Diary of a Racketaholic

[PED]

Ross, glad the specs worked out

So, you really can tell a difference between the tgk and the retail version. I always assumed you could but i've never been lucky enough to try the tgk.

One part on ball quality-i've found my play to be more effective lately by driving thru the ball as opposed to more spin. I'm still trying to hit a heavy ball but one that cuts through the court as opposed to more height.

Anyway, i bring that up as I would think the tgk would be an excellent stick for that type of ball.

[Power Player]

Ross, nice stuff. I agree with your assessment on the Tfight, you are nailing it. It does not feel solid compared to classic frames, but that is one of the few negatives. I was hitting such a spinny ball with it, that when I went to the Pstgt, I got solid feel and a more penetrating low trajectory.

I figured you would like it, as to me it is a players version of the aero pro drive.

[Ross K]

Gentlemen ^^^,

You are both absolutely SPOT on with what you say about these respective frames.

PED, I can say again, the TGK, weighted and balanced of course following your sage advice, swings... hmm... how can I describe it... succulently!... it has a really nice combination of oomph, feel and touch, balance and weighting and solidness, plus I have my beloved 'whippiness' ... the all around, top draw quality with this racket was apparent from hitting the very first couple of balls.

PP, It may not have quite the same degree of overall class as the YTPP pro-stock, but you called it correct when you likened the TF 320 to the APD - and that's a major reason I think I liked it straight off too. In basic terms, simply, this frame is very well suited to how I play now and to my present requirements.

Well, I can see I'm going to have my work cut out choosing between this fine rackets... and I haven't even got to the PD+ or PSTGT yet!

Cheers for your insights again, chaps... if either of you ever make it across 'the pond', I'll stand you a few beers, that's for sure... and then we can play immediately after, right?... or do you think my pre-match routine needs, er, reviewing?!

ATB,

R.

[Ross K]

Gents,

A stupendously good experience yesterday hitting with the pro-stock YTPP I've had modded up. If it's all about aesthetics, I've got my frame already! ... the feel is just ludicrously amazing... there's a phenomenal combination of control, precision, solidness... it's reminiscent of the PT630 in b-line responsiveness... there's lots of oomph... and a general pervasive air of something effortless and primed to perfection.

BUT WILL I ACTUALLY PLAY BETTER WITH THIS THAN THE MORE TWEENERISH, SPINNIER TF 320 VO2, PD+ OR APD?! (Btw, I've again ever so slightly gone off the PSTGT...)

I loved the very open pattern of the TF - as I said, right away, this racket is very much to my tastes re my game style.

The PD+ is just a racket that I love, and has a few interesting differences to me to the APD... (btw, Mantis in this is wicked )

And the APD of course is an addictive frame, a frame I tended to win the most with latterly also...

Re feel, quality build, aesthetic considerations though, the winner's already in!... sensational frame, boys, I kid you not!... yesterday was the kind of morning that makes being a racketaholic, with all this obsessive testing, buying, researching, playing, etc worthwhile.

This really could be a long test period though.


R.

[ryushen21]

Uh-oh, you've opened up the Pandora's box that is pro stock frames. Lol.

The few that I have hit with were superb. Made me want to put myself in all kinds of financial mess just to have them. Ended up passing though. I still keep my eyes out for a bargain one every once in a while though. Would love to get my hands on a few PT57A, PT10 and TGK 237.2

[Power Player]

Ross, drinks across the pond would be awesome. I do have a hitting partner from your side of the pond that lives here. He is extremely funny and actually announces the points as he plays them sometimes, which can be pretty hilarious.

And like Ryushen stated, the pandoras box of pro stock frames is something I never want to open. I have seen it first hand with fellow TT poster Dgoran. He and Bob have hit with some amazing frames, and I would probably go mad picking my favorite.

That is why I am liking the pstgt still because it has that feel to me and is not $500..haha. But since you are hitting with this "blinged out" ytpp, can you describe what it is like compared to the pstgt? I am simply curious at this point, and also hoping I am good at racquet description. Because for me, the pstgt feels very similar to a pro stock frame, but I am wondering if I am off base or not.

