SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Only found some in a dubious French site I'm afraid (out of stock for quite a while there too though
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ProKennex Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter JGads
- Start date
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SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Zero lead tape for me. None needed. Then again I have the extended length version. For the standard length I'd probably add lead at 12 and that'd be all for the hoop. Leather grips work like a charm with these frames imo.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
Oh, weren’t you playing for a while with an Angell, I don’t remember which? You totally leave the Angell?
topspn
G.O.A.T.
What about the power on serve that they seem to agree isn’t there?
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Did you play with/demo the 18x20? I am giving very serious thought to purchasing the 300, 310 or 325. I am a former college player, currently 4.0. I like to serve and volley in singles--not a grinder from the baseline. I serve well and need a stick with some oomph and spin. Free power not needed. After having played DR100, I believe I prefer control over power. Recovering from TE, can hit with the DR100, but any simulated match play ends in discomfort, but not pain.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
No, I have not demoed the 18x20. I just have the ki + tour 300 and I added a fairway grip and 3gms @12. Racquet plays with very nice touch and very easy on the arm. Control is actually good and I can hit with nice top spin and switch to a flat screamer here and there without a problem. Serving is also good after I added the weight. Will see what the 310 is like
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Super. Thanks.
crazyups
Professional
The 325 has plenty of spin. It has a more open 18x20 pattern. It's also soft enough for good control with volleys.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Pretty much what you'd expect. The standard is very maneuverable but less powerful, just a nicely snappy all-around frame that does everything well. The X is more of a battering ram. Effortless plow, more leverage on serve and two hander, but it's got a more demanding swing weight to get around.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Few grams of lead either at 12 or at 2, 10 o'clock for me.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
How does the grip size compare with Yonex?
JGads
G.O.A.T.
I could be wrong on this so maybe someone else will chime in to confirm, but to me they both run a little chunkier than other grips. So lately I've been preferring sizing down to a 1/4 in PK sticks and have always preferred Yonex in 1/4 as well, whereas with Wilson I used to like 3/8. If at all between sizes go smaller and just add a thick OG or something.
1990's Graphite
Hall of Fame
Do these new Q series have a trap door somewhere, had a look at the pics on TW not sure if that little yellow circle pops open or not.
Also does anyone know the weight of their synthetic grips?
Also does anyone know the weight of their synthetic grips?
Power Player
Bionic Poster
What if you took off the base grip and replaced it with a Babolat Skin Feel? I do that on my Pure Aeros instead of buying a size down and it works perfectly. Or is the actual pallet size chunky too?
Also, anyone know the weight of the PK Base grip?
392Hemi
Professional
No trap door
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Haven't tried doing a really thin grip on a PK because I usually always opt for a certain Head grip (softac traction) I like, and then sometimes a Gamma OG. I'll try to compare the grips again the next time I have a Yonex at hand.
Knife
Professional
Stock grip from my QTour was 14 grams. No trap doors on PK, as the handles are filled with kinetic mass.
1990's Graphite
Hall of Fame
Thanks I saw your reference in the Chicago jack thread... did you find out the thickness of the grip? Would you say they are around the standard 1.80 or lower ?
Knife
Professional
I did not measure thickness, it seemed pretty average, 1.70 - 1.80 if I take a guess.
1990's Graphite
Hall of Fame
Cool thanks for the info.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Q+5X Pro base grip is 15 grams.
392Hemi
Professional
When I got the Q+5 Pro, the Volkl V1 Pro was my runner up. During my demo time it did most everything as well as the PK, except wasn't as stable returning or on hard groundstrokes. If one comes up used for the right price I would quite possibly grab it
nvr2old
Hall of Fame
I just picked up a PK 7G used, A grade from TW. Perfect condition like new. Haven't been able to hit with it yet but will go out with my sone on fathers day to try it out. It is my fathers day gift from my wife. I wasn't sure about the paint/graphics online but in person is a very classy looking racquet IMO with flat paint scheme. I like the feel of the stock grip as well. Ken
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Afraid I am of no help here because I haven't hit them Tour Pro (only the 300 version, which had incredible feel but string pattern was way too open for me) nor have I ever hit the C10 Pro (both of these sticks would be on my bucket list).
What frame are you coming from?
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Recent racquet history BLX Blade 98-YY DR100.
