I just got a KPS88 and used it Yesterday, Wow.

[Dgpsx7]

I got my KPS88 in the mail yesterday morning(bought it on the boards). I was so excited that I couldn't go back to sleep. I weighed the racket and did all my usual tests to make sure it was genuine(HL,writing, etc..) and it passed. I was surprised how the weight was so close to spec or exactly on. With the strings it weighed 12.7oz I put an overgrip on it right away to get ready for my day of tennis and did a final weighing where it came in at 12.9oz. This is exactly what I was looking for.

When I got on the courts I warmed up by playing my first set with with my Volkl Tour10 VE MP. I started using the KPS88 the 2nd set. I am a baseliner and I almost never play net. I thought it was too bad considering all the positive things I heard about the KPS88 at net that I would probably never get to use one of the racket's best characteristics. From first picking this racket up I realized that I love everything about it. The weight is perfect for me and even though I usually use rackets that are not that stiff I could really appreciate the stiffness of it. Serves and my forehand were amazing right away and even though I needed a couple minutes to make my backhand groove with the racket it was an extremely pleasant experience. I am a lefty and I switch between a 1HBH and a 2HBH depending on how high or low the ball is and what type of shot I want to set up. The KPS88 performed well for both.

There were a couple points in the set that brought me in to play net and I could not understand what was happening. I have absolutely no net game and I was suddenly hitting amazing volleys. The person I was playing against(who I play often) could not understand where my net game suddenly came from. How is it possible that a racket could be so much better at net than so many others. I might have been partly mental because I read so many reviews on the KPS but I don't understand how the KPS could transform my play at net like this.

After playing a couple sets with the KPS I am addicted. I love this racket. The weight, balance, feel, beam width and look of this racket are exactly what I have been looking for and it just feels right. I don't think I will be buying any rackets for a long long time.

Anybody else get a similar feeling from the KPS or another racket? Please share.

 

[SmAsH999]

wow, now i'm tempted to try it. I wonder if it would be too heavy for a 15 year old...

 

[gsquicksilver]

it's not heavy

 

[BreakPoint]

it's not heavy

It is heavier than just about any other racquet on the market today.

 

[nn]

yeah it is like give me break. It is heavy unless you think K90 is lighter. You are lucky to have racquet close to spec otherwise slightly less head light will make your arm pay for it unless you are pro.

 

[slick]

yeah it is like give me break. It is heavy unless you think K90 is lighter. You are lucky to have racquet close to spec otherwise slightly less head light will make your arm pay for it unless you are pro.

Light racquets cause more arm trouble than heavy racquets. I am 45yo and use the KPS88 and it gives me no arm trouble at all. A couple years ago when I used a Pure Drive my arm was killing me.

 

[Fedace]

Yea sure, wait til you have a long 3 set match. your arm will likely be so tired that it may just fall off on its own.

 

[Nanshiki]

It's a heavy racquet but it's not HEAVY. It will be harder to serve with though, for people with girly arms. And you'll have to have a good grip on it since the heavier the racquet, the more having a good grip matters.

 

[slick]

Yea sure, wait til you have a long 3 set match. your arm will likely be so tired that it may just fall off on its own.

I played 5 sets over 4 hours this morning and my arm felt fine. Maybe you'd better hit the weight room son.

 

[nn]

Light racquets cause more arm trouble than heavy racquets. I am 45yo and use the KPS88 and it gives me no arm trouble at all. A couple years ago when I used a Pure Drive my arm was killing me.

daddy babolate pure drive or entire rage (leaving one or two model) very stiff racquets which will cause arm problem to even novice player.

also do you played doubles or single where guys on other side hitting moon balls at you..

we all know heavy racquets don't cause arm pain but KPS88 balance makes it hard to serve and hit hard for 2-3 hours not one day but 3 days in row.

 

[dincuss]

wow, now i'm tempted to try it. I wonder if it would be too heavy for a 15 year old...

Since your getting stronger by the minute, I would guess no....

 

[quest01]

wow, now i'm tempted to try it. I wonder if it would be too heavy for a 15 year old...

No you should be fine, anyone can use the KPS88 effectively if you practice with it. The racquet shouldn't be heavy for you, if it is just lift some weights or swing a baseball bat a few times before using the racquet and you'll be good to go. It doesn't matter if your 15, 80, or even 10 years old, anyone can use the KPS88, just may need some practice, thats all.

