Full Circle
I have come full circle. I am now "officially" back with the PT again after a year or two of trying the so-called "latest and greatest stuff" on the market.
Let me tell you my little journey.
A bit of my background. I believe I'm a solid 4.5 player who can bump up to 5.0 if my serve is more solid. I was playing with the PT280 for many years and then stopped playing tennis for a short period, about a year. Then when I returned to tennis, I forgot my string setup and how to hit properly. At this point in time with the PT280 (and bad string setup of full poly), it had absolutely no power, hard to swing, and my shots were floaters waiting to be hammered. I got frustrated and tried some new stuff.
In came the Babolat Pure Drive just based on its many positive reviews and I thought I needed some free power. As you know, it's a completely different racket in terms of weigh, balance, and swing weigh. It has plenty of power and spin alright, but I couldn't find the control and that plush feeling of the PT. I always had doubt when I swung it. It was way too light for my liking and the balance was so different that I could not get used to it no matter how hard I tried. After 6 months with it, I gave up.
Then a friend just got the new Babolat Pure Control Tour and so I borrowed it. I hit damn good with it as this racket was made to bring back the old school feeling. So I thought this is it, a modern racket that is close to the PT and I have found the ONE! It felt soft and flexi. The racket is very good in all department. My one handed topspin backhand was easy to hit. The volley was crisp. The serve was easier to execute. However, I still could not groove my forehand after 6 months with it. I couldn't find the pinpoint directional accuracy with it. So last week, I broke the string on it, and then pulled out the blue stick, PT280.
Then something happened. WOW wow and wow! I just could not believe how accurate, solid, buttery, and plush feeling the PT was. It was truly magical! I felt connected to the ball. The accuracy (aka directional control) was one level higher than the open string pattern of the Pure Control Tour (PCT). The ball went wherever I told it to go. The plow through was apparent. Just let the racket do the work. Basically, it was very addictive! The feeling could not be found on any other rackets I've ever hit with. A solid hit put a grin on my face and I didn't care whether I hit a winner or not. Just getting the plush feeling was gratifying and reminds me of why I play tennis.
Now, back to my original problem of lacking power in the PT. I was wrong. All you need to do is lower the tension and with its plow, there is plenty of power, controlled power that is!
I felt very lucky to have re-discovered the blue stick again.
That's my journey and the road of trying new rackets has come to an end. I hope to be re-accepted back to the PT club again.
>>>Here's my setup<<<
- Austrian made PT280 and PT630 (trek font, No CAP) (note: the flex of these two are very comparable as excellently observed by JT_2eighty. Search for his posts in this thread. PT630 shadow font with CAP were too flexible for me as I recalled from a while ago when I was play testing it. May try it again if I can get a hold of one.)
- For you guys who have the Austrian Made PT280 and PT630 trek, don't put full CAP on them, as they will be too heavy to swing and maneuver at the club level.
- Final strung weigh with gut hybrid: 350g - 354g. Regular bumper. No CAP. With leather and overgrip.
- Cheap gut main at 50lb, testing 48lb. Will keep going as low as possible without losing control.
- Poly cross at 46lb, testing 44lb. Will keep going as low as possible without losing control.
- Testing poly that are crisp and has long tension maintenance: Tourna Big Hitter Silver, Tourna Black Zone, Genesis Black Magic (soft, tension maintenance, and pocketing). I would use Alu Power if I have lots of money. Any other recommendation?
>>>Babolat Pure Control Tour (PCT) comparison<<<
Here's my experience with it in comparison to the PT280.
PCT positive: very maneuverable, volley is awesome, easy to serve, much lighter swing weigh, access to spin, soft, good power, somewhat crisp, somewhat flexi, somewhat solid.
PCT negative: lack that impossible to find Pro Tour plush, solid, and addictive feeling. lack plow (will get pushed around a bit if hit with heavy spin hitter)
Summary: PCT has that old school feeling that is less demanding than the PT. If you can't handle the PT, give this a try. It's good in all department. BUT, cannot be compared to the accuracy, plow, plush, and addictive feeling of the Pro Tour. As for connectedness to the ball, on a scale of 1 - 10, the PT would be an easy 10. The PCT would be about an 8. It's there but not quite there, making you search for it but could never find it.
>>>Tennis Wisdom
<<<
I have come to a realization that in tennis, feed back is very important which allows the muscle and brain to re-adjust and adapt; and thus auto-correct one's stroke and technique. And I believe feeling plays a major role. That is why I am back with the blue stick!
BTW, I've played couple of real matches with the blue stick and I am sold, again!
