Diary of a Racketaholic

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Bloody Hell. I've only just heard that Mr "Bunga Party" himself, Silvio Berlusconi, has resigned!



Okay, I'm no expert, but quite how/why he survived so long when all he seemed to do was blacken Italy's name and drag it down and bring out the worst in his countrymen, well, it mystifies me a bit.

And so Europe takes another lurch into the unknown amidst this all-engulfing financial crisis which threatens to get a whole lot worse.

I believe the year was 2007... maybe 2008?... Prodi became prime minister and in less than 2 months parliament had been dissolved and Silvio was back. Berlosconi's 'associates' run northern Italy and his 'acquaintances' in southern Italy keep the 'peace' between the two sides.

As anyone who's spent any time in Italy can attest to, Italy is divided into pretty much the equivalent of two states ... northern and southern Italy... The Italians in the north joke that if you're headed to southern Italy... don't forget to bring your passport.

I don't want to call Italy a 'fascist' state... but a trip through northern Italy will uncover such delightful touristic souvenirs from their past... such as bottles of red wine with Mussolini on the front. Mussolini, had in his time, made it mandatory that families with over a certain numbers of acres relinquish their properties to the state.. only to be re-distributed to families with less. Really explains the economic prosperity enjoyed by the north since that era. Their labor and immigration laws are a mockery when compared to the rest of the western world and are meant to protect the Italian work force and industry.

The south is another world. Naples, Calabria and Sicily, any region south of Rome, enjoys a 'local' government that oversees all aspects of society and everyday living. This 'local' government is assumed by many to be the mafia but really is families that have collected strength and dominance over the generations... and while the mafia has lost it's power over the past decade or so, it's still alive and well. A certain 'mob-rule' environment engulfs these regions and survival of the fittest is a prominent motif.

Silvio Berlosconi was possibly the only politician that could find a balance between Italy's states within a state. He had the financial backing and connections of the industrialized north and was smart enough not to intervene in too many matters as pertained with the south, in fact I believe he had sent the army in Naples just to collect trash that had accumulated on the streets. Many believe he was close but never associated with the mafia... or 'families' of the south. He had a laid back philosophy when it came to internal matters and let Italy run as usual.

What I like about Italy is the people nor the media try to hide any of these facts. While the rest of us believe we live in working democracies.. the Italians realize that business is tied into everything... especially politics. Our leaders need lobbyists... fund raisers and special interest pacs to hide this seedy underworld of politics/business/policy. And while the world and certainly most young Italians are joyous viewing the exit of Berlosconi from the public eye... I for one am a bit scared of the outcome and how it relates to the European economy and the greater world economy.


EDIT:
Sorry for this long-winded tantrum..... but it's Sunday morning and I have nothing to do.....

shall we continue with sticks, frames and racs?

[Power Player]

I was up all night 'discussing racquets' with a young lady and have just returned home on little sleep.

Planning to string the b5e with the magical N Vy crosses. Lead at 12 is still rocking. Hoping I have the energy to hit a little this evening. I am excited to see how much control I get out of this GOAT setup.

Ross, I know right where you are at in terms of groundies. The good news is that I am now hitting those putaway strokes again. Took me a while, but it boils down to timing. Your timing will be off because this stick comes around so fast. I worked on this all week and am now hitting clean heavy balls again. What helped me out was focusing on starting the forehand by pulling across with my left hand and just letting the racquet come around through contact. Huge difference once I re calibrated that.

[Ross K]

JG,

Even if it ends up being a for-fun-only frame, I'm glad to have it. I could see it being my Fortress of Solitude, where I return to occasionally just to remember what a tennis racquet is supposed to feel like.

Nicely put. I feel sort of the the same about the N95 and PT630.


