OK, you've successfully passed the buck. Down to you Gadsy. Restring or retribution? You decide. But remember, these are old gods we're talking about here.
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
OH, woe to modernity, they forget the names of their own true gods. Kevlar is to Twaron as Jupiter is to Zeus. His own prized sword might mete out the punishment. Don't tempt fate Gadsy, tremble and obey!Hahaha. Gads has Zeus so he ain't afeared of these old gods!
mikeler
Moderator
Spin sticks need full poly. My usual poly/multi hybrid just did not feel right in it and the spin was not quite there. Now put some Iontec in one of those bad boys and report back.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Spin sticks need full poly. My usual poly/multi hybrid just did not feel right in it and the spin was not quite there. Now put some Iontec in one of those bad boys and report back.
yeah, agreed. i've tried demos of the steam 99s, the savage banana, the plushy pumpkin of death and the 6.1 95S w/ full poly and they haven't grabbed me. but i never experimented with different tensions. and i haven't tried Iontec in any of these sticks yet. maybe i'll keep one eye open in the classifieds section.
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mikeler
Moderator
yeah, agreed. i've tried demos of the steam 99s, the savage banana, the plushy pumpkin of death and the 6.1 95S w/ full poly and they haven't grabbed me. but i never experimented with different tensions. and i haven't tried Iontec in any of these sticks yet. maybe i'll keep one eye open in the classifieds section.
It's funny because B5E which was stellar as a hybrid main in 16x18, 16x19 and 16x20 was just average in the Pumpkin. Perhaps Iontec would only be average in the other frames but good grief the spin is good. I was reading Ali's review of it and he had the exact same experience as me. All of a sudden, we both found these heavy twist serves from yesteryear.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
I want to please the gods, but I'm not sure if this will be possible. A) I'm out of town and won't be able to restring until Wednesday, and I think the stick is for back Friday. And B) I believe it's a no-no at my store to restring demos. Even though, true, I'd be doing them a favor. I basically sawed through the crosses almost fully in one hit.
Whatever. TW will send you a demo strung properly, at your convenience. You really can't let this stick slip through your hands without a proper hit in the books. You know you have to know, even if the gods are dead.
Isn't Wilson educating these retailers? I've heard quite a few stories about multis and other junk ending up in these frames. Prince was very smart to lash some poly to their ESP sticks.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
^
Haha. I like the rare display of anger from the usually stoic, scientific Mr. Corners. The good news is, I just got back from a casino, and I'm up $170. Racquet money? Hmm.
Another question: is the Pro Staff 100L actually the sleeper of the Pro Staff bunch? Spin but not overkill 'S' spin, box beam feel that can be modded up to something with a bigger and higher sweet spot, with my favorite 27.25 length? Or did we ask and ultimately explore this same question with the last series?
Is this Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
Did I eat too much lobster and crab at the casino buffet?
Haha. I like the rare display of anger from the usually stoic, scientific Mr. Corners. The good news is, I just got back from a casino, and I'm up $170. Racquet money? Hmm.
Another question: is the Pro Staff 100L actually the sleeper of the Pro Staff bunch? Spin but not overkill 'S' spin, box beam feel that can be modded up to something with a bigger and higher sweet spot, with my favorite 27.25 length? Or did we ask and ultimately explore this same question with the last series?
Is this Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
Did I eat too much lobster and crab at the casino buffet?
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MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
You can never eat too much lobster and crab
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Vcore 89 wins
The rest:
The rest:
Fed Kennedy
Legend
It is impossible to describe the greatness of the YY 89. It would take a poet of Whitman's caliber. Or perhaps JoelDali.
I can only share with you guys what I have experienced. Its absolutely real.
I can only share with you guys what I have experienced. Its absolutely real.
Gut4Tennis
Hall of Fame
You can never eat too much lobster and crab
yes you can if you're not getting any fiber to move it along
:shock:
JGads
G.O.A.T.
It is impossible to describe the greatness of the YY 89. It would take a poet of Whitman's caliber. Or perhaps JoelDali.
I can only share with you guys what I have experienced. Its absolutely real.
