tim-ay
Legend
should have asked for her phone number
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
Hnefi
Semi-Pro
That's one way of looking at it. I was trying to tell myself "the fact she actually sat down and watched for whoever knows how long means we must not be total losers....." To be honest given my horrific lack of mental toughness, I'm pretty surprised I made it through the warmup and played 1 long point.
After those 3 UEs, maybe for a lesson.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
If you’re looking for more demos, gets your hands on a Diadem Elevate v3. It’s very much in the blade / radical zip code. 16 mains so you get nice power and spin, 20 crosses for the control you liked in some of those demos.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
I would have walked and talked to her
ClownCar96
Professional
Tried Hawk Touch as a cross to Tour Bite today in EZ98. Very nice combo with the crisp main and the feel/touch from the cross. It didn't notch after the first hit like YPTP does. It's very slick and allows for movement of the mains. It sure does have some coil memory when stringing! But no big deal, good stuff. I'm afraid it might be a little too soft/muted feeling to use as a full bed in the muted yonex frames but I'll have to give it a go.
TwinCinema
Professional
Oh man, don't get me started again...
djNEiGht
Legend
ahahah.....i feel you
I help with a kids and adult beginners program. One of the teaching pros is a semi-retired WTA player. She still competes locally. Sometimes we are on the court at the same time during liveball clinics and i get so anxious playing against her.
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
It's interesting to read about your experiences with the various racquets and agree with some and disagree with others. It just shows how we are all different and why there is no right or wrong racquet... or one "perfect" racquet for us all.
For example, not sure which version of the Dunlop SX300 Tour you have tried (the 98 or the 100), but I found it to be completely opposite. I have the previous generation 100 sq. inch version, and it is one of the most stable racquets I have tried in stock form, it is very comfortable/plush (not quite PT630... but very plush and comfortable for a racquet of its kind and closer to a 62 RA racquet), it has one of the higher values on the Power Potential Tool on the TW University charts across the stringbed, it has one of the higher Swingweight values, and one of the biggest Sweet Zone sizes on the database. I found it to be very precise (not equal to a 93 inch racquet or a PT630, but still very precise and able to hit the spots), able to hit very flat drives, as well as, very heavy spin shots, it had lots of power, yet was very controlled (especially for the type of racquet segment where it sits)... and had excellent touch and I could hit Alcaraz-like drip shots on a whim. It was excellent on serve, excellent on defensive shots (and turning defense into offense off one shot), and very good at hitting a consistent rally ball. It has been one of the surprise racquets in my collection, and is currently one of my favourite racquets to pull out if I want to bully my opponent, yet still enjoy the experience.
Yet, I mostly agree with your statements on the Blade 98, Speed Pro, Extreme Tour (for me in the G360+ version), and the TF40 305 18M.
Like I said... interesting.
Notes on the Tecnifibre LTD (only hitting against living room wall test):
- Definitely a 95 and not a 98, same headsize as a TGT293 or PT2.0.
- Came with a head buttcap and extended by 0.1-0.2 inch. Also Grip 2 so I'll need to change that once I order pallets.
- SW feels too high, doesn't swing as easily as the mid or the freshly acquired TC95 (which has a bigger headsize)
- Feel seems similar to the TFight 305 that I have of the same gen (which is also way overspec on SW) but maybe softer.
More to come after playing with it tomorrow.
- Definitely a 95 and not a 98, same headsize as a TGT293 or PT2.0.
- Came with a head buttcap and extended by 0.1-0.2 inch. Also Grip 2 so I'll need to change that once I order pallets.
- SW feels too high, doesn't swing as easily as the mid or the freshly acquired TC95 (which has a bigger headsize)
- Feel seems similar to the TFight 305 that I have of the same gen (which is also way overspec on SW) but maybe softer.
More to come after playing with it tomorrow.
