Diary of a Racketaholic

Hulger

Semi-Pro
I might have lost it, but I just ordered 2 x Babolat Evo Drives - lunatic specs, stiff 104 sqi with 16/17 pattern!
Trying to maximize spin for clay season and optimize the ability to attack to the net as often as possible. I suppose they will require quick feet and the most delicate hands to have any kind of control on ball, but then some dirty and psychedelic shots should be possible…
 

emhtennis

Hall of Fame
Anyone play with the Dunlop CX 400 Tour? I ordered a demo a few months back but got sidelined and had to return it without playing it. I got one used at the end of last week and was able to hit with it this morning. What a comfortable and forgiving racquet. And the CX line's red PJs are a beaut.
@topspn has one, and I have hit with it. It is very nice, but hard to stand out amongst the crowd. Dunlop grip shape is great though, and the right string could make it special.

I'm a sucker for a good box beam so i felt right at home. Another outsider to try is the Furi Arma Pro. It is a fat box beam shaped with a "Gravity-esque" teardrop head.
 

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
I’m liking the leather grip in the XTD. Could use a bit of stability at 3 and 9 with the extra whippiness but I def feel bogged down.

Razor soft is interesting. It is RPM esque maybe with slightly more feel a lot less bite. Kind of a point and shoot string. In the Whiteout it’s a bit firm but I enjoy it. Launch angle quite low but at 40 lbs it feels great with a clean cut at the ball. 17g broke in 2 hours tho weirdly. Must be the coating enhancing string movement
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
First better sampling of the Regna. It's really nice. Clean, smooth. Feel is not Old Head Special for me, but it's very good, especially for a Yonex. This is with the stringjob it came with; now I'd like to go with my strings and a lower tension, which is where the racquet supposedly goes up a level.

No indication the Inner Circle of Heads has anything to worry about, but still fun and worth further testing.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Regna is a great yonex frame. It just isn’t as good a feel as a Head and it doesn’t bring enough magic for me to justify maining it. But it’s a master crafted katana with beautiful balance.

Speaking of masterclass I’m currently watching lebron from club suites and it’s something else to see a legend live in the flesh. He’s still amazing even in his late 30s.
 

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
Regna is a great yonex frame. It just isn’t as good a feel as a Head and it doesn’t bring enough magic for me to justify maining it. But it’s a master crafted katana with beautiful balance.

Speaking of masterclass I’m currently watching lebron from club suites and it’s something else to see a legend live in the flesh. He’s still amazing even in his late 30s.
im rooting for the Lakers simply because they took down the Dubs, but the Nuggets squad deserve a ring too
 

topspn

G.O.A.T.
@topspn has one, and I have hit with it. It is very nice, but hard to stand out amongst the crowd. Dunlop grip shape is great though, and the right string could make it special.

I'm a sucker for a good box beam so i felt right at home. Another outsider to try is the Furi Arma Pro. It is a fat box beam shaped with a "Gravity-esque" teardrop head.
Yeah, pretty good stick and I don't think I have found the optimum setup for it. One area that really stand out is how good of a volley stick it is.
 

Vicious49

Legend
First better sampling of the Regna. It's really nice. Clean, smooth. Feel is not Old Head Special for me, but it's very good, especially for a Yonex. This is with the stringjob it came with; now I'd like to go with my strings and a lower tension, which is where the racquet supposedly goes up a level.

No indication the Inner Circle of Heads has anything to worry about, but still fun and worth further testing.
The Regna wont have UT level feel (im guesing thats what old Head feel is like) but its better than other YY nowadays. Like you said its very clean and direct without any VDM. Ive come to realize I love it for the BH slice. With a lot of frames thats a defensive shot for me. Whereas with the Regna it quickly turns in to an offensive shot when needed. On th FH side it really requires the RHS that I dont yet possess to truly shine.
 
