My "new" Angell

[JohnBPittsburgh]

I just got a used Angell racquet today and it is in immaculate shape (other than a scrape on the bumper guard and knot grommets are a little rough looking)!! I was going to order one for my birthday, and I found a used one. After reading all of the posts about them, some good, some bad. I decided to try out a used one, basically this is my crazy demo program

It is the TC 100:
16x19
27.5 in long
315 grams (unstrung)
63 RA
8 pts head light (unstrung)

The original owner (guy from Netherlands) replaced the grip with some "Snarenen Grip" which I have never heard of, but it looks like a Head Hydrosorb type grip or Prince Resi Pro. I have to choose what string I am going to start out trying it with as it came unstrung (I am thinking a nice multi-filament). I will be ordering a few new bumper guards (red, blue, black probably) and grommets (the knot grommets are in the worst shape, the rest seem cool) and probably a new grip. If Angell sells pallets I would optimally like a 27 in, but if I like it, I will be ordering a new one. I just have never hit with a foam filled racquet, and wanted to feel the difference in Japanese high modulus graphite. I am pretty much in love with my Textreme tour 100t, and if I don't like this as is, I may try and move some weight around and mimic the Prince. If for some strange reason I absolutely don't mesh with it, I will just sell it (highly doubtful, as I now have a small collection going!). The few things I am wondering about are...how difficult are these to take apart and get to the weighting system and figure it out? How much of a pain are they to put back together? I have read every existing thread on these racquets, and thought it would be interesting to hear from any one who has one of these frames. I haven't strung it, but it is beautiful and ghost swings seem awesome!! Have a great day!!

 

[ChicagoJack]

Good on ya! I've come so very close to buying an Angell frame, about a dozen times over the years but never pulled the trigger. Even traded a few emails with Paul. Super nice guy and very accommodating. Yes, there is something almost magical about a solid core frame, and I think that's the feature I appreciate the most about my stable of Donnay P1's.

 

[tinyman]

I have two TC95 frames, which I purchased used; I took them down to the hairpins, cut them to my desired length, changed the weighting to my preferred specifications, and built my way back up.

Angell pallets are, stock, 28" I believe, but it's trivial to cut them to the right size. In my case, the pallets were stapled in place, which is a little tricky to remove. I assume this is the way the rackets are originally supplied.

In my opinion, it is very easily to adapt the weighting system - it's a small series of weights, it's quite a clever solution IMO. Depending on the weighting and balance you want, the weights that you find in the racket may not quite get you there - a little ingenuity and a tube of silicone helps.

The most 'difficult' part you would have is cutting the frame from 27.5" to 27" - and that's all relative, because the rest of it is very easy. Incidentally, the easiest grommets I've changed before; just be careful the first time you string them, they do tend to pull out.


An excerpt of an email between Paul Angell (racketdesign) and myself:

'... We have previously refrained from supplying pallets to customers but I am happy to make some exceptions...'

So, if you're respectful and are clear about what you want, you may have success. AFAIK, it's a very small operation, so just be aware that a response may take a while.


The rackets, as I received them, were pushing the better part of 365g. After my changes, I was down around 315g and 4-5pts HL. I like to think of them as similar to my Radical's in a 16x19. I've never used the textreme lines, so no comparison there (and you have a TC100). I use 16g or 17g synthetic gut, depends on what I have and what I feel like using.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

That is awesome to hear!! I may end up getting a Donnay frame some time, but I have too many racquets at this juncture!! I am about to string it up, and after a hit or 2 I may open her up for surgery!! Thank you for the information, the grip is literally brand new, heck the frame is basically brand new. I just have a hard time destroying a brand new grip, especially if it is a foreign grip that I will never get a chance to use again. Plus once I cut a half inch off, there's no going back!! If I like the feel I will just get a new one the way I want it. Hopefully if I can talk to Paul and have him send out some extra pallets with my new one (I can see if he doesn't want to deal with used Angells) I kinda lucked out, and sniped it at the last second and got an awesome deal. Off to go start stringing!! Thanks for your experiences!!

