djokovic and his "flexible" frame

[Wilander]

on this board it is written that his frame is ultra-flexible with an RA in the low 50s. i can not believe that. who did the measurement?
his frame is not especially heavy and his strings are done with at least 25kg. no way the ball could leave his racquet with so much power, if the frame was that soft.
what do you think? does anyone know an other pro playing with a racquet that has an RA in the low 50s?

[ben123]

i was kind of thinkin a bit the same like "how can he make such powerful shots with ra 50 and 60lbs strung"

[Jeepers]

One words, roids.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by Wilander

on this board it is written that his frame is ultra-flexible with an RA in the low 50s. i can not believe that. who did the measurement?
his frame is not especially heavy and his strings are done with at least 25kg. no way the ball could leave his racquet with so much power, if the frame was that soft.
what do you think? does anyone know an other pro playing with a racquet that has an RA in the low 50s?

His racquets are were
weight: 360g
Balance: 32cm
Swing weight: 371
http://hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racquet_...ibas_open.html

[Hellbergarn]

One thought...

Could it be that this particular frame that got measured was cracked. Maybe djoko picked this frame up from stringing hit one ball, felt that something was wrong and got rid of it?

If it is true that he used to play an old LM Radicl (Tour?) 64 RA then I find it very hard to believe that he would be able to play as low as 51.

But honestly I dont think he got a clue about what type of stiffness he is playing. Maybe he tried a really soft racket and just thought that wow, this felt nice and asked head to produce a few more and then he stayed with that one.

[El Diablo]

Swingweight goes a long way, even with considerable flex. I started using a Vantage recently with a stiffness rating of about 52 but a stock SW of 335, now higher as I've added some lead. Granted the frame is a 105 but I'm hitting a much heavier ball than I've hit with 105s from Prince, for example. And no 'roids!

[bluetrain4]

If it's considerably heavy, he could still get a lot of power with a low flex rating.

[vsbabolat]

Originally Posted by Hellbergarn

One thought...

Could it be that this particular frame that got measured was cracked. Maybe djoko picked this frame up from stringing hit one ball, felt that something was wrong and got rid of it?

If it is true that he used to play an old LM Radicl (Tour?) 64 RA then I find it very hard to believe that he would be able to play as low as 51.

But honestly I dont think he got a clue about what type of stiffness he is playing. Maybe he tried a really soft racket and just thought that wow, this felt nice and asked head to produce a few more and then he stayed with that one.

It is true that Djkovic used the LiquidMetal Radical.

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by Wilander

on this board it is written that his frame is ultra-flexible with an RA in the low 50s. i can not believe that. who did the measurement?
his frame is not especially heavy and his strings are done with at least 25kg. no way the ball could leave his racquet with so much power, if the frame was that soft.
what do you think? does anyone know an other pro playing with a racquet that has an RA in the low 50s?

Yes way. He can generate such power because of world class strokes and timing.

-SF

[Wilander]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

Yes way. He can generate such power because of world class strokes and timing.

-SF

do you think other players with the same swingweight hit with the same power, but need much stiffer frames, because they do not have "world class strokes and timing".

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by Wilander

do you think other players with the same swingweight hit with the same power, but need much stiffer frames, because they do not have "world class strokes and timing".

I said what I said an that is all I said.

-SF

[ben123]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

I said what I said an that is all I said.

-SF

worthless posts from u.. thats all

[Buckethead]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

Yes way. He can generate such power because of world class strokes and timing.

-SF

Not only that, but He can use the speed and power coming from the balls given to him with pace.

His technique improved as well, upper body rotation, shoulder rotation...

[dave t]

I recently switched from a stick with an ra mid-upper 60s to one in the mid-upper 50s. I have been hitting harder/heavier with the flexy stick (it even has a lower sw) - I think because the extra feel/dwell time allows me to time/direct my shots better. I also feel like I can swing out more with the flexy stick and it won't fly on me. Who knows though - I really don't care as I've been playing better with the flexy stick and that's all that matters.

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by Buckethead

Not only that, but He can use the speed and power coming from the balls given to him with pace.

His technique improved as well, upper body rotation, shoulder rotation...

All that as well. Yes.

The Opens always bring out the kiddies and they just can't see how one can generate such power and shot making ability from a low stiffness frame.

-SF

[ryushen21]

I'm pretty sure, having talked with several people on these boards who are very reputable, that the specs on his frame are pretty much exactly as VS stated and that the flex is in the low 50s.

Djoko gets the pace and power from his strokes and, as previously stated, the power from his opponents' shots. As of late, people are trying to hit through him so the harder the shots coming at him, the harder his returns will look.

And really, anyone can hit hard with any frame. Look at monfils who smacked a 120mph forehand with the Rebel (granted I think his frames are balanced similarly to a Prestige MP) but the flex on that frame is around 60.

[ben123]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

All that as well. Yes.

The Opens always bring out the kiddies and they just can't see how one can generate such power and shot making ability from a low stiffness frame.

-Shaun

its not the fact that nobody believes he has good technique n strokes with power

im just askin me why r pros still using raquets in the mid 60 stiffnes if its for a pro normal to hit good power with a 50 stiff raquet... that is the question and not wether djokovic has a great technique bc everybody knows that

[harryz]

Generating good pace is a function of racquet speed, mechanics and timing. Djokovic is hitting the ball really early and combining linear and angular momentum, so he has body weight and is both driving through the ball and up and across his body, not just a windshield wiper stroke but also pretty flat and hard.

Harry

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by ben123

its not the fact that nobody believes he has good technique n strokes with power

im just askin me why r pros still using raquets in the mid 60 stiffnes if its for a pro normal to hit good power with a 50 stiff raquet... that is the question and not wether djokovic has a great technique bc everybody knows that

Personal preference. Same reason some pros use full poly strings and some do not, and some string at higher tensions and some string at lower tensions, and some use smaller racquets and some use bigger racquets, and some use heavier racquets and some use lighter racquets. It's just what you're accustomed to what your strokes and timing are grooved to.

[Kevo]

I think you are making too much of the relation between frame stiffness and power. There are other factors involved and it's not a simple one to one.

When you look at the stiffness of a wood frame compared to a graphite frame you'd think it'd be impossible to hit a serve at 124mph, but when Tennis magazine had Mark Philippoussis test 3 different frames, the difference between graphite and wood was 3mph.