Diary of a Racketaholic

gutfeeling

Hall of Fame
Sorry I'm not sorry for any ripple effects this may cause, I'm already mad enough at myself: picked up some sv 98+ frames, will add in to my apdo+ and pa+ rotation.

Does anyone know if Steve Johnson plays this frame or if it's a paint job? He endorses the standard length but I think he plays the plus.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Loving the SV98 experiments. I am out of the game for a little while. Just a lot of other expenses I need to manage. Luckily, I am quite happy with all my gear, strings..etc. At some point, I will buy another PA+ so I can have 3 in the bag. RS Lyon continues to win big as my string of choice.
 

gutfeeling

Hall of Fame
Loving the SV98 experiments. I am out of the game for a little while. Just a lot of other expenses I need to manage. Luckily, I am quite happy with all my gear, strings..etc. At some point, I will buy another PA+ so I can have 3 in the bag. RS Lyon continues to win big as my string of choice.

"I'm out of the game for a while"...heard that before...
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
PP weren't you in Orlando before? If you're in Miami now, that's great to know, as I can hit you up for a hit the next time I find myself there visiting my brother. Good luck with the move.
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
Bought a second APD. This one came strung with full poly. Man, if a hybrid was good on these, pure poly feels like cheating. I went two rounds of 11 without a single unforced error.

Second feels like it has a slightly higher SW, which I seriously enjoyed.

Here's my biggest surprise so far though: no arm pain.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
PP weren't you in Orlando before? If you're in Miami now, that's great to know, as I can hit you up for a hit the next time I find myself there visiting my brother. Good luck with the move.

Yes for sure. I will email you more details. That would be awesome - thanks!
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Bought a second APD. This one came strung with full poly. Man, if a hybrid was good on these, pure poly feels like cheating. I went two rounds of 11 without a single unforced error.

Second feels like it has a slightly higher SW, which I seriously enjoyed.

Here's my biggest surprise so far though: no arm pain.

Full poly is the way to go with these racquets, especially the pure aero. I wish you much hitting with no arm pain. So far so good for me. I was anti full poly for a long time, but I also think that is why I didn't get along with the APD style frames as much as I do now.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Bought a second APD. This one came strung with full poly. Man, if a hybrid was good on these, pure poly feels like cheating. I went two rounds of 11 without a single unforced error.

Second feels like it has a slightly higher SW, which I seriously enjoyed.

Here's my biggest surprise so far though: no arm pain.
I'm surprised. I felt that I was starting to get sore with an APD+ after a very short while. Really harsh IME.
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
I'm surprised. I felt that I was starting to get sore with an APD+ after a very short while. Really harsh IME.

That's why I'm so surprised. Half my posts on here have been about my chronic shoulder pain, so I'm very sensitive.

All I can say is no shoulder pain, and only a minimal amount of residual pain in the hand due to a couple of bad framers when I first used it.

I think the stiffness of the frame is offset by the seriously ginormous sweet spot.

Here's a stretch that helped me get rid of my hand/finger pains:

 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Any of you XL guys notice this? I added some lead to my PA+s a couple months ago to get to around 330. Nothing crazy. But the more I use them, the more I decided to go back to stock weight. Which for me is around 322 grams, SW is ~335ish. 322 with a 27 inch frame would just be too light, but with the XL, it is fine. It's a 20 gram drop in weight for me, but yet I really enjoy how it plays. Plenty of power and more RHS, so more spin. Just never thought I'd play this light, but something about the extra length plus the healthy SW seems to just really work. I guess it is a little like using a stock Wilson Blade - They weighed around 330 and the SW was 335 with a more HL balance. Add the XL, shave off some grams and tip the balance back a little and there you go.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Any of you XL guys notice this? I added some lead to my PA+s a couple months ago to get to around 330. Nothing crazy. But the more I use them, the more I decided to go back to stock weight. Which for me is around 322 grams, SW is ~335ish. 322 with a 27 inch frame would just be too light, but with the XL, it is fine. It's a 20 gram drop in weight for me, but yet I really enjoy how it plays. Plenty of power and more RHS, so more spin. Just never thought I'd play this light, but something about the extra length plus the healthy SW seems to just really work. I guess it is a little like using a stock Wilson Blade - They weighed around 330 and the SW was 335 with a more HL balance. Add the XL, shave off some grams and tip the balance back a little and there you go.
Not quite there yet haha, still rocking the 332g (or so) strung weight :)

By the way, loving the Luxilon overgrip right now.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Not quite there yet haha, still rocking the 332g (or so) strung weight :)

By the way, loving the Luxilon overgrip right now.

Makes sense. I think your PK probably has a bit less pop than the Babolat, so the extra weight is good.