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Deleted member 775108

Guest
First better sampling of the Regna. It's really nice. Clean, smooth. Feel is not Old Head Special for me, but it's very good, especially for a Yonex. This is with the stringjob it came with; now I'd like to go with my strings and a lower tension, which is where the racquet supposedly goes up a level.

No indication the Inner Circle of Heads has anything to worry about, but still fun and worth further testing.

@JGads - Is that a negative review masquerading as a positive one? :-D
 

skeeter

Professional
Regna is a great yonex frame. It just isn’t as good a feel as a Head and it doesn’t bring enough magic for me to justify maining it. But it’s a master crafted katana with beautiful balance.

Speaking of masterclass I’m currently watching lebron from club suites and it’s something else to see a legend live in the flesh. He’s still amazing even in his late 30s.
Heckuva game, with quite the comeback by the Lakers. Joker isn't Lebron, but impressive in his own right. Club suites? Nice.
 
Jokic has to be my favorite NBA player. He is incredible to watch in person, his body control and balance is on another level. Davis couldn't handle him.
Make sure you watch this Euroleagues finals. You'll understand first-hand, why Luka and the Joker find it so easy to score.
1) No defensive 3 second violation in the paint in Euroleague, so the paint is packed. In the NBA, Luka can drive the ball so easily, reminds me of Bodiroga. Slow drives, but always in balance and effective.
2) Huge NBA fan. Can't watch regular season games nowadays, due to the bulk of 3s and no-system offenses. I used to download games played the previous day to watch after my University classes. Now, I only watch a few Saturday and Sunday games that begin 22:30 here in Greece.
Regna is a great yonex frame. It just isn’t as good a feel as a Head and it doesn’t bring enough magic for me to justify maining it. But it’s a master crafted katana with beautiful balance.

Speaking of masterclass I’m currently watching lebron from club suites and it’s something else to see a legend live in the flesh. He’s still amazing even in his late 30s.
LeShannon Sharpe approves this post!

PROS TO JJ Reddick for cooking those "journalists". Speaks two languages: English and Facts!
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
@JGads - Is that a negative review masquerading as a positive one? :-D
Haha, I know exactly what you mean, but no no. If I didn't like it I would say so. I like it. But it's more of a "OK, solid, but I don't expect bag disruption" in the long run vs a Tennis Spin-ish "This is THE racquet" kind of vibe after first hit. Also, I'll never forgive Harry for the fact that I keep thinking of the word "Reyna."
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Trained with the Nemesis today and extremely happy: rust aplenty, and served at 75-80 percent, but got through hitting and a practice set (2-6) with enough "OK, it's coming back" moments to leave me very pleased. Mainly because I'm not in pain, just a little sore. Today we were back to MSF Heads, the side testing will continue another day when some new laces are in.

Side note: the weird looking Mizuno Enforce Tours are great shoes. Wide Foot Friendly.
 
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Deleted member 775108

Guest
Haha, I know exactly what you mean, but no no. If I didn't like it I would say so. I like it. But it's more of a "OK, solid, but I don't expect bag disruption" in the long run vs a Tennis Spin-ish "This is THE racquet" kind of vibe after first hit. Also, I'll never forgive Harry for the fact that I keep thinking of the word "Reyna."

Anyone wants the over-under on if JGads keeps this racquet for more than 3 weeks?

overunder.jpg


Atleast you have a ready buyer waiting on this thread.... What is better than 1 Reyna? 10 Reynas

7m4h1l.jpg
 

veelium

Hall of Fame
Haha, I know exactly what you mean, but no no. If I didn't like it I would say so. I like it. But it's more of a "OK, solid, but I don't expect bag disruption" in the long run vs a Tennis Spin-ish "This is THE racquet" kind of vibe after first hit. Also, I'll never forgive Harry for the fact that I keep thinking of the word "Reyna."
Either way, if you don't like the racquet enough to keep it, I think you have to send it on a tour across europe so that every holic can test it :unsure:
For science
 

Kozzy

Hall of Fame
A classic holic outing this morning - almost hilarious in how perfect it was. I got a couple of those SMP300s a while ago for $50 each, and decided to lead them up to about 335SW/340g and take 'em for a spin. They came strung with Firewire, which I haven't played, but I decided to give it a go. In warmups, it felt great. I started the match serving, and held at love - feeling pretty good at that point. Then, I lost the next 4 games. The ball was just not going where I was expecting it to! So, I switched to my heavier PSVS (342g/340SW/32cm balance), lost the next game to go down 1-5, before winning the next 6 games in a row. I stuck with the PSVS for the 2nd set and won that one 6-4, staying in the lead for most of the set.

