Boris Becker (BB) London Club

[TroutSc]

I pulled mine off the 'consignment' rack today to give it another go. Im going to try to stick with it and how it works out. Ive been using volkl pb7 (1 hybrid and 1 full poly)and have had some elbow pains. The london has live wire in it, but Im hoping to be able to play with hybrid and stay comfortable. I think its a 63 vs 67 stiffness on the volkl, so we'll see.

[zapvor]

yea i still have a new one in plastic.....so many sticks so little time

[djNEiGht]

I should be getting another one soon. I'll play with the hoop stock and with a leather grip. My primary reason before in adding lead to the hoop was for stability. I'd like to see if my technique has improved where I don't need the added weight. My current set up is with lead at 3/9 & 5/7 w a leather grip and OG.

It is coming with Klip Legend. My first ride with gut.

[djNEiGht]

So to follow up with my new racquet and 1st experience with gut...

I've been battling with TE again. I think the poly playtests may have done me in. I had a great time with the 4G test and was playing it side by side with left over 361 (Beast XP) and didn't feel but the slightest discomfort towards the end of it's playability.

Next string test was the Super Smash and Black Magic. The temps had dropped as SoCal Fall/Winter was creeping in. I normally play at 0700 and it's still pretty chilly then. Mid-way through the playability of those strings I started to feel some mild discomfort and was going to switch it up with a hybrid or a full bed of multi.

I've been playing in a round robin doubles tourney and didn't want to switch to a different model racquet w syn/multi in it. By the time I got the hybrid of Tour Bite / NXT Tour at 52# (sweet spot is huge), the TE had come back after 2 years. I also got another London at that time with gut at 60# (not so big of a sweet spot but very scaple like) and hit with it in stock form. I had such a great time with it and appreciated the nearly 1 ounce lighter set up but missed the bevels of leather.

I've continued to hit with the stock/gut set up but as of late I need at least a good set or 30 minutes to get warmed up. Today was pretty bad. 2nd set I had discomfort serving and on the fore hand.

I was hoping that the week off I took with the rain would have helped...maybe it's time to stay away for much longer. No discomfort holding a cup of coffee or doing dishes...but I have some while trying to pull my shirt over my head.

Anyways...I wonder if swinging such a light racquet now has also contributed to the pain (as well as the colder temps in the early morning). I know that I need to take some time off especially since I've increased my court time to roughly x5 days a week for the past 2 months.

[Bobo96]

Anyone know when BB will come out with a new version?

[vsdtrek]

Originally Posted by Bobo96

Anyone know when BB will come out with a new version?

I think the question might be "if" they ever come out with anything else. Seems to be a fire sale on all their remaining frames. That NYC didn't last long at all. While BB makes nice frames, I wonder if the brand name has run its course.

[djNEiGht]

I took advantage of a London fire sale

Would be interesting to see if anything else comes out fr them or will volkl take the lead and promote their gear more

[Pneumated1]

Originally Posted by Bobo96

Anyone know when BB will come out with a new version?

I was told by a Volkl playtester that two new frames will be released around the French Open/Wimbledon, and one will be based on the London mold.

[vantageboy]

THANK U Pneumated 1 for the latest BB/VOLKL info. strung my London this week with the volkl gut 16g. very nice string and maybe a touch stiffer over pacific/wilson gut.

[Pneumated1]

Originally Posted by vantageboy

THANK U Pneumated 1 for the latest BB/VOLKL info. strung my London this week with the volkl gut 16g. very nice string and maybe a touch stiffer over pacific/wilson gut.

vb,

I would love to try a gut/poly hybrid in the London, but I continue with the economical Cyclone mains with NV.Y crosses. Take care!

[RollTrackTake]

Seeing this thread revived inspired me to break out my London's yet again. I'm not sure why I go away from these frames! When I first tested them out I strung them with synthetic gut at 60lbs. I recently restrung one with Black Widow 17 and I love it! Everything is better with the poly in there! It's been so solid I took my 2 off the sale rack & picked up 2 more at a great price. I need to play some competitive matches with it & see how it works out. I put them on the shelf when the Donnay Pro 1 came out because it had more stability and easier power especially on my 2HBH. But in drills today the London felt amazing. The only minor deficiency was less power on the backhand. On the plus side it swings easier than the P1. Great racquet. Would love to see an update in the future.