I am jealous. It's such a goat stick. Looks like a Corvette and it pummels the ball. I even thought about buying one when my local had it on sale for $110, just to have some fun with it, for I did play one of my goatiest sets with the little red beast a long time ago, when the arm was fresh and the mojo working. It's what happened next that ended things, but the highs were so tantalizingly good. A mid that mashes, with such a large sweet spot. The serving was sublime.
PED
Legend
I had the Steam 100 for a month last year. Didn't work for me and got sick of the $ I was spending on re stringing. I still wouldn't mind messing with the Juice S though to see what it's like.
Like Chuck Norris is the right answer for every question on the SAT, APD13 and TB soft are the same for me in the tennis world.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yes the 89 - definitely a stick I would own if I was more suited to mids.
But I'm not, so on I go with the AnnaIvanovic
But I'm not, so on I go with the AnnaIvanovic
DrewRafter8
Professional
Had a great match last night and what did I play with? None other then the APD13+. I'm addicted to it, no matter how hard I try to like something else. I used 4G Rough in it for the first time. It was pretty good, but I'm going to use some Tour Status next time. TS is a better RPM for me. Tour Bite is a favorite, but I never really cared for the softer brother.
PED
Legend
Have you tried soft in the APD, it's quite nice.
I've got the Solinco Rough in the apd currently. With the snow, I've not been able to get much time lately but the rough has been lasting forever. It was supposed to be a 16L but I've never seen a 16L last this long, it's gotta be regular 16.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
just curious why not?
I was much higher on the Pro Staff 100 until Fed didn't switch to it.
I do think it's worth a hit, though, but it will need lead to compete with any of the sticks most of us hit with seriously, and rather a lot of it, I'd think. The open string pattern might be take some tweaking with strings, too. A project, in short.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
I was much higher on the Pro Staff 100 until Fed didn't switch to it.
I do think it's worth a hit, though, but it will need lead to compete with any of the sticks most of us hit with seriously, and rather a lot of it, I'd think. The open string pattern might be take some tweaking with strings, too. A project, in short.
And the question a lot of us feel-mongers are always battling with: is it worth the effort? Because, after all, it is a box beam. And nothing beats the box beam feel. But we all failed the last time.
Did the last 100 retain the good box feel of the 95? Or did it feel pretty different/less special with the bigger headsize and such?
I thought it felt very good. But I only hit with it twice, both briefly, and never did any customization beyond sinking a 5" wood screw into the handle foam. I did not hit it back to back with any other Wilson box beams, which I should have done. But I thought it felt like a light Pro Staff far more than it felt like a light racquet reminiscent of a Pro Staff. I had an IG Rad MP with me at the time and remember picking it up after hitting the 100 and putting it down after just a couple balls, like Yuck!
I remember Chris E gave it the same mark for touch/feel that he did the 90 and 95, but some other players have said they couldn't get a solid feel no matter what they did with lead tape.
But, anyway, you should try it side by side with the PS95S.
DrewRafter8
Professional
I have not tried the soft in the APD yet. I think I did not care for the soft because I felt like it did not have that sharp bite that the regular TB has. It is definitely softer and maybe I would like it strung much higher then what I normally use. I normally string around 50, but went to 55 with the soft in the Platinum 99. I actually liked TB 19 because it was softer, but had that sharp bite that I feel with regular TB. The problem was that the 19 didn't last very long in the Plat 99. I imagine I could break it in one or two sessions in an APD.
This weather has been rough. I'm fighting the urge to demo and switch to a more control oriented racquet. I know it's me and that I haven't played enough to really get into a groove. However, these thoughts keep sneaking into my head....
el sergento
Hall of Fame
Sup fellow 'holics
Haven't posted in a while, having a 2 month old at home really limits your tennis time.
Anyway, I'll get to my current holic mid life crises in a later post, but first, yes, I had to demo the YY AI 98, and yes, it was due to Power Player being the undisputed Billy Mays of rackets, after all, his epic powers of persuasion (Power Persuader?) got me hooked on my beloved TEC 315's. So anyhoo, here's a short rundown of my brief experience with the much beloved YY AI 98.
