practicing with a wooden racquet

[raiden031]

If you were to spend a few weeks practicing and playing with a classic wooden racquet, would your game see a great improvement when you revert back to your current racquet?

[kevhen]

You would learn to hit more right on the center of the strings but maybe with less topspin and power. So with your regular frame you might start hitting flatter and hitting the ball long but you would hit them long more cleanly!

[drakulie]

Not really convinced this would help your game. It might, as Kehven stated improve your ability to hit the ball more squarely, but when you switch back, it would probably throw your timing off.

When I hit with a Pure Drive or one of these newer racquets it takes quite a while to adjust.

[newnuse]

Would make you hit through the ball more... if you have a problem with brushing up on the ball too much... it should help.

Depends mostly on your playing style. If you have a wristy, open stance, massive TS "modern" game... it won't help ........ if you have a more classic style game... I think it would... though i wouldn't hit with it for weeks... maybe a couple of days

[Bagumbawalla]

You don't need a few weeks. If you feel like you are hitting well with your modern racket, break out the old wood thing and hit against the wall for ten minutes or so.

There is a 99% chance that it will feel really bad at first. After those ten minutes you will realize you have to be much more precise in your mechanics to get resuls. Wood rackets are not forgifing. Eventually you will find the feel/ timing and hit the ball almost as well as with your real racket.

Now, hit with the modern racket. I think you will be amazed at how lazy you had become. Same racket, same stroke-- more fluid/effortless/powerful. It's worth a try. Let us know how it goes.

[GugaGuga]

It's a great way to slow yourself down and improve your timing to the sweetspot. Also, if this makes sense, practicing with a wood racquet will make you "realize" what your modern racquet allows you to do differently. It's a form of learning by feel, and I highly recommend it.

I frequently use my wood Jack Kramer when I'm playing old people and 3.5 players etc. It allows me to get some real practice, and it ensures that I won't get blamed for hitting or serving too hard.

I have even had a person argue that they did not want me to play with a wooden racquet because they wanted a "real challenge" and not dink tennis. He shut up after I beat him in a set with it.

I highly recommend that you hit some with a wood racquet. If you can learn to play controlled tennis with it, then you will see benefits when you switch back to your modern frame.

~GG

[ryohazuki222]

im unsure if it benifits you or not...

about a couple months ago i took out my wood racket and started rallying with it... it was loads of fun, but when i went back to my original racket, my game was completely screwed up.....

last week, i was asked to bring out the racket again for fun by a friend... i played a super-tie break against a friend who also has a wood racket.... and when i went back to my original racket that time, it felt as it always has... maybe even a little better....

so i've experienced both good and bad with this... im unsure whether or not it would be a good idea... but i do know that it's possible the results go either way.

[emo5]

It's really great practice for helping you to hit the 'sweetspot' after that you'll appreciate the racket technology more :)

[naturalgut]

I tried practicing with a wooden racquet for a week - it was really hard on my shoulder and elbow. The only consolation was that the first point I hit with it was an ace down the T.

[joe sch]

It should improve you hitting strenght so that you get around faster with your lighter new racket. It should also improve your ability to hit more sweet spot shots. Maybe it will even improve your windup preparation and swing loop since you can get away with as many late muscled whips that the new rackets allow. The vollies should also really be improve because with a 75si head/13 oz racket, you need proper form, racket out infront, etc, or your volley will not work.

Answer = yes

[Bagumbawalla]

I would not recommend practicing by going out and playing somebody when you are using a wooden racket.

The idea is to get the feel of good timing and mechanics by practicing with a moderate stroke against a machine or wall.

If you just go out and try to hit against sombody without first really grooving your stroke, it will be a very negative experience.

[Baghdatis72]

I think the best way would be to start as a beginner with an OS racquet that feels comfortable and then as you progress and get a faster and longer swing with more precision, change to smaller head sized racquets until you reach a size that feels perfect for you at your maximum NTRP level and stop there. That will give you the maximum possible control for your optimal power with that control so you'll be able to hit more balls inside and as hard as it gets for that accuracy.

Usually a headsize of 85-95 would be optimal for a long swinged pro (and a large swingweight of course).

[NapalmEaterDemon]

Just choose you racket and stay with it. There's no point in learning how to hit with some other racket you won't use.

At best, you will gain nothing. At worst, you'll screw up with your game.

[snoflewis]

i played my friends w/ a wooden warped racket because i didnt have my rackets w/ me and all he had were tweeners, which i felt some vibration w/ in my elbows. so i used the woodie, which was a lot flexier, and i thought it was really fun. coming from a midsize and playing around w/ my slazenger phantom, it wasn't too bad...but i found it almost impossible to slice w/, as i would just frame every one of them. it really helps you focus on the ball and put more spin on the ball, not to mention controlling it.

[varuscelli]

Get a couple of wood racquets, find someone else of equal skill who is interested, and play a couple of sets for fun. Get in about 20 minutes or so of good warm-up to get a feel for hitting, the go at it.

I mean...why not? ;)

I think it would be fun

[emcee]

I've done it and I don't know if it really helps. The wood was suprisingly easy to play with (I think it was a jr. wood racquet though) and even topspin wasn't all that difficult. But then afterwards, your normal racquet feels like a brutish club for like 10 mins. Also, if you use poly string, you'll really start to want the feel of the wood.

[hiltonhead]

It's a great way to play older guys or folk you enjoy, but are a level below you. It can also be a bit humbling to your opponent.....

[varuscelli]

It's a great way to play older guys...

Interesting comment! Um...I think... :confused:

You mean both of you using a wood racquet?

Or the old guy gets the wood racquet to help even out the skill levels? ;)

[Mick]

i gave up (practicing with a wooden racket) after a week. I feel it's better to practice with the racket that you are going use to play your matches.