Six One Team customization

 Six One Team (SOT) was my first racquet that I bought after using Ultra 95 from early 90s. Have not customized it until 2019. It is a light but balanced racquet, so I thought it may not need customization. But, there was something missing from this racquet, it is missing stability and plow through, plus a small sweetspot. Tried leather grip but grip was too big. Add lead on 3 and 9 but loss of power. Then, moved the lead to 12 (11 to 1) around 3grams (6 inches * 2). Tried it yesterday, plow and stability was better. 

Current racquet swingweight

 Below is the swingweight of the frames in collection, the swingweight is taken from TW website:

Racquet	Weight unstrung (grams)	Weight strung (grams)	Swingweight strung (grams)	Current modification
Pro Staff 97	315	324	329	Overgrip, rb dampener
CX 200 Tour 18x20	315	330	318	Leather grip, overgrip, lead 3g
CX 200 Tour 16x19	310	325	317	Leather grip, overgrip, lead 3g
Aerogel 300	290	305	316	Overgrip, lead 3g, rb dampener
Hot Melt 200G	320	336	316	Leather grip, overgrip
YT Radical OS	295	315	315	Overgrip, rb dampener
Six One Team	289	303	318	Lead 3g, dampener
Warrior 107	300	318	317	Leather grip, overgrip
Tour 100L	270	285	285	Lead 3g, overgrip

PS97 and AG300 (and additional power)

 Had two tennis sessions in the past 2 weeks: all doubles games and indoor. The 1st week using PS97 and then AG300. Less playing with CX due to sore pinky from leather grips (culprit maybe) on AG300. There was a slight change when I was playing AG300. The week before when playing with PS97, teammates mentioned that my strokes could have more power and it made me think, this PS97 should have more power than my regular CX. I was feeling slugish when using the PS, several of my overheads hit the net. 

So, watched videos of Patrick Mouratoglu, and one of his advice is to add power from your leg by going forward. I tried that advice combined with AG300 current setup (rubber band). The result were better from my perspective, more power and more control even from AG300. The current AG300 set up is lead at 3 and 9, syn grip, overgrip, rubber band dampener.

New balls

 My past two sessions were doubles, using new balls, and using CX 200 Tour: the 16x19 on indoor court and 18x20 on outdoor court. Total of 3 wins and 2 loss, thats is not bad. Tried also the AG300 but felt too bouncy, less control. Using the CX 200T esp. the balls rarely goes far, mostly dips on the service line. Also not using AG300 because gave my sore pinky. Will also try the Head RadOS 107 after changing the grip to synthetic. 

Practice set match CX 200 Tour 16x19

 Had a practice set with CX 200 Tour 16x19. The AG300 (with leather grip) hurts my pinky and tried other racquet. I won 7-5. Pretty frustrated at 5-5 because my opponent was starting to realise my low powered racquet. But then I just embraced this low powered racquet and slices bounced low. Ball flies higher compare to 18x20 but with not much spin and bounce. If you look at TNerd using it you can see that his opponent struggle with the low bounce. I changed the grip with leather and add 4.5grams at 3 and 9. The new version on red are more appealing but the this old version is more stealthy.

Prince Precision Blade 107

Recently got a mint condition Prince Precision Blade 107. Strung weight at 312grams w/o overgrip. No information in WWW for this one. Slight head heavy. Tested playing with it, and pretty decent despite heavy swing. Not as lively as Warrior 107. 

Racquet and arms pain

 This three powerful racquet gave me sore/pain in the arm areas, they are:

• Wilson Pro Staff 97: wrist pain on off center hits (may need softer string tension or thinner gauge)
• Head Radical OS: thumb pain from backhand (may need to replace leather grip with regular grip)
• Dunlop Aerogel 300: pinky finger digit from racquet shock (changed the leather grip to regular grip, will let you know of the result)

 Low powered frames does not give me arm pain but they are low powered (Dunlop CX Tour, Dunlop 200G, Wilson Six One Team).

