Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
Oh yeah, well I mean I was just trying to point out (to the idiot) the fact that there was tennis and Pro Staffs before Federer was ever near a camera. But yes, most people who are using Pro Staffs because of... Pro Staffs.
How good was the KPS 88?
- Thread starter TennisHound
- Start date
Oh yeah, well I mean I was just trying to point out (to the idiot) the fact that there was tennis and Pro Staffs before Federer was ever near a camera. But yes, most people who are using Pro Staffs because of... Pro Staffs.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
Dusted my PS88's off and with 19g strings it makes them more headlight and easier to swing.......................so far playing some great tennis even at 374 grams and 7.5pt HL balance.
legrandLeconte
Rookie
I play with PSK88 : It's a fantastic frame for ofensive game
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I remember that. I play more of a baseline game today and can go on offense but recall that the KPS88 wanted to play aggressive, either hitting hard or coming into the net.
legrandLeconte
Rookie
S/V
PrinceMoron
Legend
I squeeze my K88 so tight bulges appear just above the grip
Scares opponents
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Scares opponents
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
paul_tennis
Rookie
Beast of a racket
slipgrip93
Professional
I'd thought I'd bump this most recent past thread on the KPS88, as I recently got it. I was also relieved that I didn't get one of the chinese made fakes per the older threads about what to check for to spot the fake kps88's.
I also found the old "review" feedback on the kps88 archived which is fun to read. Here are links to the comments in .jpg screenshots:
( ) , ( ) , ( ) , enjoy.
I also found the old "review" feedback on the kps88 archived which is fun to read. Here are links to the comments in .jpg screenshots:
( ) , ( ) , ( ) , enjoy.
TennisHound
Legend
^^^Dang, good find 
slipgrip93
Professional
Shucks, kps88's preserved in new, or close to condition, are going for no less than $700 on the unmentionable sites now. It's certainly stood out in some reputation, compared to other remembered frames of the the mid to later 00's decade which can go for less than $150 in preserved shape.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I sold 5 of them for $200 a long time ago. But they were used.
What I learned from trying a number of racquets is that you can sometimes get another racquet to feel like what you want. The YT Prestige MP felt a lot like the KPS88 - with lead in the right places. It had that great brassy feel and stiffness when you needed it.
Kemitak
Professional
I played with it for a couple years, but never really clicked. As a friend who also had one puts it, the KPS88 insists upon itself. I sold my used pair to a fella on the boards here a couple years ago. I hope he's happy with them. I still have two unstrung sitting in the closet.
Please don’t be fooled by the Japanese seller who rushed to the site aggressively only after COVID-19. Those Japanese prices aren’t realistic for American market.
TennisLurker
Professional
In what year did Sampras switch from the 85 to the 88?
Did other top 100 players use the kps88? I wonder if some baseliner used it or only serve and volley players
Did other top 100 players use the kps88? I wonder if some baseliner used it or only serve and volley players
It was released like 5 -7 years after his retirement. He never used it at his career and perhaps only once in charity event.
none of the pro ever used it. Way too heavy for human.
be aware there were tons of fake k88 out there… more fake than real ones ever been produced.
if you spot anything new, it’s fake. If you can actually wave it, it’s fake.
slipgrip93
Professional
I'm guessing by that time, when the kps 88 came out late 2008/2009, racquets for most of the pros were already phasing to midplus 95 to 98's or tweener 100+ sizes with the ongoing adoption of poly strings. And the kps88 is also a Sampras signature racquet, and generally other top pros don't seem to play with another player's racquet model with the
signature on it.
I was worried about getting a fake. I got seemingly one of the last "new preserved" kps 88's last summer on the bay. It had all the listed packaging, material, wrapped etc.
I'd also checked with the threads here on spotting the fake kps 88's and checked the comparative known details of true vs. the fake 88 frames. It's also 374g when strung, so hefty and requires weekly working out some weights for me to keep toned to more comfortably swing it. So I think I'm likely good it wasn't a fake.
