So, my serve is not flat and rarely fast. The problem was the upward swing. Saw a video from YT and noticed I had wrong technique for this time. My kick serve or slice kick was good but not on flat. For flat, the lower arm need to slide behind the elbow like when throwing a ball. You can throw above your head or slightly to the side of your head. Check out the Fed lower arm below pic, not from scratching the back.
I recorded my hitting session last week. After looking at the first one, I noticed that I had little wrist lag, more controlling. On the first one, I used CX 200 Tour while the opponent was using RF97 and feeds powerfull ball, I just returned his balls (Pic 1). The second one, I was using a heavy MFil 300 but the same opponent was using a light racquet. After seeing the first video, I tried to give a wrist lag (Pic 2). I remember, I had done this before but was using PS97 or Six One Lite, both gave me sore wrists. Using wrist lag gave you extra power but beware of the wrist injury especially with stiff racquet. The link to yt is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1la9xChBbmY. However, see this video because this might cause my previous injury https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V8Ij3Raw6w from intuitive tennis.
After an in-law went trekking few weeks ago, my brother coordinated a trekking trip to the same spot. We went to Sentul, four pairs of brothers and spouses with total of 8 kids. Started with trekking along the paddy rice fields and then to Leuwi (pool under waterfall). The car trip to the spot was tough, lots of steep uphill and downhill like a roller coaster, the car was using mostly 1-2 gears. My car was a Daihatsu with 1.5L engine and RWD. My 2nd daughter was got stomach ache after swimming probably from empty stomach. Below pic of on the paddy rice.
One of the reason I like when using tight 18x20 pattern such as in Bio F3.0T racquet below is that you can rally and although the string moved and did not snap back, the strings does not move far enough affecting the shots. Very different compare to when using open string pattern such as PS97 or Aerogel 300. Below is the picture of Bio F3.0T, I did not have to straight them out.
I mostly used Dunlops now along with PS97. Recently weight them, they are below with the customization:
| Cymbal | Weight (grams) | Customization |
| CX 200 Tour 16x19 | 336 | Leather grip, 3g lead, overgrip, dampener |
| CX 200 Tour 18x20 | 334 | Leather grip, 3g lead, overgrip, dampener |
| Bio F3.0 Tour | 326 | 3g lead, overgrip, rubber band dampener |
| Aerogel 300 | 316 | 4g lead, overgrip, rubber band dampener |
| MFil 300 | 319 | Leather grip, overgrip |
| Hot Melt 200G | 340+ | Leather grip, overgrip |
Emma Raducano won US Open over Leylah Fernandez, great finals from quit some time. US Open can provide more surprises than other slams (picture below).
Max over Lewis (crashed), they are both very hotheaded.
Woke up this morning with news of Medveded winning his first slam.
Played two times: on friday, singles (4-7) with stretched out string AG300 and on sunday, doubles (5-6, 4-6) with CX 200 Tour 18x20, I played well.
List of soccer shoes I wore or own starting in junior high:
1993 summer
- umbro: probably a lower end speciali type, borrow from school, one of the best
- adidas mexico: bought to return the umbro
1994-1995
- adidas laplata: my dad's, outsole already cracked
- adidas copa mundial: small size but still fit, i lost from car break in 1996
- nike: lower end tiempo, plasticky upper
1996
- adidas azteca: a bit too big
- adidas questra finale: borrow from a friend, a very fine boots
1997
- mitre mundial SG: a bit too big, gave it too a friend
- nike tiempo: lower end, stiff leather
- adidas world cup: finest
- mizuno grandeza: nice leather, long studs
1998 - 2007
- adidas predator 1994
- adidas predator 1996
- adidas predator accelerator: nice low studs
- adidas predator precision: sold
- adidas predator manic
- adidas velez FG and SG
- adidas questra: lower end
- adidas contornis yellow: too small
- adidas nova mundial ID: too small
- puma king FG: too small
- puma KSL: sold
- puma cellerator: sold
- puma braziliero: for younger brother
- diadora brasil: sold
- nike tiempo SG: beat up one
- nike mercurial FG: too small
- umbro speciali yellow: too small
- umbro owen speed: lower end
- kelme duende: split heel
- kelme trueno blue: leather peel
- hummel: too narrow
- reebok bergkamp: sold
- reebok rampante: for younger brother
Here is list of my cymbals with weight (in grams):
Hihats:
- Paiste 505 Medium 14" - B8: top 741, bottom 987
- Sabian AA Regular 14" - B20: top 1001, bottom 1354
- Zildjian K Custom Dark/Regular 13" - B20: top 792, bottom 1001
Crash and ride:
- Stagg CS medium thin 16" crash - B20: 1299 (sold)
- Paiste PST 5 medium 18" crash - B8: 1307 (sold)
- Istanbul Agop Mel Lewis 18" crash/ride - B20: 1682
- Zildjian K Custom Session 18" ride - B20: 1990
- Sabian HH 19" crash - B20: 1823
- Zildjian K Constantinople 20" light ride - B20: 1965
- Zildjian K 18" flat ride
Below pic of K Custom Session:
I played 2 sessions with this combination, for singles and then for hitting session. For the singles game, using CX200T16x19, I lost the set 3-6 but then changed to F3T won 5-1 before the sun was set. The CX200T was set up with leather grip, syngut 17g at 51 lbs, and lead 3g total at 10 and 2. The power compare to F3T is low. The control was good though, you can really direct the ball. Here is my review on it:
- forehand: power is low and with spin it can either drop short or long when hitting late. Need full swing. Comfort is good though.