BLX Six One Team (3g lead)

So, I had a practice match yesterday and was comparing AG300 with BLX SOT. The spec of the SOT are 306 grams with 3 grams lead on 3 and 9, and Babolat syn gut 16g. In comparison with AG300 the SOT are: 

• lower powered: some of the shots from backhand landed on nets compare to AG300.
• maneuverability: easier volley and more stable than before probably due to the lead (need to use this on doubles)
• smaller sweetspot: feels way smaller than AG300, off center shots were landed short and drive volleys are hard.
• spin friendly: spin on serves and forehand were controllable.

In summary, this SOT is in between AG300 and CX 200 Tour, let see if I can add 2 grams lead on top*.

*) added 2 grams lead on top and can feel slight additional power but not much.

Car stories

 Udah jatooh diomelin pulak ama bapak ampe nangis2 ... wakakakaka

Jadi gini ceritanya, kita dulu selalu berlebaran di Purwokerto dan Bapak beli mercy pontoon 180E hijau kepunyaan pakde ( bapak dari ibu ), yang jadi mobil ke 2 untuk keseharian. Mobil satunya Mazda kotak B600 warna abu2 milik ibu yang diberikan oleh pakde juga setelah ibu bapak menikah (STNK kuning gading)

Sewaktu berlebaran di purwokerto, kebiasaan kita adalah sholat hari raya di mesjid agung purwokerto, tempat kita dulu baik delman bareng2..

Nah sepulangnya dari sholat di mesjid agung... kita  mungkin bapak nyupir dengan siapa disebelahnya lupa.

Saya, om rahardjo dan Bei duduk dibelakang...

Mercy 180e dipintu belakang kanan kiri itu ada sandaran tangan nya..

Untuk penumpang

Dan didepan tiap sandaran itu ada tuas pembuka pintu yang kalau ditarik ke atas, melepas kuncian pintu.

Seperti biasa bei kan mungkin kelas 1 atau 2 SD ya ... suka duduk diatas sandaran tangan dan bersender dipintu...

Kami bercanda canda ketawa seperti biasa ... happy lah pokoknya...

Perjalanan pulang ke kebon dalem bapak nyupir melewati rotary tugu yang dekat Gatot Subroto yang kayak monas mini

..  datang dari arah selatan

Jadi di tugu mobil kita belok kanan memutari rotary tugu kearah timur...

Kebiasaan bei .. tangannya suka mainan tuas pintu... ya kita ketawa ketawa lah dalam mobil...

Bei posisi di pintu belakang kiri... ketawa ketawa konyol lah... sambil utak atik...

Masuk ke rotari .. agak ngebut juga sih Bapak...

Tau2 pas belok di rotary... pintu kebuka lebar... tuh bocah kelempar keluar trus jatoh guling guling kayak di film2...

Copot semua jantung yang di mobil ... kecuali gw

Untung situasi sepi dan gak ada mobil dibelakang...

Bapak itu otomatis maaaaaaraaaaaah...

Karena bapak dasarnya begitu... gak sedih gak kaget tapi muaraaaah

Bapak diem aja abis kita nolongin bei... tetapi sesampai di kebon dalem... kita besua dipanggil ngadep dan dimarahin abis2an... dah bubar tuh mood buat lebaran.

Bedua (kena marah)

Lecet2... karena jalan aspalnya berkerikil jaman dulu

Dengkulnya lecet2

Posisi jatohnya kayak guling2...

Saya kira itu terakhir kali kami duduk bersandar di pegangan tangan, walaupun duduk agak mblesek di kursi belakang jadi gak bisa lihat pemandangan secara keseluruhan

Duduk dipagangan tangan agar bisa liat kedepan, hahaha....

Kalau noi punya kebiasaan jelek kalau naik mobil toyota DX biru milik bapak....

Mobil itu jok depan belakang ditutupi cover warna biru tua

Noi suka tidur dibelakang tengah dengan posisi duduk bersender menghadap.. kesamping

Kalau udah tidur kepalanya suka nempel kesenderan kepala sampai pipinya bergesek2 ke jok mobil..

Dasar anak gupis.... ngilernya kayak sungai...

