james blakes aerogel [Archive]

cujays

07-22-2007, 02:55 PM

in the august magazine of tennis i see an add with him and the aerogel 200
but as i watch him play on tv he is still using a blackened out racket

does he use the aerogels at all ??

what is he using

Hewitt Aussie

07-22-2007, 03:03 PM

i think a blacked out ag200.

JMS

07-22-2007, 03:23 PM

i saw that add too, why is it still blacked out, shouldn't he go ahead and get the pj

McStud

07-22-2007, 03:59 PM

Hewitt Aussie I hope you are joking about the "blacked out AG200".

ollinger

07-22-2007, 04:04 PM

He appears to be using what he's always used, since long before the AG was a glint in the marketing VP's eye.

cujays

07-22-2007, 05:01 PM

i saw that add too, why is it still blacked out, shouldn't he go ahead and get the pj

you would think so

ollinger

07-23-2007, 02:02 AM

There's a bit of a paint problem in that Blake's racquet is an elongated oval and the AG is a little squared-off toward the throat.

jmverdugo

07-23-2007, 05:50 AM

Maybe he will start using the new pj on august, with the us open ... i dont know, since the magazine is the august´s one.

Aeropro master

07-23-2007, 05:53 AM

Maybes he using an old 200g/ mfil 200 thats blackened out.

cujays

07-23-2007, 07:52 AM

Maybes he using an old 200g/ mfil 200 thats blackened out.

did he ever use a mfil 200????

ollinger

07-23-2007, 08:01 AM

I think the most authoritative thread on this weary topic indicated he uses a custom mold made by Tyger or something like that. How much of an advertising stooge does one need to be to be concerned about when he's going to put a deceptive coat of paint on this racquet??

A.T.S.

07-23-2007, 02:06 PM

did he ever use a mfil 200????
yup...for two years I beilieve(when he still had all that hair) and then I think he either switched or painted it black.

BreakPoint

07-23-2007, 02:53 PM

Maybes he using an old 200g/ mfil 200 thats blackened out.
He's using the same racquet he has always used, which he's been using since before the HM200G and M-Fil 200 were even introduced.

cmatt428

07-23-2007, 03:41 PM

What if he actually is gonna use an AG200 (gasp) and they're still in the process of fixing up the weight and balance of them according to his specifications?

Forehand Forever

07-23-2007, 03:52 PM

What if he actually is gonna use an AG200 (gasp) and they're still in the process of fixing up the weight and balance of them according to his specifications?

IMPOSSIBLE! No one uses the real racquet that they are advertising with!

BreakPoint

07-23-2007, 04:21 PM

IMPOSSIBLE! No one uses the real racquet that they are advertising with!
Exactly! Even if Blake loved the stock AG200, he would never play with it just so he would not been seen by his fellow pros using an actual retail racquet that he's been seen in public in ads and marketing materials with. ;) LOL

I mean a professional race car driver would never be seen racing a car that just came off of the showroom floor, would they? ;) LOL

Forehand Forever

07-23-2007, 04:51 PM

BreakPoint you're absolutely correct! I'm sure he would be ridiculed by any other pros for using the "real" racquet.

Maybe I'll go into my garage and spray paint my racquet black so nobody knows what I'm using! HA!

cukoo

07-23-2007, 05:10 PM

He's using the same racquet he has always used, which he's been using since before the HM200G and M-Fil 200 were even introduced.

So what racquet is he using?

Rafa freak

07-23-2007, 05:28 PM

My freind strung his rackets at the french open and blake still uses the 200g

Michelangelo

07-23-2007, 05:28 PM

Up to yesterday I saw his loss in US Open Series on ESPN, his stick was still all-black.

thefan

07-23-2007, 05:42 PM

Rafa Freak,
He uses the muscle weave or the hotmelt 200g?

BreakPoint

07-23-2007, 07:31 PM

So what racquet is he using?
He uses a totally custom racquet made for him by Dunlop using a custom mold that is similar to the mold used for the Tecnifibre T-Fight 320/335.

thefan

07-23-2007, 07:51 PM

^Wow, this is new info to me. So Blake never used any of the 200 series Dunlop?

