Is there any real difference between the following racquets?

[JAY1]

Head Pro Tour 280/630 or Babolat Pure Storm Ltd/Pure Control 95.
( Bab PS Ltd and new PC 95 play virtually identical ).

I used to use the Pro Tour 630 and loved it.
Then I went into the racquet wilderness and used many silly non-players racquets, but two years ago settled on the great Pure Storm Ltd and haven't looked back since, this was until the new Pure Control 95 unsurfaced, which is what I'm currently demoing.
The Specifications are almost identical.
I string the Babolats with Xcel at 55lbs.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.....

 

[Quikj]

I also used the PT630 and transitioned to the Pure Storm Ltd. I was given a LM Prestige paintjob over the PT57A layup and it was my holy grail of a racket. I love my Ltd's, but they just don't have the same feel, flex pattern or the same pop.

I'm also looking at new rackets like the upcoming Pure Control 95, should be interesting. Also, I'm becoming increasingly more interested in the 6.1 95L. I have a sneaking suspicion that with silicone in the handle and lead in the hoop, it should feel more similar to my holy grail.

 

[JAY1]

I also used the PT630 and transitioned to the Pure Storm Ltd. I was given a LM Prestige paintjob over the PT57A layup and it was my holy grail of a racket. I love my Ltd's, but they just don't have the same feel, flex pattern or the same pop.

I'm also looking at new rackets like the upcoming Pure Control 95, should be interesting. Also, I'm becoming increasingly more interested in the 6.1 95L. I have a sneaking suspicion that with silicone in the handle and lead in the hoop, it should feel more similar to my holy grail.

Sorry what racquet is the PT57A layup?
When I used the Pro Tour 630 I was a much younger rated 6.0 tournament player and now I'm a much older non-tournament un-rated player, but still love hitting the ball as much as ever and still want the best feel when I hit the ball.
I've been using the new Pure Control 95 for two weeks now and love it, but do I love it more than The PS Ltd?! Not sure if there is any difference to be honest.
Why do you think the pro tour has more pop?
Because I was a much better player back then I don't know if the PT 630 was more powerful or I was?!
What level did/do you play? Also what do you string your PS Ltd with and what tension?

 

[Quikj]

PT57A is a code for a racket produced by Head for their touring pros that is effectively a Pro Tour 630. I can understand wanting that classic feel. There's nothing like it. I'm glad to hear that there is no discernible difference between the Ltd and the Pure Control.

I think that the Pro Tour has more pop because of the slightly larger headsize, longer main strings and thicker beam.

I played D-1 at a small college in California for a year, and I'm now a graduate assistant at a D-1AA school back east.

My current string set up includes Gosen Polylon in the mains @ 55lbs. and Gosen OG Micro in the crosses @53lbs. I'm a grad student, so the cheaper the better!

 

[JAY1]

PT57A is a code for a racket produced by Head for their touring pros that is effectively a Pro Tour 630. I can understand wanting that classic feel. There's nothing like it. I'm glad to hear that there is no discernible difference between the Ltd and the Pure Control.

I think that the Pro Tour has more pop because of the slightly larger headsize, longer main strings and thicker beam.

I played D-1 at a small college in California for a year, and I'm now a graduate assistant at a D-1AA school back east.

My current string set up includes Gosen Polylon in the mains @ 55lbs. and Gosen OG Micro in the crosses @53lbs. I'm a grad student, so the cheaper the better!

Oh ok, good heads up regarding the Head code.
I checked out the 6.1 95L specs after you mentioned it, don't you think it may have to wider beam for you?
I actually ordered a couple of Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 from TW for $99 a few days ago. I have a Babolat sponsorship in London but couldn't resist buying a racket I've always wanted to try it out especially as it was originally designed for Jimmy Connors way back in 1983.

 

[Quikj]

Oh ok, good heads up regarding the Head code.
I checked out the 6.1 95L specs after you mentioned it, don't you think it may have to wider beam for you?
I actually ordered a couple of Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 from TW for $99 a few days ago. I have a Babolat sponsorship in London but couldn't resist buying a racket I've always wanted to try it out especially as it was originally designed for Jimmy Connors way back in 1983.

The beam width is the only compromise I would be making with that racket. I do prefer sub 20mm, but I've used 22mm 6.1 Wilson rackets in the last and the 95L is 20.7mm.

