Federer must make the switch or he will descend even more

[volleynets]

Good points Breakpoint.

[ace0001a]

Well BP, you and everyone else are and should be entitled to an opinion. I think it's obvious here we can agree to disagree, simple as that. Lets move on shall we?

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

...Yes, he should have been so stubborn because he won 14 Slams with it and was #1 for 6 straight years. You don't fix what ain't broken. If he had switched to a bigger racquet he just may have never won another Slam or dropped in the rankings...

Yep.

I took Sampras' comments on him wishing he'd tried a larger head size with a grain of salt anyway. It's the strings which have changed the most and which he has elsewhere said are tantamount to cheating - implying the gains made have been significant. Frames really haven't changed all that much by comparison - and a half cm of extra hoop size here or there certainly doesn't make a world of difference compared to other factors (weight, balance, flex, strings, tension).

I've used a PS85 exclusively (other than testin frames) since I was a teen and I'm 100 leagues below Sampras - but with the strings available nowdays they have never played so well, especially in the spin department.

[Vcore89]

Lendl in his time, played a 73 instead of a 75 did alright.

[lawrencejin]

I think Ace makes a fair point. We should agree to disagree, since at the end of the day, we're only speculating and presenting our own opinions.

For example, Ace said: "...I wouldn't question a valid retrospective opinion of [Sampras]"
BP said: "I would because Sampras is clearly wrong"

To me, both statements are much stronger than what we can substantiate with evidence. Is Sampras' retrospective opinion unquestionably valid? No, as BP argued. But then, does that mean Sampras is clearly wrong? Again, no. The answer is: we don't know, so we cannot rule anything out in such a confident manner.

I wish we could somehow turn the time back and conduct an experiment: let Sampras play with a larger head, and see how many slams he wins. Since we cannot do that, we'll never know the answer... and I guess we'll continue to have entertaining, heated, and opinionated debates on this forum

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by lawrencejin

I think Ace makes a fair point. We should agree to disagree, since at the end of the day, we're only speculating and presenting our own opinions.

For example, Ace said: "...I wouldn't question a valid retrospective opinion of [Sampras]"
BP said: "I would because Sampras is clearly wrong"

To me, both statements are much stronger than what we can substantiate with evidence. Is Sampras' retrospective opinion unquestionably valid? No, as BP argued. But then, does that mean Sampras is clearly wrong? Again, no. The answer is: we don't know, so we cannot rule anything out in such a confident manner.

I wish we could somehow turn the time back and conduct an experiment: let Sampras play with a larger head, and see how many slams he wins. Since we cannot do that, we'll never know the answer... and I guess we'll continue to have entertaining, heated, and opinionated debates on this forum

I didn't mean that Sampras was clearly wrong that he couldn't have done as well or even better with a bigger racquet during his pro career. He may or may not have. What I'm saying is that his logic is clearly wrong because it's flawed logic. You can't say AFTER the fact that you would have done better if you had switched to a bigger racquet because the truth is that you just don't know. You may have done better but you may have also done worse. So it's Sampras's logic that was clearly wrong.

[0d1n]

Originally Posted by ace0001a

....

Since I am not going to question the view or opinion of a 14 Slam winner, I would chose to believe his retrospective take in equipment is very much a valid one. Also would be fair to say Davydenko, Ljubicic and Ferroro are/were never at the skill level of Sampras or Federer.


Probably...but again I wouldn't question a valid retrospective opinion of said 14 Slam winner.

Then how about stopping the questioning of an opinion (and choice) from a 17 slam winner.
Since he keeps playing with his current racquet, it is clear that his opinion is that it's the best racquet for him.
Makes sense ?!?!??

[rommil]

OP right now is playing tennis with a badminton racket

[ace0001a]

Originally Posted by 0d1n

Then how about stopping the questioning of an opinion (and choice) from a 17 slam winner.
Since he keeps playing with his current racquet, it is clear that his opinion is that it's the best racquet for him.
Makes sense ?!?!??

