Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
danbrenner
Legend
danbrenner
Legend
my new baby girl. she weighs in at 11.4 oz. no marks .. completely healthy. strike 98. now i own the entire strike family
topspn
Legend
Playability is fabulous but it took a toll on my arm, couldn't keep them. In the new ones, I liked the tour the most. I am not sure why i never bought one after demo. Don't recall what i may have been distracted with at the time.
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RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
The most exciting news in a holics life. What are you getting again? MP-L, Artengo?
RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
Meanwhile I'm contemplating what string setup to put in my TGT293.1 that is arriving tomorrow. Don't really know the string pattern density so not sure about string gauge yet either.
- Hawk Touch
- Hawk
- VS Touch hybrid with one of the above
@JGads what are you running in it again? Was it Black Knight? Can you comment on string pattern density, pop compared to more known retail sticks and a description of the beautiful feel/comfort?
- Hawk Touch
- Hawk
- VS Touch hybrid with one of the above
@JGads what are you running in it again? Was it Black Knight? Can you comment on string pattern density, pop compared to more known retail sticks and a description of the beautiful feel/comfort?
Vicious49
Legend
Yes, those 2 and the PS85 reissue.
My mother in law was complaining to my wife yesterday about how she now has to bring a poster back for me as well. I told her I didn't order a poster. Turns out TWE must have thrown in a Rafa poster as a freebie. It's a collage of Rafa shots and has 22 on it and the Babolat logo down in the corner. Might have been great when I was 12 but I told her I really have no use for it now. Still cool of TWE to throw that in thought.
danbrenner
Legend
yeah. simply an amazing line of sticks. its the YY98 for babo. luckily i dont have arm issues. but its considerably softer than say a pure drive. the tour is amazing too. but you can turn the std version into the tour with a little lead from the neck down. after watching krygios bludgeon the ball like no one else can with a 98 no less , i felt obligated to break out the pavs and this bad boy and put them through the paces. i have 3 strikes now. the 98 100 and 103 the latter two modded up to weight.. so this will be a fun stretch for experimentation for me.
Vicious49
Legend
This is the Project One Seven? 2017 version?
danbrenner
Legend
yes it is. like i was telling top this and the pavs are babos yy98 so after watching krygios bludgeon the ball with his 98 there is literally no excuse for not putting the babo 98s to the test
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Eleven years ago, I wasn't playing tennis
topspn
Legend
You have the new strike VS as well?
danbrenner
Legend
nope. im really in love with the box beam of the non vs strikes and 98 is as low as i want to go. so hard pass on that one.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Meanwhile I'm contemplating what string setup to put in my TGT293.1 that is arriving tomorrow. Don't really know the string pattern density so not sure about string gauge yet either.
- Hawk Touch
- Hawk
- VS Touch hybrid with one of the above
@JGads what are you running in it again? Was it Black Knight? Can you comment on string pattern density, pop compared to more known retail sticks and a description of the beautiful feel/comfort?
Black Knight is my favorite in it but it's one of those frames that'll accommodate anything you throw in there. The butter finish should still be there. Stringbed density is great (I can screenshot or DM you a pic of the bed if you want), just right for a 16/19, not overly wide. You're about to have some fun, man. I can't speak to Hawk since I've never tried either. With full BK I go 21.5kg in it usually but lately have been going 22kg because of the higher temps.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
More time in the lab confirms my greatest fear. I actually need the tweener now. Like I need it to win. FK me. Question for Mdog and other tweenthusiasts…2021 PD vs Blackout? What is the latest science on that?
Also, someone talk me out of the Instinct MP. Carbon copy of the PD with 64ra? Walmart or Wunderbar?
YY 100 inch frames. There are 3 of them. What to do about that?
In short: what is the best 100si 300 gram 320ish sw tweener on the market for an aging hipster trying to play shorter points? (Need some feel at the net and good range on the flatties)
Talk to me.
Also, someone talk me out of the Instinct MP. Carbon copy of the PD with 64ra? Walmart or Wunderbar?
YY 100 inch frames. There are 3 of them. What to do about that?
