Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
hdjs94
Semi-Pro
??? thats not a kith jacket. thats from Lemaire.Bingo. That’s exactly what it is. This jacket costs $1,064.
You know that kith is a boutique retailer that sells other brands and in addition sells their own brand label stuff
Rad Aux 2.0 paintjob is fantastic mate.
kevin qmto
Legend
Anyone else here like messing with ultra dense string patterns from time to time? Apparently I’ve been told this Wilson was strung a little differently, resulting in a 22x19 pattern. Didn’t affect my play much, actually I’d say I’m playing better than usual with it. Idk what I was thinking when I almost let a ball hit me in the face though.
You should try the PK micro mid - 22X30 string pattern. Actually hits a great ball, but crazy to string.
I like the color a lot, but in the sun it looks bright like a flare. I wasn't expecting it b/c when you watch reviews on Youtube, the color looks washed out compared to what it is in RL.
Interesting Fred Perry inspired design….
kevin qmto
Legend
I’ve been on the lookout for one.
TwinCinema
Professional
I do now.
But yes, the point is, the KITH store is full of overpriced '80s-style clothes, whether it's their own brand or other brands.
spent over 5 hours watching the FO25 final, so today dug out one of the PAVSs out of the closet and strung it up and match to my current pair of the ISO305 T-fights....
for some unknown reason, i measured 19 crosses, so it is currently a 16x19.. LOL. had a quick whirl on the TopSpin Pro and a backyard wall, felt quite nice, and kinda "miss" the Babolat feel....
the thing is, i have been maining the pair of ISO305 recently, they do things nicely and looks great, but deeply there is just something missing i cant explain, hence the PAVS.
gonna take it out to a training session in the next day or two and see if i can "rekindle" with it. hold the throat, especially the top of the handle area is so so nice.
the thing is no.2 - i really enjoyed the Tango Red VCore100, but needed a little better control at times, so maybe i should look into a VCore98? never played with one, and the Tango Red VC98 seems to be difficult to locate thesedays (new or used...) - so will a VC98L be a base/platform substitute?
or maybe i should stop recycling the racquets and be done with one, or two, or eleventy-five... lol
for some unknown reason, i measured 19 crosses, so it is currently a 16x19.. LOL. had a quick whirl on the TopSpin Pro and a backyard wall, felt quite nice, and kinda "miss" the Babolat feel....
the thing is, i have been maining the pair of ISO305 recently, they do things nicely and looks great, but deeply there is just something missing i cant explain, hence the PAVS.
gonna take it out to a training session in the next day or two and see if i can "rekindle" with it. hold the throat, especially the top of the handle area is so so nice.
the thing is no.2 - i really enjoyed the Tango Red VCore100, but needed a little better control at times, so maybe i should look into a VCore98? never played with one, and the Tango Red VC98 seems to be difficult to locate thesedays (new or used...) - so will a VC98L be a base/platform substitute?
or maybe i should stop recycling the racquets and be done with one, or two, or eleventy-five... lol
kevin qmto
Legend
I'm buying rackets to match strings I have in the drawer now...
naturalexponent
Legend
long time no post! i picked up one of those graphenext speed mps following @dr. godmode 's video about jannik's frame a while ago but hadn't had any motivation to hit with it until this morning and wow i really regret putting it off for so long. this is the first time i've personally understood power = control. it's light, fast, and stiff, so it feels like there is no power 'leakage' so i don't have to swing too hard and instead stay relaxed and focus on finishing the stroke and placing the ball. it was refreshing to feel like i could effortlessly place the ball, whether in serving or off the ground. it's just a tad jarring off center so i have to take care to hit as cleanly as possible. i've been good about racquet acquisition the last few months but i may have to grab a second :x (nice that it's not a $300+ frame!), even though i've been pretty committed to the ez98, which remains excellent even if a bit numb.
also been meaning to share i had the great fortune of attending roland garros during the 4th round about 2 weeks ago. saw musetti vs. rune on chatrier and got pretty close up on simonne mathieu for caroline garcia's last match (doubles with diane parry vs. mirra andreeva and diana shnaider -- pics below). lovely tournament and grounds.
also been meaning to share i had the great fortune of attending roland garros during the 4th round about 2 weeks ago. saw musetti vs. rune on chatrier and got pretty close up on simonne mathieu for caroline garcia's last match (doubles with diane parry vs. mirra andreeva and diana shnaider -- pics below). lovely tournament and grounds.
