Official Wilson Pro Staff 88 Club

asifallasleep · Dec 31, 2013

Since I've gone back to using my PS88's wondering who else is using this stick, full-time or part-time. Couldn't find a previous club on here. Somehow I don't believe there are many using this frame.

I have 3 of them strung @ 48lbs with Volkl Cyclone Black 16g

Shroud · Dec 31, 2013

Hey where are you getting grommets for these?

I have one but haven't strung it because the grommets are shot.

Engelworks · Dec 31, 2013

Just bought a used 88 the other day. I'm excited to try it out! It's deceiving because I held it alongside my 6.1 95 that I normally use, and the head sizes look almost the same.

movdqa · Dec 31, 2013

It's a great frame with gobs of power. I used it several years ago but sold my frames when I moved to Head.

asifallasleep · Dec 31, 2013

Shroud said:
Hey where are you getting grommets for these?

I have one but haven't strung it because the grommets are shot.

These are the original grommets. You can try the racquet doctor in los angeles.

parasailing · Dec 31, 2013

I had six of these wonderful frames but the stiffness on shanks hurt my wrist and went with the Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT instead.

Fuji · Jan 1, 2014

I have a pair that I still dust off to hit with from time to time. Mine are mint so I don't like taking them out except for some casual sunday doubles anymore!

I string with full gut @ 62lbs.

-Fuji

Harry_Wild · Jan 1, 2014

I still have a couple of these frames unstrung and will keep it that way too! Collectors edition racquets! But I have one that is strung and I do hit with it from time to time.

asifallasleep · Jan 2, 2014

movdqa said:
It's a great frame with gobs of power. I used it several years ago but sold my frames when I moved to Head.

I tried the Prestige myself but just didn't like the feel and felt it lacked plowthrough in stock form. It just didn't feel solid to me. Old thin beamed Wilson's just have that plush wood feel to me. So hard to leave it behind.

movdqa · Jan 2, 2014

asifallasleep said:
I tried the Prestige myself but just didn't like the feel and felt it lacked plowthrough in stock form. It just didn't feel solid to me. Old thin beamed Wilson's just have that plush wood feel to me. So hard to leave it behind.

My YT Prestige MPs feel like the KPS88s with my setup. They have 10 grams of lead from 10-2 and 8 grams total from 2-4 and 8-10. The swingweights are in the low 360s. They have the same raw feeling that the KPS88 has, probably due to the YT material.

I have moved on to the IG Prestige MPs with even higher SW though similar static weight in a polarized setup. The IG Prestige MPs are more muted - they took out the raw feeling that the YTs had. It is overall better for my arm but I do miss the crispness of the YTs.

The main thing that turned me off of Wilson was QC along with their decision to stop producing the KPS88. Head seems to be somewhat better at still making old frames that were popular.

asifallasleep · Jan 2, 2014

movdqa said:
My YT Prestige MPs feel like the KPS88s with my setup. They have 10 grams of lead from 10-2 and 8 grams total from 2-4 and 8-10. The swingweights are in the low 360s. They have the same raw feeling that the KPS88 has, probably due to the YT material.

I have moved on to the IG Prestige MPs with even higher SW though similar static weight in a polarized setup. The IG Prestige MPs are more muted - they took out the raw feeling that the YTs had. It is overall better for my arm but I do miss the crispness of the YTs.

The main thing that turned me off of Wilson was QC along with their decision to stop producing the KPS88. Head seems to be somewhat better at still making old frames that were popular.

Are you modding the IG version similarly to the previous model?

loci · Jan 2, 2014

i have a pair. the heft is demanding so if my timing is off it can be a nightmare to play with, but when i'm on...sweetness.

courtking · Jan 2, 2014

it's one of the best rackets wilson ever made beside the St. Vincent.. I have been playing with it since it came out 5 years ago.. customized them to 390g.. just awesome rackets.. I tried many difference other rackets but still go back with the kps88.. big serve.. great on ground strokes and super fast at the net.. !!

asifallasleep · Jan 2, 2014

courtking said:
it's one of the best rackets wilson ever made beside the St. Vincent.. I have been playing with it since it came out 5 years ago.. customized them to 390g.. just awesome rackets.. I tried many difference other rackets but still go back with the kps88.. big serve.. great on ground strokes and super fast at the net.. !!

390g, wow. lol. How many do you have? I found a shop that had 20 used ones and is now to 11.

asifallasleep · Jan 2, 2014

parasailing said:
I had six of these wonderful frames but the stiffness on shanks hurt my wrist and went with the Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT instead.

