Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
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D
Deleted member 807105
Guest
Ah its a bit late for that I am after booking a while ago.
Out of interest why would you stay in Lhindos over Rhodes? I mean for context, we are going all inclusive (we never normally go all inclusive) as its our first family (hence the all inclusive) holiday so its just a little present before my wife returns to work after maternity leave!
JGads
G.O.A.T.
330ish grams, 333.5 sw.
0.2 SW away from perfection
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
If I recall, she's stunningly beautiful when painted up, but she hid all of her charms from me. And she obviously doesn't reveal all to just anyone. You're a lucky man, a 2 in 10, but that means there's another out there who could steal her away yet. If only you were a 1 in 10... with a goddess that everyone admires but who steals your heart alone.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I hit with my boys yesterday after their practice. I carry all of my racquets in my Yonex 6-pack bag (Evos, Easy98, v8 Blade 18x20) but the PSVS... I carry in hand. I don't want it scratched up, and it's above the rest of the fray. Yeah, I bought the last pair TW had in L4, and somehow, they were matched at ~313-314g/31.1cm/294sw. This is a pretty boring report because other than not swinging like a scalpel, I can't find a knock on it. I've never experienced a frame where you could get this much pocketing, power, and control stringing full poly this low. But this shouldn't be as much of a surprise to me as it is, considering I loved the PCT and put in my top-2 frames I've ever hit. This PSVS lags on pure feel by comparison, but it covers and bests the PCT in several other areas. I love it.
To add a little spice, I pulled the v8 Blade 18x20 last night during our Canadian wrap-up. The Blade was overshadowed during the EZ98 vs. PSVS battle, and ironically, the Blade was almost interchangeable with the PSVS for me. EggSalad ran the specs on it before selling, and this one strung (with his HG 1.20 still) is 326g/5-6hl/326sw. I've overlooked how good this Blade is. It's actually a quicker feeling frame than my PSVS but just as solid/stable and controlled. And feel, at least for me, probably tops the PSVS, which shouldn't be a surprise. I kinda wish I had grabbed EggSalad's matched second when I had the chance. The real battle should have been between these two for my game. @tim-ay's avatar kinda says it all for me after last night: PSVS and v8 Blade together but PSVS on top, Blade Pro vs. retail v8 notwithstanding.
To add a little spice, I pulled the v8 Blade 18x20 last night during our Canadian wrap-up. The Blade was overshadowed during the EZ98 vs. PSVS battle, and ironically, the Blade was almost interchangeable with the PSVS for me. EggSalad ran the specs on it before selling, and this one strung (with his HG 1.20 still) is 326g/5-6hl/326sw. I've overlooked how good this Blade is. It's actually a quicker feeling frame than my PSVS but just as solid/stable and controlled. And feel, at least for me, probably tops the PSVS, which shouldn't be a surprise. I kinda wish I had grabbed EggSalad's matched second when I had the chance. The real battle should have been between these two for my game. @tim-ay's avatar kinda says it all for me after last night: PSVS and v8 Blade together but PSVS on top, Blade Pro vs. retail v8 notwithstanding.
Pro Staff Six One 95 v14 definitely worth a demo if you're a flatter attacking player. I don't like the feel of prostaffs in general but this one is very well done. It feels solid with no extra vibration which I haven't really experienced in any racket for a few years now. Very maneuverable, decent power, good control.
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
I wonder if this is the same HPS as the v13.
Seems to say that Paradigm bending was added and includes braid 45. Haven't played the previous
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Power Player
Bionic Poster
The Blades are really well made right now. They made them easier to use while still retaining the control that makes them into weapons.
In the past the 16x19 felt more like an afterthought to me but now that they have stabilized the newer models, I think it’s probably the flagship option.
Something about how these frames feel in the hand and on the swing plus how easily they translate to the modern game with good, controllable power. And now the 100 just amplifies that experience in many ways. For a 16x19 100, it’s a pretty surgical frame for me at least. The 98 feels incredible in the hand. I can’t wait to hit with it and see how it goes. In the past when I used the v7 I just wanted a bit more punch from the frame. I think the v9 should provide that, plus some free trajectory from the 16 mains.
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
Shout out to a viewer of mine who has to take some time away from the game so he entrusted me with caring for his old pals.
His old pals aren’t that old, but boy they are special, current gen Regna 98, last gen VCP104 (Japan only), Srixon Revo 3.0 (pre-Dunlop).
So far I have only hit the Regna 98 with Conf 16/Sync 17 at 51/49lbs and it’s a dream. Very Fed-like hitting experience and helped me find a lot of penetration with my FH.
