Finally strung up the Proto 05 and took it out. What a weird frame this is ...
Same mold as the HI-FLEX and HI-FLEX L, and since I haven't restrung those frames yet I couldn't say if this is just a rebrand or if the layup is updated as well.
This is a really stunning frame in person, and looks better than the standard-mold Protos, which are nowhere near as graceful and interesting. As far as how it plays, it makes me feel like I'm not that great at understanding frames sometimes. First impressions were that this was much flexier and more comfortable than any of the standard-mold protos and secrets, and that's unambiguously true. But when I hit with it, balls
saaaaaaillled.
Not in a bad way, just an unexpected way. Strings are Kirschbaum SG at 50lbs. I would have thought that since this felt so much less stiff than the others, as well as the rather dense center pattern, that it would be a bit wimpier with a lower launch, but it's not. It's actually ultra deadly -- once I got a handle on the launch angle (which is very, very high), and began spinning forehands more, this became an absolute weapon. Hitting partner said she felt by far the most pace and speed coming off this thing than off any other racket I hit with that day. It's very much a "bully frame", you know the feeling, where you're kinda just bashing your opponent down and it feels a bit unfair.
Comfort was still well above average, but not like a "comfort frame" -- I'd have to think that RA is in the low 60's. Swing weight with a couple tiny dabs of lead is 322 with dampener, and static weight was somewhere in the mid 330's.
I'm gonna redo the strings with a multi at higher tension next time.