Did you sell them off?

movdqa · Jan 2, 2014

asifallasleep said:
Are you modding the IG version similarly to the previous model?

No, I received the IG frames with 15 grams between 10 and 2 in a polarized setup. I think that the weight is similar to the YTs but the swingweight is a lot higher. The IG is a much different feel.

courtking · Jan 2, 2014

asifallasleep said:
390g, wow. lol. How many do you have? I found a shop that had 20 used ones and is now to 11.

I now have 5 brand new.. 4 mint.. and 4 used.. all grip 4 1/4..

pistolero · Jan 2, 2014

One of, if not, the most offensive racquet right off the shelf.

OTMPut · Jan 2, 2014

I have five of these bad boys. Shame my shoulder cannot handle the stiffness.

I have been on the look out for a replacement for a while. I have been trying out ProKennex Ki 5 PSE. This is the only stick in stock form with power and stability comparable to KPS88.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Jan 3, 2014

I'm envious of you guys, I wish I could be in this club.

courtking · Jan 3, 2014

OTMPut said:
I have five of these bad boys. Shame my shoulder cannot handle the stiffness.

I have been on the look out for a replacement for a while. I have been trying out ProKennex Ki 5 PSE. This is the only stick in stock form with power and stability comparable to KPS88.

KPS88 perform well with VSGut main, luxilon cross at low tension.. I have seen guys play with full bed poly at 55lb.. I played at very low tension 33lb cross 37lb main with string savers.. just awesome setup.. I get more spin than an aeropro drive..

Vcore89 · Jan 3, 2014

Makes me wanna take out my KPS 88 and give it another swing. Been decommissioned and in storage (only got 2 so might as well keep them for posterity sake) since last September.:wink:

Looks like the PS 90 will be museum pieces once RF announces his intention to change racquets (if not then it gets to live another day/year or until TMF retires). Ah well, PS85 is pretty much around so may not be really a museum piece yet in relative terms (at least not so fast with the 90s).

courtking · Jan 3, 2014

Shroud said:
Hey where are you getting grommets for these?

I have one but haven't strung it because the grommets are shot.

yeah.. it's hard to find the original grommet now adays.. I bought 2 from fle**** few weeks ago just in case i need them in the future..

PrinceMoron · Jan 3, 2014

There were some fakes around a few years ago

I put up some images on the web
https://sites.google.com/site/sixonetour90/wilson-k-factor-kpro-staff-88

Not hard to spot really.

I found the 88 a little slow to get round on the backhand, but I only had 2 frames and they were a grip size too small for me.

MauricioDias · Jan 3, 2014

I play with them and like them a lot. I used to play with the blx 90 and the k90. After the change to kps 88 my game improoved a lot (most on serve and volleys) because of the stability and the impressive control. The only change I needed was the hybrid strings. Its not easy to use 100% poly and play every day with this racquet.

asifallasleep · Jan 3, 2014

MauricioDias said:
I play with them and like them a lot. I used to play with the blx 90 and the k90. After the change to kps 88 my game improoved a lot (most on serve and volleys) because of the stability and the impressive control. The only change I needed was the hybrid strings. Its not easy to use 100% poly and play every day with this racquet.

I'm similar in that i went from the n90 to k90 to ps88 to blx90 to blxps90 to k90 to PS88 again.

With a few excursions briefly to every larger headed frame on the market. All sold sans one extreme pro 2.0 still left.

I'm going to try and give a go for a long time with them this time.

.
I only left in the past due to the weight. Best feeling racquet ever. What i've found this time around is that if i utilise a really substantial shoulder turn by showing my back to my opponent on both wings I can really crush the ball with little strain on my arm or shoulders. Proper form they call it!!!

asifallasleep · Jan 3, 2014

PrinceMoron said:
There were some fakes around a few years ago

I put up some images on the web
https://sites.google.com/site/sixonetour90/wilson-k-factor-kpro-staff-88

Not hard to spot really.

I found the 88 a little slow to get round on the backhand, but I only had 2 frames and they were a grip size too small for me.

If you fully show your back to your opponent on the one hander it really gets you into position extremely fast, enabling you to generate really substantial racquet head speed to rip the ball. There's no backhand with this racquet that I don't feel I can't rip it back. It's just so solid and with the weight it's just so steady, heavy, powerful.

OTMPut · Jan 3, 2014

courtking said:
KPS88 perform well with VSGut main, luxilon cross at low tension.. I have seen guys play with full bed poly at 55lb.. I played at very low tension 33lb cross 37lb main with string savers.. just awesome setup.. I get more spin than an aeropro drive..

