Dgdavid
Professional
you mean rotate wrist into it still locked back as opposed to flipping the wrist forward on the hinge?
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
you mean rotate wrist into it still locked back as opposed to flipping the wrist forward on the hinge?
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
i dont think anyone should get on anyone's back about changing racket often, if you want to improve as a tennis player you pick one racket and stick with it, string tension weight etc, of course small adjustments in tension may be needed but as far as improving goes you have to work hard on and off the court and use the same rackets which gets boring pretty quick.
although the majority of people find more enjoyment in experimenting with new rackets/strings then let them be, after all it's just about enjoying playing tennis!
I don't disagree with any of that.
But like I said earlier...there are people that want to keep changing for fun and variety and then there are people that keep changing because they are searching for something that they think will help them play better and that they can stick with.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Only way to go is silicone. The issue with the new APD is the SW is so low that you have to probably add a lot of lead if you want the magic of the older models.
I'd buy an older model and silicone the handle about 5-8 grams, then maybe add 2 grams of lead at the tip to counterbalance a hair.
Should result in a stick that weighs around 335 and swing weight is the same. Balance will be a little kinder at that weight. Probably 6 pts HL instead of 4.
I was thinking of doing this a while back, but ..Yoko.
kind of hard to explain it's like you swing then swing again with your wrist, it's pretty clear in the videos, there one of novak where a line is drawn along his swing path
true, i think if someone is constantly switching to try and improve then that's when you run into some problems, and if your switching strings/weight at the same time then.... yeah... dont do that
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Thats not where the pace comes from. The less I think about my wrist, the far healthier my wrist became. I had issues with that over time and it was one reason I got into Holicing - to try and find a stick that would not bug me while i recovered.
The last thing I would think about is this wrist. The first would be footwork, prep and balance. Then timing - are you hitting out in front? Then - are you hitting with the proper swing path for your style of play? The most power and action I get is from dropping the racquet and swinging low to high. The finish and wrist action is a result of all the above.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Mcnota...
Are you referring to the "laid back" wrist position?...how it stays locked back during prep and forward swing and then comes thru right after contact.
I agree with the above though...you don't want to actively do anything with your wrist. It should happen naturally.
Are you referring to the "laid back" wrist position?...how it stays locked back during prep and forward swing and then comes thru right after contact.
I agree with the above though...you don't want to actively do anything with your wrist. It should happen naturally.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I should add that literally the last thing you should think about when building your strokes is your arm. And that goes for serve as well. Most people focus on that first, and that is why you see so many vids of people with horrible contact points and footwork who are using windshield wiper strokes and mimicing Fed while hitting the ball with no pace.
No one is specifically 'looking out for him', its just that you're too brick headed to see how condescending some of your comments are, despite many, many different people pointing this out to you.
As for 'wiggle room', again you're brick headed to realise that he's cut you a HUGE amount of slack. If you had made the same comments to me, I would have ripped you a new one.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Thanks. That helps everything immensely. Great advice from someone who's in an altercation on these forums with different people every other day and who's also no stranger to "condescending" talk.
The comments WEREN'T made to you, so go find someone else to "rip a new one". I already admitted my comments don't always come across the way they were intended, so who's being brick headed now?
What else would you like to repeat that's already been said?
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BC1
Professional
Not sure if anyone is interested in getting this thread back on track, but in response to one of the last posts made before all of the madness...
Ross, I have found the Ezone XI to be one of my favorite racquets - to me, it is definitely a "better" PD, APD, Warrior, etc. Has more control then the others, has a great SOLID feel, and is surprisingly comfortable. Fortunately the one I got seems to be slightly heavier which I think helps all the way around. It weighs 11.5 with overgrip and dampner, and is approx 4-5 pts HL. SW feels to be around 318. With those specs it is an amazing racquet. The head shape takes a minute to get use to, and it appears to be a little bulky visually, but it doesn't play that way at all. Swings very fast and is very maneuverable.
Mine is strung with Yonex poly tour pro 125 yellow, and I highly recommend those strings in this racquet.
Ross, I have found the Ezone XI to be one of my favorite racquets - to me, it is definitely a "better" PD, APD, Warrior, etc. Has more control then the others, has a great SOLID feel, and is surprisingly comfortable. Fortunately the one I got seems to be slightly heavier which I think helps all the way around. It weighs 11.5 with overgrip and dampner, and is approx 4-5 pts HL. SW feels to be around 318. With those specs it is an amazing racquet. The head shape takes a minute to get use to, and it appears to be a little bulky visually, but it doesn't play that way at all. Swings very fast and is very maneuverable.
