Training/practicing with heavy sticks?

[tbini87]

wondering if any people train with heavier sticks than they play with. almost seems like running with ankle weights, or swinging a baseball bat with a donut on it. i might try it out soon and see if i find any difference, or if it ends up messing me up. the benefit would be gaining strength, endurance, and bat speed. the problem might be messing up timing and feel if the racquet has different balance or whatever. what are some thoughts on this? thanks.

[rum02]

I personally wouldn't do it. To gain more powerful strokes I'd probably hit the gym instead. you would gain racquet head speed from training with heavier sticks after a while, but, it would definitely mess up your timing to much. Consistency is more important than power. What weight difference are we talking about here?

[tennisthehilife]

Are wooden rackets good for practice? Small string bed + heavy and cheap ($5 @ swamp meets). I own 2 (well one broke) but not sure how effective it is for training.

However, owning + playing w/ a wooden racket is fun.

[PimpMyGame]

I think Andres Guazelli uses a 500g+ wooden racket for training. Maybe he'll hop in somewhere and tell you what the benefits are. I certainly remember him posting on this before.

[In D Zone]

Practicing with heavier racquet then moving to a lighter will throw your feel for the racquet and timing off.
I noticed this when I play 12 + oz (normal) racquet then tried a 10 or 11oz racquet, its totally different.

I have seen a clip in the tennis channel on drilling to increase racquet speed is to use the same type racquet as you are using but unstrung. Have your partner toss you the ball and you swing at the ball as fast as you call - obviously the ball will go thru you racquet. Repeat the drill 5 times then go use your regular racquet and do the same drill.

Another drill I use personally is to practice swinging with a 2 lbs dumbbell. I go thru all the strokes using the correct grip - forehand, backhand, slice, serve, overhead smash. I think it helped work on the strenght of my arm, wrist and my swing speed.

[Jonnyf]

I think Andres Guazelli uses a 500g+ wooden racket for training. Maybe he'll hop in somewhere and tell you what the benefits are. I certainly remember him posting on this before.


Yes, that he does and following his advice both here and off the board I've started doing this, It seems to have imporved my swingspeed but It makes my rackets (already 360-370g strung) feel ultra light. For reference I've been using a donnay borg pro (400g) with a head cover on (total weight is like 630g)

[raiden031]

When I'm either practicing or playing against players that are much weaker, I will use heavy midsize player's racquets, whereas my game racquet is a Mid+ tweener racquet. My logic is that the player's racquets will cause more noticeable errors so I can better tell if I need to correct my stroke. I don't know if it is helping or hurting, but I feel like my strokes are improving, not getting worse.

People here might say to only use one racquet and to not practice against a wall. But I can say that I hit with different racquets and hit against the wall all the time, and have not had any timing problems as a result. In fact my strokes have gotten noticeably better over time.

To each his own.

[tomuchskillz]

my friend would put weights on his arm n pull out a raquet n start swinging n gradually his arm became stronger n he can ripp like 100 mph serves on me

[tbini87]

ok, kind of some mixed answers, but it all kind of goes along with what i thought. maybe i will try it out and see how it works. maybe it depends on the person whether it helps or hurts their game. either way it sounds like there is definitely a plus in being stronger and creating more racquet head speed.

[SpinItIn]

I've only been playing tennis for about 3 years, but I've been lifting weights religiously for 25 (I'm 43). At 6' & 225 lbs I'm pretty stout by tennis player standards. Despite being pretty strong I still felt like I wasn't generating racquet speed like I should, and I don't think it was from lack of muscle.

About 6 months ago I started doing a few exercises that seem to have helped in this regard: rotator cuff movements using elastic bands, wrist pronation/supination exercises using a steel bar, and shadow swinging a cheap WallyMart racquet I leaded-up with a few ounces of solder. I really feel like I'm swinging faster with more control than I was before.

I think dynamic exercises that simulate all (or at least part) of your strokes are a very effective way to train the specific muscles needed to swing a racquet. I've certainly never had a problem with it effecting my timing.

[YonexDude]

Are wooden rackets good for practice? Small string bed + heavy and cheap ($5 @ swamp meets). I own 2 (well one broke) but not sure how effective it is for training.

However, owning + playing w/ a wooden racket is fun.

i play with woodies every once in a while just for fun. it actually helps you slow down your swing and work on placing the ball, and it really helps out with learning how to slice the ball correctly.

