Diary of a Racketaholic

SupahMan5000 said:
It’s a “pro” nominally since a fair amount of pro stocks are the steam mold. It’s essentially a steam 99 which I don’t believe was ever considered a “pro caliber” nodel
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Pro stock tennis site has one at 70RA... I hope this one isn't that stiff.
 
I'm with Gads - more about the tennis than the frames, although I am glad I grabbed the BAP and I am still patiently waiting for the Q+ updates, just to see what they do there.

I can see myself carrying the BAP and a standard length Banana and being set for quite a while. Of course the XLs will remain close by since I always seem to want to bust them out now and then. It is tough for me to switch between 27.5 and standard during a match though, so the current bag setup is not optimal. I'll either crack and buy the 305 standard length banana or just patiently wait for Lorenzo.

Either way, the main focus here has been serve consistency and improving my transition game.
 
veelium said:
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.
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Geziz. Ouch. Look after yerself.
 
Fintft said:
Too bad :)

Did you do this?

Modern+Stroke+Geometry+Schematic+pg2+-+REVISED.jpg
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I'm replying to myself, but have you guys tried this?
I just came off the court and it works with my lowest SW ( around 320) racquet with gut poly but not with my higher SW (330) and poly sticks?!!
 
the weather has been such isht this season. I am going back and forth indoor and outdoor. And so, I’m not really calibrated for either! Typically I play indoor October through early May. Not this year. Indoors, 10 matches in late May and early June, bc of RAIN.

Wettest May on record for our area
And it’s been a very damp June too!
 
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The PAVS16x19 was quite fun and rather playable the other day. Gonna give it another whirl today under outdoor local league condition and see how it goes.
It has been a bloody cold and sometimes windy winter already
 
esm said:
The PAVS16x19 was quite fun and rather playable the other day. Gonna give it another whirl today under outdoor local league condition and see how it goes.
It has been a bloody cold and sometimes windy winter already
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there's a 16x19 version of PAVS ??
 
Oh boy. I had a bad Monday night with the 351.1 and in true holic fashion shot it the side eye for the first time in a long time. I went to the rack and pulled down the PA23 and the ET avocado. Dunno, I just can’t get with that hollow PA23 feel no matter how much it might improve my game. Now the ET Avo is a revelation. Honestly, I never gave it a fair trial. It has great feel and tons of spin, but most of all it is whippy as hell. And that is something I like a lot. The only curious thing is that this is a grip size 2 where I normally play a 3. I am really liking the size 2 because it really feels like I can be way more effortlessly wristy with it. Anybody else downsize their grip and notice this? What’s the take new extreme pro anybody here using it / demo it?
 
I had a fantastic hitting session with my TF40 strung with X1 biphase today. So much so that my coach wanted to give it a try, that's how impressed he was with it.

Then I saw some people installing a Babolat windscreen, now I want a Pure Strike 97. I hate myself

Fintft said:
I'm replying to myself, but have you guys tried this?
I just came off the court and it works with my lowest SW ( around 320) racquet with gut poly but not with my higher SW (330) and poly sticks?!!
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That's cause you're not strong enough to do it, your body doesn't want to. Happened to me with the Prestige MP Aux 2.0
 
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FlatShot_V said:
I had a fantastic hitting session with my TF40 strung with X1 biphase today. So much so that my coach wanted to give it a try, that's how impressed he was with it.

Then I saw some people installing a Babolat windscreen, now I want a Pure Strike 97. I hate myself


That's cause you're not strong enough to do it, your body doesn't want to. Happened to me with the Prestige MP Aux 2.0
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New TF40? I had a brief hit with the 18m on Tue and it was awesome, I think the 16m would be even better though
 
Nollid said:
Oh boy. I had a bad Monday night with the 351.1 and in true holic fashion shot it the side eye for the first time in a long time. I went to the rack and pulled down the PA23 and the ET avocado. Dunno, I just can’t get with that hollow PA23 feel no matter how much it might improve my game. Now the ET Avo is a revelation. Honestly, I never gave it a fair trial. It has great feel and tons of spin, but most of all it is whippy as hell. And that is something I like a lot. The only curious thing is that this is a grip size 2 where I normally play a 3. I am really liking the size 2 because it really feels like I can be way more effortlessly wristy with it. Anybody else downsize their grip and notice this? What’s the take new extreme pro anybody here using it / demo it?
Click to expand...