Breakpoint, when you say custom mold, does that mean Dunlop created a racquet with his choose of material, weight, balance,stiffness?

If so, why does Blake put so much lead at the 9 and 3 o clock position of his racquet?

mileslong

07-23-2007, 07:59 PM

^Wow, this is new info to me. So Blake never used any of the 200 series Dunlop?

Breakpoint, when you say custom mold, does that mean Dunlop created a racquet with his choose of material, weight, balance,stiffness?

If so, why does Blake put so much lead at the 9 and 3 o clock position of his racquet?

that is an excellent question, if he is using a custom mold, why wouldnt they just make a mold with more weight in the hoop?

BreakPoint

07-23-2007, 08:00 PM

^Wow, this is new info to me. So Blake never used any of the 200 series Dunlop?

Breakpoint, when you say custom mold, does that mean Dunlop created a racquet with his choose of material, weight, balance,stiffness?

If so, why does Blake put so much lead at the 9 and 3 o clock position of his racquet?
Actually, if you do a search here you'll find a ton of info on Blake's racquet and a lot of input from people that know more than I do, i.e., people in the know and that have handled Blake's racquet.

Custom mold means that they designed the mold to make a specific unique model racquet for him, e.g., head size, beam width, throat shape, head shape, beam shape, etc. - basically the whole racquet. They can also make it to his desired flex. They can also make it to a desired base weight and base balance but since it's so easy to change those things, Blake can fine tune the weight and balance to his specific needs depending on the surface, string tension, environment, opponent, etc. by adding lead tape. The lead tape at 3 and 9 is also to make the head even more stable and to expand the sweetspot.

cukoo

07-23-2007, 08:22 PM

Mileslong, I could help but to notice your signature. Have you hit with the mfil 200 before? You see, I used a mfil 200 and liked it but is thinking about switching to the MW200g. Can you give me any info regarding that racquet?

Thanks

mileslong

07-23-2007, 11:51 PM

Mileslong, I could help but to notice your signature. Have you hit with the mfil 200 before? You see, I used a mfil 200 and liked it but is thinking about switching to the MW200g. Can you give me any info regarding that racquet?

Thanks
yes i used to play the MFil, i have played about every edition of the 200 series. I finally sold my MFil and switched to the AG200. to me the Ag feels a bit better and i serve better with it than the MFil. the MFil is great for hitting hard flat winners however. The MW200 is the best feeling racket i have ever hit, i quit playing it full time because i just couldnt get as many cheap points on serve as i can with other rackets. if i ever struggle keeping balls in on any given day then i always reach for the MW out of the bag. great control and feel just very low powered.

tennisadd1ct

07-24-2007, 03:44 AM

Seriously! If they are trying to show him with a aerogel just show it! He always switches anyway, same with the william sisters

bsandy

07-24-2007, 06:13 AM

It's an M-fil 200 18x20.

They painted it black last year. They also painted James Blake on one side and Prince on the other. Prince has been blacked out with what appears to be a marker. So has the P on the butt cap. It still has a dunlop bumper guard.

. . . Bud

BreakPoint

07-24-2007, 11:34 AM

It's an M-fil 200 18x20.

They painted it black last year. They also painted James Blake on one side and Prince on the other. Prince has been blacked out with what appears to be a marker. So has the P on the butt cap. It still has a dunlop bumper guard.

. . . Bud
Nope, as I said, it's a custom mold based on the Tecnifibre T-Fight 320/335. If Dunlop can make a custom frame for Blake, I'm sure they can also make a bumper guard to fit that custom racquet. That's why the bumper guard has "Dunlop" printed on it.

Take a look at these pics:

http://rs.tennis-warehouse.com/tw/big/D200-big.jpg
http://rs.tennis-warehouse.com/tw/big/T33518-big.jpg

Note the slight difference in head size. The M-Fil is 95 and the T-Fight is 97. Note that the M-Fil's head is more symetrically oval, whereas, on the T-Fight, the oval is more tapered near the bottom so that it's slightly wider at the top. Also, note that the M-Fil has a shorter "V" of the open throat so that some of the solid neck is exposed above the handle pallet. The T-Fight has a longer "V" of the open throat so that the extended bottom of the "V" almost meets the top of the handle pallet.

