Honeymoon with the PDR

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by lynnbart

I finally received my PDR and really like it. Much improvement in my game compared to the Head Radical that I traded in.

Hit, played a set, and fed balls with it. So far, great..!

I noticed an immediate improvement in my 1hbh, serve returns, and serves. I can see where a pusher might have trouble with the unharnessed power, but with agressive strokes it seems to perform at its highest....

I hope there is no honeymoon period for me !!

Which version did you get? And if you don't mind me asking, how good are you? Haha

[lynnbart]

I switched from a Head Youtek Radical MP to a 2012 PDR.

I am 46 and played alot of tennis in the late 70's to early 80's. Played around the state of Texas and made it to state in high school ( a big feat back then )

Now my purpose is more of a hitting partner for my son and I give a few lessons to some beginners and I also string for some area players. My son started playing with the modern swing and agressive style which has caused me to adapt quickly just to keep up. He has been to Newks on a scholarship and works with a coach in the spring season.

This is a long answer to a short question, but we live in a very small town 100 miles from the nearest tennis center, stringer, or league,,,,,,,so I really don't have a ranking. Been told that I would easily be a 4 to 4.5 depending on the city or league.

The Radical actually has caused me some elbow pain. I know its supposed to be fairly soft and flexible but as we hit heavier and heavier it become a very uncomfortable frame for me. The PD and the PDR have a plow through and solid response from the ball that I don't seem to feel the effect from.. very solid !

The PDR was delivered with a synthetic in it and I am going to put a poly main and syn cut cross in it soon.

My son is playing with the 2012 Pure Drive and is carrying 2 in the bag right now. We are planning to use this PDR as a third frame just in case and let me use it for hitting partner purposes and to possbily keep a different string setup in it just for testing new setups.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by lynnbart

I switched from a Head Youtek Radical MP to a 2012 PDR.

I am 46 and played alot of tennis in the late 70's to early 80's. Played around the state of Texas and made it to state in high school ( a big feat back then )

Now my purpose is more of a hitting partner for my son and I give a few lessons to some beginners and I also string for some area players. My son started playing with the modern swing and agressive style which has caused me to adapt quickly just to keep up. He has been to Newks on a scholarship and works with a coach in the spring season.

This is a long answer to a short question, but we live in a very small town 100 miles from the nearest tennis center, stringer, or league,,,,,,,so I really don't have a ranking. Been told that I would easily be a 4 to 4.5 depending on the city or league.

The Radical actually has caused me some elbow pain. I know its supposed to be fairly soft and flexible but as we hit heavier and heavier it become a very uncomfortable frame for me. The PD and the PDR have a plow through and solid response from the ball that I don't seem to feel the effect from.. very solid !

The PDR was delivered with a synthetic in it and I am going to put a poly main and syn cut cross in it soon.

My son is playing with the 2012 Pure Drive and is carrying 2 in the bag right now. We are planning to use this PDR as a third frame just in case and let me use it for hitting partner purposes and to possbily keep a different string setup in it just for testing new setups.

You are probably better than you think you are! And in all honesty with your experience over me, I'm sure are better than me. I'm a 19 year old college kid that played 4 years of hs tennis, 3of them on varsity, and I got up to 1 doubles. Never won any titles or championships but always had a blast and I still occasionally hit with the current team and help out. It brings back good memories every time and reminds me why I love the sport.

I would agree with you on the way these sticks play: very penetrating on everything especially on the slice backhand. I'm 5'10 175lbs but I honestly still think this racket is pretty hefty. My pro open is much easier to play with, but not as fun to hit winners. Sounds like you're the dad I might want to be in the future by playing tennis all the time and teaching your son and helping him strive for greatness! Thanks for the post.

-Mike

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

Well... I'm pretty sure all of you know what I am about to say.

