Just bought two 97S's. Both strung with ashaway kevlar mains, monogut zx crosses. One at 90/45 (ESP) for experimental purposes, and one at 57/57. Have not got to hit with them yet, sadly. The weight, and balance of them remind me of the Intelligence i.rads. Just with more swing weight!
Official Pro Staff 97 Club!!
- Thread starter Dasol
- Start date
babolatstar
Rookie
I actually take my grip off and use two over grips on 3/8a grip. Gives the racquet HH also I like the feel of the two over grip better over grip n over grip (not that it matters).
BTW I just sold my RF97s. I'm looking for another PS97 if you thinking of selling.
shamaho
Professional
I'm changing lead placement from 12" to 3"and 9"
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
It's been 15 months and I still love my PS 97's. Upped the tension on my Volkl V-Star 17 strings from 51 to 53/56. More control and still easy on the arm. 2g of lead at 12 o'clock and an over grip. Fast and solid. I suggest upping the tension to those who claim an irratic string bed.
shamaho
Professional
Boy oh boy did that make difference... I think I had like 1.5 grams at 12" and replaced it with 3 grams total at 3"and 9" , 1.5 gram on each side.
The stick became or felt much much heavier and was very difficult to maneuver for fast responses. Amazing how just 1.5 gram made the thing feel so different.
I had to prune the lead strip from the 7.5cm to a dimension just covering the pws .
Will report back tomorrow
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
shamaho
Professional
Much much improved, I think this will be the final weight adjustment! it's on my limit of fast maneuverability with better ploughthrough than stock (it was already not bad).
Now for strings... trying Tourna Big Hitter Blue (BHB) - think I'll go for low tension something in range of 48 lbs ? any thoughts ?
oble
Hall of Fame
I'm quite the opposite and prefer lead at 12 o'clock. I have about 2 grams under the bumper guard.
String-wise, I'm not familiar with Tourna BHB, but for full poly in the PS97 I do prefer to string at around 48lbs +/- 1 to 2lbs. I'm currently using Klip Legend/MSV CoFocus at 54/50.
shamaho
Professional
I too prefer polarized setups, maybe I just had too little weight at 12" since I felt on semi-stretch shots the racket would tend to twist a little and seemed to lack some plough, that's what prompted me to try the 3 and 9 positions.
As for strings, yeah I will go to that gut/poly setup as well, I'm just waiting for the humid rainy season to definitely end since I play mostly outdoors on red clay - not good for gut longevity.
Same here, 6 grams at 12 and leather grip...racquets feel solid as heck. Only down side to this setup I noticed is that the launch angle is slightly higher than I prefer but my one handed backhand hasn't been this solid since the N6.1 days
Yeah, it is...
Thx u..inwoodnyc
So far, to me it is, though I have only used gut/poly in it. I'm getting it restrung with Wilson revolve 16 at 52/50 however. I did once have TE if that helps with relative info/basis, not from the racket though.
Are you planning on demoing?
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
I demoed it pre TE and I liked it. Nothing wowed me. I think I need to be careful and not demo again as I aggressively demoed Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec and developed TE in January/February. I think dead poly, small grips on some demos, and rusty technique, as well as poor eyesight leading to too many late swings each contributed to the problem. Hey, at least I can wash my hair without wincing now.
shamaho
Professional
Well I'm afraid it's not very TE friendly. It's the first time I'm feeling discomfort in the elbow and wrists after many rackets.
Although I think you can improve that with proper string setup and choice, but these are recent sticks for me so I can't offer much advice
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
shamaho
Professional
6 grams? That's a long strip heh ? Or many stacked...
How have you setup the strips? Did you leave a gap right at 12"for the stringing machine?
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
From what I've read throughout the time it's been available for sale… Stay away.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Ok. I didn't see that coming. So, in your inestimable opinion, should I focus on Volkl, Prince and PK?
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Not sure how I am supposed to read inestimable…
Anyways, not necessarily. There are many comfortable frames out there from different manufacturers. I find the PS 97S very comfortable. The Blade 18x20 is known for being comfortable. Even Head has the Prestige Rev Pro. It's not so much that you should ignore certain brands completely, you should just go the safer routes in the respective brands cause TE issues tend to be pesky with a tendency to recur (something you'll want to avoid, cause each time you have to come back it's harder/worse).
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Inestimable in this case refers to the depth of your knowledge and practical insight into gear etc... As I am too lazy, did you mod your 97S? If so, how much? I was using an old BLX Blade 98 so weight, heft etc are not a problem. I know that I like the heavier, more solid feeling when striking the ball. I play 4.0 USTA and am looking to move up when I am all healed up.