Now, take a look at these pics of Blake's racquet:

http://i18.tinypic.com/6h6a2o2.jpg

http://i9.tinypic.com/4yhm3r4.jpg

BreakPoint

07-24-2007, 11:36 AM

Here are some more pics:

http://i12.tinypic.com/4zjnd3o.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/6413ol4.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/5yagufs.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/61l1wnt.jpg

adlis

07-24-2007, 05:10 PM

Why did he go back Dunlop anyway?

Didn't they quickly dump him after his terrible accident when he broke his neck? If i was J Blake and Dunlop reproached me i would of told them to shove their contract.

Another rant, Anyone notice that the official Dunlopsport site http://www.dunlopsport.com/has been "under construction" for the last 8 months? Is it to much effort to have a fully functional corperate website?!

My analysis is that the parent company sportsworld group who own Dunlop/Slazenger view their pro players AND customer's with great contempt.

hoosierbr

07-24-2007, 05:52 PM

Blake is breaking out the Aerogel 200 pj tonight in Indy against Thomas Johansson (who's got the AG 300 pj).

10nisDude~

07-24-2007, 05:55 PM

its probably just advertisment so more people can look at or buy more dunlops because james' is usin this mysterious black one...

dr_punk

07-24-2007, 05:57 PM

Exactly! Even if Blake loved the stock AG200, he would never play with it just so he would not been seen by his fellow pros using an actual retail racquet that he's been seen in public in ads and marketing materials with. ;) LOL

I mean a professional race car driver would never be seen racing a car that just came off of the showroom floor, would they? ;) LOL

in that case, he would black out the AG200 and get a paintjob of the ag300

Forehand Forever

07-24-2007, 07:08 PM

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/75622139.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1936185879A012E6733351C3ECD9F600320

James Blake at INDY

BreakPoint

07-24-2007, 10:19 PM

in that case, he would black out the AG200 and get a paintjob of the ag300
Huh? Did you see my posts above with all the pics that show that Blake is not using a retail Dunlop mold but a custom mold based upon the Tecnifibre T-Fight 320/335?

He's not using the AG200. He's always used a custom mold and will likely continue to do so. He hasn't changed his racquet, just the paintjob on it which is now the AG200 paintjob.

Take a look at this pic. It's the same racquet that he was using last week with the longer throat except that last week it was painted black and this week it's painted to look like an AG200. The retail AG200's throat is much shorter, just like on the M-Fil 200.

http://i16.tinypic.com/6gck2li.jpg

http://rs.tennis-warehouse.com/tw/big/DAG200-big.jpg

People need to accept the fact that Blake has never used a retail Dunlop racquet and probably never will. He hasn't changed his coach in almost 15 years, so it's unlikely he will change his racquet either. He seems to be the kind of guy that sticks to what he likes and what works (sort of like Sampras I guess).

foetz

07-25-2007, 04:57 PM

Blake can fine tune the weight and balance to his specific needs depending on the surface, string tension, environment, opponent, etc. by adding lead tape.

yes BUT he doesn't!
everytime i saw him it was the same amount of lead at the same spot.

BreakPoint

07-25-2007, 05:00 PM

yes BUT he doesn't!
everytime i saw him it was the same amount of lead at the same spot.
You mean you can tell how many layers of lead is on there on top of each other?

In any case, lots of pros use custom frames and still use lead because they want to fine tune the weight and balance. Other pros may also be getting frames from the same mold so each can fine tune the base frame to their own liking.

xtremerunnerars

07-25-2007, 05:08 PM

The pros don't always add lead tape to the outside, you know. Sometimes it's inside the bumper guard or in other places. If people saw masses of gray or black on a racquet they may get suspicious and eventually find out that the pros aren't using the same racquet they are.