What's the difference between the lux OG and a yonex supergrap?
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Makes sense. I think your PK probably has a bit less pop than the Babolat, so the extra weight is good.

What's the difference between the lux OG and a yonex supergrap?
I'm guessing Yonex Supergap is like Wilson Pro?

It plays a bit like Wilson Pro when you get over the initial strong tackiness but still have enough grip to hold the racquet securely. It ages much better (more consistently as well as more durable) and absorbs sweat better than Wilson Pro (doesn't get slippery). Only caveat is that it is slightly firmer, but I don't think that'd be an issue for you since you're using synthetic base grips. Highly recommend trying it, quality stuff.
 

JOSHL

Hall of Fame
I'm guessing Yonex Supergap is like Wilson Pro?

It plays a bit like Wilson Pro when you get over the initial strong tackiness but still have enough grip to hold the racquet securely. It ages much better (more consistently as well as more durable) and absorbs sweat better than Wilson Pro (doesn't get slippery). Only caveat is that it is slightly firmer, but I don't think that'd be an issue for you since you're using synthetic base grips. Highly recommend trying it, quality stuff.
People are comparing it to tourna overgrip(the blue one). Do you find them similar? I'm not a fan of the tourna. It feels weird and too cloth like.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
I've been patiently wading through the Angell thread. Heavy sledding at times.
Saw a few of the usual suspects in there. Anybody still hitting theirs? Was there a consensus cream of the crop?
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
I've been patiently wading through the Angell thread. Heavy sledding at times.
Saw a few of the usual suspects in there. Anybody still hitting theirs? Was there a consensus cream of the crop?

Yeah I still have one. It's killer if you like old Dunlops and old Heads. Cream of the crop varies really, but the 95 and 97s are very classic feeling and great fames with a little more modern pop. Super impressive racquets. I think the 105s may be a secret weapon for anyone looking at a larger size head.

I have a PT630 too and could alternate between the Angell 97 and PT630 with ease. The Angell has a little larger sweetspot and is a little easier to use. Pricing from Brexit was really cheap when I bought, especially with frames going for $225 now.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
So PP, I see you had the 97 and the 95 Angells. Whats the difference there? Anything to differentiate between them.
Was the bab switch jaut to win matches? I find leagues to be about topspin and fitness over shotmaking.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
The 97 is pretty darn sweet. Feels like a classic head. 95 felt more like a dunlop classic. Tough to go wrong really. I switched to the bab+ because of those reasons of winning matches and i actually just really like the frame. Feels awesome and the xl is a great match for it. I also do seem to play my game a little easier with more open patterns even though i like the tighter 8 mains stuff.

i actually went back to the yonex xi98 again before the bab. I kept going back to that yonex tweener. Tried the pa+ on a whim and it blew me away. Been using it since.

Just seem to love the stiffer playing frames over the past year. Love what they do to the ball.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
The 97 is pretty darn sweet. Feels like a classic head. 95 felt more like a dunlop classic.

Do you get any power/spin bump from the Angells or are we talking its just the same experience as hitting a well made vintage frame only that you get your exact specs.

Don't get me wrong I love hitting with vintage frames, but in the "modern rec game" (lol) at least in my experience its all about playing high balls to the corners repeatedly, and its a lot more work doing that with an old prestige.

As far as Angell, do you lean 97 or 95?
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Do you get any power/spin bump from the Angells or are we talking its just the same experience as hitting a well made vintage frame only that you get your exact specs.

Don't get me wrong I love hitting with vintage frames, but in the "modern rec game" (lol) at least in my experience its all about playing high balls to the corners repeatedly, and its a lot more work doing that with an old prestige.

As far as Angell, do you lean 97 or 95?
I lean 97 just because i liked the feel a little more and it was easier to use. For modern rec style game, the angell will work of course, but its not a huge boost over a pt630. Its easier to use than the head and probably one of the best modern classic frames i have hit with. But for the game you are talking about, the pa+ is a better type of frame.

Tc97 is amazing though. One of my all time favorites, but i keep leaning towards the bab style tweeners because i have the spin to control them at comfortable tensions. And i also enjoy the large sweet spot feel a lot more than in the past.
 

beltsman

G.O.A.T.
I guess my question is the same, performance wise is it just a vintage racquet with bang on specs or do you get anything else out of it. Like could your 100 bang toe to toe with a apd or rf97?

Honestly, words like "vintage" and "modern" don't mean anything. Specs are specs. It is less powerful than tweeners like the APD, but generates heavy spin with great control and good power. It's the best all around combination I've found. It has good touch, very good control, great spin, and good power. I would rate most tweeners as bad touch, average control, great spin, and great power. So it really just depends what you 're looking for. Personally, I like the little bit of extra flex, the quality of the build, the combination of good qualities, and the thin beams. Also I love being able to customize it exactly to what I want.

