Diary of a Racketaholic

[JGads]

PP,

This B5e, if I'm a fan of crisper feeling hits, think it will it be too soft for my taste? I did like the softer Volkl Cyclone in the Prestige Mid, because the frame itself counterbalanced the soft string (ended up realizing the Cyclone was a very soft string only when I tried it in other frames and realized it was only the crisper Prestige Mid in which I jived with it). Anyway, congrats on the Platinum focus.

[crosscourt]

Guys

When you play the Donnays, are you playing the 94 or the 99?

cc

[Fed Kennedy]

Order me a set of B5E to go with my new rackets. If it's the GCo-POAT like serge and PP say...I'll make it a reel.

[klementine79]

Excuse my ignorance...... but what string is B5e? I have been stuck on this island in the south mediterranean and have lost touch with the compulsive world of strings and frames....

But... on the other hand.... I have learned how to catch shrimp, dive for lobster, some interesting tie-knots for fishing... and most importantly... evade the tax authorities...

[PED]

Great post, fed.

Maybe we need to bring out the gimp

[el sergento]

Originally Posted by JGads

PP,

This B5e, if I'm a fan of crisper feeling hits, think it will it be too soft for my taste? I did like the softer Volkl Cyclone in the Prestige Mid, because the frame itself counterbalanced the soft string (ended up realizing the Cyclone was a very soft string only when I tried it in other frames and realized it was only the crisper Prestige Mid in which I jived with it). Anyway, congrats on the Platinum focus.

It's real soft stuff. I like crisp strings also and at first i didn't like it myself until I upped the tension and tried it with my regular cross string.

Its worth a demo, but honestly, its so soft I can see a lot of peeps not liking this stuff.

[Ross K]

Afternoon gents,

1. I just conducted the purchasing of a Pure Control standard (ie, won it on fboy,) whilst at the same time being on a conference call at work.

2. The posts are getting funnier by the day around here. Some of the above just cracked me up! I'll be posting up a gimp-related contribution later!

3. Is B5E about to become the new Tour Bite, which in turn kind of just replaced BHBR, ie TT's fave poly?!

Laters guys!


R

BTW, klem, b5e/B5E = Black Five Edge.

[ryushen21]

B5E officially has my attention now. I need something to throw in my pretty new Platinums 94s.......

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by JGads

PP,

This B5e, if I'm a fan of crisper feeling hits, think it will it be too soft for my taste? I did like the softer Volkl Cyclone in the Prestige Mid, because the frame itself counterbalanced the soft string (ended up realizing the Cyclone was a very soft string only when I tried it in other frames and realized it was only the crisper Prestige Mid in which I jived with it). Anyway, congrats on the Platinum focus.

Well the b5e feels a lot like black magic. Very very similar. So I think it works great in tight patterns and crisper racquets like the prestige and platinum. I do not know if it is going to work with everything though.

Originally Posted by crosscourt

Guys

When you play the Donnays, are you playing the 94 or the 99?

cc

I'm playing 99s. Ryushen 94s.

[ryushen21]

Originally Posted by crosscourt

Guys

When you play the Donnays, are you playing the 94 or the 99?

cc

I'm playing the 94s. I have to say though that they very easy to use and have a generous sweetspot despite the small head size. Definitely the easiest mid I have played with.

[Chace]

Originally Posted by klementine79

Excuse my ignorance...... but what string is B5e? I have been stuck on this island in the south mediterranean and have lost touch with the compulsive world of strings and frames....

But... on the other hand.... I have learned how to catch shrimp, dive for lobster, some interesting tie-knots for fishing... and most importantly... evade the tax authorities...

Weisscannon black5edge

[Ross K]

Have been enjoying some light hitting this week with my TGK PP (w/4g @ 12) and have reverted back to 4g @ 12 on my retail... I'm liking that solid, smooth, plushness... a proper outing on Friday though should tell me a lot... although...

I have a Vantage Bast Core 30 to test... not really sure what to expect, but I know the older VT's were exceptional... built really nicely, mega-crisp, fine control... and the feedback has been almost unanimously glowing... although...

I just bought a Pure Control Team Standard, largely because I so liked the PC+ Swirly; I was very curious to play with a standard PC; and also I believe some of the PC Teams are very similar to the Swirlies that preceded them (Pure Control/Babolat connoisseur 'LPShanet' has written about this)... I have to say, out of a fair number of frames I've tried in the last few years, fatiguing heft and sluggishness aside, the PC+ Swirley took the biscuit in the sense it totally blew me away with its mix of stiff and biting feel, and plow-tastic crunching and spin-laden groundies (and kick serves)... I thought I'd successfully turned my back on these kind of racks that I've certainly gone for in the past (RD7, PSC, PT630) - and then the Swirley PC+ arrived!... although...

I might also mention I've been noodling ever so slightly with the N95, and have been pretty bowled over by how lightning swift and quick to find the ball this racket is, and I've always loved the spin and zippy pop you get off the open pattern... What with not knowing anything too much re strings a few years back and just using Lux strings mainly, I can't help being somewhat curious how this real old favorite frame of mine might perform now with the more recent softer poly options (Tour Bite, for example could be mouth-wateringly incredible in the N95)... although...

