Diary of a Racketaholic

[Power Player]

How hard is it to string those EXO sticks?

Any racquet with that low of a flex that still hits big is intriguing..I have to say I'd be stunned if it could be better than an APD for a topspin player, but it seems to work quite well for Young.

[Ross K]

UWB,

Though I'm very much an open pattern fan, I actually wonder if the Exo may be the first frame since the N95 to really impress me with the closed pattern option - I had a devil of a time choosing between both patterns with the 6.1s.


riau,

Thanks for the reminder.


R

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by Power Player

How hard is it to string those EXO sticks?

Any racquet with that low of a flex that still hits big is intriguing..I have to say I'd be stunned if it could be better than an APD for a topspin player, but it seems to work quite well for Young.

You just need to start off in the right direction for the crosses...not hard tho

[Ross K]

riau,

The positives:
* the frame feels VERY manoeuvrable. It swung lightly, which enabled me to hit with good pace and spin; this takes me to the following plus:
* it is VERY spin-friendly, despite the closed pattern. Hitting topspin was a breeze and backhand slices were great, both for offensive approach shots and defensive shots
* it has a huge sweet spot. The extra square inches of head size compared to the YTPP really seemed to make a difference. The Prince is definitely less demanding, although the YTPP's sweet spot feels a bit sweeter.
* it has nice control, allowing me to direct my opponent from left to right and back.
* the volleys I played during the warm-up were great -- again, the manoeuvrability and bigger head size really seemed to help.
* the frames seems to take full poly really well. My shoulder tends to feel a bit sore when I play moderately stiff frames with full poly.

The negatives:
* The feel is .... different. Like the TW playtesters and other EXO3 Tour users have said: it does not lack feel, but it takes some getting used to. In my experience it was not unpleasant, and while I was playing competitively, I had no time to think about it. So no problem, really. (Also, the string hole inserts I ordered are on their way, so in due course, I'll try those out to see if they improve feel.)
* I had trouble dialing in my serve, but that's only logical if you've only played with a frame for one hour. I hit about six double faults and that reduced my level of confidence. Flat serves were OK (not too bad, but not great either), but the frame really shines on spin serves. I guess it takes some practicing to get my serves a bit more consistent.

Along with the huge spin, it's this aspect: the slightly bigger head-size that really appeals to me.


klem,

he throat grommets on the exo3Tour are all the same... no port-hole throat grommet available.

To be honest.. after nearly 4years of messing around with CAPs... I'm finding the port/string-hole inserts completely user-friendly. And you can further customize your frame.

Good to hear it's not such a PITA after-all... I'm not a fan of fiddling around with grommets... and I'm definitely not a fan of messing about with caps (call me lacking in perseverance, but once you have to get the hairdryer out or start immersing the frame in hot water, that's usually the time I'm stepping away from my PPro and reaching for a new frame! )


R

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by Ross K

UWB,

Though I'm very much an open pattern fan, I actually wonder if the Exo may be the first frame since the N95 to really impress me with the closed pattern option - I had a devil of a time choosing between both patterns with the 6.1s.


riau,

Thanks for the reminder.


R

Closed and open patterns are not all black and white...I tend to look at the relationship between head size and how many string holes in the throat. For instance your pcs are open patterned but have eight string holes in throat so denser towards the sweetspot

[klementine79]

^ Couldn't agree more.

It's all about string-pattern density.

I don't know how dense/open the 16x18 exo3Tour is... but the 18x20 is uniform in it's density and offers exceptional spacing in the sweet-spot and in the general string-bed.

I really enjoy how this frame handles all the shots well. Defensive and offensive shots build confidence. It is reliable and predictable at net. Serves great. Slices are surprising and fun to hit. Returns are effortless.

It's everything I was hoping the Rebel95 to be. I can concentrate on foot-work, grip and strategy when I'm feeling this comfortable with a frame. Just an all around good job from Prince.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Meaghan

Closed and open patterns are not all black and white...I tend to look at the relationship between head size and how many string holes in the throat. For instance your pcs are open patterned but have eight string holes in throat so denser towards the sweetspot

No, you're right of course... and as for the Pure Control with Tour Bite... I was getting MASSIVE topspin with that combo, and as one who derives a zen-like profound happiness from the simple act of seeing a groundie bombing out towards the b-line before magically breaking and diving down and in ... you remind me that string selection is of course a further monumentally vital component in all this.


Everyone,

You hearing this about Nadal collapsing and taking a MTO at a press conference?... Man, Rafa can't even sit through a press conference with out taking a lengthy break and calling for the medical ppl!


R

[UWBTennis]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Everyone,

You hearing this about Nadal collapsing and taking a MTO at a press conference?... Man, Rafa can't even sit through a press conference with out taking a lengthy break and calling for the medical ppl!

