New question about federer's racket??

[slickerthansleek]

I'm glad to see this is a common thing. I do this too, I make sure the logo on my dampener is facing the ball when I hit my forehand, it's more comfortable to hold the racket that way... I thought I was just weird lol

[ShooterMcMarco]

Originally Posted by Laver777

i thought all players did this? the racquet grip over time molds to the shape of how you grip the racquet... i allways hold it the same way because if i hold it the other way it feels wierd because the handle has molded, changed shape to fit how i hold the racquet....

This. Plus I wrap overgrips the same way every time so it's super easy for me to tell if I'm hitting with the same face over and over again. Also, the wear and tear on the upper hoop of my frame is asymmetrical.

[ben123]

in another thread someone stated federer is probably using lead on only one side of the racquet (9 or 3).

[Mike.Killion]

FEDHEAD -

In the same forum, look in the thread that has this title: "Pic of Fed with new stick and new kicks". I posted several ideas that Federer (in my opinion) does indeed have his rackets weighted differently. In my opinion, I think the black side of his frame is much (8-12g) heavier than the red side of his frame (from the previous BLX paintjob years). There's alot of physics behind my idea that support. I won't bore with the details, you can read all of the thoughts yourself......as well as add 6-8g of leadtape to one side of the frame and give it a try yourself. Remember, heavier side up when hitting. - Mike.Killion

[champy511]

Since Mike.Killion suggested about the possibility of Fed may put some weight onone side of the frame, I've been paying attention on Fed's matches. It's even clearer this year with the new pj, that he always have one side up, 100%. Even in practice. it baffled me, he had to have something behind that more than just superstition.Since I am playing with a Donnay racket, I have put an extra 6 gr on one side of my racket, between 1-3 o'clock. i kept that part up n I think I am seeing an extra kick on my topspin.
What have you learn from being a golf pro? I would like to know more. Also, if you happenned to see the on court interview that Courier had with Fed, right after he beat Dr. Ivo, Fed was being very vague about his racket, but he did say something about doing something to the inside of his racket. I have not been able to find that interview online, so if anybody have it, please post it. Thx. Would love to hear more about this matter, all the while, I will keep the weight on my racket.

[SFrazeur]

Always holding one side of the grip isn't a superstition. It's about consistency. Even if a handle was perfectly symmetrical a wrapped base grip and overgrip is going to give a different feel to either side. Always holding one side just makes sense.

-SF

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by champy511

Since Mike.Killion suggested about the possibility of Fed may put some weight onone side of the frame, I've been paying attention on Fed's matches. It's even clearer this year with the new pj, that he always have one side up, 100%. Even in practice. it baffled me, he had to have something behind that more than just superstition.Since I am playing with a Donnay racket, I have put an extra 6 gr on one side of my racket, between 1-3 o'clock. i kept that part up n I think I am seeing an extra kick on my topspin.
What have you learn from being a golf pro? I would like to know more. Also, if you happenned to see the on court interview that Courier had with Fed, right after he beat Dr. Ivo, Fed was being very vague about his racket, but he did say something about doing something to the inside of his racket. I have not been able to find that interview online, so if anybody have it, please post it. Thx. Would love to hear more about this matter, all the while, I will keep the weight on my racket.

I also tried it.. i put 2 two inch strips of lead tape on the "top" side (if the racket is at impact position of the forehand/backhand) and did see and feel a difference. It definitely seemed to come off the racket a little lower and did seem to have more action.. it almost seemed that i needed to "lift" the ball over the net. I havent played very much with it and am going to keep testing it but there does seem to be something to this theory.

And yes I am a golf teaching pro and known the different effects for weight at certain points and kick points, etc. To be more specific, What would you want to know? The effect on putting more weight higher on the club face would lower ball flight and so that make sense.. but anything else i would be glad to try and answer...

[RJYU]

Some of you are over thinking this stuff. I can tell you that Roger does not weight one side of the frame differently than the other. The reason he plays with the racquet in his hand the same way is purely due to the way the grip is wrapped. The overlap at the start of the grip causes one side of the racquet to have a slightly larger bump on one side of the buttcap. He orients the racquet in his hand because of the feel of that bump in his palm.

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by RJYU

Some of you are over thinking this stuff. I can tell you that Roger does not weight one side of the frame differently than the other.

I agree with you that it's the grip. But want to know how you know. Others come off as being definitive, then go back to stating they are their 'ideas'.

[PeterFig]

Originally Posted by RJYU

Some of you are over thinking this stuff. I can tell you that Roger does not weight one side of the frame differently than the other. The reason he plays with the racquet in his hand the same way is purely due to the way the grip is wrapped. The overlap at the start of the grip causes one side of the racquet to have a slightly larger bump on one side of the buttcap. He orients the racquet in his hand because of the feel of that bump in his palm.

Two pages of speculation and discussion on physics shot down by RJYU saying it's just where the overlap bump when grip is wrapped ends up classic. Ron you just broke the hearts and hopes of many who thought they found the secret to Roger's game.

[PeterFig]

Originally Posted by West Coast Ace

I agree with you that it's the grip. But want to know how you know. Others come off as being definitive, then go back to stating they are their 'ideas'.

