Which version of the K Pro Staff 88 do you have?

[regentville]

Hi All,

Like with my previous post on the Wilson K Six One 95 (Asian) about a year and a half back:

http://www.regentville.com/2007/08/wilson-k-six-one-95-differences.html

I found some issues with my Wilson K Pro Staff 88. Just wondering if any K Pro Staff owners can share or provide some feedback/photos and if they have the more balance (less headlight frame) or the more head light frame for your K Pro Staff 88? My full article can be found here:

http://www.regentville.com/2009/03/wilson-k-pro-staff-88-review-issues.html

Thanks

Nawin
www.regentville.com

 

[mawashi]

Here we go again LOL! I've stayed away from Wilson exactly cus of these issues. Recently acquired a 2nd hand AK90 that is about as light as a tweener's frame LOL!

Strung with Forten Aramid Gear, the thing weighs in at just 342g with og n is like 11 pts hl strung :shock:!

I'm sticking with Yonex n Vantages for now in terms of qc.

mawashi

 

[brownbearfalling]

I wish I had a KPs88....

 

[v205]

Just as a matter of interest, I did the balance with my 3 dunlop max 200g (one is heavier static weight than the other two by about 6-7g) but all 3 balanced within 1-2 degree of each other with different grips on.

 

[SFrazeur]

Sounds like Wilson quality control to me. This one of the reasons I use Yonex.

-SF

 

[samster]

Hi All,

Like with my previous post on the Wilson K Six One 95 (Asian) about a year and a half back:

http://www.regentville.com/2007/08/wilson-k-six-one-95-differences.html

I found some issues with my Wilson K Pro Staff 88. Just wondering if any K Pro Staff owners can share or provide some feedback/photos and if they have the more balance (less headlight frame) or the more head light frame for your K Pro Staff 88? My full article can be found here:

http://www.regentville.com/2009/03/wilson-k-pro-staff-88-review-issues.html

Thanks

Nawin
www.regentville.com

Looking at the pics you posted, the KPS 88 you think had the QC problem still had the plastic wrapper on! Plastic wrapper = weight, and will make the racket more headlight.

 

[snoopy]

I would demo, make sure i like the frame, and then buy a pair from TW. For about $20 extra they will match them. I know it's annoying to pay an extra fee to ensure that your frames have similar specs but I've done it a few times now and I don't have any issues with my frames playing dissimilarly.

 

[foLster]

Looking at the pics you posted, the KPS 88 you think had the QC problem still had the plastic wrapper on! Plastic wrapper = weight, and will make the racket more headlight.

Exactly the same thing I was thinking.

 

[Bud]

I too found discrepancies with the balance of my KPS88

I noted this in my thread a few days ago... my KPS88 is 3 pts. less HL than it should be. Strung it's approximately 3 pts. HL instead of the claimed 6 pts. HL on the insert card.

It was 6 pts. HL, unstrung... so I knew it would be a beast when it was strung.

Here is my thread:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=247178

 

[Bud]

Looking at the pics you posted, the KPS 88 you think had the QC problem still had the plastic wrapper on! Plastic wrapper = weight, and will make the racket more headlight.

Exactly the same thing I was thinking.

Nope, the wrapper weighs next to nothing... 1-2 grams. It would take 15-20 grams to change the racquet by 3 pts. of balance.

My previous post with the specs of my KPS88 was with the handle plastic and insert cards removed. The weight is right on... the balance was 3pts. off.

 

[regentville]

Nope, the wrapper weighs next to nothing... 1-2 grams. It would take 15-20 grams to change the racquet by 3 pts. of balance.

My previous post with the specs of my KPS88 was with the handle plastic and insert cards removed. The weight is right on... the balance was 3pts. off.

Bud made a valid point, the plastic wrapper and card will have very minimal impact on the balance of the racquet.

 

[VGP]

....doing the pencil balance thing isn't a good way to compare balance between different racket models....

