faded_lines
Rookie
I'm currently playing with Toroline K-Pro @ 48 lbs in one and Grapplesnake tour sniper @ 46 lbs.
What strings and tensions have you guys found best in the PA 98?
How do you find they play? I cant get Grapplesnake locally but Toroline K-pop I canI'm currently playing with Toroline K-Pro @ 48 lbs in one and Grapplesnake tour sniper @ 46 lbs.
What tension are you using?volkl cyclone tour 18 black - rpm blast for the common man who cares about their arm health
I weighted up the EZ 98L to the exact same balance, sw, weight, and twistweight. The thing I realized though is the ezone has a much fatter beam so the racquet feels pretty heavy and not as maneuverable as the thin PA 98 beam.Did you try weighing up your ez98 to see if it hits a similar ball?
What tension are you using?
Interesting! I’ve had some experience with that string but in 16g in the 2022 EZ98. Nice and comfy with a good energy return.volkl cyclone tour 18 black - rpm blast for the common man who cares about their arm health
How do you find they play? I cant get Grapplesnake locally but Toroline K-pop I can
331 sw is quite high I would say. I picked up a total of 6 rackets second hand.The EZ98 is an easier racquet to use for sure. It's been my main racquet for about a year now and been playing well with it. It's whippier which allow you to create angles and loopier shots. Serves are effortless, as you can just snap your wrist to create nasty slice serves and powerful flat serves. I don't have the best kick serves, but I'd say the whipper nature of the racquet help me snap through contact. I have 3g of lead @ 12 and that brings the SW up to 320 with 17g strings.
With the PA98, I feel like it forces you to swing through the ball more which produces a more penetrating shot through the court. This could be related to the swing weight of the PA98 is higher. Mine came in stock at 331sw with OG and dampener. But I'm loving heavier balls I'm able to hit so far.
Also, in case it comes down to it, how similar is an Ezone 98?
Firstly, Is it too powerful in comparison to the PA98?
And secondly, is it likely to be a more comfortable and arm-friendly racket than the PA98?
EZone has a launch angle that is about half of the PA98, power level might be a bit higher, but that might be misleading as the angle is completely different between the two.
Most players seem to say that the EZone is comfortable, it definitely flexes a lot more in the throat, but is similar in the hoop. Actually the Ezone is one of the few frames that hurt my arm, the PAVS and PA98 never do this.
Try the PA98 with something spinny in the mains, but a soft string in the crosses - e.g. I tried Ultra Cable with Poly Tour Pro at around 24/23 kgs
a tad more power, but also helps the arm![]()
Thanks! Interesting about the Ezone hurting your arm and the PA98 not doing so either. To be fair in the time that I've had the PA98, I've not had arm problems for longer than I have, but it's hard to tell if it was creeping up on me, or something in particular instigated it.
I was thinking about PTP for the crosses! Do you know if it's softer than Hyper G soft? I only may as well have that in the mains as I have a set already, but no point in crossing it with PTP if it's not a softer string.
Yeah - sometimes this arm thing is funny, maybe also the combo between strings and a racket doesn't work, who knows
I never played Hyper G soft, but I would say the PTP is about the same as Tour Bite Soft - it might be worth trying still.
But maybe if you put Hyper G at 2 lbs/1kg more and then have PTP there, it might work fine. I like the round cross, it at least seems to me that it improves snap back and spin further![]()
Dunlop black widow has been a comfortable string for me in it. Only downside is that since it's soft the tension maintenance can be short lived. Since I don't have elbow problems with it I've been playing tour biteHas anyone found a string setup that makes this racket "enjoyable to play"? I don't mean from a performance perspective.
What criteria besides playability would make it enjoyable? More pocket? soft string? more crisp string? more power? more control? more feedback? I find wasabi very enjoyable in mine. I am trying k-pop to see if I get a bit more pocket sensationHas anyone found a string setup that makes this racket "enjoyable to play"? I don't mean from a performance perspective.
Fun factor... not sure. I liked this racket for its performance but it just felt like a tool to win matches with rather than to enjoy tennis with.What criteria besides playability would make it enjoyable? More pocket? soft string? more crisp string? more power? more control? more feedback? I find wasabi very enjoyable in mine. I am trying k-pop to see if I get a bit more pocket sensation
Fun factor... not sure. I liked this racket for its performance but it just felt like a tool to win matches with rather than to enjoy tennis with.