Meags,

Tremendous about the PB10 mid. I know that when I find a frame that I can serve very well with it just gives you such a boost. The only problem I've encountered is you tend to overlook the negatives in other areas (AG100 springs instantly to my mind. I could also have dallied with the TF SF 315 for a long time if I wasn't relatively quick, on this occasion, to recognize the 'cons.') From the sounds of it though Rich, seems like you're happy with the frame all around and not just re serve.


Klem,

Not a long-winded tantrum at all. Cheers for the articulate and thoughtful post. I'm no economics guru, but it truly seems we are teetering on the edge of an abyss here - all of us.


PP,

was up all night 'discussing racquets' with a young lady and have just returned home on little sleep.

Planning to string the b5e with the magical N Vy crosses. Lead at 12 is still rocking. Hoping I have the energy to hit a little this evening. I am excited to see how much control I get out of this GOAT setup.

Ross, I know right where you are at in terms of groundies. The good news is that I am now hitting those putaway strokes again. Took me a while, but it boils down to timing. Your timing will be off because this stick comes around so fast. I worked on this all week and am now hitting clean heavy balls again. What helped me out was focusing on starting the forehand by pulling across with my left hand and just letting the racquet come around through contact. Huge difference once I re calibrated that.

You lucky boy. Ah yes, I remember the days when i myself used to be "up all night discussing rackets with a young woman". ... BTW, I just ordered a set of N Vy... BTW2, Interesting to hear comments about timing etc with the Exo. Have to say, this week I want to look at putting 2g in the butt to counteract the 2g @ 12. At any rate, probably a bit early to declare this, but for bh especially where I've always noticed increased SW seems to assist in more oomph, the 2 g @ 12 now seems a must. Curious though to see what happens with counterweight in handle.

[Meaghan]

Ross
There are some similarities between the volkl and the prince in that they move thro the air very quickly and if you have a relatively big swing this can prove problematic. Its easier for me in some ways as I have more weight to play with but deffo weight at 10 & 2 is a must to slow the bigger down esp on fh. For me it had worked a treat and I'm blasting away from the baseline with ease. As for lead at 12 imo its a must for a big serve so for you its gonna be all about balancing the weight up.

As for lead in the handle I ask you to try my method of spacing weight top of handle and not in butt cap.

As for serve, I can pretty much belt down one with anything, its just the pb does it with bells on. Its just as easy as my opt from the baseline even eith the smaller head.

[Power Player]

The NV and B5e with 2 grams of lead at 12 and full ports will one day be immortalized as the holiest of all goat setups.

I just worked on sending heavy top inside out FHs over and over until I caught him cheating and then could easily hit CC winners.

Seriously amazed at how good N Vy plays. How long it lasts, and how it never gets that hard feeling that most syn guts get after a while. Best cross string ever. Perfect match for the EXO. String up at 58 or higher and the poly 4-8 pounds lower.

[el sergento]

PP, Klem
What difference do the normal gromet ports make? I ask because the added weight alone has to up the power a touch and feel wise I imagine they must crisp up the stringbed.

I'm super curious because with a slightly crisper/stiffer stringbed I figure that lower tensions would be nice. Also the added weight sounds like that little bit of beef that i find lacking.

Thx

[JGads]

85 Update:

We introduced ourselves, happily watched the Texans improve to 7-3 and then hit the courts. Definitely feeling it as a for-fun frame, but don't think it'll be for serious matches that I'm really trying to win. Granted, this comes with two caveats: first off, full Tour Bite in the 85, something about it just feels completely, oddly, off. Just inconsistent feel. Had much better feel with Mad Dog's Iontec string, which I really like. Secondly, I haven't played in more than a week and am battling some testy cold, so I was off as well. But, past the excuses, I did shank a few too many points and didn't get the easy power on serve that I'm used to with my others -- you can crush some serves, yes, but form and timing does need to be spot on.

PP: what's N Vy exactly? And did you ever get to try that Exo with the string holes for feel/play comparison? I forget if you have or not.

