Why dont racket companies sell the rackets as the pros use them?

mTm28 · 07-13-2009, 06:38 AM

I mean when i was younger i was intrested in trying the "latest" federer racket, which isnt actually the federer racket. Why dont the companies just sell them as the pros use them, with all of the modifications and that or just add them to the new line of rackets?

120mphBodyServe · 07-13-2009, 06:42 AM

Because, I'm guessing their costs would go up...
The quality control measures that go into making the racquets for the pros would be much higher...
They are all usually made at the factory by the same person, all to the exact same specs, no ifs or buts...
In my view it's better to ignore what the pros use, and find the racquet that's right for you...
Support companies that have good quality control standards...
So that counts out Wilson, Babolat and Head...

canadave · 07-13-2009, 06:48 AM

Ironically, the Fed racquet apparently is pretty similar to the one sold in stores, from what I've read....more so than most other pro customized racquets. Anyway....

There are a couple of reasons I can think of. One, I'm sure pros change up their "setups" relatively often, and it'd be hard for companies to "keep up" so that the models were absolutely identical. Two, I get the feeling from the little I've seen of pro spec'ed racquets that they are significantly heavier than most amateur players would be able to, or want to, handle. Three, what do you do if more than one pro player uses the same model of racquet?

raiden031 · 07-13-2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadave

Two, I get the feeling from the little I've seen of pro spec'ed racquets that they are significantly heavier than most amateur players would be able to, or want to, handle.

I always thought this argument was nonsense. Most of the "tour" player's racquets that are sold are recommended for 4.5-5.0+ players anyways. This would imply that only 1% of the population can really handle these racquets. Why create such a racquet when you can create one that is usable by such a small minority of the population AND is authentic in that its the racquet that the pro actually uses.

I mean really, if a 5.0 uses a 13 oz. racquet, does that mean that a pro player is using what 16-17 oz. racquets?

JRstriker12 · 07-13-2009, 07:07 AM

A better question is why try to play with the exact setup as a player on the tour?

There's a reason why all the pros have different setups for thier sticks, it's customized for thier game.

Find a stick you like, set it up so it matches your game and have fun. Playing with a k6.1 with Fed's setup isn't going to make you play like Fed.

FedererForehand · 07-13-2009, 10:56 AM

Most recreational/ competative players would not be able to handle professional players set-ups.

pmerk34 · 07-13-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FedererForehand

Most recreational/ competative players would not be able to handle professional players set-ups.

So how come you can if you are not a pro?

JRstriker12 · 07-13-2009, 01:59 PM

I'd say almost 100% of tennis players could play with a pro's set up. For example, I've hit with wood rackets or a K6.1 and I could hit with each.

HOWEVER - playing well with either of those sticks was a totally different issue.....

FedererForehand · 07-13-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmerk34

So how come you can if you are not a pro?

Sorry- but I missed where I said I could handle a pros set up...

johnkidd · 07-13-2009, 05:14 PM

I hit with a K90 over the w/e. Feels great when you hit it dead center, but it was really tough to hit a two-handed bh with.

ayuname · 07-13-2009, 05:41 PM

It's marketing. Just because it says a special ranking requirement people will still spend the bucks to look like their idol.

I could like Djokovic's play style and buy the Speed Pro and be terrible at tennis for a really long time, but at least I got Djokovic's Speed Pro.

Hidious · 07-13-2009, 06:28 PM

Recreational hockey players can easily buy prostock sticks from many places. And believe or not, retail hockey sticks are now even more expensive than racquets. Prostock sticks are cheaper.

Racquets don't break though, maybe selling prostock would affect the market too much preventing the birth of some great frames.

Virtua Tennis · 07-14-2009, 12:22 AM

Most pros racquets come from the factory as blank frames meaning no grips no weights. (and I do mean no grips) Pros send their frames out to special custom shops that will mold custom sized and shape grips and weigh and blance it to their specs.

henryshli · 07-14-2009, 03:17 AM

Pros being pros uses rackets that will suit their game down to the T.

Pros being pros means that they can actually play tennis so their set up is more than likely to create a racket that is very demanding for people who can't play tennis but better than stock if you can.

How many men in the top 100 can use Federer's K90 without their game suffering as a result? Maybe 5? Maybe not even 5. So in order for Wilson to sell more than 5 rackets and make a profit they product rackets that will be playable for the public.

I don't agree that it would cost more to produce a k90 with Federer set up than say the current k90s in the market. If they wanted to they would have just created a federer racket like they would any other.

raiden031 · 07-14-2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryshli

How many men in the top 100 can use Federer's K90 without their game suffering as a result? Maybe 5? Maybe not even 5. So in order for Wilson to sell more than 5 rackets and make a profit they product rackets that will be playable for the public.