Mine is strung with Yonex poly tour pro 125 yellow, and I highly recommend those strings in this racquet.
You're welcome. I find being blunt and to the point helps when it comes to brick headed, 'slow on the uptake' types.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I'll try and remember that next time I discuss something with you. Thanks for the tip!
Ash_Smith
Legend
Ummm, obviously you've never done any kind of Inclusion/Discrimination training! The fact that somebody took offence to what you said could be enough for it to go to court, for example making comments of a potentially racial nature, which to you are nothing could be construed by others to be discriminatory or insulting. I know you're comments were not of this nature, but the principal stands - how people take your words is more important than the intent with which they were delivered.
So, whilst you can't control they way people take your comments, you can think ahead and figure out if your intent matches a) your communication and b) your intended recipient
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MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Back to racket affairs...Ross, have you tried the Blade 16m or the new APD? I'm really liking both of them right now.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
That's an excellent point, but also sometimes a very difficult one to master...especially for myself. Always considering your readers viewpoint before finalizing your thoughts on paper (screen) which often come out too haphazardly without enough forethought and consideration. The mouth (keyboard) is always ahead of the brain and what further complicates this process is that "tone" cannot be heard through the written word, so the intended nature of a comment can even more easily be misconstrued or misinterpreted. I need to start using the "preview" button more often for starters and stop assuming the reader knows the intent or good nature of my post.
Thanks for trying to help, instead of just hurling insults like some others. Shows a lot of class. It's easy to "pile on", when someone's already down and others are nodding in approval.
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MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
This is really no different than when you text instead of talking on the phone. We're all going to be just fine
lets not get all carried away with this single misunderstood/miswritten message and move on. We all enjoy this forum too much for this to happen. I, for one, enjoy all of jack's posts and ideas as well as his advice for me. I also agree that you come across as thick, but I know you mean well.
Torres, I agree with you slightly but you seem to have went a touch too far.
I'm not a judge, and I'm not pretending to be one.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
What's the swing weight on that guy? 330 is perfect for me. I tried the speed pro and loved it. It's a contender for my new stick!
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
It's nowhere near 330 Mike. More like 310.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
That's a no-go for me then. I know what I like in a racket now. Blend of power and control, good spin potential, sw 330, balance doesn't matter, static in mid 11oz range. Stiffness and comfort don't matter to me as long as the racket has minimal vibration. It's nice knowing what you like!
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Balance matters a lot. You may want to revisit that stance.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Well here's the thing: I play really well with both the speed pro and the blade 98. Blade is 2pts hl and speed is much more hl than that. I'm not really sure what to make of it.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Whats really well mean? Pain free, winning the same amount of matches with both?
PED
Legend
Blade is a great stick and I honeymooned it from Feb thru late June. I thought I might be with it for awhile. But one thing you may want to consider is that it can be a bit unforgiving when you're playing up. Against flatter hitters who take it early, the Blade made me a bit late. Great stick overall but the SW can be a bit much at times. Ross had similar issues with it as well.
One other small point is that there seems to be hot spots on the stringbed on the open version and the accuracy can go away at times. I did love the bigger SW on the 2hbh side, you can really crank it.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
For me, it's the level of confidence it gives me and the amount of consistency it provides me in a match. Which translates to wins
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Use both racquets for 2-3 months and you will develop a preference for what balance you like. Don't try other sticks for a bit if possible. Just GOAT those.
Bi-Holicing is a tradition started here by Gads. He took up to tri-holicing once he got different versions of TGKs, but he is a 4.5 and that's an advanced move that I would not recommend.
Dgdavid
Professional
that was actually jackb1esque. chuckling away here in leafy Surrey!
RHs
Okay, due to the annoying fact that the place where I get my frames strung hadn't done today's order on time (I had earmarked this afternoon to hit with the IG Speed MP 315, version before present one), today wasn't quite as planned (note to self: buy a stringer!)...
So, the long and short of it is my TF with the Gads/Yonex set up was a bit too much (I'll probably half the lead amounts I had spread out over the hoop in future), though it did indeed hit a heavier ball. Therefore, what I actually ending up playing for the most time was the Graphene Speed MP (present version). Having had a good few hours playing someone who always tests me, and with no frame distractions once the TF was sidelined, this proved a good opportunity to get an even better idea of this frame and my suitability to it.
Key things then...