One of the reasons I’ve been such a Whiteout loyalist is that my opponents always say my ball with way heavier with the WO than anything else, but something about the Regna gives me that extra power.
I even resisted measuring the specs before my hit so I was fully immersed.
Anyway, I’m wishing my friend a speedy recovery to the game although I’m not sure I want to give these Regnas back lol
His old pals aren’t that old, but boy they are special, current gen Regna 98, last gen VCP104 (Japan only), Srixon Revo 3.0 (pre-Dunlop).
So far I have only hit the Regna 98 with Conf 16/Sync 17 at 51/49lbs and it’s a dream. Very Fed-like hitting experience and helped me find a lot of penetration with my FH.
One of the reasons I’ve been such a Whiteout loyalist is that my opponents always say my ball with way heavier with the WO than anything else, but something about the Regna gives me that extra power.
I even resisted measuring the specs before my hit so I was fully immersed.
Anyway, I’m wishing my friend a speedy recovery to the game although I’m not sure I want to give these Regnas back lol
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I really like where the v8 18x20 swing weight falls. It's almost a speedy feeling frame at 326 or so with a solid twist weight for torsional stability. It doesn't seem like a frame this quick should be this stable. While my PSVSs are probably slightly more stable, they're not as nimble but not clunky by any stretch. I've stumbled over two gems. And I'm looking at twist weight much more closely these days, especially in frames that keep a SW from 320-326/7.
And if you keep this up, you'll sell TW a lot of Blades. Hope you're on commission.
Vicious49
Legend
You finally got to hot with a Regna? Sweet!! Perhaps a Regna review on the future?
Also Im getting hit with that same security error that @JGads and others were complaining about. Luckily i can still access the site from my iPad but from my PC it wont allow me to get to the login screen.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
It’s a complete renaissance with racquets. Almost impossible to not find a fit with any brand of preference now. It seems like every designer has dialed in the formula. Now if they figure out how to make modern frames feel like pt57a’s we will be done. Either that or Pickelball takes over and ruins everything.
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
Yeah definitely Regna review this is definitely a frame with a unique identity that will be fun to cover.
tim-ay
Legend
I don’t know whether to get depressed and crank Alice In Chains Them Bones or yesterdays referenced Miles Davis So What
Richard Pioline
Hall of Fame
Our no. 1 and 2 still play with the CV version and swear by it. They say they hate the newer versions. No plow, or the balance is off. I don't know.
But these guys hit so hard, it is crazy. I am happy to take one game off of them when we play matches.
I just hit with one of these for 10 minutes and thought this is a very nice racquet. The one I played was strung at 27 kilos and felt really, really good.
But these guys really hit on a very different level, play a different sport than I do. Both hit the 16 mains version by the way. But there are two players in our neighbouring club that I sometimes hit with, they play the 18 mains versions, and whatever iteration. One doesn't like the v8 and v9, but plays anything before that really. Has four different gens in his bag and switches between them without feeling a difference. This guy even beats the no. 1 and 2 in our team easily. He even has a one hander...
danbrenner
Legend
So i got my Prince Tour 100 310 last week. its really a special frame. thin beam 22 23 21 62 ra 325 sw 8 pts hl with og. and 11.6 oz static. so its truly a modern pleener.. for me the first special quality i fell in love with is the grip shape. my L4 is perfecto. modded slightly with a head hydrosorb grip. i dont care much for factory wrapping techniques. they all suck. but this grip shape and size is goldilocks for me. anyway. the feel on groundstrokes is glorious. and i have been able to really use my wrist alot more with this frame.. and flick the ball around the court on my FH side. the standout with this frame is def the forehand. i can really get extra whip and clearance safety over the net. serves are on point.. etc etc. im looking forward to spending more time with this frame. but this is the start of something good. i will try and get a demo of some other tours like the 98 and maybe the 100p. but the is a great and overlooked brand. and its gonna help MTFA make tennis fun again. i also want to take the blade 100 out for a another test drive . i owned the v8 100 a few years ago. likes it alot. not sure why i sold it. but either way i need a wilson specimen in my collection. sooooo
The CV hate I never understood. I bought a European v6 CV just because it was blacked out with lime logos. I love the frame, and it hits well though my wife took it from me so…yeah. I have several teammates who have them as well and love them. Big hitters
Circa 1762
Rookie
For what it’s worth, I’ve really been enjoying the v9 104 and would encourage more people to check it out, weighted up to preferred spec. Good mix of control with spin that isn’t too hard to access, soft feel, serves bombs. The guy who runs my local pro shop said it’s been his best selling racket this year, and he’s been selling them to more advanced players than he expected. Mine is playing well right now at 328g/32.9 cm/331 SW. I’m a roadrunner (think Ferrer game style), and the extra length and head size is helpful without sacrificing control.
