Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
OK, played 8.5 combo tonight. My partner is a 59-year old 4.0. We played a pair of brothers. One played college tennis at BYU and was a self-rated 4.0. The other was a laid out 5.0 who self-rated 4.5. It didn't look good. The NTRP is so screwed up...but that is another thread.
I, as promised, pulled the RDS002 out of my bag. We began to warm up. I was warming up with the BYU guy. Off the ground, the RDS002 struggled in my hand. I know it's been stated recently that no frame is unstable. I disagree. I played a year with the Vilas a couple or three years ago and had no problem centering the ball. I had no problem centering the ball with the RDS002, but it got pushed around. But, I persevere.
I go to net and take some volleys. The RDS002 is in its element at net. I stuck volleys, anything he hit at me, high, low, perfect height. I had great direction, touch, and stick on them. I took some overheads. No problem there either.
I backed up to the baseline to hit some more. Same problem with stability agsinst this guy. Now it could have been that he hits a heavier ball than my buddy last Saturday, or it could have been that I've been up since 4 AM today, or it could have been that I've hit once in three weeks. In any event, something strange started to happen.
The blue Adidas shirt that I was wearing began to grow a yellow streak up the back. With each forehand and/or backhand I hit, the streak grew longer.
When it came time to take serves, I walked over to my bag, slipped the RDS002 back into it and pulled a bumblebee out. Sorry, guys, I turned chicken. I just didn't feel confident enough in the frame off the ground and I knew returns wouldn't be any better.
The difference between the two frames was beef, plain and simple. The C10 feels like a hunk of timber and against this guy tonight, the RDS002 felt like it was made out of balsa.
I have a very favorable opinion of the frame and am looking forward now to the Tour version. I think this frame would be a great fit for anyone who can't handle 12 ounces but has nice long, grooved strokes.
My next set of demos include the Gamma 325(?), the Yonex RDS002 Tour, the Donnay Pro 1, and a Fischer frame (because it was no more money for 4).
Final thought was that while I really liked the frame and thought at 49 years, 1 month and 1 day I might need a lighter frame, I think I still need some heft in my stick.
I, as promised, pulled the RDS002 out of my bag. We began to warm up. I was warming up with the BYU guy. Off the ground, the RDS002 struggled in my hand. I know it's been stated recently that no frame is unstable. I disagree. I played a year with the Vilas a couple or three years ago and had no problem centering the ball. I had no problem centering the ball with the RDS002, but it got pushed around. But, I persevere.
I go to net and take some volleys. The RDS002 is in its element at net. I stuck volleys, anything he hit at me, high, low, perfect height. I had great direction, touch, and stick on them. I took some overheads. No problem there either.
I backed up to the baseline to hit some more. Same problem with stability agsinst this guy. Now it could have been that he hits a heavier ball than my buddy last Saturday, or it could have been that I've been up since 4 AM today, or it could have been that I've hit once in three weeks. In any event, something strange started to happen.
The blue Adidas shirt that I was wearing began to grow a yellow streak up the back. With each forehand and/or backhand I hit, the streak grew longer.
When it came time to take serves, I walked over to my bag, slipped the RDS002 back into it and pulled a bumblebee out. Sorry, guys, I turned chicken. I just didn't feel confident enough in the frame off the ground and I knew returns wouldn't be any better.
The difference between the two frames was beef, plain and simple. The C10 feels like a hunk of timber and against this guy tonight, the RDS002 felt like it was made out of balsa.
I have a very favorable opinion of the frame and am looking forward now to the Tour version. I think this frame would be a great fit for anyone who can't handle 12 ounces but has nice long, grooved strokes.
My next set of demos include the Gamma 325(?), the Yonex RDS002 Tour, the Donnay Pro 1, and a Fischer frame (because it was no more money for 4).
Final thought was that while I really liked the frame and thought at 49 years, 1 month and 1 day I might need a lighter frame, I think I still need some heft in my stick.