The T-7 had just a little too much power (too much tendency to cause the ball to sail on me), and the 330X, while I desperately tried to love it, was just not the racquet for me. So darn stiff. The ball just launched off the string bed with what (for me) felt like a lack of control.
I've since made the switch to the Fischer M Pro 98. A touch smaller in the head than the T-7, but flexy as anything. Combined with some mushy Forten Sweet string and I've got a smooth buttery feel that I absolutely love.
did u find the T-7 a lot more powerful than the MPro 98? did they both have the same "buttery smooth" feel?
Frank: see my post in this thread from September 9:does anybody know if gamma is comming with new sticks soon?
Frank: see my post in this thread from September 9:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=3907224&postcount=80
The Gamma person was answering my question about tournament sticks specifically, but I imagine the answer applies to Gamma racquets in general.
Looks like I'm joining this club. I've been playing 2 weeks with the 320x and it's my favorite stick. 12.2 ounces and 6 light with pacific polyforce xtreme and a good amount of lead. No weaknesses yet but I still have to play a heavy hitter to finish my analysis. I also have a yonex rdis 100mid but it weighs 349 grams/12.3 ounces which isn't that much more but it's a bit harder to play with, but still very nice too. There aren't any current 95-98 square inch sticks with a 66-67 stifness rating except kblade 98 and it's not very customizable.
Many, many years ago, having my worst case ever of tennis elbow (result of using cheap racquets/no research), I happened across a racquet ratings piece in a now obsolete tennis publication which extolled the virtues of this racquet pertaining to the Shock Suppression System (SST) and the overall playability characteristics. It "sounded" right to me and I immediately obtained a local demo, played with it for three days without pain - and it fit my game to boot! Ordered two and a while later decided to look into getting more and discovered they were no longer available. Undaunted (and loving the stick), I managed to find two (used) on a popular site. Have used 'em ever since (a LONG time) and now two are retired (cracked frames) and the other two are gracefully aging faster than me!
Can any of you folks help me come close to duplicating the characteristics of my favorite racquet in something contemporary? I really want to be loyal to Gamma but am not sure that's possible. I did see the Gamma e-address earlier in this thread and will contact them as well. Thanks in advance!
If you're interested in some, you can still find them today. They pop up every now and then on the bay and in the FS section. TW had a few for sale about a year ago. I believe the Gamma Ipex 7.0 OS was meant to be a replacement (if I remember correctly, the Trad 20 was a 110cm2, 12 ounce racket?)
Consider yourself a full card-carrying member! Glad to have you aboard.
I picked up a T-7 off the TT board the other day and gave it its first hit this morning ....... got home and ordered a second (new) for Xmas (a gift from my wife).
The flex and feel of the T-7 was something that I just had to try again. I know I raved about the 330X, but I also never really forgave Gamma for adding the stiffness they did. At my age the flex, feel and head-size of the T-7 provide me with the best racquet choice I can find today.
Charlie
I am going to get a T-7 racquet but could one of you guys that have one of these racquets take a measurement for me. I would like someone to measure the length of the longest main string and same with the cross string. What I would like to do is what is in this thread. http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=298443
I will then buy a racquet and have it strung like what they are talking about. Thanks
Donovan
hehe Charlie....I don't really post much on this forum any more (a disagreement with the management), but I will say this: I consider you a founding member of the Gamma Quadrant, since it was largely your review that convinced ME to buy a Gamma 330X! I'm buying another 330X in the new year to match my other one
Glad you're enjoying the T-7....it sounds like a very popular and comfy stick.
Happy Tennis!
I've been waiting since early March to get my hands on Gamma's new 340X, I finally received one yesterday.
Had my first hit with the 340X this morning ....... lasted about 2 hours.
I strung it yesterday with 17ga MSV Soft-Touch (a really nice multi) at 42/46 ....... probably a little lower tension than you would choose, but the 18/20 pattern still provides a firm bed even at those tensions .... great feel on impact, with really nice dwell time.
