PST GT+... thoughts on this & XL frames generally...

[Ross K]

Played with the PST GT+ yesterday and I have to say... hmm... I'm seriously impressed... super-solid, lush and crisp (not incidentally quite how I'd normally choose to describe Babs :wink: ) must say, I'm REALLY liking the general feel and this combination just described very much indeed... imo, this is one of the few examples I've encountered where a modern frame, with modern tech, does indeed have some of that so-called 'classic' feel of some of the great frames of the past. Certainly an improvement on the older carbon-extreme, red/black PST I played a few years back for about 6 months (that bit of extra stiffness and solidity definitely does it for me.) However, I suppose the bigger issue for me is the fact that it's a plus-size frame...

I have had some experience with XL frames (PD+, Rad Tour TT XL), albeit to a mixed degree, and it was a while back. And though I loved both for their big hitting, big serving, b-line performance, I had some issues then that I can already tell are going to be issues now, as I seek to see if the PST GT+ is a real, genuine contender. I'm referring to the sense of not quite being tuned in and 'orientated' right re how it swings (obviously much more time with it would improve this), to being troubled by low balls struck close to me or balls that kick up quick and unexpectedly, and with the more deft, touch/feel aspects play.

Why I sense I'm ready to give this a good 'go' though (ie, a few months at least of trying to master the racket) is that, for one thing, my instinct is that my game hasn't quite been matched up to my choice of frames for quite a while ("No kidding!?" I hear you all cry out to one of the more obvious racketaholics on these boards!... :roll: )... listen... basically, I want to get away from the perhaps slightly more all court rackets (like the C10 Pro), and go for the bigger hitting, big serving, big b-liner rackets (whilst having a feel and build I can live with)... a frame that can dominate off a 2hbh, can hit a ton of topspin, and generally hit consistently very heavy and deep... and guess what? The PST GT+ does just that ...

So... just wondered who else has transitioned from standard to XL?... care to share a few thoughts and experiences?... any other users of the PST GT+?... please let's talk!... any ppl out there with time on the older PC+ (swirley)?... any truth in the assertion that the PST GT+ is fairly similar to it?

Thanks in advance,

R.



BTW, actually the racket was originally a standard length, but the original owner (our very own 'Meaghan') has extended it, expertly imo, by an extra . 5"... I honestly wouldn't know it wasn't originally an actual plus-size or had been extended and altered, unless someone told me.

BTW2... specs: 98" head-size... 360g (or so) strung with added weight at 9&3 (10g lead) and in butt with extension (5g) + Bab leather (10/15g?)... 27.5" long... 9 pts HL (or so)... SW is approx. 350... (Sorry for the vagueness there with the specs!)...

Frame strung with Alu Power @ 58 lbs...

 

[Power Player]

I'm pretty sure Mikeler plays with this racquet and likes it a lot.

 

[mikeler]

Nope. I have the non GT version. The extra length took me awhile to adjust to but it really is great on serves.

 

[Power Player]

ooo..Well I was close

 

[Ross K]

Nobody else?

 

[Power Player]

Really all that matters is what you think. Everyone's else's opinion is just what works for them. A lot of people loved the switch and some could not adjust. If you read too much into TT opinions, you will probably never settle on a racquet.

 

[PED]

Ross, sorry about spurs today

Back on topic, give yourself some time to get used to the length and you won't even know it's there. It took me about 2 weeks to sort out the length and the slice was the toughest shot to get used to. The other 2 weeks settling in was due to going to the thicker beam apd.

If you have any issues after a few weeks, I would suggest dropping some of the excess weight off of that frame. It helps hit a big ball but 360g is a big stick!!!

In your case it would be easy with the lead and leather easily accessible. In any case, you may not need to change a thing but if you have any timing issues that would be what I would look at-especially the lead at 3 and 9. I tried that last week and didn't like the way it swung vs lead at 12. Lead at 12 makes it come around much faster.

Def let me know how it goes, they made a huge jump forward with the gt on the pst

 

[Ross K]

PED,

Well, I shall indeed give it time. The suitability of frame to my game that seems to have arisen kind of dictates this. And without seeming too defeatist here, maybe a small drop off in terms of more all court performance, as many who wield plus-size frames have said before, lsn't too terrible... it's all a trade off, right?

