Thinking about leaving the PT57A...

Gee said:
That may be right but the beam width of the Head frames are thicker (19mm vs 21mm). So I guess the CAP grommets wouldn't fit the PK BA98.
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Ok yeah i suppose it doesnt work then, funny about the headsizes though, that PK also calls there 95 a 98. I wonder if there mid 93 is also an 89,5....Something tells me they must have been looking quite a bit at the head frames....
 
ae1222 said:
I am going with the BA 98. It has the closest feel to my PT57A's but it does do everything just a tad better. I think the frame is a bit more lively and has better feel. I get a little more pop and spin from the ground with it without losing control (I do string the BA at 62, my PT57's at 59). I am getting a significant amount of pop on my serve and my kick serve hasn't moved around that much in years. I love how it plays at the net, I think the BA has more touch there than the PT57.
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I'm probably going to go the same route. After hitting with the PT630 you sent me, the H22, H19 and TGK 238.4 I have, it just doesnt make sense to spend 2-3 times the amount for these frames. For my game the H19 was definitely the nicest, but NO WHERE NEAR 2-3 times better than the BA 98.

Blake, what are you doing about the crappy rubber butt cap? I can't seem to find PK butt caps anywhere...? =/
 
ae1222 said:
Personally I don't like the grip shape, feels too much like a head shape to me. So I switched out the pallets with wilson shaped ones and it feels great. The buttcap feels weird to me not because of the flare but because it is rubber and flexes it felt like when I ripped a ball the buttcap broke because it would move. I flare my caps out anyway, so I added my flaring system to it and it feels normal to me now. Really liking the stick, have officially given up on the EXO Tour, but still need a little more testing on the Redondo and the original t-Fight 325 to be sure.

Also saw my Volkl C10 Classic Xtended staring at me from inside the closet yesterday, may have to listen to those voices and take that out for a bit...
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So if your Wilson pallets fit the BA98 you demo'ed do you know if Head pallets will also? The BA98 would be "perfect" if I could throw on a set of the Speed pallets (TK 82S) with a regular butt cap.
 
AverageJoe said:
So if your Wilson pallets fit the BA98 you demo'ed do you know if Head pallets will also? The BA98 would be "perfect" if I could throw on a set of the Speed pallets (TK 82S) with a regular butt cap.
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I read TW member Dri325 managed to put TK82S pallets on the BA98. It seemed to be a bit too squarish. because of a minor gap between the halfs because of the slightly ticker hairpin of the BA98. He also wrote that a regular TK82 pallet would be more similar as a Wilson grip shape.
 
Gee said:
I read TW member Dri325 managed to put TK82S pallets on the BA98. It seemed to be a bit too squarish. because of a minor gap between the halfs because of the slightly ticker hairpin of the BA98. He also wrote that a regular TK82 pallet would be more similar as a Wilson grip shape.
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Interesting. Thanks!

I think maybe what I'll do is order a set of TK82S pallets and maybe just try shaving the hairpin on the BA98 down a bit.
 
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AverageJoe said:
Interesting. Thanks!

I think maybe what I'll do is order a set of TK82S pallets and maybe just try shaving the hairpin on the BA98 down a bit.
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You might try one size smaller than you used to.

Lately I replaced a TK82S pallet L3 with a L2 on my Head PC600 because the L3 felt too squarish to me. There was a small gap between probably due to a glue residue on the hairpin.

With the L2 it feels perfect to me. More like a comfortable Wilson grip 3.
 
I have the same problem: I got my iPrestige MP painted (as Youtek PJ) and weight gone up to 355g (strung + og). I think I need another 3 - 5 grams of customizing. Thinking of getting a Dunlop Biomimetic 300 and customize to my liking. Any suggestion please?

