tim-ay
Hall of Fame
"Dad, grandma's from Chicago"
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
Bublik and Moutet officially with Tecnifibre:
* of course, Moutet on the second photo has some lead at 6 o'clock. I'd bet on the throat too and everywhere else to make the hollow-feeling TX-F1 300 much less hollow and more beafed up with weight.
* of course, Moutet on the second photo has some lead at 6 o'clock. I'd bet on the throat too and everywhere else to make the hollow-feeling TX-F1 300 much less hollow and more beafed up with weight.
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
Bublik using the butt cap and handle as usual
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I figured. Three-day weekends fly by.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
The review you’ve all been waiting for. A player with a herniated disk that most likely will require surgery that hasn’t picked up a racquet since mid March, drop hitting balls with the EZ98.
Not much real feedback to share but I love this racquet right away. I think I tend to like muted frames even with somewhat muted polys. But the EZ98 feels very natural to me and well, quite easy. I like the lower 18x20esque launch angle as well. It’s got that low swingweight vibe that lets you whip the tip around and the ability to create angles seems plentiful.
Poly Tour Rev was pretty great feeling in this racquet while hyper g soft felt a little too muted or something.
This was really more of a mental health exercise than anything.
Not much real feedback to share but I love this racquet right away. I think I tend to like muted frames even with somewhat muted polys. But the EZ98 feels very natural to me and well, quite easy. I like the lower 18x20esque launch angle as well. It’s got that low swingweight vibe that lets you whip the tip around and the ability to create angles seems plentiful.
Poly Tour Rev was pretty great feeling in this racquet while hyper g soft felt a little too muted or something.
This was really more of a mental health exercise than anything.
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KC!
Professional
I believe it was extended also, 27.5. It must have been very head heavy, a real hammer!
JGads
G.O.A.T.
She would love the Fedora in its original form, the stock specs are/were 28 inches and 295 grams, 330sw strung. Just a little tweaking there and she'd be thrilled. I've said this before, but the person who came up with the Fedora in its original form was either a genius or completely high, or maybe a combo of both.
tim-ay
Hall of Fame
tim-ay
Hall of Fame
Gawd this might send me fedora hunting. What other rackets are sub 300 static with that kind of SW?
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Don't have a Fedora, but the Shift 300 is easy to get to 325Sw and great to play with.
tim-ay
Hall of Fame
lol, c'mon. apples and orangutans. The PA+ is great to play with. I'm not looking for apples.
I hit the shift for an hour this week, and am surprised you are championing it after your affair with the BP. It was good enough, but way different of a frame than the BP for sure. Flex felt weird in heavier rallying, and in the end the blade V8 18x20 still felt better to me.
gold325
Hall of Fame
BLX Tour / Tour Limited
95si
16x20
289g unstrung
340mm unstrung
340+ SW strung
She promoted this just before she retired
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tim-ay
Hall of Fame
is that extended? if it's 27.25 or 27.5, i might add this to the hunt. google time...
BLX Tour Limited
95si
16x20
289g unstrung
340mm unstrung
340+ SW strung
She promoted this just before she retired
gold325
Hall of Fame
Yes
Tour was 27.25
Tour Limited was 27.5
When I was on my 16x20 trip that is all I would look for 16x20 racquets and I was drawn by the paintjob. There was also a Orange/white version...
Nishikori might have used this initially as well.
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tim-ay
Hall of Fame
I'd love to hit that Tour Limited. I don't think I'm man enough to play with it ..... but something that would be fun to have around
Can always order a 290g Angell at 28in...
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
So, my Elevate V2 FS98 305 is perfectly on spec.
How much underspeced the V3 Tour Elevate I've found online must be to be 329 grams strung?
How much underspeced the V3 Tour Elevate I've found online must be to be 329 grams strung?
gold325
Hall of Fame
The low static weight makes it more playable than you might think - all depends on what spec you receive.
It's been in multiple threads all the time. Anytime anyone discusses frames he mentions the Shift 300. I demo'd it and immediately put it down in favor of the Shift 315.
gold325
Hall of Fame
Yes he is constantly Shift 300 name dropping everywhere..... But cant it be that he just likes it better after getting used to it and setting it up in a way where it produces results for him?