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
Those types of players are just on another level. What's interesting is also just how different they can all be (which is to be expected). I warmered up an ex-top 10 WTA player once, and I never concentrated more in my life in order to not make mistakes and in order to make it worth her while... but she was so nice and very friendly (even remembered my name like 4-5 weeks later when I ran into her again - which I was happy about... and surprised). Then on another occassion I watched Martina Navratilova and Myskina practicing together (this was when they teamed up for some doubles)... and Martina was just perfection in everything she did (it was a joy to watch her, and how well she did everything - a real lesson in technique and execution)... yet she was so pleasant, and kind, and had no ego about her (just very professional). Myskina on the other hand... was a total spoilt, self-centered egotistic brat of a girl/women. She was rude, and snappy with her team, she was absolutely abnoxious. Looking at them, and considering their achievements, you'd have thought that Myskina achieved what Navratilova had in her career... and Martina was the new upcomer that was just happy to be there.
Very interesting and eye-opening.
I'm so glad that Martina Navratilova is in recovery and still with us... and we get to listen to her wisdom and experience for hopefully many years to come.
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Power Player
Bionic Poster
Had some small breakthroughs on the court today. The first was that Head Hawk feels FAR better now in the Extreme that it is close to breaking and the tension is lower. I think stringing the Extreme MP at 52#s was not a good idea, and this frame is probably going to be 48#s max for me and if I was at sea level, I think 45-46 would be perfect in it. I still don't love Hawk in it, but it's a lot better than before. The sweetspot is back to really feeling like a defined Head sweetpot on contact.
Just have been focusing on playing loose with proper footwork and not really thinking about strokes or anything else. I noticed when I played lights out I was just moving to the ball and not thinking much, so I went back to that but practiced footwork patterns. Basic stuff on wide balls- the split/pivot/crossover. It's an awesome workout on a ball machine to just aim into the corner and work on this. The only thing I think about besides proper feet is what kind of shot to hit (crosscourt safe, crosscourt attack, DTL..etc).
It was then that I realized that I had been forcing my takeback and that was causing timing issues on my stroke. What I realized is just hitting the pivot step right away turns the entire upper body as well as the hip. I think I had been doing that and then going extra on the take back by pulling the raquet into the spot I thought it should be in. Kind of tough to describe, but essentially not worrying about the take back gives me the proper takeback. From there I have much better timing to the ball and I am pretty sure my swing is a continuous loop. I haven't been filming just working on the movement but I will film at some point just to see the difference. Honestly I can only analyze my film so much before it crosses over from being very helpful to way too much dissection of the strokes. The one really good thing that came out of it realizing is that my swing is naturally more compact and I was making it longer than it needed to be.
So to tie this into racquets. I think any frame where you feel like you have to force your takeback, lengthen the stroke too much ,or swing hard to generate the power you want, may not be the ideal frame for your swing. It really needs to feel light on the feet and relaxed in the upper body. I was able to do 60 wide and back to middle shots without feeling too gassed since I was moving efficiently and swinging loose.
Anyway I really am happy with this Extreme, it feels great on contact, just very easy to control and it is sensational on serve, especially if you like to cover the top corner of the ball a lot and generate top/slice.
Just have been focusing on playing loose with proper footwork and not really thinking about strokes or anything else. I noticed when I played lights out I was just moving to the ball and not thinking much, so I went back to that but practiced footwork patterns. Basic stuff on wide balls- the split/pivot/crossover. It's an awesome workout on a ball machine to just aim into the corner and work on this. The only thing I think about besides proper feet is what kind of shot to hit (crosscourt safe, crosscourt attack, DTL..etc).
It was then that I realized that I had been forcing my takeback and that was causing timing issues on my stroke. What I realized is just hitting the pivot step right away turns the entire upper body as well as the hip. I think I had been doing that and then going extra on the take back by pulling the raquet into the spot I thought it should be in. Kind of tough to describe, but essentially not worrying about the take back gives me the proper takeback. From there I have much better timing to the ball and I am pretty sure my swing is a continuous loop. I haven't been filming just working on the movement but I will film at some point just to see the difference. Honestly I can only analyze my film so much before it crosses over from being very helpful to way too much dissection of the strokes. The one really good thing that came out of it realizing is that my swing is naturally more compact and I was making it longer than it needed to be.
