Most Pros are using stock racquets

happyandbob

happyandbob

Legend
... at least according to Hayley Carter in the recent podcast.

She said the majority of pros are using the same stock racquets available to consumers.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
E

esm

Legend
happyandbob said:
... at least according to Hayley Carter in the recent podcast.

She said the majority of pros are using the same stock racquets available to consumers.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Click to expand...
Lol - maybe she missed out the words such as “look-alike” somewhere in her sentences :-D
 
topspn

topspn

Legend
Young guys coming in and college players do and as need be might do their own tweaking i.e. leather grip, weight, silicone, etc. pro stocks are for the most part older retail frames that are tweaked to a pros liking.
 
R

Robbymack

New User
“There is nothing stock about a stock car”. This applies to just about every sport. Pro golfers don’t use the exact same stuff you can buy off the rack simply because the physics involved with playing at a high level wont allow it. That doesn’t mean that some do. Tennis is no different.
 
I

Icedorb217

Semi-Pro
Isn't this technically not wrong since almost all racquet molds were sold to consumers at some point. Like isn't the case that most pro's use racquets that they played with competitively early on in their career? Like Schwartzman with the IG Rad Pro and Krygios the Xi 98.
 
G

gebruikershaes

Rookie
It could be true. Depending on who's considered a pro. Let's say top 100 most play with custom frames. If top 1000 is considered pro. It could very well mean that the majority of the remaining 900 plays with store bought racquets.
 
R

recreationalplayer

Semi-Pro
10:52,Hayley: the (Head Graphene 360+ ) Extreme MP is very similar to the Babalot Aero you would think they just went to the same factory and it came out a different color. Michelle: let’s not say that (through her teeth). Push a few buttons during manufacturing ? It makes you wonder, that's all.
 
TagUrIt

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
I listened to that podcast as well. I don't see any reason why she would fabricate this. I think some of the pros do use stock racquets. We'd all like to believe they're inhuman and use special racquets, but it's more of their skill level and training. Not saying that they customize or tweak them, but yeah I don't think it's such a stretch to believe they use the same racquets as us mere mortals.
 
mtommer

mtommer

Hall of Fame
travlerajm said:
She is on the TW payroll.
Click to expand...
Right. So, why is a top 100 player in the world.....on......TW's..........payroll? TW, last I checked, didn't have a pro room for any given companies products....so.....why......isn't Haley signed to, wait for it, a company who is supplying her with pro stock?

Most players usually have to contact companies on their own, with their results, standings, etc., and then they HOPE to hear back from said companies and an offer for free or discounted gear. They are not under contract nor do they get ridiculous amounts of gear. They could move to a different company with a better offer if one should become available. The vast majority of professional tennis matches and pros are not on television or named Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Williams. Think about that.
 
Tmano

Tmano

Hall of Fame
I dont' think pro use stock racquets especially the not so young ones!
Maybe some of the new generation of tennis players are using stock racquets and that would make somehow sense.
However, she plays in the WTA and she is probably referring to the women tennis, which it could definitely be true.
 
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WYK

WYK

Hall of Fame
All lies. We know all pros use a Head Prestige with a paintjob.
TagUrIt said:
I listened to that podcast as well. I don't see any reason why she would fabricate this. I think some of the pros do use stock racquets. We'd all like to believe they're inhuman and use special racquets, but it's more of their skill level and training. Not saying that they customize or tweak them, but yeah I don't think it's such a stretch to believe they use the same racquets as us mere mortals.
Click to expand...

Reported.
 
L

Lorenn

Hall of Fame
happyandbob said:
... at least according to Hayley Carter in the recent podcast.

She said the majority of pros are using the same stock racquets available to consumers.
Click to expand...

Likely true.

Majority means over 50%.

So we have to define what she means as Pro. Nearly 3000 ranked players according to ATP and WTA.
Most forum posters likely only consider those in regular slams or those earning enough money to profit from Tennis.

The last question is how does she consider old racquets no longer available to the public?
My guess is a vast majority of the 3000 ranked players likely use something which was off the shelf at one point.
 
Vicious49

Vicious49

Legend
Lorenn said:
Likely true.

Majority means over 50%.

So we have to define what she means as Pro. Nearly 3000 ranked players according to ATP and WTA.
Most forum posters likely only consider those in regular slams or those earning enough money to profit from Tennis.

The last question is how does she consider old racquets no longer available to the public?
My guess is a vast majority of the 3000 ranked players likely use something which was off the shelf at one point.
Click to expand...

Pretty much everything he said. If you take the top 50 or 100 out of it I'd guess almost all of them are using stock racquets that they may customize on their own.

And the part about older racquets is true as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but Rafas racquet isn't available to us now but I believe was at one point.
 
B

blablavla

G.O.A.T.
Vicious49 said:
Pretty much everything he said. If you take the top 50 or 100 out of it I'd guess almost all of them are using stock racquets that they may customize on their own.

And the part about older racquets is true as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but Rafas racquet isn't available to us now but I believe was at one point.
Click to expand...

it was and it is still available on second hand sales channels
 
Dartagnan64

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
There are plenty of people that have got their hands on pro rackets and measured their specs. Even if the mold is retail, the mods are not. They are generally significantly modified with lead and silicone until they get highly ranked and then get models made specifically for them. This is pretty clearly known.

I've not seen a single video of someone reviewing a pros racket that indicates it is used in retail specs.

They play a different game and need different tools.
 
happyandbob

happyandbob

Legend
Dartagnan64 said:
I've not seen a single video of someone reviewing a pros racket that indicates it is used in retail specs.
Click to expand...

