For the Wilson players...
Did you notice anything different about the way last year's frames played that you could chalk up to the rounded head? It's a pretty unusual shape for a racquetball racquet.
I hit with a Warlock BLX for a couple minutes the other night and liked it a lot. It felt really different from all the other frames I've tried. I'm trying to figure out if the head shape had anything to do with the unique feel.
With the rounded head, is it harder to deal with wallpaper shots? Seems like a flatter head gives you more room for error when you're sliding the racquet along the wall.
Thanks a lot.
I'm starting a league with a group of about 8-12 guys. We'll play: one match per week, round-robin, no handicaps, three games, first two games to 15, the third to 11. The guys range in skill level from high-B to low open (in Pennsylvania).
I'm trying to decide on a scoring system for keeping standings.
I'm not sure I want an ordinary system such as total points scored with bonuses for games and matches won.
I don't want the lower-level players to get discouraged, so I'd like a system where the point difference between top and bottom players isn't crazy-gigantic.
Have you come across a league scoring system that you really liked?
Thanks a lot.
The only difference between the old and newer Head Ballistic gloves is supposed to be purely cosmetic. I have several of both of kinds and the new ones seem tackier and less prone to soaking through w/ sweat. Maybe I'm wrong here. Does anyone else think there's a real difference between them?
Over the years, I've always thought Racquetballwarehouse was super, but I recently had such a great experience with them that I wanted to post about it. I needed new shoes. They sent me lots of pairs for me to try on at home and choose my favorite--which I did, and now I know I have the best pair of shoes for me (Hi-Tec 4:Sys). With free shipping both ways and great customer service from Ben and Kyle, the whole thing was amazing.
My favorite things about what they offer...
* tons of instructional and equipment-related videos online (along w/ player interviews and other stuff)
* reporting racquets’ real static weight and swingweight as measured on their own equipment
* free 2-day shipping on orders > $75
* free return shipping
* great customer service
* big selection of equipment, including tons of different strings, grips, etc. from their sister site tennis-warehouse.com
* an extremely well-designed website
I just think Racquetballwarehouse is crushing it and I wanted to say thanks.
A 660' reel of GB premium mono 18g is $40 at racquetballwarehouse--which is a really great deal. I don't need that much string, so I'm looking for someone to split a reel with me. Half a reel should do 8 or 9 string jobs. The string ordinarily costs $8 per set. Splitting a reel would give us the string at less than $3 per set.
I'd buy the string, measure off half and mail it to you in a padded envelope via USPS first class mail (US only). Your cost would be $22, which would include postage. We could do Paypal or check.
Please PM me if you're interested.
-Rich
Thanks to anyone who can tell me...
In terms of sizing, does the Wilson Rage fit like the Wilson Maxgrip? (e.g., Is a medium Rage the same actual size as a medium Maxgrip?)
Does the Head Radical fit size-wise like the the Head Ballistic?
How thick is the Radical's Cabretta? Thin (like the E-Force Weapon)? Medium (like the Gearbox Movement)? Thick (like the Head Ballistic)?
I'm moving to Easton, PA in a couple of weeks. Can anyone tell me when and where I can find a group of open/elite/A players to hook up with, e.g. challenge courts?
I understand there's good racquetball around there, esp. with the old school clubs nearby in Bethlehem and Allentown (which hosts the Dennis Rosenberg IRT T1 stop). There are also 4 courts available at a place called Northwood Racquet & Fitness, but I don't know anything more about that place.
Thanks. -Rich
The O3 White suffered from plugs falling out during play (even when properly installed) and from plugs cutting strings.
I'm thinking about getting a Speedport. Has anyone experienced either of these issues with a Speedport?
Discounting (but not totally disregarding) the hype from sponsored players, I'd say:
Head LiquidMetal 170
Ektelon More Attack
Gearbox GB250 (Black)
I used to break strings a lot (like 2x per month) when I played with other brands of racquets--esp. Ektelon O3's, but also somewhat with Head. It didn't much matter too much which gauge of string I used.
Now, I never break strings with the GB250 (the original grey/black), even with 18g string. The strings are just lasting for months on end.
I'm really appreciating how the savings--in terms of time, money and general aggravation--have really added up.
I'm not sponsored by Gearbox. Just wanted to give props for being awesome in this regard. I also happen to love the way the racquet hits.
To the stringers out there...
I'd like to get an inexpensive floating clamp stringing machine (e.g. Klippermate, Gamma X-2) to do my GB250's. I've read here that some racquets are particularly hard to string on floating clamp machines. I've never strung before.
Is the GB250 one of those racquets that's particularly hard to string on a floating clamp machine?
Thanks to all.
I'm trying to get some original GB250 bumper guards (the lightweight ones) and I haven't had any luck via Danny at the GB office. I figure if anyone has them or could get them, it would be Raphael. Do any of you have his direct e-mail address? Thanks--and feel free to PM me if that's better.