The Shift 300 is probably a much better racquet for most recreational players than the Blade Pro and I contend that for someone willing to put in the time to adjust to flex and spend time on racket setup will produce better results.
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JGads
G.O.A.T.
Welcome everyone, to the Gads Tuesday Funhouse. Your visit begins with the same offer your host was given beforehand: "They have indoor and outdoor clay. What do you think? Which would you prefer?" Well, I don't know about you, but I can tell you this Gadsby thought it over. Said, "I mean, the tennis will be better indoors, but since it's just a training session rather than a match, maybe best to throw ourselves out into the elements to make it as hard on us as possible? Plus, the vibe."
Here was the vibe: a court made of dry pebbles more than smooth crushed brick. A High Noon Sun right in the eyes. And the kicker: howling, gusty winds. Yay! Step right up! To top it off, this was Gads' first outdoor session of the season, and the guy on the other side was the in-form Nemesis, winning matches aplenty of late. He'd suggested these courts even if they were well outside the city, because they're just so cheap.(spoiler alert: Gadsby will never return here again)
In the bag: the Gravity Pro and trusty Prestige in the business compartment, and in the sidecar "emergency use only" pocket sat LeGads and an Auxetic Prestige Tour. That Auxetic Tour and the Gravity Pro: these were on borrow from Pioline. The agenda: test the GP vs the Prestige.
But this lab, folks. It was laughable. The bounces off those pebbles sent the ball shooting up or sideways at will, all the time. Several times a ball shot straight left or right merely on the ball bounce before a serve. That’s when you know things are really good. Then the wind gusts would take the tosses every which way. And the sun. And then more gusts mid-"rally"; each player missed one groundstroke completely, and simply keeled over and laughed. One ball was inexplicably raptured.
The score? Ok the score was 3-6 (two breaks) in the first with the GP, then 1-6 in the second with the Prestige and Artengo - even though here Gads was actually feeling his serves and groundies way better with these than the other, all of these games quite tight in spite of how they ended. But yeah, all of this only became increasingly ridiculous by the minute, and as such the emergency pocket was indeed opened, though this was less "emergency" and more "F it, nothing will come of today."
The Gravity Pro was very solid again in the midst of the circus. Its only knock was a hysterical run of peppering the pebbles just beyond the service line. Just couldn't find the box, and this was even whilst going for 80-90 percent serves and huge targets due to the conditions. Probably just need to adjust to how the head comes down, need more snap and cowbell, but mainly it must have been the conditions combined with the unfamiliarity. Only if serving with the GP in better conditions yields problems again will it actually be 'a thing.'
So, nothing at all to be taken away. The lab broken, all results null and void. Even that Auxetic Tour with its 338 sw was brought out at the very end when a few extra games could be squeezed, and Gads won those dumb games 2-1. If he had never played tennis before in his life, only based on today he might’ve ranked these sticks LeGads, Auxetic Tour, Prestige.1, Gravity Pro, but surely we know this isn't the real order. Maybe the only thing again confirmed was that LeGads is a really great clay frame in terrible conditions, which is why it was there.
So anyway, folks. If you've made it this far, well I'm sorry. Just forget that you read all this. That this place exists. Just as Gadsby must forget this too.
Tennis is still the best though, ain’t it?
And Monday? Monday another of the Pioline Frames will be sampled. Just got it back from the stringer. Unsure for how long it'll be hit, as the GP remains the scientific focus. But in that mix, just for some old school fun, yes there will be this. Why not:
Here was the vibe: a court made of dry pebbles more than smooth crushed brick. A High Noon Sun right in the eyes. And the kicker: howling, gusty winds. Yay! Step right up! To top it off, this was Gads' first outdoor session of the season, and the guy on the other side was the in-form Nemesis, winning matches aplenty of late. He'd suggested these courts even if they were well outside the city, because they're just so cheap.
In the bag: the Gravity Pro and trusty Prestige in the business compartment, and in the sidecar "emergency use only" pocket sat LeGads and an Auxetic Prestige Tour. That Auxetic Tour and the Gravity Pro: these were on borrow from Pioline. The agenda: test the GP vs the Prestige.
