pro kennex q5

[sstchur]

I have a Q5 295 and a Q5 315, as well as a 2 Ki 5 315s.

I've only strung the Q5 295 and one Ki5 315. I've only hit with the Q5 so far.

I only gave it maybe 30 min or so (my usual racquet is the Gamma T-7 which I love and have 6 of and don't expect to stop using any time soon).

But I have to say that the Q5 was an impressive offering. I actually really liked the light weight, as it allowed me to generate tremendous racquet head speed. I really noticed added kick on my kick serve.

I also felt like I had surprisingly good plow through for a light racquet.

I let my regular Monday hitting partner demo it today when we played (he normally uses an older K-factor six.one team I think). He seemed to like the Q5. He's been toying with demos for a while, but all the usual suspects (Head, Wilson, etc..), so I've been trying to get him to demo a PK and he finally did. I thought he served really well with it, and I thought his groundstrokes penetrated the court pretty well. He said he didn't have any trouble transitioning to it (for our hitting session) from his usual racquet. He thinks I'm just being nice letting him demo it, but really I wanna get him hooked so he'll buy it

Anyway, I like the Q5. I think it's a good racquet. One of my favorite PK offerings so far (and that include all the PK racquets I have, including 5G, 7G, 15G, Redondo, and Black Ace).

 

[Dgdavid]

Thanks for that write up sstchur. Would you pick q5 over ki5 then?

 

[smirker]

Thanks for that write up sstchur. Would you pick q5 over ki5 then?

But will we ever get the Q5's over here David? Not even available on TW Europe. I would love to demo the two Q5 and two Ki5 offerings side by side to make an informed decision rather than by guess work.

 

[Dgdavid]

But will we ever get the Q5's over here David? Not even available on TW Europe. I would love to demo the two Q5 and two Ki5 offerings side by side to make an informed decision rather than by guess work.

Q5 is 205 Euro from http://www.madaboutennis.com shipped to UK (£166) but you can get 2 x Ki5 for not much more (254 euro, £208) from TWE. Not convinced it is worth the difference.

 

[smirker]

Q5 is 205 Euro from http://www.madaboutennis.com shipped to UK (£166) but you can get 2 x Ki5 for not much more (254 euro, £208) from TWE. Not convinced it is worth the difference.

No, me neither. Not convinced the extra stiffness is what my arm needs right now either. Hoping the PK rep for the UK will come through and find me some rackets in the UK. Crazy that we can't get them more easily, epic fail by PK in my opinion or are we just too stuck in our ways to try different companies outside of the major players in the UK?

 

[danix]

danix: how does the sweetspot and plushness of the Q5 compare w/ the QTour? And have you ever hit w/ the BA98 or PK5G?

Apples and oranges. Q Tour is tiny sweet spot but hits like a sledgehammer.
Q5 feels more like a PK5G but stiffer.
Haven't tried a BA98.

 

[kenyee]

Anyway, I like the Q5. I think it's a good racquet. One of my favorite PK offerings so far (and that include all the PK racquets I have, including 5G, 7G, 15G, Redondo, and Black Ace).

Wow...a true ProKennex fan :-O

Can you compare it w/ the PK5G and Redondo (MP or Mid)?

 

[danix]

I am still on the fence about the Q5, but I think I'm going to go for one. Has anyone else tried it recently?

 

[coolblue123]

picked up a ki5x from another tt member.
played with it for a quick 20 minutes last week. a lot of plow and great spin. kinda reminds me of a volkl x8 315.

I had to put a little lead on the butt to increase headlight properties. once adjusted, u can just let the racquet do most of the work. have early prep on this stick and u will be rewarded greatly. 2hbh is nice! hit through the ball, and ur ensure a heavy paced ball. returning fast pace ball is good as well.

need to serve with it but I know its going to be awesome with its extended length and swing weight.

as soon as I hit more, I will write more.

 

[ciocc]

I have the Q5 315 and I like it a lot... other very similar racquets to it are the Extreme Pro 2.0 and Pure Drive Roddick 2012. The Q5 is a touch softer than either than these and slightly less powerful, but could play all three interchangably. I like the backhand slice best with the Q5 and seem to serve more consistently albiet slightly less powerfully. Overall, very nice stick that has no real weakness. Also like the Kinetic tecnology for arm protection and prefer the PK grip shape. Take 5% out of the PDR and you have the Q5

Hi NoMansLandPlayer, you seemed to like the Q5; why did you sell it? What didn't you like about the Q5?

 

[netman]

Seems to be very little feedback on the review pages of TW re the Q5.I am currently playing with 2yrs of tennis elbow,and is considering switching to the Q5 or KI5.How many people have directly compared them,esp elbow comfort.
Also ,if anyone knows,how these 2 compare with the new Donnay Pro One
Thanks

The Kinetic frames can really help with TE, if your TE is the result of year's of continuous pounding from tennis and the like. In this case you might see a marked improvement. If the TE arose from bad technique and you don't change, not so much.

I always encourage PK newbies to buy a used 5 or 7 series frame and try it before jumping all in. You can usually find them for about half the retail price. Be careful though as the 5 and 7 frames have a tendency to develop hairline frame cracks when used by hard hitters. I cracked only 3 frames in my 35+ years of tennis and 2 of them were a 5g and a Ki5.

-k-

 

[eugenius]

Anyone know if TW are going to review the Q5?
Still seems there's not a lot of love for this frame ,at least compared to the KI 5
Any newer playing experiences anyone?

 

[flume]

I've been playing with the 5G off and on as my first PK racket and am curious to know how the Q5 compares, in particular in power.

