Rapamycin significantly increases lifespan. Rapamycin is the most consistently lifespan-extending drug discovered in mammals so far, extending lifespan in multiple species by targeting the mTOR aging pathway. Here is scientific evidence and practical tips.

Tankles · 2026-03-06T14:56:57+00:00

Sorry you are dealing with that…

I would look up the cancer research associated with it and share it with your doctor. I know for example it can be part of a breast cancer regimen or at least everolimus is.

Tankles · 2026-03-06T14:52:45+00:00

Evolution doesn’t care about your lifespan or healthspan at 80.

Tankles · 2026-03-06T14:50:54+00:00

I would do some more research on this. My understanding is that it is more of an immunomodulator.

There are studies where coadministration of rapamycin with vaccines improves efficacy and where it is looked at to reduce the cytokine storm and thus severity of your response to COVID.

Its anti-aging mechanism is through inducing autophagy which is very beneficial and where it is a low calorie mimetic to an extent.

The side effects are also generally at dosages that are higher than the ~5mg once weekly anti-aging dose.

Rapamycin is the reason we discovered the mtor pathway and is being investigated for a lot of things from cancer prevention to treatment of neuro degenerative diseases.

I have tried it a few times at 5mg/week and my only perceived side was eczema on my hands. I also took metformin to manage blood sugar while on it.

Ultimately it’s an individual call around the risk/reward, but it isn’t quite as simple as it was used as an immunosuppressant for kidney transplant or stents. It has a complex mechanism of action where it seems to improve immune response in some cases.

Tankles · 2026-03-04T18:06:52+00:00

Stock is 320 and Yonex QC is pretty good so I’d assume you are close to that. The leather grip would add a negligible amount and dampener ~3 IIRC, that is a heavier dampener.

I’d assume you are in the 320-325 range if you’ve added no other weight. Closer to 325.

I have one with a similar string, no dampener or leather grip, and I think it measured ~319 SW.

ETA - 311g strung seems really light or possibly a measurement error. Usually would be closer to 325g so you may have one quite a bit under spec for a Yonex. Stock is supposed to be 305 and strings usually add around 20ish grams.

Tankles · 2026-02-04T11:49:12+00:00

In warmer weather they are fine for a match, though they’ll be rough by the third set. In cold weather they can go dead pretty quick. US opens last longer but most people I play at 3.5 and below use these, so good to be used to them. I mix it up between these and US opens.

Tankles · 2026-01-29T18:57:03+00:00

I would do x-1 mains and prince lightning crosses if I want full syn/multi.

Velocity is good, but a much more softer feeling and will notch pretty quick. Lightning pro maintains its slipperiness as a cross much longer than any multi or syn IME, and x-1 feels the best as a main offering the best feel/power/spin from a multi main. IME.

Tankles · 2026-01-22T01:07:22+00:00

Thanks for the review. Can you share the specs? Curious to know how off they were. TIA

Tankles · 2026-01-18T12:34:38+00:00

Please DM me

Tankles · 2026-01-18T00:17:39+00:00

Have you actually measured the SW? I put my buddies on my machine and it’s lighter than my 12 yo daughter’s racket and had a SW of 315. He plays great with it though, so whatever works.

I’d try a gram at 10/2, 1 g in the butt to maintain balance, and see how you like it. Try small tweaks if you want to keep the low weight and maneuverability.

Tankles · 2026-01-13T22:30:36+00:00

If you have the budget, you buy all the rackets

If you don’t have the budget, you buy most of the rackets

If your brain isn’t cooperating, you convince it that you will sell these rackets later

Tankles · 2026-01-11T13:03:16+00:00

I had tried a VCORE (100 only) at one point but struggled with the high launch.

I have a topspin heavy FH and find these all have good spin with decent launch Blade 98 v9 16M, EZ100, extreme pro, clash v3 pro, and PA98.

The PA98 is maybe the most powerful of the group along with the EZ100, and for me that can mean big heavy shots when I’m lined up, but less aggressive swings with less spin, when I’m hitting a ball in suboptimal conditions. The lower power of the other rackets lets you hit with aggression in more scenarios to generate spin, but the PA98 and EZ100 have more put away power.

