mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Doppio has the beans rattling around, too.
Diary of a Racketaholic
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
tim-ay
Legend
I know, but these are 20 year old beans in the 7G. I want my beans aged.Doppio has the beans rattling around, too.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have no idea if it’s for you, Ive never seen you hit and Ive seen a lot of these others guys hit and hit with some. But ifyou are a Blade man, this should not be a tough transition. The PK will not have the plow or more HH balance that the Blade has, but it makes up for that with more free power and is easier to use. I personally stay true to size on grip shape and it is fine on the PK. You want to size down if you do for YY/BAB though.
Be interested in your thoughts. I’d suggest no dampener, although it is not as muted as the ripstick. It’s actually very crisp but comfortable. Sweetspot is large and rewards you with great ball feedback.
To me this frame is really going to shine if you are playing matches and want to hit out with confidence under pressure no matter what the situation. It won’t tire you out either. The really addicting thing is how you can hit big shots with pinpoint control. I strung mine at 52/50 and so far that seems to be working. 2 grams of lead at the tip has been great as well.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
You should it’s awesome.
I’m also glad @mscream is digging the Ezone plus. Definitley one of my favorite XLs I have ever used. It has some crazy free power with good control mixed in.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
I am looking forward to it for sure but this whole weekend is wet rainy
I will start stock first with TH 1.23 @50 and then try a little tip weight. I have a pack of TS so my 2nd string job will be that
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I am looking forward to it for sure but this whole weekend is wet rainy
Hopefully that clears up for you and you can go rip some shots. I have to say this now brings some strings into play that I haven’t tried yet. The TS is a winner already for me. But I do have some HG soft still lying around. That could be a fun one. About to go play round 2 of sets this AM and ill update. But I can see Tour Hex being a good one.
It may be a little pingy at first with the TH and the new PK. That died down after 45 mins or so of hitting and everything was smooth after that.
Nollid
Professional
The power and plow of a 67RA racquet that’s comfortable on the elbow and shoulder is what is enticing me. I didn’t think the two were compatible. I’m going to have to trust you on this one.
Nollid
Professional
Yup, Ripstick with TS is a winning combo. I kinda liked the beans moving sound. Different, but not in a bad way at all. 7g looks interesting too.
fundrazer
G.O.A.T.
I was away for a few weeks without the chance to play, but even during my trip I was thinking to order a demo for the Speed Pro. At the same time I dunno if I want to right now considering new Blades later in the year and maybe even an VCore Pro HD update.
I'm also a Lacosteaholic and have a cart full of new tennis stuff.
I'm also a Lacosteaholic and have a cart full of new tennis stuff.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
it doesnt have a ton of plow. You can of course add that with lead. But i wouldn't add much, mine is just a little under spec so i did. The power is there though, thats no problem. What i like is that i see where it can hit bigger and bigger shots the more i sync up with it over time.
This is more of a control frame that gives you free power so you can crank winners when needed, or control the point with placement all without using too much energy that the typical control frame requires.
Nollid
Professional
The Speed Pro surprised me and is worth the demo imho. I’ve put the Vcore HD aside lately. I can play well with it, but found out that I frame way more shots with it compared to 100 sq inch racquets.
tim-ay
Legend
Yeah, that EZ98+ is a legit great frame. The two I had were caught up in a battle of just too many frames and I had to whittle it down. One of the best frames ever for pounding the ball driving deep and then taking a real sharp angle for a winner. I don’t know why, but those angles were just easy with that frame. If it had any weakness, i found it slightly tough to switch to it from the other frames i was hitting... and although epic at driving the ball, i had some trouble creating higher heavy balls when i wanted. That was probably mostly down to what else i was playing with and not dedicating some full time weeks into it.
I pretty much agree with the doppio reviews of @JGads and @Power Player. It’s a fantastic all rounder with very good power for a 16/20 control pattern. The 100 head and not too high of a SW and TW (and HL balance) makes it also easy to manuouvre, to defend and to volley. Only downside for me is the stifness. I’m feeling my elbow a little little bit. Played it now 3 times and today with heavy hitters so I’m interested in how my arm is tomorrow. Serving btw is not bad at all. Probably because of the relative thin beam compared to for example a speed pro. Grip size feels not bigger than usual, but that might be due to another replacement grip, which I don’t no for sure. I’m using a TWE demo with an overgrip. I think a string like yptp would be very nice in this racquet because of the comfort and Muted feel. The doppio is now strung 22kg (as per sticker somewhere beginning of March). Don’t know the string unfortunately. If I only could test it with a yptp for example strung very low to see what the comfort is... final note: flex is a bit like an angell TC 70RA. Normally I play with soft frames like vcore 95, speed pro 360+, prestige pro etc. Thanks jgads for bringing this frame to our attention!