I'm due to get my APDs back any day (one of which is strung with B5E)...

"DEEP SIGH"... A week really is a short time in the life of a racketaholic.


R

[ryushen21]

Ross....I do not envy you. Although, re the N95....as you recall when I tested this frame (albeit the denser patterned brother) that we both remarked about how there was just something special about that frame. On paper, it was a typical 6.1 but on the court it definitely had the X factor.

I'll be watching to see how your outing with the PCT standard goes. I think you will enjoy it immensely.

As for me, I'm fumbling about in a string quandary right now. B5E is sounding pretty amazing, Cyclone and TB also have my attention, Tornado is there too, TurboTwist, Typhoon, Black Magic, Black Widow and still Black Code!

I think a night a the Beer Emporium is in need.....

[geese_com]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Well the b5e feels a lot like black magic. Very very similar. So I think it works great in tight patterns and crisper racquets like the prestige and platinum. I do not know if it is going to work with everything though.



I'm playing 99s. Ryushen 94s.

Have you played with a PT280. Could you compare the Donnay 99 to the PT280?

[Power Player]

I hit with Dgorans PT630.which was awesome. It felt great..smaller sweetspot than the Donny. The Donnay's is huge. The Donnay Platinum has been compared to the PT57e pro stock, and I would imagine it is close since it does have the feel of the classic head graphites like the PC600.

Bad Call hit with my PC600 and the Platinum, so he could possibly contribute as well. The Platinum is now better dialed in with the B5E then when he tried it with the Tourbite.

RY,try B5e then Black Magic..they are both real similar so you will have them back to back and be able to pick a favorite. Personally, I will probably stop there.

I have a 2nd Platinum coming and I may do a hybrid for fun to see what happens. I already know B5E is awesome and is a go to..so now it is all about seeing if anything else can match. If I can get away with a hybrid I will, but I play my best with full poly.

[geese_com]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I hit with Dgorans PT630.which was awesome. It felt great..smaller sweetspot than the Donny. The Donnay's is huge. The Donnay Platinum has been compared to the PT57e pro stock, and I would imagine it is close since it does have the feel of the classic head graphites like the PC600.

Bad Call hit with my PC600 and the Platinum, so he could possibly contribute as well. The Platinum is now better dialed in with the B5E then when he tried it with the Tourbite.

I should really stay off this site methinks. It always makes me want to try new racquets out. I have two PT280s that I changed the grip size to 4 1/4 and I matched the weight and balance myself (which took weeks of fine tuning) and now you mention the Donnay Platinum 99. Gah! I might have to try a demo out sometime here.

[Power Player]

Yeah.. I did the same with Pretige mids. Not sure what you would change in the 280, but the Donnays have more power, yet still retain control. You can also hit with heavy spin if you want or hit flat, so they are extremely versatile.

Weather permitting, I will be serving with mine finally, and I can provide input on that as well. I know that BadCall served to me with the PC600, Dunlop 100 (very nice stick), Head Microgel Prestige Pro and Platinum, and once he got used to the swing on the platinum, he was firing his hardest serves with it easily.

[geese_com]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yeah.. I did the same with Pretige mids. Not sure what you would change in the 280, but the Donnays have more power, yet still retain control. You can also hit with heavy spin if you want or hit flat, so they are extremely versatile.

Weather permitting, I will be serving with mine finally, and I can provide input on that as well. I know that BadCall served to me with the PC600, Dunlop 100 (very nice stick), Head Microgel Prestige Pro and Platinum, and once he got used to the swing on the platinum, he was firing his hardest serves with it easily.

My PT280s are pretty far from stock now. I put CAPs on them, weighted them up with 8g of lead (total) at 10 & 2 and lead fishing weights in the handle (kept in place with cotton), and put on Volkl leather grips on them. I forgot the specs on them but they are around 370g and 7pts HL. The swingweight is anyones guess. I love the feel of absolutely crushing the ball when I hit it with my "souped-up" PT280s.

[Power Player]

I wold not switch sticks unless you see the urge to do so. Frankly, I have done it enough to where I know what I like, and I am happy with the Donnay. I already decided if I had some kind of injury with the Donnays, I would go pro kennex black ace 98 and be done. I dont know any other comfort sticks I would want since I do not like volkl.

But so far the Donnays have been extremely comfortable and do not vibrate or cause any issues so i should be good.

[geese_com]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I wold not switch sticks unless you see the urge to do so. Frankly, I have done it enough to where I know what I like, and I am happy with the Donnay. I already decided if I had some kind of injury with the Donnays, I would go pro kennex black ace 98 and be done. I dont know any other comfort sticks I would want since I do not like volkl.

But so far the Donnays have been extremely comfortable and do not vibrate or cause any issues so i should be good.

The only racquets I will seriously consider switching to are a PT630 or a PT57A if they are the right price, but you don't see much of those racquets around these days.