MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Noooooooo timbo! Don't give in! I'm probably going to be buying a volkl soon too! 
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Yep, love the string (16g). At least for stiffer sticks. In the Tec 315s, just too soft/mushy and I prefer regular Tour Bite. 16g TBS a very good candidate for the Steam.
Good stick. Back when Donnay offered 30-day demo periods I got both the Platinum 99 as well as the 94. The Platinum 99 was - and still is - the beastliest, most murderous serving frame of all time for me. The thin beam, closed pattern in a bigger head - combo just killed the ball, and precisely. Clearly the standout feature for me.
On everything else, I preferred the 94. Much more maneuverable, precise, controlled. But on serves it wasn't a small step down from the 99, but a big one, in terms of pace. Ultimately sent back the 99 but kept the 94 for awhile and really, really enjoyed it. Especially with the 10g Donnay buttcap. Biggest complaint with the Platinums was the feel - a bit thuddy, rubbery, dull.
Otherwise, I'm still a big fan of the thin-beamed Donnays, makes them so maneuverable, and I'd have held onto the Plat 94 had the feel been a bit nicer. Instead I turned a big-hitting buddy onto the 94 and he absolutely thought it was the greatest thing he ever hit with.
I imagine the 99 is an epic frame in the right hands, and for someone who doesn't mind the particular new Donnay feel.
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
thanks JGads!
Look, at the price I can get 'em as a singles stick and if I don't like them it's no big deal, but I really enjoyed the frame, and yes, the serve!!!!
Great description of the Dual Core feel. I never hit the Platinum, but owned a Silver for a while and felt the same thing. Now, my wife plays the X-White, and that frame has a soft crispness that really appeals. Too bad that feel was lost when they threw the X line overboard. I thought the Silver was a very solid stick, just didn't groove with the feel. But if the feel isn't objectionable, the Dual Core are pretty darn solid for how thin their beams are. I think the engineering fundamental are very sound - the X Duals have twistweights in the Pure Drive category. And the swift sound of swinging a frame with a 15mm tip is pretty unique!
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Fed Kennedy
Legend
I must say it behooves me to relay the news that the 105s has definitely surpassed the 99s for me. It just seems better for that type of hitting. It is not a cannon.
Other news...the HEAD IG radical OS has been sentenced to death for the offense of being inferior in every way to the blx blade team pillow-man (tm)
Now, I feel comfy with the Steamy 105 but you know I like to wander...I was thinking about getting into the blading business, perhaps a 16x19 with a leather grip, and of course I'll have to do the due diligence with the APD 2013 even though Babolat sucks.
Other news...the HEAD IG radical OS has been sentenced to death for the offense of being inferior in every way to the blx blade team pillow-man (tm)
Now, I feel comfy with the Steamy 105 but you know I like to wander...I was thinking about getting into the blading business, perhaps a 16x19 with a leather grip, and of course I'll have to do the due diligence with the APD 2013 even though Babolat sucks.
The Dark Knight
Legend
Ok....thanks
Fed Kennedy
Legend
I would like to hear your guys thoughts on BLADE 16x19 vs APD 2013...
Specifically...is the APD 2013 an upgrade or does Babolat indeed still blow...
Blade 16x19...seems a little bit lost in the mix behind the 18x20 but I am an open pattern guy...I hit it a little felt light and insubstantial but I may have Wilson to thank for that...PED are you still with it? Do you ever think of returning to the TeC 320? I do daily!
Specifically...is the APD 2013 an upgrade or does Babolat indeed still blow...
Blade 16x19...seems a little bit lost in the mix behind the 18x20 but I am an open pattern guy...I hit it a little felt light and insubstantial but I may have Wilson to thank for that...PED are you still with it? Do you ever think of returning to the TeC 320? I do daily!