[Recon]

Tfight 320...this is catching my eye, having much success with my purestorm gt + though, I don't see myself ever going back to regular sizes frames, 27.5 makes my serve that much more bigger, groundstrokes are tuned in once you get over that initial...lag. Now when I pick up and play with a regular sized stick, feels like im playing with a junior racquet, like i'm missing some length! anyway you guys can over that weird tecnifibre head? its like a weird shape, I mean to me the purestorm even has a weird head. Everything other then wilsons k90's , 95's and head prestige/radical head types look SUPER weird to me.

[Power Player]

I never really cared that much about headshape personally. I do agree that the Tfight's is a little weird, but it works for the racquet. The Babolats are super round, and the Pure Storm sticks out from the bunch since it is not. But the control and power of the Pure Storm is so high, that I figure they did something right.

[Recon]

what really turned my head around was that analogy, an aeroprodrive with more of a players feel. That's pretty sick. Will have to take this one out for a demo if it crosses my way. Thank you for putting me on powerplayer, also ross K, what racquet are you leaning towards? im interested in your progress.

[JGads]

Can someone describe, in the simplest terms, what a pro stock frame actually is? Same frame you can get retail but lighter than specs (so as to be able to modify)? Super duper material that actually feels much different than anything any retail version has offered? Different string pattern than what's available? People talk about pro stock frames in here all the time, and I really have no idea what it truly is. Do manufacturers just make a certain number of limited 'pro stock' frames for each retail version of their frame? Are these only sticks that go to the pros, and are then cast offs to us underlings?

I know, lot of questions. But finally want to know what this pro stock thing is all about. Please forgive.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Recon

what really turned my head around was that analogy, an aeroprodrive with more of a players feel. That's pretty sick. Will have to take this one out for a demo if it crosses my way. Thank you for putting me on powerplayer, also ross K, what racquet are you leaning towards? im interested in your progress.

Yes, it's a good analogy imo... as to what I'm leaning towards, my heart says pro-stock YTPP, and my head is torn between the TF and the Babs...



PP,

Of all the frames i'm looking at I'd say the PSTGT and TGK/Pro-stock YTPP share more general traits than anything else, other combinations, etc... the head size is more similar; the pattern and flatter/lower/more driving ball trajectory is alike; the string-bed fee tends more towards the softer and more pockety side of things; the precision and control aspect is shared... and I could go on... however, this pro-stock frame, for me, is simply more enhanced and amplified all around in its qualities... dare I say it: I'm wondering if this is the closest I'll ever come to the mythical, much desired, "open pattern PT630"... but maybe a lot of that is down to my past adoration of certain Head frames (PT630, Rad Tour TT, Prestige mid, etc) and finding a familiarity here with the TGK?... whatever, there's certainly no doubt in my mind the PSTGT is absolutely superb and all over top-notch quality... I suspect if you like the YTPP, you'll like the PSTGT, and you might even find it a tad easier to use.


Everyone,

I suppose you can say that Panadora's box has indeed been opened!



R.

[cheers]

Got my hands on a couple of PSTGT's, I strung them up with 52# Typhoon, just like my ASTGT and hit the courts. A BIG thanks to Powerplayer for raving about this frame. The hype was big, but the PSTGT really delivered!

I hate to jump on bandwagons and sound like the echoes of others, but this racquet is great. It's not as stiff as the ASTGT and hits a bigger ball off the ground. I'm hitting my biggest groundies with this thing. I love getting my feet set and really ripping into one, the ball just GOES. The noise this racquet gives when struck hard is a crazy, loud THWAP. Very much like my plush POG OS, which would be my fav frame of all time if I could serve better with it. I serve fine with the PSTGT. About the same as the ASTGT on flat serves, but the PSTGT gets a bit less spin for me on kick/slice serves.

Maybe Typhoon just works really well in the PSTGT and not in the ASTGT, but the plush, flexy feel in the PSTGT is just plain awesome.

Ross, you better knock it off with that pro stock stuff... My curiosity is reaching unbearable levels...

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by JGads

Can someone describe, in the simplest terms, what a pro stock frame actually is? Same frame you can get retail but lighter than specs (so as to be able to modify)? Super duper material that actually feels much different than anything any retail version has offered? Different string pattern than what's available? People talk about pro stock frames in here all the time, and I really have no idea what it truly is. Do manufacturers just make a certain number of limited 'pro stock' frames for each retail version of their frame? Are these only sticks that go to the pros, and are then cast offs to us underlings?

I know, lot of questions. But finally want to know what this pro stock thing is all about. Please forgive.

You know, I think you've just about covered it there anyhow JG...

