Is My Racquet Too Heavy?

[McPatrickClan]

I helped out a friend and bought two Wilson BLX Pro Tour racquets. I hit with it for a week before buying them and really liked it. In fairness, I was using either a 2005 model Wilson NCode or a Prince CTS Approach Oversize with fraying strings before sampling the Wilson BLX Pro Tour. So as you can imagine, it felt light to me and was more fun to play with. The other two felt unwieldy and unmanuverable. I am not a big guy and like to feel like I can move my racquet where I want to.

So I was feeling good about this racquet but one of my local instructors told me he was surprised I had not hurt my arm yet with the BLX Pro Tour. He mentioned that it was heavier than his racquet and that after decades of playing and teaching, he prefers a heavier racquet. I told him that the one I mainly use is strung with Luxon Big Banger 18 strings and he said that having better strings might be helping.

I have since had no arm issues or elbow or wrist issues and I play 2-3 times a week with either my young son or a similar-talented friend (maybe 3.5 players). In fairness, I should admit that I have seen my shots have less pop to them though I am able to get the ball back consistently and hit some awesome shots every 5-8 points with it.

Should I look for a lighter racquet?

[davedomart]

It's not too heavy. However I would not use big banger as it dies really fast and can give you arm issues even if you don't have any. Many instructors use lighter racquets for feeding balls as it's easier.

[Agent Orynge]

Originally Posted by McPatrickClan

I helped out a friend and bought two Wilson BLX Pro Tour racquets. I hit with it for a week before buying them and really liked it. In fairness, I was using either a 2005 model Wilson NCode or a Prince CTS Approach Oversize with fraying strings before sampling the Wilson BLX Pro Tour. So as you can imagine, it felt light to me and was more fun to play with. The other two felt unwieldy and unmanuverable. I am not a big guy and like to feel like I can move my racquet where I want to.

So I was feeling good about this racquet but one of my local instructors told me he was surprised I had not hurt my arm yet with the BLX Pro Tour. He mentioned that it was heavier than his racquet and that after decades of playing and teaching, he prefers a heavier racquet. I told him that the one I mainly use is strung with Luxon Big Banger 18 strings and he said that having better strings might be helping.

I have since had no arm issues or elbow or wrist issues and I play 2-3 times a week with either my young son or a similar-talented friend (maybe 3.5 players). In fairness, I should admit that I have seen my shots have less pop to them though I am able to get the ball back consistently and hit some awesome shots every 5-8 points with it.

Should I look for a lighter racquet?

The instructor doesn't know what he's talking about, and now you're just overthinking it. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

[McPatrickClan]

Alright, thanks, I will get some new strings on the racquet and see if I can get a bit more pace on the ball. Thanks!

[sonicare]

everytime i have stepped up in weight, it has taken me 2-3 weeks to adjust. stick to it and you will be fine

[BlueB]

If it feels too heavy, it is too heavy. If you are late for reflex volleys, it is too heavy. If your serve has slowed down, it is too heavy...

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by McPatrickClan

I helped out a friend and bought two Wilson BLX Pro Tour racquets. I hit with it for a week before buying them and really liked it. In fairness, I was using either a 2005 model Wilson NCode or a Prince CTS Approach Oversize with fraying strings before sampling the Wilson BLX Pro Tour. So as you can imagine, it felt light to me and was more fun to play with. The other two felt unwieldy and unmanuverable. I am not a big guy and like to feel like I can move my racquet where I want to.

So I was feeling good about this racquet but one of my local instructors told me he was surprised I had not hurt my arm yet with the BLX Pro Tour. He mentioned that it was heavier than his racquet and that after decades of playing and teaching, he prefers a heavier racquet. I told him that the one I mainly use is strung with Luxon Big Banger 18 strings and he said that having better strings might be helping.

I have since had no arm issues or elbow or wrist issues and I play 2-3 times a week with either my young son or a similar-talented friend (maybe 3.5 players). In fairness, I should admit that I have seen my shots have less pop to them though I am able to get the ball back consistently and hit some awesome shots every 5-8 points with it.

Should I look for a lighter racquet?

It's not too heavy, your arm is too weak. If serious about tennis work on your arm. My 11 year old plays a BLX 90 Tour and thinks it's too light!

What happens is when people start to learn, they fall for the recommendations and pick a large head and light weight, these types of racquets give people skills they don't really possess. Once you put them up against a real player who can identify this, the real player can work right through them.

I recommend and started my son on a old wood 75 inch head, it strengthened his arm, taught him true shot making, strategy, footwork, etc. So now he plays his 90 like someone with several years of experience instead of a 11 year old with 3-4 months of training.

[NLBwell]

No reason I see to pick a lighter racket. In general, heavy rackets are better for the arm.
If you want to switch because you don't like it maybe would like more maneuverability, that's fine, but don't switch because someone gave you bad information.

