Kickserv...got a tennis racquet question for you...

[rrc]

I was given a used Babolat Pure Drive by a friend and absolutely love it. It's probably about 8 -10 years old or so. I've recently have given it to my son.

I want to get one of their racquets that's on sale at tennis warehouse dot com.

Thinking about an Aero Storm Cortex or Pure Storm GT.

I'm in my early 50's, don't hit the ball super hard and just love to play...would say I'm probably a 3.5,certainly no Kickserv :nono:

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

 

[kickserv]

Well........let me start off by saying that just because there is a picture of Nadal, you won't play like him:142smilie

It is funny, that those are the two racquets you mentioned. Those two racquets are very popular on tour. Many guys on tour use those two racquets (Nadal, Genepri, Gonzalez, etc. etc.). First off the "Pure Storm GT" you see in the store is different from the one say Fernando Gonzalez uses, in fact all the tour players have a "little different stuff" on their racquets then the ones in the store.

Actually I don't know why I even got into that, it doesn't mean crap to you. 98% of tennis players wouldn't know the difference between a racquet strung at 61 pounds or one at 62 pounds, let alone all the complicated "flex ratings" and "grommets" and well you get the idea. Bottom line unless you are a touring pro or just a notch below, it doesn't matter.

So here is what I would recommend in a racquet:

1) Get kegray as your coach.....ummmm no scratch that:142smilie

1) Make sure it is light, at your age and at your level you do not want a heavy racquet, sounds simple but you'd be amazed at all these rec tennis players with these heavy racquets. It is not only bad for your arm and shoulder but it takes away "the feel".

2) I don't know what price the two models are (you said sale) but I don't care what anyone says, at your level, do not pay more then 300 bucks for a racquet, it is a waste of money.

3) This is the number one mistake that rec players make when they buy a new frame.....STRING THE FRAME AT THE CORRECT TENSION! I can help you with string suggestions, but get the frame UNSTRUNG and then have a professional stringer string the racquet for ya. There is a reason I would have 7 or 8 racquets restrung before every tourney I played. There are many pros that restring their racquets after every ball change. Meaning they play 9 games and that is it for the frame. Obviously you won't do that, but use the right string at the right tension.

4) Try the racquet out before you buy it. Obviously if you are purchasing one online that is tough to do. I have some suggestions, but maybe you have already narrowed your choice to two frames because you used em both?

Hope that helps:shrug:

 

[kickserv]

Babolat Pure Storm GT
String Tension: 55-65 pounds

Fernando Gonzalez uses the Pure Storm and strings it in the 70's......he has a reason for that. Do what the specifications tell you. If it says 55-65...follow the specifications. I can't tell you how many times I have heard "I was watching a Federer match on TV and he strings his racquet at 50 pounds so I'll do the same":facepalm:

Although if kegray tells you that Roddick strings his racquet at 1 million pounds then you should do the same. Roddick and kegray are good buddies so listen to kegray

 

[rrc]

Thanks for all the info...both are $109 unstrung...they're on clearance.

Boy that "at your age" really hit home..I thought 50 was the new 30. :shrug:

 

[kickserv]

Well that is a great deal....can't go wrong with that price

oh and 50 is the new 49:00014

 

[THE_THONG]

kickserv what condoms do you recommend if you were on the tour
:mj07:

 

[kickserv]

Ribbed....for her pleasure

 

[rrc]

Any racquet and/or string suggestions are certainly welcomed and appreciated.

 

[kickserv]

String......no need to get any of the "expensive stuff". But I can tell ya there is a ton of string out there and a ton of string manufacturers.

At your level you won't really notice that much with a string. But even at your level you will notice some differences.

Here is a quick "helpful list":

1) The tighter you string a racquet the more control you have.

2) 17 gauge string is thin, 15 gauge is thick (kickserv used 15 gauge string, which is rare)

3) Some strings don't last long, but have "lots of life" others are like titanium and never break. Some strings loose tension quickly.

See what I mean when I say there are lots of things to consider.

It is like somebody saying "What car should I drive"?


I would string any racquet at the "low end", meaning if it said 55 to 65, I'd string it at 56 or 57. I am biased though, I never liked my racquet tight. I liked it loose, like my women:142smilie


Let's put it this way, if I was to give you a racquet I'd do the following:

-15 gauge string (some stringers will be like 15 gauge are you sure, just tell em....yes I'm sure.) It is rare for rec players to string a racquet with 15 gauge string, but fuck it, go with the 15 gauge. The 15 gauge string covers more surface area, more surface area covered the better for you. That's what I always say.

-I used "cheap string", worked fine for me. Here is what I used:

FORTEN SWEET 15

I am not sure if they make it any more:shrug: Just stick with a "Synthetic Gut" string and you'll be fine. Don't pay the extra money for Natural Gut or Hybrid, not worth it.

-Don't get pissed if string breaks easily, it is cheap so you have to expect it.

Hope that helps:SIB


Note: I'll be curious if you can find 15 gauge string, it is tough to findkurby

 

[kegray1]

So here is what I would recommend in a racquet:

1) Get kegray as your coach.....ummmm no scratch that:142smilie

Hope that helps:shrug:

A good coach can have the right player #1 in the world using a frying pan. :0074

 

[rrc]

Thanks

 

[kickserv]

No problem rrc, glad to help.

As for the "frying pan"....some of em are expensive I'd stick with the racquet:142smilie