All problems solved with racket

[sureshs]

That is right, all my tennis problems were solved this week. Forehand, backhand, serves, jamming balls - all are solved.

I decided to get rid of my addiction to the feel of the PS 85, and searched for a true pro spec frame on the TW racket finder. By that I mean a frame close to SW 350 in stock form. Apart from some very light but huge headed grandpa frames, and a couple with very high stiffness or extended length, it basically boiled down to the Dunlop Biomimetic 200 Tour. TW lists the strung SW as 345, another site as 350. This is close to Fed and Nadal specs of 350-355.

I played with the demo this week and all problems are solved. All the hard work put in with the PS 85 bore fruit. The frame was comfortable, powerful and absolutely stable - not one iota of discomfort.

I have ordered two of these. I think Dunlop may replace this with the F 2.0 Tour which will have a much lower SW.

It was also an eye opening experience for me that there is hardly any frame with a pro SW.

Try it out. Every shot is easier and nothing can faze you. It reminds me of table tennis, where for about a 100 bucks, you can get a pro paddle with pro rubbers, and then the only thing that separates you from the pros is skill. Contrast that with the $10 paddles in the sports store, which definitely hurts your game even at the lowest level. Now it seems to me that pro SW is that thing in tennis which really separates the worthwhile frames from the riff-raff.

[isilra]

What kind of forehand do you have ? I mean you are using the ATP style pronation-supination-pronation route or just go for the oldschool lay the wrist back and go for it style ? I'm asking because i'm still wondering what kind of racquet specs would be suitable for my game.

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by isilra

What kind of forehand do you have ? I mean you are using the ATP style pronation-supination-pronation route or just go for the oldschool lay the wrist back and go for it style ? I'm asking because i'm still wondering what kind of racquet specs would be suitable for my game.

Oh god, are you serious??? Nobody hits a forehand and thinks time to pronate, time to supinate, time to pronate again. That's just a tennis warehouse message board thing. It has nothing to do with choosing a racket.

[FrisbeeFool]

No racket is going to magically fix your tennis game. Best to worry about technique. I'm shocked by the consumerist approach some people have to sports. As if it's possible to buy your way to a better game. They've been making graphite rackets for decades. Whatever upgrades they're touting are just selling points in order to move new rackets.

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

No racket is going to magically fix your tennis game. Best to worry about technique. I'm shocked by the consumerist approach some people have to sports. As if it's possible to buy your way to a better game. They've been making graphite rackets for decades. Whatever upgrades they're touting are just selling points in order to move new rackets.

I don't think anyone is saying a racquet will "Magically" fix their game, not sure where you saw that.

There is a tremendous difference in high end play with these different racquets, I mean I can hit anything, play with anything, even wood, but sometimes these little details can make a big difference.

For example, I have a PS 90 and a K-95, almost identical weight and size, but they play totally different. The 95's head is more round, and while I love the 90, in play I pick the 95, incredible racquet and huge difference.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

No racket is going to magically fix your tennis game. Best to worry about technique. I'm shocked by the consumerist approach some people have to sports. As if it's possible to buy your way to a better game. They've been making graphite rackets for decades. Whatever upgrades they're touting are just selling points in order to move new rackets.

Technique is not going to improve by keeping the same racket, just as it is not going to improve with a new toy. In the same way, number of playing hours will not increase either way to increase the practice. Those things make a difference for those people who are willing to make a greater commitment, namely juniors, college players, pros, and retired people. For me, it is what it is.

I could not play with lighter rackets than the PS 85 because they hurt my arm and just did not feel right. The materials seemed to become more tinny and hollow with newer models, as they brought the weight down to appeal to the average consumer, but tried to increase the stability by nano this or that. They did achieve a lot of comfort, but in the end, when I struck a ball, it did not feel right.

Now I have outlived the PS 85. I wanted more free depth and I was noticing that top spin balls to the BH were getting more and more difficult to handle. I found people blocking the ball back with depth with a 1 hander and I could not do it. Now with the Dunlop, it is happening with ease. I don't have to worry about being very precise with the swing to catch the tiny sweetzone, or to fear discomfort if I hit slightly off-center. Instead of trying to achieve perfection and stoke my ego, I decided that a 95 with a high SW is the way to go - even Fed abandoned the 85.

[Avles]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

Oh god, are you serious??? Nobody hits a forehand and thinks time to pronate, time to supinate, time to pronate again. That's just a tennis warehouse message board thing. It has nothing to do with choosing a racket.

Errr, what does consciously deciding when to pronate and supinate while hitting have to do with the question? Did isilra ever say he did that while swinging? The point is that some players actually do this and some don't, and the swing types end up being a bit different as a result.

I'm not well-versed in these matters, but it doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility that different swing types would benefit more or less from different racquet specs. So I'm not sure why you're so scandalized by the question...