- backhand: power is low, need full swing, good spin.
- serves: power is low, directional is good.
- volley: power is low, plush.
Overall with the current setup, striking from the baseline balls either drop short or long, striking from inside the baseline sets up nicely. With this racket, you can swing really fast and hard but the ball still goes in.
I have only strung my PS97 with 3 times: prince topspin 16g at 55lbs, babolat multi 17g at 57lbs, and prince syngut duraflex at 55lbs. Played the topspin until break, multi until uncontrollable, and syngut until it went hard and loose its pop. I just cut it today after playing it on Sunday where it did not feels right: the string moves around and pretty hard to get it straight again with that screeching sound. That sound means that the string have gone hard and times to cut it and restring. During last Sunday hitting, gripping the PS97 slightly semi-western felt good but we were using older balls and can be quite incosistent.
Played doubles yesterday with new balls (Head Davis), the results were 6-5, 3-2, and 3-6. All played with the MFil except for first game of first set. The MFil has easier power than F3T though swings heavier. Wonder if using F3T felt under power/plough when using new balls? Pic: Mauresmo with dunlop MFil colorway.
Here is the list of racquet customization that I have:
- Pro Staff 97: leather grip
- CX 200 Tour (18x20 and 16x19): 3 grams at 10 & 2
- Aerogel 300: 3 grams at 3 & 9
- Bio F3.0T: 3 grams at 3 & 9
- M-Fil 300: leather grip
- Warrior 107: leather grip
- Hot Melt: leather grip
- Radical OS: no customization
Pic below: D Collins and her customized racquet
Played singles game using Bio F3T and AG300. The first set won 6-2 using AG300, the strategy was to attack the backhand. The second set was using F3.0T and lead 2-1 until sunset. The F3T is customized with total 3 grams lead at 3 and 9. Swinging F3T, the weight is in between AG300 (lightest) and MF3 (heaviest). The F3T plow through was better than before, better at redirecting heavy balls. The gamma strings on the F3T are already moving not as snap back as before, but have no complain since it has tight string pattern.
Yesterday played doubles outdoor with Mfil3 and F3.0T. Started with F3.0T in warm up but couldnt connect then changed to Mfil3 to seek more power. Won first set with Mfil3 at 6-5. Then hitting with F3.0T and feels good. Finish the second set at 4-3. The current F3.0T has 3grams of lead at 3 and 9, the swing is much closer to MFil now. The Mfil was also have loss tension and moves and felt better for me. The F3.0T is less powerful but more control on and faster swing speed. The Mfil is really good for starting out because it is plusher.
Last sunday was my 3rd tries with MFil 300 and I brought along the trusted AG300. I started first with the MF300 but felt too heavy then changed to AG300. When playing the first set, we were down 4-1 then I changed again to MF300 because the other team switched player and his balls were heavier. At the end of the game, we lost 4-6 but the I was playing well with the MF3. We had a short second set, winning by 3-1.
The MF3 can feels very soft at time also probably due to soft string that I used, old stock tecnifibre at 52 lbs. The metallic red color looks like a Head Prestige, shiny but not too bright. The paint marking are really old school.
Beside soccer and tennis, I also played drums in my spare times. When I was in the US, I trade use cymbals similar to racquets these days. You can really find great buy in ebay if you know the market price.
I prefer jazz cymbals due to their darker tone. I noticed that in live rock setting they are not as cutting.
The picture below is the K Custom Ride 20' that I bought. It is an early pre K Custom line, the hammering was very definite with square hammer which I thought was displeasing pattern, though great sounding.