The matter of weight, however, given those maneuverability/timing concerns I've raised, might need to looked at promptly... you're right - 360g is a hefty stick (more hefty than a PT630, for example, and that is a little beneath my comfort zone in this regard.) I'm tempted to half the weight @ 3 and 9 to 5g of lead. Or perhaps lead up @ 12 instead, like you seem to prefer for yourself...

Sorry PED, what's your present exact customization set up (how much lead and where etc)?

Cheers,

R.

BTW, Guess what? I loved the Bab skin grip (which as my 1st post shows, is so nice I thought it was an actual leather!)... anyhow, looks like my days of using just 2 overgrips are over.

 

[PED]

Ross, I'm at 342g static weight. I have one wilson pro overgrip and full 1.26mm poly.

I've got 15g in weights under the trap door and another 8g under the bumper guard at the tip. I've not had a chance to redo my balance but it should be around 32.8cm or so. It's a great setup, it absorbs pace quite easily and produces a nice heavy ball while swinging quite easily.

 

[Ross K]

Ross, I'm at 342g static weight. I have one wilson pro overgrip and full 1.26mm poly.

I've got 15g in weights under the trap door and another 8g under the bumper guard at the tip. I've not had a chance to redo my balance but it should be around 32.8cm or so. It's a great setup, it absorbs pace quite easily and produces a nice heavy ball while swinging quite easily.

Thanks for that... absorbing pace, hits a heavy ball, swings easy - basically this sums it up for me too probably in terms of what I want from the PST+... not sure how the rack will perform with similarish set up but could well be worth investigating.

 

[WhiteStripes]

I use this stick. Hits a nice heavy ball. One of the best groundstroking and serving sticks I've hit with in the past decade or so. Reminds me a bit of the old 2001 Pure Control. Only issue is volleying with the racquet. Not sure if it's the high swingweight or what, but it's a bit more difficult for me to hit crisp volleys than with other sticks. Still, I'll take that tradeoff for the groundies and serves.

 

[Ross K]

I use this stick. Hits a nice heavy ball. One of the best groundstroking and serving sticks I've hit with in the past decade or so. Reminds me a bit of the old 2001 Pure Control. Only issue is volleying with the racquet. Not sure if it's the high swingweight or what, but it's a bit more difficult for me to hit crisp volleys than with other sticks. Still, I'll take that tradeoff for the groundies and serves.

Interesting... I haven't been able to play much at all lately and it could be a week or 2 yet, however, I concur with your comments although my hitting experience is very limited thus far... a big serving, big groundstrokes frame... can't say yet re net play etc... I've already taken off all the lead and look forward to seeing if the frame still feels solid enough minus that lead and is more easy to swing and maneuver... btw, I've now heard a lot of ppl saying it reminds them of the 2001 PC swirly... which is quite a compliment yeah?!


PED,

Sorry if I'm just not hearing this right...

I have one wilson pro overgrip

And that's it, yeah?! Just one lonesome little OG? No synthetic grip or whatever underneath?? Just 1 OG and then 15g under the trap? If so, isn't that uncomfortable?


R.

 

[PED]

I play with a syntec grip underneath as well I mentioned the overgrip to show it was included in the overall static weight (5g).

One thing I did yesterday was layer my lead a bit at the tip. I have 32 inches total under the bumper. I cut the lead up into two 10" strips and then another two 6" stripes. I laid the 6's on top of the 10's to get more lead concentrated right at the tip as opposed to being spread further out under the bumper.

The effect was not dramatic but it maintained the same amount of payload but it swung even easier.

 

[travlerajm]

If the SW started out close to the 333 given in the TW specs, then extending 1/2" and adding 10g at 3&9 would result in SW of ~370.

 

[Ross K]

If the SW started out close to the 333 given in the TW specs, then extending 1/2" and adding 10g at 3&9 would result in SW of ~370.

Wow, as someone who has experience of wielding a frame with a 369 SW, I must say, it didn't feel like a 370 SW racket. However, I did find it a bit hard to maneuver tbh so there you go. Anyhow, I have now removed all the lead off the frame. Thanks for clarification trav.

R.