Diary of a Racketaholic

[Power Player]

Could PK become :

The Racquetaholic's choice brand?

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Could PK become :

The Racquetaholic's choice brand?

Craziness! Of all the racquet brands in all the world...

Murray, nice setup. Cyclone/gut could feel like butter in that frame.

An observation: the Ace Mid and the 7G have nearly identical weight specs:

Ace: 11.6 oz, 331 swingweight
7G: 11.7, 330.

I was going to point out something, spec wise, about the Ace, and I suspect now (and believe this is true from what I recall about it) that the 7G shares something very similar: a very unique, not easily found weight/swingweight ratio that makes the frame feel very light and manageable in the hand but then puts a serious wallop into the ball thanks to that higher swingweight. So many mid-11oz frames have swingweights in the high 3-teens or lower 320s. Prestige Midplus, for example. Great static weight, but the lower swingweight means it doesn't pack NEARLY the driving punch that, say, the Prestige Mid does. Or, frames that have swingweights in the 330s, they're often the beasts like the K90 or so, those frames that come with heavier static weights that are tough to wield around when it gets to that third set. ...

One thing that separates the Ace for me right now is that nothing this light creates this HEAVY and DRIVING of a ball for me. The swingweight plus the closed pattern just shoots these lower lasers that are making a world of difference in my game. I know the YT Radical Pro is one of the only other frames I can think of that's mid 11 and has a high swingweight (think that one is actually in the 340s), but I figure there's no way I'd be able to control that thing with its very open pattern.

Anyway, just something I've been thinking about. Mid- to high-11s seems to be my ideal zone for arm comfort and maneuverability, but having a 330-plus swingweight to go along with that is just awesome. It makes my defensive block-backs deeper and my aggressive go-for-it groundies come with much more of a punch.

Can you tell I have a crush?

[ryushen21]

Gads....how does the TB compare to the Tornado? I'm really loving tornado right now but I'm not so committed that I can't have a fling with TB. But it has to be at least as good because I can't get the same price per reel as I can for tornado.

[JGads]

Ry,

Unfortunately for me to give a full-on comparison it would be best for me to have hit with both strings in the same frame, and I have yet to put Tour Bite in a Dual Core yet but may do so with either the Plat or the Gold. I know PP didn't care for the TB in his Plat at all, and given the Plat's generally rigidity I can see that, so that's why I've held off. But it's about time for me to try it I think, just to see for myself.

That being said, my gut feeling from having hit with TB in a few frames now and the Tornado only in the Plat: the Tornado seems FAR softer in feel. I also think that Tour Bite is pretty lively. It's crisp, and it really seems to grab-and-throw the ball to its mark, whereas the Tornado is more of a silky feeling string that finesses the ball to its mark - if that makes any sense. Pretty sure the TB has a little more power and is a little spinnier, the Tornado, meanwhile, creates a flatter trajectory.

But again, that's just my impression from limited Tornado experience.

It's still a total wild card as to whether TB will work in a Dual Core frame or not. In my slightly softer BC20 and now the Ace, the Tour Bite is positively fantastic; in my old IG Speed, which was a very stiff frame, it didn't feel that good. The Dual Cores are more rigid by nature but they are softer in feedback to the arm/hand, so I'm not sure exactly how Tour Bite will react. We'll see.

Also of note: in the very tight string pattern that the Ace has (exactly like a Prestige Mid), the grab-and-spin of the Tour Bite gives the ball that added touch of spin that's just perfect. So that spin may also be great for the tightly-patterned Plat 94. With more open-patterned frames (like my BC20) I sometimes wonder if that spin gets to be TOO much.

[Power Player]

Gads, think you are on to something with the SW and static weight of the PKs. The 7G is balanced at 9 pts HL so it is really whippy and easy to swing. I find it easier to get around than the PDR+, and I never really get tired using it. When you lay into the bal, it is simply massive. I have been working on staying controlled and not swinging out until I get one that drops right into the zone, but it is always so tempting with this stick.

The Ace has a different balance which is interesting as well. You would think it would be Ace - 9pts and 7G - 4pts, but maybe they figure a lot of people will want leather on the Ace?