 

[canadad]

I asked a while back bout the playtesting and TW said they had no plans.
HERE: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=438070

I have not been able to play much with both due to poor weather and perpetual busy-ness, but I did play last weekend with them. It really is too early in testing them to make any confident insights but I can say a few things:
I like both, very much. At the end of the summer I was all about the Q5, the power and even comfort were just great. I was hitting awesome with it. After having played a few times with both this fall, I found myself going back the the Ki5 more than the Q5. I am leaning now towards the Ki5. With the exception of serve where I am blasting the ball the with Q5, the Ki5 is winning for me in all other areas. One thing may seem minor but is turning into a big deal is the comfort of the grip. The Ki5 has contour bevels on the permanent grip, which fits my hand nicely. The Q5's grip is flat and does not fit my hand as well. I wish they did not switch out the stock grip.

 

[eugenius]

Thanks for the update. Surprised to hear that there's a grip difference between the ki5 and q5. I still play with a head racket, so don't know if my grip would more like the ki or the q in either shape or feel.
Which racket is easier to play long rallies with (physical exertion to swing) and which is better to play bh slice with?(I have a 1hbh)
I will most likely be buying one of the two rackets as I now struggle to consistently swing the head racket(weight 350g) since my struggles with TE and GE for the past 3 yrs-muscles have weakened and I'm not getting younger(42)!!
Cheers for any further info

 

[Tennisspieler]

Hi guys, TW Europe already features all the latest 2013 ProKennex racquets:

http://www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com/catpage-PROKERAC.html

I playtested the brand new ProKennex Ki Q15 300g (on some webpages referred to as the "blue" model, as for the new 2013 black+blue cosmetics):

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=447415

 

[tennisjon]

As a Ki-5x user, I would be really interested in this frame if it was extended. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer extended frames. Can't we just compromise and make all 27.25?

 

[rolleroh]

I recently purchased the Q5 295 as my initial PK experience. Selected this frame based on specs in search of a new #1 frame. No arm issues or any other influences- just looking for best new racquet for me, & like others, am finding MUCH higher quality outside the 'big few' brands.

Anyway, my Q 295 arrived looking very sharp & specs were on point. I was honestly unaware of audible moving particles in frame when purchased/ imagine my surprise!!/ but enough solid feedback supporting the technology to crack open the handle wrap & string it up.

Performance has been VERY solid-- clear improvement in topspin groundstrokes & touch over any previous frame, but serve & slice BH have been average for me. These improvements wld def be sufficient, but I just DO NOT like/ cannot get comfortable w the feel-- Comfort is just fine, but assuming the hallmark PK feel is just not for me.
To clarify as well, def NOT a plush feel, but consistent, unique almost thud-like feel, even after a number of string (play poly exclusively, but wide range)/ tension/ weight adjustments over first 2-weeks.

Again, performance is clear upgrade, but need to 'like' playing w frame as well.
Power level & Control are unique, and honestly VERY much standout strengths of this frame// Control more impressively for my game.

Recommend for experienced PK Ionic Tech players, & def worth Demo for all others to render your own opinion.

 

[getsby]

I not tried Q5, but I've had some experience with 5G. nothing to do with PD, general PK impression more control oriented sticks

 

[jorel]

I wonder if there will be an extended version. I am loving the Ki 5 and curious to try the Ki 5x or the 7g. I had not used Pro Kennex racquets until recently and have fallen in love with the Ki 5. I find it pretty forgiving actually. I have an arm that can't take much, so it is pretty plush. You play with the Ki 5x don't you? I have never actually used an extending length racquet and think it may help my 5'10 self play bigger.

go with the 7g..all signs point to the 7g being better than the Ki5x

 

[canadad]

Now that the winter rains have started to dwindle and spring is here, I am finally able to hit. I have been switching back and forth between the Ki5 and the Q5 315 for the past couple of sessions. I love the Ki5 and still call it my main racquet, but after the past couple of hitting sessions with the Q5, the Ki5 may be a backup.

I have been mostly hitting from the baseline and I have been loving the added stiffness of the Q5. It is less flexible and I seem to be also plowing through the ball a little better. I have pretty well developed strokes with a topspin forehand and a 1hbh that switches between 80% topspin, 5% flat and 15% slice. I am really driving the backhand and results are great. I am really quite confident especially in my backhand. Forehands have been great as well. I was not liking the Q5 at first because I was not feeling the ball the same way I do with the Ki5. I was feeling slightly disconnected from the ball. I am over it now though.

One little pet peeve I have is the paint job of the Q5. My wedding ring has caused a couple of small chips at the throat from when I got back to ready position on volleys. I have never had that happen before. Also with the high gloss black paint, scratches are a little more noticeable. That may seem pretty ridiculous for some, but I have am very careful and meticulous about looking after my gear.

 

[lucky44]

picked up a ki5x from another tt member.
played with it for a quick 20 minutes last week. a lot of plow and great spin. kinda reminds me of a volkl x8 315.

I had to put a little lead on the butt to increase headlight properties. once adjusted, u can just let the racquet do most of the work. have early prep on this stick and u will be rewarded greatly. 2hbh is nice! hit through the ball, and ur ensure a heavy paced ball. returning fast pace ball is good as well.

need to serve with it but I know its going to be awesome with its extended length and swing weight.

as soon as I hit more, I will write more.

I was wondering if you played more with this stick,I play with 7g and was considering buying ki5x as I sometimes feel that 7g is too lively for me,I prefer more control oriented sticks like 5g.

 

[Baxter]

I was wondering if you played more with this stick,I play with 7g and was considering buying ki5x as I sometimes feel that 7g is too lively for me,I prefer more control oriented sticks like 5g.

I have both and the only difference I can perceive is that I can't hear the BB's in the Ki5x.