Racquet power: EX03 tour vs Pure Storm Ltd GT

[Orion3]

Racquet power: EX03 tour vs Pure Storm GT Ltd

Currently playing and enjoying EX03 tours (16x18 ) and toying with the idea of moving to Pure Storm GT Ltd's.

The babolats seemed to have great reviews but are noted as being very underpowered. I'm interested to know - how underpowered? specifically compared to the EX03 tour.

Thanks in advance

 

[Ramon]

To me the EXO3 Tour 100 is more powerful than the regular Pure Storm GT. I would have to think that the Ltd version would be even less powerful than the regular version.

 

[Crocodile]

The EXO 3 Tour especially in the open string pattern is more powerful than the GT limited, but what about trying the Storm GT 320 regular model as mentioned by Ramon. I think this would be a better match. Both are good racquets.

 

[tennismonkey]

pure storm gt limiteds are a good notch lower powered than the exo3 tours. i have the 18x20 exo3 tours which are slightly lower powered than the 16x18 exo3 tours too.

 

[KenC]

Seems like you are going from one extreme to another. Why not look at the Pure Storm TOUR instead of the LTD?

The Ltd isn't as low powered as people make it out to be. It is very easy to hit long with it, even with tons of spin. I do it all the time. It is only low powered to people who can't generate pace with technique and rely on the racquet instead. I say it is lower powered than most of today's power racquets, but has more than enough power to pound balls with the best of them.

 

[Orion3]

I've been battling with TE for a while now and finally have it under control; playing a full bed of gut.

Finding the power of my Ex03 tour with a full bed of gut (at 59lb) more than I really enjoy and never liked gut at 60+

So looking for a stick with good flex and low power.

Considering the 18x20 tours too but decided against them when I bought my current 16x18's

 

[KenC]

If you are prone to TE why not try out the ProKennex Ki5? It is touted as the most arm friendly racquet out there, but aside from that I really like how it plays. Decent power but not overwhelming and a surprising amount of control.

 

[jonestim]

Performaxx has some low powered gut. Maybe worth a shot... Take a look at those threads.

 

[Orion3]

If you are prone to TE why not try out the ProKennex Ki5? It is touted as the most arm friendly racquet out there, but aside from that I really like how it plays. Decent power but not overwhelming and a surprising amount of control.

Thanks for the tip Ken but if or some reason I've never liked ProKennex as a brand. Small minded I know!

Managed to borrow a PSLTDGT so will hit with it next week sometime.

Did you add any lead to yours?

 

[Orion3]

Performaxx has some low powered gut. Maybe worth a shot... Take a look at those threads.

Thanks for the tip. I've tried some of the Performaxx strings before and was quite impressed. Not VS but still very playable.

 

[Ramon]

I reviewed some arm-friendly racquets lately:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=413091

The Pro Kennex Ki 5 that was mentioned earlier is a great playing racquet, but it's not as comfortable as the EXO3 Tour 100 in my opinion. It is quite arm-friendly, and I use the Ki 5x and like it a lot. The Volkyl Organix 10 325g was much less powerful and nearly as comfortable as the EXO3 Tour 100 if you want something less powerful.

You might also consider using a soft, low-powered multi instead of gut to see if the power level is more to your liking.

 

[KenC]

Thanks for the tip Ken but if or some reason I've never liked ProKennex as a brand. Small minded I know!

Managed to borrow a PSLTDGT so will hit with it next week sometime.

Did you add any lead to yours?

I would try to look beyond brand preferences and at least try the ProKennex.

I have 3g of lead at 12 and 2 grams split between 3 and 9. It is the most I can add without affecting racquet head speed. A few grams at 12 gives a little more power and isn't noticeable. I tried 5 grams at 12 and it started to be noticeable after a lot of serves.

 

[mawashi]

Let's c u rather have the then try the prokennex?

Seriously the pk5g is a great stick if memory serves me correct.

That or vantage.