TwinCinema
Professional
Interesting session last night. For the first hour I played like microwaved dog $h|t. Just horrendous. I couldn't find any targets, was missing every shot, making poor decisions, and not getting into any groove or rhythm. I tried both the EZ98 and PSVS and both sticks felt foreign to me, like I couldn't swing them. Shanks galore.
So on a break I thought about what I was doing wrong and what, if anything, I was doing well. What did I need? Control, first and foremost. Topspin, because my balls were sailing long. A headlight balance, because the PSVS (with 4g at 12) was feeling sluggish and making me late on every hit. So into the bag I dug, and found the Staff 97.
Went back out onto the court and expected to just suck in different ways -- but somehow it was like a switch got flipped. Suddenly I was nailing topspin forehands, and finding the backhand angles. Got a couple nice low slices over, and when I chased down tough balls, I was chipping them over to keep the point alive. The other guys were like "dude what happened to you? Took you long enough!"
The moral of the story here is to shed light on misconceptions people have about racket-switching and performance. I think people who only use/have one stick and gawk at or mock holics think that we think the racket will make us better. That is not at all what we think. Of course the racket doesn't make you better. Only your performance can affect whether you're playing good or bad. The racket is not a crutch. The racket is a tool.
The point is, sometimes you need different tools, because you're not a robot who does everything exactly the same every day (unless you're Novak or whatever). Sometimes your brain and muscles aren't wired together for whatever reason -- too much coffee today, not enough coffee, too much rice in your poke bowl, forgot to have lunch... whatever. So today you're late on your takeback. Or today your weight transfer isn't there. Or today your eyes aren't reading the ball quickly enough. You don't pick a racket to fix those problems. You pick a racket to compensate for those problems. You *accept* that those problems will exist, and find the tool that complements them. You're late on every shot? Less swing weight. Can't find control? Smaller head, denser pattern. The racket is just a tool, and if you can't play your best, at least make sure the tool has the properties that align with what's making you play poorly. Paint doesn't make an artist good. But if the artist is in a colorful mood, he doesn't want blacks, whites, and greys on his palette. He wants reds, yellows, and greens. If he's in a sad, melancholy mood and inspired to make a gothic painting, he does want black and grey. But the painting will only be as good as his talent. The least he can ask for from his palette is the right tools.
So on a break I thought about what I was doing wrong and what, if anything, I was doing well. What did I need? Control, first and foremost. Topspin, because my balls were sailing long. A headlight balance, because the PSVS (with 4g at 12) was feeling sluggish and making me late on every hit. So into the bag I dug, and found the Staff 97.
Went back out onto the court and expected to just suck in different ways -- but somehow it was like a switch got flipped. Suddenly I was nailing topspin forehands, and finding the backhand angles. Got a couple nice low slices over, and when I chased down tough balls, I was chipping them over to keep the point alive. The other guys were like "dude what happened to you? Took you long enough!"
The moral of the story here is to shed light on misconceptions people have about racket-switching and performance. I think people who only use/have one stick and gawk at or mock holics think that we think the racket will make us better. That is not at all what we think. Of course the racket doesn't make you better. Only your performance can affect whether you're playing good or bad. The racket is not a crutch. The racket is a tool.
The point is, sometimes you need different tools, because you're not a robot who does everything exactly the same every day (unless you're Novak or whatever). Sometimes your brain and muscles aren't wired together for whatever reason -- too much coffee today, not enough coffee, too much rice in your poke bowl, forgot to have lunch... whatever. So today you're late on your takeback. Or today your weight transfer isn't there. Or today your eyes aren't reading the ball quickly enough. You don't pick a racket to fix those problems. You pick a racket to compensate for those problems. You *accept* that those problems will exist, and find the tool that complements them. You're late on every shot? Less swing weight. Can't find control? Smaller head, denser pattern. The racket is just a tool, and if you can't play your best, at least make sure the tool has the properties that align with what's making you play poorly. Paint doesn't make an artist good. But if the artist is in a colorful mood, he doesn't want blacks, whites, and greys on his palette. He wants reds, yellows, and greens. If he's in a sad, melancholy mood and inspired to make a gothic painting, he does want black and grey. But the painting will only be as good as his talent. The least he can ask for from his palette is the right tools.
