G-Speed Pro Review (in Progress)

[rlau]

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

Anton

Looking forward to hearing your set up and thoughts

Same here -- keep us posted

[dr325i]

Originally Posted by Anton

I'm a little confused on the "power" feedback, some people are saying it is low power, others say it's powerful like APD?

Stiffness would indicate a lot of power...I guess I'll see for myself in a few days.

Don't know about the APD, however, it is definitely more powerful than the Prestige and more powerful than the IG Speed MP 315.

[Anton]

BTW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yfxLeMHPy4

[anhuynh16]

Originally Posted by dr325i

Don't know about the APD, however, it is definitely more powerful than the Prestige and more powerful than the IG Speed MP 315.

I know that the BLX 95 16/18 isn't really a racket you can compare the speeds to- but (if you'd tried them) how do they stack up against the 95s?

[Federerkblade]

Great tw review for the pro

[dr325i]

Originally Posted by anhuynh16

I know that the BLX 95 16/18 isn't really a racket you can compare the speeds to- but (if you'd tried them) how do they stack up against the 95s?

Sorry, did not try BLX95.
However, the Graphene Speed Pro is a great stick

[Anton]

So I got the racket today (Thank you dr325i !)

Looks pretty nice - looks slimmer and slicker in person than in the pictures.

Swung it once...a bit sluggish, not impressed...took off 2 grams at 12...swings fast now, but a bit too light...put 1 gram back on - WOW PERFECT.

Didn't get to actually hit the balls yet, but so far I'm impressed. This thing is uber polarized, much like my Mantis Pro 295 customization that I was looking to replicate (minus the loose string bed).

Got solid weight in hand but once in motion it is crazy swift and I could get big head speeds with very smooth load up.

Stability is solid throughout the strigbed. Top of the loop is rock solid. Just the slightest flutter around 8 and 4 of the stringbed, which is again, from polarized weight distribution.

I just hope the tight pattern will be able to make up for all that head speed and stiffness to keep the ball trajectory down and in the lines.

[ka1m1ng]

Originally Posted by Anton

So I got the racket today (Thank you dr325i !)

Looks pretty nice - looks slimmer and slicker in person than in the pictures.

Swung it once...a bit sluggish, not impressed...took off 2 grams at 12...swings fast now, but a bit too light...put 1 gram back on - WOW PERFECT.

Didn't get to actually hit the balls yet, but so far I'm impressed. This thing is uber polarized, much like my Mantis Pro 295 customization that I was looking to replicate (minus the loose string bed).

Got solid weight in hand but once in motion it is crazy swift and I could get big head speeds with very smooth load up.

Stability is solid throughout the strigbed. Top of the loop is rock solid. Just the slightest flutter around 8 and 4 of the stringbed, which is again, from polarized weight distribution.

I just hope the tight pattern will be able to make up for all that head speed and stiffness to keep the ball trajectory down and in the lines.

just asking, did you lead up 1g at 12 only?

[Anton]

Originally Posted by ka1m1ng

just asking, did you lead up 1g at 12 only?

No, dr325's racket was already customized.

Now there is basically lead running all the way around the loop from 8 to 4(11g) and 10g of silicone in the handle.

[Anton]

So hit briefly today.

It was about 35-40 outside and this racket is string with full bed of shapped poly at what feels like mid-high tension, so even with the silicone in the handle the feel of the racket is a bit buzzy. I think NRG2 mains with a smooth poly will work much better.

This stick plays like a heavier, tighter stingbed IG Instinct, both rackets have that thick but narrow beam and are of high stiffness. That's not a bad thing, as that racket did have a lot of good qualities and the Pro's tighter stringbed should take care of control issues.

Speaking of which, my main concern about there being too much power is put to rest, the tight pattern really did keep the ball trajectory down and I could really swing out with confidence.

I'm flying out to Mexico on wednesday so we'll see how it plays with softer stringbed, I'll probably record some hitting.

[ka1m1ng]

Looking forward to your recording.

[Anton]

Put in a few hours today with some consistent rallying (though my partner was a weaker player and didn't really get me on the run much).

