Light Racquet vs Lighter Racquet

[kevfromsa]

I need some help and thought I would turn to the trusty board. I just switched to a lighter racquet and smaller grip. I was using a Dunlop500 Aerogel tour 3/8 grip and now have a Head Microgel Radical MP 1/4 grip and and I also got a regular Dunlop Aerogel 500 which is much ligher than the tour version.
Here is my problem..I love the Radical with regards to my groundstrokes and volleying..but I am serving killer with the lighter Dunlop..I believe 11 oz vs..10.3 oz...I am getting more racquet speed on my serve with this Dunlop .I just can't seem to get it with the Head..
I play with some guys who hit heavy/hard and I am worried about stability....Do you sacrifice the serve or the stability.? Can you even play with such a light racquet.?.I play 3.5-4.0
Thanks for any input/advice!!!

[asknowbuylater]

I've had the same problems when I started and I tried improving fast enough to handle tougher shots.

The only thing you can do is get physically stronger.

I've always thought that lighter is better, but ever since I leaded up to 400g, I saw things differently.

Tennis season lasts 3 months where I live so a short cut is needed. I slowly used the 400g frame until I could swing faster than ever.

After that, I reverted back to 300g frames and the heaviest shots are easy to return.

That's my short cut. $20 of lead vs $2000 of coaching.

[jmiller]

I need some help and thought I would turn to the trusty board. I just switched to a lighter racquet and smaller grip. I was using a Dunlop500 Aerogel tour 3/8 grip and now have a Head Microgel Radical MP 1/4 grip and and I also got a regular Dunlop Aerogel 500 which is much ligher than the tour version.
Here is my problem..I love the Radical with regards to my groundstrokes and volleying..but I am serving killer with the lighter Dunlop..I believe 11 oz vs..10.3 oz...I am getting more racquet speed on my serve with this Dunlop .I just can't seem to get it with the Head..
I play with some guys who hit heavy/hard and I am worried about stability....Do you sacrifice the serve or the stability.? Can you even play with such a light racquet.?.I play 3.5-4.0
Thanks for any input/advice!!!

first you should just practicec getting used to the radical until it is as easy to hit as the aerogel.

secondly if you have to give one up then give up your killer serve and get a good serve that way your game is balanced because you still have your good groundstrokes and volleys.

[mdjenders]

I have been playing with a POG oversize for 8 months now, and certain parts of my game were really suffering due to the weight (12.8oz, 4pts HL). I have been demoing maybe the lightest (9.9oz), lowest powered frame out there, the nfury, and I am playing much better. My serve has more pop, which allows me to take the initiative and control more points on my serve. As long as I am in control of the point confidently hitting forehands with the lighter frame, I feel that stability won't be much of an issue.

Stability can be a burden, esp. on return of serve, but the added racquet speed can help cancel this out. I am swinging the nfury much faster than the POG, and my opponents have said that my strokes are coming in faster and heavier.

[vndesu]

i would suggest hitting with the microgel.
it is less stiff than both 500's and the radical is a racket that can be player as a all arounder or any other form.

[kevfromsa]

First...Thanks yall for the advice/suggestions....
I really think I just need to hit against some heavy hitters and see how the lighter racquet responds and see if I can handle it...but I do think the radical might be the better route...
I'm not going to get alot more physcially strong..Im 37 and lift 4 days a week ..also have a pretty beat up shoulder which I think hampers my ability to bring the racquet overhead as fast as I want to....I'm gonna hang on to both just for fun but will concentrate on the Head..
thanks again!!

[chunlimeyers]

The ultimate racquet is the babolat z-lite. Why?.. it is 9.0 ounces, yet it is 6 pts head heavy. This makes it swing/feel and deal with heavier hitters, yet i have never served bigger. And, yes, if i need it heavier, i could always weigh it down with lead. However, i hit with some of the best (and heaviest hitting) players in the city, and that racquet is soo stable i never miss the weight from my old tank of a k90. If the babolat was head light like the k90, it would be useless and bust my arm from the lack of mass in the head for stability.

[fuzz nation]

The ultimate racquet is the babolat z-lite. Why?.. it is 9.0 ounces, yet it is 6 pts head heavy. This makes it swing/feel and deal with heavier hitters, yet i have never served bigger. And, yes, if i need it heavier, i could always weigh it down with lead. However, i hit with some of the best (and heaviest hitting) players in the city, and that racquet is soo stable i never miss the weight from my old tank of a k90. If the babolat was head light like the k90, it would be useless and bust my arm from the lack of mass in the head for stability.

I'd only qualify your observation to the point that the Babolat is the ultimate racquet for you and that's a good thing. Racquets match different people the same as shoes or jeans; some are better fits than others.

A note for kev: I've made the mistake in the past of taking up with a racquet because I could serve lights out with it, but I wasn't honest enough with myself to see that it didn't support the rest of my game. Be demanding enough with your gear that you are at least somewhat comfortable and confident hitting every one of your shots with your racquet or keep experimenting when you can. With the right frame in your hands, you can get beyond that distraction and work on your game.

[kevfromsa]

Good Point Fuzz..Thanks!

[mdjenders]

You are right on, kevfromsa. Just demo the lighter frame as long as you can and play as many different players as you can. Maybe your racquet speed is fine such that you play ok with the light stick against hard hitting baseliners, but maybe some instability could hamper you against serve and volleyers. There are so many variables in tennis that you really need to spend months with a frame before keeping or dismissing it. It has taken me the better part of a year to retire my POG, and it will be months before I decide on a replacement.