[JGads]

Weird. I hadn't seen Serge's question about the string holes when I typed that last message. Serge, we're so connected.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by Power Player

The NV and B5e with 2 grams of lead at 12 and full ports will one day be immortalized as the holiest of all goat setups.

Been playing a lot with gut mains, poly crosses; never been a fan of poly in the mains due to elbow sensitivity. But have been thinking about adding NV as a cross to my gut mains, mostly as I like the idea that it could last a bit longer than poly and provide a tad more umph to some of my shots. Thoughts? Too much power (though I tend to string in mid/upper 50's)?

[el sergento]

Originally Posted by JGads

Weird. I hadn't seen Serge's question about the string holes when I typed that last message. Serge, we're so connected.

It's cuz we both rock the bro staff I hear you about the 85 though. Today, after some serious play time with the EXO, the 85 felt like sooo heavy and the leather, like razor blades.

The 85 is a sometimes racquet, just like cookies are a sometimes food.

[Fed Kennedy]

Originally Posted by el sergento

It's cuz we both rock the bro staff I hear you about the 85 though. Today, after some serious play time with the EXO, the 85 felt like sooo heavy and the leather, like razor blades.

The 85 is a sometimes racquet, just like cookies are a sometimes food.

What im hearing here is that I shouldnt get an 85. I already have the 88 for sometimey wilson withdrawal pains.

[klementine79]

Gads/Serg-In regards to the port/string grommets.

I've tried all combinations. Full ports on the 18x20 is what I prefer... as does PP on the 16x18, I believe. It just opens up the frame in terms spin/forgiveness and power.

I used full string-holes and came away with a so-so perspective. It really shrinks the sweetspot... even more so than any other 100sq.in. frame. On the 18x20 model, makes it feel less forgiving and 'boardy'. Although the feel is definitely more traditional and tight/crisp... it begs one to ask, why do I have holes in my frame?

I've also tried string-hole ports at 12 and ports at 3&9. This didn't mesh with me as much as ports at 12 and string-holes at 3&9. The latter seems the perfect combo for those seeking the qualities of ports (spin/feel/power) but with a tighter feel.

The string-hole grommets don't add that much weight to the frame.. ~1gram. I really just prefer all port-holes with the 18x20... can imagine the 16x18 frame to feel less boardy with full string-holes.

----------

Ross,
I think we're all rather apprehensive and fearful of the current economic situation. I recently left my country (Greece) and returned back to my adopted country(America) for these exacts reasons.

Unless the banking system is thoroughly reformed (besides Basel I,II and III) beyond capital adequacy in relation to liquidity, which is what the Basel agreements basically try to promote, we (as a global economy) will have further troubles.

The incentives that banks and financial institutions have to operate and profit based on a the current 'debt-risk' model needs to be revised and slowly phased out.

Let's take a look at Greece' situation. To become eligible for EU candidacy (currency conversion) in 2000-2001, Greece needed to have less than 3% debt based on annual GDP. Goldman Sachs (the american investment bank) restructured Greece' debt in 2000 thus 'hiding' the real numbers. Greece met EU debt standards and adopted the Euro. When Goldman Sachs went belly up in Set. 2008 due to the mortgage backed securities and sub-prime fiasco, they had to relinquish the Greek debt back to the Greek state. Too much for a small country such as Greece to absorb. And today they find themselves in the situation that we are all aware of.

The banking system is a 'debt-incentive' based system and has to be reformed, restructured and regulated.

Sarkozy actually had the most ambitious solution yet to the European dilemma in 2007, when he had served his 6 months as European president.

Sarkozy suggested that the European Union be divided amongst the butter-olive oil line. Or northern europe and southern europe. With different interest rates, bond yields and GDP/Growth expectations. The north, which has an economy predominantly based on production and industry would have different quotas based on their economies (Germany and France). The southern european countries (Portugal,Spain,Italy and Greece) would have separate criteria to meet, as their economies are mainly based on agriculture, shipping and tourism.