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Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
The GT98 may come close. We'll see. Pickleball... don't even get me started. We play on my boys' high school courts, which are pretty secluded and usually unfrequented. But 'they've' found them. I'm friends with their coach, who has keys to the storage sheds, so he's had to take the cranks off the new net posts and lock them away to keep from getting cranked way low.
Hard to argue with anything off the Dirt album, but come on, man. Down in a Hole for depression. Works every time.
tim-ay
Legend
I can go back and forth between them very easily. I get a little more slice capability with the PSVS and maybe a tad less power, but it’s close. Splitting hairs, they are both awesome. Hard to pick up anything else even though I have frames-a-plenty.
tim-ay
Legend
I ended up going with Kinda Blue. Freaking Miles and Coltrane. That is in my top 5 of all time. Hard to believe it is 65+ years old.
But Dirt is in the top 5 too. I probably have 15 in the top 5. Ha.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah the new version I think is better for about anyone who is not hooked on the balance of the old ones. The old ones have a higher SW and more plow and that can be really addicting. I know I was hooked on the v7 18x20 for quite a long time and it had a 335 SW. I personally think v5-v7 was their sweetspot, but I loved the BLX version too a lot. I had the black and gold Blade bag and 4 of them, and they were my go to's for a long time.
After videoing my strokes for the past 4 months and working with a couple coaches I figured out what was causing my maddening inconsistencies with my FH and probably why I preferred higher SWs in the past. I was basically dropping my racquet with the face down, which is fine, but it adds a lot of complexity to the swing. It let me add a lot of spin but I needed a lot more plow behind the ball. Now I simplified the stroke and drop it edge down, and I'm hitting a lot cleaner and don't need so much plow anymore. So for me, these new Blades are super fast to swing but since I am hitting a bit more square, I am more than fine with the 320-325 SWs. Makes serving a lot easier. The balance is a little more head light for sure, which I appreciate but I can see why others will not.
I think Jgads used the v7 version of this racquet for a while and liked it a lot. I had the BLX Serena version. It was super soft but that version had a big SW. It's a 27.25 length I believe. I played some high level 4.5s in FL who swore by that 104 Blade and they were rock solid with it. Actually thought of them when I got the v9 100.
gino
Legend
lol these being the two outcomes of modern racquet sports tech advancement feels right hah
personally hoping for the PT57A layups over pickleball-poclypse hahah
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gino
Legend
I find the countervail hate to the pure strike v3/4 hate. It seems the market wasnt ready for a drastic over-correction that led to muted/dampened layups
IMO there is a place for these frames on the market, especially for those who dont want raw graphite sensations up the elbow/arm. surprises me a lot of people are coming around on countervail 8-10 years after its inception
hind sight is 20/20 I guess
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I briefly tried the Pure Strike to get a little more power over my v7 Blades. Lasted a week and tapped. Not only was the feel the most muted I ever experienced, but somehow the frame hurt my elbow as well. With the v7, it never even felt like I played a tennis match. Amazing frames,
Speaking of that, I think my v7 100 should be showing up anytime.
Speaking of that, I think my v7 100 should be showing up anytime.
D
Deleted member 807105
Guest
Gave in to the urge to throw a now G3 Rad Pro in the bag for tonight’s singles rotation, despite the promise of the MP-L’s. I am hoping this puts the argument to bed, but I expect not.
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Fighting phoenix
Professional
v4 strike is much better in that regard, imo. Gen 2/3 wrecked my shoulder, these feel much more connected and comfortable as well.
Vicious49
Legend
The slice . . . that is one of my favorite shots with this frame. I'll be interested to see if you feel the same way.
Also, @ACT gave the Regna 98 his highest review at the time but it couldn't be racquet of the year due to it's limited availability. There is something there with the Regna magic. I'm sticking by the fact that it's higher quality CF and prepregs being used in the Regna in comparison to the rest of their frames.
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
This is the first racquet since my Whiteout where the energy return of the graphite feels like it's in the same realm. The new Strike needs 5pts higher SW and a much thicker beam to produce the same heaviness as my WO.
The Regna reminds me a lot of some of the older Yonex's in my collection, 95D, DR98, XI98 where there's some kind of x-factor Zip. Ode to Yonex's greatest hits might be in order as well.
TwinCinema
Professional
I listen to a playlist of Radiohead, Pulp, Oasis, REM, Neutral Milk, and The Decemberists on my way to tennis and although it doesn’t make me play any better I sure do feel better, even if I’m depressed both at boomers and zoomers.
