Fixing rectangular Head Pro Tour 280 grip

[graycrait]

Picked up an unused PT280 a couple of weeks ago. Even though I am in my 60s never got to hit with this racket before. I like it but hated that rectangular grip. Looked around for a fix and saw some possible TK82S pallets but said why? I took two tongue depressors, cut the rounded ends off, spread some super glue on the pallet, clamped the trimmed tongue depresses on the wide part of the pallet. Then took a knife and following the angle of the bevels trimmed the tongue depressor. Re gripped and love the feel and have no issue with the size of the grip. Strung it with Genesis Black Magic 17g at 45lbs.

 

[hurworld]

Picked up an unused PT280 a couple of weeks ago. Even though I am in my 60s never got to hit with this racket before. I like it but hated that rectangular grip. Looked around for a fix and saw some possible TK82S pallets but said why? I took two tongue depressors, cut the rounded ends off, spread some super glue on the pallet, clamped the trimmed tongue depresses on the wide part of the pallet. Then took a knife and following the angle of the bevels trimmed the tongue depressor. Re gripped and love the feel and have no issue with the size of the grip. Strung it with Genesis Black Magic 17g at 45lbs.

Grats on the new acquisition! Would love to hit with one of these too.

 

[coachrick]

Picked up an unused PT280 a couple of weeks ago. Even though I am in my 60s never got to hit with this racket before. I like it but hated that rectangular grip. Looked around for a fix and saw some possible TK82S pallets but said why? I took two tongue depressors, cut the rounded ends off, spread some super glue on the pallet, clamped the trimmed tongue depresses on the wide part of the pallet. Then took a knife and following the angle of the bevels trimmed the tongue depressor. Re gripped and love the feel and have no issue with the size of the grip. Strung it with Genesis Black Magic 17g at 45lbs.

What was the original grip size? That makes quite a difference in some Head handles(especially the 1/4, 3/8")

 

[graycrait]

@coachrick , Now I wish that the original grip size was 4&3/8 but it was in my preferred 4&1/2 but it felt like I was gripping a handle specifically made to never change out of a continental grip. I measured the grip after I was done and it was near 4&5/8+ with a synthetic grip and one OG. But for all my shortness at 5'10.5" I have at least 4.5" hands so I can hang with this as a "sometimes" racket. I am still figuring out strings and tension on this. The large roundish handle doesn't compel to grip overly hard. I got the PT280 at Goodwill for 2.99 and it had never been hit, still in the cover. There should have been a camera taking my picture when I pulled it out of a pile of sporting goods crap and opened up the case. I was like Gollum with his "precious" scuttling for the cash register. Still- I prefer a Prince 93" or 95" 14x18. Just because - I ordered a NOS Prince Tour Pro 98 18x20 to run alongside this PT280. I never had much joy in 18x20s before, so I want to ring some 18x20 joy out for what little time I might have on the courts, discounting the 20-some years with wood rackets.

 

[coachrick]

gray, the PT280 was my last 18x20 stick before I switched to Volkl(prefer the open patterns, although the tight bed of the Tour 10 mid was fun). I always thought it had too many strings; but never tried to switch it up. I spent a fair amount of time with 18-19ga aramid mains and 17ga multi crosses at tensions in the 40s. Could cut the fuzz right off the ball! I'm your height but used a 5" grip in college and only 'dropped' to about a 3/4 over the decades since. I even build my Pickleball handles up to about a 5/8-3/4 .

 

[graycrait]

@coachrick , Got my Prince Pro Tour 98 18x20 today from NOS and it so reminds me of the 18x20 Head PT280 it is not even funny but a full ounce less. I measured my PT 280 DIY grip today and it is 4&3/4" but it does feel smaller than some other 4&5/8s Prince grips I have. For the time being the rackets that are in my bag are: Prince Tour Pro 98 18x20, Head Pro Tour 18x20 and when those two cause me to go "off the rails," at least one Michael Chang 95" Titanium 14x18 Longbody. I serve like "Isner" with the longbody Chang 95 Ti. I am still trying to tweak some compromise racket between those 3 rackets. If the Prince 690 Longbody wasn't so stiff with its 95" 16x20 head size it could be the one. However, like one TT poster described the Prince LB 690, I have to agree that it hits more like a baseball bat than a tennis racket.