New question about federer's racket??

[PeterFig]

Originally Posted by champy511

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.

I guess there are two parts to all this:

1. What's the reason for Federer having the racquet always in one orientation? This has now been put to rest by RJYU - Federer has his grips/overgrips done the exact same way on each racquet so it's the wrapping/bump that determines how he holds the frame - and not any weight.
2. Does putting in some weight at only 3 or 9 positions help in any way? This is actually a very interesting idea. I also wonder if it would be a little 'mental hint' to drop the racquet head before contact to generate more topspin. I know I sometimes hit too straight through the ball, don't drop the head enough to brush up on the ball ... i wonder if putting some weight on the 'bottom' side would help in that - would you actually feel the weight and remember to drop the head down? Anyways - interesting discussion irregardless of it not being something Federer does.

[champy511]

Originally Posted by PeterFig

I guess there are two parts to all this:

1. What's the reason for Federer having the racquet always in one orientation? This has now been put to rest by RJYU - Federer has his grips/overgrips done the exact same way on each racquet so it's the wrapping/bump that determines how he holds the frame - and not any weight.
2. Does putting in some weight at only 3 or 9 positions help in any way? This is actually a very interesting idea. I also wonder if it would be a little 'mental hint' to drop the racquet head before contact to generate more topspin. I know I sometimes hit too straight through the ball, don't drop the head enough to brush up on the ball ... i wonder if putting some weight on the 'bottom' side would help in that - would you actually feel the weight and remember to drop the head down? Anyways - interesting discussion irregardless of it not being something Federer does.

As I spent more than 30 mins hitting with the heavier side up,I could tell when the heavier side, accidentally (as I forgot to stop my habit of spinning my racket), was at the bottom. I felt a bit of a lag when the weight is at the bottom. This just amplified my curiosity that Fed had not a single time, this year, accidentally hit with the white side up.

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by champy511

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?

technically, yes.. when the weight is placed lower on the golf club the ball tends to go higher, the mass has the leverage and increases the vertical launch angle.. the opposite happens on the "sides" tho, weight on the toe(part of the club face farthest from the shaft) of the club will promote the toe not to close down causing a fade/slice and also weight on the heel(part of the face closest to the shaft) will cause the toe to close down faster causing a draw/hook.. this is in alot of equipment now with the different weights you can put in drivers and different clubs.. this is why im surprised at the all of the negative feedback and this kind of thing is not more common in tennis..

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by PeterFig

I guess there are two parts to all this:

1. What's the reason for Federer having the racquet always in one orientation? This has now been put to rest by RJYU - Federer has his grips/overgrips done the exact same way on each racquet so it's the wrapping/bump that determines how he holds the frame - and not any weight.
2. Does putting in some weight at only 3 or 9 positions help in any way? This is actually a very interesting idea. I also wonder if it would be a little 'mental hint' to drop the racquet head before contact to generate more topspin. I know I sometimes hit too straight through the ball, don't drop the head enough to brush up on the ball ... i wonder if putting some weight on the 'bottom' side would help in that - would you actually feel the weight and remember to drop the head down? Anyways - interesting discussion irregardless of it not being something Federer does.

good question.. but my thought is the opposite.. i also hit more flat and want to brinng the ball down in the court more.. so, i THINK that weight on the bottom will NOT allow the racket face to come over the top of the ball to create more topspin and will keep the racket face straight up/open that will make the ball fly..

[champy511]

Originally Posted by fedhead83829

technically, yes.. when the weight is placed lower on the golf club the ball tends to go higher, the mass has the leverage and increases the vertical launch angle.. the opposite happens on the "sides" tho, weight on the toe(part of the club face farthest from the shaft) of the club will promote the toe not to close down causing a fade/slice and also weight on the heel(part of the face closest to the shaft) will cause the toe to close down faster causing a draw/hook.. this is in alot of equipment now with the different weights you can put in drivers and different clubs.. this is why im surprised at the all of the negative feedback and this kind of thing is not more common in tennis..

