It wasn't my choice, the manufacturer made it tapered. It was an inside joke of sorts, to make a "Panda proof racket" because I kept breaking all their prototypes. The Thunder has a tremendous shaft, I don't think I can break it.
You'll have to wait and see, I'll take pictures of the racket later today, I need to string up 5 prototype rackets and get ready to re-test on Friday.
The shaft is extra stiff but doesn't feel like it. It flex for me plenty. It's supposed to be 7.2 - 7.5 stiffness.
I just got into work this morning and realized I missed 2 pages of Q&A. Actually, the tapered shaft is not really a joke. RSL is using it right now. So, how many prototype did you break before this one?
Well, not just prototypes, normal production rackets too. Let's see...about 8-9 rackets mostly at the shaft. So they are using the APT (Anti-Panda Technology) tapered shaft to ward off Panda's bad karma. I know the tapered shaft is not a joke, I mean it was an inside joke between me and the manufacturer.
A good bit stiffer. Let's say the AMP90 is about 8.0 out of 10 the Thunder is about 9.5. However, it doesn't feel like it because it's light weight, 85.5g vs. the AMP90 which is about 88g. It's hard to explain how it feels, I need to test the Thunder some more...also partly because it was strung at 35lbs. I restrung the Thunder at 30lbs. with NGB95, hopefully it will last.
Looks like this panda sleeps from 3am to 7am. Probably has a nice afternoon siesta after bamboo snack.
Pete's bro tested the Panda prototype last night. For some reason(s), he doesn't think it is that responsive. The Stickman get to chop the original string . . .
what grade carbon fiber does it use? lower grade carbon fiber is usually not responsive, and normally feel dull.
It's Toray. As for the model number, it's probably M35GC and M40J, I didn't ask specifically but that's what we talk about. I'll ask for the specifics...
