Help me make a decision: POG Oversize vs. PK Type C Redondo Midplus

[Polaris]

I have a question for the racquet experts. I've done a lot of searching in this forum but could not find a good comparison between the POG Oversize and the ProKennex Type C Redondo. I wonder if you guys (anirut, thejuice, grimjack, BP, NBM?) could help me out.

I am a right hander with a one-handed backhand. The level I play at is strong 4.0 to weak 4.5. I try to play all court most of the time, and almost never serve and volley because my serve is not good enough to be a weapon. I don't go for outright winners unless provided with a sitter, and rely more on placement and strategy. (If this is relevant for swingweight issues, I have a rather slight build, barely touching 120 lbs at 5 ft 7 in.)

My current racket is the now extinct Prince More Attack Midplus (100 sq.in), which I deliberately strung low at 50 lbs with Wilson NXT Max, way below the manufacturer's low specification of 55 lbs.

Now, I'm looking for a new racket and (keeping arm and elbow safety as my first priority, control over power as the second, playing "feel" or "feedback" as the third, and price as the fourth) have narrowed my search down to two:
1. POG Oversize
2. PK Type C Redondo 98

To my dismay, neither is available for demoing at the Go.lf.sm.ith.s nearby in the Bay Area. I might go ahead and demo them from TW. In the meantime, could any of you give your opinions about why one should prefer one racket over the other? I am aware that the POG Oversize has been a favorite for many years, and the PK Type C Redondo has some devout followers on TW. I have read raves about the individual rackets but have not seen a head-to-head comparison. I am not sure if I am just splitting hairs over this choice, or if there are definite differences that I should think of.

Thanks for taking the time to read. Any thoughts or links that I may have missed are much appreciated.

 

[anirut]

I wish I could help ... I only use the Redondo Mid and have never played the POG at all.

So sorry mate.

 

[naturalexponent]

I actually have this very same dilemma! haha

 

[Hedges]

I can only compare the POG OS to the Redondo 93....but here goes.

I suspect you'll find the swingweight of the POG OS to be high. People debate the swingweight of POG OS around here, but to me, it is hard to get rackethead speed with the POG OS.

Also, it is not known to be a great racket for 1-hand backhands. One handers typically look at the POG mid instead. The POG OS does drive through balls very nicely.

The redondo mid, on the other hand, is very headlight, thus the swingweight is low. This facilitates great rackethead speed. I'm guessing it is better suited for 1-hand backhand than the POG OS.

Both rackets are control oriented. The Redondo mid has even less power and more control than the POG OS. However, because you can whip the Redondo around so easily, you can really pop the ball with excellent control, spin and pace if you bring your own juice to the table. It is not the best racket for "blocking" balls back; you really need to swing. The POG OS will block returns very nicely.

Neither rackets are awesome serving sticks; I find the Redondo better for kick serves due to the above mentioned rackethead speed advantage. That being said, the open string pattern of the POG OS is a spin monster. Problem is, it requires some serious shoulder strength for kick serves, etc.

Good luck!

 

[Polaris]

Thanks for the replies. Good to know that I am not the only one who is facing this dilemma. If I demo both rackets, I will make sure to put a comparative review here.

Hedges, you may have a point about the higher swingweight. However, when I checked the specs at TW, the POG Oversize has a swingweight of 326, while the redondo is 324, not a large difference. I guess you probably meant that the more head-light weight distribution of the redondo makes speedy swings easier compared to the POG Oversize.

 

[thejuice]

Well, like Anirut, I've never played the POG but I do play the Redondo MP so are there any other racquets that you might like compared to the Redondo MP?

 

[Hedges]

Polaris, yea...it's a puzzle to me too...the specs would lead one to think that the POG is easier to swing than I'm reporting. Hopefully, one of the spec geeks here will explain this. Perhaps it's the 93 versus 107 head size.

All I know is that I just couldn't generate the needed rackethead speed without eventually stressing my rotator cuff.

 

[naturalexponent]

Well, like Anirut, I've never played the POG but I do play the Redondo MP so are there any other racquets that you might like compared to the Redondo MP?

Hey thejuice, have you ever played the volkl c10 pro? if so, how would you compare that to the redondo mp?