R

Yeah, had no idea what happened there. He called a injury time out to treat his right ankle(?, something with his right leg) in the first set. But he only play a three set match with the second being easy by his standard, I can't understand what happened. Besides that, Young just won, to bad he's going up against two opponent who matches up against his game well. Lopez got a great serve and is a lefty and Murray can just take advantage of his serve and withstand his aggressive attack. But the good news is that McEnroe believes that Young is a top 20 talent with potential for top10 game play. If you look at the top 10, only 2 people might have a serve speed average of less than 110 mph like Young, and that is Nadal (even Ferrer has a faster serve than Nadal, Vamos Rafa!). The thing is every one of them can hit as hard as him especially with Soderling, Berdych, and Almagro and the other can hit as hard as him with good placement. I just don't see him breakin the top 10 unless he takes Almagro spot, but he won't be better than the others.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Everyone,

You hearing this about Nadal collapsing and taking a MTO at a press conference?... Man, Rafa can't even sit through a press conference with out taking a lengthy break and calling for the medical ppl!


R

BTW... it's a strange coincidence that I, too, was forced to take my own medical time out (see pic below) earlier in the day when the wife asked me to join her in the next room to watch the Sex In The City movie on the TV... ahem.




BTW2... I've also had past episodes of MTOs, often lasting several hours in duration, just when the in-laws are due around for a visit; when I'm asked to accompany Mrs K to go shopping; and every time I happen to hear 'music' on the radio/TV by from the latest young devil's spawn no talent boy band flavour of the month bullcrap outfit!

R

[Fed Kennedy]

Guys I am pretty happy with this tec 320. I think this could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

After a lot of thinking, I looked at my results and was doing best with open pattern 95 and 98s.
The head of the class was the bab pstgt, astgt and the tec 320.
Not to say I wasn't hitting some of the craziest circus shots with the apdgt+ (I was!) In fact this one is still in the back of my brain, but when keeping score I really gravitated towards the control and aerodynamics of the slightly smaller heads.

I was playing so well with the demo tec 320 butt ugly samurai with 1.32 multi that I had to get one. I think I had same standard of play with the storms, but strangely enjoyed the cushy feel of the tecs wide open pattern more.

For now I think this is my stick. I have not forgotten about astgt, it was the runner up, but for now I'm teccin'

Btw: the 2012 pj is just beautiful up close. Very clean 88 like minimal specs in the throat, a little subtle carbon braiding and black gray on the hoop with metallic flake red accents. Sweet. Silicone filled handle stock. Not sure if it makes a difference but it sounds cool!

[Power Player]

I'm probably going to end up with an apdgt+ laying next to me in one bed one sordid night.

The 320 is the real deal. If it was not a full poly or die stick i probably would have stuck it out. I went on a closed pattern journey, switched from western to SW, and now I am back with the open pattern with the new grip. Win.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Guys I am pretty happy with this tec 320. I think this could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

After a lot of thinking, I looked at my results and was doing best with open pattern 95 and 98s.
The head of the class was the bab pstgt, astgt and the tec 320.
Not to say I wasn't hitting some of the craziest circus shots with the apdgt+ (I was!) In fact this one is still in the back of my brain, but when keeping score I really gravitated towards the control and aerodynamics of the slightly smaller heads.

I was playing so well with the demo tec 320 butt ugly samurai with 1.32 multi that I had to get one. I think I had same standard of play with the storms, but strangely enjoyed the cushy feel of the tecs wide open pattern more.



For now I think this is my stick. I have not forgotten about astgt, it was the runner up, but for now I'm teccin'

Btw: the 2012 pj is just beautiful up close. Very clean 88 like minimal specs in the throat, a little subtle carbon braiding and black gray on the hoop with metallic flake red accents. Sweet. Silicone filled handle stock. Not sure if it makes a difference but it sounds cool!

A TF320 with "cushy feel"?!





R

[JGads]

Boardies:

Good to see you guys keeping things interesting in here. In NY, heading to Ashe tomorrow day for some Fish-Tsonga action, which should be dynamite. Funny that this EXO3 Tour convo has broken out, with the help of Donald Young (he's using the 16 main version, yes?). It's actually the stick I'm trying to get the guy I'm crashing with to get for himself -- he's a 3.0-3.5, rough stroked-but-just-needs-some-pointers-to-click kind of fellow who's about to start taking up the game again with some lessons, and I think the EXO3 is a stellar frame for someone like him to grow into (playable now even at his level, but also very playable for better players, too - obviously). Unfortunately he's upset at the bright orange grommet sides, thinking they look a bit weird. I don't mind them at all, but hey, I've discriminated on looks before, too. Anyway...

My own TW Playtest of the 18/20 the stick can be found in the User Comments section. It was a stellar frame and I always thought, "Like an APD, but hella nicer on the arm and more controlled." Feel was iffy for me (though I wonder if the Tour Bite treatment Young puts in it would crisp it up nicely), but other than that, the frame was gold all around -- except for those serves. I just couldn't find those heaters on a consistent basis, but Klem seems convinced the tweaking made it shine there. That makes me wonder.