Thank you. I will test this some more. I think the negative feedback came, because they r so used seeing many people tryi g to copy how the pros look without wanting to know the reason why, and they probably thought that we are one of those who just want to copy the look and hoping for the same result. Well, whatever, I found this very interesting, especially knowing that it has been done in golf. The difference would be that there is the diagonally upward swing in tennis that creates the topspin action.

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by champy511

Thank you. I will test this some more. I think the negative feedback came, because they r so used seeing many people tryi g to copy how the pros look without wanting to know the reason why, and they probably thought that we are one of those who just want to copy the look and hoping for the same result. Well, whatever, I found this very interesting, especially knowing that it has been done in golf. The difference would be that there is the diagonally upward swing in tennis that creates the topspin action.

agreed.. and i enjoy the discussion.. but it seems to me, that its a combination of the upward swing and the position of the racket face at impact(or what the racket does at impact) would dictate how much or what kind of spin.. example: just because i swing to the left does not mean the ball will go left, the club face would need to be pointed in that direction for it to fly there. if my face was open(or pointed to the right) with the same swing path going to the left then the club would generate a left to right spin on the ball causing the ball to slice.. and so if the added weight on the top would keep the racket face tilted down longer at impact, it would seem to "cover" the ball longer and that would mean it would reduce the vertical flight of the ball and create more topspin, correct?

[champy511]

Originally Posted by fedhead83829

agreed.. and i enjoy the discussion.. but it seems to me, that its a combination of the upward swing and the position of the racket face at impact(or what the racket does at impact) would dictate how much or what kind of spin.. example: just because i swing to the left does not mean the ball will go left, the club face would need to be pointed in that direction for it to fly there. if my face was open(or pointed to the right) with the same swing path going to the left then the club would generate a left to right spin on the ball causing the ball to slice.. and so if the added weight on the top would keep the racket face tilted down longer at impact, it would seem to "cover" the ball longer and that would mean it would reduce the vertical flight of the ball and create more topspin, correct?

I think it is supposed to generate the topspin, at this point I am thinking that since I generate all my powers by letting the momentum built through my loop backswing, I feel like as I guide the racket forward and up, the mass or the weight on top of the racket will creates an extra pull, which build velocity. But I am not the right person to say this, it seems that way in my mind. So, as a result, I think that creates more lift that produces some more topspin. I also realized today that my shots seem to be a bit deeper than when I used normal weight, so maybe the weight at the top caused the racket face to open a bit more than normal, maybe?? I don't know, but I am enjoying the results so far. Hope you have a good experience too. Btw, I looked through hundreds of Fed's pictures this year n not a single one is he hitting with the white side up (new pj).

[Baris]

Originally Posted by fedhead83829

I have watched countless videos of fed playing and practicing, because mainly i am obsessed, and ive recently noticed since he has been using the "BLX paint job" racket (whether it is or it isnt the real blx doesnt really matter to me), I have NEVER seen him hit a shot where the black side wasnt on top and the red wasnt on the bottom.. even after spinning the racket, during a point, etc.. always goes back to black on top and red on bottom.. So, I have been going crazy trying to find the reasoning behind this.. I have search this site and others to try and find a reason for this because I really am a beginner when it comes to custom equipment, equipment maintenance and the "inside" world of pro tennis.. My thought so far; I realize that there must be a custom grip or some kind of rib to help him find it but thats not exactly my question.. My question is more why? My ideas on this has run from maybe a different kind of stringing job my help on one side or another since he will always hit his forehands and serves on the same side and backhands on the opposite.. Or, maybe his has it weighted one side and not the other? like at 3 oclock and NOT 9 oclock so it would change the weighting if he were to hit with the opposite side (that 3oclock/9oclock is for an example to explain because i really dont know and i am extremely curious). I am growing more and more curious by every post I read about the different methods and tricks people/pros use to help improve their tennis game. Any comments or an answer would greatly help my sanity. Thanks!

I have tried to put some lead tape at 9 oclock but I could still not find out which side is up while turning the racket as in like return of serve position. Is it the overgrip gripping style that might create some bump at one side or special buttcap lets him to determine which side is up or not?

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by ben123

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

I understand that Jimmy Connors used to put lead tape on only one side of his T-2000s.