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Total agreement. Always felt that the Donnay 'Technology,' if you call it that, was a Tech that truly worked. Thin beam always made frame so maneuverable and whippy, yet the hit and frame was solid, no huge wobble or instability. Prior to the Plat, I loved the Dommay Dark Red. Frame could do everything. Slices with these thin beams were utterly stupendous. That darn feel. The Dark Red was too soft. The Plat was too dull/thuddy. I still recommend these to anyone though, if looking for something different. The best tennis player I've ever played, by a mile (former pros and current no. 1 35-and-over in Poland), plays with a Gold 94 and gave me the beating of a lifetime with it.
Long story short, between those two, I'd recommend the Becker Delta Core Pro if you could get your hands on one. Now THAT's an improved APD. The 2013 APD is essentially the same as always.
The Dark Knight
Legend
I think it's probably the platinum and the pro one are probably the best sticks in the line.
The platinum is a great stick. I think they made a 95 version if memory serves correct?
I even liked that one better.....the racquet plays a lot bigger than it's head size .
It is a heavy stick but if you like the Federer sticks or the Sampras pro staff sticks you will love the Platinum .
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
yes! loved the Delta Core Pro. Fantastic stick that does everything well.
one of those racquets that I switched away from for no good reason.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Ross, the demo plan is a no-go. My arm has started hurting quite a bit lately and won't go away. I'm really looking into the exo3 tour 16/18 now.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Mike, when I had a bout with TE a while back, the Becker London strung with multi mains helped me get rid of the pain. Also I can't recommend the flexbar enough for TE (green).
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Thanks! Where can you find this flexbar?
DrewRafter8
Professional
I know that you've been a Volkl guy, so I'll chime in here. I've been with the Plat 99 since December and could not be happier. Funny thing about my racquet history is that I was in love with Volkl back when they had the Quantum series. As much as I loved how those things felt, I like this Donnay more. Kal-El recommended the Plat to me, he said it hits like a pro stock Prestige. I hit with a demo and fell in love. I've gone through about 15 different string combos and they all play pretty well. I've grown fond of thin string in it and Tour Bite 19 has been awesome. I found that it has the pop of the Gold, but with the tighter string pattern I'm able to get excellent placement even when I really dial the racquet head speed up. My Platinums are 340 grams strung. I know that the static weight is up there, but the low swingweight really helps out. It does everything pretty well and I really don't have a single complaint about how it hits. I would add that the 18x20 on this is much more open then a lot of other 18x20 patterns. That really helped me transition since I was much more accustomed to playing with a 16 main racquet. If it matters, I'm a 4.5 (Although I've sucked this spring, if I'm lucky I'll play once every two weeks). Hope this helps!
Fuji
Legend
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Deep in the Amazon jungle is where I got mine!
-Fuji
Lol ok. That's SOOO helpful
haha just kidding man. Where there's a will, there's a way.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Lol ok. That's SOOO helpful
it's called Google.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
it's called Google.
Maybe I should get one of those "that was easy" staples buttons for every time I did something I need on google LOL
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Deep in the Amazon jungle is where I got mine!
-Fuji
Use the force Mike
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
just a tip. save your money because pushing the button doesn't actually do anything.
trust me, i tried it before. :twisted:
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
We have a winner
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
mikeler
Moderator
It helps a lot. Buy a hand gripper as well. Do 3 sets of 15 every day. My flexbar and hand gripper sit in my passengers seat. So it keeps me occupied at red lights.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
It helps a lot. Buy a hand gripper as well. Do 3 sets of 15 every day. My flexbar and hand gripper sit in my passengers seat. So it keeps me occupied at red lights.
Cool. I don't have full blown tennis elbow yet, but I do not want to chance it and this should be the best way I think to prevent it.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
where can i buy some? i googled it and didn't see any store selling it. :twisted:
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
No "that was easy" button pushing for you!
touche! :lol:
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
It is the #1 best thing you can do for TE and also as a preventative after it's healed.
flexbar
softer strings
lower tension
flexible racquet
hit in the sweetspot
dont hit late...especially on 1HBH
ice after playing
warm up the elbow before playing
do all these things and you will get rid of your TE...guaranteed!
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
thank you!