 

[TennisProPaul]

http://racquetresearch.com

 

[Polaris]

http://racquetresearch.com

Thanks Paul. Yes, I've seen this site many times before, but their results are a few years old and their comparison dataset did not contain the PK Type C redondo. Of course, I already knew that the POG OS topped their list of arm-friendly racquets, but I am really interested in a comparison with the redondo.

 

[Polaris]

Polaris, yea...it's a puzzle to me too...the specs would lead one to think that the POG is easier to swing than I'm reporting. Hopefully, one of the spec geeks here will explain this. Perhaps it's the 93 versus 107 head size.

All I know is that I just couldn't generate the needed rackethead speed without eventually stressing my rotator cuff.

Hedges, while we're at it, could you shed any insight on the highly praised "buttery" feel of the redondo? Anirut and thejuice have said something about it before, and I recall that they emphasized the importance of on-center hits, i.e., off-center shots dropped dead.

With the very low tension on my More Attack (50 lbs) I get a reasonably large sweetspot and very little vibration even with slightly off-center hits. I wonder if the redondo, while being wonderful for on-center shots, gives much vibration on off-center hits.

 

[Hedges]

Hedges, while we're at it, could you shed any insight on the highly praised "buttery" feel of the redondo? Anirut and thejuice have said something about it before, and I recall that they emphasized the importance of on-center hits, i.e., off-center shots dropped dead.

With the very low tension on my More Attack (50 lbs) I get a reasonably large sweetspot and very little vibration even with slightly off-center hits. I wonder if the redondo, while being wonderful for on-center shots, gives much vibration on off-center hits.

Sorry, I'm not really a racket connoisseur like many here, so I'm only comfortable using adjectives like "buttery" when describing food.

I don't get alot of vibration unless I really mishit the ball; then, it's no more than other rackets I've played with (including the pog). As long as I take a long swing, the Redondo 93 still sends off-center shots. It does give negative feedback for off-center shots; you do feel the bumps in the road. Think of the Babolat woofer....the Redondo is the opposite feel.

I really need to find out for myself what the differences are between the Redondo 93 and 98. Perhaps the 98 is a little less demanding and a little more powerful?

I don't know the Prince More Attack; but I'd guess it is very different than the Redondo. So, a demo from TW would be a prudent choice. When I pass mine around, people either love it or hate it.

 

[anirut]

One thing I found with the Redondo is that if you should have it strung at the lower quarter of the recommended range, the racket will be soft-playing and you get quite a good pop too.

My experience with the Redondo started at 61 lbs. (mid tension) which was fine. I pushed it up to 63 and things started getting funny, not very friendly and I had to really 'hit'.

As of now, it was originally strung at 59 (about a month and a half by now) which played fined until I realized last night the the tension is now probably about 3-4 lbs lower. I could really go easy with my strokes while having that control the stick is known for.

I think the Redondo calls for higher-end strings or at least a good multi to really make it shine. I have always strung my redondo with Gamma Syn 17 with wearguard, which is an OK string (I like it better than Prince Syn -- and cheaper). May be I'll try a multi next time at 61 and see what it'll be like.

As for off-centers, well, nothing jarring about it. You feel the bumps. It's like riding in a stable 5-series BMW running over speedbumps rather than a shoot-your-head-to-the-roof ride like in a small car.

BTW, my Redondo is internally modified for that extra softness. I've posted a thread how I made my Super Redondo. I don't think you should go that extreme like I did. A good multi should do the job.

 

[Polaris]

As for off-centers, well, nothing jarring about it. You feel the bumps. It's like riding in a stable 5-series BMW running over speedbumps rather than a shoot-your-head-to-the-roof ride like in a small car.

Nice analogy there.

BTW, my Redondo is internally modified for that extra softness. I've posted a thread how I made my Super Redondo. I don't think you should go that extreme like I did. A good multi should do the job.

Yes, I had read that already, with growing fascination about how far someone could go, to customize a racket. And here I was thinking that adding string savers and reducing stringing tension was a big deal .

 

[thejuice]

Hey thejuice, have you ever played the volkl c10 pro? if so, how would you compare that to the redondo mp?

Hey natural, I had a brief hit with a C10 Pro once (three sets) and, while I thought it was a decent hit, I wasn't wowed by the experience. It was forgettable and didn't make me want to go and buy one like my hit with the Redondo.