 

[JAY1]

The beam width is the only compromise I would be making with that racket. I do prefer sub 20mm, but I've used 22mm 6.1 Wilson rackets in the last and the 95L is 20.7mm.

All in all I think we're going to find it very difficult to discover a better racquet than the Pure Storm Ltd/Pure Control 95?!
Have you experimented with your string and tension to get at least as much pop from you PS Ltd as you had with your PT 630?

 

[Quikj]

I surely will miss my LTD's. They've served me well since 2009, doing exactly as they were told. Nothing more, nothing less...

I have a stringer at home and I string for the team out here, so I've experimented quite a bit with strings and tension. I wasn't ever trying to get more power though. I just think that the PT57A was inherently more powerful. I love what a control oriented stick the LTD is.

 

[JAY1]

I surely will miss my LTD's. They've served me well since 2009, doing exactly as they were told. Nothing more, nothing less...

I have a stringer at home and I string for the team out here, so I've experimented quite a bit with strings and tension. I wasn't ever trying to get more power though. I just think that the PT57A was inherently more powerful. I love what a control oriented stick the LTD is.

So are you definitely going to give up the Ltd's or buy a stock of them?
I played an hour yesterday with both the Ltd and new 95, both strung with Xcel at 55lbs and really struggle to feel any difference, and I'm normally the most sensitive when it comes to picking up subtle differences.
Racquets like the PS Ltd, Control 95, Pro Tour 630, Prince original graphite mid, Head Prestige, Wilson Pro Staff 85, 90..... These are modern day extensions of the old 78" wooden racquets, the way the game was meant to be played and the way the 'PRO'S' should still be playing!
I understand the Pure Control 95 won't be sold in the US, if this is the case I maybe able to help you out.....

 

[Quikj]

So are you definitely going to give up the Ltd's or buy a stock of them?
I played an hour yesterday with both the Ltd and new 95, both strung with Xcel at 55lbs and really struggle to feel any difference, and I'm normally the most sensitive when it comes to picking up subtle differences.
Racquets like the PS Ltd, Control 95, Pro Tour 630, Prince original graphite mid, Head Prestige, Wilson Pro Staff 85, 90..... These are modern day extensions of the old 78" wooden racquets, the way the game was meant to be played and the way the 'PRO'S' should still be playing!
I understand the Pure Control 95 won't be sold in the US, if this is the case I maybe able to help you out.....

Are your LTD's the GT version? I played with the 2008 version of the LTD that was a bit softer than the GT versions. So, if the feel is similar to the original, I would be interested in the 95 for sure!

I actually was sponsored by Babolat as a junior, when they were giving out sponsorships to just about anyone. Back then, I played with the Pure Control team (the 97sq in. version). It would be comfortable looking down at Pure Control on my racket again.

I expect to demo a lot of rackets over the holiday season and into the beginning of next year, as I haven't hit with anything else in about 5 years. The trick will be to see if our Babolat rep can get me a demo of the Pure Control.

Thanks for offering to help me out. That's very generous. I'll PM you if I decide to go in that direction.

 

[JAY1]

Are your LTD's the GT version? I played with the 2008 version of the LTD that was a bit softer than the GT versions. So, if the feel is similar to the original, I would be interested in the 95 for sure!

I actually was sponsored by Babolat as a junior, when they were giving out sponsorships to just about anyone. Back then, I played with the Pure Control team (the 97sq in. version). It would be comfortable looking down at Pure Control on my racket again.

I expect to demo a lot of rackets over the holiday season and into the beginning of next year, as I haven't hit with anything else in about 5 years. The trick will be to see if our Babolat rep can get me a demo of the Pure Control.

Thanks for offering to help me out. That's very generous. I'll PM you if I decide to go in that direction.

As I said the GT Ltd and the new PC 95 are very similar but if I had to say one of them was slightly softer, I would say it would be the PC 95 because of the new Carbon Flex technology it has.
My PS Ltd's and PC 95 are very soft as I string with Xcel 16 at 55lbs, it's probably the closest a synthetic string gets to natural gut!
My poor body has hit a lot of tennis balls and I need something with lots of feel and very very forgiving......

 

[Quikj]

Have you ever played with the original Pure Storm LTD? If so, how does the Pure Control 95 compare to that one. I didn't care for the GT version as much.

 

[JAY1]

Have you ever played with the original Pure Storm LTD? If so, how does the Pure Control 95 compare to that one. I didn't care for the GT version as much.

Nope never used the non GT version.