Panda Power: A Racket That Can Take 40lbs. String Tension!

**Jacob mm** · 09-24-2012, 12:27 PM

How many holes does a PPRO have?? :-)

**DarthHowie** · 09-24-2012, 02:26 PM

Rackets tested: 88.6g 291mm & 88.5g 292mm with Ashaway Zymax 67 (version 2) @ 26lbs

Hours played: Tuesday: 3 hrs, Thurs: 3 hrs, Friday: 3 hours, Sunday: 4 hours

All my personal opinions are relative to my prior experience playing with the folowing rackets:
Precision Pro 85.5g @ 285mm BP (26lbs zymax 67)
Carbonex 30MS @ 25 lbs Zymax 67 (my previous primary racket since 2006)

With Dan's advice (and forum posters... like Kwun) I was convinced to give the heftier version a try (3 grams more to what i used prior). To my surprise not much was compromised. It didn't feel head heavy at all (which was one of my concerns). Speed wise, it was a tad bit slower then the 85.5 gram one that i had, but still a lot faster than my CAB 30ms.

With the slight loss in speed (only noticeable in my defence and when i'm doing flat drive drills in warmup - "bingo") there was a much larger gain in power. Hits were just as crisp but with a louder *crack* when smashing. This was pretty evident in doubles games.

I did play a mixed game with the racket but it wasn't too competitive so my preference is to the lighter version (because i used it under pressure) much better when it comes to control and redirects for mixed. I even got a chance to play with the racket for 5 games of singles. Good control, for fast back court drops and i noticed it more in my net play.

When my strings break, i'm very eager to give the Ashaway Zymax 65 a try on my rackets with the same tension to see how it performs.

I forgot to add...... This is now my permanent racket of choice since i've retired my 2 remaining CAB 30MS.. I own a CAB 50 but had a harder time adjusting to that racket (felt slower and stiffer) compared to the 30MS. My adjustment to the precision pro was little to none whatsoever.

Also from a stringer's stand point, it's a treat to string since there is an extra shared hole at the top and bottom to add if you have friends that are perpetual hackers and mis-hitters that break string often. The only other stringer friendly racket design i've had experience with are victor rackets.

**J-Dragon** · 09-25-2012, 09:38 PM

The Precision Pro is oh so tempting!!! But i'm low on money D:

**raistian** · 09-26-2012, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by DarthHowie

Also from a stringer's stand point, it's a treat to string since there is an extra shared hole at the top and bottom to add if you have friends that are perpetual hackers and mis-hitters that break string often.

Care to share the PP's stringing pattern? Just the gotcha's ie. tie main at B8, cross start from B9, skip A8 etc

**DarthHowie** · 09-26-2012, 12:20 PM

I just strung it with the standard 2 piece yonex pattern, but top down for crosses.

**DarthHowie** · 10-01-2012, 11:10 PM

Thanks to dimcorner's awesome panda image i attempted to create my own stencil. Used red stencil ink.

**speedyJT** · 10-04-2012, 05:42 AM

awesome!

**beraiyen** · 10-05-2012, 11:38 AM

now this looks extremely interesting and tempting :P

**Borbor** · 10-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by DarthHowie

Thanks to dimcorner's awesome panda image i attempted to create my own stencil. Used red stencil ink.

i swear i saw that panda at GBC last week

**DarthHowie** · 10-08-2012, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Borbor

i swear i saw that panda at GBC last week

You are correct!

**Mark A** · 10-08-2012, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by raistian

Care to share the PP's stringing pattern? Just the gotcha's ie. tie main at B8, cross start from B9, skip A8 etc

There is room for another cross at B8 (with mains tied at B7), like on the Victor rackets. I always use it, and I do top-down.

**raistian** · 10-08-2012, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mark A

There is room for another cross at B8 (with mains tied at B7), like on the Victor rackets. I always use it, and I do top-down.

Not an experienced stringer (yet?) as I only string for personal use, but last night I used yonex "other" pattern at the bottom of this page: http://www.yonexusa.com/displaycat.cfm?catid=14. It's bottom-up for crosses & when I reach the top cross, space is quite tight compared to AT800D (which isn't the easiest to string

). We're probably using the same pattern just different starting point.

Will use it this Friday. If it feels good, I'll stick to it

.

Edit: didn't read properly - I started cross from B9!

**Alpinerock** · 10-13-2012, 03:57 PM

Hi Panda

Any news on the Revelation?

Played with a woven racquet abd very much looking forward to getting my hands on the Panda version.

**DinkAlot** · 10-13-2012, 04:03 PM

ZM62 (Original): Anyone interested in the original, first generation ZM62? Panda uses the current ZM62 at 31lbs. and the original is comparable (actually more crisp) at only 27lbs.! Check the Buy/Sell or e-mail Panda directly, thanks.

Revelation: yes, have 10 prototypes coming in different weights and BPs. 5 are woven frame, regular shaft, 5 are woven frame and shaft.

Originally Posted by Alpinerock

Hi Panda

Any news on the Revelation?

Played with a woven racquet abd very much looking forward to getting my hands on the Panda version.

**Alpinerock** · 10-13-2012, 04:07 PM

Thanks for the very quick reply - look forward to hearing more about the Revelation!!

**visor** · 10-13-2012, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by DinkAlot

Revelation: yes, have 10 prototypes coming in different weights and BPs. 5 are woven frame, regular shaft, 5 are woven frame and shaft.

I can't imagine how much better it can play... the P Pro is already a most impressively excellent doubles racket! I just love how the bird crisply explodes off the stringbed.