JGads
G.O.A.T.
The BAP may indeed be too flexy and the Doppio Banana may indeed be too hefty. But we must find these answers out for ourselves, for sure, for humanity. We each have our assignment.
On the Doppio, go into it with an open mind as I know you will. I dig it, PP digs it, but it may not be for everyone. Sometimes it’s best not to have crazy high expectations. The Doppio for me was not necessarily a “wowzah!” stick on first hit in the sense the 7G was for plow or the Ultra Tour was for feel, but was just super solid from the get go, and that solidity and trustworthiness has just never faded. Just a reliable bat, I think. A Michael Brantley or JJ Reddick.
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danbrenner
Legend
So PPs review of the Doppio makes it a no brainer as far as a test drive. My only gripe is that a demo will only come in a multi and in a 3/8. I’m playing mostly 1/2 these days. But I’ll just double bag it and I’m sure I’ll get the jist of it. And the banana 315 version wil be something that you guys will I’m sure try as soon as it’s available and then compare with the 310. So that will be of obvious interest to me to hear from you guys. Do you plan on getting the banana as soon as it’s available ?
danbrenner
Legend
Vicious49
Legend
I did like all those frames but eventually ended up agreeing with you guys which is why they are all gone or on the chopping block. Except the RF97 which I’ll just keep as a collectors item even though I don’t use it anymore. The PP may have been an outlier or something but mine felt harsh on offcenter hits and gave me golfers elbow which I’d never experienced before.
That last paragraph is what makes it so tempting. You’re telling us that I can hit with accuracy like I do with the UT or Blade but it will be less tiring? Especially in the Houston heat? Yeah, that’s an instant buy. But why the ugly paint job? I don’t need my racquet looking like a contender to Lightning McQueen.
Got it. Thanks. I am on the same page with jgads on this one. The beauty of this frame is how crazy it swings like feather and stings like a bee... So 330sw and 315gr is aspiring another category for which there is a stout competition.
danbrenner
Legend
I am in complete agreement with you Especially based on the fact that in about 60 seconds flat we can add 2g finless at 3 and 9 if customization is needed. But it it’s slightly to heavy in those areas as the banana may be. Well. As in the words of Chet from. Weird Science “Your stewed butt wadd”
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Strange you feel elbow soreness. I have a fairly sensitive elbow in that really firm frames will get me, or especially firm strings, and not once has a PK ever given me any twinge. It's always been other frames. I might suggest the possibility of merely the change in grip shape/different frames, which sometimes can make my elbow bark just a little bit if I'm not fully comfy with a certain grip (Bab) and then I'm kind of feeling for it, maybe oversqueezing compared to usual, that kind of thing. Although this goes away with time, but can hit initially.
I likely will leave it to Senior Topspin as my gut feeling is that I'll like the frames I have now more than the banana doppio. Which is to say rather than an instant purchase I'll send for a demo. We'll see. Also could depend on what the other numbers come out as on flex and such, as well as other reviews if there should be any.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
That's the one you bought rather than your demo, right? I'm assuming you didn't get a flex rating.
Give it a whirl at the lighter weight but have lead at the ready.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
No, I don’t have a flex measure on it but SW was measured on a yonex machine. Yep will try stock just to see where I think I’d like to add a bit of weight. I generally add to 2&10 or 12
JGads
G.O.A.T.
The attraction to the banana at that spec is the simplicity of either she works or she doesn't. Can't imagine the need to apply any lead whatsoever at a stock swingweight in the low 330s. Just worry about losing the whip.
danbrenner
Legend
thats something i would like to know. but ill def wait for you guys to make that update. im def interested in the banana as well as the 310 that is an interesting playtest in itself.
danbrenner
Legend
that being said .. in the good ol gun to the head scenario, i would go with the 310 as i know that is a safe bet. and lead is a simple fix. the 315 is as you said. either working as is. .or broken.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
Yep, if I get hooked I have a plan. I will get a 2nd frame then wait for the new release. Get the new one right away and see how they compare. Then either get a couple more of the old model or load up on the new.