Vicious49
Legend
It's interesting that my bag has 3 PA98 and 3 305s in it now. I played a grueling 3 setter last night. Used the 305s for the 1st set but managed to sweat through all of them, used the PA98 through the 2nd set, and then switched back to the 305s for the last set. I ended up winning 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. That 2nd set wasnt really the PA98 fault though. Since I had won the 1st set I kept everything high and deep just to wear the guy out for the 3rd set.
The PA98 IMO is a better overall frame than the 305s. It has easier power, more spin, higher trajectory, and it's biggest pro for me is that it's great at just blocking back fast serves or defensive shots. The 305s however suits my natural game style better. The lower trajectory and more point and shoot style control as opposed to control with shaping the ball that the PA98 requires works better for me. My serve is more consistent with the 305s as well. I can play with both and depending on how I'm feeling that day is the one I start with (although usually I lean towards the 305s).
As far as comfort, I did have some slight TE early on with the 305s so mine are currently all strung with Triax. I may go back to poly some day to give it another shot but the PA98 does win in the arm comfort category for now.
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
"I wanna know what you paid for this jacket!"Bingo. That’s exactly what it is. This jacket costs $1,064.
tim-ay
Legend
On a whim, I strung up the PA +/- and took it to the courts today with the Orgins. Played for the first hour with the PA before switching back. I love how the PA +/- serves and it’s great on groundstrokes too. It can hit a heavy ball but it’s easy to flatten out a bit too much on returns. To me, that puts less pressure on the server as they can block back easier and your scrambling. With the Origin you just get those deep returns with crazy action without thinking.
Everything is a trade off in rackets, but I’m going to hit the +/- some more again. I just need to focus on heavier returns with it or at least coming in if I’m going to slap ‘em. Great racket though. A 27.25 Aero is one sweet ride.
Everything is a trade off in rackets, but I’m going to hit the +/- some more again. I just need to focus on heavier returns with it or at least coming in if I’m going to slap ‘em. Great racket though. A 27.25 Aero is one sweet ride.
emkayenaim
Rookie
There's one sitting for months at a thrift store near me, bought by no one (alongside a handful of Rossignol F200s).
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I played some casual, not spectacular doubles this morning. I started with the Aux2 Prestige Tour. Fun racquet and easy to use for a 95 but I was quickly reminded that I’m 46yr old and not 18. I played fine with it and easily won the set but it was obvious I was making life harder on myself than I need to.
So I figured I’d try the Gravity Tour 98. I was ready for this to thing to have a string bed that felt like the VCore 98 and for me to be unable to control it and spray balls everywhere due to the launch angle. Boy was I wrong. That was a fun racquet and so easy to play with. It’s like it took each of my shots and made them a heck of a lot better than they should have been. I was just crushing serves and ground strokes. Even volleys were easier than expected, probably due to low weight, good stability, and massive sweet spot. This one has 293 unstrung swingweight and never felt under powered or unstable. Quite a nice Sunday surprise.
So I figured I’d try the Gravity Tour 98. I was ready for this to thing to have a string bed that felt like the VCore 98 and for me to be unable to control it and spray balls everywhere due to the launch angle. Boy was I wrong. That was a fun racquet and so easy to play with. It’s like it took each of my shots and made them a heck of a lot better than they should have been. I was just crushing serves and ground strokes. Even volleys were easier than expected, probably due to low weight, good stability, and massive sweet spot. This one has 293 unstrung swingweight and never felt under powered or unstable. Quite a nice Sunday surprise.
Last match of the team league today, had to retire at 6-2 1-2.
First serve at 1-2 the ab tear came back, will need a longer serving break before I can get back to any kind of match play.
ATS 95 did its wonderful things before that.
Our 3rd slot guy (who's 30) got schooled by a 55+ year old with a Youtek Prestige MP and 2 year old Pro's Pro poly.
Was impressive to see how consistently hard and error free one he could hit the forehand while rarely putting any spin on it.
First serve at 1-2 the ab tear came back, will need a longer serving break before I can get back to any kind of match play.
ATS 95 did its wonderful things before that.
Our 3rd slot guy (who's 30) got schooled by a 55+ year old with a Youtek Prestige MP and 2 year old Pro's Pro poly.
Was impressive to see how consistently hard and error free one he could hit the forehand while rarely putting any spin on it.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Man. Love the prestige guy anecdote, hate the injury. Sorry to read that, man.
