weight really is.

[Rusty669]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Actually, I find the Asian K90 to be a tad flexier than the US version. I'm talking about a very minute difference. It might be because of less graphite used in the layup to make it lighter.

I don't think so Break Point. I have been wondering about the differences in the two rackets, and in order to find out I sent my one and only k six one tour to a professional tuning company here. They have in the past put an identical custom grip on all my AK90s and matched them weight-wise. I asked them to take off the handle of the US K90 and put the custom grip on,but also to take any extra weights out that are under the pallet.
Long story short, they matched the US K90 to my AK90s and they play pretty much the same. The only difference in the two is the added weight in the grip area and the more head light balance of the US K90.

[Povl Carstensen]

From doing a search, it seems that it is possible that the difference is only in the pallet/grip weight.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by Rusty669

I don't think so Break Point. I have been wondering about the differences in the two rackets, and in order to find out I sent my one and only k six one tour to a professional tuning company here. They have in the past put an identical custom grip on all my AK90s and matched them weight-wise. I asked them to take off the handle of the US K90 and put the custom grip on,but also to take any extra weights out that are under the pallet.
Long story short, they matched the US K90 to my AK90s and they play pretty much the same. The only difference in the two is the added weight in the grip area and the more head light balance of the US K90.

Well, I've played with about 10 different AK90's and at least a half dozen US K90's and I have noticed that the AK90's feel slightly flexier - i.e., I can feel the flex in the AK90 more than I can in the US K90. I think the lighter weight (less graphite used) is the reason for that.

BTW, there are factory installed weights inside the handles of all of my AK90's (you can see them as metal rods inside the handles). I can also feel the extra weight in the hoop and throat of the US K90's when I play with them so I am positive that the difference is not just the weight in the handles between the two. And stock-to-stock, I also don't notice that the AK90 is any less headlight than the US K90. I know that the official specs state otherwise, but I think those specs are wrong and that the AK90 is just as headlight as the US K90.

Also, I've tried to make some of my AK90's into US K90's by adding weight inside the handles of the AK90's to match the static weight of the US K90, but they still don't play the same. I can still feel that there's more weight in the hoop and throat of the stock US K90 than there is in the modified AK90's with weight added inside the handles.

[athanlau]

Quick question:

You see how there are 3 leather thingy at the bottom of the 3 strings (6 oclock direction)

What is the purpose?

[JoelDali]

Who make Power Pad?

[DownTheLineWith90]

I think P1 just cuts strips of leather and places them when they string Fed's sticks up.

[JoelDali]

Where Power Pad?