The pro stock to end all pro stocks: The Fed racket

[Povl Carstensen]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

I believe they all still use braided graphite. I'm pretty sure that's why all the PS 6.0's and Tour 90's all have a similar and unique feel to them.

Definitely agreed.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

I can't seem to make out a whole lot in that x-ray pic.

In any case, are you sure all the versions of the Tour 90's that came after the PS 6.0 are not also braided graphite? I'm not convinced that they are not. I believe they all still use braided graphite..

Oh, I thought they didn't, but I don't base that on anything I've read. I've made light work of a K6.1 Tour which was broken - busting it open (unscientifically, by hitting it on a wall rock ) and it didn't seem braided like a PS85 I've seen cut open.

This doesn't make a census of course but I just assumed they stopped doing it basically because of the cost it added to a frame. I'd think they would add other stuff in to recreate the old school feel.

One thing about an x-ray though, you can't tell the composition - but I'd have assumed a braided layup would point to a more PS85-ish build imo.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Fabfed

Hey Bobby, interesting idea, I don't mind doing that, where would I get it done though?

Hey, as jeroenn mentioned below - try a vet. About 15 years ago I got a cellphone x-rayed at a vet for use in a piece of (advertising) artwork. From memory it wasn't all that expensive.

I actually know a vet somewhere I'm visiting in Asia in a few months - I might ask if he can x-ray one of my PS85s as a benchmark. Maybe could get a more detailed look at the layup than the existing photo I linked to.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Hey, as jeroenn mentioned below - try a vet. About 15 years ago I got a cellphone x-rayed at a vet for use in a piece of (advertising) artwork. From memory it wasn't all that expensive.

I actually know a vet somewhere I'm visiting in Asia in a few months - I might ask if he can x-ray one of my PS85s as a benchmark. Maybe could get a more detailed look at the layup than the existing photo I linked to.

Vet x-rays are fairly cheap here in Canada as well FYI.

I'd love to get some frames X-Rayed now that you mentioned it!

-Fuji

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Oh, I thought they didn't, but I don't base that on anything I've read. I've made light work of a K6.1 Tour which was broken - busting it open (unscientifically, by hitting it on a wall rock ) and it didn't seem braided like a PS85 I've seen cut open.

This doesn't make a census of course but I just assumed they stopped doing it basically because of the cost it added to a frame. I'd think they would add other stuff in to recreate the old school feel.

One thing about an x-ray though, you can't tell the composition - but I'd have assumed a braided layup would point to a more PS85-ish build imo.

On Wilson's own website, it states that the PS Six-One Tour 90 BLX still uses braided graphite:

"The Pro Staff Family has been cherished by the game's greatest icons, including Federer, Sampras, Edberg and Courier. The legendary braided graphite construction provides the perfect blend of control and feel."

http://www.wilson.com/en-us/tennis/r...aff-sixone-90/

I'm fairly certain that ALL of the Tour 90 iterations have used braided graphite. That's really the only way to get that unique feel.

[aimr75]

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[aimr75]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

On Wilson's own website, it states that the PS Six-One Tour 90 BLX still uses braided graphite:

"The Pro Staff Family has been cherished by the game's greatest icons, including Federer, Sampras, Edberg and Courier. The legendary braided graphite construction provides the perfect blend of control and feel."

http://www.wilson.com/en-us/tennis/r...aff-sixone-90/

I'm fairly certain that ALL of the Tour 90 iterations have used braided graphite. That's really the only way to get that unique feel.

I've seen pics of guys who have sanded back k90s to the graphite and you can see the braiding. I presume no different with blx's

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

On Wilson's own website, it states that the PS Six-One Tour 90 BLX still uses braided graphite:[/url]

I'm fairly certain that ALL of the Tour 90 iterations have used braided graphite. That's really the only way to get that unique feel.

Ok, that's good info. Perhaps an x-ray is a red herring then. It wont show the composition, only the layup.

