JGads
G.O.A.T.
Me too. 310 is perfect here. Keep it an In Betweener.
Eager to see how my newbie I just got on the cheap with the TW-specced lower flex plays. Could be goat, could ruin the whole thing compared to my trusty og.
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
Me too. 310 is perfect here. Keep it an In Betweener.
Eager to see how my newbie I just got on the cheap with the TW-specced lower flex plays. Could be goat, could ruin the whole thing compared to my trusty og.
topspn
Legend
I thought you just got another doppio. Why would it be reduced flex?
JGads
G.O.A.T.
I did, but the one I selected out of the TW-specced bunch had an unstrung RA of 66, so should be 63ish strung I think, a few points lower than standard. No idea what my OG Doppio flex actually is but have to believe it's higher. Interested to see how they compare.
I had a third one that was a factory black out demo. I sold it to a guy who hits with some Atlanta D1 players regularly. He has a head sponsorship but wanted to try the SV95 and the all black he could get by I guess. He was at 350sw with it (don’t remember static) and was crushing the ball. He enjoyed it so much he was asking me if I could source another for him.
In his hands it was a beast. In my hands it was a dud so you may be into something
blackfrido
Hall of Fame
I subscribe to "Diary of a Racketaholic". Based on my e.... b.... a ......y ...... feedback reached 322. My assumption is that 90% are racquet bought or sold.
For an incoming Doppio. A bit of mishmash of strings on hand: X1 Biphase and Tech Multifeel (don't normally keep multis but Xmas presents from fam), HG soft, Isocream, and Triax. Gads, you're the man of the hour with this stick: pick of the litter from these or put back on the shelf and go with Lynx Tour (what I believe you play with in this racquet) or something else?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
With the DoppioQ+5G incoming tomorrow, I decided to play with the 'ol v7 blade tonight. Strung up months ago with TS and no dampener - what a feel, my god. The key is no dampener with this racquet, it doesn't really ping at all and the feel is just fantastic this way. Yeah, I can't sell mine.
Pros and cons:
- Control was of course, fantastic
- it's really tough going straight back to 18x20 after using open 16x19 patterns, but also adjusting back to 3-4 pts HL balance combined with the tight pattern is tricky too. The higher 336 SW - not much of a problem though.
- biggest issue I had was trajectory and spin. I got used to hitting a certain way and getting extra spin and height with the PA/Ripper so with the v7 I really had to exaggerate the racquet drop a bit to get the same type of net clearance and bite on the ball.
- I would have really nice patterns where I could drive the ball i/o a few times, see the short ball and attack it to the other side for a winner. But I also dumped a lot of shots in the net that I usually do not.
- hitting rally balls was nice and controlled and I loved that I could dial up big shots when I saw opportunities. My slice was nice and mean and the kick off the bounce from big topspin forehands is a timing disruptor.
- Comfort is unmatched. The only real soreness I get is a little forearm workout feeling, most likely due to the higher SW.
- I was gassed after points more than usual. I'm not in top shape right now, but this frame takes some energy to use if you are hitting out. It's really demanding for long rallies with big hitting.
Here is what I'd like to get out of the blade v7 if I could change it:
- I want a stiffer frame, for an even more direct ball. The Blade takes a good amount of energy even for rally balls. It's noticeable coming from a tweener. I don't need tweener power, but I just want to be able to shape my rally balls a little more with a bit of brush and then drive the attacking shots with accuracy. I'd like to save a little bit of energy out there if possible too.
- Larger headsize and a little more open pattern would be great. The Blade's 98 head size is fine but a 100 and less tighter spacing could really help with the above issues.
- More whip to attack short balls. It takes a lot of practice to dial in the short ball attack shot with any frame, but the Blade requires some serious focus. I can get it back, as I was doing this well when it was my full time frame, but it really takes some serious focus.
- A little more spin and whip on serve. I was enjoying how this frame served, its pretty great. That said, the timing has to be pretty dead on to get enough brush to consistently hit heavy spin serves into the court without going long.
I'm really thinking the DoppioQanon5G may solve this. What I am unsure about is the lower swingweight and higher HL balance. Is it too much whip? Good news is the static weight is higher so that will surely help. Plus I can always add a little lead at 12 if I am too early on my shots. What would be cool is if that frame also does not need a dampener. That's 2-3 free grams for slight lead mods, which I think placed at 12 would solve any potential SW issues. I will of course, start stock.
Those are my random musings from a nice 2 hour session in great weather.
Pros and cons:
- Control was of course, fantastic
- it's really tough going straight back to 18x20 after using open 16x19 patterns, but also adjusting back to 3-4 pts HL balance combined with the tight pattern is tricky too. The higher 336 SW - not much of a problem though.
