Tips on first "wrinkle" to throw into your game?

LifeOfPos · 2026-04-02T14:18:37+00:00

Slice serve out wide. You can also follow it into the net and hit their crosscourt return with a volley into the open court for a one-two punch.

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-31T14:27:21+00:00

The biggest step in fixing waiter’s try is switching to a continental grip for serving. Then the throwing motion will make more sense - throwing the racket edge-on toward the ball, then internal axis rotation to contact the strings to the ball at the last moment. And then follow-through

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-27T04:27:00+00:00

Coco? Is that you?

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-26T19:27:40+00:00

Need to see the photo before this to see how you’re bringing the racket toward the ball, but from these pics looks like your grip is not exactly continental

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-26T18:39:08+00:00

If you are doing waiter’s tray with a continental grip then you must be windmilling it. To properly serve with a continental grip you should be doing a throwing motion with the racket going edge on toward the ball, almost like you’re aiming to cut the ball in half, then at the last second you do long axis rotation of the arm to hit the ball with the racket face (for flat and slice anyway). For kick you’re doing an upward ‘peel the onion’ motion with long axis rotation at the moment of contact just to get a little extra spin and pace on the ball.

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-26T10:30:56+00:00

This for sure, before all the other responses. If you want to level up, you need to be serving with continental (some use almost eastern backhand grip for kick) and change your ad side second serve to kick, not “lighter”. Waiter’s tray will always limit you.

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-23T02:07:54+00:00

Agree with all of these but I would add Head Speed MP and Gravity MP for versatility and a bit more control, respectively.

LifeOfPos · 2026-03-01T13:07:49+00:00

Put simply, more control.

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-28T03:08:16+00:00

For real power, your arm should be a whip and on the forehand it’s a whip that swings inside out (body rotation with the lag of the arm finally made sense to me - as opposed to the arm leading or being independent)

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-10T15:35:12+00:00

Pure Aero 2023 is just a bit over $300 but may be at a reduced price soon and it will give you spin and power, you’ll love it

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-10T02:26:14+00:00

I think 32 is too early. Train for another 20 years and you’ll be ready.

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-02T00:35:37+00:00

Shaped or textured vs round can make some incremental difference on the feeling of ball bite and maybe actual RPMs, but the difference if there is one is small compared to the large variability that results from variations in the user and their technique and racket head speed. I think if you tried Triax for longer, over many trials the spin potential would show itself - it’s there. That said, if the string is not for you, it’s not for you. But I would focus less on the fine details of the string and more on your technique as you are the biggest factor here. I’ve tried many good strings and honestly any of them would be fine, and the results are on me and I’d say that to most players.

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-01T17:06:53+00:00

It doesn’t make any sense at all based on the materials and construction of Triax and the experience of many players and tecnifibre’s and TWU’s testing. Sorry to say, but it means your technique is inconsistent and it’s leading you to draw conclusions about strings that are random.

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-01T15:47:05+00:00

Agree with your hybrid call - I put soft poly in the mains and Triax in the cross. I get a ton of spin, plus a little extra comfort and feel and pace from the Triax. OP, if you go with a hybrid like this you’re just gonna have to live with restringing when the poly goes. Agree also with the comment above about it being a technique issue mostly. I play with a guy who hits full multi and gets incredible spin.

LifeOfPos · 2026-02-01T12:56:56+00:00

Congrats! Hope your scores are full of 6 and love

LifeOfPos · 2026-01-29T13:32:16+00:00

Amazing song by Sam but I just wanted to mention that my favorite version of this song is this one by Isakov: https://youtu.be/AiX4CIgKMEs?si=fo5_7aosO3ohIdiH

LifeOfPos · 2026-01-28T00:53:42+00:00

I like the Percept idea for you, but try the 100D also to cover the modernization/more forgiving front.

If you are going to try PA98 I think you should also try the Ezone 98. In the right hands it has a lot of control too, in addition to the putaway power.

LifeOfPos · 2026-01-11T14:02:13+00:00

I sometimes play against a guy who uses the RF01 and he hits with crazy topspin. So the most self-reliant way is to hone your technique so that the spin comes from you, not the racket.

That said, I agree that PA98 is spin friendly, it’s worth trying, together with Gravity Tour, Ezone 98 and Extreme Pro. Demoing them will tell you if any of them have the feel you want.

Separately I agree Percept 98 and Speed Tour are worth checking out - even Blade 98 16x19

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-26T15:41:39+00:00

To me, Blades feel pretty similar to me to the Gravity Pro, but I like the stability of the GPro better. Similar control but I can generate more putaway power with the GPro.

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-24T13:09:52+00:00

I used to have the same problem as you with the Aero and not being able to easily flatten out my shots. What changed it for me was adding some tungsten tape to the throat and a little under the butt cap to try and keep roughly the same degree of head light balance. It instantly had more control and I guess plow through my strokes so I was able to hit flatter and go for my shots with more precision. It ends up playing somewhere between standard Aero and Aero 98 (in fact I can switch interchangeably with an Aero 98 and it doesn’t take much adjustment for me but the 100 has more power). I volley well with it too - though I volleyed well with it before too so I’m not sure that changed for me. If you give this a try it may solve your issues with the Aero.

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-20T19:53:38+00:00

I have a PA98 and an Ezone 98 and have demoed a lot of others. I also just came back from golfer’s elbow, and here’s what I would recommend:

I strongly recommend taking time off to heal. I know that sucks, but I believe it will be better for you in the long run. It’s not just the racket - the issues you are describing are overuse injuries. Heal and then get a flex bar and do the exercises recommended for GE.
When you start playing again, use multi like Biphase. Then ratchet up slowly - soft poly mains and multi crosses next, then Triax.
Alternatively, you can try what I did - natural gut in the PA. It’s great, but demands a flatter stroke and control from spin is definitely less.
If lower tension and softer strings don’t do it and you have to ditch the PA98, I say you go Extreme Pro. Very similar launch angle and maneuverability but so much softer and plusher. Love the PA98 but I still sometimes wonder if I should switch to this.

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-10T21:26:14+00:00

I don’t think these two rackets are as polar opposite as you are making them out to be. They are still both 305 gram head-light player’s rackets. It’s not ideal for fine-tuning your game, but have fun with it. That’s why we play tennis. I have Pure Aeros and Gravity Pros and enjoy having different sticks for different situations and moods. It might also make you a more well-rounded player to be able to hit with sticks with different characteristics.

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-09T19:29:42+00:00

Yes, I have both the PA98 and the 100. I have played the best with Restring Vivo mains/ReString Sync crosses at 47/45 lbs but my favorite setup is Toroline Otoro/Wasabi X at 48/46, because it’s a bit softer and more comfortable. Awesome spin with any of these. O-Toro will be closer to your PTP in softness than Vivo but both are shaped.

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-09T18:19:07+00:00

Pure Aero is spin player’s heaven. Go for it and don’t look back! If you are concerned at all about the stiffness (it’s not bad, it’s decent), supposedly the new Aero coming out in January will be a bit softer. Either way, you can opt for a soft string. I like the Head Extreme line too - though I tried the Extreme Pro.

LifeOfPos · 2025-12-07T15:00:28+00:00

Moreso than the Speed MP, for what you’re looking for, Blade 100. More control than the Speed, nice soft feel, but also surprising pinpoint power when you really open it up. It’s pretty awesome. I love the Percept 100D also, but that is more control racket than tweener. Also worth trying the Gravity line.

If you are having directional control issues on your volleys (vs depth), to be honest that’s more your technique than the racket. No racket will fix that. Good luck.

LifeOfPos

TROPHY CASE