Radical MPs and OSs over the years

 Rad MP specs over the year from TW sites, all 18x20 unless starting graphene with 16x19 (below table). Looking at the specs, no wonder the original MG could be the best.

Type of Radical MP	Headsize sqinch	Strung weight (grams)	Beam width (mm)	Swing weight (grams)	Stiffness
Titanium (2001)	98 (95)	305	21	n/a	65
Intelligence (2003)	98 (95)	306	21	297	64
Liquid Metal (2004)	98 (95)	318	21	325	64
Flexpoint (2005)	98 (95)	315	21	330	63
Microgel (2007)	98 (95)	312	21	315	57
Youtek (2009)	98 (95)	312	21.5	324	59
Youtek IG (2012)	98 (95)	320	22	320	62
Graphene (2014)	98	317	20.5/23/21	316	64
Graphene XT (2016)	98	312	20.5/23/21	320	65
Graphene Touch (2018)	98	320	20/23/21	323	65
Graphene 360 (2020)	98	312	20/23/21	324	68
MP (2021)	98	318	20/23/21	326	65

Type of Radical MP	Headsize sqinch	Strung weight (grams)	Beam width (mm)	Swing weight (grams)	Stiffness
Bumblebee Ltd	107	340	21	334	64
Titanium (2001)	107	306	21	323	60
Intelligence (2003)	107	302	21	312	62
Liquid Metal (2004)	107	318	21	330	58
Flexpoint (2005)	107	320	21	334	58
Microgel (2007)	107	315	21	318	56
Youtek (2009)	107	315	21.5	320	56
Youtek IG (2012)	107	315	21.5	315	58
Agassi Ltd	107	343	21	338	63

MGRadMP update and Dunlop 4D 300 Tour

 I simply like MGRadMP, at its weight the power and balance is just right with no lead. The rival is 4D300Tour which I just got; stripped to hairpin at 290grams and now with new grip and overgrip at 312grams. Compare MGRMP to AG300, it is plusher and better control. Lets compare MGRMP and 4D3Tthem below from TW website.

In summary they have same string pattern (18x20), similar weight (312-320) and swingweight (315-318), though the 4D3T have higher stiffness and thus may produce more power.

Microgel Radical Midplus

 Recently catched a MG Radical MP. I stripped the racquet to hairpin and it weighted at 295 grams leaded at 3 and 9. After playing it for a set on Friday, I then took off the lead and the racquet felt better. I then won the next set playing with it. Before playing, strung it up with gamma syngut 17 gauge at 50lbs. Before playing the sit while hitting around, the racquet felt very heavy though the power was good.

On Sunday, won 2 sets playing doubles. Then at a short hitting session, the ball was flying easily. The power was good for playing but maybe not for hitting.

The condition of the racquet was good (B condition) but there was a broken knot grommet. From the look of it and how the reissue was not sold here, I think I got the original MG RadMP. I feel the racquet is quite plush. I have a YT Rad OS but the power was too much, I like the MP better and for a true 95sq inch head, it felt bigger and may provide heavy ball.

Improving serve: scratch back

 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.

 

Wrist lag - tennis forehand

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.

Trekking 26 Sept 2021

 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. 

Tight 18x20 pattern

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.

Dunlop racquet weight

 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

Weekend update

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.

 

Soccer shoes

 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

Cymbals weight

 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:

CX200T16 vs F3T

 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.

PS97 strings

 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.

 

MFil vs F3T

 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.

Racket customization

 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

F3.0T vs AG300

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.

Mfil 300 vs Bio F3.0T

 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.

MFil 3rd times (vs AG3)

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.

Drums and Cymbals

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

 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