Itu jok mobil bagian tengah penuh dengan garis garis putih

Garis dari ilernya Noi yang naik turun

Selama kejadian bertahun tahun dan gak bisa hilang..

Bapak dulu waktu muda lucu... nabrak mobil orang dari belakang... kok korbannya dimaki dan diajak gelut... tuh kelakuan.

Bapak mah konyol....

Waktu SD sering diajak makan siang bareng bapak sewaktu di Bandung..

Kita sudah pindah ke lembang waktu itu.. kelas 3 SD..

Kita cuman punya satu supir .. pak man..

Jadi pagi turun ke bandund dari lembang.. pak man nunggu di kantor konsultan bapak di sukaluyu, jalan batik jonas blok 2 no.2

Siang jemput anak2 di sekolah masing, mobil langsung ke lembang dan gak lama balik ke bandung

Jadi kalo gak ikut pulang siangnya... ya mau gak mau stuck di bandung.. antara ngikutin bapak kemana dia pergi atau tinggal di kantor bapak sampai sore atau malam tergantung kapan bapak selesai.

Kita sering ngikut makan di restoran Mirasari di jalan purnawarman dekat dago.

Restoran yang prosesnya milih menu di lemari kaca dekat kasir.

Nah... itu restoran kadang ramai kadang sepi.. pelayannya laki2 semua yang kerjanya ngambilin orderan kita setelah kita memilih...

Dasar itu bapak emang kadang gak sabar ya...  beberapa kali ribut ama pelayan nanyain pesanannya... sampe suatu hari ribut itu sampe bediri kayak mo berantem

Tapi herannya masih suka balik kesitu..

[ end of story ]

TW Archive - Dunlop Aerogel 3hundred 2008

 In stock form, the racquet is too light, need weight both static and swing. Added leather grip, overgrip, 4 grams lead on 9 and 3, and 6 grams of dampener. Flat server. Better stability now and plow. I wonder if new CX 200 at 305 grams feels the same. 

1st week Feb: after playing 3 sets in a day with CX 200 Tour, I guess I got pretty tired. On the day after, I used the Aerogel 300, the racquet felt pretty heavy so I took out the 6grams dampener. The racquet feels fine without dampener, and how 6 grams can make a different.  

Pro Staff v10 and v13 scores (with the chart)

I used PS97 v10 while the newest one, with they say improved stringbed is v13. Below are the scores from TW. v10 got overall 83 while v13 got 85 (the average from all scores actually was 84). The most improved was control (up by 9 points) while lowered on others especially powers at 79 (down 3 points). I wonder by the lower power, if it is similar with CX 200 Tour now.

Return of the Pro Staff

After playing most of doubles games now using AG300 or CX200T, I tried PS97 for singles game, just one a ten points tie breaker which came out as winner (12-10). The spec of the racquet was around 332grams and worn 16g syn gut. Had two double faults, need to relearn serving with this racquet in singles game. I wonder if I can survive a set or two with this racquet. One of the reason, I bought this racquet aside from RF won another slam was that the review score was high (top image), but turns out not all score (bottom image); very low on control score (76) despite the not so high score on power (82). No wonder, many shots went over. Need to produce topspin or use spin friendly string.  

Aerogel 300 - 3 weeks play

1st week: So, i had a chance to grab an old stockDunlop Aerogel 300. Last week, I added leads before stringing and felt heavy, so I took out the leads when playing doubles. The racquet at 290 grams unstrung at stock felt light. I put leather grip, add overgrip, and strung at weight at 318 grams now. The power of the racquet is at medium, I had several long and several shorts. The spin is good, can flick the racquet and ball will spin. The weight is a bit light but at the right balance. No added lead, afraid after adding lead will add power. Will seek out more flying hours before deciding that it can replace other main racquets. Serves and overheads are OK. The power and plow through are still lower than PS97.

2nd week: 2nd week of playing with this racquet, played for 4 days (2 days singles and 2 days doubles) with totals of 9 sets. Added 2-3 grams of weight at 3 and 9. I would say that the racquet is nothing special except for comfort, speed and sweetspot but that is the highlight. Forehands and backhands are good. Overheads are good. Volleys are good but not as stable as PS97 or CX200. Maneuverability is very good though due to weight and headsize. No wrist pain.