In short: what is the best 100si 300 gram 320ish sw tweener on the market for an aging hipster trying to play shorter points? (Need some feel at the net and good range on the flatties)
Talk to me.
ryushen21
Legend
IIRC, the current Babs have a tendency to be string eaters. The Solincos did get some favorable reviews though. The YY VCore 100 is absolutely awesome if you don't mind the lack of feel. Might consider the Gravity MP too.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Friend and I have sampled a couple randos this week that could be on your radar and have done nothing but impress: VCore 100 and the new Black Ace 105. Both far more controlled than I expected, given their beams and waistlines. Both feel not exactly stellar, yet plenty good enough for what they do for you (and better feel than a Bab, in my opinion)... I thought VCores were supposed to be all about spin, especially the 100 being a supposed counter to the APD, yet flattening with the 100 isn't an issue, nor is slicing (slicing beast, surprisingly), nor is depth control. Just so much more control here than I'd have ever guessed. Same for the 105 - more control than I expected, yet video-game-tennis forgiveness, but of course less pinpoint or depth control than the YY; yet this one feels actually a bit better than the VCore and has my favorite 27.25 length for added leverage on serves and two-handed backhands. Both of these sticks are outstanding for two-handed backhands, however I think you have a one (?). ...
Other sticks you could consider: Prestige MP (99sq inch), a Banana Lite (PK Q+5, non pro) or Doppio (prior edition Q+5 Pro, if you can find one), maybe the other YY 100s besides the VCore, or of course any Bab. Instinct tells me you won't find true happiness with an Instinct.
ryushen21
Legend
The VC100 is surprisingly versatile and does everything well on top of that. Not as much linear power as the EZ100 but you can still flatten the ball easily enough. Very, very good frame especially a crisp poly.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Yeah I'm thoroughly impressed. I'm still confused as to which is supposed to have more power or more ... x,y,z between the VCore and Ezones. Seems like there is conflicting info or marketing. I expected this one to be a bazooka. It was very happily not so. This one had Hyper G in it which I suspect is a good match, being a bit more dead, hence adding to the control.
ryushen21
Legend
The EZ100 has the most power and the easiest to bat the ball back. It can be used by anyone but is not quite as spin friendly. VC100 has a touch less power but you can definitely open up the taps with spin. That slightly lower power level is what provides that more controlled feeling and gives you a ton of confidence to get aggressive with it. Hyper G is good. S7T, Tour Bite, and other crisp polys make the VC100 really sing.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
I prefer the BO over the PD21. Have only briefly demo’d the current Ezone 100 at IW and liked it enough to ponder a longer term demo. Hit a few balls with the current VCP 100 on the same demo court and put it down immediately. Haven’t demo’d the VCore 100, but my friend, @JGads, is making a compelling case for a demo.
topspn
Legend
@tim-ay You called it man with BK/dope and I think gads likes it too. Yep, whippy creme fraiche was genuinely good! I will have to try element and BK side to side on my dopes.
The Arma Pro is surprising me! This is a good tweener and so far it beats out the PD15 for me. Control and feel are a notch or two up.
The Arma Pro is surprising me! This is a good tweener and so far it beats out the PD15 for me. Control and feel are a notch or two up.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
The TW reviews seem to say the ezone has more control…but it looks more like the cannon to me. Its chonky
Sintherius
Semi-Pro
I love me a good chonk from time to time
ryushen21
Legend
It's power is controllable. If you are a flatter hitter, I would definitely give the EZ100 a try. But the VC100, with a crisp poly, would still be my pick of the two.
tim-ay
Legend
Yeah, BK 1.23 has been the go to for me in all the PKs for ages now. Last summer I was using it in the dope. Soon after in the TB and 7G.
Funny, I still prefer TS in the Zus’s. Maybe I’ll try a TS main and a BK cross in the ZUS. Ha. Ya never know.
interesting on your Furi. That pattern looks so open vs. the top middle of the 2015 PD. Surprised your getting control like that. Maybe it’s a thinner beam than the PD?