Looking for softer racquet as I am plague by TE related pain. I haven't played since February, and want to restart. Lateral epicondyle pain is gone, just some forearm stiffness.
USTA 4.0
Serve and volley "throw-back" style
Played college tennis a LONG time ago so flexible, heavy racquets are not a problem.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
The Q+5 Pro would feel closer to a Blade or DR100 in terms of frame bend/stiffness, as the C10 is very much known as a flexy, buttery, maybe more noodle-y stick. But I think there's better feel and control (at the cost of less free power) in the Q+5 compared to your previous frames. It's still a firm frame, but the kinetic tech makes it completely safe for TE, I think. Strangely enough I used to get TE more when I hit with very flexy sticks.
If you're looking for more of an old school, heavier, flexy stick then the C10 is probably your way to go. I would imagine the Tour Pro would be fantastic at serve and volleying if you can handle the weight but I can't speak to that definitively as I haven't hit it myself. Put a demo box together if you're in the States and able to order through TW. Either way, good luck.
JGads
G.O.A.T.
It's an all-time great. Enjoy. And if you don't, you can always return it within 30 days if it came from the used section.
speedysteve
Legend
Reading about the Redondo exploits above and having slightly itchy feet over my Prince EXO3 tour 100's I got my 98 Redondo out for and airing today.
It's strung with a Klip Legend natural gut mains and a slick Prince Synth of some description in the crosses. It plays quite like gut/poly but that's for another thread..
Crossing from the 18 x 20 Prince EXO3 tour to the Redondo is a doddle.
From the 16 x 18 EXO3 you have to adjust for a lot lower launch angle
I really enjoyed the Redondo today. I like the clomp it gives the ball off both wings.
The control gives me confidence in topspin backhands that I find I sometimes lack when things get tight with the 16 x 18 pattern. See thread on how not to choke away a match
I did have a bit too much lead on the hoop.
I now have 3g at 9 and 3 o'clock. Had 4 or 6g at 12 o'clock but I just don't need it and it was impeding my swing I felt.
I'm still reassuringly head light.
Def. Gonna have more time with the redoubtable Redondo.
It's strung with a Klip Legend natural gut mains and a slick Prince Synth of some description in the crosses. It plays quite like gut/poly but that's for another thread..
Crossing from the 18 x 20 Prince EXO3 tour to the Redondo is a doddle.
From the 16 x 18 EXO3 you have to adjust for a lot lower launch angle
I really enjoyed the Redondo today. I like the clomp it gives the ball off both wings.
The control gives me confidence in topspin backhands that I find I sometimes lack when things get tight with the 16 x 18 pattern. See thread on how not to choke away a match
I did have a bit too much lead on the hoop.
I now have 3g at 9 and 3 o'clock. Had 4 or 6g at 12 o'clock but I just don't need it and it was impeding my swing I felt.
I'm still reassuringly head light.
Def. Gonna have more time with the redoubtable Redondo.
realplayer
Semi-Pro
Anyone familiar with the Q15 and Ki15? What is the main difference?
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
Should I stay with my beloved 5G or give one of the new sticks a try? I really like the 5G, but would like it more if it had a little more power and spin, but without any added weight. If there is added weight, to be a few only a few tenths of an ounce at the handle. I play the 5G in stock form using Babolat Xcel 17.
The main reason why I'm still playing with an almost two decade old model is because of the arm protection. I believe the 5G has the most amount of Kinetic beads between any of the PK frames. Which current model would fit my criteria? An added bonus would be if the replacement racket be more flexible than the 5G.
The main reason why I'm still playing with an almost two decade old model is because of the arm protection. I believe the 5G has the most amount of Kinetic beads between any of the PK frames. Which current model would fit my criteria? An added bonus would be if the replacement racket be more flexible than the 5G.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
Does the 325g tour pro make a big change from the previous model?
yokied
Hall of Fame
Tommy Haas - I'm facing a similar question. I usually alternate between Redondo mid and the 5G, but I'm always curious about the new PK stuff. Two generations in a row with the Q stuff does make me a bit interested in the Q tour pro. I'm probably going to buy something and it's either going to be some Redondo MPs or, say a Q tour pro. If I spent half the time thinking about my footwork than I do racquets and other equipment, well...
Nice match the other week Vs Roger too BTW.