So to tie this into racquets. I think any frame where you feel like you have to force your takeback, lengthen the stroke too much ,or swing hard to generate the power you want, may not be the ideal frame for your swing. It really needs to feel light on the feet and relaxed in the upper body. I was able to do 60 wide and back to middle shots without feeling too gassed since I was moving efficiently and swinging loose.
Anyway I really am happy with this Extreme, it feels great on contact, just very easy to control and it is sensational on serve, especially if you like to cover the top corner of the ball a lot and generate top/slice.
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
My previous flame, first half of October, was the Vcore 95 (v7)
My current flame, scheduled to be with me for the second half of October, is the Gravity Pro (aux)
It's confusing, as they have different shapes and approaches to life.
One seems wild, she wants to pop a Molly and go out clubbing. I had a lot of fun with her for a few weeks!!
The new jawn? She seems somewhat boring, when I compare her with previous loves. She wants to sit on the sofa with her cat, and read a book. But the results are fantastic.
GO PHILLIES!
My current flame, scheduled to be with me for the second half of October, is the Gravity Pro (aux)
It's confusing, as they have different shapes and approaches to life.
One seems wild, she wants to pop a Molly and go out clubbing. I had a lot of fun with her for a few weeks!!
The new jawn? She seems somewhat boring, when I compare her with previous loves. She wants to sit on the sofa with her cat, and read a book. But the results are fantastic.
GO PHILLIES!
Richard Pioline
Hall of Fame
I have the feeling that Giron plays waaaaayyy better with the 97D now. Much more powerful tennis!
TwinCinema
Professional
The SX300 Tour was a 98. It's possible I didn't give it a fair shake in terms of time on the court; I was more enamored with the Boom Pro and Extreme Tour during that 90-min session I played, so the SX stayed in the bag longer than the others. But yeah, for me it was just average in terms of control and feel. I agree it didn't feel like a 66 (more like a 62, like you say) but that doesn't always mean better for me.
gino
Legend
I wish we had a zach the foot doctor for frames & someone would butcher these things and compare the layup, materials, dimensions
would love to see a PT57, Pro Tour, Tec LTD comparison
topspn
G.O.A.T.
I got the bright idea of getting the regular Q+5 and playing it next to the TB. It came in 311.5g, 30.9 bal and 299SW. more sense after some tequila a couple of days ago. Played the PA98 today singles and freshly strung with wasabi. Crisp response and played well in spite of annoying wind. Served pretty good with it and so far all strings I tried in it played well.
I recently bought SX300 tour after my coach switched to it. He was ranked ATP top 400 when he was competing, and his main stick is Gravity Pro, but he thought SX300 tour was a very good all-rounder, very comfortable and had a great feel.
I find it plays well in stock and doesn't need much customization.
KC!
Hall of Fame
I was watching his video earlier today on the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally Performance. Love that guy, he had a shoe cut in half dissecting.
tim-ay
Legend
The 100 sx300T is a wall. It’s like 14.5 TW on the Briffidi. I don’t know why they changed the specs so much for the newer version (98) , but they probably were trying to make it more accessible. Big mistake.
unfortunately jumping on the racket search train... 2015 PDs are starting to get a little wobbly, and experiments with lead (and copper) have gone horribly. I'm thinking i'm better off going with something a little heavier and not adding any weight. any strong recs? looking mainly for 305-310g, 98-100 sq in, 320-325 sw.
i love huge sweetspots with buttery feel, pinpoint precision with atomic power, tornado-like spin but laser flat hitting ability, balanced like a sword but hits like a sledgehammer. you know...the usual
i love huge sweetspots with buttery feel, pinpoint precision with atomic power, tornado-like spin but laser flat hitting ability, balanced like a sword but hits like a sledgehammer. you know...the usual
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FX500
Hnefi
Semi-Pro
EZ98 Tour is worth a demo.
