Pros and Cons of Pro Kennex Redondo Mid

[max]

I bought one of these slightly used about two years ago, but used it only slightly myself.

I ran afoul of my elbow and have spent a lot of time recuperating.

Part of my elbow trouble was due to (a number of reasons) trying to switch to a Volkl Power Bridge Mid. I bought the PK during this time.

It's great for serving! But I'm considering selling her.

I'm curious: what do you see as the virtues and vices of this frame?

 

[movdqa]

The definitive thread on the PK Redondo Mid and Mid-Plus: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/1-redondo-talks-thread.102323/

 

[CopolyX]

.I'm curious: what do you see as the virtues and vices of this frame?
Nothing about the frame...
It all about you and your game!
So many options out there, be open and try...
Find what works best for you ( your body) and your game...

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

If you get tennis elbow with the Redondo, then you really have to look at yourself in the mirror.

 

[PMChambers]

Got both, they play quiet different. The Mid is for S&V. Everywhere is excels is for that style. Mid+ is better off the ground, more spin, bigger sweet spot. It also better for kick servers. Simplistically MP better everywhere a longer string, more stability, more power and larger sweet spot benefits.
The MP needs lead around the head increase power and stability and Mid needs lead at 12 to increase power. Both really benefit from increased head weighting.
The MP is still a good volleying racquet so don't really see the benefit of Mid unless your a true S&V.

 

[Crocodile]

I'm going to start by saying that tennis elbow can develop from various factors. For example:
1. You can have a very soft racquet but have it tightly strung in a stiff poly.
2. You can have a very soft racquet but the grip size is way too small.
3. You can have a very soft racquet but the halls you are using are old, heavy or wet (or all of the above.
4. You can have a very soft racquet like the Redondo mid but your hitting style is more suited to a more modern type racquet, hence you struggle with this one.

So there are some factors to consider. Now to the virtues and Pro's and Cons of the Rendondo and PB 10 mid;
They are both control orientated racquets that suit a traditional player who likes to hit with precision and provide their own power and high level of skills. Being physically strong will be an advantage. Having smaller heads mean that if your game is not top notch, then I would say one would struggle with these frames. My memory of the BP 10 was I found it harder to use than my Dunlop Bio 200 with its 95 head. The PB 10 felt like a much smaller head, but it does swing quite fast for its 330g weight. The Redondo to me is feels like a very old frame and at the time when I hit with it, I felt there were much better newer options out there in the way I can play my shots. At present the Yonex Duel G 330 is one racquet, for example that is a very good one.

 

[movdqa]

I think that the vast majority in the huge Redondo thread left it for something with more power. The frustration was that you had to work so hard (though I think that we weren't all that mature about lead tape then). The market has clearly spoken and there are very few, if any, mids left. Even PK dropped the Redondo Mid but left the Mid-Plus. I far prefer a Mid-Plus that's a little stiffer for comfort and power. But I think that I'm in a small minority. The market has moved bigger and stiffer and I even sometimes worry that 95s will get left behind.

 

[Power Player]

I even sometimes worry that 95s will get left behind.

And this truly is what we call a "first world problem".

 

[PMChambers]

I think that the vast majority in the huge Redondo thread left it for something with more power. The frustration was that you had to work so hard (though I think that we weren't all that mature about lead tape then). The market has clearly spoken and there are very few, if any, mids left. Even PK dropped the Redondo Mid but left the Mid-Plus. I far prefer a Mid-Plus that's a little stiffer for comfort and power. But I think that I'm in a small minority. The market has moved bigger and stiffer and I even sometimes worry that 95s will get left behind.

I temporarily left the Red 98 for 5g PSE, kind of polar opposites. Did it for the high swing weight and twist weight against lower lever players. I think you have to look at the Redondo 98 as a platform frame. It's static weight is a bit high for true platform but with balance of 10pt HL at 343g there's room to added 10-20g lead to 12 or 3/9, 2/10 and get the SW and TW up to the ranges needed for high level tennis. The racquet in stock form is little under powered but add lead around the frame and its great frame. A feel player in 4.5 range may find it good in stock playing the angles, but against big hitters or pushers higher SW and TW will assist going with and hitting through. I think it's a fantastic frame but needs 10-15g of lead to play big.

 

[movdqa]

I temporarily left the Red 98 for 5g PSE, kind of polar opposites. Did it for the high swing weight and twist weight against lower lever players. I think you have to look at the Redondo 98 as a platform frame. It's static weight is a bit high for true platform but with balance of 10pt HL at 343g there's room to added 10-20g lead to 12 or 3/9, 2/10 and get the SW and TW up to the ranges needed for high level tennis. The racquet in stock form is little under powered but add lead around the frame and its great frame. A feel player in 4.5 range may find it good in stock playing the angles, but against big hitters or pushers higher SW and TW will assist going with and hitting through. I think it's a fantastic frame but needs 10-15g of lead to play big.