Forehand Forever

07-25-2007, 05:11 PM

Good point xtremerunnerars, couldn't a pro also get the paintjob over their leadtape?

foetz

07-25-2007, 05:20 PM

Other pros may also be getting frames from the same mold so each can fine tune the base frame to their own liking.

that makes sense. anyhow i think blake would be worth getting his exclusive one

xtremerunnerars

07-25-2007, 05:24 PM

Good point xtremerunnerars, couldn't a pro also get the paintjob over their leadtape?

Well, I guess, but you'd see the lines. The tape probably wouldn't blend seamlessly with the paint.

vsbabolat

07-25-2007, 05:40 PM

You guys should listen BreakPoint. He is giving you correct information.

Forehand Forever

07-25-2007, 08:49 PM

I mean like if you took the racquet before the company painted it and put all the lead you needed on it. Then have it go through the painting process. I assume that a machine does it, that might be a good way to cover up the lead.

Bhagi Katbamna

07-25-2007, 09:13 PM

The thing is, they could only paint it after the lead tape has been applied if they could manufacture every frame for him at exactly the same weight and balance.

foetz

07-26-2007, 12:24 PM

You guys should listen BreakPoint. He is giving you correct information.

and how do you know that?

Forehand Forever

07-26-2007, 03:13 PM

and how do you know that?

BreakPoint=owns?

TennisFrkJC92

07-26-2007, 08:42 PM

Yes he uses the AG200 but he blacks it out. I have no idea why though...

BreakPoint

07-26-2007, 08:54 PM

Yes he uses the AG200 but he blacks it out. I have no idea why though...
No more blacked out racquets. It's now painted with the AG200 paintjob.

http://i19.tinypic.com/53aewso.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/6gck2li.jpg

In any case, it's not a real AG200 anyway. It's a custom mold which is a lot closer to the Tecnifibre T-Fight 320/335 than it is to the AG200. The longer throat is a dead giveaway. See above.

jetlee2k

07-26-2007, 10:27 PM

man.. who really cares.. the guy just choke everytime he's up.. He's a super nice guy but just terrible under stress situation.. Does not matter which racket he plays, he'll be dropping out top 10 pretty soon.. The LA Open that he lost to Stepanek was terrible..

Alex132

07-26-2007, 10:37 PM

it actually looks a lot like mfil 200...probably is too. NOT AEROGEL 100% tho.

saram

07-27-2007, 06:08 PM

No more blacked out racquets. It's now painted with the AG200 paintjob.

http://i19.tinypic.com/53aewso.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/6gck2li.jpg

In any case, it's not a real AG200 anyway. It's a custom mold which is a lot closer to the Tecnifibre T-Fight 320/335 than it is to the AG200. The longer throat is a dead giveaway. See above.

Was just going to add similar images to the thread--but no use now...

Just curious--how close is his custom mold to the original M-Fil 200 18x20?

Custom+Hybrid

07-27-2007, 07:34 PM

They are quite similar im head size and beam width.

They might look very similar but theres no telling how different it is from the stock Aerogel 2Hundred

Blake adds a lot of lead and the racquet's flex could be different.
Keep in mind similar spec'ed racquets often play COMPLETELY differently.

BreakPoint

07-27-2007, 10:01 PM

Just curious--how close is his custom mold to the original M-Fil 200 18x20?
Not that close. His custom mold has a longer throat, bigger head (97), different head shape, and probably different feel.

If you want to see how his racquet plays, I think the closest retail racquet to it that's available to the public is the Tecnifibre T-Fight 335 18x20. Sweet feeling racquet.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCTFUSA-T33518.html

TheNatural

08-11-2007, 01:12 AM

at the beginning of the year he was using a black racket with prince written on it,. but half of the prince writing was scraped off.

Jonnyf

08-11-2007, 01:47 AM

These were the specs. Racketdesign (former designer for dunlop) gave me. These are dunlops specs for blake. Not this is before lead is added and before he changes the dunlop grip for prince duratac. This was also a few years ago
James Blake YMTP03011XF DUNLOP TENNIS PT-924 309+/-2 320+/-3 67.5+/-1 97 PT-924-08C 18*20 NA 279+/-3 PU 27 3D 4W Contracted 2003 300G Black/Orange 26.81 Grip : Hydramax Tour