I don't know why this comes as a big surprise. Wilson's tolerance window is actually smaller than it used to be. Having been using Wilson rackets for 18 years, it's just something I've come to live with and it's better now than it was. I might add though that I'm not sure Wilson's rackets are better now......

Most people buy one racket. As a single stand alone product, each racket is a quality product. In dealing with the demand and volume that Wilson is, I understand why their tolerance window is where it is.

As for Fisher's "zero tolerance" policy, as I read it, I'm not sure it applies to balance as well as weight.

 

[drakulie]

I wasn't aware there were two versions of this frame produced. :roll:

 

[NickC]

I wasn't aware there were two versions of this frame produced. :roll:

Yeah, the title confused me as well. Some people, man, some people.

 

[regentville]

Yeah, the title confused me as well. Some people, man, some people.

Sorry didn't mean to cause any confusion... but so far it from what I see there seems to be two different variants a more head light version and a more balanced one. I believe it came from two different manufacturing matches. But this is however my personal theory. Sorry again if my thread was misinterpreted.

 

[VGP]

I know for some, they would much prefer frames that are more headlight.....

 

[samster]

Bud made a valid point, the plastic wrapper and card will have very minimal impact on the balance of the racquet.

Really? Please consider removing the plastic wrapper and card and post the balances after you have done so.

 

[sunmin77]

I also have a question regarding weight issues with the K88. I just traded for one and it appears that it is lighter, albeit, slightly, then the specs suggest. My frame is strung with Tonic Gut (16 gauge) and I have a "W" dampener in it. Also, grip size is 4 1/2 and it has a Wilson Pro Overgrip on it. I placed the racquet on the scale and it came out to weigh 364 grams, or approximately 12 3/4 ounces.
I was under the impression that an overgrip and a dampener would add at least a quarter of an ounce to the total weight. Adding that to the TW specs, the racquets "should" weigh a little above 13 ounces.

I can't speak for the balance, as I do not have a balancing board. However, the racquet feels about 5-6 points head light.

In conclusion, I am actually happy that the racquet weighs less than the specs indicate. I was worried about going too far over 13 ounces.

However, any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Bud]

Sorry didn't mean to cause any confusion... but so far it from what I see there seems to be two different variants a more head light version and a more balanced one. I believe it came from two different manufacturing matches. But this is however my personal theory. Sorry again if my thread was misinterpreted.

Yeah... when I first balanced mine I checked and re-checked it 3 times to make sure something wasn't amiss with the balance board. Then I checked to make sure the board wasn't sitting on something that would tilt it, etc.

Then, I even checked it again after stringing just to make sure again... something wasn't amiss earlier.

It was that far from where it should have been. 3 points of balance is pretty large... especially when the static weight is spot on.

 

[Bud]

Really? Please consider removing the plastic wrapper and card and post the balances after you have done so.

I already did that. Mine is without any cards, plastic wrapping or anything else on the frame. It was/is 3 points less HL than it should have been according to the specs.

To me, it is not a big deal... I can handle the swingweight fine. It just surprised me that Wilson could nail the weight within a couple of grams... but miss the balance by a half ounce or so.

 

[Bud]

Finally going to string this thing up tonight... and noticed something peculiar...

These are the specs on my unstrung KPS88:

Weight: 345 grams/12.2 oz.
Balance: 6 pts. HL. <---

I thought the balance on this stick was supposed to be 9 pts. HL unstrung!

:shock:

Completely bone stock specs:

String: natural gut
Weight: 364 grams/12.8 oz.
Balance: 3-4 pts. HL. <---

Has anyone else noticed their KPS88 less HL than stated in the specs?

This spec info is from my thread:

Oh, man... The KPS88 bug struck!!!
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=3169820#post3169820

 

[acm]

Bud/Anybody,

Do you know ,if the series number/code in the throat of the k88 has to match in order to be the same weight?