16x19 vs. 18x20 pattern by top ATP players

[Pioneer]

I want to use what my favorite player is using - Big Banger Original at 29kg in 18x20 Prestige Classic.

[JediMindTrick]

Originally Posted by bdog

Sales have dropped dramatically in recent years with rackets having an 18x20 pattern. Many reasons for this, but the biggest reason is polyester string. Pros found out long ago that poly in a 16x19 pattern gives you the control of a tight pattern with more power and spin. No real reason to play with 18x20 anymore. Plus I would never encourage anyone to play with a full poly in a 18x20 pattern. Tough on the arm.

....fans want to use what their favorite player is using, Nadal, Fed and Roddick...young pros are now growing up with 16x19 and will use that exclusively...

I think this makes sense. 18x20 stringbeds were designed back in the day to quiet down the full gut stringjobs that the pros used back then, so that they didn't have to string at very high tensions. Strung with poly they just feel like a board.

[Arvid]

Originally Posted by bdog

Sales have dropped dramatically in recent years with rackets having an 18x20 pattern. Many reasons for this, but the biggest reason is polyester string. Pros found out long ago that poly in a 16x19 pattern gives you the control of a tight pattern with more power and spin. No real reason to play with 18x20 anymore. Plus I would never encourage anyone to play with a full poly in a 18x20 pattern. Tough on the arm.

....fans want to use what their favorite player is using, Nadal, Fed and Roddick...young pros are now growing up with 16x19 and will use that exclusively...

Definately good point, however i still think its meaningfull to play with 18X20 using full poly and i think for years to come the 18x20 will not dissapear. Full poly in a 16x19 does give you good control, but still you do have more controll in a tighter string pattern. What poly also has changed is that its now easier to generate a lot of spin with a tight string pattern. I put some thin poly in my pro tour and its a real spinner! Take Agassi for example, early in his career he grew up with prince os 16x19, at that time he was not using poly, but later on when he switched to full poly he was using a 20x21 string pattern, obviously he did that cause he thought it made a differense or else he would have stayed with a more open string pattern.....

[Power Player]

Agassi hits flatter though.

The main thing to understand is that hitting heavy spin shots with an 18x20 can be more tiring and take more effort. That is the lesson I learned. I loved the ball trajectory, and the fact that I was still getting the spin I wanted, but it sure tired me out after a while. I can honestly go either way, but in terms of easier power and easier spin, the 16x19 allows me to hit heavy spin shots and still get plenty of pace and depth.

[Outlined]

Originally Posted by bdog

Sales have dropped dramatically in recent years with rackets having an 18x20 pattern. Many reasons for this, but the biggest reason is polyester string. Pros found out long ago that poly in a 16x19 pattern gives you the control of a tight pattern with more power and spin. No real reason to play with 18x20 anymore. Plus I would never encourage anyone to play with a full poly in a 18x20 pattern. Tough on the arm.

....fans want to use what their favorite player is using, Nadal, Fed and Roddick...young pros are now growing up with 16x19 and will use that exclusively...

good post.

[Outlined]

Originally Posted by PED

Actually, his Head TGK260 has a 16X19

what the heck you are right