Yep - new props with more "bite"
Still can't beat the drag on the frame though.
I recall that the upgraded 172 required that you apply power more gradually while building up speed on the runway. Otherwise the prop would "stall" and your takeoff roll would be much prolonged.
I should mention that they stuck with fixed pitch prop for "simplicity". More advanced planes have props that let you vary the pitch and I think you don't upgrade these, you just end up tuning the pitch differently. Pitch is selected based on engine manifold pressure at some rpm.