Granted, the kps88 is very similar in shape to the k90, the n90 (prostock) , and hc prostaff tour 90. The k90 and n90 has the "web" tapering on the top throat corners, while the kps88 has untapered full throat corners like the prostaff tour 90. It could very well be based on the ps tour 90 when designing for Sampras, just that there is a lot more weight filled out, and no kevlar or other mix, just the k-factor "karophite" carbon solidly throughout.
Comparison of the specs for these racquets:
As can be seen, their specified strung weight of the kps88 is closer to the ps tour 90. Where my own kps88 is 375g strung with a bit of tape on the tip. But then my (retail) n90 , while more headlight is a bit heftier strung weight at 378g for some reason.
Last edited:
20fed04
New User
I know it's been nearly a decade but your post is so weirdly hostile it practically screams of "I have trauma from being bullied for my inability to use a small frame."
Anyway, on topic: I see online specs everywhere mentioning 6 pts HL for the KPS 88 but I recently tried one and it literally says 9 pts HL on the racket itself.
Did they just mistype the number or did they actually make two versions with different weight distribution?
Last edited:
TennisHound
Legend
I wonder how well the fakes hit? I guess the only ones you would find today would be the fakes…
This is a dumb reply too. There is always about 3pts difference between string and unstrung balance. Due to the age of racquet , there might be hidden modification here and there. There were a lot of k88 fake too. some fake were even more playable than original. So please drop criticize and enjoy your game. It’s you matters not your racquet.
slipgrip93
Professional
There seemed to be some reported variation on quality control on the kps88. My kps88 does say 9pts headlight, but after stringing it it was far closer to even balance where I added some weight at the end of the handle to attempt to give it some more headlight balance.
My kps88 is 383g strung with tape on 12, 3 and 9 and is my main for the past two and a half years. With my secondary in the bag being a much lighter ps 6.1 95 blx but I rarely switch to it. (Sorry about the steam 100 blx, but I gave it away to a beginner friend). Interestingly a Chris Evert Autograph "collectible" woodie weighs at 13.25oz/ 376g strung. As my first wooden racquet collectible and first wooden ($20 from the bay) , which I heard was one of the famous past popular ones, I was so amazed at how small the 65 sq in headsize really was, and even compared to a ps90 type like the kps88! But it is close in weight, although of course a much different balance and feel and requires much more timing on stroke, good swing generation from the core, and not well conducive to just "arming" the racquet. I'm impressed by the wood details and worksmanship of the day on the Autograph too. Solid design and 'construction', like a piece of furniture..
Sadly, from what I see on the bay, it's all used and often more priced higher these days even for used. I was lucky to get a pair of preserved new unstrung with the packaging back in 2020 from some russian seller. But I don't see anymore new unstrung kps88's offered. So I have the other one barely used, but I strung it already, and I'm scared to use it and am currently keeping it preserved in the closet. I kind of wish I hadn't strung it and just left it in the packaging. From what I could gather on the used ones on offer, they currently look legit as used kps88's. And there are few old web pages and threads in the past detailing how to tell the real kps88's from the fakes. (a ttw thread), (2), (3). Like there is that smooth "bulge" on the handle above the grip that the fakers never bothered to try to replicate or it was too hard to.
My kps88 is 383g strung with tape on 12, 3 and 9 and is my main for the past two and a half years. With my secondary in the bag being a much lighter ps 6.1 95 blx but I rarely switch to it. (Sorry about the steam 100 blx, but I gave it away to a beginner friend). Interestingly a Chris Evert Autograph "collectible" woodie weighs at 13.25oz/ 376g strung. As my first wooden racquet collectible and first wooden ($20 from the bay) , which I heard was one of the famous past popular ones, I was so amazed at how small the 65 sq in headsize really was, and even compared to a ps90 type like the kps88! But it is close in weight, although of course a much different balance and feel and requires much more timing on stroke, good swing generation from the core, and not well conducive to just "arming" the racquet. I'm impressed by the wood details and worksmanship of the day on the Autograph too. Solid design and 'construction', like a piece of furniture..
