Why do people say Federer needs a bigger racquet whenever he loses...........

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

....Apparently Federer is given dozens of prototypes from Wilson to demo, some just to get his opinion on as they are not good fits for him...

No doubt.

I imagine a really tricky aspect about testing frames is you can't just have a demo frame and play with it. He'd need stacks of the same frame all strung and weighted differently. You couldn't get a feel for a frame at all if it was strung completely wrong for you... such is the personal nature of racquet preferences.

I'd like to know just how they do these secret tests. If we're here talking about how a larger frame might help him there is no doubt Wilson have thought of it too and made a racquet based on his current one but with a larger head and with different string spacings.

Or maybe larger isn't the key, maybe longer is the key. I wonder how much more grunt a Fed custom K61 tour would have if it was 2 inches longer.

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Originally Posted by OTMPut

There lies the fallacy.
The improvement from switching from 90 to 95 is significant for an average club player. The less accomplished, the more is the relative improvement.

At Fed's level there is little he could improve. It might reduce his shank % by say 5 to 10. He would also lose elsewhere -feel, control (esp with his whippy wristy forehand). He might put more balls into play from his backhand side. That does not mean he would automatically win those points. It is not a straightforward sweet spot math.

I am sure he is smart enough to weigh up positives & negatives. Apparently he switched from 85 to 90 once. I am sure he would again if he think that would make a positive contribution.

Yes! BHBH

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

Yes, there was an article about Serena Williams' last racquet change. It was the one during the Australian Open. She had a blacked-out frame and as it turned out, only had one racquet available for the entire tournament; which by the way she won.

The racquet was originally destined for Roger Federer to try. That racquet is now the Blade series I believe. Apparently Federer is given dozens of prototypes from Wilson to demo, some just to get his opinion on as they are not good fits for him, but Wilson values his opinion (imagine that).

To the OP.....folks around here suggest Federer use a bigger frame because they are trying to rationalize his game through their experience. Hey, if it helped them, it's got to be a help to him. The problem is, Federer et. al play a game with which none of us is familiar. Roger Federer is the best judge of what equipment works best for him <Period>.

And we have a winner!!!!!!!!!! BHBH

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

To the OP.....folks around here suggest Federer use a bigger frame because they are trying to rationalize his game through their experience. Hey, if it helped them, it's got to be a help to him. The problem is, Federer et. al play a game with which none of us is familiar. Roger Federer is the best judge of what equipment works best for him.

This has to be the bottom line, and it's why it sometimes looks silly when the question keeps coming up.

But I don't think the question is silly, if for no other reason because other players at/near the top of the game have made that sort of change for that sort of reason. Federer did once already, as pointed out, and Sampras has said publicly that he regrets not having done so late in his career (maybe just on clay; don't remember the exact wording). Courier is making noise recently about moving to a 99 sq" frame, too. So I guess I wouldn't be shocked if Wilson kept trying to find a MP design that works for the guy, but I also wouldn't be shocked if they didn't succeed.

[Six.One.Tour.90FAN]

IMHO, He doesn't need a bigger frame, not at all. Same argument that everyone is making(he's still winning right?)

However, it would benefit him with todays quicker game.
I can just imagine him playtesting the BIG BUBBA 29...

90

[sureshs]

If the best players had the mindset that no one can play like them and hence they are the best judge of everything, they wouldn't hire coaches then. What a stupid concept. People are not infallible. Only fools who blindly admire players and use them as proxies for their own lives would say that they are.

[PeterFig]

I posted this photo on another thread too - but it kinda fits here as well.

You guys do know that he's actually not using a real 90sq in frame. It's actually a paintjob of a much smaller headsized frame - and that's why he loses all these matches. Here is proof positive - it's a photo of Federer's own racquet provided to me by the paint technician at Wilson before the paintjob - and after. So if he actually switched to the real BLX 90 he'd for sure win every slam for the next 5 years.

[sunof tennis]

You guys realize that the difference is size between a 90 sq. inch head and a 95 is truly small, right? As anyone who has hit the K90/BLX90 as opposed to the K95 or BLX95 will tell you, these are very different racquets. So, it is not like Roger could just use a normal Wilson 95. I understand they are pros playing with a box Wilson 95, but who knows how close it would be to the feel of Roger's current stick.
Look, Roger may shank a few more balls than other top ten players, but I don't think his racquet choice plays a big part in that. I think he shanks because, one, he plays closer to the baseline to take time away from his opponent more than many other players do which obviously reduces his preparation time and two, he brushes up very quickly on the ball to impart top spin. This means there is less surface string area to strike the ball and more chance for the frame to make contact with the ball. Agassi also took the ball early (he was the best ever at it), but his strokes were flatter which reduced the possibility of his framing the shot.
As others have said, I think Roger is the best judge of what racquet works for him.

Anybody remember how Lendl's transition to 90 in Mizuno from his 70 in Adidas in summer 1990 to win Wim went? (seems he did use the 90 in, big racquet face back then, for playing on grass but went back the Adidas, sometimes with the Mizuno paintjob, for US hc )

Get my point?

[Wilander Fan]

Originally Posted by CrackerJack

Federer wins in spite of persisting with outdated equipment. That's a testament to his greatness. I, and many others believe he is capable of extracting more out of his game by using a more powerful larger headed frame. Whether we like it or not its a fact the game has evolved into big groundstrokes. Larger headed frames are better suited to the faster modern game. Everyone else from bygone eras have been able to switch since retirement. My hope is that fed does so before he retires.

Modern game is slower.

[Pioneer]

IMO Berdych would play better with a mid if he can adjust in time.

[Pioneer]

Well you said it. It was manufactured for 50 years. The PS85 won more majors in it's 20 year life than all other racquets in their 50 year lives

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

You do know that the Dunlop Maxply Fort was manufactured from 1936-1983. Think about all of those players that used durring that time period and won majors with it. Both men and women.

[Wilander Fan]

Originally Posted by PeterFig

I posted this photo on another thread too - but it kinda fits here as well.

You guys do know that he's actually not using a real 90sq in frame. It's actually a paintjob of a much smaller headsized frame - and that's why he loses all these matches. Here is proof positive - it's a photo of Federer's own racquet provided to me by the paint technician at Wilson before the paintjob - and after. So if he actually switched to the real BLX 90 he'd for sure win every slam for the next 5 years.

Well played sir.

[gplracer]

Maybe if Wilson would make a box beam 95" racket Federer would switch. Right now theh do not have a racket he could switch to.

[big bang]

Originally Posted by gplracer

Maybe if Wilson would make a box beam 95" racket Federer would switch. Right now theh do not have a racket he could switch to.

they do make a boxy 95", same stick as Dolgopolov uses! got a few myself..

[Dreamcastin]

Originally Posted by big bang

they do make a boxy 95", same stick as Dolgopolov uses! got a few myself..

besides, im sure if fed wanted a racquet shaped like a monkey, wilson would make it for him.

[gplracer]

Big Bang, Where did you get those? Is it from that place in Europe that everyone is getting them from? I heard they were out now. I would get on if I could.

[Ripster]

Sampras was using a big powerful babolat racquet in the exo against Monfils last night

[jeremy45]

why not roger with the new blx balde tour ?

It wouldn't be a good compromise between his actual blx90 and and a 95 size?

[big bang]

Originally Posted by jeremy45

why not roger with the new blx balde tour ?

It wouldn't be a good compromise between his actual blx90 and and a 95 size?

because hes not going "bald" yet
Maybe Dunlop should make a "balde tour" for Davydenko