Isn't it true that the K90 is a big seller, despite its unplayability? If people are willing to buy this pro racquet then they are willing to buy any pro racquet. Obviously there is a huge market for recreational racquets as well though because most players would rather use a racquet that fits them, rather than being a poseur and using a pro's racquet.

This why the argument about unplayability can't be true. There are plenty of racquets that aren't real suitable for 99% of the tennis population, yet they are being solid.

dr325i · 07-14-2009, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryshli

I don't agree that it would cost more to produce a k90 with Federer set up than say the current k90s in the market. If they wanted to they would have just created a federer racket like they would any other.

Not true. Some of the Pro's rackets are made from completely different materials that are more expensive. Read Seles Hall of Fame acceptance speach. Also, they are all carefully matched and made to sustain more stress.

As for handling the Pro stick -- some are so demanding that we cannot handle them, however, most of them may actually improve our game.

Last night, I was hitting with the PT57E (obiously a Pro stick), then with the Volandri's rackets and was definitely hitting a 1/2 the level better... We'll see if it happens again tonight and tomorrow night...

BreakPoint · 07-14-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raiden031

Isn't it true that the K90 is a big seller, despite its unplayability? If people are willing to buy this pro racquet then they are willing to buy any pro racquet. Obviously there is a huge market for recreational racquets as well though because most players would rather use a racquet that fits them, rather than being a poseur and using a pro's racquet.

This why the argument about unplayability can't be true. There are plenty of racquets that aren't real suitable for 99% of the tennis population, yet they are being solid.

That's why Wilson makes 99 other racquets - for the other 99% of the population that can't handle the K90. The K90 is meant for the 1% of the population that can handle it. So that's still big enough of a market for them to sell the K90 since there are more than 100 different racquets on the market.

With some other pros' actual racquets, pretty much 100% of the recreational players wouldn't be able to handle it.

Mick · 07-14-2009, 11:23 AM

they should sell same the racquets that the pros use for premium prices like porsche does, you have the basic boxster and then you have the real high end porsches that perform like race cars.

raiden031 · 07-14-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

With some other pros' actual racquets, pretty much 100% of the recreational players wouldn't be able to handle it.

What pro has a racquet more demanding than the K90?

ckledzepplin · 07-14-2009, 11:55 AM

I don't really think that you have to use a racquet that is recomended for you skill level. I'm about a 3.5 and I use a stock K90, and I rarely frame the ball (maybe 3 times a match). to me the k90 fits perfectly.

07-13-2009, 06:38 AM	#1
mTm28 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 109	Why dont racket companies sell the rackets as the pros use them? I mean when i was younger i was intrested in trying the "latest" federer racket, which isnt actually the federer racket. Why dont the companies just sell them as the pros use them, with all of the modifications and that or just add them to the new line of rackets?

07-13-2009, 06:48 AM	#3
canadave Professional Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Beach Meadows, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 930	Ironically, the Fed racquet apparently is pretty similar to the one sold in stores, from what I've read....more so than most other pro customized racquets. Anyway.... There are a couple of reasons I can think of. One, I'm sure pros change up their "setups" relatively often, and it'd be hard for companies to "keep up" so that the models were absolutely identical. Two, I get the feeling from the little I've seen of pro spec'ed racquets that they are significantly heavier than most amateur players would be able to, or want to, handle. Three, what do you do if more than one pro player uses the same model of racquet? __________________ 1 x Gamma Tour 330X w/WeissCannon Silverstring (1.20) @ 59 lbs

07-13-2009, 07:07 AM	#5
JRstriker12 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,286	A better question is why try to play with the exact setup as a player on the tour? There's a reason why all the pros have different setups for thier sticks, it's customized for thier game. Find a stick you like, set it up so it matches your game and have fun. Playing with a k6.1 with Fed's setup isn't going to make you play like Fed. __________________ Ludacris: My chick bad! Tell me if you seen her. She always brings the racket like Venus and Serena!

07-13-2009, 01:59 PM	#8
JRstriker12 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,286	I'd say almost 100% of tennis players could play with a pro's set up. For example, I've hit with wood rackets or a K6.1 and I could hit with each. HOWEVER - playing well with either of those sticks was a totally different issue..... __________________ Ludacris: My chick bad! Tell me if you seen her. She always brings the racket like Venus and Serena!

07-13-2009, 05:14 PM	#10
johnkidd Semi-Pro Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 725	I hit with a K90 over the w/e. Feels great when you hit it dead center, but it was really tough to hit a two-handed bh with. __________________ Babolat Pure Drive GT + Mains: Tecnifbre Biphase 17g Crosses:Tecnifbre Pro Code Red 17g