Has anyone played with all three generations here? The 5G/7G, Q5/Q Tour, and Ki5? I'm trying to decide if I should try out the newer models.
Look at the power maps for upper hoop, that shows you a pretty good idea of the stiffness and power. The softer ones have power die off quite a bit in the upper hoop
Q5 315 has more power and tends towards the modern players racquet; if you are familiar with Babolats, it is an arm friendly version of Pure Drive Tour/Roddick. Q Tour 300 is a lighter version of a players racquet, has the feel; comparable to Pure Control, but more arm friendly; if you prefer the 300g weight range, there is a Q5 295 which is very maneuverable. 5G is more plush than the other two, but lower powered. All are good racquets and it is a matter of preference. Don't know about the technology differences between the classic and new Ki lines. Have not tried the new Ki line yet, as the higher RA racquets usually do not work for me.
Thanks for all the info. I've been way behind with the recent models and improvements. I've been a classic 5G user for maybe a decade. I'm very used to the balance, weight and feel of the 5G. I have an inch of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock for torsional stability. Since coming back to tennis, my arm isn't as strong as it used to be and I developed tennis elbow from being late on my 1HBH. My timing and fitness to prepare early isn't what it used to be. I've since switched to a 2HBH, but the damage has already been done and playing with the 5G while suffering from TE isn't helping. I was hoping one of the newer models would offer more arm protection and allow me to continue playing while I rehab my arm using the Flexbar and Elbow-ease. It seems that as PK continues to improve the Kinetic technology and combining it with other non micro bead technology, they are stiffening their frames. The more arm protecting tech there is, the stiffer are the frames. I wonder if that actually cancels each other out. It makes sense that the 5G would be the most flexible because it has the least Kinetic technology. I only detect micro beads at 10 and 2 o'clock. What's everyones advice?
It sounds like you need to take a break. None of us want to do that, but sometimes the body needs to have time to heal without the constant irritation of playing. Do that for 6 weeks, with all the rehab i'm sure you are pursuing, and that could make all the difference. Don't come back before the end, and be very careful not to overdo it on your return.
PK frames, like Volkl frames, are getting stiffer and stiffer, quite unfortunately. Think of Kinetic Technology as something that makes a frame somewhere around 10% more elbow friendly. If the frame is too stiff, then that 10% may not account for very much. Having said this, the micro bearings do not make the frame any more or less stiff. The 5G has the micro bearings located all around the hoop. It's the Q series that has them only in the 4 corners of the hoop. In my opinion, the Kinetic series offers better protection than the Q series. I would like to see PK take a very flexy frame like Redondo and put some micro bearings in it. The same goes for Volkl: You've got a dozen different models. There's no need to stiffen up every frame in your lineup.
This one is quite comfortable (from personal experience, I have different PJ but flex from specs is the same), don't forget it: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/ProKennex_Ki_10/descpageRCPK-PKKI10.html Take into account that actual head size iz 98.6'', lower than advertized. Also, for added comfort racquet can be customized to increase recoil weight (and swing weight) resulting in a really great racquet.
The kinetic system would probably be closest to the best arm saving technology there has been for a long time. Probably next would be foam filled technology , Pacific and Volkl handle systems and off course it's hard to beat low RA numbers and good mass and balance.
Yes I lot of the Pro Kennex racquets are very arm friendly but you can still get great arm friendly racquets from the major manufactures. My current top 10 arm friendly racquet list is as follows: Yonex EZone DR 98 HEAD XT Graphene MP PACIFIC X Feel Pro 95 ( PRINCE Textreme Tour 100P Prince Tour 100 Pro Kennex Kinetic KI Q Tour Pro Kennex QI K5 315 Yonex Ezone DR 98 ( Wilson 2015 Blade 98 18×20 WILSON Pro Staff 97S
I had a major case of GE six years ago and bought a Ki5 PSE. I hit two or three balls with it and left the courts (bunch of guys hitting so leaving wasn't a problem). Stopped playing tennis for six months and that fixed the problem. If you have a major case, you need to let it heal. If you have a minor case, do the flexbar daily, and get something that's flexible, with a soft string, that's relatively heavy and good twistweight. I use old Prestige MPs and those are soft enough. The RF97 works for me - it's somewhat stiff but has high twistweight. For some people, just doing one thing may get rid of TE/GE issues but I'm doing several to decrease the odds of it coming back.
My experience was the Flexbar didn't work for me. Seated dumbbell curls and reverse curls seemed better. However, once I got a Prince PCG and POG 107, strung with Ashaway Kevlar x Ashaway Zyex at initially 63/63 then to 65/65 and the TE went away as I played on.
