PB10 Mid or BB London Tour

[mrravioli]

I've played with the C10 Pro for a couple of months and wholly satisfied with it. Very curious about the plush Volkl feel in a mid and now looking at the the PB10 mid and London Tour 93.

PB10 seems to have a big following here and its spec looks just like a C10 Pro in 93in. BB London Tour has a 18*20 string-bed which I've not enjoyed a lot in other mids but it's much lighter in stock thus with a very big room for customization.

I'm also considering the POG and midsize racquets from Yonex. But for the time being I'm leaning towards and addicting Volkl feel (and some said that the POG and Yonex could be very harsh to arms?)

Any experience appreciated.

 

[meltedsteam]

I've played with the C10 Pro for a couple of months and wholly satisfied with it. Very curious about the plush Volkl feel in a mid and now looking at the the PB10 mid and London Tour 93.

PB10 seems to have a big following here and its spec looks just like a C10 Pro in 93in. BB London Tour has a 18*20 string-bed which I've not enjoyed a lot in other mids but it's much lighter in stock thus with a very big room for customization.

I'm also considering the POG and midsize racquets from Yonex. But for the time being I'm leaning towards and addicting Volkl feel (and some said that the POG and Yonex could be very harsh to arms?)

Any experience appreciated.

I played exclusively with the VCore 89 for a couple of years, and I have hit with a friend's PB10 Mid extensively. The PB10 Mid feels more comfortable, and is balanced so that it moves around easier. In fact, it might be one of the easiest player's racquets to swing. That being said, the VCore Tour 89 has more plow and hits a heftier ball. It is also quite manuverable, and it won't kill your arm, it has plenty of flex. IMO they are quite comparable, and I give the nod to the VCore Tour 89.

 

[Brian72]

I've played with both the C10 Pro and the PB10 Mid, however, I haven't played with the London Tour. I would go with the PB10 Mid. Several Reasons, it is easy to get your hands on, Grommets shouldn't be an issue either. With the 16 x 19 string pattern, you have plenty of access to spin, and can still flatten your shots out. It's a great serving racquet and because it swings so easy, there is still some room for lead (which you will most likely want to apply in the upper hoop). Also, if you opt for poly try a lower tension (46-52 lbs) and a 2-3 lbs lower tension in the crosses regardless of string choice.

 

[Winners or Errors]

The London Tour has plenty of plow, comparable to my Wilson 6.1 95. It has a very soft feel and nice power. Of course, I requested the heaviest three TW had at the time they were clearing them out, so the swingweight of my London Tours is pretty close to the swingweight of the Wilson.

I just got the Wilsons, and I'm not sure if they'll stay in the bag or I'll gravitate back to the London Tours. Probably, they'll both be in the bag for when I'm in different moods. There's not much difference in terms of control, though the Wilson has more power.

Hopefully that helps.

 

[APG]

The London Tour has plenty of plow, comparable to my Wilson 6.1 95. It has a very soft feel and nice power. Of course, I requested the heaviest three TW had at the time they were clearing them out, so the swingweight of my London Tours is pretty close to the swingweight of the Wilson.

Although of late I have been playing with Volkl V1 pro, I played for sometime with the London Tour. I also purchased several of them when they were discounted. At the time I was stringing full gut at 50/47. I am now using a hybrid of gut(m) and Cyclone tour in my V1's. The LT strings up tight so wondering how you string yours. I would like to put a couple back in my bag as I really like the feel of these sticks. I would like to put the gut/Cyclone Tour in my London Tours.
Thanks in Advance.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Realizing that I play at 6000 ft altitude, I don't know if my string job would help you. I typically play with the LT strung at 55, and my favorite string job is Proline X 17 / Multi-feel 16. It's a nice, soft feel. I don't like the feel or the excessive power I get from stringing lower. Balls fly here.

 

[ultradr]

I thought mid-hoop flex in C10 was unique to C10, although I could be wrong here. But Flex-infinity test showed C10 is quite stiff except at the mid-hoop area (diagram posted by "corners").

 

[APG]

Yes, 6000 feet requires an adjustment in tension. Thanks for the reply.