I do think I could play with the SMP300s if I got used to it - but I don't know if I will spend too much more time with it. I did manage to get my hands on a couple Auxetic Gravity Tours, which I've heard great things about, and am excited to try. Should have those strung up and ready to try over the weekend perhaps. Can it break into the Babolat monopoly in my bag? We shall see.
 

EggSalad

Hall of Fame
A classic holic outing this morning - almost hilarious in how perfect it was. I got a couple of those SMP300s a while ago for $50 each, and decided to lead them up to about 335SW/340g and take 'em for a spin. They came strung with Firewire, which I haven't played, but I decided to give it a go. In warmups, it felt great. I started the match serving, and held at love - feeling pretty good at that point. Then, I lost the next 4 games. The ball was just not going where I was expecting it to! So, I switched to my heavier PSVS (342g/340SW/32cm balance), lost the next game to go down 1-5, before winning the next 6 games in a row. I stuck with the PSVS for the 2nd set and won that one 6-4, staying in the lead for most of the set.

I do think I could play with the SMP300s if I got used to it - but I don't know if I will spend too much more time with it. I did manage to get my hands on a couple Auxetic Gravity Tours, which I've heard great things about, and am excited to try. Should have those strung up and ready to try over the weekend perhaps. Can it break into the Babolat monopoly in my bag? We shall see.
FireWire is the most unpredictable string I’ve ever played with and that is even in a hyrbid set up. The same swing could produce a ball where you wanted it to go and that exact same swing could send the ball 10 feet past the baseline. It’s basically a non starter to volley with.
 

Kozzy

Hall of Fame
FireWire is the most unpredictable string I’ve ever played with and that is even in a hyrbid set up. The same swing could produce a ball where you wanted it to go and that exact same swing could send the ball 10 feet past the baseline. It’s basically a non starter to volley with.
Wow - I did not know that - interesting. What I was pretty shocked by was how many shots I was putting in the net - the string pattern is pretty open so I was thinking I'd get some launch, but no. I will have to give it a go with another string setup maybe.
 

Vicious49

Legend
Top Spin Pro arrived yesterday. It's interesting that on the BH side I'm putting a ton of spin on the ball and it feels very natural hitting on the TopSpinPro. The FH side on the other hand is a different story. Sometimes I get spin, other times I don't. I realize sometime I put more of a weird side spin from the FH side and not always the perfect top spin. That side spin doesn't work at all on the TSP.
 

Yamin

Hall of Fame
Wilson rep came by and I went through the whole Wilson lineup aside from the shift 315 / pro labs offerings.

Blades and Clashes definitely a step backwards. Ultra and ProStaff improved. Shift best of the bunch.
 
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Vicious49

Legend
I surprisingly still think about Shift 315 from my playtest a few weeks ago. I may still pick one up down the road at some point for an extended playtest. I liked it everywhere except for serves. Felt super stable and had a good amount of power to it.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Either way, if you don't like the racquet enough to keep it, I think you have to send it on a tour across europe so that every holic can test it :unsure:
For science

I hope this happens. Regnas are not easy to track down in the wild.


Also, Rune baby! Why do I like this guy so much? I think it has to be his heart on the court. Yes he can be a brat but the guy never quits out there. Also he gives really insightful answers in his interviews. Love the GenZ transparency about tactics.
 