I would love to be able to say 'order placed', but they are out of stock in my grip size!
nevertheless, I will go ahead with them ASAP
and yes, I was looking very hard at the X-10s (mid and 325), but I like the idea of the Donnays and I loved the one I hit with, soo
(plus, at 143 per fame with a free bag, they are crazy cheap right now!)
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Timbo, you might want to ask your friend whose frame you hit to read you the barcode on the throat. The code tells you the weight and balance of that particular frame (can look up the details on other threads) and then you can ask TW to find one with that same code, or close to it. The Donnays are not immune to quality control issues so this can be a very good idea if you so dug that frame, which you obviously did. Good luck. I'll bet you kill with that stick. It could be like your big hitting Volkl but with more control and precision.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
As a former apd user how do you feel the new one stacks up?
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
well, yes, but I have been turned to the dark side by the lure of epic plow through and crushing power..
I play great with the X7s, and I am obvioulsy mad to switch, but the feel of the ball being flattened out and crushed mercilessly isn't quite there, and I have missed it, I think
keeping the 7s for doubles anyway.
but Donnay X-Dual Platinums are on the way!
(timbo is off the wagon)
Thanks JGads, I will do that! TW don't have my grip size in so I have a chance to do that!
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Tim, I am off the heavier swingweight/plowthru thing. Sure it feels nice, but the advantages of never being late and being able to serve all day long and quickness at the net, far outweigh the advantages for me personally. I want to play my best game for 3 sets on a hot summer day and an almost 12 oz racquet with a 330+ swingweight aint the way for me to do it.
jackcrawford
Professional
Jack, I think that's the difference between being a 4 and being a 5 - it does matter at his level. I know 4's like me can play with a heavy frame, and there are (lots) of 5's who go light, but at 4 level, you really aren't giving up anything to go light. At 5, you are, so there is a trade-off. I know I make light of levels if a poster is too full of himself, but for good guys like Timbo I have no problem with recognizing his good play!
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
ok, posted in error
fixing
fixing
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Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
Ye, I hear you Jack.
Other Jack is on the money, though. I played a set with my dad's old Slazenger Silver Phantom yesterday and had a great time, crushing the ball!
I did have to concentrate on my serve as it has a pretty small head (85?) and these ancient synthetic gut strings that impart exactly zero spin, but other than that it was hilarious.
I weighed this thing up and it is 410g strung!! (very HL, like, VERY HL!)
feels like the flex on the thing is about 30 RA, lol
Anyway, the point is I still generate as much RHS as I do with anything else and I just adjust my swing to the frame.
It isn't that I have any massive talent or anything, I have just played my whole life, played College Tennis and coached ever since, so my body is just geared to swinging a tennis racquet..
(this is how I know I have mediocre talent, I had every possible opportunity but was never good enough to go pro)
But 'other Jack' is also correct in pointing out that it's very much a personal preference thing. Best player I know (career winning record vs Hewitt, no less!) plays with an unmodded LM Radical...
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JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I agree. But there are many lower level players on these forums that pretend they are good enough to use what the higher level players use. At my level 3.5_4.0, I rarely "need" anything heavier than 11 oz and the cons outweigh thew pros. But I agree that its more important at 4.5 and above.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
^
You mean because it's so flexed out by now that it feels like that or does the liquidmetal Rad actually feel that soft?
Interesting thing about the MG Rads - the latest batches feel stiffer than the frame did upon initial release. Apparently they actually changed something in the layup (thread about this topic somewhere)... Wouldn't have believed this myself had I not felt it myself from various friends' MG Rads that have felt so different. I wonder if the LM range has the same fate.
Lucky for me, my pro stock MG Rads are more of the rich buttery variety.
In other news, I'm out of the Steam Room. Other sticks just feel too darn good to give the Steam its required playtime, but I'm all for the frame and its ease of use. My favorite tweener.
lightthestorm
Rookie
Sorry, but to anyone who has the Prince 03 White, what is the swingweight? TW has it listed as 322 but my racket has 290...
lightthestorm
Rookie
Thanks! Got it now...