 

[mrravioli]

I thought mid-hoop flex in C10 was unique to C10, although I could be wrong here. But Flex-infinity test showed C10 is quite stiff except at the mid-hoop area (diagram posted by "corners").

hitting the sweetspt on c10 offers an awesome feel. you could definitely feel the flex and still have enough power and stability. however hitting in the upper hoop (above 10&2) could wobble a little and i guess that's what ppl mean by the 'tip-dead' character of c10

 

[mrravioli]

The London Tour has plenty of plow, comparable to my Wilson 6.1 95. It has a very soft feel and nice power. Of course, I requested the heaviest three TW had at the time they were clearing them out, so the swingweight of my London Tours is pretty close to the swingweight of the Wilson.

I just got the Wilsons, and I'm not sure if they'll stay in the bag or I'll gravitate back to the London Tours. Probably, they'll both be in the bag for when I'm in different moods. There's not much difference in terms of control, though the Wilson has more power.

Hopefully that helps.

woe, thank u for your reply.

what about the forgiveness and spin potential of london tour? i've always find difficulty in these aspects in flexible 18*20 racquets like the redondo mid and mw200g.

 

[anirut]

what about the forgiveness and spin potential of london tour? i've always find difficulty in these aspects in flexible 18*20 racquets like the redondo mid and mw200g.

IMO, in my experience playing with my cousin who's an avid table-tennis player, it's all in the technique. His spins would jump like crazy with any racket. He's been using the Redondo mid for three years now, I think. Also, 18x20 gives a more 'penetrating' spin than the moonball-ish spins from open pattern.

My 2 cents.

 

[mrravioli]

IMO, in my experience playing with my cousin who's an avid table-tennis player, it's all in the technique. His spins would jump like crazy with any racket. He's been using the Redondo mid for three years now, I think. Also, 18x20 gives a more 'penetrating' spin than the moonball-ish spins from open pattern.

My 2 cents.

hi, anirut. i know it's a 'user's fault' as so many ppl here are enjoying these racquets. the only 18*20 mid i keep now is the ig prestige mid which plays a little stiffer and more forgiving. i guss i've been spoiled by some more open patterned sticks. still regard the redondo as the best feel racquet i've hit with (better than the ig prestige mid imo), but it's just too much for me in games.

 

[RiggensAuroraHO]

"The LT plays softer than the PB 10 Mid, and the dwell time and the spin production is greater, even though, the string pattern is denser. It is a better control frame. The PB 10 Mid produces a heavier ball with more pop. All three recent 93in frames, the LT, PB 10 Mid, and X10 Mid, are easily interchangeable after a few hits."

 

[Winners or Errors]

I hit with more spin with open patterned sticks that are stiffer like the Wilson's I have - they're 16x18. That said, I haven't found the London Tour lacking in spin. If you look, the distance between mains on the LT is even across the face of the racquet. It is actually less dense in the sweet-spot than the Wilson.

The reason I'm keeping them forever, though, is because of the feel. If you want a smooth feel, it's hard to beat. Butter...

 

[Winners or Errors]

"The LT plays softer than the PB 10 Mid, and the dwell time and the spin production is greater, even though, the string pattern is denser. It is a better control frame. The PB 10 Mid produces a heavier ball with more pop. All three recent 93in frames, the LT, PB 10 Mid, and X10 Mid, are easily interchangeable after a few hits."

I'd buy that explanation.

 

[Tennisist]

Becker London Tour Mid felt more manoeuverable to me, but it had noticeably less power, and noticeably less spin. It was good for changing direction of the ball in rallies.

PB10 Mid hits a much heavier ball, and with more spin, albeit at the expense of manoeuverability. It produced much heavier serve. Its drawbacks: changing direction was difficult (both because it swings heavier, and because of accuracy). It was kind of "one-dimensional". Overall, I liked the PB10 Mid better: it had a better feel, stood up better to a heavy incoming ball, and produced heavier, more penetrating responses. Straight hitting / extended rallies are my bread and butter, and its "assets" play well into this type of game.

 

[RiggensAuroraHO]

Sorry....forgot...."The LT has much more feel while volleying and provides for more spin on 2nd serves."