PV Audio's Playtest Thread

[mixedmedia]

And I'm really looking forward to this play test and your future review of Classic Touch!

[Bahama Scott]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Any other suggestions you think I may like? Got enough time to string up another stick.

PV did you every try the reverse of this setup and how would you compare the performance of them. I don't recall you ever using the LT before but would you tell me how this setup would compare in performance to the Scorpion/Whispertouch ....and did you ever try it at this tension 41/41?
Thanks

[pvaudio]

I will test this out tomorrow! I will say this, at this tension, the strings snap back so ridiculously easy that I'd bet that gut mains with these would have the same spin as poly mains.

[mixedmedia]

Can't wait for the play test! (I've got a set of TS Strom Metal 1.20 coming, btw.)

[Bahama Scott]

Originally Posted by mixedmedia

Can't wait for the play test! (I've got a set of TS Strom Metal 1.20 coming, btw.)

Me either. Got some LT on order, some more WC Scorp on order and a new/used PD Plus that I can't wait to set up based on this new report

[mixedmedia]

I was referencing the Storm Metal crosses test, since I don't like poly mains.

[pvaudio]

Not sure about this one. Need another hit to be sure. it's a very interesting feeling. There is not a lot of power, so you really can hit the ball as hard as you want and it won't go long. Strangely though, given the amount of RHS you can put on, the spin isn't chart topping. It seems to be more of a defensive setup than anything because you can't really take a given ball and just crush it into a corner for a winner. If you like retrieval, then this would work well for you I guess. I'm trying to think of a way to describe the feeling. It's not mushy, but it's not exactly soft. It just feels like a net. The dwell time is extraordinary, and without a doubt the longest I've ever felt, but in this case, it just doesn't seem like a big deal since you can't do much with the ball. I guess the best way to describe it is playing with PTR balls. Even if you smack the crap out of it and try to load it with action, while it won't go out, the shot really isn't impressive.

[Up&comer]

What happened to the "poly like spin" you were expecting?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Not sure about this one. Need another hit to be sure. it's a very interesting feeling. There is not a lot of power, so you really can hit the ball as hard as you want and it won't go long. Strangely though, given the amount of RHS you can put on, the spin isn't chart topping. It seems to be more of a defensive setup than anything because you can't really take a given ball and just crush it into a corner for a winner. If you like retrieval, then this would work well for you I guess. I'm trying to think of a way to describe the feeling. It's not mushy, but it's not exactly soft. It just feels like a net. The dwell time is extraordinary, and without a doubt the longest I've ever felt, but in this case, it just doesn't seem like a big deal since you can't do much with the ball. I guess the best way to describe it is playing with PTR balls. Even if you smack the crap out of it and try to load it with action, while it won't go out, the shot really isn't impressive.

Oh no, they finally made a string designed for pushers! Everyone keep this on the DL!

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Oh no, they finally made a string designed for pushers! Everyone keep this on the DL!

Nahhh. Pushers are fun to play. You have no pressure and you just have to get to net.

(it's way easier than playing blue chips)

[mixedmedia]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Not sure about this one. Need another hit to be sure. it's a very interesting feeling. There is not a lot of power, so you really can hit the ball as hard as you want and it won't go long. Strangely though, given the amount of RHS you can put on, the spin isn't chart topping. It seems to be more of a defensive setup than anything because you can't really take a given ball and just crush it into a corner for a winner. If you like retrieval, then this would work well for you I guess. I'm trying to think of a way to describe the feeling. It's not mushy, but it's not exactly soft. It just feels like a net. The dwell time is extraordinary, and without a doubt the longest I've ever felt, but in this case, it just doesn't seem like a big deal since you can't do much with the ball. I guess the best way to describe it is playing with PTR balls. Even if you smack the crap out of it and try to load it with action, while it won't go out, the shot really isn't impressive.

Sorry, what setup are you referring to? The LT/Storm Metal?

[levy1]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Alrighty, update time!