When I downsize I do get more wristy and I suffer pain from it. I need to put two overgrips on L3 rackets which is why I’m stuck with L4s for the most part.

I demoed the EP and did not like it. Felt anemic and pointless, and mostly extremely muted. You have no idea where on the stringbed you’re connecting and what’s happening to the ball. But many here are enjoying it so what do I know…
 
Fintft said:
I'm replying to myself, but have you guys tried this?
I just came off the court and it works with my lowest SW ( around 320) racquet with gut poly but not with my higher SW (330) and poly sticks?!!
Click to expand...
My backhand came undone over the past year after watching too many djokovic backhand videos. It's best I don't think about what my racquet face is doing during the swing. Can't lose my forehand too. Also, another downvote for the EP, didn't like the feel
 
Nollid said:
Oh boy. I had a bad Monday night with the 351.1 and in true holic fashion shot it the side eye for the first time in a long time. I went to the rack and pulled down the PA23 and the ET avocado. Dunno, I just can’t get with that hollow PA23 feel no matter how much it might improve my game. Now the ET Avo is a revelation. Honestly, I never gave it a fair trial. It has great feel and tons of spin, but most of all it is whippy as hell. And that is something I like a lot. The only curious thing is that this is a grip size 2 where I normally play a 3. I am really liking the size 2 because it really feels like I can be way more effortlessly wristy with it. Anybody else downsize their grip and notice this? What’s the take new extreme pro anybody here using it / demo it?
Click to expand...

I experience two counteracting elements when decreasing grip size. The racket has more room to «wobble» inside the hand, making it indeed more wristy. But, I find it easier to grip the racket loosely with a larger size. The first is more fundamental, the second is more my nature perhaps.

I never make up my mind which is best for me, L2 or L3 because of this.
 
JGads said:
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.
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The flip side to familiarity is when we hit a bad patch, and even knowing it's all us and not the tool, we can hardly bring ourselves to as much as look at the hideous thing. It all turns stale. Then the only thing 'growing' is psychological mold, and we move on to something fresh. And this has to be why most ATP/WTA players seem so miserable on court. They hate their racquet but can't move because familiarity drives results, so they smash and destroy as many as possible--how satisfying it must be. Of course, I'm joking... I think.

But I'm committed to breaking the pattern, despite the challenge because the bad patch will come. Maybe I'll start with just keeping it to what's currently in the bag, a big bag, and after I secure a WO 18x20.

16-1? Yeah, man, the Fedora doesn't deserve probation quite yet, but I'd give it a stern warning.
 
Nollid said:
Oh boy. I had a bad Monday night with the 351.1 and in true holic fashion shot it the side eye for the first time in a long time. I went to the rack and pulled down the PA23 and the ET avocado. Dunno, I just can’t get with that hollow PA23 feel no matter how much it might improve my game. Now the ET Avo is a revelation. Honestly, I never gave it a fair trial. It has great feel and tons of spin, but most of all it is whippy as hell. And that is something I like a lot. The only curious thing is that this is a grip size 2 where I normally play a 3. I am really liking the size 2 because it really feels like I can be way more effortlessly wristy with it. Anybody else downsize their grip and notice this? What’s the take new extreme pro anybody here using it / demo it?
Click to expand...
I like the new EP, although ET Avo has better feel/more feedback.
 
FlatShot_V said:
I'm thinking about joining the "just get a pure drive and blast balls away at people" crowd.

How surefire is getting the 2024 100in 300g PD with Wimbledon pj?
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Because I’ve been itching to buy a racket and hadn’t since last August, I snagged a 2021 pure drive plus for a cheap price. Probably the third time I’ve owned one, but man when it is on it is on. Just gotta keep something else in the bag for when it’s not on. Ha.

I think that Wimby is a 2021 with paint , so yeah.
 
tim-ay said:
Because I’ve been itching to buy a racket and hadn’t since last August, I snagged a 2021 pure drive plus for a cheap price. Probably the third time I’ve owned one, but man when it is on it is on. Just gotta keep something else in the bag for when it’s not on. Ha.

I think that Wimby is a 2021 with paint , so yeah.
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Can I buy it with my eyes closed? Is the PJ glossy?
 