01102011047.jpg
 
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I lost a match to someone last week and decided to just bring the 238.4s up to my KPS88 weight (13.3 oz with overgrip). I added 3.5 grames at 3/9 and 3.5 grams in the handle and the it now plays a lot like a bigger, more flexible KPS88. It has slightly less power than the KPS88 but the dynamic flex makes it feel like something in the 58 to 59 RA area. It's definitely more comfortable than the KPS88 and provides quite a bit more feel. I'm probably just going to stick with these for a while.
 
Gee said:
I read TW member Dri325 managed to put TK82S pallets on the BA98. It seemed to be a bit too squarish. because of a minor gap between the halfs because of the slightly ticker hairpin of the BA98. He also wrote that a regular TK82 pallet would be more similar as a Wilson grip shape.
Click to expand...

I have my wilson shaped pallets on my BA98 and I encountered the same problem, the hairpin is a hair deeper than my head frames so there was a minor gap. I just put it in a vice and let it sit overnight and then wrapped the grip as tight as possible on it and it feels pretty good to me.

The head or wilson butt caps fit on those pallets so you can use them. I still have the PK ones on mine and it feels ok, but I flare mine out anyway so it doesn't matter to me much.
 
Alan_Hill said:
I have the same problem: I got my iPrestige MP painted (as Youtek PJ) and weight gone up to 355g (strung + og). I think I need another 3 - 5 grams of customizing. Thinking of getting a Dunlop Biomimetic 300 and customize to my liking. Any suggestion please?

01102011047.jpg
Click to expand...

Those PJ's look good, who did them for you? And what suggestions are you looking for?
 
Maybe but if you like those sticks then stay with them. Maybe they didn't strip the paint off of them before they painted them and thats why they are heavy. What is the balance on those? And maybe hold off on switching until the new prestige line comes out in january.
 
Alan_Hill said:
Airbrush shop.
The Prestige weight gone up so much, I can't handle it anymore. Should I give them up and find a lighter racquet
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I recently gave up on a lot of pro stocks including PT57A. During Thailand Open, Donnay came up with the Dual Pro, which is 310g and hits very soft , solid, and stable in stock form. I may categorize it in the same group as PT57A and H22. You might want to try when it become available for demo at TW.

Donnay_X-Dual_Pro_01.JPG
 
suppawat said:
I recently gave up on a lot of pro stocks including PT57A. During Thailand Open, Donnay came up with the Dual Pro, which is 310g and hits very soft , solid, and stable in stock form. I may categorize it in the same group as PT57A and H22. You might want to try when it become available for demo at TW.

Donnay_X-Dual_Pro_01.JPG
Click to expand...

Looks fantastic. Talked to James Blake at the Natomas Challenger today and it looked like his frames were painted to promote this model. Didnt know they were actually coming out with an all blacked out frame. Just thought James liked the all blacked out look.

Edit: Just looked up the specs on their website. RA is listed at 64. That's not relatively soft. Does it play softer than that?
 
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AverageJoe said:
Looks fantastic. Talked to James Blake at the Natomas Challenger today and it looked like his frames were painted to promote this model. Didnt know they were actually coming out with an all blacked out frame. Just thought James liked the all blacked out look.

Edit: Just looked up the specs on their website. RA is listed at 64. That's not relatively soft. Does it play softer than that?
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Blake's frame doesn't have spec and model printed on the frame, except Donnay branding. I don't know if it's Blake preference to keep the racquet look simple like that. But it seems many serious players here like it as well. Actually, the newer Donnay racquets (X-P Dual Series) are also in black with colored grommets.

Regarding flex, I think it plays softer than 64. For sure, it plays softer than those of Head Prestige YT MP and Dunlop Bio 300 Tour, which are rated 63-64.
 
suppawat said:
Blake's frame doesn't have spec and model printed on the frame, except Donnay branding. I don't know if it's Blake preference to keep the racquet look simple like that. But it seems many serious players here like it as well. Actually, the newer Donnay racquets (X-P Dual Series) are also in black with colored grommets.

Regarding flex, I think it plays softer than 64. For sure, it plays softer than those of Head Prestige YT MP and Dunlop Bio 300 Tour, which are rated 63-64.
Click to expand...

