PV Audio's Playtest Thread

fgs

Hall of Fame
not neccessarily - the softer ones surely have a different rebound angle which launches the ball eventually longer, which in turn is percieved as more powerful. i found out that one of the most important aspects is the speed at which the stringbed basically comes back upon impact. some stiff strings will be slow but some of the stiff ones which naturally will have a small deflection will also rebound very fast, thus being pretty powerfull in the sense of energy return - at least this is the way i interpret things and i do not say that the terms used by me are scientifically correct (i'm not a native speaker, so i eventually mess up some of these terms).
 

pvaudio

Legend
I am not challenging the string king or anything, but aren’t all soft polys way more powerful than stiff polys?
No. WC Mosquito Bite is quite soft. Tour Bite is much more powerful. Bab Pro Hurricane is one of the softest on the market. RPM, ALU, Pro Red Code, Big Hitter Silver, Genesis Hexonic, all with more power and stiffness.
 

pvaudio

Legend
I only need 3cr to graduate, but I cannot take any undergrad credits from any school other than ECE. Even if I did, it wouldn't count towards anything.
 

alidisperanza

Hall of Fame
not neccessarily - the softer ones surely have a different rebound angle which launches the ball eventually longer, which in turn is percieved as more powerful. i found out that one of the most important aspects is the speed at which the stringbed basically comes back upon impact. some stiff strings will be slow but some of the stiff ones which naturally will have a small deflection will also rebound very fast, thus being pretty powerfull in the sense of energy return - at least this is the way i interpret things and i do not say that the terms used by me are scientifically correct (i'm not a native speaker, so i eventually mess up some of these terms).

I think FGS is on the money with this. Ultimately, it comes down to your rhs. Stiffer strings, if deflected more will have a higher energy return but more acute launch angle. Softer strings, on the other hand, pocket more but have higher launch. Both can be perceived as power.

I've gone from playing a Prestige Mid with Kevlar/AluRough at 58lbs to playing with the 95D at 48lbs with Black 7. Is it powerful? Yes, comparatively, but I'd venture to say that I have more control with the 95D than I did with the Prestige Mid. Before you throw your hands up in the air and label me a heretic, let me qualify. Playing with a mid-range stiffness, lower tension poly allowed me to slow down my swing speed and work on HOW I was hitting the ball instead of how HARD. I no longer rely on bumping up the tension to provide me control.

Oh, and for the record, I hit with an APD strung with Lux Rough/Addiction in the high 50's the other day and was just as capable of putting the ball on court.
 

Muppet

Legend
I think FGS is on the money with this. Ultimately, it comes down to your rhs. Stiffer strings, if deflected more will have a higher energy return but more acute launch angle. Softer strings, on the other hand, pocket more but have higher launch. Both can be perceived as power.

I've gone from playing a Prestige Mid with Kevlar/AluRough at 58lbs to playing with the 95D at 48lbs with Black 7. Is it powerful? Yes, comparatively, but I'd venture to say that I have more control with the 95D than I did with the Prestige Mid. Before you throw your hands up in the air and label me a heretic, let me qualify. Playing with a mid-range stiffness, lower tension poly allowed me to slow down my swing speed and work on HOW I was hitting the ball instead of how HARD. I no longer rely on bumping up the tension to provide me control.

Oh, and for the record, I hit with an APD strung with Lux Rough/Addiction in the high 50's the other day and was just as capable of putting the ball on court.

The playtesters Chris and Granville used Kirschbaum P2 to tame that racquet. See the video review of the 95D.
 

mikeler

Moderator
I only need 3cr to graduate, but I cannot take any undergrad credits from any school other than ECE. Even if I did, it wouldn't count towards anything.

Time to crash out of school and find a job. Don't worry about those last 3 credits...
 

Muppet

Legend
PV, you were absolutely right about the 5 lb. string differential. My MuscleWeave 95 @47 Cyberflash/52 Hexy Fiber has sick feel and good comfort too. What a setup! I would have never thought to go that high on the cross string without reading your thread. Thanks a lot and happy holidays.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Can you post a picture of you silent partner. I have mostly hear bad things

about these stringing machine. Are they decent and reliable with no problems

Thanks
Silent Partner??? I haven't heard a single negative thing about any of their machines.

This is not mine, but it is the exact model. Upgraded clamp bases as well.
sp_aria_061223-02.jpg


sp_aria_061223-18.jpg


sp_aria_061223-05.jpg


http://www.photostringer.com/silent_partner_aria_01.htm
I've owned mine for 3 years now and the amount of money I've spent on it is 90...cents, for two replacement locknuts for the clamp bases. That was just in this october and was purely preventative.

Read this:
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2004/07/silent_partner_aria.html
 
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pvaudio

Legend
Why do you ask about the machine, out of curiosity? If you have found a good deal on an Aria or Opus, I would not even hesitate to take it. Yes, they don't make them any more, but they still fully stand behind them.
 

Tennusdude

Semi-Pro
Why do you ask about the machine, out of curiosity? If you have found a good deal on an Aria or Opus, I would not even hesitate to take it. Yes, they don't make them any more, but they still fully stand behind them.

I bought one in 1997 and it was poor quality. I am in the market for a machine and it seemed like this could be decent. How much does will a used one go for
I had a Babolat Star 5 but did not like it.