Played for two days now with all of the setups. The most that I learned is this: I cannot play with a 3/8 grip. It's just not meant to be. I know that the pros use smaller grip sizes these days, but my hand is just meant to play with a 1/2. With that said, I did play test all of the string combinations and here's what I've got:

Hexablade/WhisperTouch: Very lively. In fact, too lively for the relative lack of feel. I had heard that Hexablade was very soft, but I did not find that at all. I also noticed that it wasn't destroying the gut as much as I was expecting. I think this is a function of the string's edges biting into the soft gut and making it notch, thus not allowing the string to create spin the natural way: snap back. Overall: 8.5/10

Hexablade/MCS: Honestly, this played exactly the same as the gut except with far less power. MCS seems to be (I don't want to speak fully without having played a full bed) a low powered natural gut clone because the feel was exactly the same when coming off of the stringbed. Something in between the power of the gut and MCS might make the Hexablade a good main, so perhaps I'll try Hexablade/Power Synthetic. Overall: 8.5/10

WC Scorpion / MCS: Along the same line as the review above, this setup feels nearly identical to the natural gut version, albeit with less power. Unfortunately for it, it just doesn't give enough pop when compared to the gut. So I really can't rate it as highly as the natural gut variant hybrid. Overall: 9/10

WC Scorpion / WhisperTouch: This is interesting because I played this same setup on a 3/8 grip and a 1/2 grip. On the 3/8 grip, the racquet tended to spin around in my hand which honestly was to be expected since I'm not used to playing with the smaller grip. Even then, it was head and shoulders above the hexablade setup. I think it's going to take me some time to find a setup that I like better than this even though the gut isn't going to last much longer. I ended up playing most of today with the 1/2 grip after having used the 3/8 grip all of yesterday, and it's glorious. Serves, groundstrokes, and volleys most of all are just fantastic. Overall, I'll increase its rating for its consistency: 9.5/10

I want to try your prefered setup. If I am stringing performaxx now, full bed 17L at 56lbs what do you recommend I string the WT-WC scorpion at? I do not generate a lot of power if it matters.

[hebrewhammer]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

Nahhh. Pushers are fun to play. You have no pressure and you just have to get to net.

(it's way easier than playing blue chips)

Personally, i'd rather play a blue chip over a pusher... makes coming to the net more fun

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by levy1

I want to try your prefered setup. If I am stringing performaxx now, full bed 17L at 56lbs what do you recommend I string the WT-WC scorpion at? I do not generate a lot of power if it matters.

Drop down to 49/46, gut/Scorpion. I find that in the lower tensions, WT gets too lively.

[pvaudio]

Played again with the gut/thunderstrings. Still not entirely sure as I can tell that the setup is breaking in. It is definitely a very unique feeling stringbed. I would definitely agree that it would be ideal for a pusher. There is just nothing there though. It's kind of like catching the ball with your racquet and then tossing it back over the net. It's almost as though you can feel the ball sinking into the strings deeper or shallower depending on the pace of the incoming ball, but then coming off your stick at the same medium pace regardless. Unique feeling, but not for someone who likes to make shots. Definitely not for someone who uses their serve to set up points. Absolutely not for the offensive oriented player.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

What happened to the "poly like spin" you were expecting?

It's not there. The strings are here to return the ball to the opposing court, not put action on it. Swinging ferociously doesn't make the ball drop in due to spin like with the CoFocus or Scorpion crosses. It drops in simply because it wasn't traveling fast enough.

[MambaT]

4lbs = the difference between love and hate

[mixedmedia]

Thanks for the review. It was very helpful. I'll still probably test it out too, though I'm a little wary... Will you be trying Classic Touch/Scorpion next?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

Nahhh. Pushers are fun to play. You have no pressure and you just have to get to net.

(it's way easier than playing blue chips)

I got a 4.5 pusher on the docket tonight. Time to warm up the overhead and volleys...

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I got a 4.5 pusher on the docket tonight. Time to warm up the overhead and volleys...

Overheads are the only shot I can think of that are almost entirely dependent confidence. You can hit forehands and backhands and get back into a rhythm. Not overheads. You just have one or you don't.