KPS 88 or PS Tour 90?

schmke · Jul 9, 2011

I played Wilson's mid-plus racquets for years, started with a Sting then went to an original ProStaff 85 and then a ProStaff 6.0 85.

When I started playing more a few years ago I picked up a K-Factor 6.1 95 as it was a bit more forgiving with the larger headsize and that worked well as I got back into the game. But I picked up my PS 6.0 85 a few weeks ago and remembered how I loved it before and have switched back to it now.

But I can't help but think that having a few extra square inches and newer technology wouldn't hurt. I've played with a BLX 90 and frankly it is too muted and "soft" feeling and a K Factor Tour 90 is nice, but from the TW reviews it seems some like the KPS 88 or ProStaff Tour 90 better, and the paint job on the K Factors isn't to my liking either if I have a choice.

So what are folks thoughts on which would be better for a serve and volleyer that loves a PS 85 and the control, feel, and preciseness it provides? A KPS 88 or PS Tour 90? Or should I just stick with the PS 85 and find a used one or pick up a new one from TW as one can never replace the original?

Thanks!

Cup8489 · Jul 9, 2011

Between the two of them, the Tour 90 is closer to the 6.0 in specs, the KPS88 is a bit of a powerhouse.

but, if you play well with the 6.0, why not just stick with it?

roundiesee · Jul 9, 2011

Yes, agreed. Just stick to the PS 85 if you play well with it; ironically, it is the "best" Prostaff on the market at the moment IMHO. Good luck!

Fuji · Jul 9, 2011

If I were you, I'd just pick up more PS85! I own a few KPS88 just for collecting, but it just killed my elbow. It is SO stiff I found!

-Fuji

ATP100 · Jul 9, 2011

Fuji said:
If I were you, I'd just pick up more PS85! I own a few KPS88 just for collecting, but it just killed my elbow. It is SO stiff I found!

-Fuji

You are misinformed about what causes tennis elbow.

schmke · Jul 9, 2011

Thanks for the responses.

I was thinking I wanted to get a slight bit more forgiveness when stretched out with a 90 sq in head but don't want to lose the feel and crispness of the PS 85.

I guess I'm really looking to see if there is something better than the PS 85 but reading the other recent threads, it appears for many, nothing is better.

Doubles · Jul 9, 2011

ATP100 said:
You are misinformed about what causes tennis elbow.

A stiff racket can cause tennis elbow regardless of ones technique. A stiff racket, with stiff strings can cause tennis elbow just as easily as poor technique can...

ATP100 · Jul 9, 2011

http://racquetresearch.com/

BreakPoint · Jul 9, 2011

ATP100 said:
http://racquetresearch.com/

From the link you posted:

"What you DON'T want if you are concerned about the risk of tennis elbow is a stiff, high-Torque, high-Moment, high-Shock racquet."

Looks like you're the one that was "mis-informed".

Meaghan · Jul 10, 2011

I found the pst90 and the 88 to be rather comfortable on the arm. With having a soft hoop unlike their K cousin......

The 88 i found to be very powerful and served better imo not that the pst was bad. You can obviously handle the weight and if the balance suits then i would go for the 88. I've got one on the way again. I will add some weight top of grip to bring the balance up to about 8 pts then it will be ready to go. Best s&v racket I've used.

The pst90 does have the best cosmetic ever tho......

ATP100 · Jul 10, 2011

BreakPoint said:
From the link you posted:

"What you DON'T want if you are concerned about the risk of tennis elbow is a stiff, high-Torque, high-Moment, high-Shock racquet."

Looks like you're the one that was "mis-informed".

The least you could do is quote the whole paragraph.

What you don't want if you are concerned about the risk of tennis elbow is a stiff, high-Torque, high-Moment, high-Shock racquet. That means a light, head-heavy racquet.

roundiesee · Jul 10, 2011

Fuji said:
If I were you, I'd just pick up more PS85! I own a few KPS88 just for collecting, but it just killed my elbow. It is SO stiff I found!

-Fuji

Fuji, I was also like you some months ago, the KPS 88 I had was "sleeping" in my cabinet for a long time because I had arm pain using it. Then one day I decided to use a soft string at low tension (decided to use a cheap synthetic "Toa" that was lying around, strung at 48lbs) and voila! the arm pain dissappeared. I think for poeple like us with sensitive elbows, the KPS needs a very soft string so that playing with it becomes a joy and not a torture!

Please give the KPS another crack!

hoangbao249 · Jul 10, 2011

ATP100 said:
The least you could do is quote the whole paragraph.