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
no, i meant the old slazenger, I posted half asleep on a laptop that jumps the cursor around all over the place...
PED
Legend
Still with the open Black Blade. It took some time to get used the SW and near even balance but I find I'm very effective with it. It has the power of a tweener and the control of a heavier stick.
The Miller Lite of sticks: tastes great but less filling.
With the Blade I know where every ball is going. With the Bab & its woofer, it feels like every third shot flies who knows where. I'm using it bone stock with full TB in the mid 40's.
I hit with a friend's Yonex 89 the other day - very HL and it swings easily, but the problem was I kept waiting for the cavalry to arrive on each stroke.
I'm used to the Blade, with the Blade the plow comes through every time on contact & hammers the ball. I always wanted to use the 6.1 95 but the 350 static was too much. The blade feels like that but at only 327g strung.
The APD 13 is nice, I was on the test in December. I liked it so much that I bought a PD......and kept it for a week :twisted: APD 13 is solid but not in the same category as the Blade.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Just had a session with the steam 99s (Lux 4G), got 9g at 10,12&2, 8g top of handle, overgrip etc etc, relatively light at 344 but at 4pts hl balance and a swingweight thats up there I trotted to the court thinking will this thing volley, will my slices loop de loop???
Really happy at how super stable this thing is, volleys real well, deft touches a surprise, slices great too, no loopy loops.....Serves excellent, even dead balls had my ace count ticking over. Returns I found I was going for a lot that I would deffo block back mainly due to how big the sweetspot feels and when blocking against some real big serves, it didnt twist at all and gave good penetration back into the opponents court. Groundies....very happy with the controllable power, didnt expect this Nadal like ball bounce, but there was an ease, I usually get that spinny last second drop, it wasnt overly pronounced with this stick but it was easier to generate. Easy to flatten out too, no problems there and easy to swing, not unlike the players frames Ive used.....Main pleases tho were I served great and volleyed great too.
Any downsides, well there was that feeling of having a large, badly dressed girl on my arm, although putting her next to a BB London, they were almost identical in shape, just 3mm fatter basically and whats 3mil between friends eh!
Really happy at how super stable this thing is, volleys real well, deft touches a surprise, slices great too, no loopy loops.....Serves excellent, even dead balls had my ace count ticking over. Returns I found I was going for a lot that I would deffo block back mainly due to how big the sweetspot feels and when blocking against some real big serves, it didnt twist at all and gave good penetration back into the opponents court. Groundies....very happy with the controllable power, didnt expect this Nadal like ball bounce, but there was an ease, I usually get that spinny last second drop, it wasnt overly pronounced with this stick but it was easier to generate. Easy to flatten out too, no problems there and easy to swing, not unlike the players frames Ive used.....Main pleases tho were I served great and volleyed great too.
Any downsides, well there was that feeling of having a large, badly dressed girl on my arm, although putting her next to a BB London, they were almost identical in shape, just 3mm fatter basically and whats 3mil between friends eh!
Fuji
Legend
Figured some of you might like this!
One of my buddies was back home from college for the summer, and I asked him what his rig was...
"I don't know, it's whatever the coach gave me at the beginning of the season."
I look, and sure enough: Stock APD 2013 strung with a black poly, mostly like RPM Blast.
He plays doubles 1 for a top D1 school in the States. He said the only thing he cares about is "if his shoes are comfortable." :razz:
Just some food for thought for all you APD users!
-Fuji
One of my buddies was back home from college for the summer, and I asked him what his rig was...
"I don't know, it's whatever the coach gave me at the beginning of the season."
I look, and sure enough: Stock APD 2013 strung with a black poly, mostly like RPM Blast.
He plays doubles 1 for a top D1 school in the States. He said the only thing he cares about is "if his shoes are comfortable." :razz:
Just some food for thought for all you APD users!
-Fuji
lightthestorm
Rookie
What are some thoughts on the Graphene Instinct MP? Is it really suitable for everyone of all levels? How does it compare with the Rebel 98?
