Learned a lesson about what different strings can do...

[Flycaster]

This might be a little long in the tooth, but edifying, nonetheless...I hope.

My Prince original Red O3 was strung with Topspins Cyber Power. I had been used to hitting with polys for a while with my other rackets. But I started to get some tennis elbow and at the same time the strings broke. I had the racket restrung with Tecnifibre 17g multifibre with hopes of reducing the elbow problems. When I got the racket back after restringing, it hit like crap. Liuke a board and my elbow still hurt (BTW, another pro/stringer told me that there are differnt types of tecnifibre multis that come from China and France; with the China ones not being woth a sh^t!) I was very unhappy about its performace. At the same time I tried a friend's Babolat Team Pure Drive OS. It felt as though it was made for me...I really was impressed. One of my pros was selling a brand new Babolat PD+ with Cortex at a great price. I hit with it, loved it and bought it. In the meantime, the "runined" O3 was restrung with Revealation 17g and all of a sudden it was hitting like my O3 of old..good an solid, but not as potent as the PD+, but with perhaps more control.

So, the lesson learned: I knew intellectually that strings make a difference, but this was the first time that I actually experienced how much of a difference they can make.

[Jetpilot2112]

Great post...it's a real eye opener when one can see the empirical results! I remember my "first time"; natural gut mains with alu power rough crosses. there was definitely an "ah-ha!, I get it now" moment.

I'm glad to see you found something you like...now which racquet are you going to hit with more? ;)

[Flycaster]

I'm glad to see you found something you like...now which racquet are you going to hit with more? ;)

Hey, Jetpilot, you just asked the $64K question. I was going to add a little discourse on my racket choice problem to the above post, but felt it wasn't called for. But, now that you ask...

I've been hitting with the Bab (strung with 17g Gamma Syn Gut at about 58#) for about 3-4 weeks and have found the racket to meet all expectations (power, spin, control most of the time, and most importantly, comfort). My only "problem" has been a little bit of hitting long. Not very long, mind you, just a little over the baseline. Our pro said, since a feel so good with the racket, I should continue hitting as I am (that is, don't change anything about my stroke and power) and I will gradually learn to control the over-hitting without sacrificing my power. Good advice to me as I don't want to reduce any aspects of my swing, but would rather learn to utilize the power characteristics of the Bab. BTW, hitting with the Bab has not caused my TE to get any worse and at this point I don't know what exteneded hitting with the O3 will do to my elbow.

Yesterday, I played a few sets with my "new" O3 Red, and really enjoyed myself. It felt good and solid (although not quite as solid as the Bab), and the control (with a little less power than the Bab, but a little more "feel") was definitely there. So, I now like both rackets, although they do exhibit somewhat difference characteristics. If I could learn to control the Bab a little bit better, that would be my racket of choice.

Now, as if that isn't problem enough, how about this: Had some cosmetic marring chips on the 03 that I thought should never have happened and had the pro shop guy send it back with hopes of getting a new racket. That was over a month ago and it appears that the racket may be lost. The pro shop guy gave me a demo 03 (the one that I have been now using) to use until the lost racket situation is resolved. Whether the 03 is or isn't found, the pro shop will either replace it with a new 03 or a new Babolat PD+ Cortex (I've got a good pro shop, eh?). Certainly, it would be nice to have a duplicate back up of the Bab; but, I'm sort of liking the "new" 03 now. I guess I'm concerned about the wisdom of thinking: Well, today my Bab is overhitting, so let me start using the 03 to get a little more control. But, then again, in my heart, I know that if I stay with the Bab, I should be able to gain more control without sacrificing power. Also, what if the it was the 03, itself, and not the polys that contributed to my developing TE? Damn, this is getting complicated...

[Jetpilot2112]

Good discussion....we've all had this sort of inner monologue and contemplation. And I think, for me, it was a situation like yours which caused me to spiral off into a string/racquet geek. Damn I love it. :o

Also, what if the it was the 03, itself, and not the polys that contributed to my developing TE? Damn, this is getting complicated...

As for the racquet vs. poly thing, I'd bet my next paycheck that it was the poly which caused the elbow problems. Two reasons: the O3 Red is a notoriously soft racquet and polys are known for causing elbow problems.

But as for your transition period, I would enjoy the ride; I think the experimentation, observation, and data are all part of the fun. :D

P.S. We got lucky with weather over here...how was it down there?

[Flycaster]

I'll try hitting with the demo 03 until we find out where the original is, or isn't. I do like the control it offers and having your endorsement regarding its lack of TE contribution, maybe I'll wind up with a power and a control racket??? Actually, aside from the slight power vs control issue, I do find that both these rackets feel pretty good.


We were also quite lucky. A fair amount of rain and some light winds (maybe 25-35 mph). However, the courts won't be ready until tomorrow...hopefully.

[Jetpilot2112]

Power and control...you're talking about the holy grail of racquets!! You must be on the right track! :cool:

Up here we hardly got any rain yesterday, just a drizzle; originally we were supposed to take a direct hit :rolleyes: I'm hoping I can get out and hit this evening as long as we don't get any spinoff bands sweeping through.