Swing weight and swing path

[maxpotapov]

As I'm trying different racquets I noticed how swing weight influences the way I'm trying to swing my racquet. I mean if I distinctly perceive weight of the racquet head, which is most pronounced in Wilson Six.One 90, I'm cautious to take longer and smoother swing path, otherwise I feel like I will break my arm or something. Prestige Mid, even though its static weight and balance is about the same, does not swing as heavy, which "helps" me to get more "creative" with my strokes. Even more "lightheaded" racquets tend to get totally out of control and it hurts not only my stroke production but my arm as well.

Now I'm thinking, as I'm watching Federer gliding through the air with his "cumbersome" racquet: maybe the secret of stability and consistency of top players strokes is in many ways defined by 360+ swingweight which smoothes out their swing path and forces good habits in stroke mechanics?

I know it can be frustrating if heavy racquet does not arrive on time due to lazy preparation and footwork, but I remember it felt really good when I played a practice match with KPS 88, even though I was so tired I could not lift my hand. I literally had to dance around this racquet, to make it going through the ball, but it was so much fun!

I know it's nothing new, but I finally realized that I need stability and fluidity/calmness in my game more than opportunity of being wild and do crazy (or lazy?) things sometimes. I guess I'm just getting older... or mature as a player

[maxpotapov]

Update: last two training sessions I was totally focused on "smoothing out" my swing. What a joy to play, even though everything feels so fragile compared to my regular brute force approach to brushing and moving the ball. I have to really play on my toes so that I can move heavy racquet through the ball with my "fingertips", without hurting my wrist in the process. Project "Federer's forehand" is underway!

[movdqa]

Now I'm thinking, as I'm watching Federer gliding through the air with his "cumbersome" racquet: maybe the secret of stability and consistency of top players strokes is in many ways defined by 360+ swingweight which smoothes out their swing path and forces good habits in stroke mechanics?

Maybe his fitness level has more to do with it.

[maxpotapov]

Not really, if you compare his arm muscles to Nadal's, who swings much more "lightheaded" racquet... Sorry I'm too lazy to look for "Vamos!" fist pump pics right now

[movdqa]

Nadal's racquet has a higher swingweight than Federer's.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by movdqa

Nadal's racquet has a higher swingweight than Federer's.

Really? For some reason I thought it was in the 330s...
Wait,
http://blogs.tennis.com/the_pro_shop...uet-redux.html

[Power Player]

The issue with high SW usually surfaces during the serve in longer sets. Groundies will feel great for a while, but you will also have to have a very developed serve and a rather high level of fitness.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by Power Player

The issue with high SW usually surfaces during the serve in longer sets. Groundies will feel great for a while, but you will also have to have a very developed serve and a rather high level of fitness.

Well, if Serena Williams hits 100 mph forehand with 360+ SW bat, so can I! 'Cause I'm a man!
/fistpumps

[movdqa]

> Really? For some reason I thought it was in the 330s...
> Wait, http://blogs.tennis.com/the_pro_shop...uet-redux.html

Nadal's SW is around 360, Federers is around 355. Djokovic's is around 370. Murray's was 400 many years ago - no sightings on numbers for a while.

[movdqa]

> Well, if Serena Williams hits 100 mph forehand with 360+ SW bat,
> so can I! 'Cause I'm a man!

So is she.

I have a pair of Berdych's frames - SW is around 400. They're fun to hit with from time to time and I have played matches with them but I don't play my best tennis with that kind of SW. I have a bunch of frames at 386 too - also a bit heavy. I find that 361 is pretty good though. My biggest problems with the very high SW frames is that I lose acceleration on the serve. I think that there's a SW for everyone where they get their fastest serves.

There's also the factor of carrying the thing for three hours on a hot, humid day.

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by movdqa

> Really? For some reason I thought it was in the 330s...
> Wait, http://blogs.tennis.com/the_pro_shop...uet-redux.html

Nadal's SW is around 360, Federers is around 355. Djokovic's is around 370. Murray's was 400 many years ago - no sightings on numbers for a while.

How do you know those values?

Have you check it on a RDC machine?

[movdqa]

Nadal from 2007. He added a few grams of lead either early this year or late last year.

http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racq...l_babolat.html

[movdqa]

Correction on Fed's: 330 (ncode), 338 (K90)
http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racq..._wilson_n.html
http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racq..._wilson_k.html

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by movdqa

Correction on Fed's: 330 (ncode), 338 (K90)
http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racq..._wilson_n.html
http://www.hdtennis.com/grs/pro_racq..._wilson_k.html

Those values on FED racket, don't match with FABFED specs ...

[movdqa]

What do you have for FabFed numbers? I don't recall a SW number from him.

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by movdqa

What do you have for FabFed numbers? I don't recall a SW number from him.

Weight, balance point ... just doesn't match.

As for SW, let's see if he want to post it...

[Cup8489]

I dont remember where but it was determined to be 355 definitively. and 364 grams IIRC.

[maxpotapov]

Here I am, smoothing out my strokes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1sRAUKaio

Sorry no sound, it was too explosive for the phone mic

[stoneage]

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

As I'm trying different racquets I noticed how swing weight influences the way I'm trying to swing my racquet. I mean if I distinctly perceive weight of the racquet head, which is most pronounced in Wilson Six.One 90, I'm cautious to take longer and smoother swing path, otherwise I feel like I will break my arm or something.

I have started a thread discussing some mechanics around this:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=438238

Maybe you can find what type of curve your ideal racquet should have

[shogun90]

I've started using the BLXPS90 and found that I also had to slow my swing down and smooth it out to get the best results. I think because of the weight it provides plenty of power and I don't find myself over hitting. I don't take the big swings like when I use my Yonex 200MP to get a lot of topspin to keep the ball in. It seems like once you get a heavy racquet moving, it will follow a swing path much easier.