What I'd love to know *someday* is if they're made using a PS85 style graphite/kevlar combo. I've hit with the K6.1, the BLX and the BLX PS and none really felt overly PR85-ish to me - albeit still much closer than other frames I've tried.

The hunt continues!

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Ok, that's good info. Perhaps an x-ray is a red herring then. It wont show the composition, only the layup.

What I'd love to know *someday* is if they're made using a PS85 style graphite/kevlar combo. I've hit with the K6.1, the BLX and the BLX PS and none really felt overly PR85-ish to me - albeit still much closer than other frames I've tried.

The hunt continues!

I know what you mean. The PS 6.0 85 just feels more solid and more dampened. Maybe they fill the PS 6.0 85 with more foam or some other filler inside the graphite tubes? Or maybe they used more Kevlar in the braid of the PS 6.0 85? Not really sure. It seems all these "modern" materials they've been throwing into the various Tour 90s just makes them feel worse. Nothing feels better than just plain old braided 80% Graphite/20% Kevlar.

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by Fabfed

Here we go again. It's not like I've only taken pics of the racquets, i've weighed them and measured the balance for each and everyone of them, and taken pics of the measurements. I've seen pics of racquets weighed on these boards but I don't recall seeing any taken of balance measurements. Sure Ive not measured the swingweight, I've explained why, and if you think it's not a good enough reason then too bad. I could actually just come up with some fictional SW without any proof just to appease some of you guys, but I won't do that. And what's not useful about knowing the weight and balance of Fed's racquet from 2008-2010, I have in fact his 2011 BLX90 as well and his N90 from 2005/06 both of which I've not measured but I plan to do so. As for actually play testing the sticks, I won't do it, I mean c'mon, they're the legend's sticks, apart from the pretty penny I paid, why would I want to play with any of the racquets with the autograph on the overgrip and everything and most of all risk breaking the strings? As they say, to each his own. But even Ron said I should not play with it and just display the racquet. I like to think I've made some contributions to these boards, I'm sorry if you feel otherwise.

No, I agree to some extent. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking you for granted, but if it was me, unless the racquet(s) were from a particular match which actually finished the match on that racquet, I would put much more value on them than if they were just used during a match. (We all know how many times Fed changes sticks with each match... let alone if it was some match which had almost no major value.) Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if the money you paid for it went to a good cause, I would much more rather view that money as a donation to that cause and just enjoy the stick a little bit. It is after all just a racquet...

I guess I'm just one of those people who isn't all that star struck with celebrities of all venues in life. Honestly, I would must more enjoy talking to Fed than asking for his autograph. I honestly see no value in his signature... everyone can get it if they strive hard enough and he gives it out no matter what. That deminishes the value to me.

Anyway, I think you still need to do the swingweight measurement. I never did understand why you wouldn't do it... there are no damaging affects on the stick to do so. Hecks, you can do it at home with a makeshift setup that will cause no issues. Either way, it doesn't really matter... P1 has take a lot of shots of what the sticks look like with the customizations they make. The bottom line remains that I never understood the secrecy over the customizations. It's not like anyone else on tour could copy them and all of a sudden play like Fed to win. It's an idividual customization and I think more pros should be willing to share what and why they do it.

[Fabfed]

Fair enough. I'll try and measure the SW at some point after the USO. Believe me even merely taking the pics and posting them takes quite a bit of time, but I'll get round to it.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

I know what you mean. The PS 6.0 85 just feels more solid and more dampened. Maybe they fill the PS 6.0 85 with more foam or some other filler inside the graphite tubes? Or maybe they used more Kevlar in the braid of the PS 6.0 85? Not really sure. It seems all these "modern" materials they've been throwing into the various Tour 90s just makes them feel worse. Nothing feels better than just plain old braided 80% Graphite/20% Kevlar.

I have four PS 85s I purchased from the TW reintroduction.

