Weight

[PrimeChoice]

Anybody on the boards got their racquet up to 14oz's yet?

[lobman]

Playing at 12.5 and that's about as far as I need to go.

[LeeD]

When we start playing tennis with baseballs, I'll be the first to sign one up.
Now, even in soaking wet courts, 12 oz is plenty. I mostly play with DunlopHDHardCourt balls, the heaviest and knappiest of the big 3. I play with a 10 oz racket.

[Fuji]

I used 14.0oz PSC6.1's for a while. Cool but bothered my shoulder more then anything.

-Fuji

[PrimeChoice]

The PSC6.1 is the exact racquet I used to use. Boy have things changed. Classic though.

The old ProStaff

[LeeD]

I USED to play with a WilsonStanSmithM 4 5/8th.
Don't mean anything, I don't play with that anymore.

[3fees]

No I'm at 12.3 oz

[Orion3]

I'm at 13oz

As heavy as I need

[Rozroz]

you must be pretty muscular guys..

[NLBwell]

My original Kennex Black Aces are 14 oz (essentially stock). My MG Prestige Pros are at 13 1/2 oz leaded up.
I'm pretty scrawny. It's about developing technique that lets you USE the weight to your advantage instead of fighting it.

[PrimeChoice]

Pete Sampras used a 14oz. racquet

[LeeD]

and you're as strong, well conditioned, and face the same ball as Sampras...

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

heavy racquets are awesome for low level pushers and hyper strong pros, but kind of rubbish for a lot of folks in between (like me)

I can't swing anything over 12 oz hard enough, simple as that. I can block back returns with them, volley and even serve as long as I don't try for too much RHS, but no way can I play quality groundstrokes.

I guess everyone likes different things, eh? The old Slazenger Challenge I first learned to play with probably weighed 14oz, but then, I used to hit old school flat groundies. I don't play like that anymore!

[LeeD]

And is there really a need for "plowthrough" in this age of WW finish and heavy spins?

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Originally Posted by LeeD

And is there really a need for "plowthrough" in this age of WW finish and heavy spins?

lol, there is if you block everything back!

[LeeD]

I"m a conti gripped volley returner off a fast first serve. The spin seems to cause more problems for the server than pace of return.
I've mainly sliced with some sidespin component, but have recently learned to add more and more sidespin, which seems to give 4.0 server's much more problems than just the backspin.
Instead of plowthrough, I added racket size and stiffness to the equation.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

I guess everyone likes different things, eh? The old Slazenger Challenge I first learned to play with probably weighed 14oz, but then, I used to hit old school flat groundies. I don't play like that anymore!

I loved the Slazenger Challenge 1 and even more the Challenge Graphite (similar, but graphite inlays in the wood). Probably hit the hardest serves I ever hit with those rackets. I went to Black Aces because the wood would develop fatigue cracks in only a couple of weeks and it was actually much cheaper to buy one graphite racket than continually replacing them.
These days, I hit a lot of flat groundies, as well as slice (BH & FH), sidespin, and quite a bit of Muster-like topspins (from when I played on clay a lot).

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

ye, they are great sticks, aren't they?

I think I have them in the cupboard under the stairs somewhere, might bring 'em out for a hit.

[Orion3]

[quote=Timbo's hopeless slice;6988796]

I can't swing anything over 12 oz hard enough, simple as that. I can block back returns with them, volley and even serve as long as I don't try for too much RHS, but no way can I play quality groundstrokes.

I guess everyone likes different things, eh? QUOTE]

Indeed!

To me, anything below 11.5 oz seems too flimsy - really, really don't like the feel. I've gradually worked my weigh up. 12.5 oz was good and have only ended up at 13 oz due to racquet matching. Glad I did - its solid, I can hit heavy spin with power and bomb serves. It kills volleys, but I need to really anticipate.

RHS - no getting away from it, heavier is slower (to start the swing anyway). So unless you have very good RHS to start with or are strong enough to get your swing moving qyuickly, a heavy stick probably won't work. Quick reactions are also a must, if you swing too late you have little chance of controlling the shot.

I've found that heavier sticks start the swing slower, but once the swing is started - RHS is not a problem.

Do you need to be super strong - NO. You need to be strong enough, have good technique and co-ordination.

[Hi I'm Ray]

I have two really old frames that feel and swing very heavy - one felt as heavy as a wooden frame. The weight and SW seem really excessive. My old college frames were around 12.1 oz & 325 SW. My current frames are around 11.7 oz & 340 SW - this is about as heavy as I'll ever need them to be. The 12.1oz frame actually feels lighter in play.
(not including overgrip on all)