TwinCinema
Professional
I have a negative Prestige guy anecdote from today. Was playing a tough doubles clinic (with the PS97 v14 100% of the time) and in our last game I was partnered with a middle aged dude wielding a Aux 2 Prestige Pro, looked awesome, overall impressive player too.
But then on the final point I drove a backhand down the line that allowed me to approach, got the returner on the run and smashed his return for a game winning volley right at the net player’s feet. I went to go hi-five prestige guy and he just goes “you almost screwed the pooch man. Hit it right to him, he coulda had that.”
AlexKangaroo
Rookie
Changing my Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange strings to be 22kg (48-49lbs) really helped with my wrist and elbow issues I think. Played a tournament with them and I was fairly comfortable for the 3 matches and don't have the after pains that usually follow. What I find weird is that 23kg (50lbs) was much tougher on my arm. I suspect that could it just be fresh stringbed being nicer or is there actually a huge difference between 1kg. Next time I'll try to drop to 21kg (46lbs) and check how that feels. It could be the sweet spot based on these assessments. The opponents I had were not the best players so I could hit fairly loose and not put too much force. That might have helped. The matches were much more grindy outdoor clay types than my previous indoor hard courts matches.
Also really starting to feel super solid with the Pro Staff X. I am always thinking that another racquet would be better, but this one is always the most natural when I'm hitting on the court.
Also really starting to feel super solid with the Pro Staff X. I am always thinking that another racquet would be better, but this one is always the most natural when I'm hitting on the court.
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pizzadontdie
Rookie
Just getting over a 3 month ab tear recovery. The last month I could do everything except serve. Brutal. Wish you a speedy recovery!
1kg usually won't make a huge difference for your arm comfort, but fresh strings will every time.
The old strings were likely well below the original tension anyway.
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AlexKangaroo
Rookie
Sure you are probably 100% correct.
Very nice little streak there Gads. And for those of us more at home in tweener world, certain 100" Head frames are also the shiz! Namely the Graphene Touch Speed MP and the generation before, the Graphene XT Speed (@naturalexponent in full agreement with what you posted here recently.)
22mm straight beam... TK82S... perfect oval head shape... a more raw feel than its successors... great for customising... mid-upper RA... medium launch angle... 100 per cent 16x19 spin and power sticks but compared to recent Speeds (to say nothing of recent Babs and Yonex offerings) these a little more controlled (the XT seems a shade tighter in the centre mains)...
Been on a very long side experiment investigating a lot of different Speeds and Vcores and these two have emerged right up there at the top. In truth, I haven't actually played with a Babolat in months... yep, I'm finding these older Head Speed MPs really rather addicting!
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I chalk it up to familiarity. I've duped even myself with it for a year but became acutely aware of the fact just last week that when sets and pride are on the line, I've consistently reached for the v8 Blade... for a year. In my mind, there's been frame dilemma the whole time, but the Blade has been the subtle truth. Here I am at the farm on a newly resurfaced outdoor court, new net, new lights... and the familiarity of the v8 Blade. You know when you're sticking, bleeding, carving volleys on autopilot that there's trust. I look down and see nothing fascinating, just a pragmatists tool. Nothing important. It works, with the reliability of a trim carpenter's hammer. And the cows usually congregate as if our bags were stuffed with hay, but they missed it all. Nothing to see, I guess.
I would see myself out, but there's the WO 18x20 that may wreck everything. Still, though, it'd just be swapping a trim hammer for a framer's. Hanging on to my 'holic identity by a fray of natural gut.
SupremeCourt
Rookie
Fun for the day. I don’t want to like the EP, but am somehow playing good tennis with it.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
It is my contention (C) FedK) that any holic’s problems, and especially the problems of one in middle age, can be solved by going onto the bay, or that list from Craig, or Olx, or just whatever your local classified situation may be called, and fetching some old, discarded Head that someone has just cleared from their attic or basement or garage, and then throw some modern strings in there, and presto. Be it an old Speed, like yours, or an old Radical (MP up to Oversize), or even for the bold a Prestige. Just whatever. So much good stuff still exists from yesteryear. Of course this can be said of other brands too, but I’m a Headonist.
Great post. And it is about familiarity, of course. It was the same when I was frolicking happily on the same kind of streak with the Prestige a few months ago.