TwinCinema
Professional
Pure Strike 98 16x19 (caveat, new ones come out in a few months)
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I’m hitting my pd2012 along with the auxetic extreme mp. I actually prefer the extreme a little, probably due to the feel and grip shape. It’s like a more refined pure drive. Really nice sweetspot feel. Little less stiff. Rather generous sweet spot thats close to babolat. Both are great though. Very similar drill pattern on the stringbed, but if you prefer the fsi more that may be a non starter.
I did add some weight to the extreme. Leather grip and a little lead under the bumper. The specs are 310 unstrung and a 292SW. Nothing crazy. Id love to mod the pd as well the same way but I kind of like keeping it as it so for now because it’s almost a collector item at this point for me. Also hate putting lead on that pj. But I may try it at some point. Its my 3rd frame in case of emergency for now.
Man i wish there were grommets available for the pd. I hate to play it a lot because the bumper could snap like my 2010 apd and then im screwed. It would only need 1 gram at 12 and a leather grip to match the extreme.
Anyway, tweeners with a little more weight on them has been my jam lately. More solid feel. Helpful stability at net and mindless racquet drop on my backhand side. I am finding 310 to be the sweet spot for me.
Maybe track down an old pure drive Roddick? Loved that frame.
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
Out of the ordinary and out of curiousity, just saw this one, but can't find Stiffness rating and Beam width
https://www.tecnifibre.com/en/p/14FIT2903.html
https://www.tecnifibre.com/en/p/14FIT2903.html
BBender716
Professional
What's the code that stacks?
Vicious49
Legend
Karma is definitely getting to me. I faced another 'pusher' last night. The score was 0-4 by the time I knew what hit me. I started a comeback but lost 3-8. The biggest thing that's getting exposed is my lack of volley and net skills. I had control of a majority of the points but even after I'd hit a good approach shot I'd blow an easy volley or putaway. That is really preventing me from winning some easy matches and advancing higher. My opponent was exhausted by the end where I could see him struggling to move after the last game. It's ironic that I wore the pusher out. I will get a chance to face him again in a few weeks in a full match so hopefully that one turns out differently. Still a humbling experience and he was the better player last night because he got the W.
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does the auxetic extreme mp feel anything like the 360+ extreme tour? the string pattern between the 2012 and 2015 PDs aren't really a factor in my opinion, so both are fine. think the 2012 definitely needs lead as does the 2015, but from what i've seen, the 2012 responds better to weight in the hoop
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Not sure on the feel since I did not have the 360+. I would say if you like the direct/raw Head sweetspot feel, just bigger and in a tweener, the Extreme is worth a demo. Really works best strung in the 40s if you go full poly.
The auxetic feels solid and comfortable while still giving good feel on contact. The Pure Drive is a little bit crisper and stiffer but I can go between the 2 with no problem. I am really happy with the Extreme and will probably move forward with it as my main. It's a little less power than the PD, but still has plenty of that + spin, it is just easier to control as a result.
BBender716
Professional
That feels like my struggle as well. My current (group lessons) coach preaches very much high margin, low error and patient play, which is appropriate at my level (high 3.5) but I really wish we covered putaway volleys more. I feel like we spend 90% of the time covering getting to the net, the importance of it, etc. but nothing about good volley strategy in singles.
what would you say is an example of this? because every head racket i've tried recently seems to have pretty different characteristics in terms of sweetspot and feel.
tim-ay
Legend
I had a match last night where the guy was a bit of a pusher. You can’t hit through these guys so it’s all about putting on pressure and volleying well. I remember every volley that I missed or made too ‘get able’. Feel your pain here. Except I won 2, 2. The other thing is to try and hit high and heavy and not just feed these guys pace. they love that even on the move. It’s like remembering heavy ball, heavy ball, attcking ball, move in, and then watch the darn ball into the racket when putting away the volley. I chanted that as a mantra the whole match.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Kind of reminds me a little of the newer Radicals. Bigger sweetspot but still has that firm, connected feeling on contact. I think a string like Tour Bite/ALU/ etc is best in it. Its hard to explain but with the Auxetic tech it seems like Head is able to give you their trademark raw sweetspot (its just easy to know where the ball is going to me) in a stiffer frame without feeling hollow or tinny outside the center. With some recent power/spin frames from Babolat and Yonex and even Solinco's whiteout, the sweetspot was pretty vague to me and not as exciting to hit, but I can genuinely say I look forward to the contact feel of the Extreme, even though it's not on the level of a traditional Head racquet.