As per the Donnay website Blake is promoting the X-Dual Pro. Looking forward to testing this frame. Just gotta find a dealer in the US that will ship these demos around the US.
 
Well now I have done it...

Been working out and getting into better shape, running into control issues with the BA 98. Stringing it tighter and tighter, now up to 65 and still spraying balls. So broke the strings and went back to my PT57A and immediately played 10 times better. Starting to reconsider switching.

But I do have a new Donnay dual pro to try out. Plus I think the local shop has in the new head and wilson frames to try, maybe run with those for a bit. But for now using the 57's again...

The saga continues...
 
ae1222 said:
Well now I have done it...

Been working out and getting into better shape, running into control issues with the BA 98. Stringing it tighter and tighter, now up to 65 and still spraying balls. So broke the strings and went back to my PT57A and immediately played 10 times better. Starting to reconsider switching.

But I do have a new Donnay dual pro to try out. Plus I think the local shop has in the new head and wilson frames to try, maybe run with those for a bit. But for now using the 57's again...

The saga continues...
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What??! A month ago you were still glorifying the BA98 and now the honeymoon period is over??

Didn't you happen to have a bad day, did you play with other balls than you are used to? Did the weather circumstances affect your performance? Did you opponent play better?

I only can imagine that the sweet area of the BA98 'll be smaller and therefore also more demanding when you string tighter. I would not string the BA98 over 60 lbs (27 kg) as it has already a pretty stiff stringbed. It would be too boardy IMO.
 
Seems to be something mystical about the PT57A.

I'm pretty happy with my 238.4s and would love to spend a few weeks with the 260.2s but there are a bunch of PT57As for sale right now and it's tempting to order one or two.

Or three or four.
 
Yup - I am playing with 27.75s right now and I like prefer the extra length. Certainly not for everyone. Every once in a while Vidda seems to unload a bunch of PT57As and they disappear if you wait too long. I think that these would have sold a lot faster if they weren't XLs. I suppose that you can cut them down but a lot of buyers don't want to mess with that.
 
movdqa said:
Yup - I am playing with 27.75s right now and I like prefer the extra length. Certainly not for everyone. Every once in a while Vidda seems to unload a bunch of PT57As and they disappear if you wait too long. I think that these would have sold a lot faster if they weren't XLs. I suppose that you can cut them down but a lot of buyers don't want to mess with that.
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Yeah, he just had 2 standard length microgel radical pj pt57a's which i snapped up. I've almost sold all my other frames as ive settled on using these.
 
aimr75 said:
Yeah, he just had 2 standard length microgel radical pj pt57a's which i snapped up. I've almost sold all my other frames as ive settled on using these.
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I just bought from him 3 of the pt57a xl, I have never before used a XL, but well see, if I dont get use to it, I just cut them out, I have seen threads here of how to do it.

I does not seems hard to do it....I will keep it post it.
 
Gee said:
What??! A month ago you were still glorifying the BA98 and now the honeymoon period is over??

Didn't you happen to have a bad day, did you play with other balls than you are used to? Did the weather circumstances affect your performance? Did you opponent play better?

I only can imagine that the sweet area of the BA98 'll be smaller and therefore also more demanding when you string tighter. I would not string the BA98 over 60 lbs (27 kg) as it has already a pretty stiff stringbed. It would be too boardy IMO.
Click to expand...

When I was using it when I first switched I was stringing at 62 and it felt fine. Like I said I have dropped about 10 lbs this month and seem to be hitting harder and have had control issues. When I made the switch I was primarily hitting with guys my age or even a bit older, so I was swinging at 80% or so most of the time, if I still hit like that the frame still feels great. But lately I have been hitting with guys that are 23-27 who played for major Div 1 schools and that is where I am losing control. When I really ramp up and start going for shots the BA gets away from me most of the time, where the 57A keeps them in most of the time.