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TwinCinema said:
When I downsize I do get more wristy and I suffer pain from it. I need to put two overgrips on L3 rackets which is why I’m stuck with L4s for the most part.

I demoed the EP and did not like it. Felt anemic and pointless, and mostly extremely muted. You have no idea where on the stringbed you’re connecting and what’s happening to the ball. But many here are enjoying it so what do I know…
Click to expand...
EP needs weight at 12 and 3/9 coming from the PSVS, otherwise it feels unstable and underpowered. I also added a leather grip to keep the balance at 320mm. I am really liking it now that it's dialed in, it's more accurate than the PSVS, better at the net, and hits a very heavy ball. The feel is.. meh. 360+ Extreme Tour is the same racquet without any of the Auxetic dampening, but my elbow doesn't love it. So it's a trade-off.
 
dmtree said:
EP needs weight at 12 and 3/9 coming from the PSVS, otherwise it feels unstable and underpowered. I also added a leather grip to keep the balance at 320mm. I am really liking it now that it's dialed in, it's more accurate than the PSVS, better at the net, and hits a very heavy ball. The feel is.. meh. 360+ Extreme Tour is the same racquet without any of the Auxetic dampening, but my elbow doesn't love it. So it's a trade-off.
Click to expand...

I have the Auxetic 1 Extreme Tour (the Avocado) and I tried lead all over the place: 3/9, 12, 10/2, etc. Still couldn't dial it in the way I liked it but it was still a little better than the Aux 2 EP. But for me the PSVS is distinctly more accurate and better at net than either Extreme. Different strokes, so to speak! :)
 
Pneumated1 said:
The flip side to familiarity is when we hit a bad patch, and even knowing it's all us and not the tool, we can hardly bring ourselves to as much as look at the hideous thing. It all turns stale. Then the only thing 'growing' is psychological mold, and we move on to something fresh. And this has to be why most ATP/WTA players seem so miserable on court. They hate their racquet but can't move because familiarity drives results, so they smash and destroy as many as possible--how satisfying it must be. Of course, I'm joking... I think.

But I'm committed to breaking the pattern, despite the challenge because the bad patch will come. Maybe I'll start with just keeping it to what's currently in the bag, a big bag, and after I secure a WO 18x20.

16-1? Yeah, man, the Fedora doesn't deserve probation quite yet, but I'd give it a stern warning.
Click to expand...
So much good stuff here. The satisfaction the pros must feel of smashing frames (because they can’t switch). The commitment to keeping it to what’s currently in the bag but “a big bag” — which is totally my way of tennis life. And commitment, but only after that next addition.

Man, who are we kidding. We love frames, and it’s fine. It’s fine! I say this all the time and I’m saying it here again.

I can love the Fedora so much that I’ve named it the Fedora and stockpiled them into double digits and varied them into different lengths and specs. I can also love the Prestige and want to hit with it first if I’m hitting with anyone for just fun. I can also compete with the damn Prestige because when I’m on, and wanting control, because holy moly that racquet has my back more than any.

I can buy a LM Radical MP at 1:36 am one morning and then not play with it for 1 1/2 months.

I can yank another stick out of relegation, just because it looks good there in the corner, it winks.

I say all this while realizing that for the last year almost, ever since my wrist injury return, I’ve been remarkably “sober.” I’ve played almost entirely with three racquets: two variations of a Prestige and now again the Fedora. But too many of us give ourselves hard times for liking multiple women I mean racquets.

We’re human. We’re men.

Let us play.

(Oh dear this post got out of hand. I don’t care about this, either. I’m leaving it.)
 
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JGads said:
So much good stuff here. The satisfaction the pros must feel of smashing frames (because they can’t switch). The commitment to keeping it to what’s currently in the bag but “a big bag” — which is totally my way of tennis life. And commitment, but only after that next addition.

Man, who are we kidding. We love frames, and it’s fine. It’s fine! I say this all the time and I’m saying it here again.

I can love the Fedora so much that I’ve named it the Fedora and stockpiled them into double digits and varied them into different lengths and specs. I can also love the Prestige and want to hit with it first if I’m hitting with anyone for just fun. I can also compete with the damn Prestige because when I’m on, and wanting control, because holy moly that racquet has my back more than any.