TwinCinema
Professional
How does it compare with your beloved Twistpower X 100 Tour?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Have to love Play It Again. I found a v7 Blade 100L and didn't really know what to expect since the pics are never great and the price was only $50. Showed up and the thing is mint. No bumper rash or anything, it looks brand new. Have to spec it out, but I think it just needs handle weight and it should get pretty close to the v9. So the updated bag is a v9 98, v9 100 and v7 100L.
The 100L somehow has a 69RA but it feels way softer than that. Ill put it through the paces this weekend and see how it compares to the v9.
The 100L somehow has a 69RA but it feels way softer than that. Ill put it through the paces this weekend and see how it compares to the v9.
gino
Legend
I think your opinion on the strike is well documented mate
I would agree its very muted, but utterly shocked that it hurt your arm (not sure which version you used - V1 was harsh)
I've had elbow issues for 10+ years and it was the best thing for my elbow since moving to the softest poly in TWs database
The 100L doesn’t feel that stiff to me either. My wife has a pair of v9s and they hit a nice ball for light frame.
danbrenner
Legend
sold the tp. i love the tour grip shape. like the tours better. but the tp is a great stick tho. enjoyed it ..
gino
Legend
Youre good man, generally I dont really update my main frame progress here, because Ive always been very steady on that front. Usually when I post in here it's just to banter
I still give the slight edge to the gen3 pure strike tour over the new iteration. It has a better weight distribution in the layup that gives me a lot of natural power
I've been battling injury, so I havent been out to hit much the last month. I will say the new strike has a more classic player's frame flex profile in the lower yolk, it just kind of anemic in the upper hoop for me. Im used the 6.1 95 layups that have a ton of power loaded into the upper hoop portion of the layup. All that being said, new strike 16M is definitely an improvement from a comfort/flex perspective, all other variables (feel, power, spin, launch angle, etc) largely remain the same. I will say the cosmetic is less distracting when you go through your serve/return routines, as one side of the throat isnt caked in strike branding...
What I really like about the new strike is that flex profile, if I can dial in the weight distribution with lead, I would main it over gen 3. I'm a nostalgic SOB with some cool memories wielding gen 3, also have 4 gen 3 PSTs, so I doubt id commit to a full switch unless I can get the Babolat rep locally to hook it up
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Nice. This v7 seems like it may somehow have that soft v7 feel at a 69ra. Could be a weapon. 320 sw stock, just needs weight in the handle to match the regular v9 100.
sixtyseries
New User
The same happened to me the other day… frustrating to say the least
Vicious49
Legend
Played singles against a few different hitting partners today. Rotated through some of these frames just to confirm what I already know.
- VC95 - Tons of spin but just not enough plow and easy depth for me. Time to put it up in the sales forum
- Regna 98 and v8 Blade - @Richard Pioline is right. I play the best with these 2 frames. They just seem to fit my natural hitting through the court style better. Im more of a Kasatkina or Halep style player and less Sabalenka or Iga. The control and versatility of these 2 frames match what I like to do more than the spina and power of the PA98
- PA98- basically what i just said above. This is by far the most powerful of the frames I played with today, i have a feeling Ill be reaching fir these more come summertime when I may want the easy power.
- VC95 - Tons of spin but just not enough plow and easy depth for me. Time to put it up in the sales forum
- Regna 98 and v8 Blade - @Richard Pioline is right. I play the best with these 2 frames. They just seem to fit my natural hitting through the court style better. Im more of a Kasatkina or Halep style player and less Sabalenka or Iga. The control and versatility of these 2 frames match what I like to do more than the spina and power of the PA98
- PA98- basically what i just said above. This is by far the most powerful of the frames I played with today, i have a feeling Ill be reaching fir these more come summertime when I may want the easy power.
danbrenner
Legend
Took the Prince 310 through some paces today. Excellent frame. But i finally installed my new pallet onto my Speed. And this was my weapon of choice tonight. There is nothing like the feel of a Speed on contact. It really has an old school prestige feel to it. But modernized into a 100 head. There’s nothing like this frame folks. I have owned them all. Literally. There is nothing like the speed It makes all the others feel like a toy. I have a leather grip on mine. It’s so addicting. So hard to want to bother with anything else. The grip sizes run small. I’d recommend anyone looking into Head frames to at least try the size up that they typically use. And the sound. WOW. I’ve never experienced a louder this on contact than the speed. There’s something about its layup that makes it twice as loud as everything else. I’m looking forward to the all black gloss Novak signature release due any week now
TwinCinema
Professional
Just got to Vegas for a week and played a 7:30pm groundstrokes clinic tonight with a good coach (anyone here go to Darling?) and I don’t know if it was the change of scenery or the coach of what but suddenly I’m playing okay again.