I have replaced the leather grip by Wilson Shockshield though and it is much more comfortable.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by Fabfed

Fair enough. I'll try and measure the SW at some point after the USO. Believe me even merely taking the pics and posting them takes quite a bit of time, but I'll get round to it.

Hello Fabfed

Thanks again for sharing your amazing collection of Federer gear. There is an iPhone app that is pretty easy to measure swing weight for the whopping price of $.99!

Here is a video on how the app works http://www.appmaker.se/index.php?m=6&s=1

I respect your care of your collection and am fine knowing or not knowing the actual swingweight. How is that for Swiss neutrality?

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I have four PS 85s I purchased from the TW reintroduction.

I have replaced the leather grip by Wilson Shockshield though and it is much more comfortable.

I have no problems with the leather grip. In fact, I can't play without them since I've been using leather grips since the days of wood racquets. Of course, now I also use an overgrip, whereas, back then it was just the raw leather. I find leather grips with an overgrip to be very comfortable.

BTW, I'm surprised you would buy four PS 6.0 85's. I thought you preferred bigger racquets, like Nadal's? You must feel you play better with the PS 6.0 85 than with bigger racquets or else you wouldn't have bought four of them, right?

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

I have no problems with the leather grip. In fact, I can't play without them since I've been using leather grips since the days of wood racquets. Of course, now I also use an overgrip, whereas, back then it was just the raw leather. I find leather grips with an overgrip to be very comfortable.

BTW, I'm surprised you would buy four PS 6.0 85's. I thought you preferred bigger racquets, like Nadal's? You must feel you play better with the PS 6.0 85 than with bigger racquets or else you wouldn't have bought four of them, right?

I bought an original PS 85 but it was in one grip size bigger than I wanted. I did not use it much. I paid 400 bucks for it. When the new PS 85s came out, I thought let me buy two for the future. Then I bought 2 more. I use two of them with the grip changed, and the other two I have stored as they are.

I have been using the PS 85 from that time on. On mishits I found them uncomfortable, so I changed the grip and also the string to Wilson Shockshield. The basic advantage is that the HL balance and small head helps in the one handed backhand and the first serve and the rare volley. I think the forehand does suffer, and also the second serve - requires lot of spin to keep it in due to the weight. However, power comes effortlessly in everything and with the new grip and the weight of the frame, there is no discomfort at all.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I have four PS 85s I purchased from the TW reintroduction....

Since you have 20,000 posts I'm going to assume you know what you're talking about. If you were to compare an early 90s PS85 to the current one, do you notice any discernible difference in how they play?

I have been close to buying some new ones but most of my existing ones which I play with often are the Taiwan model (all bought about 93-ish) and they play much nicer than the Chinese frame I bought in about 98, which is last resort to play with it's so crap. The Taiwanese frames are miles closer to the St Vincent frame in how they feel imo.

Are these new-era ones worth the effort given Wilson's famous lack of quality control on it's other frames? (to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to even find out the new frames have no kevlar in them or aren't braided).

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Since you have 20,000 posts I'm going to assume you know what you're talking about. If you were to compare an early 90s PS85 to the current one, do you notice any discernible difference in how they play?

I have been close to buying some but most of my existing ones are the Taiwan model (all bought about 93-ish) and they play much nicer than the Chinese frame I bought in about 98. They are eons closer to the St Vincent frame imo.

Are these new-era ones worth the effort given Wilson's famous lack of quality control on it's other frames? (to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to even find out the new frames have no kevlar in them or aren't braided).

See who has even more posts. BP is the guy for these questions. I really don't know the answer as I did not use the original PS 85 much, and it is not a St. Vincent one (it is the Taiwan one). I also changed my strings to Shockshield for the new ones, and they are very comfortable but feel is not what they are known for.

[JoelDali]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Since you have 20,000 posts I'm going to assume you know what you're talking about.

[West Coast Ace]

^^^ Well played, JD!

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by JoelDali

*image*

I was just being nice, thinking someone might have a keen eye/arm for the differences.