Well, it slightly doesn't conform to whatever slightly misguided idea I had of it prior to getting it - this frame actually reminds me of my old APD/O. The height/trajectory is high. The ball is consistently heavier than, say, the 99s, in as much as it consistently kicks up deep to the baseline and doesn't cough up short so much (i.e. it's not leaving sitters that can then be pounced on.) With full TB @ 48s it plays nice and crisp (good match up), with big power and big booming carving spin. In short, like the APD/O, I found the racket mainly does one thing - and does it pretty well indeed - baseline bashing. To further stretch the APD/O analogy, I also found it not quite so easy to put the ball away, hit dead flat. My fav groundstoke aspects would be bh, fh (and x-court fh certainly).
Re feel and balance/weighting etc... As I said it's crisp, or crisp/stiff. The frame needs modding for my tastes re feel, though I'd be reluctant to do much (lead @ 12 is the mod that springs to mind.) The balance feels a bit off and it seems a tad unwieldily or off-kilter (hard to explain but it doesn't swing as smooth and sweet and compact as the TF), but I'm not expert enough to quite identify 100% quite how/where. I don't think it's as solid as the previous version, nor indeed as lots of Head MPs I've played previously. To me the frame just doesn't quite convince re quality build. It's not necessarily tinny or toylike, just not the plusher stable ride of past Head MPs.
Re more all court aspects, well, I don't do a whole lot of that :wink: , but FWIW lobbing appeared very nice and you could get some decent bite on the ball. Basically, I got the general impression it performs perfectly competently coming in, overheads, etc.
EDIT: Forgot to mention serves... er, work in progress. : )
The thing is this kind of frame suits my style, or certainly it did... the APD, J100, 99s, etc - these are all frames that I know I can play pretty decently with... just a qsn of do you stay in this zone, or stretch out a bit, or look for something slightly different?
Anyway, it's staying in the bag and I'll doubtless look at it again soon... longer older Speed 315 needs to be put through its paces though (that's the Speed that really grabbed my attentions last week), and the mods experiments with the TF are ongoing...
Okay, due to the annoying fact that the place where I get my frames strung hadn't done today's order on time (I had earmarked this afternoon to hit with the IG Speed MP 315, version before present one), today wasn't quite as planned (note to self: buy a stringer!
)...So, the long and short of it is my TF with the Gads/Yonex set up was a bit too much (I'll probably half the lead amounts I had spread out over the hoop in future), though it did indeed hit a heavier ball. Therefore, what I actually ending up playing for the most time was the Graphene Speed MP (present version). Having had a good few hours playing someone who always tests me, and with no frame distractions once the TF was sidelined, this proved a good opportunity to get an even better idea of this frame and my suitability to it.
Key things then...
Well, it slightly doesn't conform to whatever slightly misguided idea I had of it prior to getting it - this frame actually reminds me of my old APD/O. The height/trajectory is high. The ball is consistently heavier than, say, the 99s, in as much as it consistently kicks up deep to the baseline and doesn't cough up short so much (i.e. it's not leaving sitters that can then be pounced on.) With full TB @ 48s it plays nice and crisp (good match up), with big power and big booming carving spin. In short, like the APD/O, I found the racket mainly does one thing - and does it pretty well indeed - baseline bashing. To further stretch the APD/O analogy, I also found it not quite so easy to put the ball away, hit dead flat. My fav groundstoke aspects would be bh, fh (and x-court fh certainly).
Re feel and balance/weighting etc... As I said it's crisp, or crisp/stiff. The frame needs modding for my tastes re feel, though I'd be reluctant to do much (lead @ 12 is the mod that springs to mind.) The balance feels a bit off and it seems a tad unwieldily or off-kilter (hard to explain but it doesn't swing as smooth and sweet and compact as the TF), but I'm not expert enough to quite identify 100% quite how/where. I don't think it's as solid as the previous version, nor indeed as lots of Head MPs I've played previously. To me the frame just doesn't quite convince re quality build. It's not necessarily tinny or toylike, just not the plusher stable ride of past Head MPs.
Re more all court aspects, well, I don't do a whole lot of that :wink: , but FWIW lobbing appeared very nice and you could get some decent bite on the ball. Basically, I got the general impression it performs perfectly competently coming in, overheads, etc.
EDIT: Forgot to mention serves... er, work in progress. : )
The thing is this kind of frame suits my style, or certainly it did... the APD, J100, 99s, etc - these are all frames that I know I can play pretty decently with... just a qsn of do you stay in this zone, or stretch out a bit, or look for something slightly different?
Anyway, it's staying in the bag and I'll doubtless look at it again soon... longer older Speed 315 needs to be put through its paces though (that's the Speed that really grabbed my attentions last week), and the mods experiments with the TF are ongoing...