I won't like, it's fun to hit with my Pure Drive and I can play well with it. But it doesn't let me play the creative tennis that I want to.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
A deep dive on this thread for answers from the past.
The modern rec game (joel dali tm) is pushing me back towards the 2013 APD with poly in the 40s.
Maddog and PED (whither goest?) had this dialed back in 14'
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
A deep dive on this thread for answers from the past.
The modern rec game (joel dali tm) is pushing me back towards the 2013 APD with poly in the 40s.
Maddog and PED (whither goest?) had this dialed back in 14'
Get the Pacific X Fast Pro if that's the way you're headed mate! ;)
 

el sergento

Hall of Fame
A deep dive on this thread for answers from the past.
The modern rec game (joel dali tm) is pushing me back towards the 2013 APD with poly in the 40s.
Maddog and PED (whither goest?) had this dialed back in 14'

That's my setup. Unless you have money to burn, go for the PA. Otherwise, I got two 2013 APD's for a bit more than a single PA.

I hear the PA has a higher SW. That's another reason I went 2013 APD. Low starting SW that I can easily crank up if needed. So far, I have no desire to add more though.
 

jackcrawford

Professional
A deep dive on this thread for answers from the past.
The modern rec game (joel dali tm) is pushing me back towards the 2013 APD with poly in the 40s.
Maddog and PED (whither goest?) had this dialed back in 14'
I would give the Pure Aero + a go, I think it is better for the modern rec game than the standard, or any version of the APD. Be careful with the Pure Aero Tour, it hurt my shoulder and it wasn't the weight, I played an 18 x 20 Prince Tour 100 at the same weight (12.2) for six months with no problem. As always, ymmv. BTW, I am loving my Volkl V-Sense V1 MP - at 11 ounces with OG and dampener, it is remarkably stable and adds the power that other versions of the V1 lacked.
 

Fed Kennedy

Legend
I would give the Pure Aero + a go, I think it is better for the modern rec game than the standard, or any version of the APD. Be careful with the Pure Aero Tour, it hurt my shoulder and it wasn't the weight, I played an 18 x 20 Prince Tour 100 at the same weight (12.2) for six months with no problem. As always, ymmv. BTW, I am loving my Volkl V-Sense V1 MP - at 11 ounces with OG and dampener, it is remarkably stable and adds the power that other versions of the V1 lacked.
I really love the v1 feel. I've never tried an mp that felt as good as the classic though. The classic just feels like a players racquet wrapped in deluxe german engineering. Buuuuut. I think what I'm realizing for my age and how I like to play now, I am all about the gut/poly string job.

As much as I like the modern rec game low tension poly APD cheater performance, I need to age gracefully with gut poly, volleys, shorter points and mostly dubs. So I am searching for the frame that is tailor made for the gut poly experience.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Few updates. I don't like the new Lux grip. It is too short for XL frames unless you wrap perfectly, and it does nothing for me in humid conditions. For whatever reason, the Supergrap just works for me even when I am sweating like a maniac.

I brought my OS bumblebee out and tried to swap it in with my PA+. Not good. The PA+ frame is so much lighter that it just changes up the timing too much. I have gotten pretty used to playing with 325 grams now. I think it only works since the frame is XL. So it seems like XL frames allow you to play a lighter weight frame with a higher SW and a more neutral balance. This may be why I like them so much now. I may have simply been playing XLs at too heavy a weight in the past.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
On my end: after failed experiments shortening a 27.6-inch Pacific Pro One to 27.3 (which neutered the frame's uniqueness that I shouldn't have messed with), and shortening also the PK Q+5X from 27.5 (just too much SW) to 27.3 (still too unwieldy), I have gravitated back to the trusty ol' Pro Kennex 7G as well as the standard-length Q+5 Pro as my primary go-tos, depending on how I'm feeling.

If I were to return to Holism, I would either dip into the version of the X Fast Pro @SpinToWin was digging for its player-ish feeling tweener vibe, or go all player-frame goodness with the Wilson Ultra Tour. The heart would choose the latter but the mind would choose the former.

For now I will only ponder and stalk threads. Maybe if I sell some frames to make room, I'll dip a toe into the water.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Thanks for reminding that I haven't finished writing up the last two reviews @JGads :oops:

I'm still grooving the PK 5X Pro to new heights. Lost in a tight match on Sunday against a good player (LK 11 in Germany) but absolutely blew him off the court in the second. Once I get the consistency of play down I'm going places. Reworked my serve and I'm getting easier power as a result too, overall things are clicking, shame I'll probably forget everything in the busy winter months that are quickly approaching haha
 
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