 

[tinyman]

No problem. Also, I ended up ordering the 'colour packs' from Angell as well, and they worked out well. In addition to the grommets, it's a synthetic grip and a new endcap trapdoor piece. When I used the grips, they felt much like Gamma Hi-Tech's, my preferred grip. Made things easy.

I can understand why he may not want to supply pallets normally; I can't say whether or not Angell will. I imagine that with some people modifying their rackets, they start emailing him time and again asking inane questions - Angell sees no money on a used frame, yet there is the expectation of dispensing free help.

If you do get down to it and have any questions, shoot me a message I guess - what you're looking at doing is almost exactly what I did about a month ago. Good luck.

 

[maured01]

There are some things you will need when you take the two piece pallet off and cut the half inch off the core frame. First, you should have a balance device so you can match zero-in on the balance you'll want. Cutting length grime the butt normally creates a more head light balance. I believe several string brands offer these. Next you will need a digital scale to gauge overall weight. Finally, you will need a staple gun to reattach the butt cap. Gluing may damage the grip pallet.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

I saw the color packs, and that is what I am ordering. Just finished stringing and swung around a couple times, but I will be taking it out today. I have the scale, but need the staple gun and balance board (or could attempt the DIY if I am feeling crazy) I have a couple fairways on their way as soon as TW gets them in, and may end up trying the black one on it, thinking it will look sweet. If not, I will try the Angell or I have a ton of Prince Resisoft laying around. Thank you for all the ideas, and help. I can't wait to hit with it

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

This thing is an animal!!! Like McDonald's, "I'm loving it!!!" Played 2 games with it and then one with my Text tour 100t. I actually may do the opposite of what I intended originally. I am thinking of making the textreme weigh and play like the Angell. Although I am going to play with them more before touching either of them. Just to make sure, I will do the lead tape experiment and then once I am positive, go for a more permanent solution of silicone. Sent Paul an email, and hopefully with a bit of luck, I will have 2 pallets for it and 3 color packs. I was in top form though, and won all 3 games. I slipped and fell trying to go for a crazy shot, and the Angell hit the court Luckily the paint is waaaaayyyyy better quality and didn't even scratch (my kblade team 104s and Prince Premier 105 will lose paint if you look at them wrong). The buttcap has a little mark, but it's getting replaced anyway. I am officially done buying tennis racquets I am going to keep my army of them though, but I can now say I know my signature will be Textreme tour 100t, and tc 100. Both are great sticks for me and my game!!!

 

[corners]

I saw the color packs, and that is what I am ordering. Just finished stringing and swung around a couple times, but I will be taking it out today. I have the scale, but need the staple gun and balance board (or could attempt the DIY if I am feeling crazy) I have a couple fairways on their way as soon as TW gets them in, and may end up trying the black one on it, thinking it will look sweet. If not, I will try the Angell or I have a ton of Prince Resisoft laying around. Thank you for all the ideas, and help. I can't wait to hit with it

If you're going to buy a balance board I would look at the one that Angell sells. Pretty much the same as the Viper that TW sells but the Angell has 1mm marks on theirs while the Viper only have 5mm gradations. You can easily use a Sharpie to add 1mm marks to the Viper, but why bother?

For a temporary fix of the buttcap you can use clear packing tape stretched very tight. This will hold the buttcap in place for a long time until you get around to stapling it permanently.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

I never thought of taping it. I love all the crazy things you find on this board!! The buttcap is fine, it just got a mark on it My racquets are all immaculate and I hate scratches. They are so shiny it is unreal...I hate to admit it, but I used Meguiar's ScratchX and waxed them all with Meguiar's Carnuba and did Mother's Back to black on all bumpers and grommets. Slightly obsessive? Probably!! But I take care of all my stuff and hate to see anything marked. I have never swung at a ball and hit the ground, I would flip out. If it's too close, it gets by I want the new pallets and buttcap to change it from grip 4 to grip 2. It actually felt fine today, but if it's easily accomplished, I am doing it! It is grip B and it seems like a small 4. Thank you for your suggestion, and I will remember it if a situation arises..