HI, BILLY MAYS HERE WITH THE AI 98
YY AI 98 demo:
Well, long story short, It's not for me. I hit with it for a couple of hours, freshly strung with Wilson Red Alert at mid tension. The store actually strung it up specifically for me (although I didn't have a chance to choose the string), as they had just received them and I was the first to ask for a demo. Anyway, here's the rundown.
Feel:
Stiffish with a slight buzzing sound on the hit. This could be due to the string, but the feel was quite firm, very crisp. The response is fantastic, but off center, or framed shots are noticeable and not very friendly to my tender elbow.
Also, the sweetspot is quite small. For an open pattern 98, I felt it had a smaller SS than my closed pattern TEC 315. Again, string and tension could be a factor. This was quite a surprise for me though, as my previous experience with a YY, the Vcore 97, was that it had a ginormous SS.
Goundies:
Topspin was decent at best, but backhand slice was magnificent, probably my favorite characteristic of the racket. I think this one's a straight up "modern/babolat" type frame, and I didn't get that old meets new vibe that it's been getting on here.
What I mean by that is that it's a very powerful frame that will launch a ball unless you have very modern and pronounced grips. So my weak SW forehand grip and my oldschoolish follow through on the forehand really didn't jive with this stick. If I tried to smack a forehand, I'd usually hit way long, and if I purposefully brushed the ball for extra spin, I'd usually get a midcourt sitter with not much top. Not a knock on the racket per se, just saying that it didn't match up with my strokes / style. Overall, I had to reduce my swing speed by a good 30% to get a nice balance of power and depth without hitting long.
Same on the backhand, I didn't get much top on the one hander, I'd usually cough up a short sitter when I hit through and hitting a flat one usually ended up either long or in the net. Backhand slice however was phenomenal. superb control, depth and spin.
Volleys:
Great stick at net. It plays stiffer than its rating for sure, and that really shows at net, where it just absorbs whatever your opponent gives you and lets you hit deep penetrating volleys with good stick or feathery droppers. Really liked it at net.
Overhead:
Didn't hit any serves, so cant comment. However, based on how it slices the ball, I bet it's a breeze to serve with and probably has good juice.
Overall I'd say that it just wasn't for me. I had issues with control, mainly due to not being able to find the SS on a consistent basis, and also because I hit a flatter ball and the AI 98 has too much juice for me. Highlights are backhand slices and volleys.
Haven't posted in a while, having a 2 month old at home really limits your tennis time.
Anyway, I'll get to my current holic mid life crises in a later post, but first, yes, I had to demo the YY AI 98, and yes, it was due to Power Player being the undisputed Billy Mays of rackets
, after all, his epic powers of persuasion (Power Persuader?) got me hooked on my beloved TEC 315's. So anyhoo, here's a short rundown of my brief experience with the much beloved YY AI 98.
YY AI 98 demo:
Well, long story short, It's not for me. I hit with it for a couple of hours, freshly strung with Wilson Red Alert at mid tension. The store actually strung it up specifically for me (although I didn't have a chance to choose the string), as they had just received them and I was the first to ask for a demo. Anyway, here's the rundown.
Feel:
Stiffish with a slight buzzing sound on the hit. This could be due to the string, but the feel was quite firm, very crisp. The response is fantastic, but off center, or framed shots are noticeable and not very friendly to my tender elbow.
Also, the sweetspot is quite small. For an open pattern 98, I felt it had a smaller SS than my closed pattern TEC 315. Again, string and tension could be a factor. This was quite a surprise for me though, as my previous experience with a YY, the Vcore 97, was that it had a ginormous SS.
Goundies:
Topspin was decent at best, but backhand slice was magnificent, probably my favorite characteristic of the racket. I think this one's a straight up "modern/babolat" type frame, and I didn't get that old meets new vibe that it's been getting on here.
What I mean by that is that it's a very powerful frame that will launch a ball unless you have very modern and pronounced grips. So my weak SW forehand grip and my oldschoolish follow through on the forehand really didn't jive with this stick. If I tried to smack a forehand, I'd usually hit way long, and if I purposefully brushed the ball for extra spin, I'd usually get a midcourt sitter with not much top. Not a knock on the racket per se, just saying that it didn't match up with my strokes / style. Overall, I had to reduce my swing speed by a good 30% to get a nice balance of power and depth without hitting long.