But this lab, folks. It was laughable. The bounces off those pebbles sent the ball shooting up or sideways at will, all the time. Several times a ball shot straight left or right merely on the ball bounce before a serve. That’s when you know things are really good. Then the wind gusts would take the tosses every which way. And the sun. And then more gusts mid-"rally"; each player missed one groundstroke completely, and simply keeled over and laughed. One ball was inexplicably raptured.
The score? Ok the score was 3-6 (two breaks) in the first with the GP, then 1-6 in the second with the Prestige and Artengo - even though here Gads was actually feeling his serves and groundies way better with these than the other, all of these games quite tight in spite of how they ended. But yeah, all of this only became increasingly ridiculous by the minute, and as such the emergency pocket was indeed opened, though this was less "emergency" and more "F it, nothing will come of today."
The Gravity Pro was very solid again in the midst of the circus. Its only knock was a hysterical run of peppering the pebbles just beyond the service line. Just couldn't find the box, and this was even whilst going for 80-90 percent serves and huge targets due to the conditions. Probably just need to adjust to how the head comes down, need more snap and cowbell, but mainly it must have been the conditions combined with the unfamiliarity. Only if serving with the GP in better conditions yields problems again will it actually be 'a thing.'
So, nothing at all to be taken away. The lab broken, all results null and void. Even that Auxetic Tour with its 338 sw was brought out at the very end when a few extra games could be squeezed, and Gads won those dumb games 2-1. If he had never played tennis before in his life, only based on today he might’ve ranked these sticks LeGads, Auxetic Tour, Prestige.1, Gravity Pro, but surely we know this isn't the real order. Maybe the only thing again confirmed was that LeGads is a really great clay frame in terrible conditions, which is why it was there.
So anyway, folks. If you've made it this far, well I'm sorry. Just forget that you read all this. That this place exists. Just as Gadsby must forget this too.
Tennis is still the best though, ain’t it?
And Monday? Monday another of the Pioline Frames will be sampled. Just got it back from the stringer. Unsure for how long it'll be hit, as the GP remains the scientific focus. But in that mix, just for some old school fun, yes there will be this. Why not:
KC!
Professional
He's passionate about the Shift 300, just like he used to be about the BP. I'm sure he has it leaded up quite a bit.
All good, we all are looking for our unicorn
I'm hoping these 2 Aero +'s are the last racquets I buy for a while.
But the holic in me knows better, JGads & Richard Pioline have me thinking about the GP again...
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tim-ay
Hall of Fame
I'm looking for novelty frames because the +'s are just so good for my game. that GP almost fits into the novelty frame category. modern, goofy lollipop, with old school feel in an 18/20? and cheap? nice set of attributes.He's passionate about the Shift 300, just like he used to be about the BP. I'm sure is has it leaded up quite a bit.
All good, we all are looking for our unicorn
I'm hoping these 2 Aero +'s are the last racquets I buy for a while.
But the holic in me knows better, JGads & Richard Pioline have me thinking about the GP again...
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
The rack pack interior Velcro divider thing is a little tricky eh
tim-ay
Hall of Fame
Just a little. It sticks to everything. You just have to go into it looking for a fight. Just remember the taller interior end is opposite the shoe tunnel
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
I can even fit a full shoe box in here. Y’all weren’t kidding. This is gonna be great for carrying all the things I need for clients and friends
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
Like we Greeks say: The video or it never happened!!!Welcome everyone, to the Gads Tuesday Funhouse. Your visit begins with the same offer your host was given beforehand: "They have indoor and outdoor clay. What do you think? Which would you prefer?" Well, I don't know about you, but I can tell you this Gadsby thought it over. Said, "I mean, the tennis will be better indoors, but since it's just a training session rather than a match, maybe best to throw ourselves out into the elements to make it as hard on us as possible? Plus, the vibe."