Sadly, from what I see on the bay, it's all used and often more priced higher these days even for used. I was lucky to get a pair of preserved new unstrung with the packaging back in 2020 from some russian seller. But I don't see anymore new unstrung kps88's offered. So I have the other one barely used, but I strung it already, and I'm scared to use it and am currently keeping it preserved in the closet. I kind of wish I hadn't strung it and just left it in the packaging. From what I could gather on the used ones on offer, they currently look legit as used kps88's. And there are few old web pages and threads in the past detailing how to tell the real kps88's from the fakes. (a ttw thread), (2), (3). Like there is that smooth "bulge" on the handle above the grip that the fakers never bothered to try to replicate or it was too hard to.
Last edited:
20fed04
New User
I'm aware strings will affect the balance to some degree, but the specs that are printed on the racket itself show the unstrung weight (12.3 oz), so I don't get why the "9 pts HL" text right under it would indicate strung instead of unstrung. It shouldn't be a fake btw, it has the correct PWS shape, bumper guard, paintjob, bulge at the handle etc...
initialize
Hall of Fame
I have one and love it... but I had no idea a ton of fake ones are out there which worries me. How do I spot a fake?
20fed04
New User
You put lead on a KPS88? Madman. I thought it was very heavy already in its stock form, and I'm used to a PS85 with lead at 3 and 9. Definitely enjoyable to hit with, but requires altering my swing quite a bit - can't take as big of a cut at the ball as with the PS85, though despite the shorter swing it produced a noticeably faster and heavier ball.
20fed04
New User
From what I understand, fake ones:
-less prominent PWS (the shape is more 'gentle' if that makes sense)
-the the white paint around the PWS extends to the edge of the racket instead of just the face
-the trademark R logo will be on the edge of the racket instead of on the face of the racket under the PWS
-the bumper guard will cut off in a pointy V shape instead of a straight line
-lacks a 'bulge' on the handle right above the grip
-the "KAROPHITE BLACK" text is too close to where the throat of the racket begins (real ones have about half an inch distance between the text and the throat)
There was something about the buttcap as well but I forgot. There were some threads about it here.
Edit: slipgrip93 posted links to the threads, a few posts above
SteveI
Legend
There used to be a ongoing discussion about using small headed frames..LOL. The specs printed on the frame are unstrung specs. Thus.. 9 points HL... strung 6 points.
TennisHound
Legend
Has anyone hit with the fake ones?
naturalexponent
Hall of Fame
I have some KPS88s I overpurchased (L3 and L4) - if anyone is interested lmk.
20fed04
New User
Interested. Sent you a message.
20fed04
New User
Ah, gets confusing when sometimes I see websites post strung HL value with the rest of the specs being unstrung values or vice versa. Thanks for the clarification!
I bought one fake and played one time. It was quite good though. heavy stick produces heavy balls. I returned it and got a PS 6.0 85 instead. But PS 85 has been too difficult to play. I bought a used real KPS88. It is my best racquet together with RF97 V.13.
I highly suspected the one you thought to be a fake turn out to be the real thing. Fake tends to be light. A k88 is also more heavy and way more difficult to swing. If you can’t swing a ps85, for sure you can’t use k88.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I had 5 KPS88s and they varied in weight from 12.5 to 13.1 ounces. That was what Wilson quality control was like back then. The differences in weight meant that they played like different racquets. So I could see someone adding lead tape to get to where they wanted them - either to get multiple racquets to the same place or to get racquets below spec to spec.
The closest I got to the KPS88 in a 95 is the YouTek Prestige MP with lead. Same brassy feel in a larger headsize with a bit less control but more power.
“
that is also a very difficult job….. it’s much easier to miss the ball completely then just hit off sweet spot……the ps85 sweet spot is more closer to the throat than top. It is unlike modern racquet and ps90. If you don’t use and bond with ps85, it’s not your fault just not tuned for it.
if you hit frame a lot, either you didn’t run fast to move at position fast enough,…. Or more often it’s just too heavy so you can’t swing fast enough…either way, you shouldn’t feel bad if you pass 40…..we are human….
cheers!