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Well you can see my strung specs (w/ Kirschbaum Max Power 16) in my signature: 338g, 33.9cm balance, 348 swingweight. I added 5g of lead tape @12 and 5g of poster tack into the buttcap. Plays like a charm for me
shamaho
Professional
Well you can see my strung specs (w/ Kirschbaum Max Power 16) in my signature: 338g, 33.9cm balance, 348 swingweight. I added 5g of lead tape @12 and 5g of poster tack into the buttcap. Plays like a charm for me
LOL! love the sig !
No long strips...two stacks of 4" tennis warehouse tungsten tape on each side. It's actually a lil too whippy, to be honest...higher launch angle than I prefer.
shamaho
Professional
Me thinks (but I'm not very experienced with lead at 12") that you should leave a small gap right at 12" for the the 12" stringer machine clamp, otherwise it will press against the lead, squish it and ultimately destroy that strip (I've seen it once on my racket).
what say the 12" lead experts ?
ProStaff forever
Rookie
Great string selection. Ho was ALU power rough's performance?
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ProStaff forever
Rookie
Do you feel the flex in the throat when you hit? I demoed one but find it a tad too flexible for my taste.
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shamaho
Professional
Well, while the small lead strips along the PWS added stability and plough, I lost some "whippyness" (sp?) and it felt just that little bit heavier and cumbersome to manoeuvre for quick adjustments or flick-type shots.
Sooo I'm experimenting back with Lead at 12"-ish - thats 5 minutes from and past 12" actually.
Also the full-bed of Tourna BHB felt ... meh - comfortable no doubt but very plasticy feel and lacked that crisper feedback and pocketing as say a Weiss Canon Scorpion - I think I'll like it better on a hybrid with a synthetic gut.
oble
Hall of Fame
I personally find that the PS97 and RF97 have high enough twistweight and stability that they don't really need lead at 3/9 o'clock, at least when compared to the Pro Staff 95 BLX that I was using before which desperately needed lead at either 3/9 or 2/10 o'clock to have some semblance of stability. That's why I concentrate my lead placement at 12 o'clock for my PS97, to add some plowthrough without making it feel too sluggish.
pfrischmann
Professional
The PA is much more powerful and has much more spin. The 97 is much better at 1/2 volleys, volleys and slice. On serve, the PA gives you more spin but I felt like I had a much better of where the ball is going with the PS-97.
Hmnnn
New User
I really like the PS97. Been playing with it for over a year now, and it is the only frame I've ever settled into with no mods. I think it feels very crisp, but not stiff or harsh. I use gut/poly (proline II) and have not had any arm issues. I thought the early criticisms about an erratic stringbed were rubbish, and I am still surprised it receives so little attention compared to the RF and S versions. I like the lowish trajectory and easy spin from the open pattern. Also love the head shape and smooth matte paint.
All that lauding aside, I am having an affair with a modded MG Radical MP over the past month. The feel on this frame is incredible. I only wish it had a 16x19 pattern.
I suppose I just needed to get my impressions of the PS97 down now, because if I switch to the MG I might forget about it.
All that lauding aside, I am having an affair with a modded MG Radical MP over the past month. The feel on this frame is incredible. I only wish it had a 16x19 pattern.
I suppose I just needed to get my impressions of the PS97 down now, because if I switch to the MG I might forget about it.
powerrangers
Rookie
What string set up is everyone using? I've been using natural gut /4g rough hybrid. I've been using it for 2 months now and it's started to feel mushy and way too powerful, so I'm looking at changing it up.
shamaho
Professional
...Been playing with it for over a year now ...I use gut/poly (proline II) and have not had any arm issues. ...
Boy, many people using gut
As for myself, I've only had my sticks for a short time and have used 2 hybrid combos and two full bed poly:
a) 1st hybrid, poly and multi (mantis comfort) - nice comfort and control but broke relativery early.
b) 1st fullbed poly: weiss canon scorpion - great control & comfort - still have it and saving it for next important matches
c) 2nd hybrid: multi + syn gut - awful lousy combo (don't recall the details, I've written about it somewhere), cut it out well before breakage
d) 2nd fullbed poly: BHB - felt nothing special early on, now that the string is well into its 6 or 7 hours, now feels very good and crisper.
Next combo I'll try is : Prince Syn gut duraflex on mains vs BHB on crosses
Next combo: I have a couple sets of Tourna strings that I'll try
As soon as dry season is fully on, I'll also go for the gut+poly combo.
nickellwood
New User
Handed my PS97 to my local sports shop last Friday to be strung up with champions choice with gut in the mains and poly in the crosses. Went all excitedly to pick it up today to find that it had been strung with gut in the crosses and poly in the mains. To say I was not happy was an understatement.
powerrangers
Rookie
Boy, many people using gut
As for myself, I've only had my sticks for a short time and have used 2 hybrid combos and two full bed poly:
a) 1st hybrid, poly and multi (mantis comfort) - nice comfort and control but broke relativery early.
b) 1st fullbed poly: weiss canon scorpion - great control & comfort - still have it and saving it for next important matches
c) 2nd hybrid: multi + syn gut - awful lousy combo (don't recall the details, I've written about it somewhere), cut it out well before breakage
d) 2nd fullbed poly: BHB - felt nothing special early on, now that the string is well into its 6 or 7 hours, now feels very good and crisper.