Still too soon to tell, plan on taking the BA out again this afternoon after stringing it up at 67 (that was where I strung the EXO3 Tour and it felt decent). Plus with all the new models coming out I am going to go give a few frames a test and see what happens...
 
I also use the extended length (27.5) and love it. Forever I swore I wouldn't use it but I have been playing with that length for about 3 years now and I will never go back.
 
> Like I said I have dropped about 10 lbs this month

Congrats - that's a lot of weight in a short period of time.
 
Gee said:
What??! A month ago you were still glorifying the BA98 and now the honeymoon period is over??

Didn't you happen to have a bad day, did you play with other balls than you are used to? Did the weather circumstances affect your performance? Did you opponent play better?

I only can imagine that the sweet area of the BA98 'll be smaller and therefore also more demanding when you string tighter. I would not string the BA98 over 60 lbs (27 kg) as it has already a pretty stiff stringbed. It would be too boardy IMO.
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Hey Gee,

Did you get my email regarding the BA98? Just email me back. Thx.
 
These racquets are overrated. There's better out there. I really enjoyed them on serve returns and and on the serve, but there's a few sticks like the blx 98 that I find more impressive in other categories. BTW, I just sold mine this summer and haven't missed it.
 
^ there will always be racquets people prefer over others, good thing there is so much choice. No one racquet is better than the next.. all relative to the person wielding the thing
 
aimr75 said:
^ there will always be racquets people prefer over others, good thing there is so much choice. No one racquet is better than the next.. all relative to the person wielding the thing
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totally agree. I hit with all the new wilsons and think they were awful. But that is just my opinion, I am sure others will love them...
 
cork_screw said:
These racquets are overrated. There's better out there. I really enjoyed them on serve returns and and on the serve, but there's a few sticks like the blx 98 that I find more impressive in other categories. BTW, I just sold mine this summer and haven't missed it.
Click to expand...

Whats a BLX 98?
 
cork_screw said:
These racquets are overrated.
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Which racquets are you referring? PT57A or BA?

There's better out there. I really enjoyed them on serve returns and and on the serve
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Again, which racquets are you referring?

but there's a few sticks like the blx 98 that I find more impressive in other categories.
Click to expand...
What are other categories?

BTW, I just sold mine this summer and haven't missed it.
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What did you sell?
 
AverageJoe said:
Gonna go out on a limb here and say he's referring to the Blade since that's the only BLX that comes in a 98. lol
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Ty. Only person I know that used a Blade switched to these ProStocks. Found the Redondo mp to be sweet, like a heavier version of the Yonex RDX-500 that serves mo better. Always looking for buttery racquets.
 
klementine79 said:
Never played with it. But by the specs the Dunlop Bio200 seems like a worthy candidate.

Anybody can chime in.
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If finding a replacement is based on similar specs, there are plenty (in addition to the Dunlop Biomimetic 200):

Donnay X-Black 99
Donnay X-Blue 99
Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 2012
Pacific X Force Pro 18x20
Pro Kennex Ki 5
Yonex RDiS 200
ProKennex Ionic Ki 5 2012
Head YOUTEK IG Radical Pro
 
I hit with the new Dunlop 200 and hated it, no feel at all. The redondo is a nice frame, I have hit with the Donnay Dual Pro the last couple of times out and that is a nice stick as well. Looking forward to trying the new BLX 6.1 95, Rebel 95, and the new radical (all with a lot of lead and other customization to them).
 
ae1222 said:
I hit with the new Dunlop 200 and hated it, no feel at all. The redondo is a nice frame, I have hit with the Donnay Dual Pro the last couple of times out and that is a nice stick as well. Looking forward to trying the new BLX 6.1 95, Rebel 95, and the new radical (all with a lot of lead and other customization to them).
Click to expand...

Which 200 did you play, and also which redondo (mid or MP)? Interested in your comments on how they compare to the BA98 and your PTs.
 
I just doubt you can replace the 57a. Maybe donnay has something there for you, but you are using a stick that you are used to and is considered one of the best ever made In the past 20 years.
 
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