Here was the vibe: a court made of dry pebbles more than smooth crushed brick. A High Noon Sun right in the eyes. And the kicker: howling, gusty winds. Yay! Step right up! To top it off, this was Gads' first outdoor session of the season, and the guy on the other side was the in-form Nemesis, winning matches aplenty of late. He'd suggested these courts even if they were well outside the city, because they're just so cheap.(spoiler alert: Gadsby will never return here again)
In the bag: the Gravity Pro and trusty Prestige in the business compartment, and in the sidecar "emergency use only" pocket sat LeGads and an Auxetic Prestige Tour. That Auxetic Tour and the Gravity Pro: these were on borrow from Pioline. The agenda: test the GP vs the Prestige.
But this lab, folks. It was laughable. The bounces off those pebbles sent the ball shooting up or sideways at will, all the time. Several times a ball shot straight left or right merely on the ball bounce before a serve. That’s when you know things are really good. Then the wind gusts would take the tosses every which way. And the sun. And then more gusts mid-"rally"; each player missed one groundstroke completely, and simply keeled over and laughed. One ball was inexplicably raptured.
The score? Ok the score was 3-6 (two breaks) in the first with the GP, then 1-6 in the second with the Prestige and Artengo - even though here Gads was actually feeling his serves and groundies way better with these than the other, all of these games quite tight in spite of how they ended. But yeah, all of this only became increasingly ridiculous by the minute, and as such the emergency pocket was indeed opened, though this was less "emergency" and more "F it, nothing will come of today."
The Gravity Pro was very solid again in the midst of the circus. Its only knock was a hysterical run of peppering the pebbles just beyond the service line. Just couldn't find the box, and this was even whilst going for 80-90 percent serves and huge targets due to the conditions. Probably just need to adjust to how the head comes down, need more snap and cowbell, but mainly it must have been the conditions combined with the unfamiliarity. Only if serving with the GP in better conditions yields problems again will it actually be 'a thing.'
So, nothing at all to be taken away. The lab broken, all results null and void. Even that Auxetic Tour with its 338 sw was brought out at the very end when a few extra games could be squeezed, and Gads won those dumb games 2-1. If he had never played tennis before in his life, only based on today he might’ve ranked these sticks LeGads, Auxetic Tour, Prestige.1, Gravity Pro, but surely we know this isn't the real order. Maybe the only thing again confirmed was that LeGads is a really great clay frame in terrible conditions, which is why it was there.
So anyway, folks. If you've made it this far, well I'm sorry. Just forget that you read all this. That this place exists. Just as Gadsby must forget this too.
Tennis is still the best though, ain’t it?
And Monday? Monday another of the Pioline Frames will be sampled. Just got it back from the stringer. Unsure for how long it'll be hit, as the GP remains the scientific focus. But in that mix, just for some old school fun, yes there will be this. Why not:
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Shift 315 or 300? If the latter, it needs weight to the hoop.
I can yeld easier the Shift 300 at 325sw than the BP 16M at 335sw ( both 330-332g), including in heavy rallies. And I am much more consistent with my 1HBH.
The power trade is there, true, but not a big delta.
People say the 315 flexes more and I don't really feel it in the 300, just the end result: power and spin.
I would use the BP in doubles and against pushers, to crush balls
It's a pain getting it set up initially because as already been said, it sticks to everything. My only nitpick about this one is that the lip for the top lid/cover also covers up the zippers. So I'm having to feel all around trying to figure out where the zippers are. The LaCoste one didn't have that extra lip.
Demos should be delivered today.
I'm just really glad I finally found a good coach. We see eye to eye on a lot of things. The last guy was like you're doing these 6 things wrong and tried to change them all at once. This one is like let's fix 1 thing at a time.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
My Shift would be a chimp vs your orangutan, still strong.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Good for you and not true, as I was talking to a 5.0-5.5...
No offense intended, but I've already asked you if you swing fast and relaxed and if you added weight to the hoop of the 300?
@Richard Pioline found some Shift 315 at 352sw, that's unplayable, imo.
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KC!
Professional
I'm sensing an expensive divorce coming from your loved Regna.
I have a great memory and I don't make up facts. These are all from the last week or so. There were more but below are the more obvious ones.
I 'demo'd' the frame and immediately preferred the 315. Meaning I didn't change strings. I didn't add lead. Why would I? I don't look at a sedan and an SUV and go, well maybe if I added a roof rack and bigger tires to the sedan and took out the back seat . . .