I can buy a LM Radical MP at 1:36 am one morning and then not play with it for 1 1/2 months.

I can yank another stick out of relegation, just because it looks good there in the corner, it winks.

I say all this while realizing that for the last year almost, ever since my wrist injury return, I’ve been remarkably “sober.” I’ve played almost entirely with three racquets: two variations of a Prestige and now again the Fedora. But too many of us give ourselves hard times for liking multiple women I mean racquets.

We’re human. We’re men.

Let us play.

(Oh dear this post got out of hand. I don’t care about this, either. I’m leaving it.)
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Book of JGads 5:34

Praise be
 
I have a whole bunch of frames and I rotate them all the time. Most of my frames end up being weighted up to similar specs so I am mostly just feeling different power levels and different sensations happening in the string bed. But this week I have been hitting my ole Phantom 97P and Good God I am reminded of how this frame just has something extra for me. It just adds an extra dimension to my game. I love it. It's next level man. Such an overlooked frame.
 
JGads said:
So much good stuff here. The satisfaction the pros must feel of smashing frames (because they can’t switch). The commitment to keeping it to what’s currently in the bag but “a big bag” — which is totally my way of tennis life. And commitment, but only after that next addition.

Man, who are we kidding. We love frames, and it’s fine. It’s fine! I say this all the time and I’m saying it here again.

I can love the Fedora so much that I’ve named it the Fedora and stockpiled them into double digits and varied them into different lengths and specs. I can also love the Prestige and want to hit with it first if I’m hitting with anyone for just fun. I can also compete with the damn Prestige because when I’m on, and wanting control, because holy moly that racquet has my back more than any.

I can buy a LM Radical MP at 1:36 am one morning and then not play with it for 1 1/2 months.

I can yank another stick out of relegation, just because it looks good there in the corner, it winks.

I say all this while realizing that for the last year almost, ever since my wrist injury return, I’ve been remarkably “sober.” I’ve played almost entirely with three racquets: two variations of a Prestige and now again the Fedora. But too many of us give ourselves hard times for liking multiple women I mean racquets.

We’re human. We’re men.

Let us play.

(Oh dear this post got out of hand. I don’t care about this, either. I’m leaving it.)
Click to expand...
What does the Fedora give you over the Prestige? You don't have to swing it fast, is that it?
 
JGads said:
So much good stuff here. The satisfaction the pros must feel of smashing frames (because they can’t switch). The commitment to keeping it to what’s currently in the bag but “a big bag” — which is totally my way of tennis life. And commitment, but only after that next addition.

Man, who are we kidding. We love frames, and it’s fine. It’s fine! I say this all the time and I’m saying it here again.

I can love the Fedora so much that I’ve named it the Fedora and stockpiled them into double digits and varied them into different lengths and specs. I can also love the Prestige and want to hit with it first if I’m hitting with anyone for just fun. I can also compete with the damn Prestige because when I’m on, and wanting control, because holy moly that racquet has my back more than any.

I can buy a LM Radical MP at 1:36 am one morning and then not play with it for 1 1/2 months.

I can yank another stick out of relegation, just because it looks good there in the corner, it winks.

I say all this while realizing that for the last year almost, ever since my wrist injury return, I’ve been remarkably “sober.” I’ve played almost entirely with three racquets: two variations of a Prestige and now again the Fedora. But too many of us give ourselves hard times for liking multiple women I mean racquets.

We’re human. We’re men.

Let us play.

(Oh dear this post got out of hand. I don’t care about this, either. I’m leaving it.)
Click to expand...
I do love frames, whether ordered off a menu or buffet-style lining a fence with demo boxes strewn, and variety bags, stuffed.

And yes, I'm human and manly and a player.

But I hate myself for these very reasons. As you know, I'll never embrace it.

This time, though, I think 'I've fooled around and fell in love.' This truth compounds every outing. Farm doubles last night indoors on the lightning court, and the Blade was that exact extension where thoughts/intentions equal results. The Blade conquered in the first but fell to an nCode 6.1 95 with 5-year-old strings in the second... paired with a v7 Blade, so an acceptable consolation. That nCode 95 just produces a different kind of ball, a different kind of sound. The guy's been hitting it for 20 years, ignorant of all others. My hero... the human/man/player I'll never be.
 