Fintft

G.O.A.T.
I surprisingly still think about Shift 315 from my playtest a few weeks ago. I may still pick one up down the road at some point for an extended playtest. I liked it everywhere except for serves. Felt super stable and had a good amount of power to it.
And did you say that you also strung the Shift 300 with poly and added some weight to the hoop?
 

djNEiGht

Legend
Top Spin Pro arrived yesterday. It's interesting that on the BH side I'm putting a ton of spin on the ball and it feels very natural hitting on the TopSpinPro. The FH side on the other hand is a different story. Sometimes I get spin, other times I don't. I realize sometime I put more of a weird side spin from the FH side and not always the perfect top spin. That side spin doesn't work at all on the TSP.
IMO it's a nice tool when teaching or learning top spin mechanics....but i don't like my swing path to be the way TSP enforces. I still have a low to high swing path but I like to strike through the ball more.

This is really helpful when working with adult beginners (kids too) that don't swing through the shot.
 

Fighting phoenix

Professional
I surprisingly still think about Shift 315 from my playtest a few weeks ago. I may still pick one up down the road at some point for an extended playtest. I liked it everywhere except for serves. Felt super stable and had a good amount of power to it.
For what it's worth - I went on a racquet journey this winter and now that the summer season is upon us, sticking with the Shift 315 as my competitive match stick. Last night was my first match of the year, and on paper I played someone with my same tennisrecord level (strong 4.0/weak 4.5), and I beat him 6-2, 6-0. My groundies are much stronger / deeper with the plow through I'm getting with this stick, and overall super stable with volleys, touch on drop and finesse shots are great, etc. - I'm loving the shift 315.

For a 51 yr old former college player like myself it seems perfect - still a player's stick, but more help than with a prestige or gravity pro w/ spin and power, similar weight and balance that my body is used to from my college days. Even though it's stiff, I think it's way better w/ my muscle memory than these 300g sticks. My pure strike and radical mp were giving me arm issues, no issues with this one.
 

Vicious49

Legend
And did you say that you also strung the Shift 300 with poly and added some weight to the hoop?
I had a TW demo of the 300 at the same time but immediately didn't like it as much as the 315.

IMO it's a nice tool when teaching or learning top spin mechanics....but i don't like my swing path to be the way TSP enforces. I still have a low to high swing path but I like to strike through the ball more.

This is really helpful when working with adult beginners (kids too) that don't swing through the shot.
That's what this guy was saying in his video. He sometimes recommends taking the top guide off as it's not really representative of what higher level players are doing - which is hitting through the ball more than coming up that steep an angle.

 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Anyone have experience with the Vcore 100 Plus 2021?

No but a 333 SW at 3 pts HL to me would be a huge b--ch to swing. The EZ98+ was nice, but you can definitely feel the balance on that one too.

I personally like the SW on XLs in the high 320s with a 6pts HL or more balance. Makes the frame feel a lot more like a standard for me, but I get all that extra power.
 

flyhome

Semi-Pro
No but a 333 SW at 3 pts HL to me would be a huge b--ch to swing. The EZ98+ was nice, but you can definitely feel the balance on that one too.

I personally like the SW on XLs in the high 320s with a 6pts HL or more balance. Makes the frame feel a lot more like a standard for me, but I get all that extra power.

exactly what I was thinking too, thanks
 

flyhome

Semi-Pro
Oh no. Was there an argument during the walk through the vineyard?

not at all, the 4th date went very well, probably the Walk in vineyard helped lol

A brand new pair of the 2021 Vcore 100+ have been offered to a friend of mine...I have experience with XL but with head light balance, 33 cm unstrung sounds a bit crazy
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
not at all, the 4th date went very well, probably the Walk in vineyard helped lol

A brand new pair of the 2021 Vcore 100+ have been offered to a friend of mine...I have experience with XL but with head light balance, 33 cm unstrung sounds a bit crazy
Good good.

All I can offer is that the last VCore 100 was a murderer of serves to a comical level. I can only imagine the Plus would be even more comical, as long as the balance wasn't too HH to make it clunky.
 
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