Same on the backhand, I didn't get much top on the one hander, I'd usually cough up a short sitter when I hit through and hitting a flat one usually ended up either long or in the net. Backhand slice however was phenomenal. superb control, depth and spin.
Volleys:
Great stick at net. It plays stiffer than its rating for sure, and that really shows at net, where it just absorbs whatever your opponent gives you and lets you hit deep penetrating volleys with good stick or feathery droppers. Really liked it at net.
Overhead:
Didn't hit any serves, so cant comment. However, based on how it slices the ball, I bet it's a breeze to serve with and probably has good juice.
Overall I'd say that it just wasn't for me. I had issues with control, mainly due to not being able to find the SS on a consistent basis, and also because I hit a flatter ball and the AI 98 has too much juice for me. Highlights are backhand slices and volleys.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
^
Welcome back. Yeah, from my limited time with the Ai, the feel left something to be desired for me and you're right, for some people, the swing path had to be altered. I had to realize through hitting - even though PP warned me - that you have to go sort of right through the ball and brush much less than you might normally be used to. Once I got that, the frame clicked much better for me.
Welcome back. Yeah, from my limited time with the Ai, the feel left something to be desired for me and you're right, for some people, the swing path had to be altered. I had to realize through hitting - even though PP warned me - that you have to go sort of right through the ball and brush much less than you might normally be used to. Once I got that, the frame clicked much better for me.
el sergento
Hall of Fame
Yeah, I wouldn't say the feel was harsh, but close to it. The AI is just too modern for my game I guess. Even hitting through the ball, I molded my swing on Sampras just to give you an idea, I still couldn't control it. Brushing made for a pretty low trajectory, mid court ball, that sat up nicely and hitting out made for flyers. Overall, I could tell I would need way too much time and adapt my swing too much for it to work for me.
It's nice to be back though. BTW, been reading up on your TEC woes. Not to be too much of a downer, but the TEC gave me some pretty nasty TE, and I've never had that before, and that's even with some rehab time and a full bed of gut !!
So yeah, your wrist issues don't bode well. I know the TEC isn't supposed to be a harsh frame, but some, Fuji and me included, have felt some arm discomfort.
I'm so bummed out by my TEC issues that on my last hit I had to go back to my trusty, flexi EXO's. I'm sure glad I didn't sell those, in fact, I have some string hole ports coming. I think that with just a tiny bit less flex I'll be able to volley semi competently with them.......... fingers crossed.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Man, thats crazy - I love the feel of the ai98. Must be the strings or something because it seems to accent softer strings in a plush way for me. The yy pts is a softish poly that almost feels plush in the mains of this racquet for me.
And the control is a huge selling point of the stick for me. It is definitely not for everybody, but I just find it so easy to hit out and have it consistently go in.
I switch in with the tec 315 sometimes and they both feel really good to me.
I also find the sweetspot to be bigger then the 315, but it is not so big that I lose the ball in it like I did with the RDiS 200.
But yeah, the way I hit my forehand I guess is the modern ATP style. I have a pretty direct path into the ball with a wipe across at the finish to get the spin I need. For this type of hitting, the racquet is a complete dream for me. As for feel, I find this to be one of the absolute best out there if you want to know exactly what the ball is going to do right when it touches the strings.
And the control is a huge selling point of the stick for me. It is definitely not for everybody, but I just find it so easy to hit out and have it consistently go in.
I switch in with the tec 315 sometimes and they both feel really good to me.
I also find the sweetspot to be bigger then the 315, but it is not so big that I lose the ball in it like I did with the RDiS 200.
But yeah, the way I hit my forehand I guess is the modern ATP style. I have a pretty direct path into the ball with a wipe across at the finish to get the spin I need. For this type of hitting, the racquet is a complete dream for me. As for feel, I find this to be one of the absolute best out there if you want to know exactly what the ball is going to do right when it touches the strings.
el sergento
Hall of Fame
I think feel and response or feedback get mixed up sometimes. I agree that the response is fantastic on the AI, as in I knew as soon as I hit the ball what was going to happen. But the feel of the hit, especially outside the SS was kinda harsh. I like a softer muted feel, think N 6.1, or MG Prestige.
