Diary of a Racketaholic

[Power Player]

That ball machine is slowwwww. Can you set up the cam behind you? That's the challenging part for me as I like seeing that angle when I hit. It's pretty stiff hitting with probably too much arm but it still looks good. Ball machine is really all about footwork and movement so if you work on that I bet you will notice an even smoother stroke.

That Dunlop looks pretty sweet. Did you try the f3 tour at all?

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

That ball machine is slowwwww. Can you set up the cam behind you? That's the challenging part for me as I like seeing that angle when I hit. It's pretty stiff hitting with probably too much arm but it still looks good. Ball machine is really all about footwork and movement so if you work on that I bet you will notice an even smoother stroke.

That Dunlop looks pretty sweet. Did you try the f3 tour at all?

I known but it was a Dunlop demo guy that set up the machine. I had no control. Next time I will put the camera behind me and speed things up.
I was really just trying it to see how the iPhone video quality was with my new 4s. It wasn't really thought out. Still I am getting good suggestions on what to work on: more fluidity overall, higher finish on f/h, use more core and lower body, more knee bend on b/h, work on balance, use off hand better on f/h.

Was the video quality sufficient?

Yes I tried the F 300 as well and it was pretty similar feeling. Just slightly heavier and I got less spin and a flatter ball due to the closed pattern. Dunlop did a great job redoing these sticks IMO.

[Power Player]

The video looks great. If u get a setup so you can film with your iPhone from the back let me know. I have the i5 and want to do the same thing.

[Fed Kennedy]

Jack, looking good man! I will let the tw experts pick apart the intricacies of your technique but congrats on having the stones to post a video...it is always a relief to see tw members that are not obese lol....

[corners]

Originally Posted by JGads

I do wonder on these Blades: the specs are so similar to the previous version, I really wonder if they just added those amplifeel strips to the handle, new paint and called it a day.

Indubitably. Nice paint jobs.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

The video looks great. If u get a setup so you can film with your iPhone from the back let me know. I have the i5 and want to do the same thing.

what kind of "setup" are you referring to? I just placed my phone on a nearby platform near the court. I didn't use anything fancy. I do have a regular camera tripod I could try. I just need to figure out a way to attach it.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Power Player

BLX Blade Tour gets massive reviews today on this site. Pretty hefty frame. Sick paint job though. Sleeper frame for the mid crowd?

Also sounds like the 18x20 Blade is the better stick for the reviewers. This is not a huge surprise to me as the beauty of the blade is the control fused with the headspeed you get. When you combine those 2, the result is a very heavy ball with more than enough spin on it.

I still think I may try out the open pattern blade even though the specs of the tighter one look better. I'm a worried about the sw after getting used to the 317sw of my S.

Hell, by then I'll be in Betty ford getting over my latest cortex bender from the new apd.

Ross, I talked with a girl today (big big hitter, I'm not taking the pi$$). She just moved to the juice from the pd and just loves it. She says the control is better and it also returns better as well. Really nice on slice. She was using a hybrid of poly/multi and played it stock.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by JackB1

what kind of "setup" are you referring to? I just placed my phone on a nearby platform near the court. I didn't use anything fancy. I do have a regular camera tripod I could try. I just need to figure out a way to attach it.

See i dont have anything either and i want to get that view from the back. I will have to get a tripod for an iphone i guess.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Power Player

See i dont have anything either and i want to get that view from the back. I will have to get a tripod for an iphone i guess.

You're a musician too right? Tape or tie it to a mic stand. Or to the back fence.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Jack, looking good man! I will let the tw experts pick apart the intricacies of your technique but congrats on having the stones to post a video...it is always a relief to see tw members that are not obese lol....

So this must mean you RHs in the States don't all follow the Adam Richman (pictured below with light between meals snack) way of eating?! As he's the greatest American export since rock and roll, and as I'm eschewing the Nole gluten-free diet and beginning to follow the Man Vs Food 'unrestrained gluttony' diet, got to confess, I'm a tad disappointed.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by PED

Ross, I talked with a girl today (big big hitter, I'm not taking the pi$$). She just moved to the juice from the pd and just loves it. She says the control is better and it also returns better as well. Really nice on slice. She was using a hybrid of poly/multi and played it stock.

I've had 2 very good sessions in the last 5 days with the J100. I'm very close to bringing down the curtain on the PD 2012 and just going toe to toe for a few weeks with the JUice 100 and APD. Perhaps the main thing for me is the Juice just feels better to me. I don't know if it's to do with the pattern, set up, or what, but I also seem to be hitting my bread and butter standard deep b-line ball a bit more to my liking with the Wilson.

