Diary of a Racketaholic

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by JGads

It'll have to be much better than good to surpass the mighty 20. Let the games begin.

JG what's your spec on the 20 now? I've just matched my bc's to what i have found is my best spec for these racks [on VBC thread] and id be interested in how much yours differ.

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Meaghan

JG what's your spec on the 20 now? I've just matched my bc's to what i have found is my best spec for these racks [on VBC thread] and id be interested in how much yours differ.

I don't really spec out to exact numbers, just go with feel, and also my postal scale is not digital but one of those cheapies, so take this for what it's worth: I have Wilson Pro Hybrid grip, Sampras O damp, full poly and one Sampras Power Strip (.5 gram) at 12. That's it, pretty simple. Total comes out to about 12.3 on my crap scale.

Still want to take your instructions and try to extend my frame by .2 or .25, but I haven't gotten around to it. Also a bit scared that I'll flub the job, as I'm terrible at being handy. But I recently picked up a second frame used, so I can tinker with that sometime soon. First step is to put a different poly, probably Kirshbaum II, into that second frame to see how it compares with the Tour Bite.

[Meaghan]

Originally Posted by JGads

I don't really spec out to exact numbers, just go with feel, and also my postal scale is not digital but one of those cheapies, so take this for what it's worth: I have Wilson Pro Hybrid grip, Sampras O damp, full poly and one Sampras Power Strip (.5 gram) at 12. That's it, pretty simple. Total comes out to about 12.3 on my crap scale.

Still want to take your instructions and try to extend my frame by .2 or .25, but I haven't gotten around to it. Also a bit scared that I'll flub the job, as I'm terrible at being handy. But I recently picked up a second frame used, so I can tinker with that sometime soon. First step is to put a different poly, probably Kirshbaum II, into that second frame to see how it compares with the Tour Bite.

If you can pick up the pallets from sven then they come in at 28" so its rather easy to get the handy hacksaw out and cut to size. I just placed a piece of polystyrene snugly in the overhanging gap and replaced butt cap.

With the pro hybrid and og on you have made it a little more HL than mine prob with a little less SW. Just adding that extra half inch seems to add about 20 points of SW. If you have two racks now you'll be able to have a little play and see what suits.

Also looking forward to seeing what you think of the other strings esp pl2.....

[Power Player]

Awesome gads, nice to see you have the same impressions as me. The difference I guess is that I knew I needed a 99 since I am going to play more on clay and never got the 94 to compare. So the control is not an issue for me ; i have no frame of reference. I will say that I get very good control with the 99, not AS precise as the prestige, but that makes sense.

I am real interested in seeing how it changes for you when you put in the strings you prefer. The difference is so immense that I feel Donnay does a disservice to their racquets with that demo setup. Once I got the better strings in, I had that magic feel I like - crisp and prestige like..a PC600 with a bigger sweetspot basically.

You will probably also notice better control in the 99 with proper strings as well, for me it turned my backhand around dramatically.

[el sergento]

Originally Posted by Nojoke

I have the plat 99 and my feelings mimic PP's. What does the bar code on the racket say are the specs for your particular racket? Every donnay has a code with the weight and balance on it. Perhaps yours is very high and listed as so? Seems weird for someone to think it swings sluggish and heavy. My thoughts are very different. For me, it is the lightest 12+ ounces I have ever swung. My was 12.3 (if I remember correctly) with OG and dampener.

Joe

Briefly checked for the barcode last night and its there. I don't have it in front of me right now but how exactly do you read it?

Thanks

[Power Player]

first 3 #s is weight in grams..I forget the exact layout, but it lists balance and stiffness as well.

[ryushen21]

I am salivating right now. New grip on the i.Prestige. New built up grip on the the Black Ace. Two freshly strung Platinum 94s. This is the beginning of a great summer.

[PED]

Can anyone compare the apdgt with the IG Speed 16X19. I've played with xl sticks before so I'm not worried about the length(that's what she said).

I'm just trying to get an idea of what type of ball the IG speed produces: does it have more power than the ytpp?

My arm issues still are not clearing up so I'm thinking of something softer. I really like my apdgt but it's quite stiff.