Been having troubles with spraining my ankles on the court. I think that strengthening and stretching exercises, as well as braces (not permanently), are the most effective prevention.
But I might also want to switch up my shoe to maximize support. (I'm currently using an Asics volleyball shoe that I really love. )
I tried Hi-Tec Wraptors once and did not like them. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go with Hi-Tec, despite the raves here for the 4:Sys. I don't want to mess with basketball shoes.
I have slightly narrow feet--so the T9 Roadster and other wide shoes are probably a bad choice.
I'm thinking of trying the Stabil, but don't have a good read on how much ankle support they give. Can anyone fill me in on this?
Are there other rball shoes or ankle support strategies you would recommend?
Thanks to all.
Locking that thread preserves its point of view while disallowing response. IMHO, this runs counter to the spirit of Meetandplay.
More importantly, the posting of political threads in the general discussion forum seems unwise to me. While that forum invites "off topic" comments, it has in fact been focused mainly on racquetball. When so many of us enjoy Meetandplay as a place to relax and talk about racquetball, political discussion ruins the vibe. There are lots of other places on the internet for such discussion.
If people want to talk about politics or other contentious topics on Meetandplay, I think it would be a good idea to confine those discussions to a new sub-forum devoted exclusively to non-racquetball matters.
I had two O3 Reds break last week. I know that at least a couple other folks around here have had durability issues with O3 Reds. Since the O3 Red is so similar to the O3 RG, maybe I should consider switching to the RG.
Can anyone comment on the durability of the O3 RG? Has it held up better than the O3 Red?
Bonus question (that may make this thread moot): Are the Red and the RG really the same racquet?
Ektelon lists them as having different unstrung weights (Red-170; RG-165), but Racquetballwarehouse measures them as having identical strung weights and swingweights. This doesn't prove them to be identical in all respects--but the identical numbers (as well as a few comments around here) make me wonder.
I'm looking to improve my lob serves. I know where they're supposed to go, but I can't get them there with any real consistency.
I've heard various recommendations--for instance: choke up, lock your wrist, shorten your swing.
What technique or advice (physical or mental) has worked for you?
A right-hander's forehand splat (even if it leaves the strings with no spin) hits the front wall (with spin generated from hitting the side wall) and shoots strongly to the left--in large part because of spin.
A right-hander's forehand big-boy shot also generates spin from hitting the side wall, but shoots in the opposite direction off the front wall--to the right--after it picks up spin from hitting the side wall. Again, I believe that this shot will behave this way even if the ball has no spin when it leaves the strings.
(By "big-boy shot," I mean, for instance, when a right-hander hits a forehand shot from a point that's 37 feet deep and 1 foot from the right side wall, where the ball skims the right side wall a few inches from the front wall, hits the front wall, then shoots back to the right, ideally as a wall-paper shot down the right wall.)
I can't figure out why the balls come off the front wall in opposite directions for these two shots. One would think that the direction of the ball's rotation as it leaves the side wall would be the same for each shot, and therefore that the balls should both come off the front wall in the same general direction, i.e. right or left, with a difference only in *how much* the ball moves in that direction. But this isn't so.
Anyone have the answer for why these shots come off the front wall in opposite directions? I don't think I'm fooling myself in saying that these shots will come off the front wall in opposite directions even when no spin is applied by the strings--but I could be wrong.
mdhills and coregis--I know you guys are fond of physics--so I'm counting on you for the answer. :)
Since the Penn HD (dark purple) breaks so easily and doesn't stay bouncy for long even when it doesn't break, I'm looking for a new ball.
I love the play characteristics of the HD when it's new (light & soft with medium bounciness). I'd like something that plays as close to the HD as possible.
Lots of folks here have recommended the Wilson Green. We tried it this past weekend and found it to be way too bouncy (although it did play soft and comfortable like the HD). The Wilson Green seemed even bouncier than the Penn Green, but definitely not as heavy as the Penn Green.
Anyway, can anyone recommend a ball that plays like the HD, but doesn't have the durability issues? Thanks a lot.
My old stand-by, the Head Sensation, has a new design I don't much like, so I'm in the market for a new tackified glove.
From reading old posts and retail descriptions, I've gathered that the following currently-available gloves are / may be tackified.
E-Force Weapon
Ektelon Coolmax Ice
Ektelon Maxtack Pro
Gearbox Movement
Neumann Dyna-Tac / Pro Dyna-Tac
Pro Kennex Pure 1 (I'm not sure this is tackified)
Wilson Red Zone (also not sure if tackified)
Wilson Maxgrip (have it, doesn't seem tackified)
Are there any other currently-available tackified gloves I should put on my list to consider?
Is the Pure 1 actually tacky / tackified? How about the Red Zone?
Thanks a lot.