Nice match the other week Vs Roger too BTW.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
I'm looking for some racket customization advice. I play with a 5G strung with Babolat Xcel 17 at 60/57 and it's lacking punch when returning very hard hit balls.
Even when I'm in position prepared, have an early take back, take a full swing and able to meet the ball out in front and in the sweet spot, the ball's energy isn't returned with any interest. I'm losing about 1/4 of it.
Is this due to my racket not having enough mass? Where should I add lead to and not alter SW and balance too much? I'd prefer HL over HH and don't want to lose RHS.
Can this be fixed without using lead? How about a different string setup? I like Xcel 17 because it's very comfortable and easy on my arm. That's also why I swing a PK.
Even when I'm in position prepared, have an early take back, take a full swing and able to meet the ball out in front and in the sweet spot, the ball's energy isn't returned with any interest. I'm losing about 1/4 of it.
Is this due to my racket not having enough mass? Where should I add lead to and not alter SW and balance too much? I'd prefer HL over HH and don't want to lose RHS.
Can this be fixed without using lead? How about a different string setup? I like Xcel 17 because it's very comfortable and easy on my arm. That's also why I swing a PK.
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zalive
Hall of Fame
A multi should have better power than poly strings....no experience with XCel though, but you can drop the tension a bit...anyway, the key to real power is how you use your core and how much racquet rotation you use in the backswing...
For sure 5G could use some higher SW, like almost any stock MP nowadays ...you can try with some lead at 3+9 o'clock, like 4 grams? Counterbalance with few grams near the butt cap.
The other approach, if you want to keep twist weight as is now, is 2-3 grams at 12 o'clock, counterbalance at the top of the handle (7'' from the butt cap) - 4.5 grams for 2 grams placed at 12 o'clock, or 7 grams for 3 grams placed at 12 o'clock.
If you want to make it yet easier to swing (if this is currently its flaw by any chance), you can use few grams more at the top of the handle (valid for first customization as well).
For sure 5G could use some higher SW, like almost any stock MP nowadays ...you can try with some lead at 3+9 o'clock, like 4 grams? Counterbalance with few grams near the butt cap.
The other approach, if you want to keep twist weight as is now, is 2-3 grams at 12 o'clock, counterbalance at the top of the handle (7'' from the butt cap) - 4.5 grams for 2 grams placed at 12 o'clock, or 7 grams for 3 grams placed at 12 o'clock.
If you want to make it yet easier to swing (if this is currently its flaw by any chance), you can use few grams more at the top of the handle (valid for first customization as well).
tribesmen
Professional
Hi TW Staff,
I just don't want to open a new thread - will be ProKennex Ki 10 (305) reviewed ? I feel that this one could be a gem for a rec players i.e. neither too heavy nor too light, just right swingweight, comfortable ...
Thank you beforehand for info.
PS: If anyone has already played with this stick, I would also be happy to hear your opinion.
I just don't want to open a new thread - will be ProKennex Ki 10 (305) reviewed ? I feel that this one could be a gem for a rec players i.e. neither too heavy nor too light, just right swingweight, comfortable ...
Thank you beforehand for info.
PS: If anyone has already played with this stick, I would also be happy to hear your opinion.
tmc5005
Rookie
I agree Pro Kennex does make a lot of arm elbow friendly racquets I especially like the Pro Kennex Kinetic KI Q Tour and the Pro Kennex QI K5 315 both of which are on my top 10 list of arm elbow friendly racquets.
My current list includes:
Yonex EZone DR 98
HEAD XT Graphene MP
PACIFIC BXT X Tour Pro 97
Wilson Ultra Tour
Volkl Vsense 10 325g
Pro Kennex Kinetic KI Q Tour
Pro Kennex QI K5 315
Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro
Wilson Countervale Blade 98 18×20
WILSON Pro Staff 97S
My current list includes:
Yonex EZone DR 98
HEAD XT Graphene MP
PACIFIC BXT X Tour Pro 97
Wilson Ultra Tour
Volkl Vsense 10 325g
Pro Kennex Kinetic KI Q Tour
Pro Kennex QI K5 315
Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro
Wilson Countervale Blade 98 18×20
WILSON Pro Staff 97S
nvr2old
Hall of Fame
Hey ollinger. I frequently come back to my 7G as a reference with demos etc. It always performs well and often dissuades me from the new purchase if I had been previously tempted.