danbrenner
Legend
so i wanted to update this thread about my experience last night. so i finally had the guts to call my highest level opponent for the first time this season. well call him mr c. so last year the first time i played him i lost 6-0 6-3. but he had played in his winter league, when i hadnt played much at all . henceforth my hesitation to prematurely call him this time around. but anyway. we met up. and to my delight he did not play this year in the winter leagues because of covid etc. etc. so that gave me a boost in confidence that i wasnt about to get my ass handed to me. sure enough we went toe to toe. and i lost the set 6-4. but that is totally respectable. this guy has a backhand onbh of the likes i have never encountered before. he can hit a winner on that wing from just about anywhere on the court. so my focus is always to hit as hard as i can to his fh. my serve is better than his. thats about it. hes over ten years younger than me and a strong 4.5 . so i have to be firing on all cylinders with my serve at a high level to beat him. so after the set was over. .we were already an hour and a half in . after the 30 min warm up. so i knew we wouldnt have enough time to play a second. so we decided to play a mini set each player taking a service game. and maybe getting in 4 games or so. so for the abbreviated set i wanted to play him with a pleener. that is the head i have now when not playing with my trusty pa. if i playtest a stick. its got to be a pleener. afa twenners are concerned the pa imo is the king. so pulled out my pure strike 16m. this really is a great stick. and is a true pleener. the feel and feedback is direct.. and because its a bab. even thoug its a 98 is delivers sufficient power. we went toe to toe in our abbreviated second. everything was clicking for me. i think my recent foray with the bp paid off in a way because that experience made this stirke seem like a cannon in comparison and super easy to get net clearanc.e so that really opened up my mind to the stike once again. it truly is a pleener. great. frame. i will really put it through the paces over the coming weeks. also it made me want to give the strike 100 a try. so i put a demo order in. i have a strike coming. a pa tour ... and a head gravity mp. also i will get my hands on a doppio as soon as possible. that one after getting rave reviews will def be getting a full playtest. good stuff. the foray into the pleener world is very real. lets do this.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Well said, I can’t imagine everyone here will buy a Doppio or anything, but it does fill a hole that imo, is quite amazing - a thinner beam 100 with a 16x20 pattern - just a genius design by PK.
Day 2, I was pretty tired from a lot of tennis last evening and I had to get up real early to play today so that’s a great frame test. I was not sharp and half asleep for a while, but I still managed to get dialed in and hit my groundies with a lot of confidence. I got a lot more serve and volley time today, and yeah- what a great frame for volleys. I haven’t vollied like that in a long time, I suspect because I don’t have to fight the frame as much to keep it straight up and in front of me. It’s just so easy to use if you have fast hands, it compliments them instead of the opposite. I was punching clean volleys for winners today and the feel on contact is just sublime when you do that.
The feel of this frame is so awesome. It’s not like a Blade pro or PT630 where you are instantly like “oh my god”, but the sweetspot is so large and feels so rewarding on clean drives. Plus it is never vague, so I can brush shots like I would with a tweener and I can still feel exactly where the ball is going. Its kind of like the 2015 Blade where it’s just a very direct feel, but the PK is crisper and the stiffness really helps me direct the ball with nice, honest power relative to how I hit the shot. Only way I can describe it.
At this point, I am really happy because I am not worrying about frames - which is better the Ripstick or PA19 or maybe the V7 Blade..etc. Nope, I can tell this PK fits me even better than those great racquets and so when I am on the court im not trying to figure out the racquet, Im just playing tennis and more focused on getting in top fitness so I can keep a steady focus over 2 hours of play.
This is absolutely the JJ Redick of frames - it‘s so reliable and most importantly it gives me a high level of confidence in any situation. I got out of some jams today and ended up winning sets that started off a little shaky. I was hitting line drive FHs, looping deep, hitting lobs, attacking net and also - my most key shot, the approach is so dialed in already with this frame. That really makes a huge difference for my playstyle since I hit deep and heavy top to the corners to get short balls. Doing all that work only to dump the approach is frustrating, and I didn’t miss one short ball with the Doppio the past two days.
I should add that 2 of my teammates are seriously intrigued and are thinking about buying the frame now. I have to say that’s the best evidence I can provide of how much better I am playing with it.
I am going to get the Banana ASAP and here is why - I’d like to see how this new one plays with the extra weight and SW. It’s kind of amazing to have very similar frames with some different weighting to them because it will help me truly figure out what spec wins for me on the court more. And since I expect the frames to feel rather similar, it will basically be like switching to a leaded up version. I am leaning towards Gads thoughts on the new one maybe being a bit Extra and not needed. But that said, it’s PK, I have faith in these guys, so I will support them and buy a Banana.
Well honestly if you care that much about paint, you may not be deep enough into the tennis journey for a PK. PK’s rarely have awesome PJs. It’s more about the quality of the frame and how it makes you play better while protecting your arm in the process.
A nice PJ is cool, but it‘s probably one of the lowest traits that really matters to me in the end. I love the Ripstick PJ for example, but I much prefer the PK anyway.
But yes it is like the UT or Blade but less tiring and more free power - absolutely. And what looks best is playing great and winning. Hell, I am wearing Diadora shoes and hitting with a PK right now, but nobody seems to notice that, and they just focus on what I’m doing to that yellow ball.