I guess the caveat being the vast majority of those videos are checking the specs of top 5 players, which it makes sense companies would spend time and energy customizing for them.

I don't purport to know one way or another, but do think it's odd that we have an actual reasonably high level pro saying that she is using off the shelf racquets and that most pros are also using off the shelf racquets and people don't believe her.
 
Return_Ace

Return_Ace

Hall of Fame
Dartagnan64 said:
There are plenty of people that have got their hands on pro rackets and measured their specs. Even if the mold is retail, the mods are not. They are generally significantly modified with lead and silicone until they get highly ranked and then get models made specifically for them. This is pretty clearly known.

I've not seen a single video of someone reviewing a pros racket that indicates it is used in retail specs.

They play a different game and need different tools.
Click to expand...

I don't think the comment was intended as "pro's use rackets straight off the shelf" but as in "pro's are modding rackets that come straight off the shelf".

happyandbob said:
I don't purport to know one way or another, but do think it's odd that we have an actual reasonably high level pro saying that she is using off the shelf racquets and that most pros are also using off the shelf racquets and people don't believe her.
Click to expand...

Fake news.

Anyone who says otherwise is either unaware, or part of the cover up.

The pro stock illuminati will be coming for you.

:alien:
 
U

USPTARF97

Hall of Fame
See a good number of players on the WTA using stock frames. Many of the well known Top 10 players that have good sponsorship contracts on the ATP and WTA are using the current paint job but using the same frame they have been using all along.
Anyone who thinks these players are switching frames every time a new one comes out is incorrect.
 
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U

USPTARF97

Hall of Fame
Power Player said:
Its true. MOST pros are using stock frames sent to them by brands. There are thousands of pro players. I dont see anything wrong with her assesment.
Click to expand...
Although they start with a stock frame they are generally modified. Not exactly an off the shelf frame they are using.
 
am1899

am1899

Legend
If by “pros” Hayley means every pro player, male or female, at any level, then her statement is technically correct. Still, it seems misleading and vague to me.

Putting all pros into the same bucket within this context, for example, glosses over what is going on with respect to equipment at the highest levels of the game.

TagUrIt said:
I don't see any reason why she would fabricate this. I think some of the pros do use stock racquets.
Click to expand...

If more of the general public believe the majority of their favorite pros they see on tv actually use a racquet they can buy off the shelf, who benefits?
 
vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
USPTARF97 said:
See a good number of players on the WTA using stock frames. Many of the well known Top 10 players that have good sponsorship contracts on the ATP and WTA are using the current paint job but using the same frame they have been using all along.
Anyone who thinks these players are switching frames every time a new one comes out is incorrect.
Click to expand...
Give some examples
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Legend
happyandbob said:
... at least according to Hayley Carter in the recent podcast.

She said the majority of pros are using the same stock racquets available to consumers.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Click to expand...

-she also mention that ,"she is in a transition-period/experimental-mode" where she is trying/finding/looking for a racquet she likes
-she and/or rather "her coach" have no choice right now, but to try "of the shelf" models
-once she has one she likes/prefers, she will need to reach out to the manufacturer and work out a plan/contract
 
G

gebruikershaes

Rookie
People here like to think that all pros use some kind of magical racquet that makes them play like they to. To cover their own failure at tennis and blame it on the racquet not being pro enough:whistle:
 
Dartagnan64

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
gebruikershaes said:
People here like to think that all pros use some kind of magical racquet that makes them play like they to. To cover their own failure at tennis and blame it on the racquet not being pro enough:whistle:
Click to expand...

No I think that most of us believe Pros use rackets with more static weight and swing weight than most off the shelf rackets to deal with the heavier balls they have to face. And I suspect most of us are right.

I don't think anyone quibbles with a pro saying most pros use off the shelf frames, as long as they qualify it with "and then heavily modify them and if they are older frames, get them painted with current model paint jobs."
 
vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
thisiscrazy said:
Sofia Kenin, according to the Babolat rep on these boards, uses the shelf model and with no adjustments if I remember correctly him saying.
Click to expand...
She does not, I’m sorry. She is still using the 2018 Pure Drive with the paint job of the 2021 Pure Drive. So she did use an inline racquets for a couple of years but she can’t be expected to switch racquets every couple of years I’m sorry. A racquet with with a paint job is not an off the shelf model

who else you got?
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Legend
-even Federer does not play with the of-the-shelf-rackets!! as much as "we" the consumers would like to pretend!!
-he does not go into Wilson store and says "give me 12 of those!" (n)
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Legend
vsbabolat said:
..... She is still using the 2018 Pure Drive with the paint job of the 2021 Pure Drive. So she did use an inline racquets for a couple of years but she can’t be expected to switch racquets every couple of years .....
Click to expand...
-agree here!!
-only tennis pros who are using current-years "off-the-shelf-rackets" are the pros without a racquet contract
 
happyandbob

happyandbob

Legend
vsbabolat said:
She does not, I’m sorry. She is still using the 2018 Pure Drive with the paint job of the 2021 Pure Drive. So she did use an inline racquets for a couple of years but she can’t be expected to switch racquets every couple of years I’m sorry. A racquet with with a paint job is not an off the shelf model
Click to expand...

I have no horse in this race, but calling that an example of customization seems a bit nit picky IMO. If she's playing with an off-the-shelf 2018 pure drive, regardless of whether they painted it for marketing purposes for all intents and purposes it is a stock racquet.
 
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