Gut @ 37? Or were you referring to full poly set up?

PrinceMoron · Jan 4, 2014

asifallasleep said:
If you fully show your back to your opponent on the one hander it really gets you into position extremely fast, enabling you to generate really substantial racquet head speed to rip the ball. There's no backhand with this racquet that I don't feel I can't rip it back. It's just so solid and with the weight it's just so steady, heavy, powerful.

My Volkl PB mid10s were leaded up to 397, but felt much faster in comparison.
PS85 does not even feel as if it is in your hand.

I will have another look at the 88s if I can find some grip 5s.

asifallasleep · Jan 4, 2014

PrinceMoron said:
My Volkl PB mid10s were leaded up to 397, but felt much faster in comparison.
PS85 does not even feel as if it is in your hand.

I will have another look at the 88s if I can find some grip 5s.

There's someone selling one with a 4 5/8 grip in the classifieds.

asifallasleep · Jan 4, 2014

OTMPut said:
I have five of these bad boys. Shame my shoulder cannot handle the stiffness.

I have been on the look out for a replacement for a while. I have been trying out ProKennex Ki 5 PSE. This is the only stick in stock form with power and stability comparable to KPS88.

Someone else just mentioned the ProKennex? How is it? I don't think I'll switch but I've heard good things. I believe ProKennex used to produce the racquets for all the major racquet companies back in the 80's.

courtking · Jan 4, 2014

OTMPut said:
Gut @ 37? Or were you referring to full poly set up?

Gut main @37lb, ALU Power Rough @33lb.. with string savers stiffening the string bed I guess 10%..

PrinceMoron · Jan 4, 2014

asifallasleep said:
There's someone selling one with a 4 5/8 grip in the classifieds.

Had a quick look but did not see it.

TW or TWE? I am in the States next week so could be interested.

asifallasleep · Jan 5, 2014

PrinceMoron said:
Had a quick look but did not see it.

TW or TWE? I am in the States next week so could be interested.

Odd I can't seem to find it now. Not sure where you're going in the US but there's a shop in LA that has about 11 PS88's.

asifallasleep · Jan 5, 2014

Ouch!!!! Boy do I have a tender elbow today. All it took was a few mishits and i felt the vibration of my PS88. Aye yi yi.

Hitting the same shots with my K90, my opponent could get his racquet on winners. With the PS88, the ball just blew by him time and time again

K90 i could generate way more racquet head speed, more variety of shots, easier on the arm.

PS88 i could generate gobs more pace, could block balls for winners, felt i could destroy every ball, just so solid, but the weight required more effort on my slices and volleys. I couldn't be as lightning quick.

Has anyone added lead to the buttcap of the PS88 to make it more headlight? Or under the grip? How much lead and did the increase in static weight bother you? Thanks.

courtking · Jan 5, 2014

asifallasleep said:
Ouch!!!! Boy do I have a tender elbow today. All it took was a few mishits and i felt the vibration of my PS88. Aye yi yi.

Hitting the same shots with my K90, my opponent could get his racquet on winners. With the PS88, the ball just blew by him time and time again

K90 i could generate way more racquet head speed, more variety of shots, easier on the arm.

PS88 i could generate gobs more pace, could block balls for winners, felt i could destroy every ball, just so solid, but the weight required more effort on my slices and volleys. I couldn't be as lightning quick.

Has anyone added lead to the buttcap of the PS88 to make it more headlight? Or under the grip? How much lead and did the increase in static weight bother you? Thanks.

which pro stock shop in LA are you talking?? I added lead @12 then counter balance in the butt cap and above the grip.. total about 12g.. strings, overgrip and almost full bed of string savers add up to 390g..

Say Chi Sin Lo · Jan 5, 2014

courtking said:
which pro stock shop in LA are you talking?? I added lead @12 then counter balance in the butt cap and above the grip.. total about 12g.. strings, overgrip and almost full bed of string savers add up to 390g..

Why would you have a full bed of string savers?

courtking · Jan 5, 2014

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Why would you have a full bed of string savers?

no string savers.. last 6hrs of playing.. Federer string savers set up.. last around 12hrs of playing.. Full bed of string savers last about 48-72hrs of playing.. Almost full bed not really entire racket but I used up about 2/3 of elasto cross string savers every new string job.. I tried many difference combo, string tension for the past 5 years and found my optimal setup..

