RKEP Rackets

**visor** · 02-24-2013, 02:31 AM

double post............

**LD rules!** · 02-26-2013, 07:22 PM

2 months (time flies eh?) since I first got my hands on this racket, and I can honestly say that I've only used my SuperWaves 35 once in that time!

XP-70 looks to be the racket to lead me into tournaments this year!

**visor** · 02-27-2013, 01:37 AM

^^ i know... i'm so torn between my precision pro, revelation, and xp70

whenever i have to partner up with someone new, i use the xp70 (for fear of clashing my beautiful panda rackets

) and it never ceases to amaze me with how fast and powerful this racket is

if these rackets were girlfriends, i'd have a really tough time choosing which one to marry...

**visor** · 03-03-2013, 09:35 AM

Whoa! Eric has the heavier frames for all the XP series on his RKEP ebay website...

Time to order some more.

**jamaljenkins** · 03-03-2013, 05:37 PM

Finally... Anyone know the normal weight of a 3U BS09? I'm looking for a XP80 perhaps similar or a tiny bit lighter weight but head heavier since Eric has new frames for all of his XP series. If I'm coming off from a 3U BS09, what should be the weight of the frame if I still want to remain the speediness of it but want more punch? 86-87g? and how much head heavier? 295, or 297-300?

**visor** · 03-03-2013, 05:44 PM

To avoid any surprises, you should weigh your bs09 and measure bp first.

**jamaljenkins** · 03-03-2013, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by visor

To avoid any surprises, you should weigh your bs09 and measure bp first.

It's strung right now though so I can't really measure the dry BP and weight... I also don't have a scale to measure its weight... I'm assuming it's about 88g ish but with string and Yonex Super Grab it might be in the mid 90s.

**visor** · 03-03-2013, 05:55 PM

^^ supergrap is 5.6g

string is 3.0-3.5g depending on gauge thickness

**jamaljenkins** · 03-03-2013, 07:43 PM

then that would probably be in the 96g's since I'm using BG80. If I get an 88g one the weight in the head might make it slower so should I lower it by 1-2g? And go with 297mm? or 88g and 295mm BP?

**visor** · 03-03-2013, 08:54 PM

You can't guess! You have to weigh it...

**jamaljenkins** · 03-03-2013, 09:16 PM

The thing is I don't have a scale to weight things this light...

**visor** · 03-03-2013, 09:29 PM

Try the post office?

**llpjlau** · 03-06-2013, 09:35 AM

Ordered a RKEP XP-70 from Eric, due to arrive in 3-5 days time. Anyone who has experience with both the XP-70 and XP-80? What are the differences in-play between the 2 rackets?

**visor** · 03-06-2013, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by llpjlau

Ordered a RKEP XP-70 from Eric, due to arrive in 3-5 days time. Anyone who has experience with both the XP-70 and XP-80? What are the differences in-play between the 2 rackets?

Yes, assuming same specs, xp70 slightly more accurate but more difficult to access power due to difference in shaft stiffness.

**visor** · 03-21-2013, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by visor

Short review: XP70 (85g bp295mm) with bg66um 26lb after 4 hrs doubles

First of all I must say that Eric is one of the best stringers I've encountered. His one piece job tensions are always right on the nose when I check with a frequency app. Tension retention is great that even with strings like vs850 that are infamous for tension loss, there's only a drop of 50hz after 2-3 months, which amounts to only 1 lb drop. If shipping were cheaper, I would ship rackets for him to string!
Now to the racket.
Swings noticeably faster than MX series, almost as fast as BS series. Not surprisingly then, frame cross section is like a mix of MX and BS series.
Head wt feels very light when dry swinging, possibly because of its speed, but once I started to hit birds, it's got a substantial heft to it. Very interesting.

Great in defensive shots, blocks and drives. Tad more flexible shaft than MX70, which gives it a good whip for power.
Smashes are penetrative and clears are deep, despite being a racket that is lighter and with lower swing wt than what I usually play with (P Pro 87g bp295mm).

Over the next few weeks, I'll have to restring it with my usual zm62 to compare more directly with my current rackets.

Review update:

Just got a heavier xp70 (listed 87g 297mm, measured 86.2g 297mm, head wt 38.0g).
As compared to my first xp70 (listed 85g 297mm, measured 84.1.g 297mm, head wt 37.7g).

Now this is the perfect wt for me.

Slightly slower due to the increased mass, but still fast in defence due to the aero frame, and has much more noticeable heft on drives, smashes, clears, backhands, and power shots. Wrist shots are amazingly easy to execute for some reason; just think, and it's there.

Strung with zm62 at 23 lbs, powerful, fast, accesible, accurate and stable, this is now my go-to racket over my Revelation, Precision Pro, and MX70. This is an amazingly excellent racket! How does Eric do it so well?

I also ordered a few other ones (xp60, 70, 80) for a few of my friends to try out. One is to replace a NR700rp that I clashed with and broke

, and the others are to replace an aging AT900T and MP45. I think I got the correct specs matching their rackets, and I'll know what they think of them when they play tomorrow night.