[bleu]

Or use one of those funky Wilson banana weights? (as seen in: http://www.ktc-tennis.com/diary/blog/archives/001785.shtml)

[SFrazeur]

For those interested TW sells the Power Disc Tennis Training System: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpagePDISC-POWERDISC.html

Power Disc Tennis Training System Price: 14.99

Training for greater hitting power and increased racquet speed has never been easier. PowerDisc allows you to attach selected weight to your racquet, practice as usual, and challenge your muscles to the next level of explosive power! Also serves as a great pre-match warm up tool. Players can start off just using the PowerDisc without the weight pins inserted for 1.9 ounces of extra static weight, then gradually increase weight by adding the 0.5 ounce weight pins if needed. We have noted that although the PowerDisc can be tricky to get on a racquet with a wide throat bridge at first, after a couple of tries the opening in the PowerDisc seemed to become more pliable and easier to fit. Total weight of PowerDisc with all three pins mounted is 3.4 ounces. Will fit almost all open throat racquets.

http://rs.tennis-warehouse.com/tw/ProductImages/POWERDISC.JPG

-SF

[tbini87]

^^ thanks for the info. seems just like a donut for a baseball bat. i think i will just stick to a heavier leaded up stick for now.

[tennisthehilife]

Hm... Do discrete slim weight bars that you insert into a regularish wrist band exist? (Prince of Tennis)

[fuzz nation]

This can of worms gets tossed around every now and then - I don't think there's much of a right or wrong answer. Some of our pals here caution against using a training racquet because it will throw a big wrench at your timing and I think that can easily happen for some. A few guys claim that they like to warm up with a heavier training stick and then play with their go-to racquet. Fair enough. It seems that you just need to be cautious with the alternate and not let it create a lot of chaos with your skills.

In recent years in an effort to change my game, I took up with both the LM Prestige mid (weighted up to 13.4 oz. for balance) and also the Prince NXG mid (13.0 oz. with only an overgrip and dampener). Both were heavier for me and a lot tougher to use since they were low powered (rather flexible) and had smaller heads.

Despite my initial uphill battle, I kept after it with these frames and they forced me to do everything better in terms of quicker footwork to the ball, earlier overall timing, and my strokes had to become more smooth and deliberate to be consistent. This isn't a process that I recommend for everyone - I went from the end of a summer right through to the following spring with these - but I tried it at the right time because my skills as a singles player needed help. Developing your game really requires you to push yourself regardless of what frame you play with, but I think that a training stick can be a helpful training aide.

[Bagumbawalla]

I am always willing to try something new. So, recently I got an extra heavy racket that weighs 71 pounds. So far I have used it only for doubles, because it takes two of us to swing it, and I can't honestly say that my game has improved.

[J011yroger]

If you are not practicing how you intend to play, then what exactly are you practicing for.

If you need a heavy racquet to get you to improve your movement and footwork, that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Do you want to get better or not? If you do, then move your damn feet.

This also goes for people who blast the ball 1000mph in practice, then hit like a little girl in a match because they don't want the ball to go out.

J

[Shashwat]

If you are not practicing how you intend to play, then what exactly are you practicing for.

If you need a heavy racquet to get you to improve your movement and footwork, that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Do you want to get better or not? If you do, then move your damn feet.

This also goes for people who blast the ball 1000mph in practice, then hit like a little girl in a match because they don't want the ball to go out.

J

I hate that. My friend keeps blasting balls during warm ups and once we start play games/sets he pushes the ball, and that's why he sucks a*s.

[johnny ballgame]

For those interested TW sells the Power Disc Tennis Training System: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpagePDISC-POWERDISC.html

Power Disc Tennis Training System Price: 14.99

Training for greater hitting power and increased racquet speed has never been easier. PowerDisc allows you to attach selected weight to your racquet, practice as usual, and challenge your muscles to the next level of explosive power! Also serves as a great pre-match warm up tool. Players can start off just using the PowerDisc without the weight pins inserted for 1.9 ounces of extra static weight, then gradually increase weight by adding the 0.5 ounce weight pins if needed. We have noted that although the PowerDisc can be tricky to get on a racquet with a wide throat bridge at first, after a couple of tries the opening in the PowerDisc seemed to become more pliable and easier to fit. Total weight of PowerDisc with all three pins mounted is 3.4 ounces. Will fit almost all open throat racquets.

http://rs.tennis-warehouse.com/tw/ProductImages/POWERDISC.JPG

-SF

Interesting, never heard of that before.