 

[Dgpsx7]

To try to clear up earlier debate on this thread. I heavier stiffer racket such as the KPS88 is easier on the arm in terms of shock and avoiding things like tennis elbow. However, a heavier racket such as the KPS88 is more likely to make the arm tired. A racket being easier on the arm usually refers to a racket that does not really give you tennis elbow. Even though the KPS88 is heavier than almost all stock rackets think that anybody with practice will be able to play a whole match with it with no problems. If you lift weights you should not have any problems at all(as someone else in this thread recommended).

For the past few years I have used fairly heavy rackets and but after using the KPS is see how many benefits you get from using a heavy stiff frame(better for your arm, heavy balls, etc..). I don't think I can go back now.

 

[gsquicksilver]

Yea sure, wait til you have a long 3 set match. your arm will likely be so tired that it may just fall off on its own.

1 or 2 extra ounces ain't that much to make your arm fall off.

 

[nBladed]

It's about a relaxed technique. That's why the pros hit so hard. They have perfected the art of the relaxed swing. It is more about timing. If you are swinging for the fences this racket is not for you. Your arm is an extension of your kinetic motion from your core.

 

[dr_punk]

This is racquet IS heavy, You CAN get used to it. But EVENTUALLY. Let's make the world a better place and not condescend. Playing for "hours" with this racquet with sub-par fitness is probably the result of less than good tennis.

 

[Infl8edEg0]

It's a heavy racquet but it's not HEAVY. It will be harder to serve with though, for people with girly arms. And you'll have to have a good grip on it since the heavier the racquet, the more having a good grip matters.

Like me? Really tho, if I can play with a KBT with +18g lead on it, will I be able to handle a KPS88? I really just wanna try this thing.

 

[coloskier]

wow, now i'm tempted to try it. I wonder if it would be too heavy for a 15 year old...

When some of us were growing up, 13 oz was considered extremely light. The old wood rackets that we played with when we started at 10 years old were up to 16 oz. So, no, it is not too heavy for a 15 year old.

 

[asianxtreme]

no it's actually not that heavy at all. K90 seems a lot lighter but that's just because of the HL. I'm 18 and i don't work out at all just play tennis when i can. I love the racket should definitely try it out if you can. The depth and spin and solidness of the racket is just unbelieveable.

 

[Keifers]

It's about a relaxed technique. That's why the pros hit so hard. They have perfected the art of the relaxed swing. It is more about timing. If you are swinging for the fences this racket is not for you. Your arm is an extension of your kinetic motion from your core.

I agree that a smooth swing gets great results with this racquet. Unless it's one that is 3 or more pts more HL than spec, it's probably pretty tough to whip the KPS through the contact zone (tougher than a lighter stick).

To try to clear up earlier debate on this thread. I heavier stiffer racket such as the KPS88 is easier on the arm in terms of shock and avoiding things like tennis elbow. However, a heavier racket such as the KPS88 is more likely to make the arm tired. A racket being easier on the arm usually refers to a racket that does not really give you tennis elbow. Even though the KPS88 is heavier than almost all stock rackets think that anybody with practice will be able to play a whole match with it with no problems. If you lift weights you should not have any problems at all(as someone else in this thread recommended).

For the past few years I have used fairly heavy rackets and but after using the KPS is see how many benefits you get from using a heavy stiff frame(better for your arm, heavy balls, etc..). I don't think I can go back now.

The thing about heavier racquets is that (given we all play with standard weight balls) the additional mass can do some of the work for you -- it can give you more power, more spin and more control as it crushes through the ball. Set the racquet in motion and swing smooth with a fairly relaxed grip.

To get the same power, spin and control with a lighter frame, you're likely to need to muscle the swing with a more effortful grip throughout the swing. So in a way, you do more "work" with the lighter racquet.

That said, I'm a big believer that our strokes get grooved for whatever weight (and balance) we use the most often. Yes, the KPS is hefty, but it is possible to adapt one's strokes to that heft and play full matches without undue arm fatigue -- in which case you'd have a quite special weapon in your hands.

 

[Keifers]

To the OP:

Glad you had such a satisfying experience with the KPS. Thanks for telling us about it. Imo, it's an envelope-pushing racquet design.

 

[Dgpsx7]

To the OP:

Glad you had such a satisfying experience with the KPS. Thanks for telling us about it. Imo, it's an envelope-pushing racquet design.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I agree, I think the design is envelope pushing partly because I never thought it would play the way it does even given the specs. Now I am finally at rest. I won't be looking for a new racket for a while, now when I go out to play I just pack my KPS88, my Volkl Tour10 VE MP and my K90 even though the latter two will get very little play.