[Rabbit]

t'would appear Boris Becker Tennis is kaput!

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

Seeing this thread revived inspired me to break out my London's yet again. I'm not sure why I go away from these frames! When I first tested them out I strung them with synthetic gut at 60lbs. I recently restrung one with Black Widow 17 and I love it! Everything is better with the poly in there! It's been so solid I took my 2 off the sale rack & picked up 2 more at a great price. I need to play some competitive matches with it & see how it works out. I put them on the shelf when the Donnay Pro 1 came out because it had more stability and easier power especially on my 2HBH. But in drills today the London felt amazing. The only minor deficiency was less power on the backhand. On the plus side it swings easier than the P1. Great racquet. Would love to see an update in the future.

The London was great for me except in one area....serve. I just couldn't get as much pace on serve as I do with other stiffer racquets. It's more than likely a technique difficiency, but that's the only thing I didn't like about it. Groundstrokes, volleys and slices were all great and there isn't many better feeling racquets out there. But I agree...a poly is needed to help tame the power. The London also helped me to completely get over my prior TE pain, so for that I am forever grateful

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by JackB1

The London was great for me except in one area....serve. I just couldn't get as much pace on serve as I do with other stiffer racquets. It's more than likely a technique difficiency, but that's the only thing I didn't like about it. Groundstrokes, volleys and slices were all great and there isn't many better feeling racquets out there. But I agree...a poly is needed to help tame the power. The London also helped me to completely get over my prior TE pain, so for that I am forever grateful

I hear you. Power for me is not that far off from the Pro 1 & Pure Drives of the world. Plus for whatever reason my placement is better with the London. BTW, got a brand new London from your boy T-Mav!!

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

I hear you. Power for me is not that far off from the Pro 1 & Pure Drives of the world. Plus for whatever reason my placement is better with the London. BTW, got a brand new London from your boy T-Mav!!

I guess he decided to buy up all their stock before they go under?

[RollTrackTake]

had a good run with the 'ol London today. Again, having a full bed of poly in it makes a huge difference for me vs. the syn gut I used to roll with. Overall it performed great. Alas it's shortcomings did present themselves. I played a friend who has a huge serve & forehand and on a few instances the London's lack of mass/plow was evident. I tried to punch back a few one-handed back hands on hard hit balls and sent back some sitters. of course if I had used a long steady stroke it wouldn't have been an issue. i'll re-read this thread to look for lead tape suggestions. however, with the beefier Pro 1 I get better results when i half-***** a swing on a hard serve. still the London will stay in the bag.

[djNEiGht]

I first added the leather grip because of the bevel feel. As I started playing heavier hitters, I felt I needed weight to help stabilize off centered shots and did the 3/9 lead. Through experimenting I found that additional weight at 5/7 helped my style of play. It brought the balance back to stock.

I matched up a 2nd London and played with them with primarily multi and syn gut beds. Enjoyed this set up for a couple of years.

About 6 months ago I found time in my schedule and started playing almost every day. My elbow was feeling pretty good and I participated in a couple of poly tests. The tests I did during late summer/early fall was fine. I participated with another couple poly tests in mid to late October and started to feel pain again on the medial side of my elbow (GE). I think the second set of poly strings where also stiffer than the previous test

I then found the London's being blown out and picked up another one with gut while the other ones where set up with a poly/multi hybrid. I found that my weighted racquets where tough to play with. The stock stick w gut was playing really well and I found my skills had improved while playing with more advance players.

I took off all the lead on the other racquets and added minimal weight at 12 to bring the balance back to stock. I haven't hit with those much as I have been enjoying the stock weight (yet dearly missing the feel of the leather grip).

Still feels a bit light and want to try my re-modded racquets soon.

[RollTrackTake]

I strung the London with Black Widow 17 @ 55lbs. So far so good as far as the elbow is concerned. May go a few lbs lighter in 2 weeks.

[RollTrackTake]

Added some lead at 10 & 2 on the London today & it felt & played beautifully. Really is great frame.

[djNEiGht]

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

Added some lead at 10 & 2 on the London today & it felt & played beautifully. Really is great frame.

how's the balance now?