It's great that you are in love with the Shift 300 but you do try to push it any chance you get.
tim-ay
Hall of Fame
My shift 315 was around 333SW. It was awesome, but not enough to displace the BP. I hit the 300 for just a few min, so kinda worthless test. But I don't think it was enough to upset the BP either. You never know...... I didn't think the PA+ would either. I just bought it because of the new string pattern, my love of XL's, my flirtation with the Blue Black but wanting something a little faster, and it bit really hard. Never expected a full switch, but here we are.
I think we all look for these subtle things to bring confidence and pleasure. There is no doubt I am more confident serving with the PA+ than anything since maybe the 2015 PD+. Although I was like 15-3 in BP match play last fall, so it's not like I played badly with it at all. I was very confident with it. Now that I'm really grooving with the PA+, I think Im playing a slightly higher level, but you never really know especially given the sh** conditions I've been playing in for weeks (wind, wet, clay, wet... meh...).
I think this can be said about any racket each of us commit to for whatever reason. You stick for awhile and it becomes second nature. The PA+ did that very quickly for me. Just a great fit for my game and the way I like to play in my head too.
Nah, I don't think so. If I ever decide to move on from the Regnas they'd be easy to sell and not lose much money over.
Most of these demos are more curiosity based than anything else. I'm going to a racquet strip club but I'll come home to the Regna. I mean how do you cheat on Heidi Klum in her prime? I may however end up with a VC95 mistress on the side.
Demos got delivered. The Gpro and v14 RF97 both have a SW of 330. Should be a fun comparison. The VC95 came in at 316 and the Vcell V1 Pro is 314.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
If there had been a camera rolling, it would have tumbled away.
This is very true. We can get used to anything but we all have preferences. But those also change as our game changes and evolves. I've come to realize I prefer whippier frames that allow me to hit angles and it needs to be good on the BH slice. I prefer control over power. It'd be great to have both but given a choice I always gravitate towards control.
Our preferences, affinities and relations to racquets are all so individual, but in my one outing with the GPro so far (huge sample set), the serving was amazing. I don't think I'm capable of serving any better, to the point where I almost wished I was serving worse to get more rallies happening. Not really, but almostWelcome everyone, to the Gads Tuesday Funhouse. Your visit begins with the same offer your host was given beforehand: "They have indoor and outdoor clay. What do you think? Which would you prefer?" Well, I don't know about you, but I can tell you this Gadsby thought it over. Said, "I mean, the tennis will be better indoors, but since it's just a training session rather than a match, maybe best to throw ourselves out into the elements to make it as hard on us as possible? Plus, the vibe."
Here was the vibe: a court made of dry pebbles more than smooth crushed brick. A High Noon Sun right in the eyes. And the kicker: howling, gusty winds. Yay! Step right up! To top it off, this was Gads' first outdoor session of the season, and the guy on the other side was the in-form Nemesis, winning matches aplenty of late. He'd suggested these courts even if they were well outside the city, because they're just so cheap.(spoiler alert: Gadsby will never return here again)
In the bag: the Gravity Pro and trusty Prestige in the business compartment, and in the sidecar "emergency use only" pocket sat LeGads and an Auxetic Prestige Tour. That Auxetic Tour and the Gravity Pro: these were on borrow from Pioline. The agenda: test the GP vs the Prestige.
But this lab, folks. It was laughable. The bounces off those pebbles sent the ball shooting up or sideways at will, all the time. Several times a ball shot straight left or right merely on the ball bounce before a serve. That’s when you know things are really good. Then the wind gusts would take the tosses every which way. And the sun. And then more gusts mid-"rally"; each player missed one groundstroke completely, and simply keeled over and laughed. One ball was inexplicably raptured.
The score? Ok the score was 3-6 (two breaks) in the first with the GP, then 1-6 in the second with the Prestige and Artengo - even though here Gads was actually feeling his serves and groundies way better with these than the other, all of these games quite tight in spite of how they ended. But yeah, all of this only became increasingly ridiculous by the minute, and as such the emergency pocket was indeed opened, though this was less "emergency" and more "F it, nothing will come of today."