The MP is a workmanlike in frame in many regards. It's a frame where you will win matches with it due to it's forgiveness, and if you lose, you won't blame the racquet.
I am not going to say it feels like a Prestige, but if you like the feel of Head frames, you may like it. In the end, it is a really nice alternative to a Babolat tweener, and since I owned and played with the PA23 and PD21, I think the Extreme surpasses Babolat this time around.
that makes sense. i'll have to consider it in my second box of demos if the first doesn't work out. got the speed mp, speed pro, and vcore 95 coming. tried the last gen version of all 3 and each had its merits. the standout of the 3 was the speed pro because it was a good jack of all trades but the feel was kind of nasty which i'm hoping the auxetic version fixes. might just have to string up my 2003 PD teams and use those if nothing works out
tim-ay
Legend
This is interesting for a couple of reasons to me also. One is that I like the feel of the Rads sweet spot especially with my setup. The 2nd is that my Wouts were initially so different. The first was like they took a 27” Wout and made it 27.5 and 344SW. the second was closer to what yours must have been. Once I cut them, the 2nd Wout absolutely needed weight at 3/9. Totally had that vague center , but after adding 3g @ 3/9, it cleaned that up for the most part. Now it feels similar to the Rad, but a little more thumpy and not quite as much of that new Head feel…. very close though. I basically matched the twist weights on all of them. There is something to this twist weight thing after all
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah it is not exactly like the Radical because it is a bigger sweetspot but it has that firm raw feel to it like the Radical, where you know exactly what the ball did. Feel is really enhanced with the strings in the 40's, it seems to like low tension a lot, which is awesome.
@snoflewis & @Power Player
Interesting reading following your PDs and Extreme posts. After months of the age old syndrome of being drawn towards several frames that in retrospect I realise was pushing things too far away from my preferred range of specs and characteristics, I have suddenly found myself and my game again with the PD (2015 version.)
Strangely, for so many years it was the APD (various versions) and the PA19 that I gravitated towards rather than the PD, but now its the PD hands down for me. The more point and blast nature of it, re flatter hit point enders, ease and range of serve, droppers, practically everything - for some reason I'm suddenly finding all this and feeling far more at home.
What with our shared 'condition' though, you will not be entirely shocked to hear I have just purchased a PD 2012. Nor that some of these Extreme posts (including yours @danbrenner) have more than caught my interest. Anyhow, as long as my elbow holds up (always the concern, and I have had arm issues in the last year), I am definitely intending to go back to the future here (PD+ was my first proper frame) and fully investigate the '12 and the '15.
Interesting reading following your PDs and Extreme posts. After months of the age old syndrome of being drawn towards several frames that in retrospect I realise was pushing things too far away from my preferred range of specs and characteristics, I have suddenly found myself and my game again with the PD (2015 version.)
Strangely, for so many years it was the APD (various versions) and the PA19 that I gravitated towards rather than the PD, but now its the PD hands down for me. The more point and blast nature of it, re flatter hit point enders, ease and range of serve, droppers, practically everything - for some reason I'm suddenly finding all this and feeling far more at home.