[johnny ballgame]

If you need a heavy racquet to get you to improve your movement and footwork, that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Do you want to get better or not? If you do, then move your damn feet.

This also goes for people who blast the ball 1000mph in practice, then hit like a little girl in a match because they don't want the ball to go out.


Good advice. Maybe one day we can all have movement and footwork as good as this guy's! ;)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jUbvCg-TCLU

;)

[J011yroger]

I hate that. My friend keeps blasting balls during warm ups and once we start play games/sets he pushes the ball, and that's why he sucks a*s.

I know, I see it all the time. It is the same as going out and practicing cross country skiing in the hopes of getting better at tennis.

Either blast in practice, and blast in the match (My personal choice)

Or

Pansy in practice, and Pansy in the match.

Or if you really want to become a better player,

Smartly, and resonably in practice, and smartly and reasonably in the match.

J

[J011yroger]

Good advice. Maybe one day we can all have movement and footwork as good as this guy's! ;)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jUbvCg-TCLU

;)

If you think my footwork sucks, then obviously the heavy racquet didn't help.

P.S. to any watching, I AM NOT SHORT, it is an optical illusion due to the camera. I am 6'3" 165lbs.

J

[tbini87]

If you are not practicing how you intend to play, then what exactly are you practicing for.

If you need a heavy racquet to get you to improve your movement and footwork, that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Do you want to get better or not? If you do, then move your damn feet.

This also goes for people who blast the ball 1000mph in practice, then hit like a little girl in a match because they don't want the ball to go out.

J

who was this intended for jolly? i don't know if it is directed at me... but it is my thread. i always practice with the intent of improving my game and becoming a better player. i would not use a heavy stick to improve movement or footwork... because they are not really connected, and i think there are other ways of working on those things. however, it seems to me that a heavier stick could build up some muscle and bat speed. i guess it is almost like a little weight lifting session during a tennis session.

as far as hitting it 1000mph in practice, then like a girl in a match, i agree that that is pretty sad. however, i think most people try to hit a little harder in practice than they do in a match, for obvious reasons. in practice they want to hit hard and learn to control if. if they didn't, how would they ever get more pace on their shots? and there are also times in almost every point when you need to know whether or not to crush the ball. sometimes you should go for it, and other times you should just keep it in the court...

just a response, whether or not it was directed at me.

[J011yroger]

who was this intended for jolly?

just a response, whether or not it was directed at me.

No no, it wasn't pointed at you.

Just in general.

I believe that if you want to build up your batspeed, and practice with that intent then you will. It comes more from being loose and smooth in addition to having grooved strokes and the belief that the ball is going to go where you want it to.

I think that strength should be built up in the gym, and on the court, but I strongly disagree with the training with racquets other than your primary playing stick.

If you thought I was taking a shot at you, then I sincerely apologize as that was not my intent.

I try very very hard not to talk down to anyone, and rarely will start with others, unless they do one of two things that really pisses me off.

1. Talk down about others who work hard at becoming a better player (From a 2.5 45 year old who has been playing for 2 months, up to Andy Roddick)

2. Pretend to be someone that they are not, claiming to be a pro player or some such (Sakumo, Adlis, etc.).

J

[tbini87]

No no, it wasn't pointed at you.

Just in general.

I believe that if you want to build up your batspeed, and practice with that intent then you will. It comes more from being loose and smooth in addition to having grooved strokes and the belief that the ball is going to go where you want it to.

I think that strength should be built up in the gym, and on the court, but I strongly disagree with the training with racquets other than your primary playing stick.

If you thought I was taking a shot at you, then I sincerely apologize as that was not my intent.

I try very very hard not to talk down to anyone, and rarely will start with others, unless they do one of two things that really pisses me off.

1. Talk down about others who work hard at becoming a better player (From a 2.5 45 year old who has been playing for 2 months, up to Andy Roddick)

2. Pretend to be someone that they are not, claiming to be a pro player or some such (Sakumo, Adlis, etc.).

J

thanks jolly, no apology needed. i didn't think you were, but just wasn't sure. thanks for input on the issue. i definitely need to start building up a little more strength and endurance for the upcoming season that starts in january!