The Gravity Pro was very solid again in the midst of the circus. Its only knock was a hysterical run of peppering the pebbles just beyond the service line. Just couldn't find the box, and this was even whilst going for 80-90 percent serves and huge targets due to the conditions. Probably just need to adjust to how the head comes down, need more snap and cowbell, but mainly it must have been the conditions combined with the unfamiliarity. Only if serving with the GP in better conditions yields problems again will it actually be 'a thing.'
So, nothing at all to be taken away. The lab broken, all results null and void. Even that Auxetic Tour with its 338 sw was brought out at the very end when a few extra games could be squeezed, and Gads won those dumb games 2-1. If he had never played tennis before in his life, only based on today he might’ve ranked these sticks LeGads, Auxetic Tour, Prestige.1, Gravity Pro, but surely we know this isn't the real order. Maybe the only thing again confirmed was that LeGads is a really great clay frame in terrible conditions, which is why it was there.
So anyway, folks. If you've made it this far, well I'm sorry. Just forget that you read all this. That this place exists. Just as Gadsby must forget this too.
Tennis is still the best though, ain’t it?
And Monday? Monday another of the Pioline Frames will be sampled. Just got it back from the stringer. Unsure for how long it'll be hit, as the GP remains the scientific focus. But in that mix, just for some old school fun, yes there will be this. Why not:
I thought I was falling in love with the Gravity Tour, but it turns out that was just softening me up for a full fledged affair with the Pro - amazing stuff. I got a smokin' deal on a few hardly used ones and those are on the way. This is getting serious.I should have paid more attention to @Power Player when he was singing the GPro praises so long ago. Would have saved me a lot of time and $, but on the other hand, I was probably not ready for it then. Ah well...
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
By nature I don’t really like to serve and volley but when nothing is going right from the start, I just start doing it. Even against good players who burn me with some nice passing shots early on, it still seems to eventually wear them down and allow me to get some mojo flowing. I wish I knew what created these bad days where I can’t hit a single forehand or backhand to save my life.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Loving the GP resurgence here. What a cool racquet, and a joy to serve with. That said I sold mine, simply because I made a lot of decisions that were painful because I had way too many frames. Even the Fx500 is gone now and that is F'n amazing tweener. Highly recommend that one if you are not a Pure Aero fan but want something in the tweener class.
GP is not a perfect fit for me since I like a little more lift and topspin but it is still the Head frame I would choose in the current lineup.
I hate to keep saying this, but the GP is screaming for gut poly. The durability should be there but it is also not that powerful so the gut would just enhance the power and the feel would be mind bendingly good, I believe. Someone needs to try this and thank me later.
Anyway, just my thoughts as I was really impressed by the GP and Im glad to see it getting more fans.
I am still learning how to wield the PA+. By that I mean, developing my game around it and making it instinctual. I am hitting very heavy from the back, and getting a lot of winners, but also working in drop shots and slice approach and throwing in serve and volley. Its a lot. Only real way to get this down is playing a lot and using the same frame because mastering the touch shots just takes time and practice. Pretty much all in on G/P moving forward and in fact, that has changed tennis for me in quite a positive way.
GP is not a perfect fit for me since I like a little more lift and topspin but it is still the Head frame I would choose in the current lineup.
I hate to keep saying this, but the GP is screaming for gut poly. The durability should be there but it is also not that powerful so the gut would just enhance the power and the feel would be mind bendingly good, I believe. Someone needs to try this and thank me later.
Anyway, just my thoughts as I was really impressed by the GP and Im glad to see it getting more fans.
I am still learning how to wield the PA+. By that I mean, developing my game around it and making it instinctual. I am hitting very heavy from the back, and getting a lot of winners, but also working in drop shots and slice approach and throwing in serve and volley. Its a lot. Only real way to get this down is playing a lot and using the same frame because mastering the touch shots just takes time and practice. Pretty much all in on G/P moving forward and in fact, that has changed tennis for me in quite a positive way.
As I just wrote, our preferences change since our games are always evolving. Especially for us rec players as we continue to improve or change different swings and aspects of our game.
I tried the GPro about 3 years ago. It just felt sluggish to me. But of course that was before the SW1 and before we knew the key to the GPro was getting and underspec'd one.