I have mine strung with Polyfibre Viper, and that’s a very arm friendly combo.Am on the fence about selling this racket. Well actually I'd already decided to (wrecked my arm a bit) as it was up on ****, now taken down though. Played with it again briefly yesterday after momentarily switching to the standard Pure Aero 2023 (softer feel on impact) and damn, it made me realise just how good this racket is. If you're aggressive and like to attack, if gives you so much of a license to do so, way more than the 100 sq inch version, which really is just a bit too powerful for me.
It's a stiff frame and a Babolat so I get that, but am willing to change the strings and tension to see how I get on, before selling it. Anyone have a soft but playable setup in this frame? I currently have Toroline Wasabi at 50lbs but have a set of Hyper G Soft at home and was thinking about maybe putting a softer rounded poly in the crosses and stringing it 46/48lbs.
Also, I know it's a case of 'oh you've had arm problems and are using a poly, go figure', but I do like how a poly allows me to be as aggressive as my game is, so would love to find a softer poly setup.
And lastly, apologies to anyone I disagreed with about this racket not giving arm problems! Guess there are so many variables that may have one person facing them and another not.
I feel the same way. Undeniably I won matches with this stick, but I didn't like the feel of it. Recently testing Blade v9, I like that feel way more, also PA98 did hurt my arm.Fun factor... not sure. I liked this racket for its performance but it just felt like a tool to win matches with rather than to enjoy tennis with.
Completely agree with this. I have demoed 8 other sticks casually since fully switching to the PA98 and nothing else even came close for me. Feels good to not worry about my equipment and just enjoy tennis. Funnily enough, it's gotten me looking at these forums a lot less too lol.The fun for me comes out of not having to worry about equipment and play my game. This racquet does that for me
Feel and fun with a racquet are definitely subjective, but I can pretty confidently say that this is a great racquet overall based on having demoed and played with a ton of different frames over the last year, other's feedback, reviewers, etc.. Personally I find it a fun racquet to play with, but given the muted somewhat "hollow" nature of the racquet, I think it plays best with a crisper poly vs. a more muted softer poly.Completely agree with this. I have demoed 8 other sticks casually since fully switching to the PA98 and nothing else even came close for me. Feels good to not worry about my equipment and just enjoy tennis. Funnily enough, it's gotten me looking at these forums a lot less too lol.
Regarding others on strings - I've only tried Hyper G and Restring Zero in this, mainly have just played with Zero the last 4-5 months at 44lbs.
I do feel some elbow tenderness only if I keep playing sessions upon sessions when the strings are dead - if I'm not lazy with stringing it doesn't seem to be too much of an issue.
I have mine strung with Polyfibre Viper, and that’s a very arm friendly combo.
Feel and fun with a racquet are definitely subjective, but I can pretty confidently say that this is a great racquet overall based on having demoed and played with a ton of different frames over the last year, other's feedback, reviewers, etc.. Personally I find it a fun racquet to play with, but given the muted somewhat "hollow" nature of the racquet, I think it plays best with a crisper poly vs. a more muted softer poly.
No arm issues for me (and I have had issues in the past), but I wouldn't string a full bed of poly in this racquet much higher than 50 lbs max. Agree with @topspn that toroline wasabi works well with the PA98 and is a relatively soft poly. Gamma AMP Moto 17 yellow was also one of my faves for this racquet.
I was a hairsbreadth away from fully committing to this racquet, just that the higher launch angle was a bit much for my game, and it is relatively unforgiving in that you need to always be swinging at full speed and the sweet spot isn't generous.
Yeah the PS100 16x20 was just the right fit for me - stock it's 7 pts head light balance, mine are mid 320s SW strung (depending on the string), and it's slightly more comfortable, forgiving, and a normal launch angle with the ability to get as much power and spin as I want to put on the ball. I miss the feel of putting away forehands on the PA98, but the PS has plenty of power with no issues w/r to control.Thanks! Will keep that in mind after the Hyper G Soft/PTP combo
Yeah I've got Toroline Wasabi in it now strung at 50lbs. Used it yesterday and it felt softer than I remember it feeling, plus I didn't get arm and wrist pain with it so it could be that it's better for me a bit lower than 50lbs. Actually thinking back, the arm problems started after having Hyper-G in it for what I'm sure was too long. I've used Pure Drives, the 2019 Pure Aero, 2023 Aero and now the PA98 in which I've mostly used without any issues until now, so I am starting to think the overuse of a dead poly may have been the cause.
What did you settle with in the end? The Pure Strike 100 16x20 v4? I literally just finished watching a Tennis Nerd video on that, sounded really good from what he and another on there were saying.