TBH though, I'm not so hung up on the whole pro-stock thing at all... I'm not so interested in all the debates and disagreements certain TTers engage in... I was even reluctant to mention the frame was indeed pro-stock for fear of such a big pro-stock discussion evolving... the only thing is... what with that awesome feel and control, it just plays so absolutely beautifully!



cheers,

Great stuff you like the PSTGT so much!



PP,

You ever hit with the PB10 mid? That's a very high-class frame imo and I'd say it has some 'ball-park' similarities to the PST. If I wasn't so preoccupied with my present tests, I wouldn't be averse to a further hit with it myself now tbh.. just a thought.


R.

[ryushen21]

Ross

re the TGK, the great thing is that they come so light that you can mod them to get the exact specs that you want and pretty much get that sweet swing that you are searching after.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by ryushen21

Ross

re the TGK, the great thing is that they come so light that you can mod them to get the exact specs that you want and pretty much get that sweet swing that you are searching after.

Yes indeed... I wish though I could get my regular YTPP to a similar spec, balance and weighting, etc, but it ain't gonna happen right what with the differences between retail and pro-stock YTPP?


R.

[ryushen21]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Yes indeed... I wish though I could get my regular YTPP to a similar spec, balance and weighting, etc, but it ain't gonna happen right what with the differences between retail and pro-stock YTPP?


R.

Well, when I mentioned pandora's box I really meant it. There are tons of threads dedicated to TGK and PT frames that have countless debates about materials, layups, hairpins etc. But I think that the general summation is that you could have a stock version of the frame and the TGK version modded to the same specs and that the TGK would have a different feel and swing to it.

IMHO, there is a definite feel difference between the retail and TGK frames. Whether that difference is material, layup, atmospheric pressure, caffeine saturation of bloodstream, I have no idea.

I can say they are great frames that you can setup exactly the way you want with ease that feel great.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by ryushen21

Well, when I mentioned pandora's box I really meant it. There are tons of threads dedicated to TGK and PT frames that have countless debates about materials, layups, hairpins etc. But I think that the general summation is that you could have a stock version of the frame and the TGK version modded to the same specs and that the TGK would have a different feel and swing to it.

IMHO, there is a definite feel difference between the retail and TGK frames. Whether that difference is material, layup, atmospheric pressure, caffeine saturation of bloodstream, I have no idea.

I can say they are great frames that you can setup exactly the way you want with ease that feel great.

Exactly. Must say I find the TGK, which I've had specially modded up, to play a lot better for me than the retail YTPP... shades of the mythical 'open pattern PT630', as I said earlier ... Quite what I can do to the YTPP to get it playing even anything like the p/stock, remains to be seen. Potentially, obviously as well, there's a problem with me just having the 1 p/stock YTPP. I'm not a tourney player, however, 2 frames (at least) is desirable. More hitting with it, and maybe the TF320 Vo2 too, hopefully this week.


R.

[Power Player]

Cheers, that is great that you like the racquet. Your description seems dead on with mine. It is simply an awesome stick. I also agree that it does feel a little like those old prince graphites...that's a great observation.

Ross, if i ever hurt my arm or had to go softer for some reason, the volkl would be a demo for sure. I am good to go for now and just learning the pstgt still, but I am still loving it the same as when i first picked it up.

[0d1n]

Originally Posted by ryushen21

Ross

re the TGK, the great thing is that they come so light that you can mod them to get the exact specs that you want and pretty much get that sweet swing that you are searching after.

So does the radical series or dunlop 300 series if your target spec is 320-ish grams unstrung or heavier.
If you buy a mg/youtek radical MP or a dunlop ag 300 and you want to make it 320 grams unstrung you have some 25-30 grams to play with. If you can't get that "sweet swing that you are searching after" with that much room for customization...well..."it ain't the racquet".
Just saying.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by PED

Ross, glad the specs worked out

So, you really can tell a difference between the tgk and the retail version. I always assumed you could but i've never been lucky enough to try the tgk.

One part on ball quality-i've found my play to be more effective lately by driving thru the ball as opposed to more spin. I'm still trying to hit a heavy ball but one that cuts through the court as opposed to more height.

Anyway, i bring that up as I would think the tgk would be an excellent stick for that type of ball.

Ped, forgot to mention that this is exactly what the pstgt does for me. The cool thing is that I can still use a lot of spin, but the ball is much more driving.