Here are the cymbals I bought and sold(*):
Hi-hat:
- Zildjian Avedis Mastersound 13' (*)
- Zildjian K Custom 13'
- Zildjian Avedis New Beat 15' (*)
- Sabian Medium 14'
- Paiste 505 14'
Crash:
- Zildjian ZBT 16' (*)
- Zildjian ZBT Crash/Ride 18' (*)
- Zildjian K Custom 16' (*)
- Sabian AAX Metal Crash 16' (*)
- Istanbul Mel Lewis Crash/Ride 18'
- Sabian HH Medium 19'
- Paiste PST5 18'
- Stagg 16'
Ride:
- Zildjian Avedis Ping Ride 20' (*)
- Zildjian K Constantinople Light 20'
- Zildjian K Constantinople Medium 20' (*)
- Zildjian K Jazz 20' (*)
- Zildjian K Custom 20' (*)
- Zildjian K Custom Session Ride 18'
String selection gauge and tension for a racquet's headsize and string pattern based on my racquet selections. I used mostly syngut of various brand. Need to adjust tension due to racquet power level also.
Picture below is the new PS97 v13 with slightly adjusted tighter string pattern (most likely on the outermost strings). PS97 string pattern is very open compare to Dunlop 300 series.
| headsize (sq-inch) | string pattern | gauge | tension (lbs) |
| 95 | 16x18 (open) | 16/17 | 52-55 |
| 95 | 16x19 (open) | 17 | 50-52 |
| 95 | 18x20 (open) | 17 | 50-52 |
| 97/98 | 16x19 (open) | 16 | 52-55 |
| 97/98 | 18x20 (close) | 17 | 50-52 |
| 100 | 16x19 (open) | 16 | 52-55 |
| 107 | 16x19 (open) | 16 | 55-58 |
| 107 | 18x19 (close) | 17 | 52-55 |
Comparison of classic Dunlop 300 series and today's alternatives:
*) conclusion: although similar specs (98 sq-inch, 16x19, 295-300 grams), todays racquet are stiffer and heavier
| M-Fil 300* | AG 300* | Bio M3.0 | Graph Rad MP | CX 200 | Touch Rad MP | 360 Rad MP | AG 4D 300 | Bio 300 | |
| Year | 2006 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2021 | 2018 | 2021 | 2010 | 2011 |
Headsize (sq-inch) | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 |
Strung weight (grams) | 309 | 309 | 312 | 317 | 323 | 312 | 318 | 309 | 309 |
| String pattern | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 | 16x19 |
| Stiffness RA | 61 | 61 | 66 | 64 | 64 | 65 | 65 | 60 | 66 |
Swingweight (grams) | 317 | 316 | 318 | 316 | 317 | 323 | 326 | 320 | 308 |
Balance (cm/HL) | 3 HL | 4 HL | 2 HL | 33/ 4 HL | 32.5/ 6 HL | 33/ 4 HL | 33/ 4 HL | 3 HL | 2 HL |
Beam width (mm) | 21.5 | 21.5 | 22 | 20.5/ 23.5/ 21.5 | 21.5 | 20/ 23/ 21 | 20/ 23/ 21 | 21 | 21 |
Restrung the Mfil3 with old stock tecnifibre syngut at 52lbs with total weight of 320grams with leather grip and overgrip. No dampener needed with this one. Compare to AG3 (did not play during the session), this racquet is heftier. I used MF3 for the 1st and 2nd sets and used the F3T for the 3rd set, the F3T was way light and less control and heft resulting in a subpar performance. Overall for the MF3, easy volley-forehand-backhand-overhead-serves. This now reminds me of PS97 but in a slightly lighter and softer package. Need to try this on outdoor court and maybe singles.
I have added 3grams on F3T on 3 and 9 and will see how it next compares.
Below is the measure I took:
*based strung with synth grip; the formula for HL is that 343mm as center and 3.175mm per point
| Racquet | Balance (mm) | Points HL |
| PS97 338gr (leather grip) | 315 | 8.8 HL |
| 200G 346gr (leather grip) | 322 | 6.6 HL |
| Rad OS 311gr (overgrip) | 334 | 2.8 HL |
| Six One Team 305gr | 342 | 0.3 HL |
| Bio F3.0T 329gr (overgrip) | 325 | 5.6 HL |
| CX 200T 339gr 18x20 (3g lead, leather grip and overgrip) | 320 | 7.2 HL |
| CX 200T 339gr 16x19 (3g lead, leather grip and overgrip) | 320 | 7.2 HL |
| AG300 319gr (3g lead, overgrip) | 338 | 1.5 HL |
| AG300 295gr (unstrung) | 330 | 4 HL |
| MFil300 301gr (unstrung, leather grip and overgrip) | 330 | 4 HL |
| MFil300 321gr (leather grip and overgrip) | 335 | 2.5 HL |