[Recon]

Everyone get your creditcards ready, ROSS!! the babolat AeroPro Drive Plus Original is on sale on TW RIGHT NOW, 130. GO GO GO. Only in L1 gripsize though.

[Nojoke]

Originally Posted by el sergento

Briefly checked for the barcode last night and its there. I don't have it in front of me right now but how exactly do you read it?

Thanks

First three is weight in grams. Next three, i believe is balance in millimeters. The last numbers are batch or lot number, i think. All measurements are unstrung.

Jgads, dont give up on the 99 until you put a string you like in there. Mine came unstrung and i strung it with turbotwist, which i usually love. Didn't feel good at all and i was doubting my racket purchase. Swapped over to typhoon, and i love it. Power, control, touch, and now growing confidence to swing out every time i play.

Joe

[JGads]

Originally Posted by Nojoke

First three is weight in grams. Next three, i believe is balance in millimeters. The last numbers are batch or lot number, i think. All measurements are unstrung.

Jgads, dont give up on the 99 until you put a string you like in there. Mine came unstrung and i strung it with turbotwist, which i usually love. Didn't feel good at all and i was doubting my racket purchase. Swapped over to typhoon, and i love it. Power, control, touch, and now growing confidence to swing out every time i play.

Joe

Had B5E put into the 94 today, will have Kirschbaum PLII put into both one of my BC20s and as well as the 99 this weekend.

Just got back from hitting a bucket of balls - serves and some off-the-ground groundies. The 94 certainly felt much better with B5E in there instead of the crummy Donnay hybrid. Not quite as tantalizing to me as the crispness of the BC20 with Tour Bite, but it was a definite improvement. (of course, no balls were coming at me, so difficult to fully judge yet).

Serving with all three frames (flirted with buttcaps on the 94), I think the BC20 was actually blistering the ball a little harder than either Plat, though the 99 was a hair behind and the 94 a hair behind the 99. When I hit off the ground, was point-and-shooting much better with the 94 than the 99, and the BC20 was its usual dreamy self.

Only thing that's troubling my mind going forward is that I have league play starting up, but I'm going to bite the bullet and keep playtesting the Donnays, though until I hit further with them in practice match play, the BC20 will have to be my stick of choice for league matches, as I've reached a comfort level with them that I can't deny. Should be interesting.

[Power Player]

Sounds like it has indeed come down to 2 frames as we thought. I think once you pick you will be good to go, since the Donnays are corvettes and the Vantage is extremely specialized as well.

[Fed Kennedy]

Hey gads I think those sampras strips weigh about 3-4g.

[JGads]

^^

Don't think so, unless this is false advertising:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-PSSW.html

Fed, what's going on in your world lately? BLX90ing?

[el sergento]

Ok, just got back from round 2 with the 99, only this time it was strung up with full B5E. It's late and I'm sleepy, so I'll leave you fellas with a bit of a teaser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Df9KU69TKQ

[Fed Kennedy]

Originally Posted by JGads

^^

Don't think so, unless this is false advertising:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-PSSW.html

Fed, what's going on in your world lately? BLX90ing?

yeah...I think that's false. Have you ever weighed one of those bad boys?

I have gut mains and polly crosses in my BLXgrigor90. I feel 10 years younger.

[JGads]

Actually, no, haven't weighed.

Know what's funny? I've always thought, "Man these things do add some punch. Can't believe it's only half a gram, when I'm hearing about all these people adding 2, 3 grams to different parts of their frames." ...

So I'll look into this further.

Now, I go for sleep, dreaming of a five-setter in which Fed adds one of his last great chapters into his Book of Groatness.

Really, just hoping for a great match and not a dud, but pulling for the golden oldie.

(and no spoilers in this here thread tomorrow, please)

[JGads]

Oh, and what tension should I go with the Plat 99, boys? Going with full Kirsch. Just below mid tension? 53?

[Fed Kennedy]

keep in mind the kirsch will only be good for 4 hrs

[Fed Kennedy]

Originally Posted by JGads

Actually, no, haven't weighed.

Know what's funny? I've always thought, "Man these things do add some punch. Can't believe it's only half a gram, when I'm hearing about all these people adding 2, 3 grams to different parts of their frames." ...

I'm thinking they are like 2 to 4 grams apiece. those things are huge.