Fed Kennedy
Legend
I had a Vcore 100s bitd. Super fun to play with, not the most penetrating ball but I wasnt a permanent resident of tweenerville back then
Fed Kennedy
Legend
If I had to knock the BO it would be comfort. Everything else is a-ok. I tweaked my setup a little, took off the leather grip, put on babolat syntec pro plus 6 g of silicone at the end of the handle. Swing is effortless now, feels very hl at 330g strung/og/damp with 16g poly.
ryushen21
Legend
If I weren't the feel fetishist that I am and I were in the market for a tweener, the VC100 is what I'd be swinging.
However, in true holic fashion, I'm semi-fiending over the Gravity MP right now. I know, I know... I love my GPros. But the MP is screaming at me that it's the perfect platform frame and it's a 16x20. Add to that, I can get them new for <$200. Maybe just one to try?
Fed Kennedy
Legend
That Banana light is really tempting. How do we feel about the power level there? I think I’ve weirdly gotten used to the thick beams. Somehow they volley better for me??? (Fedace (tm) triple question mark)
That 64 RA Instinct tho…the soft drive…(worst racquet name ever btw) is it just too Walmart? Zero cojones? 64 RA PD sounds like bliss to me. I also have to start building the paypal for project Zebra…
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Those specs are juicy. I look at the beam and the stiffness and start to worry about the power level a little. I’m like this old guy now with no power. I’m sad to say I need that tweener pop to compete.
Richard Pioline
Hall of Fame
But you know that the EZ doesnt have a Box beam.
Plus, NK is a unique player who obliterates the ball with his incredible speed of his arm. Nobody does that like him. But maybe you can copy it. I am looking forward to hearing your experience.
Why not just play the way you play and find a racket that let's you play your game?
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
I’ve seen it in person and the pj alone is worth the price.
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
BTS released a song about this very racquet….And so it begins...
danbrenner
Legend
I know that the yy doesn’t have a box beam. What makes you think I want to use a YY. It’s because I like to find sticks that suit my game that I don’t use a yy.
but on a different note. Have you not noticed what thread you’re in? Lol. If I want d to copy NK I would buy myself an Ezone XI. Put a leather grip on it. Add a few grams to the hoop to get to 345 g, and summon the inner NK. But I don’t.
@FK
Very largely agree with ryushen and Gads here on the VC100. Def worth checking out. I personally found a vagueness in feel and the high launch angle to not quite be my thing. But, in retrospect, I should've stuck it out longer, investigated different strings, etc. But it is easy to play with, very effective from the backcourt (big topspin), whilst being more controlled, solid, and diverse than I imagined... Oh. The PJ is also a beaut!
Given your criteria, I'd also name-check the PS 100 (3rd Gen). Again, it was in the feel area I never quite gelled, but in the (relatively speaking) narrower beam and less overpowered performance, I found it to be a very interesting Bab stick.
And as per mad dog and others, I would be interested myself to hit with the latest EZ 100.
Very largely agree with ryushen and Gads here on the VC100. Def worth checking out. I personally found a vagueness in feel and the high launch angle to not quite be my thing. But, in retrospect, I should've stuck it out longer, investigated different strings, etc. But it is easy to play with, very effective from the backcourt (big topspin), whilst being more controlled, solid, and diverse than I imagined... Oh. The PJ is also a beaut!
Given your criteria, I'd also name-check the PS 100 (3rd Gen). Again, it was in the feel area I never quite gelled, but in the (relatively speaking) narrower beam and less overpowered performance, I found it to be a very interesting Bab stick.
And as per mad dog and others, I would be interested myself to hit with the latest EZ 100.
RF_PRO_STAFF
Professional
Oh sounds like I'm going to be bathing in butter with this one. String spacing looks fantastic I see. 1.20 or 1.25, either will probably work for me. I'll probably go 21kg when full poly. Think I should go full poly first anyway. Then it'll be easier to gauge what tension I would need with a gut/poly setup.