Next combo I'll try is : Prince Syn gut duraflex on mains vs BHB on crosses
Next combo: I have a couple sets of Tourna strings that I'll try
As soon as dry season is fully on, I'll also go for the gut+poly combo.
What gauge of scorpion are you using?
estigma2001
Hall of Fame
i use full bed of poly (Zons Polymo Hexplosion 17 50lbs) plays similar to tour bite and is cheaper
shamaho
Professional
Yikes! Almost a crime!
Did they offer to redo the thing again?
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
nickellwood
New User
Yes but they had no champions choice in stock so they've done it with with Babolat VS Team in the mains and the Alu Power Rough in the crosses. Never used VS Team but having googled it quickly I can see that its an expensive string... Hopefully it will play nicely
shamaho
Professional
Well imho gut is gut so it'll play nicely for sure!Yes but they had no champions choice in stock so they've done it with with Babolat VS Team in the mains and the Alu Power Rough in the crosses. Never used VS Team but having googled it quickly I can see that its an expensive string... Hopefully it will play nicely
Just the crosses in rough is what I don't quite like
And that is what I bought my own stringing machine... a lowly drop weight. I loose the time to string my own sticks because it takes me more time, but I get exactly what I want how I want it, and no time wasted dropping off the frame and collecting it back...
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
The King of Swing
New User
adored the performance especially for the first 6 hours of use but sadly when it goes dead it turns into a complete trampoline. Lately ive had them snap on me after 2 weeks of play as well so im back to the drawling board when it comes to strings. Trying a hybrid tomorrow with PHT mains and gut crosses. PHT is my goto string for durability. Will report back with results
ProStaff forever
Rookie
Thanks for the reply bro. Just had mine strung with full bed of NXT Tour. Was a gamble and looking forward to my next hit as don't know what to expect. Was previously using full bed ripspin strung from previous owner.
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The King of Swing
New User
No prob man let me know how that works for you. Funny enough, back when i was demoing the 97 it came with nxt and I enjoyed it until i snapped it lol. You give up some spin and durability potential compared to poly(obvious) but you gain some great feel and power. Loving the hybrid right now. Sort of suits my game but still waiting to see how long it lasts. Kevlar/gut may be my next experiment.
I bought a pro staff 97s a couple of months ago,I was really amazed by its spin effect that usually keeps my ball in on heavy balls but I I didnt like it for its swingweight thats is heavy as known.Im 16 so I couldn't manage to play with it, my main is head speed GragheneXT Mp. So I want to buy a new Wilson Racket should I go to pro staff 97 or the blade 98s (heard it has a heavy swingweight is that true?)and does the pro staff 97 feel lighter?
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shamaho
Professional
I've only handled the 97s in a store and, it definitely felt different from the regular 97, felt heavier.
The regular 97 is clearly more headlight than 97s which might facilitate the swing.
Excuse my brevity, sent from mobile on puny keyboard and rocking public transport
ProStaff forever
Rookie
Had a session yesterday, the NXT had great ball pocketing but unfortunately I couldn't generate enough spin to land it in the court. Just doesn't feel as in control as the poly's. Feels very obsolete in control if I can say, only plus side is power and pocketing, when you choose to go for drive volleys. My game definitely needs further improvement, just couldn't handle the NXTs at the moment.
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ProStaff forever
Rookie
First impressions was I missed the obvious slick snapback action that only poly's can make.
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shamaho
Professional
What was your rationale to go for a fullbed of multifilament? (needless to say, there's nothing wrong with that)
Doh! forget it! I just read it... it was a "gamble"
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ProStaff forever
Rookie
I have to admit, last time I played well was with multis in the early 2000s, which my only game was as a baseliner, then I dropped tennis for 7 years. Again, NXT excels in power n feel department no question about it, but spin was noticeably under delivered during critical moments, especially when you're brought out of the court and the only option you have is a heavy short cross where u need the extra spin to loop the ball over the net but loop inside the court, or serve and volley, especially when you're dealing with good returns where u need the extra bite on your first volley approach shot to control those fierce topspins. Good news is I've just received a pack of NXT/luxilon adrenaline hybrids. This is gonna be my first time using hybrids so am looking forward to that.What was your rationale to go for a fullbed of multifilament? (needless to say, there's nothing wrong with that)
Doh! forget it! I just read it... it was a "gamble"
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