I did consider the Prince EXO3 Tour 100 18X20 as it really looks comfy but after a hit with a buddy's pd2012 that's on my hit list now.

 

[Orion3]

Let's c u rather have the then try the prokennex?

Nearly.. I've already got rid of my TE. I don't want it back but am not comfortable with the extra power the gut is giving me. Hence, I'm looking for an even lower powered frame.

ProKennex - brand prejudice...pathetic eh! Just can't help it. I've never liked them and don't expect I ever will.

 

[Fuji]

The PSLTD reacts great to lead. I really enjoyed 3-4 grams @ 12, it bumped up the swingweight a bit and it plays really nice. It's a very "whippy" and light players frame, so if you are in the market for that it's awesome.

-Fuji

 

[Orion3]

Picked up a frame and going to use for the next couple of weeks. It's unstrung so planning to pop in a full bed of gut as its what I will be using if I buy.

Question - given smaller frame size (than the EXO tours I've been playing with) what tension would be appropriate? EXO is strung at 56lb

I was thinking 58lbs

Also - lead. I normally play with a polarised setup, so what would be the minimum #grams at 12 to achieve this?

Thanks in advance

 

[Orion3]

Got it strung with a full bed of VS at 58lbs and hit for the first time tonight.

Control wise ...best frame I can ever recall hitting with. Everything seemed laser-like. I was really able to hit out and the ball stayed in.

Serve wise, I was able to generate excellent spin and move the ball around nicely (but spin was down a little). Power too was down a little bit, not much but noticeable. Accuracy though was really good and I was able to hit flat T serves from the deuce court with ease.

I'm tempted to add a few grams of lead at 12 to help spin generation.

Early days yet, but my initial feeling is that it's a keeper.

 

[KenC]

Orion, adding lead at 12 does not increase spin, it increases swingweight and power. If anything it will decrease spin because you will have more weight that will have to swing from low to high so you probably will swing slower. A few few grams gives a little boost in power, but you can also get a little boost by dropping the tension by 2lbs or so. I use 50 lbs with a multi and all the control is still there but with more dwell time which gives more power and a little more spin.

I suggest to add lead only if you have reached maximum racquet head speed at the current weight and are confident to keep that same speed with a few more grams at 12. Think of it as an equation in which RHS x Mass= power. The two parts on the left side oppose each other and it is up to you to determine what gives the most power. You get more RHS with less mass. At a certain mass, RHS will start to decline and that is when you stop adding weight.

 

[Orion3]

Orion, adding lead at 12 does not increase spin, it increases swingweight and power. If anything it will decrease spin because you will have more weight that will have to swing from low to high so you probably will swing slower. A few few grams gives a little boost in power, but you can also get a little boost by dropping the tension by 2lbs or so. I use 50 lbs with a multi and all the control is still there but with more dwell time which gives more power and a little more spin.

I suggest to add lead only if you have reached maximum racquet head speed at the current weight and are confident to keep that same speed with a few more grams at 12. Think of it as an equation in which RHS x Mass= power. The two parts on the left side oppose each other and it is up to you to determine what gives the most power. You get more RHS with less mass. At a certain mass, RHS will start to decline and that is when you stop adding weight.

Thanks KenC.

I'm going to get hold of a second matched frame strung at 56lb and see how that goes.

Groundies with this stick were great; I was really impressed and was able to generate great spin as needed. Where I seemed to lack it (together with a little pop) was on my serve, especially on my kicker.

I've previously found that lead at 12 seemed to allow me to pronate a little quicker (my impression anyway) with the racquet head spinning a little bit easier around its axis. This may be all in my head - but its been my experience (no imperic evidence though!)

It may be that by lowering the string tension, the increased dwell time will allow me to get both the extra ball speed/spin I'm after, so thats going to be my first step.