JGads said:
So much good stuff here. The satisfaction the pros must feel of smashing frames (because they can’t switch). The commitment to keeping it to what’s currently in the bag but “a big bag” — which is totally my way of tennis life. And commitment, but only after that next addition.

Man, who are we kidding. We love frames, and it’s fine. It’s fine! I say this all the time and I’m saying it here again.

I can love the Fedora so much that I’ve named it the Fedora and stockpiled them into double digits and varied them into different lengths and specs. I can also love the Prestige and want to hit with it first if I’m hitting with anyone for just fun. I can also compete with the damn Prestige because when I’m on, and wanting control, because holy moly that racquet has my back more than any.

I can buy a LM Radical MP at 1:36 am one morning and then not play with it for 1 1/2 months.

I can yank another stick out of relegation, just because it looks good there in the corner, it winks.

I say all this while realizing that for the last year almost, ever since my wrist injury return, I’ve been remarkably “sober.” I’ve played almost entirely with three racquets: two variations of a Prestige and now again the Fedora. But too many of us give ourselves hard times for liking multiple women I mean racquets.

We’re human. We’re men.

Let us play.

(Oh dear this post got out of hand. I don’t care about this, either. I’m leaving it.)
Click to expand...
Sorry, fedora is code for what again? Haven’t scrolled back long enough to see.
 
kevin qmto said:
Sorry, fedora is code for what again? Haven’t scrolled back long enough to see.
Click to expand...

TwinCinema

Thread 'Introducing: The RNG (Racketholic Nickname Glossary)'

As a relatively ignorant user around these parts, I have often been confused by the nicknames granted to various tennis rackets -- especially in the Diary of a Racketaholic thread. I realized I needed a glossary so I knew what it was people were talking about. So I finally put together a Google Doc to identify them. It was first posted in the Diary thread, but since confusion keeps popping up, I figured I'd stop procrastinating and put the glossary link in its own thread for easier access. Here it is!

RNG

Anyone with the link can edit the doc, so feel free to update it with new...
  • Like
 
TwinCinema said:
TwinCinema

Thread 'Introducing: The RNG (Racketholic Nickname Glossary)'

As a relatively ignorant user around these parts, I have often been confused by the nicknames granted to various tennis rackets -- especially in the Diary of a Racketaholic thread. I realized I needed a glossary so I knew what it was people were talking about. So I finally put together a Google Doc to identify them. It was first posted in the Diary thread, but since confusion keeps popping up, I figured I'd stop procrastinating and put the glossary link in its own thread for easier access. Here it is!

RNG

Anyone with the link can edit the doc, so feel free to update it with new...
  • Like
Click to expand...
Wow somehow never saw that before. Some of those names I have no idea how one arrived at them lol.
 
JGads said:
An ancient, obscure frame from 30 years ago called the Pro Lite Tour XL. (Modified by me) … It’s a thin, 102-sq inch 18x19 that is just awesome when tweaked to taste.

(Of course today the Prestige had a nice day.)
Click to expand...
Prestiges for control, but we take your word for the Fedora :)
/ hats off
 
Anybody have any luck trying to order rackets from Tennis Warehouse Europe to the US? I thought I’ve done it before, but am getting blocked at checkout. They have the Head Extreme Tour for a great price and can’t really find it elsewhere. Any ideas / work around?
 
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Nollid said:
Anybody have any luck trying to order rackets from Tennis Warehouse Europe to the US? I thought I’ve done it before, but am getting blocked at checkout. They have the Head Extreme Tour for a great price and can’t really find it elsewhere. Any ideas / work around?
Click to expand...
This will happen when the manufacturers have restrictions on where the items can be shipped. I've ordered from TW Europe successfully before for some apparel items, but I've been blocked on some Lacoste and Asics stuff.

You can try a reshipper option. Whereas you pay for the service of getting an item delivered to the reshipping company somewhere in Europe and then they ship it to you in the states.
 
Nollid said:
Anybody have any luck trying to order rackets from Tennis Warehouse Europe to the US? I thought I’ve done it before, but am getting blocked at checkout. They have the Head Extreme Tour for a great price and can’t really find it elsewhere. Any ideas / work around?
Click to expand...
They were blocking me last time I was trying too. I ended up ordering from T.. Point.
 
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