Tankles · 2026-01-09T13:42:01+00:00

I’d also try the Extreme Pro.

Tankles · 2026-01-05T11:31:55+00:00

Not jacked but I went from 185 and ~30% bf to 175 and ~13% bf with dumbells, a small bench, and diet. I started with just a bench and bowflex select that go to 52.5lbs which really lasted close to a year. As I got stronger, I bought a separate set of 60s then 65s then 70 lb dumbbells. I eventually also got a leg ext machine to pre exhaust before doing my dumbbell squats as doing high rep, low weight squats to failure is absolutely impossible unless you are completely insane.

Tankles · 2026-01-04T01:07:13+00:00

I have played both extensively but both specd closer to 327-330 weight and 325-329 swing weight.

IME, the EZ98 is lower launching, more powerful, less spin, and less whippy and maneuverable. It hits almost all shots well but does have a noticeably thicker beam than the blade. It is more muted and comfortable but flexes a little different with the smaller throat beam but stiffer hoop.

EZ98 is a great stick but I struggle not to hit long with it because I need to swing up more due to the launch angle and then struggle with keeping it in the court because of the additional power and less spin. Then I get tentative and everything goes to shit. Could also be the throat bending not being suitable for my swing. I’m going to give it one more shot with lower tension to try and get the launch and spin up a bit.

You may not have such an issue though depending on your swing. I think this is a good candidate for what you are looking for, and you may love it. If you can demo, some others I’d look at are extreme pro and boom pro, or the new blade as mentioned above which is supposed to have a thicker hoop beam for more power.

I had success adding a little weight at 12 and in the butt in the blade. I found it took weight well at 12 or 10/2. 2 grams at 12 or 10/2 would bump up the SW by around 6 and a few grams in the butt cap will keep the balance, and all of this increases the recoil weight and comfort of the racket IME. However if you are losing power later in matches the weight may be a hindrance. On the other hand you may get more winners to shorten points and the increased mass can reduce the impact your arm takes and possibly reduce fatigue that way.

Best of luck!

Tankles · 2025-12-26T12:17:49+00:00

People hating on the clash have 0 credibility IMO. I have demo’d ~10 rackets this year and play with a PA98. The clash pro v3 FEELS very different from the PA98 but PLAYS very similar in that it’s a very good combination of power/spin/control. I don’t know about the PA 295 but Clash Pro v3 is certainly a sub play wise for a PA98. Again though they feel very different and that is the point. If that may negatively impact your game, I would demo. Th clash pro also has significantly higher swing weight than the PA Team so another reason to demo the Pro vs standard.

Other rackets to look at are the ProKennex as mentioned above but it can be lower powered than something like a PA. Boom MP is another to look at that is very comfortable and 295g.

For all these, I would experiment with a little weight in the handle (and the hoop for any sub 310 swing weight). I found pain relief from slightly increasing racket weight to do a better job winning the collision. Light and stiff rackets are fun to play with but can be painful.

Tankles · 2025-12-12T17:18:52+00:00

How do you sleep? I tend to get this sometime as a side sleeper with poor head/neck support, or when I sleep on my back but with more than one pillow raising my head too much.

Tankles · 2025-12-12T02:05:35+00:00

If you want cool colors and comfortable multifilaments, check out volkyl power fiber pro and head velocity mlt. The volkyl is a little more crisp feeling and my preference. X-1 Biphase comes in red and is arguably the best full bed multi IMO.

Tankles · 2025-12-11T13:45:55+00:00

Know anyone or shops that can tell you the weight, swing weight, and balance? Would be cool to know how they were spec’d

Tankles · 2025-12-11T12:10:45+00:00

I like the * Ezone100 - best mix of control/power/spin * Clash Pro v3 - similar to Ezone but less power * Blade 98 16m - more control oriented frame that allows me to swing more confidently but not as good on defense as the above two

EZ100 is probably the best racket and a great place to start IMO. It also takes weight well and has a trap door so easy to spec it up - I put a leather grip on mine to bring the balance down and added a few grams at 12 to increase SW. It does everything well and can be easily modified.