I went from a week where I never found the sweet spot, shanked every shot, and swung tentatively with awful contact. It got in my head. But tonight suddenly I was swinging out, blew some lasers down the line, some kill shot drop volleys, and my topspin forehands were all dropping right onto the baseline. It’s amazing what some little changes in thought, coaching, and random new opponents will do for your game.
So lately I’ve had in my bag 2x PSVS (one with FireWire boost, one with toro toro) and the Blade 98 v9 16m and I don’t know why I bother with the other two because the FireWire VS has dominated for the last 10 hours of play. Great setup at 48/46 and has barely lost any tension it seems.
I went from a week where I never found the sweet spot, shanked every shot, and swung tentatively with awful contact. It got in my head. But tonight suddenly I was swinging out, blew some lasers down the line, some kill shot drop volleys, and my topspin forehands were all dropping right onto the baseline. It’s amazing what some little changes in thought, coaching, and random new opponents will do for your game.
So lately I’ve had in my bag 2x PSVS (one with FireWire boost, one with toro toro) and the Blade 98 v9 16m and I don’t know why I bother with the other two because the FireWire VS has dominated for the last 10 hours of play. Great setup at 48/46 and has barely lost any tension it seems.
Had a very fine day of tennis today - is Thursday the opposite of Tuesday? It wasn't last week, but this week was pretty amazing. Played one of my normal opponents, and I usually win 2 out 3 sets we play, but last week he took the first set and I barely scraped out the second before we had to stop (first set was long). I've been battling some annoying small injuries, which hasn't helped, but I was just playing poorly last week. I find this happens when I'm learning new ways to do things in my lessons sometimes - I go out for a match and play like Dr. Frankenstein put my game together.
Anyway, tonight, I just had the upper hand all night and did not let go. I was working hard on my kick serve, hitting for first and second serves about 50% of the time, and then mixing in some flat/slice serves the rest of the time. Won sooo many free points on serve. Then in rallies, all the stuff I've been working on with my coach just started to click. We've been working on playing with a lot of variety - mixing in a lot of different things, and I did that tonight - deep and heavy from the baseline, working my way in and taking the ball early, and closing at the net as much as I could. Perhaps the biggest win for my game is that I also hit more topspin backhands than slices, for probably the first time ever. My topspin OHBH is really coming along, to the point where I can actually hit 5+ in a row without missing in a match. That's kind of unheard of, but welcome, territory for me.
Anyway, tonight, I just had the upper hand all night and did not let go. I was working hard on my kick serve, hitting for first and second serves about 50% of the time, and then mixing in some flat/slice serves the rest of the time. Won sooo many free points on serve. Then in rallies, all the stuff I've been working on with my coach just started to click. We've been working on playing with a lot of variety - mixing in a lot of different things, and I did that tonight - deep and heavy from the baseline, working my way in and taking the ball early, and closing at the net as much as I could. Perhaps the biggest win for my game is that I also hit more topspin backhands than slices, for probably the first time ever. My topspin OHBH is really coming along, to the point where I can actually hit 5+ in a row without missing in a match. That's kind of unheard of, but welcome, territory for me.
Needless to say, all this (good this week, bad last week) was with the PSVS - and I really do love this frame. Familiarity in this case, for me, does not breed contempt. I'm not too surprised it's working for you.
D
Deleted member 807105
Guest
That’s put a potential spanner in the works, won the first set against a solid hitter 6-1, a fair few unforced errors, but still some nice points with the Rad.
Tweaked my knee and lost a set 6-2 to a woman who I will politely say is a ‘veteran doubles player’, the game was almost exclusively played in service boxes and I got dragged into a pushing war/tried to drop shot everything. Not fussed about this, minimal effort on my part and most games I had opportunity to win.
Going down the grip size feels like my wrist isn’t blocked and I’m able to generate more spin? The accuracy is still there, and being able to really hit out with it, I love.
The MP-L’s though, I have only lost a single set in extenuating circumstances.
Outlook: bleak (in terms of deciding a main)
D
Deleted member 807105
Guest
Ah nice, might try and check it out if my daughter is ok without proximity to aircon etc!
D
Deleted member 807105
Guest
I heard this before buying the Rads and sized up to G4, found then way to big so had to change them down a size, bought the prestige’s in G3 and they felt fine.
I was playing with the PA23 (G3) prior to these though, which if I recall you didn’t like the grip shape of, so maybe it’s something to do with that.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
It was actually a great idea to go down a size and then so with Head, for me.
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