SaaKha
Semi-Pro
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
Good talks about Yonex in the last few posts. Good timing, I am late to the party or did a full circle and fell for the ezone 100 but the 2020 version. I played the 98 for a year and then tried other tweeners. I really enjoy the mix of things the ezone brings. Surprisingly low launch angle for a 100 16x19, great pop, good spin , control and feels good on volleys. Very nice stick.
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JGads
G.O.A.T.
It has almost the perfect amount of pop - it's very naturally aggressive and driving but without overcooking. The one issue myself and some others found was a bit of lagginess compared to past PKs (Doppio) which swung like whips; 330ish sw, I guess here. I tried tailweighting the one I had, and I liked the whole thing very, very much, but in the end the extended version whipped more as they very oddly made the XL version with a lower swingweight and more whippability than the standard length bananas, unlike the prior editions where the XLs swung like tanks. So, for me the XL Banana is the one that remains. But I like XLs and it's not many people's cup of coffee or chosen fruit.
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topspn
Legend
It is a little more open top of the stringbed but it translates to good spin and feel. The racquet doesn't play lively in the sense the ball doesn't just shoot out. It certainly pockets better and has more flex to it, more flex than the ZUS 70 as well. The beam is more svelte, not skinny but less than the PD15 and box beamish. It has a nice classic clean graphite feel to it. I would say the racquet plays with a tempered character. It has easy power but asks you to tap into it and let it know. It is strung with TS @52lbs.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
If you're serious about the Banana Light, PM me. I'm letting mine go. Have you considered the V-Feel V1 Pro? My son has three, and they play like a more controlled and comfortable PD. Feels like you're cheating with a player frame.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I'm with you on the PCTs, and yes, they could be the ones. I'll be getting a third.
Just went through the Yonex 98's.... still standing by VDM being pretty useless.
The new Ezone 98 is great. Low lasers, great flat shots, great for short and long swings. Best of the Yonex lineup currently so far (aside from the last 98+), if only I didn't dread every ball impact.
Vcore 98 had good power, higher launch, good spin, didn't feel like the specs suggested (more head heavy) and was not good on short swings. Good on both flat and spin. Serves good too. Spit the ball out a little too fast for my liking.
Vcore Pro 97..... demo was put away after 10 mins. Did nothing special and despite its RA still hurt to play with.
All 3 were stable stock, but had the absolute worst feel on impact in the top of the hoop.
All 3 played in some way harsh with standard TW demo stringing. My wrist, palm, and forearm are feeling it today after just a few hours of play..
The new Ezone 98 is great. Low lasers, great flat shots, great for short and long swings. Best of the Yonex lineup currently so far (aside from the last 98+), if only I didn't dread every ball impact.
Vcore 98 had good power, higher launch, good spin, didn't feel like the specs suggested (more head heavy) and was not good on short swings. Good on both flat and spin. Serves good too. Spit the ball out a little too fast for my liking.
Vcore Pro 97..... demo was put away after 10 mins. Did nothing special and despite its RA still hurt to play with.
All 3 were stable stock, but had the absolute worst feel on impact in the top of the hoop.
All 3 played in some way harsh with standard TW demo stringing. My wrist, palm, and forearm are feeling it today after just a few hours of play..
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am1899
Legend
Ready for first outing...
Initial setup - 13g of putty in the handle, 4g of lead at 3&9, Wilson pro over grip, and Lux dampener. Total static weight 337g.
Restrung this morning with Hyper G 1.15 @ 42lbs, ATW (if there ever was a more perfect racquet for the Universal ATW pattern, I haven't seen it).
Feels pretty good bouncing some balls against it. <Shrug>
Initial setup - 13g of putty in the handle, 4g of lead at 3&9, Wilson pro over grip, and Lux dampener. Total static weight 337g.
Restrung this morning with Hyper G 1.15 @ 42lbs, ATW (if there ever was a more perfect racquet for the Universal ATW pattern, I haven't seen it).
Feels pretty good bouncing some balls against it. <Shrug>
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
I’d also suggest trying to hunt down the previous gen Vcore 100 as I don’t think it had VDM but was still very comfy.