I will tell you guys this: probably the most arm friendly stick I've ever tried, and that includes anything PK or Vantage. It's soft as a pillow to the arm. And re: the 18/20 v. 16/19, I remember feeling that there was NO way I'd want any more spin than I was getting from the 18. Very nice controlled spin on groundies.

Fed: good stuff, man. Hope the 320 is a keeper. It sure does look sweet, that new PJ. One of the better PJs of the last couple of years -- taking its place among the YT Prestiges, BB Londons, etc. I was at a tennis shop here today, *******, looking at the racquet wall and thinking, "Why are all of these new sticks so ugly?" There are few new exceptions to that rule introduced lately, the TF PJs among them.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I'm probably going to end up with an apdgt+ laying next to me in one bed one sordid night.

The 320 is the real deal. If it was not a full poly or die stick i probably would have stuck it out. I went on a closed pattern journey, switched from western to SW, and now I am back with the open pattern with the new grip. Win.

A liking for a big girl is one thing but, as the creator of the infamous and banned thread 'RILF Club' from some years back, I'm not sure I'd advise you going into any more detail than you already have.





R

[Fed Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Ross K

A TF320 with "cushy feel"?!





R

Well...I like stiff frames (prostaffs, extremes etc), but it felt much cushier to me than the astgt and tec 325 that I had alongside it. It is no pillow like the pstgt or a prince though. Full poly at 53, exo tour damp, tourna tac, no harsh vibes. 12.2 oz with all the extras on, very solid stick.

[Ross K]

Meaghan,

Re the MG Pres mid (a racket that was way to good for me ), let us all know how you get on with it and how it stacks up in your view against the Yonex pro-stocks and the BC20.



Don't know how clearly you can see the frame in the hands of the great Safin himself there (God, what a brilliant, charismatic player/maniac he was - haha... I, for one, wish he was still around to liven things up a bit ), but as you doubtless know, informed opinion has it he indeed played with the self-same frame, albeit leaded up like a tank.

R

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Ross K

A liking for a big girl is one thing but, as the creator of the infamous and banned thread 'RILF Club' from some years back, I'm not sure I'd advise you going into any more detail than you already have.





R

haha...thats good stuff. Ross has had a little highlight reel of lawl posts lately.


Gads, I am intrigued whenever a stick is compared to the APD..especially one with 52 flex. So I may very well demo the thing next to the APDgt+ to judge for myself. I always read about sticks that get compared to the APD and always leave disappointed after a demo. When you say that the 18x20 gets insane spin, I can only imagine the 16x18..for me that is a wonderful thing.

I really really love the power of the APDgt..I am not sure if the EXO can hang, but if it can, it explains why so many people love it.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Power Player

haha...thats good stuff. Ross has had a little highlight reel of lawl posts lately.


Gads, I am intrigued whenever a stick is compared to the APD..especially one with 52 flex. So I may very well demo the thing next to the APDgt+ to judge for myself. I always read about sticks that get compared to the APD and always leave disappointed after a demo. When you say that the 18x20 gets insane spin, I can only imagine the 16x18..for me that is a wonderful thing.

I really really love the power of the APDgt..I am not sure if the EXO can hang, but if it can, it explains why so many people love it.

Another reason actually I'm curious to finally check out the Exo Tour is, aside from fact I liked the 03 Tour a lot (though, initially at least, I thought that indeed it couldn't quite 'hang' with the APD), is I keep reading reports from ex-APDers who love the Exo Tour. Must be the spin eh?

Incidentally, for me, in my suspect hands, I found the 03 Tour to be a real 'counter-punching' frame, a frame for scurrying about the back-court and staying in points for an eternity. Now, I'm not saying that doesn't apply to the APD also, however (and I think it's a major reason I keep returning to the APD), the Bab just has that extra gear of power; that extra blasting voltage is available when you really need it. Sure, I can sometimes overcook things a bit and control issues can arise, but, yep, to have that oomph to call upon is a huge plus-point for me.


R

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Meaghan,

Re the MG Pres mid (a racket that was way to good for me ), let us all know how you get on with it and how it stacks up in your view against the Yonex pro-stocks and the BC20.



Don't know how clearly you can see the frame in the hands of the great Safin himself there (God, what a brilliant, charismatic player/maniac he was - haha... I, for one, wish he was still around to liven things up a bit but as you doubtless know, informed opinion has it he indeed played with the self-same frame, albeit leaded up like a tank
R

Very interesting to see safin racket is 370g and the lead placement its the same as mine........

Safin


Meaghan


Will find out balance it be nice to find out its the same spec as mine...

[PED]

Wasn't Safin spotted recently using a Head Speed?