Yeah the PS100 16x20 was just the right fit for me - stock it's 7 pts head light balance, mine are mid 320s SW strung (depending on the string), and it's slightly more comfortable, forgiving, and a normal launch angle with the ability to get as much power and spin as I want to put on the ball. I miss the feel of putting away forehands on the PA98, but the PS has plenty of power with no issues w/r to control.
Feel and fun with a racquet are definitely subjective, but I can pretty confidently say that this is a great racquet overall based on having demoed and played with a ton of different frames over the last year, other's feedback, reviewers, etc.. Personally I find it a fun racquet to play with, but given the muted somewhat "hollow" nature of the racquet, I think it plays best with a crisper poly vs. a more muted softer poly.
No arm issues for me (and I have had issues in the past), but I wouldn't string a full bed of poly in this racquet much higher than 50 lbs max. Agree with @topspn that toroline wasabi works well with the PA98 and is a relatively soft poly. Gamma AMP Moto 17 yellow was also one of my faves for this racquet.
I was a hairsbreadth away from fully committing to this racquet, just that the higher launch angle was a bit much for my game, and it is relatively unforgiving in that you need to always be swinging at full speed and the sweet spot isn't generous.
These are my stock specs, strung with an overgrip
Weight 323.5g
balance: 12.75
swing weight: 320.9
Twist weight: 13.7
These are my specs now
Weight 349.8g
balance: 12.375
swing weight: 334.8
Twist weight: 14.1
Swingweight?Has anyone experienced different RA stiffness between the same model PA98s?
I have two, matched balance and static weight, SW is 4 points apart, but the feel is vastly different. One feels more crisp and spinny, the one with the heavier SW feels considerably more plush and less spinny, so I suspect the stiffness is dramatically different. I have never experienced such a difference in stiffness in any racquet I have owned, so wondering if I ended up with a fake. Mind you, I prefer the crisper (potentially fake) one!
not specifically for PA98 but i've had a couple of pure drives feel completely different from the others within a batch of 14 i owned. they flexed differently, felt particularly more hollow, and played quite differently with significantly less pocketing. it was very strange, but the weight, balance, and sw weren't that far off. i've never experienced this with any stick other than a babolatHas anyone experienced different RA stiffness between the same model PA98s?
I have two, matched balance and static weight, SW is 4 points apart, but the feel is vastly different. One feels more crisp and spinny, the one with the heavier SW feels considerably more plush and less spinny, so I suspect the stiffness is dramatically different. I have never experienced such a difference in stiffness in any racquet I have owned, so wondering if I ended up with a fake. Mind you, I prefer the crisper (potentially fake) one!
they came at 280 and 291, unstrung, no overgrip.Swingweight?
not specifically for PA98 but i've had a couple of pure drives feel completely different from the others within a batch of 14 i owned. they flexed differently, felt particularly more hollow, and played quite differently with significantly less pocketing. it was very strange, but the weight, balance, and sw weren't that far off. i've never experienced this with any stick other than a babolat
they came at 280 and 291, unstrung, no overgrip.
After stringing and adding weight and gripped, they’re at 316 and 320
Wow so low! Everyone i have came 298 unstrung. I guess you feel the 280 to be the spinny one right?they came at 280 and 291, unstrung, no overgrip.
After stringing and adding weight and gripped, they’re at 316 and 320
Could anyone tell me their unstrung SW and strung SW that they measured with a Briffidi or better? Also which strings and gauge?
I’d like to add weight to my new set under the grommet and want to figure out how much weight to add before stringing. Trying to figure out how much SW strings add to this racquet in particular. I know generally it’s about 30, but I’d like a more precise measurement. That way I won’t need to replace grommets later. Thank you!
Oh yeah for sure - not exactly plush but has a lot going for it otherwise. 2 grams at 3 and 9, 8 grams in handle and it’s super stable and spinny. A little nervous how it will pan out on my arm. But so far, so good.Wow so low! Everyone i have came 298 unstrung. I guess you feel the 280 to be the spinny one right?
Different poly string will differ a bit by how much SW they add to this racquet. Wasabi and super toro are more dense strings that weigh a bit more and so does lynx tour and some others. Tourna silver 7 tour slightly less weight so won’t add as much SW. With a poly expect addition of 31-34SW pts depending on the string of 17g
I demoed an Ezone 98.Also, in case it comes down to it, how similar is an Ezone 98?
Firstly, Is it too powerful in comparison to the PA98?
And secondly, is it likely to be a more comfortable and arm-friendly racket than the PA98?