 

[ollinger]

I'm convinced the battleship grey paint Angell uses is also used on battleships, given its durability. The 105s I'm using have been in service a few years and have no marks whatsoever, despite more than a few collisions.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

LOL, I have been calling it gun metal grey, but battleship is way more accurate! I emailed you about the Angells you had for sale, did you end up getting rid of them Ollinger? Shoot me an email if you still have them. Anyway, that is good to hear about the paint. I want it to shine forever!

 

[corners]

I'm convinced the battleship grey paint Angell uses is also used on battleships, given its durability. The 105s I'm using have been in service a few years and have no marks whatsoever, despite more than a few collisions.

Wow, that is impressive.

 

[ChicagoJack]

I'm convinced the battleship grey paint Angell uses is also used on battleships, given its durability. The 105s I'm using have been in service a few years and have no marks whatsoever, despite more than a few collisions.

OY. I just wish Angell offered the 105 in a more moderate flex. The only two versions available in that head size are 70ra and 77ra. I know that the larger head creates a more cushy string bed, and the foam core probably dampens things quite a bit. Even if I assume these are unstrung specs, we are still looking at 67-68 ra strung ... that's typically at the edges of my comfort range. Perhaps I'm still crushing over what is now a pretty rare find, the old Fisher M Speed 105 with a flex of 58.

 

[scotus]

OY. I just wish Angell offered the 105 in a more moderate flex. The only two versions available in that head size are 70ra and 77ra. I know that the larger head creates a more cushy string bed, and the foam core probably dampens things quite a bit. Even if I assume these are unstrung specs, we are still looking at 67-68 ra strung ... that's typically at the edges of my comfort range. Perhaps I'm still crushing over what is now a pretty rare find, the old Fisher M Speed 105 with a flex of 58.

What you are looking for is Vantage Bastcore BC40 (105 sq in.)

It's silver and red with around 52 RA.

But why the interest in oversized racquets all of a sudden?

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

An unstrung-RA-63 Angell 105 would get my attention, too. The BC40 has already gotten my attention, but they don't pop up for sale very often.

It's just as well... As C-Jack has noticed, the MPro 105 sets an awfully high bar in that category.

 

[PeteUSA]

IAs C-Jack has noticed, the MPro 105 sets an awfully high bar in that category.

Maybe the Pacific Comp 105 is what you look for?

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Maybe the Pacific Comp 105 is what you look for?

Oh, yeah. If I had to choose a current retail racket, it would be that. It's basically the MPro 105 UL version, and I add enough weight to my MPro 105 SL frames that the different starting weight probably wouldn't matter. (I do like that black-red-green paint job a little better than the Pacific paint, though )

Sorry, OP. We have digressed... I hit with the stiffer version of the TC100 in 2013, and I liked the feel of it even better than that of the Donnay Platinums I was using then. TT poster Suppawat, whose TC100 it was, explained that the foam used in the Angells is less dense than that used in the Donnays, and that makes sense to me. (I also hit with the Pro One that Chicago Jack uses, and they seemed to shed vibration more like the Angell than like my Platinums.)

Grain of salt: As is usually the case (but rarely acknowledged), I was not comparing frames with identical string jobs and weight/balance/sw setups, but I can certainly say that the stock Angell felt good to me, and not many lead-free rackets do.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

It's all good, I like hearing about any racquet Pacific, Fisher, and Donnay are on my wish list. I have 2 sets of pallets and 3 color packs on the way! Under the grip, the only staples were in the buttcap, and there were 4. The rest is clear tape all around the pallets, but I didn't venture past that until I get the new pallets. I will have to cut them down but at least they will be L2, B shaped, which is perfect. I will try and take some pics when I take it apart. I think the previous owner did some tinkering, as there were lead tape sticky marks I had to clean off D@mn amateur tennis racquet technicians Lol! The pallets actually looked like they were wrapped professionally, so if he did it, it looks good!

 

[rlau]

I just wish Angell offered the 105 in a more moderate flex. The only two versions available in that head size are 70ra and 77ra. I know that the larger head creates a more cushy string bed, and the foam core probably dampens things quite a bit.

Paul told me the TC105 is NOT foam-filled, unlike its smaller brothers.

It's a frame that interests me, having played with the 95 and 100 sq inch head sizes. I think I might play well with it, here on the red clay.