But the streak is over. I posted about the streak, so of course it had to now end, tonight. But to the point of familiarity, or maybe even growth, I didn’t change frames when I was down a set, down huge actually, a 2-6 trip right onto my face. Stayed the course, knew it was me, not the stick, and proceeded to flip that score in the second and only lost in the Super. But it was one of those losses where I was fine with it: he played so bravely in the super, nailed two lines early to set the tone, and basically took it. That was deserving of the win. I wasn’t mad to lose like this. Bravo.
He played with and is loving the 305S. After, I hit a few balls with his spare, to check it out. Really nice. Way more control than I was expecting, on the control/power ratio, but the feel was middling (not bad, not great). Overall I thought, nice, good stick.
In a past life I’d be considering getting one. But nah. And I’m not at all immune to 1 am purchases still: the Gravity Tour 98 as well as a LM Rad MP sitting here in a corner are proof of that, evidence of my habit, both snagged off locals in the last couple of months. Yet I’ve barely hit with either, even though I really love both, enough to keep them but they haven’t made any bags lately.
I’m not saying I’m growing, because I know I’ll fall again. But I’m doing well. Just thinking way more about the tennis these days than the tool.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
FlatShot_V
Semi-Pro
Me too. And I hope I stay there and just dial in. I want to play my best and stop thinking about switching, just refine technique.
With that in mind, I ditched the Prestige MP and went for the tecnifibre blad...TF40. Had it strung for the first time with X-1 Biphase.
It's a dream frame. Crisp, feel is amazing, like I'm touching the ball with my hand, incredible feedback with zero discomfort.
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
Ultra pro 99 is pretty muted so far. Havent hit fully with it but serves huge
325g strung with OG, 1.25 4G Black
333mm balance
333 SW
15.1 TW
325g strung with OG, 1.25 4G Black
333mm balance
333 SW
15.1 TW
FlatShot_V
Semi-Pro
Is that the steam 99 mold?
BenC
Hall of Fame
have nearly the same setup but with 17g poly crosses with the X1 mains. lovely stuff.Me too. And I hope I stay there and just dial in. I want to play my best and stop thinking about switching, just refine technique.
With that in mind, I ditched the Prestige MP and went for the tecnifibre blad...TF40. Had it strung for the first time with X-1 Biphase.
It's a dream frame. Crisp, feel is amazing, like I'm touching the ball with my hand, incredible feedback with zero discomfort.
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
FlatShot_V
Semi-Pro
Interesting. What poly? Did you feel a big difference vs X1 full bed?
hdjs94
Semi-Pro
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Fedace is that youToo bad
Did you do this?
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
4G black lol, as he states ;-)
I’m pretty damn interested in this resuscitated Steam, but don’t like to hear that it’s crazy muted.
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
With 4g black it obviously won’t be the most lively setup but with a 16x18 I didn’t wanna put anything too juiced up
hdjs94
Semi-Pro
Haha oops. Missed that.
The muted comfort trend is still gaining steam and not stopping. Even the new upcoming 2026 aero is much softer supposedly with its all new frame redesign…
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
I think ultra would be much livelier and crisp with Lynx tour orange and it would look great
But they put me on this Luxilon squad and sent me a big care package so I feel bad not using Lux for the time being
Addxyz
Hall of Fame
Which has wider string spacing? This or the GT98? Will be interesting to see which eats strings faster. Hefty SW!
BenC
Hall of Fame
It adds that poly feel to the string bed. More dwell time, maybe stiffer than X1 full bed depending on the poly.
I'm hesitant to say something like this is best setup EVARR because everyone's different. One of my hitting buddies tried mine and said he couldn't feel anything and hated it.
So your mileage will vary.That said, I think most smooth polys will work well as a cross with X1 mains. I haven't had a string bed lock up and it plays the same until the mains break.
I've tried as crosses:
Isospeed Cream 16L
Isospeed Baseline 16L
Lux ALU Rough 16L
I like the setup so much I bought a full reel of X1 and a bunch of other polys to try in the cross - Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour, Head Lynx Tour, WeissCannon Silverstring, and some others somewhere in a box.
I've also tried these crosses but found them to have less control than I wanted:
Isospeed Baseline 17L (1.20mm)
Synthetic guts - OG Sheep Micro 16g, Prince Duraflex 16g
Player-Tweener
(iirc..)
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
I haven’t put them side by side but from memory the GT98 is much more open up top and the UP99 at the bottom
So the GT will be more of a string eater generally if I had to guess
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
Anyone still using the GPro 2023?
Friend is selling 2 Grip 2s of those
Friend is selling 2 Grip 2s of those
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