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JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I actually saw that too, but I don't think it was on purpose. If so, then it was brilliant.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Okay, due to the annoying fact that the place where I get my frames strung hadn't done today's order on time (I had earmarked this afternoon to hit with the IG Speed MP 315, version before present one), today wasn't quite as planned (note to self: buy a stringer!
yes, do buy a stringer! i won't say i love stringing racquets, but at least when i don't have any racquets with fresh strings, the only person i can blame is myself! so i blame myself alot. :mrgreen:
i will say that part of the reason why i don't like stringing is because when it comes to my racquets, rather than string up 1 and rotate it in the bag, i always string up 3-4 at a time and then play the crap out of all these sticks until they all need restringing before i do it all over again. if i spaced them out and strung 1 stick a week, i'm sure it wouldn't feel like such a chore.
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Fuji
Legend
So lads, in light of recent events going around here...
I have officially left the Steam Room.
I played stupidly well, and ultra consistent with the 99S, but my arm couldn't take it in the end. Full poly is just a little too much for my recovering shoulder and GE to handle, even in the super open pattern. Absolutely loved the feel and everything about it, I just need less stiffness in my playing set up.
Also, picked up some pretty beat up BLX Blade Tours from one of my schools singles players! He moved on to the 2013 Black Blades. Time for some true holicing to commence!
-Fuji
I have officially left the Steam Room.
I played stupidly well, and ultra consistent with the 99S, but my arm couldn't take it in the end. Full poly is just a little too much for my recovering shoulder and GE to handle, even in the super open pattern. Absolutely loved the feel and everything about it, I just need less stiffness in my playing set up.
Also, picked up some pretty beat up BLX Blade Tours from one of my schools singles players! He moved on to the 2013 Black Blades. Time for some true holicing to commence!
-Fuji
Here's an interesting quandary for you, Ross. Your favourite string seems to be TB, so you probably largely use it at the same tension when you try out a new bat. On the surface, this seems very sensible - if you keep the string constant, then in theory you're in the best position to compare the racquets.
But... I've messed around with strings far more than I have racquets (in fact, I've only played with three different racquets in the past five years. I have no business in this thread, but find it a nice read. When you're not fighting, anyway... ;-)). Different strings and tensions definitely lend themselves to different racquets. I've been trying to work out some rules of thumb based on my on experiences and feedback from people I string for, and whist there's no magic formula, I do see some trends. They're not really surprising:
- the more open the string pattern, the higher the tension. It is best if you actually look at the string bed in determining how open it is: an 18 x 20 can actually be more open than a 16 x 19, depending on the head size and distribution of strings.
- stiffer racquets suit softer strings, and vice versa. The first part seems obvious, the second is one of my slightly shakier 'rules', but feedback seems to trend towards it given a healthy arm.
- power level of string and racquet combine.
So... when you say that the APD, 99s etc suit your game, it may be that you've hit on something. But on the other hand, it may be that you've hit on the frame and string combination, and that when you try a racquet with different properties you need a different string setup to unleash the potential.
BC1
Professional
I have the new instinct as well, at times I like and at times I don't. Ezone feels more solid and stable. Both good racquets. In comparison to the 99s, I can see the similarities, but 99s sw is higher and for my game the 99s has less control. I don't hit with enough topspin to play consistent with 99s.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Haha, perfect. I used to be a devout bi-holic, with a PK 7G and Black Ace Mid handling all duties at one point... Moved on from PK (nothing but respect for that company and those sticks though) and have now taken tri-holicing to an art form.
The last four, five months, I have had three staples in the bag: 2 TGK Rads that are generally Número Uno in the pecking order, easily what I play with most and are best at handling huge pace and also at hitting outright winners. 2 TFight 315 16ms are what I go to when I need to bump up the control level. And a TGK Prestige MP that swings so much lighter and is a go-to when I feel like I'm not at my strongest.
Played one league match where I played a very aggressive, big hitting Italian dude who was hit and miss - load of winners, but I noticed he would usually always make an error if I extended the rally out, so instead of matching his big hitting and making my own errors (as on this day I kept hitting just long), after a first-set loss I switched to the more consistent 315 (I can rally all day long with this stick) and did just that, extended the rallies a few balls longer, he started missing more, and I came back to win. When I need consistency, 315 is it. Power: Radicals. And when I'm not my best, sluggish or on one leg because of a tendonitis flare up (as i was rallying with MD the other day), Prestige is the easiest swinging/most forgiving.
Dags
Interesting above...