What with our shared 'condition' though, you will not be entirely shocked to hear I have just purchased a PD 2012. Nor that some of these Extreme posts (including yours @danbrenner) have more than caught my interest. Anyhow, as long as my elbow holds up (always the concern, and I have had arm issues in the last year), I am definitely intending to go back to the future here (PD+ was my first proper frame) and fully investigate the '12 and the '15.
danbrenner
Legend
Hey brotha. Good to hear from you. I hope all is well. You know at the end of the day, both a babolats and the heads make great frames and great tweeters. Sometimes for no apparent reason than a grip shape. Or something of the likes we can develop a bond with a certain frame.
I don’t think you can go wrong if you make that bond with any of the pure drives, pure, Eros, or extremes. That being said, the extreme does have a little bit of a lower launch angle than the pure drives, and about the same as the new pure arrows. But the extreme is a little bit softer, and that does make it stick out a little bit. What I like a lot about the head lines is that they use the exact same pallet interchangeably on all of their different lines. That is a big deal when you think about it. Because every other manufacturer has a slight difference in every single mold, and grip shape that they create for different lines. So in essence, when going into the different head lines, you can rest assured that the grip shape is exactly the same. With a babolats in contrast, they vary from every single model. So you’ll get nice and comfy with a pure drive. And then go to a Pure aero and not feel connected. So for that head definitely gets a shout out from me.
BBender716
Professional
With all the racquets I've ever tried, I can't believe I still have never hit with a Pure Drive.
TwinCinema
Professional
Just go to a gun range and spray shotgun pellets somewhere in front of you, same thing.
BBender716
Professional
Hmmm out of all the ranges I've been to, I've never been to a gun range...
TwinCinema
Professional
Not missing much there either. Not sure what's worse, gun culture or trying to tame a Pure Drive groundstroke!
I thought I never had great volleys because my racket and string choice for over 10 years were not conducive to hitting good volleys.
For example, for a long long time my main frames were 1st Gen Pure Strikes mostly with black cyclone if I had a dollar for every volley I pushed wide or long I would be a millionaire.
Then my mains were a pair of LM Prestige mids with random thin poly and I often had the opposite problem of bricking volleys into the net.
It took switching to the Angell 97 18x20 and finding Black Knight 1.18 - and playing a ton of high level doubles - to realize that my volley technique was actually not awful it was just racket sensitive.
I'm loving the 7Gs because the 16x20 100in PK hoop is just a great blend of forgiveness and control.
BBender716
Professional
Maybe I'll try out gut/poly. I worry I'll lose too much spin and launch angle but maybe it'll help.
tim-ay
Legend
I played a nice ‘for fun’ match tonight against a 4.5 with a great serve. It was the best I’ve served in ages also, so what a fun battle. The most fun I have had in a match for 6 months easily.
Since I was a bit tired I played the first set with the PA plus/minus. Holy crap my backhand returns were on fire, this frame is made for playing hard core tennis. Still… lost the first set 6-4. Second set went to the Wout. Won that 6-4. Weird because I played ‘better’ with the PA plus minus. But serve placement was insane with the Wout.
Two observations though, found myself wishing the Wout was just a bit stiffer when playing this type of monster hitting. Just a bit too much flex, even at 27.25… but dayem can’t argue with the results. Forehands just dropped on lines. Second observation is the level of control with the Wout is just so insanely good and you can still drop big serves.
Still… wish it was 68 or 69 RA. Shame really.
And last - I actually love the feel of a Babolat in a pound-a-thon. Fk feel, I want free power.
Since I was a bit tired I played the first set with the PA plus/minus. Holy crap my backhand returns were on fire, this frame is made for playing hard core tennis. Still… lost the first set 6-4. Second set went to the Wout. Won that 6-4. Weird because I played ‘better’ with the PA plus minus. But serve placement was insane with the Wout.
Two observations though, found myself wishing the Wout was just a bit stiffer when playing this type of monster hitting. Just a bit too much flex, even at 27.25… but dayem can’t argue with the results. Forehands just dropped on lines. Second observation is the level of control with the Wout is just so insanely good and you can still drop big serves.
Still… wish it was 68 or 69 RA. Shame really.
And last - I actually love the feel of a Babolat in a pound-a-thon. Fk feel, I want free power.
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