He customizes / strings Roger's racquets

[DNShade]

Originally Posted by RJYU

Some of you are over thinking this stuff. I can tell you that Roger does not weight one side of the frame differently than the other. The reason he plays with the racquet in his hand the same way is purely due to the way the grip is wrapped. The overlap at the start of the grip causes one side of the racquet to have a slightly larger bump on one side of the buttcap. He orients the racquet in his hand because of the feel of that bump in his palm.

THANK YOU - maybe people will actually believe that now.

Sometimes I wonder if people out here even play tennis by some of the posts I see out here. As a player you just get used to holding a grip one way because it feel "right" to you hand - and then you just always play that way. And I spin the stick all the time and catch it on the same side without looking - easy. Just becomes habit - nothing more than that.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by champy511

...Fed was being very vague about his racket, but he did say something about doing something to the inside of his racket. I have not been able to find that interview online

He didn't say anything of significance other than they try are open to trying different stuff including weight, strings, materials etc. - i.e. basically his way of saying he remains 'modern' but without actually saying anything specific.

[fedhead83829]

hey guys.. i am simply curious.. not trying to figure out the "secret" to federers game, that is not a secret, he more talented/works harder than others!!! not the question.. just have a similar factors, similar forehand grip and a 1hand backhand so i watch him and try to improve.. i noticed the racket thing and was just curious.. i wouldnt put lead tape in a certain spot of my clubs or hit a draw/fade bias driver because a tv pro was doing it.. if i hook the golf ball i would not do things to my equipment that a slicer would.. in the same way i wouldnt try to match my equipment to nadals cuz i dont have any similar factors(by the way, not saying i am like federer in any way) and that would not helping me play better, and THAT is root of this curiosity, simply to improve.. and if there is a trick(lead tape, grip, strings,etc) that a player that has similar grip/style its atleast worth a try and to try and better understand the reasoning behind the method..

[drakulie]

Always a first time for everything. This is a photo taken by me at the Sony Miami 2009 practice.

Enjoy:

[DNShade]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Always a first time for everything. This is a photo taken by me at the Sony Miami 2009 practice.

Enjoy:

Nice. But we've also see him hit two handed backhands in practice as well...lol.

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by champy511

Since Mike.Killion suggested about the possibility of Fed may put some weight onone side of the frame, I've been paying attention on Fed's matches. It's even clearer this year with the new pj, that he always have one side up, 100%. Even in practice. it baffled me, he had to have something behind that more than just superstition.Since I am playing with a Donnay racket, I have put an extra 6 gr on one side of my racket, between 1-3 o'clock. i kept that part up n I think I am seeing an extra kick on my topspin.
What have you learn from being a golf pro? I would like to know more. Also, if you happenned to see the on court interview that Courier had with Fed, right after he beat Dr. Ivo, Fed was being very vague about his racket, but he did say something about doing something to the inside of his racket. I have not been able to find that interview online, so if anybody have it, please post it. Thx. Would love to hear more about this matter, all the while, I will keep the weight on my racket.

? thats the k factor version? whats the 1st time?

Originally Posted by drakulie

Always a first time for everything. This is a photo taken by me at the Sony Miami 2009 practice.

Enjoy:

[8nfinity]

Originally Posted by fedhead83829

? thats the k factor version? whats the 1st time?

By the 1st time, drak means that he caught Fed not positioning the racket in the up direction. It's harder to tell on the K Factor 90 since its symmetrical, but you can tell by his "W" stencil - the W ends are facing down, indicating that he didn't position it the way he does 99.9999% of the time.

Amazing find Drak!

[champy511]

Originally Posted by fedhead83829

I also tried it.. i put 2 two inch strips of lead tape on the "top" side (if the racket is at impact position of the forehand/backhand) and did see and feel a difference. It definitely seemed to come off the racket a little lower and did seem to have more action.. it almost seemed that i needed to "lift" the ball over the net. I havent played very much with it and am going to keep testing it but there does seem to be something to this theory.

And yes I am a golf teaching pro and known the different effects for weight at certain points and kick points, etc. To be more specific, What would you want to know? The effect on putting more weight higher on the club face would lower ball flight and so that make sense.. but anything else i would be glad to try and answer...

Thanks for replying, I was just curious with the scientific aspect of it. I found out that as I let the momentum pulls the racket, the mass or the heavier side created an extra pull on its way up. But I wasn't sure if that was the main reason. some of the players I hit with made comment about how much spin was produced, even though I have not told them anything.
Btw, to those of you that wondered if I even play tennis, I am a teaching pro,and I have been in the top 50 ITF junior in the 90's, n have played in the tour as well as Division 1 college, so no offense taken but please watch when you decide to pass judgement, thanks.
And what has gotten my curiosity is that I haven't found a single shot by Fed this year (with the new pj), that he hit with the white side on top. I'll be fine if it turns out it is nothing, but as I tried it myself, I was quite surprised by the result.
So, fedhead, from what you're saying then, when you put more weight on top of the club head it created a straighter hit and lower the ball flight, will the opposite happens if you put extra weight at the bottom?

[DNShade]

Originally Posted by 8nfinity

By the 1st time, drak means that he caught Fed not positioning the racket in the up direction. It's harder to tell on the K Factor 90 since its symmetrical, but you can tell by his "W" stencil - the W ends are facing down, indicating that he didn't position it the way he does 99.9999% of the time.

Amazing find Drak!

Indeed - although it could be that the stencil was put on the "wrong" way and that's why he was using that string job in practice...but more than likely just hitting around and got caught in wrong grip etc.