What you don't want if you are concerned about the risk of tennis elbow is a stiff, high-Torque, high-Moment, high-Shock racquet. That means a light, head-heavy racquet.

= tennis elbows may cause by a stiff racquet?!

BreakPoint · Jul 10, 2011

ATP100 said:
The least you could do is quote the whole paragraph.

What you don't want if you are concerned about the risk of tennis elbow is a stiff, high-Torque, high-Moment, high-Shock racquet. That means a light, head-heavy racquet.

What part of the word "stiff" did you miss in that sentence? And I do not see the word "light" in that sentence. (Although I agree that light racquets are not good for the elbow).

Oh, and I posted the complete sentence just like you did.

gplracer · Jul 10, 2011

The ONLY time in my life that I have had tennis elbow(actually golfers elbow it was on the inside) was when I played with a Babolat Pure Drive. I switched back to my wilson 6.1 and it went away. I am not saying it was the racket but the racket is stiff and lighter. Possibly I swung different when using it.

zcarzach · Jul 10, 2011

gplracer said:
The ONLY time in my life that I have had tennis elbow(actually golfers elbow it was on the inside) was when I played with a Babolat Pure Drive. I switched back to my wilson 6.1 and it went away. I am not saying it was the racket but the racket is stiff and lighter. Possibly I swung different when using it.

I had a similar experience with a Babolat Aero Pro Drive, like 5 years ago. I demoed one from TW, hit with it for about an hour, and could barely move my arm the next day. Like you, it could have been that I was swinging differently, but I believe it was the fact that I had used a light, stiff tweener instead of a heavy Pro Staff.

Like most things, your results may vary.

ATP100 · Jul 10, 2011

BreakPoint- after reading your last 30-40 posts on this forum, I now understand why you posted these responses. Please seek help.

BreakPoint · Jul 10, 2011

ATP100 said:
BreakPoint- after reading your last 30-40 posts on this forum, I now understand why you posted these responses. Please seek help.

Since everyone here agrees with me and disagrees with you, I'd say you're probably the one who needs help.

Keifers · Jul 10, 2011

schmke said:
Thanks for the responses.

I was thinking I wanted to get a slight bit more forgiveness when stretched out with a 90 sq in head but don't want to lose the feel and crispness of the PS 85.

I guess I'm really looking to see if there is something better than the PS 85 but reading the other recent threads, it appears for many, nothing is better.

The way I see it, there is nothing wrong with your thinking. As wonderful as the PS 85 is, an additional 5 sq. inches would make it even better. Unfortunately, neither the PS Tour 90 nor the KPS 88 have the PS 85's easy maneuverability and precision -- both are substantially more cumbersome to wield.

That's why many of us have been asking for a PS 6.0 90 for several years. But Wilson hasn't come to the party. If they did, it would be an instant classic.

gplracer · Jul 11, 2011

Have you tried the ps 95 6.0?

pudelko · Jul 11, 2011

gplracer said:
Have you tried the ps 95 6.0?

The PS 6.0 95 is completely different from the 85. Its 20mm thick to start. I have both and to me the 95 doesnt compare at all to the 85.

safinator · Jul 16, 2011

gplracer said:
The ONLY time in my life that I have had tennis elbow(actually golfers elbow it was on the inside) was when I played with a Babolat Pure Drive. I switched back to my wilson 6.1 and it went away. I am not saying it was the racket but the racket is stiff and lighter. Possibly I swung different when using it.

Funny enough,the same thing happened to me - the only time I suffered from tennis elbow was when I used the Pure Drive. Before I used the i.Speed MP, LM Instinct....and everything was just fine. Then with a contract to Babolat I switched to Pure Drive, for it seemed to me like a nive universal and easy to use wep....I did wrong!! The I passed to the PSLtd, started to use an elbow brace and everything is fine....

safinator · Jul 16, 2011

BreakPoint said:
Since everyone here agrees with me and disagrees with you, I'd say you're probably the one who needs help.

You are right. Tennis elbow can and many times is caused by an excesively stiff racquet. It is a pity some people try to seem smart and cool by finding a wrong reason to someone's problem.
Or how could the Mr. Disagreement (ATP100) explain that I had tennis elbow with PureDrive, and then it "magically" disappeared with the PSLtd and PS85??

KPS 88 or PS Tour 90?

Legend

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Legend

Professional

Legend

Legend

Professional

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

Professional

Hall of Fame

New User

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

Semi-Pro

Professional

Bionic Poster

Legend

Hall of Fame

Rookie

Rookie

Rookie

Similar threads