[el sergento]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

What im hearing here is that I shouldnt get an 85. I already have the 88 for sometimey wilson withdrawal pains.

No no no, the 88 is fine, I have one, it's some real tasty pate, the 85, well, that's foie gras :P

IMO, everyone should have one.

[Fed Kennedy]

Originally Posted by el sergento

No no no, the 88 is fine, I have one, it's some real tasty pate, the 85, well, that's foie gras :P

IMO, everyone should have one.

I feel very handsome when holding the 85 demo.

[Fed Kennedy]

I need to try it with poly. The sensation is just not that sensational.

[Power Player]

Babolat N Vy is a synth gut that really shines as a cross. It has incredible feel, and never really changes throughout the 10-12 hours you will get out of the setup. It just simply is the best cross I have ever used and it allows me to string tighter and still have a lot of comfort.

I have 2 EXOs and one had stringholes. Those grommets are just too boardy feeling to me. I am addicted to the feel of the ports, and they also are so much better on my wrist. If I switch off to anything else, I feel it in my wrist, but the ports have helped me prevent any further inflammation and the sweet spot is huge. I just do not think the String Holes add much. The EXO to me, is all about spending some time and getting used to the Ports. It took me about 3-4 weeks and suddenly I have to have ports and any other racquet i pick up feels foreign to me.

[el sergento]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Babolat N Vy is a synth gut that really shines as a cross. It has incredible feel, and never really changes throughout the 10-12 hours you will get out of the setup. It just simply is the best cross I have ever used and it allows me to string tighter and still have a lot of comfort.

I have 2 EXOs and one had stringholes. Those grommets are just too boardy feeling to me. I am addicted to the feel of the ports, and they also are so much better on my wrist. If I switch off to anything else, I feel it in my wrist, but the ports have helped me prevent any further inflammation and the sweet spot is huge. I just do not think the String Holes add much. The EXO to me, is all about spending some time and getting used to the Ports. It took me about 3-4 weeks and suddenly I have to have ports and any other racquet i pick up feels foreign to me.

Other than feel, what do the grommets add/subtract from the frame? Do they affect power? Control? String movement?

Thx

[Power Player]

I would say the control was slightly better at first, but now that I am used to the port holes, I have more action on the ball and the control is even. Power goes to ports, string movement is a little more with ports, but nothing too bad.

[Recon]

Here's the details, I'm a onehander who's recovering from a heavy addiction to mid sized racquets, K90-Prestige Mid, I cannot get over it, but I know I should. I've switched to the BLX95 and its great no complaints, just that I feel its missing something extra special you know? I can do everything I want with it, but it doesn't have that one outstanding trait. Its just a tried and true all court beast, many pros have used the 95 lineage of wilson prostaffs but I just don't feel it has that special bigmac sauce! Lol. Anyway I've tried babolats, can't do it, swinging that thing with my whippy onehander something just feels off.

I know I should look into 95-100 range, I have some racquets in mind...my ideal stick would probably be 95-98 12oz open string pattern. On my list to try would probaby be, tfight 320/aerostorm/verdascos racquet but it doesn't come in 16x19/i have no idea what else give me your suggestions!!.for sure my string of choice is solinco tourbite, that thing is just beast. I got the curisoity from this thread about the string and I know many of you love that crunch on contact as well, so I've come full circle, my only problem is I don't like weird headshapeslike the lollipop crap from prince exos(although I heard its really good) and head speeds (sucks, I demoed it. Just sucks), the head extreme is too round and even the tecnifibre looks really weird. So I'm lost. I want that modern spin of the aeroprodrive, with the solid feel of the prostaffs (including the special ability to hit outrageous winners), and with the control of the prestige, I know, I'm crazy.

And the most important aspect...it has to have a thin beam, no bigger then 20mm. I don't know why, its a feel thing. Does my racquet exist? Or only verdasco has the ability to get it.

[Power Player]

^^^^^

Youtek Prestige Pro