- biggest issue I had was trajectory and spin. I got used to hitting a certain way and getting extra spin and height with the PA/Ripper so with the v7 I really had to exaggerate the racquet drop a bit to get the same type of net clearance and bite on the ball.
- I would have really nice patterns where I could drive the ball i/o a few times, see the short ball and attack it to the other side for a winner. But I also dumped a lot of shots in the net that I usually do not.
- hitting rally balls was nice and controlled and I loved that I could dial up big shots when I saw opportunities. My slice was nice and mean and the kick off the bounce from big topspin forehands is a timing disruptor.
- Comfort is unmatched. The only real soreness I get is a little forearm workout feeling, most likely due to the higher SW.
- I was gassed after points more than usual. I'm not in top shape right now, but this frame takes some energy to use if you are hitting out. It's really demanding for long rallies with big hitting.
Here is what I'd like to get out of the blade v7 if I could change it:
- I want a stiffer frame, for an even more direct ball. The Blade takes a good amount of energy even for rally balls. It's noticeable coming from a tweener. I don't need tweener power, but I just want to be able to shape my rally balls a little more with a bit of brush and then drive the attacking shots with accuracy. I'd like to save a little bit of energy out there if possible too.
- Larger headsize and a little more open pattern would be great. The Blade's 98 head size is fine but a 100 and less tighter spacing could really help with the above issues.
- More whip to attack short balls. It takes a lot of practice to dial in the short ball attack shot with any frame, but the Blade requires some serious focus. I can get it back, as I was doing this well when it was my full time frame, but it really takes some serious focus.
- A little more spin and whip on serve. I was enjoying how this frame served, its pretty great. That said, the timing has to be pretty dead on to get enough brush to consistently hit heavy spin serves into the court without going long.
I'm really thinking the DoppioQanon5G may solve this. What I am unsure about is the lower swingweight and higher HL balance. Is it too much whip? Good news is the static weight is higher so that will surely help. Plus I can always add a little lead at 12 if I am too early on my shots. What would be cool is if that frame also does not need a dampener. That's 2-3 free grams for slight lead mods, which I think placed at 12 would solve any potential SW issues. I will of course, start stock.
Those are my random musings from a nice 2 hour session in great weather.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Holy crap, this thread is still active????
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
this is the only way to roll.This is a dangerous club now that I am older. When I impulse buy now, I tend to pick up two matched racquets, just in case I fully switch over
SonRK
Semi-Pro
this is the only way to roll.
Hehhe, I tell myself that it's an effective way to test a new frame in multiple string setups, lets me go through the experimentation and honeymoon phases quicker.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
I typically buy frames in pairs and once I realize it’s a keeper, I generally procure a few more copies in case the racquet gets discontinued.
RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
Thanks for these replies. I'm actually quite happy with this concencus. I was searching for reasons to buy them, even though I shouldn't. I just wanted to like them but very probably won't. I might pick up an almost brand new Angell K7 Red though that I found.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Wish I knew more of those strings, but Hyper is all I know. Hyper G is just kind of fine in it but I like Hyper in my other frames much more. Something soft/smooth feeling is best. Isocream "sounds" correct based on name, ha. The Lynx Tour I have yet to try because that new bed off the stringer has had to wait because of a quarantine, but I am about to be let off the leash so that answer will come soon. Lux Element, for example, has been my best bed so far - a strange thing because Element is not a string I go full bed in very much at all, but it suits this stick, giving it a silky finish. I've never tried a multi in this frame, only poly. I think it's really made more for Poly, though I could be wrong. Sorry, not sure if that really helps.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
That's confirmed. I may have something to do with this. The rise and fall of these beans will be epic.
As to the frame names it's pretty simple. The Espresso is the QTour series, thin beam, flexy. The Doppio is the stiffer, more caffeinated QGads37-32 Pro. Carry the 2.
ryushen21
Legend
This just got the cognitive juices flowing for me in regard to that kind of ideal control tweener/pleener type frame that I'm lusting after:
100sq. in head size
YY head shape
24mm aero profiled beam (a la EZ100 or even PA)
300g unstrung weight (should end around 325-330 strung)
4pts. HL Strung balance
66 RA
Semi-openish 18x20 pattern
The Qanon5G Tin Foil Hat special seems close. But is it close enough?
danbrenner
Legend
i think the Doppio is absolutely ripe for a playtest here. most of us already have a tweener or players frame that they use regularly, and the pleener is our way of searching for the holy grail. the elusive player/tweener frame in which we get the bite and power of one, and the feel and control of the other. obviously we know its a compromise, but searching for it is the real deal, and has become the impetus of this thread. so again the Doppio is def a strong candidate with its 21.5 mm straight beam, and 100 sq inch head.. 7 pt balance.. and already sponsored by a fellow holic. let the games begin.
RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
Pulled the trigger on that Angell K7 Red and left the SV95's for what they are. Should be a fun one to have as a bit of a relieving lighter option compared to all of my other racquets which are all 339g or more strung. I do plan on tinkering around with it a bit.
@topspn I believe I read you've played with it. Did you customize it at all? If so, what area did you feel like it needed weight the most?
@topspn I believe I read you've played with it. Did you customize it at all? If so, what area did you feel like it needed weight the most?
topspn
Legend
Yep, this is a flexy frame with an open pattern. In stock form lacks authority. I added a leather grip and if I remember correctly 4g split @2&10. You are not going to get the bully effect of the custom TC95 or 100 but it’s certainly better then stock. Also due to the open pattern and higher launch angle, I’d advice going tighter a bit on the crosses. Overall nice flexy frame so congrats
RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
Thanks man! I'm probably ordering a black grommet set for it because it currently has one of those clear/white grommet sets on it. I'm ordering a leather grip with it too because I'm really interested in trying an Angell leather grip.
I really don't mind the possible lack of putaway power because lately, I've been really enjoying playing a very precision and creativity based game. Placing the ball exactly where I want with control over power, using all the angles possible to drive the opponent crazy and coming to the net whenever there's a possibility. Will probably be great fun with this one. I will add some lead though and weight in the handle to keep a headlight balance.
I'm very used to stringing my crosses 2 to 3 lbs looser than the mains in a full bed of poly. So stringing mains and crosses the same tension might be good for me on this one.
danbrenner
Legend
so i wanted to update my experience last night. i played two sets against one of my regulars. and of course as i always preface, my main frame is the PA. so i have been tinkering with my BP 16s as of late. i have one strung with HG and the other with a hybrid set up. so last night i was itching to play with the bp. and have been able to improve with it and unlock some of it potential. so set one i used the full poly bed. it was indeed a little softer feeling than last week. so the butter did in fact churn a little, as the great @mad dog1 has aforementioned.. but the set went very similarly to last week. last second adjustments to my forehand which i get in spades with the pa are just very demanding with this frame. and power is of course no way near the pa.. so inevitably even with my best effort i lost the first set 6-4.. free points are just not there with this frame for me.. especially with the all poly set up. the power is just no there for me.. so now onto the second set. i switched to the hybrid frame. so now the feel def improved with this one. felt good with less shock on impact. but the results were the same. very few free points. same result until late into set. it was 5-3 his. and now my turn to serve being down a brake. so i switched to my pure aero.. my pa is slightly modded with 2g of lead at 3 and 9. and 1g at 12.. its about 11.6oz and 5 pt hl. i do sometimes shift the weight around. but that is now it is set up now. so as soon as i started serving with the pa i could immediately feel the ball sink into the more open string pattern and was able to bash the balls in with some kick. what a relief. i took that game within two minutes, and didn't lose a point. then on the returns my old familiar clip and rip forehand came back. where i set up in a nice sw position and really use my wrist to contort some pretty wicked rhs.. which allows me alot of net clearance and margin. suffice to say i was back. and won the second set comfortably. so in closing. . i want to say that i honestly tried with the BP to adapt my game to it. but its just not for me. the lower trajectory and power are really better suited to a player that is coming from a true players frame or 18 main type frame. the open 100 sq inch head is where its at for me. i will say that adding weight to the hoop of the pa made it more stable for me.. playing it stock does sometimes make me feel the erratic nature it can put forth. so again. 2g at 3 and 9. and 1 and 12 def adds a level of control to this thing.
anyway. im looking forward to the Doppio playtests. and i also have a pro staff 100 coming in from Germany which also is a pleener and will be a fun playtest.
anyway. im looking forward to the Doppio playtests. and i also have a pro staff 100 coming in from Germany which also is a pleener and will be a fun playtest.
RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
Now I wanna walk around in that hat. I'll have to join the Banana club.Guys Bjorn Borg has created a hat just for the Banana enthusiasts in here. And before you ask, yes, yes there are matching shorts as well.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Soft and smooth you say? Tour Sniper it is (yet again).
I suspect the Gasdspiracy 5G may not have the power you are now used to and prefer. My guess is that its more than a Blade and less than a tweener, which is what I am personally looking for to playtest.
Same Ill have mine today and will be playing this weekend. Really looking forward to hitting some volleys with this thing, as that is another slightly more challenging aspect of the v7 Blade.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Did some TWU browsing last night as I was trying to get an understanding of twistweight and what numbers I preferred.
My all time favorite control or inbetweener frames - Yoko, Dunlop 200, 2013 Blade The Yonex vcore XI - all have a twistweight under 13.5. With those first 2 frames I wanted a little more power and ease of use, but my consistency was high with them.
The Doppio is also under 13.5 - this bodes well. Its very likely that I make little adjustments sometimes on my swing that I don’t think about and the low TW helps me out there. Could be meaningless, but I do notice that tweeners seem to fight me a little in that stage of the swing.