What about Pro Pro P100, only 1400
 

pvaudio

Legend
Well...in 1997 I would have been in 2nd grade so I can't really help you there. If you have the chance to get one, just go for the Opus. Linear gripper, more ergonomic. It's their flagship model and while I don't know where you might find one, they're rock solid. I love my Aria though and wouldn't trade it for anything. All the features I need and want, none I don't use.
 

Stringers

Rookie
Jumping in, I agree with pvaudio. Have a SP Opus in our shop and its tremendous. Have strung probably 1000+ frames with it the past couple years with it.

Always routinely check to calibrate and it's always dead on. Love the clamps, turn table, gripper.

Only problem is the locking table has started to stick a little bit, but is a minor problem and is easily fixed.
 

Boricua

Hall of Fame
How many playing hours do you usually get in full poly jobs from Weiss Cannon strings? Also, if you dont use a racket for 3-4 days does the racket loose much tension that would affect those limited playing hours that you get?
 

pvaudio

Legend
Usually about like 7-8 hours. And no, using the ping test, the tension of the dead stick was j ust slightly less than that of the 3-day from stringing stick. On racquettune it pinged out only half a lb lower than an hour after strung.
 

Boricua

Hall of Fame
Have you tried Kirshbaum Pro Line X? Many TW playtesters like it and its pretty cheap. One set for 8 dollars and 3 or more for $5.33. Its described as a soft copoly.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Indeed I have not. The only Kirschbaum strings I own/carry are PL2 18 and Spiky Shark 1.25. One customer in particular keeps raving about his PL2/Thunderblast hybrid having forever been consigned to synthetics due to TE. Apparently it gives good pop and spin.
 

Boricua

Hall of Fame
Indeed I have not. The only Kirschbaum strings I own/carry are PL2 18 and Spiky Shark 1.25. One customer in particular keeps raving about his PL2/Thunderblast hybrid having forever been consigned to synthetics due to TE. Apparently it gives good pop and spin.

Pro Line X should be softer and a bit more powerful than PL2 according to TW.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Indeed I have not. The only Kirschbaum strings I own/carry are PL2 18 and Spiky Shark 1.25. One customer in particular keeps raving about his PL2/Thunderblast hybrid having forever been consigned to synthetics due to TE. Apparently it gives good pop and spin.

Another user hooked into Thunderblast crosses.
 
Hi PV, I am trying to find your post about the iontec black 1.25 but I can't find it. Do you consider this string is a control string? Does it have a better control than Scorpion in full bed?

Thanks Sir!
 

souledge

Semi-Pro
Hi PV.........

In anticipation of the new Wilson 99S and 105S, which poly string would you recommend @ 30 lbs in a full bed for a baseline counterpuncher who loves playing with heavy top spin on that racquet?

Or would you recommend a guy / poly hybrid?
 

alidisperanza

Hall of Fame
Hi PV.........

In anticipation of the new Wilson 99S and 105S, which poly string would you recommend @ 30 lbs in a full bed for a baseline counterpuncher who loves playing with heavy top spin on that racquet?

Or would you recommend a guy / poly hybrid?

Sweet Jesus. Gut/poly would be a rocket launcher in that open pattern. And a waste of gut imo
 

alidisperanza

Hall of Fame
Agreed. You can't expect to keep the ball in the court if you're using gut in a frame like that.

It actually occurred to me last night that gut strung that low loses a lot of its inherent power so it might be ok. None the less, the open pattern S lines are designed to be poly frames. Having such a low tension in such an open frame might not be so conducive to the purpose of the frame (read: sloppy string bed). Just my .02, PV would know better though, he's been playing low tensions longer than I have.
 

pvaudio

Legend
I'm not the one to ask for tension that low haha. That'd best be answered in the low tension thread. The lowest I've gone to actually play with is 44 or 45. Did a high 30s once and it just felt pathetic. Considering I used to use Silverstring at 60lbs, my curren 47 is low tension :D
 

pvaudio

Legend
In full beds, I prefer Scorpion, Tornado, Iontec, Baseline Spin and Bab PH18. Since I tend not to play a lot of full poly beds, I can't really advise you beyond that.
 

souledge

Semi-Pro
Alright then......I'll rephrase

What poly @ what tension do you recommend for baseline counterpuncher who loves playing with heavy top spin on the new S racquets?
 

Doubles

Legend
Alright then......I'll rephrase

What poly @ what tension do you recommend for baseline counterpuncher who loves playing with heavy top spin on the new S racquets?

A full bed of something low powered. Iontech, 4G, Tour Bite, any one of those at a lower tension would play nicely.
 

pvaudio

Legend
I now have my third and final PPro. This means I can always have frames ready to go with my go-to and still playtest something if I wish. The next string to be playtested: Luxilon ALU Power.
 

alidisperanza

Hall of Fame
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NLBwell

Legend
PV,
I see you've hit with Alien strings before, though you haven't written up a playtest. Any quick thoughts on how they compare to other polys?
Also, it would be interesting to have a gut/Alien playtest. I could see it being a great setup or a poor setup.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Alien in my opinion is a fantastic poly. However, I have been told that the company is not exactly well managed. Far, far better than laserfibre, but then again, things that are more reliable than laserfibre include '70s Italian cars. It has a very unique feel that reminds me a lot of full B5E, but more crisp instead of plush.
 

NLBwell

Legend
I know of 70's Italian cars. Fortunately, I didn't have one, but a couple of my friends did.

Thanks for the info. Still curious about hybrid w/ gut.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Well, since apparently we're going to get a blizzard tomorrow, I won't get to try out any ALU. Silly weather, blizzards are for kids.
 
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