FWIW I rarely play closed patterns. Always been fan of pretty open patterns. That said, I have been seeking better control in the last year or so (one reason why I moved away from APD and then the J100, rackets which generally speaking are right in my playing zone). Which has something to do with the fact that one of the aspects I so like about the TF I'm currently looking at is its 16/20 pattern.
Re tensions, well, hmm, my general reference tension is now 48 lbs but that does vary a bit depending on frame in qsn, strings, etc... and I'm a bit of a stringaholic - just to go along with the racketaholic tendencies.
Interesting above...
FWIW I rarely play closed patterns. Always been fan of pretty open patterns. That said, I have been seeking better control in the last year or so (one reason why I moved away from APD and then the J100, rackets which generally speaking are right in my playing zone). Which has something to do with the fact that one of the aspects I so like about the TF I'm currently looking at is its 16/20 pattern.
Re tensions, well, hmm, my general reference tension is now 48 lbs but that does vary a bit depending on frame in qsn, strings, etc... and I'm a bit of a stringaholic - just to go along with the racketaholic tendencies.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Et tu Fed K?...
JoelDali
Nice avatar, which reminds me I never did get around to getting that Simona Halep avatar for myself...
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I can see it now....."Diary of a Stringerholic"
I started stringing myself over a year ago because I got tired of getting my racquets back with the crosses and mains switched.
It definitely takes a certain kind of person to enjoy stringing....it can be very tedius. But if u have an hour to kill, just crack open
a few cold ones and put the TV on in front of the stringer and it can be relaxing. Kind of like "knitting for men"
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Power Player
Bionic Poster
Every holic should own a stringer if at all. It is a godsend because you WILL find a string setup that you prefer this way, and then the $$$ you save will be astounding.
The one thing that really helps is saving some cash and hunting down a used machine that has an auto dropweight, crank or whatever you prefer. I started on a dropweight, and while they work just fine, when I got my stringway, it changed the game. So much faster when you just set the tension and then go to work.
A dropweight is a low cost investment, but it also is the toughest way to string. Some of you guys are probably way better at that type of stuff than I, so it wont be a problem. For me, the Stringway made everything a lot easier. When I am stringing often, I can do a racquet in 30 minutes. If I am not, it's still just around 45.
The one thing that really helps is saving some cash and hunting down a used machine that has an auto dropweight, crank or whatever you prefer. I started on a dropweight, and while they work just fine, when I got my stringway, it changed the game. So much faster when you just set the tension and then go to work.
A dropweight is a low cost investment, but it also is the toughest way to string. Some of you guys are probably way better at that type of stuff than I, so it wont be a problem. For me, the Stringway made everything a lot easier. When I am stringing often, I can do a racquet in 30 minutes. If I am not, it's still just around 45.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
agree with the 1st 2 points made. but saving money? :shock: don't know about that. i have a box full of all sorts of different reels of strings now that i wouldn't have bought if i didn't have a machine! :lol:
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JackB1
G.O.A.T.
exactly! I have more string now than I know what to do with.
every time I string, I save myself $12 (labor charge at my local shop), so
if I spent $300 on a stringer, I would have to string my racquet 25 times before I got past break even.
I did it because it's part of my tennis hobby and I like to have control over as much as possible.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Its funny, I only buy reels of string I really love. I try packs and then only commit after I really like something. I have 4 reels. 2 poly and 2 syn gut.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
yeah, same here. the problem is the list of strings i love is growing!
and certain strings work better in certain racquets! :lol:i love:
Discho Iontec 1.25
Discho Iontec Hexa 1.20 used as a cross w/ TourBite 16 mains.
Discho Iontec Hexa Black 1.25
Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.30 for mains
Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25
TierOne FireWire 1.25
TierOne Durafluxx 1.23
Solinco Tour Bite 16L for mains hybrid'd w/ Iontec Hexa 1.20
Tecnifibre Pro Red Code 16
just discovered this one so adding a reel of the following soon...
MSV Evo Hex 1.25
then Gads loves Tour Bite Soft so i keep a reel of this around, too.
that makes 9 reels of my own that i really like not counting the MSV Evo Hex. :mrgreen:
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
exactly! I have more string now than I know what to do with.
every time I string, I save myself $12 (labor charge at my local shop), so
if I spent $300 on a stringer, I would have to string my racquet 25 times before I got past break even.
I did it because it's part of my tennis hobby and I like to have control over as much as possible.
in less than 2.5 yrs, i've strung 260+ racquets on my machine already so breaking even isn't an issue for me.
arrowtowntennisclub
New User
Pulled my hamstring yesterday at football. First time ever and it's so frustrating. Wont be able to play tennis until 100% which is at least 6-8 weeks away