Cavaleer · Jan 5, 2014

asifallasleep said:
390g, wow. lol. How many do you have? I found a shop that had 20 used ones and is now to 11.

Do you have a name or contact number for that shop????

OTMPut · Jan 5, 2014

asifallasleep said:
Someone else just mentioned the ProKennex? How is it? I don't think I'll switch but I've heard good things. I believe ProKennex used to produce the racquets for all the major racquet companies back in the 80's.

I am starting to like the Ki5 PSE model.
Strung specs of my stick (stock version) as follows:
weight: 374
sw: 350
9 pts HL
strung with cyclone 17g @ 45lbs

The listed flex rating is 63. I think i got a stick towards the higher end of the tolerance. Feels a tad stiff. However havenot had any arm/shoulder issues so far.

Super solid at the net. Huge sweet spot. Slicing monster. Anyone liking KPS88 ought to try this stick.

asifallasleep · Jan 6, 2014

Ok, so i added 6 grams on the lower end of the handle just above the butt cap and the headlight balance is now almost identical to my K90 which has 3 grams in the butt cap. This is very good. Will report back my findings.

If i can have the same modded maneuverability and quickness of my K90's which i love, in the more powerful and stable PS88 i will be in heaven!! Hopefully the small additional static weight won't be a detriment.

asifallasleep · Jan 6, 2014

Cavaleer said:
Do you have a name or contact number for that shop????

email me and i'll give you the details. chamberlainfilms@gmail.com

was unable to send you a PM

asifallasleep · Jan 6, 2014

courtking said:
which pro stock shop in LA are you talking?? I added lead @12 then counter balance in the butt cap and above the grip.. total about 12g.. strings, overgrip and almost full bed of string savers add up to 390g..

i sent you a PM with the info on the shop

asifallasleep · Jan 8, 2014

asifallasleep said:
Ok, so i added 6 grams on the lower end of the handle just above the butt cap and the headlight balance is now almost identical to my K90 which has 3 grams in the butt cap. This is very good. Will report back my findings.

If i can have the same modded maneuverability and quickness of my K90's which i love, in the more powerful and stable PS88 i will be in heaven!! Hopefully the small additional static weight won't be a detriment.

Tried 6 grams and then 3 grams and it was just too heavy. I can get away with an active arm fh similar to Wawrinka with my K90, but with the PS88 it requires a much bigger shoulder turn. Which equals even more preparation, unfortunately.

Looks like the K90 will still be in the rotation and in my bag with the PS88.

MauricioDias · Apr 13, 2015

Guys I am sad to say that I am no longer part of this club. Had to sell my KPS88 due to elbow problems.

I was happy to be here for two years.

asifallasleep · Apr 24, 2015

I think I'll dust off my PS88's for a hit tomorrow

meltedsteam · Apr 24, 2015

asifallasleep said:
I think I'll dust off my PS88's for a hit tomorrow

How does it compare to your others?

asifallasleep · Apr 25, 2015

PS88 powerful but sluggish, K90 faster but lower margin for error when compared to RF97. RF97 is more powerful than both, has largest sweet spot, feels stiffest, more maneuverable then PS88, less maneuverable than K90, matches control of K90 in that you can rip the ball and it stays in. With the RF97 against 4.5 and better competition you have to play lights out aggressive. Serves are just insane with the RF97. The best serving stick by far out of the bunch.

Cavvallini · Apr 25, 2015

asifallasleep said:
PS88 powerful but sluggish, K90 faster but lower margin for error when compared to RF97. RF97 is more powerful than both, has largest sweet spot, feels stiffest, more maneuverable then PS88, less maneuverable than K90, matches control of K90 in that you can rip the ball and it stays in. With the RF97 against 4.5 and better competition you have to play lights out aggressive. Serves are just insane with the RF97. The best serving stick by far out of the bunch.

Interesting. I found the RF97 to be light and whippy, powerful but not strong and direct like the 88s power, more like a Babolat's form of power.

I've never played with a St. Vincent but I can honestly say I've never played with a frame as "pure" and "raw" as the 88. I play with a full bed of M2 Pro at 60lbs. Do you have any idea what materials exactly are in the 88 to give it such a feel?

Great thread btw.

movdqa · Apr 26, 2015

Given the range of possible RF97s that would be within manufacturing specs, you could have a wide variety of experiences in comparing the frames.

I had KPS88s from 12.5 ounces to 13.1 ounces and the heaviest played completely differently than the lightest.

Official Wilson Pro Staff 88 Club

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