Which racket of the Pro Staff 97 lineup is easiest to customize to feel like a Pro Staff 90?

[RanchDressing]

Yeah if you can find a racquet with low twist weight, and larger head size, you'll probably like it once it's done up to specs similar to the 90's. Minus a babolat of course.

Just because a frame is wider doesn't necessarily mean it will have a higher twist weight. If the beam/structure fundamentally weighs the same then it will, but you can also have frames that are lighter by design.

So stay away from the new pure strike for example. Most racquets coming out later have more weight along the sides so it's going to be a bit challenging to find something that is midplus and has low twist weight.

 

[Anton]

Might I suggest the new (2016) PS97S? It feels much more like the previous Pro Staff's. I am trying it out right now. It has the box beam and feels like it will be the easiest one to get close to the PS 90.

I second this - tried PS97s 2016 today and was really impressed. Where prior version felt somewhat limp in it's flex, this new one was more one piece solid like a mix between RF97 and PS90s of the past.

I really believe this new PS97s is the closest descendant of PS90...new and improved though imo

 

[joshtige600]

I've been playing with the new PS97S for a couple weeks now after a year with 2 of last year's PS97S's. Here is my experience;

definitely more control oriented than previous version. 'pop' and stability in the hoop is lower and the string bed is really somewhere between a typical 18*20 and a typical 16*19. (I would not in any way consider this a a 'spin effect' racquet.) More maneuverable with less power is the result.

I've been struggling with modifying this one. I put about 2.5g at 3 and 9 and lots of weight in the handle (20g+) in an attempt to get more stability along with a more HL balance. Stability improved greatly but the racquet became quite sluggish (it's at ~365g and 6-7pts hL) to me. After switching to my 2014 PS90 for a set (a feathery scalpel!) I decided to strip the racquet of all customization and start again.

Like others, I'm looking for the 'feel' of the 90 with more forgiveness and free power as I still have good strokes but am now over 40 with sore knees. This version feels like a step in the right direction coming from the old version but not in all areas. Next up, I'll try only 2-3g total in the hoop and 10-15g in the handle and see how that goes.

the new paint job is really, really nice. (well, the black parts at least. the red parts are really 'neon red-orange' and they are not my favorite)


TLR - the new PS97S is more maneuverable but less stable, more control-oriented but less spinny than the previous edition.

 

[tkdojo]

Keep us updated with your subsequent customization as I am on the fence and your mods sound exactly like what I would've done.

Cheers!

I've been playing with the new PS97S for a couple weeks now after a year with 2 of last year's PS97S's. Here is my experience;

definitely more control oriented than previous version. 'pop' and stability in the hoop is lower and the string bed is really somewhere between a typical 18*20 and a typical 16*19. (I would not in any way consider this a a 'spin effect' racquet.) More maneuverable with less power is the result.

I've been struggling with modifying this one. I put about 2.5g at 3 and 9 and lots of weight in the handle (20g+) in an attempt to get more stability along with a more HL balance. Stability improved greatly but the racquet became quite sluggish (it's at ~365g and 6-7pts hL) to me. After switching to my 2014 PS90 for a set (a feathery scalpel!) I decided to strip the racquet of all customization and start again.

Like others, I'm looking for the 'feel' of the 90 with more forgiveness and free power as I still have good strokes but am now over 40 with sore knees. This version feels like a step in the right direction coming from the old version but not in all areas. Next up, I'll try only 2-3g total in the hoop and 10-15g in the handle and see how that goes.

the new paint job is really, really nice. (well, the black parts at least. the red parts are really 'neon red-orange' and they are not my favorite)


TLR - the new PS97S is more maneuverable but less stable, more control-oriented but less spinny than the previous edition.

 

[wsk429]

I don't like the RF97A because it's too big, too thick, too stiff, and too light, and doesn't have the sweet feel of the traditional thin box-beam Pro Staffs. No amount of customization can solve all of these issues. Not unless someone can figure out how to make the hoop smaller, the beam thinner, and flex more flexy, and the feel sweeter through customization.

Oh that's easy. Do what the pros do. Get the PS90 and put on the RF97A PJ. Problem solved.