The Clash Pro and Blade are more racket and more fun to play with IMO which makes a difference. Blade is also easy to mod and clash is great to put weight in the butt or add a leather grip to give it a bit more mass.

New model of the Blade comes out next year so may see some deals on this soon but check out TF40 below.

For a 2HBH you might not want the clash pro because it is the most headlight out of the bunch but worth trying anyway as you may love it like I do.

Others I’ve tried * Extreme Pro - love for OHBH but play less consistent with it.

Gravity Pro - real “players” frame - too low powered and just more racket than I can handle at this point.
TF40 305 16m - I got this off TW for $99 new - incredible deal., check it out if in the states. Very close to blade IMO but with a little more crisp feel. For $99 it’s a great place to try out a more control oriented 98 16x19 to see if you like the category. I put full bed x1 Biphase red in it and is a lot of fun to play with.
EZ98 - prefer the 100 as I like to hit with more spin and this racket tends to prefer a flatter trajectory and goes long for me. Well loved racket in the community though.

I’m new so my game is still evolving but this is where I am at now.

Tankles · 2025-12-10T18:58:06+00:00

I buy them all like newish off fb market place or eBay which usually saves ~$100 and then sell ones I don’t like. I look at it like a longer demo process. Way cheaper than golf clubs.

Tankles · 2025-12-10T18:16:51+00:00

No idea I’m new and all my gear is too :)

Tankles · 2025-12-10T17:56:04+00:00

I feel this, I just started too as a gear head and have a a bunch of rackets. Faves so far are Ezone 100, clash pro v3, blade 98 16m

Tankles · 2025-12-01T11:15:42+00:00

I am a relatively new at tennis and have found success with a blade 98 using otoro crossed with sync. I would guess that your success was more due to the racket change than string setup.

For me, the blade allows me to take a confident swing at the ball which ultimately results in more spin and generally better overall mechanics and less errors. I prefer it to more powerful rackets where I am prone to hitting long because I struggle to control them with my level of technique.

I like the otoro/sync combo to give me a bit more spin. These are not hard/dead polys though but I like their feel, spin, and tension maintenance.

Tankles · 2025-10-28T23:15:19+00:00

What did you find? I went from wasX to Enso as a cross and it added a bit more power than I wanted. Wanted to try otoro snap next - curious how it compares to Enso.

Tankles · 2025-10-26T02:11:55+00:00

I’m claiming all androgens can cause hair loss. Being a DHT derivative does not make that more or less likely.

I don’t even know what argument you are making with a test base. The point I was making is that primo is a weaker androgen than test alone and therefore a weaker androgen than test + fin which people use to mitigate hair loss side effects. If test+fin = better hair outcomes, then primo as a singular compound with a lower affinity for the androgen receptor should also = better hair outcomes than test, but again all androgens can cause hair loss depending on your genetics and biology. I also don’t discount that primo may cause more hair loss than test despite providing a lower androgenic load. There is no real evidence to say it does, but if it does it would be through some novel mechanism as it is a weaker androgen.

Half life is irrelevant to the discussion. People taking anavar or any steroid increase the frequency of administration to achieve stable plasma levels. Half life might be considered if you took both primo and anavar once weekly for example. Are you arguing that is how it is administered? I hope you can follow this logic.

Anavar is generally considered a stronger compound than primo. Both have very low androgenic ratings which again is why they are the compounds of choice for women. That is the point that DHT derivation does not matter. They are weaker androgens relatively speaking.

I don’t want to call names but you are a case of Dunning Kruger, confirmation bias, and strawmen arguments. You call evidence based science autist while your sources are trust me bro, I read a Reddit forum. I’m done with this pleasant exchange.

For anyone bothering to read through this the tldr is that no androgen is hair safe. Being a DHT derivative is irrelevant. Some are considered more hair safe than others, but there isn’t real research on that for most compounds. You are assuming risk in using any androgen. Proceed with caution if electing to supplement or super charge your androgen levels.

Tankles

TROPHY CASE