Blake on racquet technology and pj's

[jorel]

Originally Posted by Vitaly Evchenkov

a lot of injuries and discomfort come from players stringing poly too high. maybe it is a macho thing about high string tension, but poly can actually feel pretty nice if you get it at the right tension for your racquet.
mid 40s is perfectly acceptable for midsize frames and low 50s is enough for most MP even for hard hitters.
if you learn this lesson before injuring yourself, you will likely be a poly user for life just like Blake.
The spin is just amazing and I am getting a "gut-like' pop on my serve with ALU.
The stuff just works! Luxilon prices don't work for me... so I am always on the lookout for the best imitation.

i have spoken to stringers for the pros and they say that many of them string lux as low as 30 lbs.

correct me if i am wrong (i have to try it)

[bluetrain4]

So, is poly a bigger deal at the pro level? In the world I inhabit (4.0-4.5), I just don't see the huge difference.

Sure, I see guys with poly who are happy with it and it has improved their game, and I do see some shots that I probably wouldn't have with old school strings and frames, but I don't see the modern frame/poly guys having any huge advantage over any one else, meaning the poly/modern frame guys lose to the heavier frame/gut-syn gut-multi guys just as much as they beat them.

I should actually see what all the fuss is about. I tried full poly on my Diablo mid and loved it for a day and then hated it. I've also tried a Pure Drive with simple syn gut and hated it. But, I've never put the two together. I'm so used to having a heavier frame that I just can't get used to the lack of heft and plow through.

Maybe I'll change in time.

[jorel]

Originally Posted by bluetrain4

So, is poly a bigger deal at the pro level? In the world I inhabit (4.0-4.5), I just don't see the huge difference.

Sure, I see guys with poly who are happy with it and it has improved their game, and I do see some shots that I probably wouldn't have with old school strings and frames, but I don't see the modern frame/poly guys having any huge advantage over any one else, meaning the poly/modern frame guys lose to the heavier frame/gut-syn gut-multi guys just as much as they beat them.

I should actually see what all the fuss is about. I tried full poly on my Diablo mid and loved it for a day and then hated it. I've also tried a Pure Drive with simple syn gut and hated it. But, I've never put the two together. I'm so used to having a heavier frame that I just can't get used to the lack of heft and plow through.

Maybe I'll change in time.

with poly you really do need to swing fast and not rely on the plow through as much, (usually helps with a lighter racquet) but more the topspin brushing of the ball.... When Blake swings (full poly),..,, it looks kinda awkward, not like Fed which is much smoother (he uses gut in the mains, so does Sampras now)

i have played with a heavy heavy racquet strung with gut and also a light racquet with poly and its almost a different swing for each

[jorel]

another thing,... from reading some articles and from personal experience .... if you dont swing hard enough with a poly,,, the ball will sail on you.. so its not like if you use poly,,, you wont hit long

with a poly... if you hit long, you pobably arent swingin hard enough (hence a lighter racquet helps)

[bluetrain4]

Originally Posted by jorel

with poly you really do need to swing fast and not rely on the plow through as much, (usually helps with a lighter racquet) but more the topspin brushing of the ball.... When Blake swings (full poly),..,, it looks kinda awkward, not like Fed which is much smoother (he uses gut in the mains, so does Sampras now)

i have played with a heavy heavy racquet strung with gut and also a light racquet with poly and its almost a different swing for each

That actually makes sense. I'm a strong guy and can hit fairly hard, but it's more a creation of fullswing and pressing my shoulder into the shot, i.e., it's not that "whippy." I'll whip on the run or if I'm not in position to get a full stroke set up, but it's not my normal rally shot.

It's odd to say "you have to swing harder to keep the ball in." Boy, times have changed. I feel old (and I'm only 35).

[jorel]

if you miss with Luxilon — let’s say you hit too deep — your natural reaction is ‘Oops, I over-hit it I’m gonna hit less.’ With Luxilon, it’s the opposite because you’re going to hit more because once you start holding back or hitting flat it flies. It grips the ball and gives you incredibly bite on the ball.

heres the whole article

http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennis...&bannerregion=