Originally Posted by ace0001a

Well BP, you and everyone else are and should be entitled to an opinion. I think it's obvious here we can agree to disagree, simple as that. Lets move on shall we?

Originally Posted by rommil

OP right now is playing tennis with a badminton racket

I am going to reiterate that everyone's entitled to an opinion, we can all agree to disagree and to each their own which is what makes sense...

Maybe the OP is playing tennis with a racquetball racquet!

[Lambsscroll]

Courier, Edberg, Federer and Sampras could have played with the Pro Staff 95 since it was available at the same time as the PS85. But all 4 Grand Slam winners preferred the PS85. Keep in mind that now with the advent of poly strings players are stringing lower so the sweet spot has increased without sacrificing control. Also the heavier the stick the more of a sweet spot you'll have.

[lendlmac]

Federer MUSt make the switch now, or he will descened behind the top 10 in 2013....

a '95 or 98 sq. frame ala Dolgopolov should do it...

[sureshs]

He should use the Christmas vacation to get used to a 95 sq in frame. Next year, Nadal is gonna be back and life will be very difficult for Federer with the small frame.

[monfed]

I'm actually starting to think he should switch. Seriously what's he gotta lose? He ain't winning squat in 13' with that paintbrush anymore,sadly.

[mtommer]

Originally Posted by ace0001a

I am going to reiterate that everyone's entitled to an opinion, we can all agree to disagree and to each their own which is what makes sense...

What does holding an opinion have anything to do with the validity of that opinion with regards to how it may work out in "real" life? I can hold the opinion that a person jumping head first off of the top floor of the Sears tower with no type of protection will survive the faceplant into the concrete sidewalk. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but that doesn't mean their opinion should be given any weight in an argument.

In the case of this thread, the opinion that Federer switching to a bigger head size else he descend even more, is fallacious. If he were to switch and start winning more there is no way one can attribute that to being the primary reason, or even any part of really, for the "renewed" success. The only way this issue would even have a chance at entering a real debate would be for scientists to study Fed during the course of one or two seasons where Fed is constantly switching between head sizes during each match he plays.

To put this more succinctly, the burden of proof is on those who believe Fed changing to a larger head size would improve his game. The reverse isn't true for those who say changing will not matter because Fed has enjoyed unparalleled success with his current racquet. Those who believe no change will matter have evidence on their side. Those who believe changing will help have absolutely no evidence whatsoever to back up their claim at this point in time. All have a right to form an opinion but not all opinions get to enjoy the same weight in a discussion. So, there is no "agreeing to disagree". Either get some evidence to back up one's opinion or it will be treated as the joke it's put forth to be.

[ace0001a]

Originally Posted by mtommer

To put this more succinctly, the burden of proof is on those who believe Fed changing to a larger head size would improve his game. The reverse isn't true for those who say changing will not matter because Fed has enjoyed unparalleled success with his current racquet. Those who believe no change will matter have evidence on their side. Those who believe changing will help have absolutely no evidence whatsoever to back up their claim at this point in time. All have a right to form an opinion but not all opinions get to enjoy the same weight in a discussion. So, there is no "agreeing to disagree". Either get some evidence to back up one's opinion or it will be treated as the joke it's put forth to be.

Yeah well, I am just going to agree to disagree with you...it's my perogative, 'nuff said, Peace Out!

[Player#1]

There is no doubt that Federer really needs to go down 5 rather than up!

He needs to go back to his PS 85 so he can play more of an inside the baseline attacking style of play!

[3fees]

He needs more power in his ground stroke game,,moving up in racquet size will do this with the same swing.

[PrimeChoice]

The Fed is in condition and will be in contention for another Wimbeldon Title.

The Fed is in condition and will be in contention...

[PrimeChoice]

Fed loves his racquet, he will NOT SWITCH!

[Blaxican10s]

Fed needs to switch otherwise he's going to fall....down to #3 in the world. Oh no, the horrors!