Just judging from a guy I hit with a lot, he always tells me when I am hitting big, and he said this racquet hits as big as the PSTGT, but the balls come off the bounce heavier. So I think I just play best with this style of modern player's tweener stick. I do miss the point and click of the prestige, but to be honest, I have a lot of that precision with the 7G as well. I am now able to hit DTL 2 handers very consistently with it, which is key when someone rushes net on me.

I am starting to think the racquet is a bit more precise than the pure storm by a little.

Drop shots are excellent. I still need to work on my lobs a little, but that is on me.

[Fed Kennedy]

I agree tornado feels way softer than TB.

[Ross K]

Hmm, the 2 frames I'm interested in right now (03 Tour and APD) are at the stringers still and I'm playing later in the day, so what to take? May just have to rock up with that N95 I was praising so highly to Meaghan the other day. Can't think of a whole lot else... a rare look at my old PD+?... the PC or PST?... Pres Pro?... MG Extreme Pro?... okay, I'll go with the N95 and PD+.

Happy hitting, gents.

R

[Ross K]

JG,

By the way, I think I'm going to recommit to Tour Bite. I have it in the Ace I've been playing of late and ripping with. The Gosen stuff feels amazing in the 20 but in my Donnay it was so soft, softer even than Cyclone. I'm addicted to the crispness of TB, and the spininess of it goes quite well with the flatter-hitting Ace Mid, so I ordered a few more sets. Doesn't last terribly long, but what can I say, all things considered, it's just my favorite.

Agree with you mate absolutely. Still my no. 1. Not so sure it will work as well as in my 03 Tour as in my APD, which is a reason I've actually chosen SPPP as my 1st 03 string-job (that and the fact I need to 'decrease the strings stockpile' - LOL.) We'll see...


ry,

Re Tornado V Tour Bite, IMO the latter is a bit more powerful, more biting and grabby, more spinny, less slick feeling.


R

[JGads]

Ross, my brother, you tend to get into some trouble when your frames are at the stringer. I expect no less than a poetic ode to the N95 a little later. ...

Re: Tour Bite in the Tour 100, actually think that combo will FEEL spectacular. TB does wonders to soft feeling frames. Only danger is it becoming TOO too spinny, especially in that open of a pattern (16x19 in a 100-inch head). Then again, you love that spinny baseline bashing, eh? And if it works for you in the APD, I see no reason it wouldn't work for you in the Tour 100.

Happy hitting across the pond...

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Gads, think you are on to something with the SW and static weight of the PKs. The 7G is balanced at 9 pts HL so it is really whippy and easy to swing. I find it easier to get around than the PDR+, and I never really get tired using it. When you lay into the bal, it is simply massive. I have been working on staying controlled and not swinging out until I get one that drops right into the zone, but it is always so tempting with this stick.

The Ace has a different balance which is interesting as well. You would think it would be Ace - 9pts and 7G - 4pts, but maybe they figure a lot of people will want leather on the Ace?

Just judging from a guy I hit with a lot, he always tells me when I am hitting big, and he said this racquet hits as big as the PSTGT, but the balls come off the bounce heavier. So I think I just play best with this style of modern player's tweener stick. I do miss the point and click of the prestige, but to be honest, I have a lot of that precision with the 7G as well. I am now able to hit DTL 2 handers very consistently with it, which is key when someone rushes net on me.

I am starting to think the racquet is a bit more precise than the pure storm by a little.

Drop shots are excellent. I still need to work on my lobs a little, but that is on me.

A lot of Acers do talk about loving leather on it, or putting lead at the bottom to make it more headlight. Something I may try with my spare frame, but if I'm loving it this much now, I don't see a reason to tweak it really. For me right now, bone stock is perfect as is.

Plus, I think there is something to be said for a more even balance, at least for me. I've had love affairs previously with much lighter frames with very even balances -- not so coincidentally, both of them closed patterns. The Blade 98 and the Radical MP. Both were awesome for a short time, and I remember thinking (and even writing about it somewhere in one of these threads) about liking the fact that with those more even-balanced frames, that balance helped to tell my brain exactly where the head of the racquet was. I felt the head more, which can make a difference in terms of making those slight adjustments mid swing. Really headlight frames, I sometimes feel like I lose the head a little bit and then make mistakes coming through the ball, either coming into the strike zone a touch early or late, or simply coming through with more of an upward swipe than is necessary, creating too much spin.