[klementine79]

Raonic Rig, his new pj's being prepared by P1.



(photo courtesy of P1)

[klementine79]

Originally Posted by Ross K

So this must mean you RHs in the States don't all follow the Adam Richman (pictured below with light between meals snack) way of eating?! As he's the greatest American export since rock and roll, and as I'm eschewing the Nole gluten-free diet and beginning to follow the Man Vs Food 'unrestrained gluttony' diet, got to confess, I'm a tad disappointed.

Originally Posted by Ross K

I've had 2 very good sessions in the last 5 days with the J100. I'm very close to bringing down the curtain on the PD 2012 and just going toe to toe for a few weeks with the JUice 100 and APD. Perhaps the main thing for me is the Juice just feels better to me. I don't know if it's to do with the pattern, set up, or what, but I also seem to be hitting my bread and butter standard deep b-line ball a bit more to my liking with the Wilson.

Pure Gold. Pure Rosskins. The APD is your stick ross, foggedaboutit. Go with the Jo-willy set-up!

(yet again, photo courtesy of P1)


------------------------

On a separate note, pre-ordered the Black98- 18x20, like how the stiffness is bumped up a bit, could be just QC though. Will find out in 2weeks. Gonna string it up with my go-to rig. X-1 mains, ALUpower crosses. 55/51 and see what happens.

[JackB1]

Ross...now I have 2 J100s. Both are 330 grams strung with overgrip, which is perfect for me. I added 2 grams at 12' and now they are 5 pts hl. The racquet still swings lighter than its specs. Got one strung w/ Pro Evo mains & Nvy crosses at 50/52 and it's pretty nice.

[arrowtowntennisclub]

Im liking the new found love on kbaum pro evo. Didnt really see much in terms of user reviews and recommendations but its a really great string in a hybrid (smooth and slippery) or full bed. I have a reel and its got awesome tension maintenance, firm crisp stringbed yet on the more powerful, livelier side of feel. Great at low tensions but still plenty comfortable when strung higher. Just a really versatile string plus it looks great in just about any stick. Also has great bite, depth and directional control despite being a round poly. Cant recommend it enough really. Its not exactly a bargain though...

[Ross K]

klem - Yes, I know/have that Tsonga sticks/Priority 1 pic already. Awesome photo... TBH, 3g @ 12 on the hoop of my APD seems right for me... BTW, you're probably right saying 'forgedaboutit', but you know how it goes in the confused and muddled mind of a needy racketaholic, right?

Jack - I'm with you on the 2 X J100 front. Debating what to string the second one up with. It came to me with full job Alu but I only had (and wanted to have) the briefest of hits with it. BTW, this set up that no lead at 9 @ 3, but 2g @ 12 and 4g @ b/cap (my other one has 4g @ 4 and 9 too) - anyhow, still finding my feet with this rac mods-wise.

arrow - interesting re Pro Evo. How's the spin production IYO?

[Meaghan]

Still X'ing.......msv hex @ 50lbs today, see if its any good in it.

[crosscourt]

Originally Posted by klementine79

Pure Gold. Pure Rosskins. The APD is your stick ross, foggedaboutit. Go with the Jo-willy set-up!

(yet again, photo courtesy of P1)


------------------------

On a separate note, pre-ordered the Black98- 18x20, like how the stiffness is bumped up a bit, could be just QC though. Will find out in 2weeks. Gonna string it up with my go-to rig. X-1 mains, ALUpower crosses. 55/51 and see what happens.

I agree. The APD is his stick and I am kind of proud that we have a bona fide APD user here. It makes us all look like something other than refugees from the 1990s. Vamos Ross.

[arrowtowntennisclub]

ross,
Hit with my rdis100mp on sat freshly strung with evo at 48/46 and laughed at some of my shots that somehow dropped in. But then again it is the only round poly i have played in a full bed so don't have a similar comparison. I'd say slightly less spin potential than an rpm blast, tour bite or cyclone but the trade off is much great tension maintenance and playability.

on another note, hit with my mates O3 Red strung with fresh rpm blast and the ball bite/spin was just so much fun.

and on another note, gonna have a crisis over the new incoming blades and head speeds!

[Power Player]

What is everyones opinion on string movement in a hybrid? Basically the 4g is still at 45 #s and holding tension. It is moving a lot though, but ogsm is not going to be an ideal slide back string.

I think it is safe to say that this is a 2 week setup as i was hitting rather well today. The ball did what i wanted and while the 4g was moving it did not feel dead and spin and control was just fine. I think i can easily do one more session with this setup.