My all time favorite control or inbetweener frames - Yoko, Dunlop 200, 2013 Blade The Yonex vcore XI - all have a twistweight under 13.5. With those first 2 frames I wanted a little more power and ease of use, but my consistency was high with them.
The Doppio is also under 13.5 - this bodes well. Its very likely that I make little adjustments sometimes on my swing that I don’t think about and the low TW helps me out there. Could be meaningless, but I do notice that tweeners seem to fight me a little in that stage of the swing.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Hey PP hope all is well...I can't help but notice that in your: "...if I could change it..." you basically described the new Extreme Tour ... Try it...IMHO Head copied Blade and made it in between 18x20 and 16x19 (its closed 16x19 pattern..).
danbrenner
Legend
i know i had previously mentioned keeping the blade pros as antiques. but honestly once i realized that i was never going to use them in competition again, i sold em. gone.. neeeeexxxxxxt
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
So what’s next?
danbrenner
Legend
The pro staff 100 of it ever comes in. TP messed up my address for shipping. Amd I can’t hey through to them on the phone. And my emails aren’t being answered on tine. I’m very disappointed with their customer service so far.So what’s next?
Amd then you have the Doppio. Which I don’t have coming in but a few fellow Holics will be testing. Good stuff.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
Based on the strings you've listed, I suggest Lynx Tour/Cream or Multifeel/Cream in the Doppio/QAnon5+aShot (assuming you buy into the 'bean theory' but listed the alternative code if not--one and the same). My suggestions are based on string experience only; I have zero experience with the conspiracy stick.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Whats up my man? Great point, I completely forgot about that option. If the PK doesn’t deliver for me, I will try the Extreme Tour next. It has gotten favorable reviews by many here.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
I've had similar problems and language issues with TP customer service, hard to reach by phone and email. I assure you the company does deliver in the end, but in the customer service (at least for English speaking) they are the most difficult of the European big boys to deal with.
Respect to giving the Blade Pros a final go and realizing they are not for you in the end. They are definitely not for most. Still adore mine, they're still right there in the race for bag supremacy, but right now the Doppio is edging due to ease of use, even though the BP feel is simply the best, and weight of shot as well as trajectory (for me) is fantastic.
ChrisG
Professional
I have the same config as @topspn on my K7 red. Control is not the best attribute of this frame as the 16x19 is fairly open (as all 16x19 coming from Angell). Feel is excellent.
I picked it up last week after almost 6 months without using it, and it's a great frame to play, but you won't win matches with it. Regardless of the config, it falls short in all the competitive aspects : precision and power.
However, I must say I'll never sell mine, it's my go to frame for my chill tennis / play with the kids.
danbrenner
Legend
Herein the goat of all quotes. "different strokes for different folks" i wonder if the author of that one was a tennis player and a holic to boot. from waaay back. could be.
so yeah. i really did try. its just diametrically opposed to my tennis zen. albeit a great frame no doubt. but wow last night when i switched to my babs it was like giving Popeye his spinach.. what a night and day difference.
as far as TP. wow terrible cust service. they can take your cash. but cant pick up a phone. and the part that kills me.. is not return emails within a day or two. my stick is being delivered to someone in Long Beach Ca.. instead of me in Long Branch NJ. So some lucky a hole in cali will be goating the new ps100 and probably bragging about it on these boards. so i have done all i can do. ive left 5 emails over the last 3 days. and well thats it.. i give up.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Unfortunately I do not live in Long Beach.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
almost exact same specs here. Not the end of the world. Lets me add a little lead to 12 this way.
topspn
Legend
Very curious to measure my SW
Power Player
Bionic Poster
yeah let me know what you find. Ill add 2 grams at 12 for now because id like the balance closer to 7pts hl strung with og. I think that should get the sw around 323-325 if i had to guess.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Gonna quote this nice little chart for reference. I suspect based on weight and balance that ours are around 287 SW. Strung up, add 33 SW points with full poly and 2 grams of lead at 12 and we have a easy swinging 326ish SW while staying at the same stock static weight.
I may go get mine measured on the RDC over the weekend or next week.
I may go get mine measured on the RDC over the weekend or next week.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Oh jesus. Didn’t realize it was that big of a F up.
Hankenstein
Hall of Fame
How did you pay? Make a claim to PayPal/credit card company. When the claim process starts, they will surely speed things up
danbrenner
Legend
WILL DO good point. i was gonna wait until tomorrow. but it appears this company has no email skills. until they see a chargeback
that's been my experience with all of the european retailers. TWE seems to be the best, but the worst has PDT for initials. those guys have the same response to every email inquiry. i also check out via Paypal and pay in euros so there's that added layer of security just in case.