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by isilra

What kind of forehand do you have ? I mean you are using the ATP style pronation-supination-pronation route or just go for the oldschool lay the wrist back and go for it style ? I'm asking because i'm still wondering what kind of racquet specs would be suitable for my game.

I do some pat the dog and Nike swoosh thing. I don't do the stretch your arm and just loop thing. But definitely not as sophisticated like Federer.

What racket specs are you using now? If you feel the frame is comfortable and that you don't seem to be working harder than players of your level yet not getting the results, then just stick with it.

Regarding the suitability of the frame to the style: if you want the fast swing of the juniors, do NOT use a heavy/high SW frame. They are not using it. Filip will probably scoff at my choice of SW 350 and 12.3 oz weight when he has won 2 Slams with a much lighter frame. The juniors use lighter frames and really hit the skin out of the ball. I don't know what the toll to the arm is, but that is what I see.

From the college to the pro level, frames become heavier, but I think most WTA players are not going very high either.

Then you have players like Fed, Djoker, Murray and Nadal who use high SWs AND swing very fast.

[KineticChain]

Just wait until next week... you'll get used to the new racquet and be right where you were before

[TheCheese]

Originally Posted by KineticChain

Just wait until next week... you'll get used to the new racquet and be right where you were before

Seriously. Although, I'm sure it's a bit easier than playing with an 85.

[slowfox]

There's also the Pro Kennex Ionic Ki 5 PSE. 345 swingweight.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by slowfox

There's also the Pro Kennex Ionic Ki 5 PSE. 345 swingweight.

That is right. I didn't go for it because it was 100 sq in and 9 pts HL and heavier. That is about as HL as my PS 85. I think today's baseline centric game does not favor such head light frames. Fed and Nadal are in the 3 to 6 pts HL range.

The other reason was that there is a guy in the club who has been using the Dunlop, and I never realized it. He offered to sell it to me, but changed his mind. He plays singles with it and uses another frame for doubles.

But I am sure the PK is a great choice also.

It is strange that the "Fed" racket is so popular among some fans, but its stock form has no closeness to what Fed uses in terms of SW.

[luvforty]

sureshs, can we see it in action, that would be awesome!

[boramiNYC]

Welcome to Dunlop. I'm a happy 100 user. yes the PS85 feels quite flimsy, despite the heft, in comparison to the new offerings. not stiff enough at the critical parts of the frame. you are not that naive are you if you think it will solve all the problems...enjoy the honeymoon.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by boramiNYC

Welcome to Dunlop. I'm a happy 100 user. yes the PS85 feels quite flimsy, despite the heft, in comparison to the new offerings. not stiff enough at the critical parts of the frame. you are not that naive are you if you think it will solve all the problems...enjoy the honeymoon.

I think the 100 series is history.

And yes this has already solved all my problems

Now only the real problems remain.

[claub]

I agree with what you said 100% and I hope it's not just a honeymoon period.

Would be nice to see you in action.

[nyc]

how are your volleys?

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by nyc

how are your volleys?

Good...........

[arche3]

Yeah suresh prop up your cell phone and take some vids.

[dman72]

Originally Posted by sureshs

That is right, all my tennis problems were solved this week. Forehand, backhand, serves, jamming balls - all are solved.

I decided to get rid of my addiction to the feel of the PS 85, and searched for a true pro spec frame on the TW racket finder. By that I mean a frame close to SW 350 in stock form. Apart from some very light but huge headed grandpa frames, and a couple with very high stiffness or extended length, it basically boiled down to the Dunlop Biomimetic 200 Tour. TW lists the strung SW as 345, another site as 350. This is close to Fed and Nadal specs of 350-355.

I played with the demo this week and all problems are solved. All the hard work put in with the PS 85 bore fruit. The frame was comfortable, powerful and absolutely stable - not one iota of discomfort.

I have ordered two of these. I think Dunlop may replace this with the F 2.0 Tour which will have a much lower SW.

It was also an eye opening experience for me that there is hardly any frame with a pro SW.

Try it out. Every shot is easier and nothing can faze you. It reminds me of table tennis, where for about a 100 bucks, you can get a pro paddle with pro rubbers, and then the only thing that separates you from the pros is skill. Contrast that with the $10 paddles in the sports store, which definitely hurts your game even at the lowest level. Now it seems to me that pro SW is that thing in tennis which really separates the worthwhile frames from the riff-raff.

You could have achieved that swingweight and had many more racquets to choose from by buying a $20 reel of lead tape.

Note that many pros frames are not at that swingweight off the shelf. Take a look at the thread in the pros equipment thread by Fabfed who has "Noles" racquet...Djokovic use a ton of lead tape to achieve his SW.