Even Balance for Serve and Volley?

[slowfox]

Becker, McEnroe, Sampras - all preferred a racquet closer to even balance. Is it a S&V thing? "Conventional wisdom" often says more headlight is the way to go? Perhaps those 3 guys were the exception to the rule. Plus I'm not sure what guys like Edberg, Rafter, Henman and other pro serve and volleyers had their racquets at.

Just wondering if there's some benefit to a heavier, even balance stick.

[Fuji]

It depends on how strong you are I think. Usually a more even balance has a great impact on Swingweight, as it usually increases it dramatically the more HH you go. With volleying it's mostly about just getting the stick in position and letting the racket do the work. If you can get the stick in position with a near even balance racket, quite often you'll stick volleys pretty solidly.

Just from my own experience of course, nothing is really set in stone.

-Fuji

[srvnvly]

I prefer a head light stick, but it has to have plow through. My favorites have been the Babolat Pure Drive, cortex version (non-GT), and my current BLX Blade 98. I hope to continue that with either the Steam 99 S or Steam 99. I did try a HH stick once, the purple Wilson Hammer (5.x?), and ended up with terrible hand pain. Good luck!

[corners]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Becker, McEnroe, Sampras - all preferred a racquet closer to even balance. Is it a S&V thing? "Conventional wisdom" often says more headlight is the way to go? Perhaps those 3 guys were the exception to the rule. Plus I'm not sure what guys like Edberg, Rafter, Henman and other pro serve and volleyers had their racquets at.

Just wondering if there's some benefit to a heavier, even balance stick.

All three players grew up and developed their games with wood racquets, which were all around even balance. When making the switch to graphite they took their woodie specs with them.

[3fees]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Becker, McEnroe, Sampras - all preferred a racquet closer to even balance. Is it a S&V thing? "Conventional wisdom" often says more headlight is the way to go? Perhaps those 3 guys were the exception to the rule. Plus I'm not sure what guys like Edberg, Rafter, Henman and other pro serve and volleyers had their racquets at.

Just wondering if there's some benefit to a heavier, even balance stick.

I think its more of a racquet for all porpoises rather than just S & V, kinda like fitting the balance for all strokes, a trade off.

[robby c]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Becker, McEnroe, Sampras - all preferred a racquet closer to even balance. Is it a S&V thing? "Conventional wisdom" often says more headlight is the way to go? Perhaps those 3 guys were the exception to the rule. Plus I'm not sure what guys like Edberg, Rafter, Henman and other pro serve and volleyers had their racquets at.

Just wondering if there's some benefit to a heavier, even balance stick.

They all started with wood racquets. They stayed with those specs after they changed to graphite. If you can handle the weight it does give you more heft on every type of shot, especially touch shots at net.
Robby C

[hoosierbr]

I used to prefer very HL through my 20's, along the lines of 7 plus points. I've gradually shifted down to around 4-5 pts. Maybe not a huge difference but more weight in the head does give one more feel on touch shots and, I've found, has improved my serve. I have more accuarcy and impact now.

One of the best serving racquets I've ever hit was the KBlade 98. That was near even balance, however, without even a little HL shift all shots began to feel the same and I couldn't distinguish a slice from a flat ball coming off the strings.

[corners]

Originally Posted by hoosierbr

One of the best serving racquets I've ever hit was the KBlade 98. That was near even balance, however, without even a little HL shift all shots began to feel the same and I couldn't distinguish a slice from a flat ball coming off the strings.

Interesting observation.

[hoosierbr]

Originally Posted by corners

Interesting observation.

To be fair it was a TW demo and it was a Wilson NXT string. I hit with it several times with various multis, however, I always felt the same way. Also 18 mains deadens the stringbed as well.

My normal string is VS Team 17. I'm used to feel.