I'll have to keep that in mind. I do that tactic in doubles sometimes if my partner is being too passive. I don't think I have a big enough serve for it to be effective in singles.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Talk to me dirty.Our preferences, affinities and relations to racquets are all so individual, but in my one outing with the GPro so far (huge sample set), the serving was amazing. I don't think I'm capable of serving any better, to the point where I almost wished I was serving worse to get more rallies happening. Not really, but almost
I should have paid more attention to @Power Player when he was singing the GPro praises so long ago. Would have saved me a lot of time and $, but on the other hand, I was probably not ready for it then. Ah well...
I do expect the serves to come. When the time is right. Today, it wasn’t ready. I respect that. Maybe Date 3.
tim-ay
Hall of Fame
Hahaha. This is so messed up. Like I need help going into the abyss… my wife already calls me Pepe les pew.
Richard Pioline
Hall of Fame
Can we please put up a paypal and send money to support @JGads for his posts!! I mean for real, this is art.Welcome everyone, to the Gads Tuesday Funhouse. Your visit begins with the same offer your host was given beforehand: "They have indoor and outdoor clay. What do you think? Which would you prefer?" Well, I don't know about you, but I can tell you this Gadsby thought it over. Said, "I mean, the tennis will be better indoors, but since it's just a training session rather than a match, maybe best to throw ourselves out into the elements to make it as hard on us as possible? Plus, the vibe."
Here was the vibe: a court made of dry pebbles more than smooth crushed brick. A High Noon Sun right in the eyes. And the kicker: howling, gusty winds. Yay! Step right up! To top it off, this was Gads' first outdoor session of the season, and the guy on the other side was the in-form Nemesis, winning matches aplenty of late. He'd suggested these courts even if they were well outside the city, because they're just so cheap.(spoiler alert: Gadsby will never return here again)
In the bag: the Gravity Pro and trusty Prestige in the business compartment, and in the sidecar "emergency use only" pocket sat LeGads and an Auxetic Prestige Tour. That Auxetic Tour and the Gravity Pro: these were on borrow from Pioline. The agenda: test the GP vs the Prestige.
But this lab, folks. It was laughable. The bounces off those pebbles sent the ball shooting up or sideways at will, all the time. Several times a ball shot straight left or right merely on the ball bounce before a serve. That’s when you know things are really good. Then the wind gusts would take the tosses every which way. And the sun. And then more gusts mid-"rally"; each player missed one groundstroke completely, and simply keeled over and laughed. One ball was inexplicably raptured.
The score? Ok the score was 3-6 (two breaks) in the first with the GP, then 1-6 in the second with the Prestige and Artengo - even though here Gads was actually feeling his serves and groundies way better with these than the other, all of these games quite tight in spite of how they ended. But yeah, all of this only became increasingly ridiculous by the minute, and as such the emergency pocket was indeed opened, though this was less "emergency" and more "F it, nothing will come of today."
The Gravity Pro was very solid again in the midst of the circus. Its only knock was a hysterical run of peppering the pebbles just beyond the service line. Just couldn't find the box, and this was even whilst going for 80-90 percent serves and huge targets due to the conditions. Probably just need to adjust to how the head comes down, need more snap and cowbell, but mainly it must have been the conditions combined with the unfamiliarity. Only if serving with the GP in better conditions yields problems again will it actually be 'a thing.'
So, nothing at all to be taken away. The lab broken, all results null and void. Even that Auxetic Tour with its 338 sw was brought out at the very end when a few extra games could be squeezed, and Gads won those dumb games 2-1. If he had never played tennis before in his life, only based on today he might’ve ranked these sticks LeGads, Auxetic Tour, Prestige.1, Gravity Pro, but surely we know this isn't the real order. Maybe the only thing again confirmed was that LeGads is a really great clay frame in terrible conditions, which is why it was there.
So anyway, folks. If you've made it this far, well I'm sorry. Just forget that you read all this. That this place exists. Just as Gadsby must forget this too.
Tennis is still the best though, ain’t it?
And Monday? Monday another of the Pioline Frames will be sampled. Just got it back from the stringer. Unsure for how long it'll be hit, as the GP remains the scientific focus. But in that mix, just for some old school fun, yes there will be this. Why not:
