When constant beam was for suckas...

[kevin qmto]

Has there ever been a more extreme and astonishing difference in beam taper than this? The Pro-Kennex Presence. I couldn't find an exact date from when this racket was released, but one can assume early 90's. The paintjob (which I love) looks like that classic 90's solo paper cup design that's been in use for 30 years now and has practically become a meme at this point.

I found a bit of stat info on a different frame listing on the auction site, sorry about the partially obscured data, they didn't remove the sheet for photos, but you can make out the information. I'm a fan of the 70/30 Graphite to Fiberglass. With the hoop being that thick, I can only imagine the 90/10 version being incredibly boardy.

Also, check the strings, square shaped polys are nothing new these days, but these appear to be square shaped synthetic gut! "Gamma XL Square" I think it says? Can't find any info on that string. Any insight is always appreciated!

Always love when they put info graphs on sticks. Technology!

what on earth could this possibly mean?

She's a beaut.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Obtund 306. You've got me there! But it appears that 306 is the ideal level of obtund as it shows on a few PK sticks. I also note the Spiral-Tech Graphite; got to be related to Spiral-Fibres..

What do you think the beam widths are? 30-20-28? This is actually quite civilised compared to the madness that ensued in the mid-90s!

These PK frames including the fairly popular Destinys, were respected for their design, but never really cut through at the serious player level if I remember rightly. More style than substance.

 

[esgee48]

The Presence line came a little after the Destiny line and co-existed with it. For some reason, I think it occurred in the mid to late 80’s but I could be wrong. There was also an Asymmetric line so called for dampening frame vibrations. Frames were generally more powerful than Destiny of same composition.

I vaguely remember that Gamma string. Didn’t last long due to cost and non-durable edges.

 

[Ultra 2]

The Destiny line came out around 1987-1988 iirc. Don’t recall the the Presence line.

 

[jxs653]

These PK frames including the fairly popular Destinys, were respected for their design, but never really cut through at the serious player level if I remember rightly. More style than substance.

Hmm.. isn't it the other way around? My general impression has been that ProKennex is substance than style.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Hmm.. isn't it the other way around? My general impression has been that ProKennex is substance than style.

I tend to agree regarding recent rackets, and also early 80s sticks, but the Destiny and Presence from the late 80s into early 90s mentioned in this thread were very stylish but lacked the performance compared to contempories. At least as I recall. Other PKs like Black Ace did remain top level however.

 

[Ronaldo]

Still own a Ceramic Destiny AVC and an Asymmetric racquet. Tweren't the Pure Drives based on these old racquets?

 

[LeoFulgencio]

what on earth could this possibly mean?

Link

 

[kevin qmto]

Still own a Ceramic Destiny AVC and an Asymmetric racquet. Tweren't the Pure Drives based on these old racquets?

I love the paint job on the Asymmetric frame. The shape is similar to this Presence but the paint is more flashy. Also it’s much lighter than the presence.

small update. I briefly hit with the Presence last night. Unfortunately, rain ruined my practice 15 mins into the session. But I got a decent sense of how the frame plays. The shock absorbtion system works wonders, it’s the first integrated shock stop system that actually feels like a dampener, and I approve immensely. Very plowy and solid. This is a 366g frame after all. Quite powerful, and the square Gamma synthetic gut strings definitely grip the ball, almost as much as a poly, but string movement is substantial. So far first impressions are good!

will try and get video next time.

 

[Ronaldo]

Square Weed Wacker string has been a(round).................................available for years. Shirley stringers may complained

 

[kevin qmto]

Alright, well after the first hour long hitting session, all the topmost rubber grommets crumbled, and somehow all ended up inside the frame, so its quite the maraca now...\

But boy does it hit nicely, super powerful, I was shocked at some of the pickup halfswings I threw out there that ended up having depth on them due to this frames inherent power, like this moment at: 0:22

I was blown away at the amount of spin these strings could generate compared to my other synthetic gut strung rackets, it got me thinking, whats the best non-poly string for spin generation in your opinion

 

[eric42]

I used a Composite Presence '91-92' in middle school. Nobody then was concerned with static weight, SW, stiffness, etc. Funny since I recently re-acquired one just for the helluvit, and strung w/ dampener it's 367g, 325mm balance, and 370 SW.

 

[retrowagen]

I list the Presence as one of the silliest racquet model names yet put on a racquet and sold to the public. I guess it fared better in focus groups than the Pro Kennex It Exists…?

But I still rank it behind the Prince Turbo Shark (do sharks have exhaust-driven turbochargers and if so, what relevance does this have to tennis?) and the Bonny Glamour 35 in the nonsensical racquet name competition.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I list the Presence as one of the silliest racquet model names yet put on a racquet and sold to the public. I guess it fared better in focus groups than the Pro Kennex It Exists…?

But I still rank it behind the Prince Turbo Shark (do sharks have exhaust-driven turbochargers and if so, what relevance does this have to tennis?) and the Bonny Glamour 35 in the nonsensical racquet name competition.

Donnay Actual has to be up there. Still looking for a Donnay Theoretical.

200G was pretty silly too though. Most people thought it referred to the weight!

 

[Passingshot78]

1) May be wrong but these ProKennex Destiny /Presence frames are grandfather of modern tennis rackets imo

2) Amazing looking frame

 

[Ronaldo]

1) May be wrong but these ProKennex Destiny /Presence frames are grandfather of modern tennis rackets imo

2) Amazing looking frame

Still own a Composite & Ceramic Destiny. Then, agin still own my 1st racquet, Dunlop Maxply Fort from the 70s. But Time Won't Give Me Time

 

[Moldyoak]

Alright, well after the first hour long hitting session, all the topmost rubber grommets crumbled, and somehow all ended up inside the frame, so its quite the maraca now...\

But boy does it hit nicely, super powerful, I was shocked at some of the pickup halfswings I threw out there that ended up having depth on them due to this frames inherent power, like this moment at: 0:22

I was blown away at the amount of spin these strings could generate compared to my other synthetic gut strung rackets, it got me thinking, whats the best non-poly string for spin generation in your opinion

Old 1980s MIJ Court King "Super Rough."

Cheap-*** nylon and you'd probably break it in a couple hours, but it is indeed crazy rough. And despite the age, I've strung it up to low 60s with no issues other than abrasion to my fingers lol

 

[kevin qmto]

Old 1980s MIJ Court King "Super Rough."

Cheap-*** nylon and you'd probably break it in a couple hours, but it is indeed crazy rough. And despite the age, I've strung it up to low 60s with no issues other than abrasion to my fingers lol

Thanks for the insight. But I hadn’t watched that video clip I posted in over 3 years and I’m shocked at seeing my old two handed backhand again. Man it looks so awkward lol. No wonder people always asked just what the hell I was doing with it.

 

[dak95_00]

Thanks for the insight. But I hadn’t watched that video clip I posted in over 3 years and I’m shocked at seeing my old two handed backhand again. Man it looks so awkward lol. No wonder people always asked just what the hell I was doing with it.

Two things…
1) Gamma made some weird strings. I know nothing about the square string but I once strung a guy’s racquet with Gamma Rough. It was a sandpaper type of synthetic gut. It felt horrible. I thought it was either going to saw through itself or the grommets no matter how slow I pulled it or how much I fanned it. Just awful stuff. The guy loved it though. He was a solid 4.5+ player so I guess it worked for him. He moved away and I hope to never string with that stuff again.

2) Since I’ve only seen your 1hbh in person, I had to watch some of the video of your 2hbh. Don’t switch back! But the only issue I see is you’re using a very extreme grip with your left hand. That makes it so much more difficult to execute. Just go eastern or slightly semiwestern.