Demoed the PDR for a week, and I really honestly thought I had found my holy grail. However, what I forgot to do when demoing was to ACTUALLY PLAY A MATCH WITH IT!... So in the demo all I did was baseline bash with a buddy. Of course I fell in love with it. I don't know who wouldn't except for those anti-Babolat TT Members... It fell like this was the racket that Jesus would use...

So, I bought the racket as a present to myself for doing well in a semester of college. I played a couple matches with it later on...and let this be a lesson to all of those that do not know already...when demoing a racket, TEST IT TO ITS FULL EXTENT!!! This racket is way too heavy for me, and coupled with its shear power, I was sending balls all the way to the Netherlands. Now I am stuck with a racket that I cannot use.. And I don't know what to do because I don't want to keep dropping money on rackets and only get 75% back from TW.

Anyone else have honeymoon periods similar to mine? What did you do with it once you found out you couldn't live together?? LOL. I still need to find my holy grail!

Two words: top spin. That's what that racquet was made for. It's a great racquet and you WILL get used to it. It's easy to get used to winning points outright on serve and return. It is not too heavy. Put that thought out of your mind. The PDR is, at most, a medium weight racquet. In the mean time, what string and tension are you using?

[KenC]

I think the Pure Drive and especially the PureDrive Roddick definitely need to be strung with a poly string for better control and spin. A few years ago I tried to use a Pure drive with TF X-One and couldn't get it to work even at higher tensions.

The racquet is not that heavy, but it does have a nice high swingweight. Maybe you are not used to the swingweight yet? And isn't that racquet 27.5 inches long? That half of an inch probably needs to be adjusted for as well.

Most people play very differently between rallying with friends and facing an unknown opponent. Its a good idea to limit the free rallying to working on developing good strokes and shot sequences and then play/practice under the pressure of points to make it happen under stress.

[MikeHitsHard93]

All of what you guys are saying does make sense. But I really do hit with topspin probably a little too much especially when I need to go for winners, but I'm a little afraid to do it with this stick.

As for string and tension, I ordered it with babolat pro hurricane mains at 58 and n.vy crosses at 60. They've been in there for a couple weeks now

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by KenC

I think the Pure Drive and especially the PureDrive Roddick definitely need to be strung with a poly string for better control and spin. A few years ago I tried to use a Pure drive with TF X-One and couldn't get it to work even at higher tensions.

The racquet is not that heavy, but it does have a nice high swingweight. Maybe you are not used to the swingweight yet? And isn't that racquet 27.5 inches long? That half of an inch probably needs to be adjusted for as well.

Most people play very differently between rallying with friends and facing an unknown opponent. Its a good idea to limit the free rallying to working on developing good strokes and shot sequences and then play/practice under the pressure of points to make it happen under stress.

I definitely agree with you there, as we have actually started playing matches instead lol. But no, it's the standard length one. Dear god I don't need a higher sw than what it already is lol

[Power Player]

Honestly, you will adjust. The racquet is not super heavy,I found it to swing light in stock form and only liked it with some lead.

Just work on hitting with more spin. As long as your arm is not bugging you, you have one of the best sticks released this year.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Honestly, you will adjust. The racquet is not super heavy,I found it to swing light in stock form and only liked it with some lead.

Just work on hitting with more spin. As long as your arm is not bugging you, you have one of the best sticks released this year.

Alright I will give it a shot PP. I trust your advice. I think I am going to practice getting into position and moving my feet faster, which should translate into me hitting at the right time. If that doesn't work, I might consider maybe adding lead under the grip to bring down the sw. Good idea?

[Power Player]

Yeah, it will make the stick heavier but more headlight. I personally like the racquet more head heavy, but my shoulder did not so I sold mine.

Worst case you sell the stick to TW and buy an older but proven stick for roughly the same price. The Head MG Rad is light and probably perfect if you wanted a closed pattern stick.

[Fed Kennedy]

Trade it for the pure storm tour...much better stick in all aspects

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Trade it for the pure storm tour...much better stick in all aspects

That stick plays heavier than the pdr.