How much the racquet matters

[Rubens]

Do you think the top pros would've had different career results if they'd used racquets of different brands but very similar specs to what they actually use? Let's say Fed had to play with an Estusa Power Beam Pro instead of his old Wilson, or Rafa with a Gamma CP-900 instead of the APD (these are just examples from the top of my head, I'm sure we can find better approximations). I can only guess that the biggest difference would be in the feeling of the swing, probably because of the racquet head shapes, but would it be significant enough to produce different results? Discuss.

 

[Murrayjuannow]

I think it matters much. Especially if the shape is radically different. The airflow through the racquet will feel different. Think about a box shaped car and a bullet shaped car. They will have different wind resistance force when they move.

Different head shape will also mean different length of main string and cross string. It will probably cause a different size of sweetspot.

I think the Yonex racquet and the string that Wawrinka is using have helped him to maximise his power and precision.

 

[Numero Uno]

Imagine Roger playing with babolat and Nadal with Tecnifibre hahah

 

[Shaolin]

Imagining Nadal or Jack Sock playing with an 85 or 90'' prostaff. Seeing lots of epic shanks flying completely out of the stadium.

 

[Keizer]

Imagine Nadal with a PS85. Or rather, don't.

EDIT -Shaolin beat me to it haha

 

[Roger8888]

The thing is these players played with those rackets as juniors like Roger has always been a Wilson guy and same with Nadal for Babolat if they hit with different rackets there would not be much of a different because they will be used to them. The biggest difference will be in the way that they play.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

I think some players would struggle to keep the ball in the stadium if they switched to an off the shelf stick from another brand. Could you imagine if everyone had to use Rafa's hollow off the shelf Babolat Apd. I'd love to see a match like Federer vs Hewitt with both of them using an off the shelf Babolat apd.

 

[Rubens]

^Thatd be interesting to watch. Actually, the reason I came up with this thread is that from my experience speaking with players of different levels, it seems that the more advanced a player gets, the less the racquet matters. They'll play great as long as the specs are in their ballpark, so to speak. I think that's what Jason said in his thread too.

 

[encylopedia]

^Thatd be interesting to watch. Actually, the reason I came up with this thread is that from my experience speaking with players of different levels, it seems that the more advanced a player gets, the less the racquet matters. They'll play great as long as the specs are in their ballpark, so to speak. I think that's what Jason said in his thread too.

ZERO difference. If Federer had played an Estusa for years, he'd be just as good, and exactly the same. Even if he had grown up playing a Babolat he'd be just as good, but that may possibly hae influenced/altered his strokes and style slightly....

....it is NOT the racquet.