Pro Kennex Asymmetric

Q: What goes ThickThinThickThinThickThin? A train? A python after a meal of rabbits?  No, folks it's the PK Asymmetric. The decidedly odd shape, where the racquet is always thicker on one side of the hoop than that directly opposite, is apparently some form of damping strategy, as by all acounts this is a very arm-friendly racquet.

I got it because if its similarity in looks to the great PK Destiny. Unfortunately they are very different; The Asymmetric is also very head-heavy, and that didn't feel great at all, I could not get my timing right with it. I might try loading a bit of lead into the handle and see if a bit of rebalancing helps. Until then, I'll consign this to the category of Weird Ideas That Didn't Really Work.

Yonex RDX500

The RDX500 has gained an enthusiastic following, based on its touch and arm-friendly flex, although I have seen it described as "mushy". Its a narrow 18mm beam , heavyish (12.3oz) 98 sq in headlight (8 pts) stick, so its specs fall easily into the "players racquet" camp.

Mine came strung with Pro Supex 17g, which is a soft low-powered string anyway, amplifying the RDX's prime characteristics, to make it TOO soft and low-powered. I had also put this string into my Wilson Hammer 6.2, and wasn't impressed with how it went in that, either. With both , I have plenty of control, but struggle to exert any sort of pressure on my opponent.

I'll try it with something livelier some time and see if I agree with its many fans.

UPDATE - November 2015

Well it's been a while coming, but I've come back to the RDX; and am I glad I did.

I had been using my 'ol faithful ProStaff 5.0's up until now, but lets face it, they are brutally stiff and consequently so hard on the arm;  I tried flirting with the Wilson Blade 98 to avoid the punishment, but they are so different to the PS5 I never felt comfortable;

In desperation I turned to the RDX as a stick with a reputation for being a bit kinder to the arm, and replaced the awful Pro Supex poly with a hybrid Wilson Extreme 17 / Polystar 17 mix, strung 57/54, that I was using on my PS5s;

Wow, what a difference; gone was the mushiness, ping went the volleys, decent power was back,  it felt perfect. Now I know why this stick has so many fans, it is a true all-rounder.

Yonex RQ-380

This is not a traditional player's racquet. But I'd always lusted after one, from the days when I played with the metal Yonex R-3. At the time , this was the top of the line, and and I thought the matt grey finish looked mean. It said "I'm made of Boron, Kevlar, and Carbon, and I can put a hole clean thru you."  and it can.

With its macho looks, its a bit surprising that it was the stick of choice of Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova - must have been its broad shoulders that appealed. I must admit that I did feel the urge to hit two-handed shots all day, while flicking my long blonde hair out of the way.

Joking aside, its kind of fun to hit with, although I can see why Monica strung it at 90 lb (no that's not a misprint, and amazingly no stringers died in the attempts). It feels clubbier than it is, at 12.5oz but virtually even balance; it is certainly a rocket launcher on serve, and flat forehands, but not a great volleyer. it's like a good looking girlfriend that you like to have on your arm, but a little difficult to handle.