For comparison I also pulled out my modified Bio 300 (siliconed) and nCode 90, out of the three I definitely liked the feel of the Pro the least, it felt more buzzy and I could feel some flexing through the frame, while my Bio 300 and nCode 90 just felt one-piece sold and smooth.

BUT I still preferred playing with the Pro.

Hitting with it just felt like I can do no wrong, tons of consistency, great gas pedal and variety - I can flatten out and drive, I can go big spin, can hit short or long, high arch or low. Reminded me of Prince Tour 18x20 in that way, just a crisper, more solid version.

[mp4/18]

hi all
i tested this frame last week.

strung with BB alu 24/23 kg.

a real disappointment to me. too stiff, less control despite balance and dense pattern in centre.

I expected more

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by mp4/18

hi all
i tested this frame last week.

strung with BB alu 24/23 kg.

a real disappointment to me. too stiff, less control despite balance and dense pattern in centre.

I expected more

I'll tell you how to get a lot more. Trash the garbage strings and put decent twines on there. Too Stiff and less control are not issues with this racquet.

[Anton]

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmR_oH_dU8

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Anton

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmR_oH_dU8

Your opponent is terrible but you hit a nice ball. Seems like a quite powerful stick / string setup from the number of times you're tagging the baseline? Does this stick feel unwieldy at all given the tip and tail weighting?

[YesTennis]

Originally Posted by Anton

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmR_oH_dU8

Just wondering what you string set-up you're using? In addition, if you've had a chance to play with the Graphene Speed MP, would appreciate your thoughts.

[Anton]

Originally Posted by Torres

Your opponent is terrible but you hit a nice ball. Seems like a quite powerful stick / string setup from the number of times you're tagging the baseline? Does this stick feel unwieldy at all given the tip and tail weighting?

Well it does have a nice plow at this weight.

It is strung at medium tension with silinco tour byte 17, I wouldn't call it powerful - the string bed feels somewhat tight. I will be swapping in multi/poly hybrid in next for a bit smoother feel.

I do have a bit of an inconsistent racket angle problem that I'm working on, sometimes the racket is more open than it should be, which launches the ball a bit higher and deeper than I would have wanted.

In this video I wasn't trying to control depth, but after watching it I started paying more attention and started aiming a bit past the service line instead.

I think this racket strikes a very good balance between control, spin and power. Loving the weight/balance too, got some heft to plow the ball but building up speed is easy.

[Oz_Rocket]

I've had more of a chance to hit with mine in the last few weeks too and am still liking it.

Playing back to back with my old Speed IG MP 315 16/19 I noticed a slightly hollower feel with the Graphene Speed Pro on hard groundies. But after a while just playing with the Speed Pro you get use to or just don't notice it. It also feels slightly stiffer than the IG MP but not by much and I haven't had any arm problems.

But back to back it feels noticeably more manoeuvrable than the IG MP, particularly at the net, and so much more stable off centre.

As for groundies I'm finding I can hit some very hard and flat forehands very deep into the corners that just skid on. The first time I managed to really pull one off the guy I was playing against said it was like trying to chase down a flat 150kmh serve.

Spin is still surprisingly good for such a tight string pattern and it gives nothing away to the IG 16/19 maybe due to how easy it is to just whip the racquet head around.

Serving is a breeze and it is the control I am loving but still not giving much away in raw speed. With the factory string I was probably getting close to 190kmh on the hardest of my flat first serves and I've been able to get some deep second serves to kick quite high.

Another big test has been playing with my kids using the low compression orange and green dot balls. One thing I hated about the IG MP was that slightly off centre shots with the low compression balls would just die or be hard to control. With the Speed Pro I've found that it is so much easier to control and keep the ball in play, particularly when I have to volley wayward shots when playing the half court with my youngest son.

So after a month of playing with the Speed Pro after having tried a few different styles of racquets since returning to tennis last year I think I've finally found something that really suits me. Although no doubt similar specced 18/20 racquets like the Blade 98 and EXO Tour 100 would be good too.

Also I'd all but killed the factory strings I restrung it with some Sonic Pro 17 @ 50lbs a few days ago but have only hit with my kids since then. I've got some Sonic Pro Edge on the way that I am really looking forward to trying out as from some reviews it sounds like a perfect match for this frame.

[rlau]

I suspect this frame will really shine with gut/poly....