Also, keep in mind, I went from a stick with a full bed of gut to a full bed of poly at like 55-57#'s. Yeah, it wasn't the ideal apples to apples comparison.
Regardless of feel, I just couldn't find the control on my forehand drive, and I don't think a different string would help, given that any poly at that tension is way lower powered than gut.
Some of the nastiest slice I've ever hit though.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have only done a hybrid in this stick. It seems like full poly just never feels that great in any stick in comparison for me. I thought the ai98 was pretty muted when I first got it and I would stay I still do, but the modern crispness yonex added to it is a welcome change. There simply is just no better way to get solid feedback for me.
Also never have any harsh feelings from this stick either, even if I frame. It doesn't vibrate at all. I guess you got a demo with a crappy string setup, and that kind of stinks, but what can you do.
This is the first really modern Tec 315. I had been looking for one forever. As a result, I don't think it's for everyone, but god do I love it.
Also never have any harsh feelings from this stick either, even if I frame. It doesn't vibrate at all. I guess you got a demo with a crappy string setup, and that kind of stinks, but what can you do.
This is the first really modern Tec 315. I had been looking for one forever. As a result, I don't think it's for everyone, but god do I love it.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Yeah the Tec wrist situation is just a doozy. I put the frame down altogether for a week, and played with my Heads with a tight wrist brace provided by MD (of course), and the wrist felt fine again. Yesterday I hit with the Tec for the first time, briefly, with a fattened up grip to maybe alter the way I was holding it, and the wrist discomfort did not come back... but at the same time, I was hitting better with my Heads. Go figure. Since I already have a bad shoulder to still deal with (discomfort from my small rotator cuff tear just will not go away, so I'm just playing through it, as apparently surgery isn't a good idea unless its a full tear) I think I'm just going to put down the Tecs in favor of my trusty Heads for awhile because the Heads are goat sticks that I know for certain don't bug my wrist.
Speaking of goatish Heads, MD brought out one of his old classics yesterday, the Twin Tour Radical MP (zebra).. Same frame TW is selling from the Bosworth collection. Holy Moly is that a sweet frame. Huge plow, easy depth, great control and feel. Just too darn heavy for a longer period of time, though. You feel the weight of it after awhile and the arm starts to drag. But a killer classic frame, though, that I'd never before had the chance to try.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
yesterday's theme was "blast from the past" so the wildcard sticks were the following classics
1. PT280 Made in Austria
2. TT Rad Tour MP
3. TT Rad Tour OS
glad you enjoyed the TT Rad MP!
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I wonder if the grip shape of the tec 315 is what is getting people's wrists/elbows. I know it is a head pallet, so it shouldn't, but I just wonder about that.
aimr75
Hall of Fame
I dont get wrist issues with mine.. so hard to say why. I have a 4 1/2 grip with the TK82 pallets and havent experienced discomfort.. this has been with full beds of poly
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah I have been fine too with both the YY and the 315.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Head grip shape is no problem for me anymore now that I'm used to it, so no problem there. My gut feeling is that it has less to do with grip shape or even contact (vibes, etc) but actually something in the way the stick is balanced and how it pulls my hand /arm AFTER contact during my follow through. Basically this will sound insanely nerdy and hyper-specific and I may be completely off, but there were several times where I felt the twinge not on contact but when I complete the stroke and am pulling the frame back into my body as I reset for the next ball. It's as if the frame isn't heavy through the hit but then feels heavy after the hit, and maybe it yanks my wrist awkwardly or something in a way that my other frames don't. It's just a hunch, gut feeling, though. In the end, I really have no idea. But I'll be chilling out on the Tecs for a bit and mostly Chardying.
aimr75
Hall of Fame
Maybe the way the frames have been weighted? not sure, but the tec's have still hung around for me now for about a year and have been fine
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
You're not alone my friend! The main factor I've found in tennis elbow is not stiffness in frame or string, but in technique. And yes, I've found that the weight of the racket and the balance and SW have a huge impact on how comfortable the hit is for me. Everyone has a different way they swing, and depending on how fast and violently you swing, the followthrough can do some damage to the shoulder and arm sometimes.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Thats another thing I dig about this ai98. The balance is 5 pts HL instead of 3 like my Tec. And i do think that may be the key for some folks. The higher weight with the lower balance may be a bit unfriendly.