3rd week: a hitting session and game day. Add 4 grams to the racquet, now weight 324grams. In the hitting session compare with CX200T18, AG300 is like trampoline, easy power, no feel and dwell time. The next day, played 3 doubles game. Unstable when receiving heavy ball but better than before adding leads. When hitting offcenter, I can feel the shocks but unlike using PS97, no wrist pain afterward.

4th and 5th week: easy power, won singles game or lost close sets. Need to flatten the serves. Compare to CX 200 Tour, no need to swing and better maneuverability.

Hot Melt 200G Grip Customization

 So, I changed and rechanged my HM 200G racquets with leather grip. I have two, one strung and the other unstrung. 

Racquet	String	Grip	Weight (grams)	Remark
HM 200G #1	17 Prince Syngut	Leather	340	No overgrip
HM 200G #1	17 Prince Syngut	Synthetic	331	No overgrip
HM 200G #2	None	Synthetic	318
HM 200G #2	None	Leather	326

The leather grip adds 6 grams and that is a lot for this heavy racquet. The #1 racquet now with overgrip and dampener will measure at 340 grams.

Similar racquets

 So, I had several racquets that are said to be similar even though not the same generation. They are as below:

- Dunlop Hot Melt 200G (early 2000s 320grams) are similar with Head Tour 630/280 (late 90s 330grams) or Head Pro Tour 2.0 (2019) in terms of headsize (95 sq inch), string pattern (18x20), stiffness (low 60s), beam width (20mm), weight (>320 grams unstrung), headlight balance

- Dunlop Aerogel 300 (early 2010s 285grams) are similar with Wilson Pro Staff 97 (2015-2020 315grams) in terms of headsize (97 vs 98), string pattern (16x19), beam width (21.5mm), swingweight (>320s)

- Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20 (2018 315grams) are similar with Wilson Ultra Tour (2017 310grams) in terms of string pattern, low power, low stiffness

- Prince Warrior 107 (2015 300grams) are similar with Babolat Pure Aero (300 grams) in terms of power

I have not played with Head Pro Tour, Wilson Ultra Tour, or Pure Aero, but I get the ideas.

Running Soccer Shoes

 Had a look in soccer.com archives of 1999/2000 and found them, hybrid running and soccer. Did not buy them, I wish I had. I was more toward adidas but this are cool, supper comfortable for walking and kicking balls.

TW Archive Dunlop Hot Melt 200G

 

Valerian Movie

 I have now read Valerian comic series book 1-15. Hopefully, soon the complete series for book 18-21 will be available. Compare to the movie, the casting is quite far, the main actors for Valerian and Laureline looks too young. They should be in late 30s or early 40s. The depictions from the comic is great but quite far from my expectation as the comic fan. Below is the movie poster.

Dampener

 Dampener has weight: long silicon around 6 grams, small ones are 3 grams, while rubber band less are 2 grams. Need to try rubber band so it does not add weight significantly. Dampener dampens the string particularly the ping sound, it does not dampens the racquet vibration.

A racquet makes a difference

 The other day one of my regular session mate asked me, compare to how I played 6 years ago, he said "you have improved a lot". Then I said, "found the right racquet". 

So, what changed? I have to admit that ever since I use Pro Staff 97 v10 in 2017 my game changed. But the racquet has changed too. When I first started using it, still has the original grip but added two overgrips (one thick and one thin), the bevel feels very round. I remember the racquet being heavy but has good plow through, no arm/wrist pain though. In 2019, I changed both with leather grip. In 2020 with new string Prince Duraflex Syngut at 55lbs, I got wrist pain from using this racquet. I use to play with this racquet everytime especially when playing tough opponents. 

I have now opt friendlier racquet when playing, but less powerful than this one. Using this racquet, when you hit properly: proper forehand, proper backhand, proper volley, it felt good. However, when you hit on transition at the time when you need to adjust your wrist, that is when you feel it; I dont feel when using other softer frame.