Then again, I'm also a talking contradiction here, because every time I pop a 10g cap into any of the Donnays, the sticks perform so much better for me.

But with the Ace, the thing feels perfectly whippy enough as is. The Ace 98, that thing moves a little more sluggishly and some weight at the bottom might really help it. The Ace Mid, for now, I'm sticking to stock.

[Power Player]

Yeah I have the same issues with a racquet that is too headlight. That is why I am surprised that the 7G pretty much swings itself. The balance feels more like 6-7 to me. It's crazy. The TGK I had was 10 pts headlight and that loss of control was my main issue. Still was controllable, but not perfect. I know the 2pts balance of the Rad Pro ended up aggravating my shoulder, could have been the swingweight though..who knows on that one.

Ross..Klippermate..you will thank me.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Devilito

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnoRHOzxs2Q

Yeah this always fascinated me. I wonder how this helped his wrist out. My pain comes from contact, but it has to be based on a fundamental error..working on it.

[Devilito]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yeah this always fascinated me. I wonder how this helped his wrist out. My pain comes from contact, but it has to be based on a fundamental error..working on it.

did you try that though? Eliminate the backswing and just start the motion at the top? IDK how that would help but it might have to do with lowering the torque on the wrist. He was still serving well that way.

[Power Player]

Yeah I am going to try it. Looks like he starts with the tip of the racquet pointing straight up when he tosses and then just does the racquet drop and swing to contact.

[Ross K]

Gads,

Originally Posted by JGads

Ross, my brother, you tend to get into some trouble when your frames are at the stringer. I expect no less than a poetic ode to the N95 a little later. ...

Re: Tour Bite in the Tour 100, actually think that combo will FEEL spectacular. TB does wonders to soft feeling frames. Only danger is it becoming TOO too spinny, especially in that open of a pattern (16x19 in a 100-inch head). Then again, you love that spinny baseline bashing, eh? And if it works for you in the APD, I see no reason it wouldn't work for you in the Tour 100.

Happy hitting across the pond...

That's right, man, you are my brudder, but...



Seriously, great points there re TB and suitability to my game and preferences and the Tour 100 (03 Tour, I have)... you may well be right. I played with the N95 today with TB and I didn't think it played so great in there.


PP,

Ross..Klippermate..you will thank me.

Ha, ha... I suspect that could be the end of me actually if I was to go down that road... I mean, look at my fellow-UK Racketaholic Meaghan and his habitual customary wine drinking sessions whenever he does a string-job!


R

[Power Player]

It will save you so much headache in the long run. It took me a few tries with crappy string and a test racquet and then I got it down.

I may actually help you pick a stick faster in all honesty. you will have so much control over tension..etc.

[JGads]

ProKennex RHolic Revolution chugs forward: Ace Mid makes its league debut, wins 6-0, 6-1. Granted, I would have been ok with probably any frame this eve, but the Ace did nothing wrong. I made so few errors, picked up a handful of aces and double faulted only once. Guy actually had a very solid serve himself that the Ace had no problem handling as well. A good night.

Taller task tomorrow night (we're talking Yao Ming tall): a practice match against an out-of-this-world 5.0/5.5er, and my legs might be a little shot from playing/working out the last few days to begin with. Pray for me.

[Fed Kennedy]

Ross...lmao at the pic of brother Dickie, I mean JGads.

I also feel that Prince does not get any respect on these boards


The tour, white and black are all worthy of your consideration. Mainly because they are all easy as hell to use and will feel really good with your string of choice TB.

For professional reasons I will be forced to use my KPSocho-ocho exclusively for the next six weeks (don't ask--I'm method acting) but will continue to follow this thread!

[Ross K]

Fed,

Re Dicky/The Fighter post - glad someone 'got' that one . Good film eh? And isn't Christian Bale getting kind of up there or thereabouts in the GMAOAT (Greatest Method Actor Of All Time) stakes?

Incidentally, I totally agree with the Prince comment. More respect is due. Different versions of course but generally very high class if a little quirky IMO.



R

[JGads]

You guys are out of control with the pictures. Loving it, though. One day I will figure it all out, this "Flickr" stuff and join in. For now I'm typing this at a Starbucks, where a woman sitting across from me is crying whilst on the phone. She must be having a racquetholic crisis.