[Muppet]

You switched from heavier racquets to the Pro Tour right? If this is the case, you may just be used to a slower stroke like you would use with a heavier racquet. The lighter racquet just needs a little more user provided stroke speed to apply the same momentum to the ball. With this speed, you can apply a lot more spin.

[Fintft]

Hi,

Personally if the BLX Pro Tour is too heavy, I'd try one of the 6.1 95 BLXes (the 2012 version being lighter and more stable due to more basalt/Amplifeel in the handle as well)

You may find this useful as well:

http://www.tennis.com/gear/2013/01/c.../#.UQwqtx1bNes

Law of Conservation of Momentum:
What that means is that the two momentum (of the racket and the ball, after the impact) have to be equal and with a heavier racket, the ball's speed will be increased, while the racket will not slow down as much (being more stable in your hands, as opposed to lighter frames).

Now that got me thinking? Which one of the two would be affected more?
The crux of the problem being:

1. Would we be hitting much harder with a heavier racket?
or
2. Would the heavier racket be drastically more stable?

What's your guess?

So, I've dusted off my rusty physics (ahem, googled it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_collision) and the answer is:

I’ve done some calculations (based on the equations bellow) and it seems that by adding 100g to a 500g racket:

2. We’d be hitting about 18% harder and the heavier racket(by 100g) would be about 13% more stable.

A bit more realistic calculations, with the ball at around 60g and considering that the pros hit in average around 75-85 mph and the hardest at around 100 mph, so they probably are able to swing the racket faster, say at 10 m/s:

Example A:
Ball: mass = 0.06 kg , velocity = 30 m/s (around 60 mph)
Racket: mass = 0.5 kg, velocity = -10 m/s

After collision:
Ball: velocity = -41.4 m/s (about 93 mph)
Racket: velocity = - 1.42 m/s (The racket continues to swing forward at around 14% of the original speed)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Example B:
Ball: mass = 0.06 kg , velocity = 30 m/s (around 60 mph)
Racket: mass = 0.6 kg, velocity = -10 m/s

After collision:
Ball: velocity = -50 m/s (around 100 mph an increase of 18% when hitting with the heavier racket)
Racket: velocity = -2.7 m/s (The heavier racket continues to swing forward at around 27% of the original speed. Hence more stable, less impact on the arm and inducing longer swings/easier to go more through the ball as opposed to coming over too soon)


Posts: 2
Credits: 315.00

That's in light with this youtoube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaZtx...QZFTvtJUheX4LQ

Equations
One-dimensional Newtonian


Let m1 and m2 be the masses, u1 and u2 the velocities before collision, and v1and v2 the velocities after collision.
The conservation of the total momentum demands that the total momentum before the collision is the same as the total momentum after the collision, and is expressed by the equation

m1u1 +m2u2 = m1v1+m2v2

Likewise, the conservation of the total kinetic energy is expressed by the equation

m1u1u1/2 +m2u2u2/2= m1v1v1/2+m2v2v2/2

NOTE: The collision is probably not totally elastic, but rather around 85% (according to USTA), so this science is simplified....

These equations may be solved directly to find vi when ui are known or vice versa. However, the algebra involved can be cumbersome[dubious – discuss]. An alternative solution is to first change the frame of reference such that one of the known velocities is zero. The unknown velocities in the new frame of reference can then be determined and followed by a conversion back to the original frame of reference to reach the same result. Once one of the unknown velocities is determined, the other can be found by symmetry.
Solving these simultaneous equations for vi we get:

v1= (u1(m1-m2)+2m2u2)/(m1+m2)

v2=(u2(m2-m1)+2m1u1)/(m1+m2)


HTH,
Fintft@yahoo.com

[MikeHitsHard93]

^im sorry but if you think the pro tour is too heavy then a 6.1 is not going to be any lighter...

[Fintft]

I was thinking about the Wilson BLX Pro Staff, Roger's Strung Weight: 12.6oz / 357.2g and that is heavier then the 6.1 95 BLX 2012.

Now I see my confusion: you guys probably meant the older Pro Tour BLX 96 :Strung Weight: 11.6oz / 328.85g

[pkshooter]

Actually to a certain point, a heavier racket will make your arm hurt less because you make physics do the work for you. Plus I think the pro staff is like only 12 oz and well it's 12 oz.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Fintft

I was thinking about the Wilson BLX Pro Staff, Roger's Strung Weight: 12.6oz / 357.2g and that is heavier then the 6.1 95 BLX 2012.

Now I see my confusion: you guys probably meant the older Pro Tour BLX 96 :Strung Weight: 11.6oz / 328.85g

Yes I believe that's the one he was talking about. You made a good contribution nonetheless though