This is where Im at - 2 Doppios and Ill get 1 Banana. I could see myself with 2 of each possibly, or maybe I will just stay with this older model, buy one more and work the banana in when I practice over time.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I agree, the PA is the tweener king. For me it barely edges out the Ripstick. I love the comfort of the Ripstick but the feel of the PA works better for my game, I just have more accuracy and confidence. For me, the PA narrowly won the tweener war and I will keep mine and list my PD and Ripstick so I can fund a few more PKs.
I don’t have issues with the PP and it’s actually helping to heal my wrist. My wrist pain came from the CX200 demo. Not sure why, or what happened but I’ve never had a wrist problem until playing with that frame. I’m guessing I had an outlier also there? Some frames just don’t work.
ryushen21
Legend
So you're hitting the old/current Qanon and the new one drops later this month? And you're going to try that one too?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yeah I will try the new one for sure. I love this series of frames. Like kind of irrationally right now, just due to how quickly it complimented my game.
In an odd way it reminds me of a modern Phantom 93, obviously easier to use, more power and all that. But the way it is balanced is just real special and that's what I love about the P93. It's an art form to make a really HL frame that doesn't feel like a flyswatter and PK did an amazing job there. So I am curious how the new Banana will swing, although I suspect I will main this current model.
Yes the last thing I was expecting was some elbow twinkles, cause literally everyone says PK kinetic is comfortable regardless of stiffness. I checked the TW vibration frequency and it is somewhere in the high 150’s. I think my usual frames are in the low 140’s, might be something to do with that. But again I would like to test it with a comfy poly and maybe 1 + 1 gram of lead at 3/9 or 10/2 but not much since in don’t want to kill the strength of this frame which is basically a fast feeling 100 Head size.. let us know how your somewhat lower RA doppio feels pls: )
mscream
Professional
The PA, Ripstick and Speed MP almost have identical specs but play/feel quite differently. If interested in these kind of tweeners, I would demo them alongside each other. The PA for example should work best for more "wiping" strokes, whereas the Speed MP could work also for more flat hitting.
ryushen21
Legend
The EZ100 can be mentioned in the same breath with the PA and RIP. Handles heavy topspin, drives, and slices something nasty.
I, ryushen21, first of his name, feel fetishist, reformed tweener enthusiast, and defender of the EZ100, have spoken.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Prestige Pro is just awesome. It’s the truest example of a power player’s frame. I actually brought out my Graphene Prestige MP this morning. The graphene Prestige MP has some oomph for a Prestige MP, but the Prestige Pros (XT and Touch) are more effortless to use without compromising control.
ryushen21
Legend
Now I'm in a pickle. There's an A condition used EZ100 on TW for the same price as a new JGads Qanon5G. What to do?
mscream
Professional
You're right, completely forgot about the EZ100!
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Do what you need to do. Get both, of course.
ryushen21
Legend
In all seriousness, this current EZ100 could go down as one of the best overlooked/underappreciated racquets of the time. It plays so well yet everyone looks more at the 98 and 98 tour.
I just got the divorce probably indicator below 50 again. This is no time to be whimsical with racquet purchases. Had my other frames sold when I listed them, I would have no problem pulling the trigger on both.
I’m loving the power I’m getting from them. Especially on the backhand wing and serves. I also like that I could add leather and play stock otherwise and not desire changes. It takes one mental aspect out of the game for me
Power Player
Bionic Poster
the 7g is the PK gateway drug. Beware. Its a really sweet frame and if you want to dig back in the archives of this thread you should see my review and then Gads got in the mix with his. I believe around that time we were hunting black aces as well.
tim-ay
Legend
I’ve been wanting to try it for awhile because of the Great Gads-p speaking so highly of it. The Qanon looks good too, but my rips are already a bit pleenerish, 4 or 5 grams over spec, then i put 5 grams on the handle too. Low 330’s static and probably pushing 330 SW (need to get them checked).... not your grandfathers tweeners. I’m getting almost player frame characteristics out of them. Needed something bespoke and it helps the 7G’s are almost free.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
May be the best $120 you ever spent (or whatever number they’re going for). It’s just an epic frame. Do you have a two hander? Hope so. No better stick in that department. Long handle, loaded leverage, 100sq inches of forgiving real estate, a 16/20 bed that shapes the ball how you wish. It’s a marvelous frame, still haven’t found a better XL. I remember back when I was playing a 5.0 buddy once a week, the 7G was the stick that corralled most of my (rare) wins against that much better player, or at least sent me into many tiebreakers or nail biting sets. It was the sturdiest and most forgiving against all that pace and kicking spin coming my way.
At 11.7, 330 sw, the PK 16/20 bed is a marvelous blend of plow and control. Oh wait that’s also gonna be the new banana Q spec. Huh.
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