The ai98 comes through the air so fast and even at a lighter weight just puts a hurt on the ball, while still making the finish really easy, so wiping across for that spin is no problem.
The ai98 comes through the air so fast and even at a lighter weight just puts a hurt on the ball, while still making the finish really easy, so wiping across for that spin is no problem.
el sergento
Hall of Fame
You can't have too many Bro Staffs or POGS. Collecting those doesn't make you a holic, it makes you a fine connaisseur.
el sergento
Hall of Fame
You might be on to something, my one handed backhand follow through with the TEC is definitely different than what I was used to with my much more head light EXO's. I found it harder to snap the wrist at the end of the swing, something that I usually do naturally, so I might have started overdoing that motion to overcompensate.
I hope you got the discount on those. I tried to email you the other day but your profile blocks emails.
Chuonfood
Semi-Pro
I hope you got the discount on those. I tried to email you the other day but your profile blocks emails.
??? I didn't get any discount, how?
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
met up w/ Gads for a hit in a "lake" tonight. why on God's good earth would we be hitting in a lake? well, as it just so happened, just as i pulled up to the courts, the skies opened up and dropped about 5 mins of rain and then stopped. the 5 mins of rain was just enough to leave lots of large puddles all over the court, but being the diehard tennis fans, we decided we were not going to let a wet court stop us from playing since Gads had freshly strung sticks and i had just restrung my Garaphite 100 with Iontec 17 @ 50/51 that i was dying to try.
play we did and man was it a blast. it started off like playing on grass where most balls just skidded off the puddles creating artificially low bounces. as the puddles dried out, the conditions became more clay-like. the wet balls became heavy and slower so we started hitting higher trajectory groundies with heavier spin. the wet surface allowed us to slide into shots just as if we were on clay. Gads came up with a brilliant name for this surface - "Californian clay". :lol:
enough about the courts and onto the Garaphite 100 with Iontec...let's just say that from this night forward, i will forever refer to it as the GOAT 100. yes, with Iontec the Graphite 100 was transformed into the GOAT 100. Control was phenomenal. loved the feel, confort and pop, but the one thing that really stood out was the improved control. Control was already excellent before, but Iontec took it to an whole new level. I felt i could do anything to the ball. it was unreal. for those who haven't tried this new Graphite 100, you just gotta try it. and try it with Iontec. it's just THAT GOOD!
play we did and man was it a blast. it started off like playing on grass where most balls just skidded off the puddles creating artificially low bounces. as the puddles dried out, the conditions became more clay-like. the wet balls became heavy and slower so we started hitting higher trajectory groundies with heavier spin. the wet surface allowed us to slide into shots just as if we were on clay. Gads came up with a brilliant name for this surface - "Californian clay". :lol:
enough about the courts and onto the Garaphite 100 with Iontec...let's just say that from this night forward, i will forever refer to it as the GOAT 100. yes, with Iontec the Graphite 100 was transformed into the GOAT 100. Control was phenomenal. loved the feel, confort and pop, but the one thing that really stood out was the improved control. Control was already excellent before, but Iontec took it to an whole new level. I felt i could do anything to the ball. it was unreal. for those who haven't tried this new Graphite 100, you just gotta try it. and try it with Iontec. it's just THAT GOOD!
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Fed Kennedy
Legend
Maddog, by Iontec, you mean that salmon colored string?
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
FedK, yep!
in some soft racquets, Iontec can been too soft, mushy and vague, but it's just perfect in the GOAT 100. also quite excellent in my TC-95 and BC20s. i had tried Iontec in the O3 Tour and the results weren't good. i also tried it in the RDiS100 MP and RDiS200 and wasn't that impressed, but in the GOAT100, TC-95, BC20, feel and control are stunning.
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