I did look at them for a platform base but couldn't come up with a solution that I liked. Much easier to do with a Prestige or Radical. The IG Prestige gives you more power, is still fairly comfortable and provides lots of control. I have 15 grams of lead between 110 and 2 and it provides power. Maybe stability too.

 

[Bogdan_TT]

I removed the leather grip from mine, bringing the balance more to the head. It plays great now, huge control, awesome serves from 100mph+ and good power when needed.

 

[SinjinCooper]

Pro: great racquet for anybody with fully developed strokes that expertly use full kinetic chains.
Con: that's less than 1% of tennis players.
Con: it doesn't really exist any more.

 

[Pmasterfunk]

I had one for a while, it was pretty nice. Here's my list:
Pros:

• Great feel
• Great control
  
• Good plowthrough

Cons:

• Low spin and launch angle
• Pretty demanding
  
• Kinda heavy for my taste

 

[Roadway]

pros: definitely feels so great when hitting in the sweet spot and had much more raw feel and transfer subtle touch of hitting to your arm than PB10 and even Tour V 10
cons：nothing except too demanding. its string pattern is central zone is much more dense than Prestiges, it is hard to generate spins.

 

[max]

OP

I sold it, despite it being a very well made racquet and really good for serving; to me, right up there with the Wilson PS 6.0/85.

My real problem with the racquet wasn't TE, but it's size and weight demanded more than I could provide: I think if I still played 3 times a week, I'd master it. But I do not, so I cannot. It was too much for me given my lack of fitness.

 

[nvr2old]

I did look at them for a platform base but couldn't come up with a solution that I liked. Much easier to do with a Prestige or Radical. The IG Prestige gives you more power, is still fairly comfortable and provides lots of control. I have 15 grams of lead between 110 and 2 and it provides power. Maybe stability too.

Yup. My IG Prestige’s are I every way better for me. My Red MP is for sale as we speak.

 

[Gaspard de la Nuit]

I have a PK redondo mid (93) that was quite used by the time I acquired it. it's too worn for me to want to use on a regular basis but like......they really should make more racquets like it b/c the feel on contact is really nice, the best of any racquet I've ever used....also, I thought it was good for groundstrokes because you can take a very big and confident swing due to the very low power level. I think the weight is just right, although (similar to Yonex racquets), it might be slightly awkwardly balanced...it feels like a lot of weight is in the uppermost part of the handle.

it's really unforgiving, but I actually prefer the reassurance of knowing that I'm doing something right rather than racquet. I also found serving difficult b/c that is one area where I could use a more powerful racquet, but I like groundstrokes with it because the danger for me is overhitting and when i'm afraid of hitting the ball out it messes up my swing.

Anyway yeah...I wish they made more flexible racquets like this one, also good for a 1HBH

 

[bittermelon]

I have both and prefer the mid over the mid plus. The 93 is one of the few racquets where you know you hit it right as it gives you incredible feedback, just like the original prestige pro, which I only have one. That led me to buy and search for that same feeling. The PK has that similar feel, but its own flavour. The prestige mis and the Redondo mid are two racquets where I have the better ability to place the ball where I wanted and to vary the shots as needed. Some say that's a S&V racquet but I use that on the baseline as well when I see my opponent doesn't like high kicking balls to their backhand, I'll vary the shot from my usual. It's more stable (I have lead on mine and weighted to 358g 7pts HL) than the mid plus. Only thing the mid plus does better is handle out wide returns when you're stretched out

 

[mctennis]

I tried to like this racquet. I tried different strings, tensions, & combinations. I just could not get this racquet to work for me. I could not get the control or feel I thought I would get with this racquet. I sold it off after a few months of tinkering around with it.

 

[anirut]

I haven't stopped using the Redondo. It's there in my bag whenever I need it.

I've always said that the Redondo's like a 9-mm. pistol. Easy to control, easy to use, quick to move around with. But it does not have enough stopping power of a .45. You have to be accurate with your shots to do some damage.

 

[max]

Great serving frame, but pinpoint here is the only way it all works. Dislike the rubber paint on it.

 

[mctennis]

Great serving frame, but pinpoint here is the only way it all works. Dislike the rubber paint on it.

Horrible rubber paint. I agree. I thought mine was defective when I first got mine.

 

[movdqa]

Horrible rubber paint. I agree. I thought mine was defective when I first got mine.

Gets you ready for the RF97.

 

[Gaspard de la Nuit]

it's such an amazing racquet. Unfortunately the one I have is in disrepair but when I've hit with it I can still feel what a beautiful racquet it is. It's truly low-powered. It's quite unforgiving, I would say the sweet spot is indeed rather small. It has the best feel on contact of any racquet I've used. I wish they would start making it again. Yeah, absolutely no free power, but at least you can swing with confidence and not worry about the ball sailing long.

Woops, I realize I posted in this thread before......oh well, it bears reiterating.