The 93" head plays like a 95" ...... nice easy to find sweet spot.
Other than the string the only thing I added was a Yonex Supergrap overgrip which brought the total weight to exactly 12oz .......... other than the overgrip everything was out of the box (and will probably stay that way) ..... balance is really nice ... I would say about 6-7 points ....... the beam is smaller than indicated in the Gamma specs )definitely not 22, more like 19 or 20. Flex is a little more than the G325 and T7, but less than the 330X (I'm guessing in the 63-66 range...Gamma only says the flex is medium) and is in my opinion just right.
Play is much like the venerable G325 , but with more 'pop' (which shows up on the serve) ...... feel is plush like the G325 and T7 and power is a little less than the 330X ....... control is excellent.
Slice with a 1hbh is easy and very controllable ... chip and charge play keeps the ball low and where you want it. High backhands are easy with 2hbh, a real power shot.
The 340X was definitely worth the wait (my 2nd one is due 6/8/10) ..... Gamma has really done it right with this stick .........players familiar with the Prestige, Redondo and the POG will really take to the 340X.
friend of mine has 5 gamma 320x's and to be honest i think these racquets have the best paintjob out of any racquet. The racquet really should be mentioned as one of the best 98s maybe ever because of its spin potential.
It looks nice, but at a stiffness of 67, it just isn't going to have the plush feeling that something like the T-7 or the Fischer Pro One 98 has.
The T-7 stiffness is 57, which is awesome. It's oh so close to perfect. If only it were slightly smaller in head size, and had a higher weight overall. If it was... well, the G325...
The 340X in some ways reminds me of the Fischer Mag Tour on impact ... like the Fischers most of the flex appears to be in the throat .... the 93" head and 18x20 string pattern do present a firm bed like the Fischers
It looks nice, but at a stiffness of 67, it just isn't going to have the plush feeling that something like the T-7 or the Fischer Pro One 98 has.
The T-7 stiffness is 57, which is awesome. It's oh so close to perfect. If only it were slightly smaller in head size, and had a higher weight overall. If it was... well, the G325...
With leather grip it should be close to my specs, 12 oz and 7 points headlight. I've been playing it just over a year and am happy with it.The low power and 93" head of the 340X plus 18x20 stringbed proved to be a little too much for me .... so after working my way thru a couple of lighter racquets I decided to give the 320X a try !
Even before I hit with it I decided it was a little too light so I added enough lead at 3 and 9 to (with overgrip) bump it up to 11.5 oz, and strung it with Dunlop Comfort Syn Gut 17 @ 48/50.
Its been pretty cold in Atlanta for the last week and I don't think cold weather is a good time to judge a racquet, but this 320X plays so much like the G325 that I can't believe it !!! I need a leather grip on it to bring the weight up a tad and it should be perfect.
Can't wait for a break in the weather to see if my initial assessment holds up as I'm hoping I've found a keeper.
So far I'm really happy to be back in the Gamma fold !
I find the 320x to be way more comfy and plush than the t7. The t7 feels quite jarring and unstable to me now that I have ben playing the 320.
It looks nice, but at a stiffness of 67, it just isn't going to have the plush feeling that something like the T-7 or the Fischer Pro One 98 has.
The T-7 stiffness is 57, which is awesome. It's oh so close to perfect. If only it were slightly smaller in head size, and had a higher weight overall. If it was... well, the G325...
i have 3 of them.
it's been 1 year using them now and i still like them a lot. But the grommets are in bad shape now and you cant buy them anymore. To me this is the perfect stick except i would like to try a bit stiffer version for added power. That's why im interested to try the new donnays, the orange one seem like it would be close with the added weights
I have always been intrigued by the T-7. There haven't been any to demo for a long time. Currently using Head MG Rad OS. Never seen any in the clubs around here.
You talk smack about the T-7, you talk smack about me. SAY IT TO MY FACE, come on, SAY IT TO MY FACE
As you can tell by my irrational response above, I'm still enjoying playing with the T-7 and can't imagine using anything else.