Thanks again

 

[ghia]

Keep in mind that the racquet is very flexy, so lowering tension with multi makes even more flexy going on mushy, and that accentuates with every gramm of lead you add (especially at 12) !!! But if you like that, it's feels like melted butter!

 

[SJSA]

If you are prone to TE why not try out the ProKennex Ki5? It is touted as the most arm friendly racquet out there, but aside from that I really like how it plays. Decent power but not overwhelming and a surprising amount of control.

I played both rackets but Tour is more comfortable than Ki 5 for arm.
It has lower vibration frequency than Ki 5 as well.
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/vibfrequency.cgi

 

[Babolat Official]

Currently playing and enjoying EX03 tours (16x18 ) and toying with the idea of moving to Pure Storm GT Ltd's.

The babolats seemed to have great reviews but are noted as being very underpowered. I'm interested to know - how underpowered? specifically compared to the EX03 tour.

Thanks in advance

I work for Babolat. The Pure Storm LTD is our most classic feeling racquet for players who create their own power. It is 12 pts head light, 95 head, and 18X20 pattern. You might also want to demo the Aerostorm and Pure Storm to get a better feel for our various frames. Thanks for considering us!

 

[Orion3]

I work for Babolat. The Pure Storm LTD is our most classic feeling racquet for players who create their own power. It is 12 pts head light, 95 head, and 18X20 pattern. You might also want to demo the Aerostorm and Pure Storm to get a better feel for our various frames. Thanks for considering us!

Thanks beckerdx. I've just picked up a second frame strung at 55lb with VS but. Feels fantastic - going to play with it this afternoon and have very high hopes for it.

Stiffness, it feels quite similar to the Exo3 tours I've been playing with but otherwise it feels very different. The feedback is great and the control exceptional - like a bit of a 'throwback' to times when people did more (and needed more) from their racquets... So far, I'm loving it. If the lower tensioned gut works out like I hope, I will definitely become a proud babolat owner!

I've hit the Pure Storm and found it slight too high powered. It was a customised version, so not a fair comparison, I know; but with the Ltd I seem to (pretty much) be able to do whatever I want with it. If my serve picks up today, I will have found my 'perfect' racquet - I haven't been this happy with a stick since my Donnay Allwood days.

 

[Orion3]

Well I picked up the 2nd frame and due to a mix up it had been strung at 54lbs

Serving - monster. I am so pleased, I could hit every serve I wanted. I even re-discovered my angle kicker to the backhand, landing on the line within 6 feet of the net. I haven't been able to hit that serve since I was a teenager.

Ground strokes were great - these sticks are definately here to stay.

Noticed at the end of 3 sets the strings were moving a bit, so next time I think 56lb may be the right tension. As it is, I'm going to add some elastocrosses tonight to help them snap back and to bring the string tension back up.

Seriously, this is the best racquet I have ever hit.

 

[Fuji]

Well I picked up the 2nd frame and due to a mix up it had been strung at 54lbs

Serving - monster. I am so pleased, I could hit every serve I wanted. I even re-discovered my angle kicker to the backhand, landing on the line within 6 feet of the net. I haven't been able to hit that serve since I was a teenager.

Ground strokes were great - these sticks are definately here to stay.

Noticed at the end of 3 sets the strings were moving a bit, so next time I think 56lb may be the right tension. As it is, I'm going to add some elastocrosses tonight to help them snap back and to bring the string tension back up.

Seriously, this is the best racquet I have ever hit.

I'm really glad you like the stick!

I usually have mine in the bag, but I find my Bio200's achieve the same flexy very comfortable feel, with loads more heaviness in my shots. With the PSL I don't have the same shotgun blast off my serve as I do with the 200's. Other then that they are quite similar!

-Fuji

 

[Simbah2004]

The Exo Tour is even more comfortable than the Pro Kennex KI5, I've demoed both extensively. Ended up liking the Tour 18x20 better... I'd say the Exo Tour (and Rebel 98) are the most comfortable racquets I've ever used... And I playtested a ton of frames.