What is the "racquet change" Novak keeps talking about?

kaninfaan

Rookie
There was a brief moment on a Wimbledon broadcast, after the final, where Brad Gilbert said that Nole had been using a 15year old frame, shorter than usual, and very heavy and now used a modern frame, normal length, and lighter.
I am paraphrasing and DOG only knows if he means 27" or 28" when he says "normal length" etc.
Tried to find the clip on youtube but failed. Only saw it on the live broadcast while channel-hopping.
fwiw.
 

Phantasm

Semi-Pro
I thought it was just change in amount of lead and they took a bit out.

I doubt he went through a complete frame change...
@dr325i may be more knowledgable about the situation
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
There was a brief moment on a Wimbledon broadcast, after the final, where Brad Gilbert said that Nole had been using a 15year old frame, shorter than usual, and very heavy and now used a modern frame, normal length, and lighter.
I am paraphrasing and DOG only knows if he means 27" or 28" when he says "normal length" etc.
Tried to find the clip on youtube but failed. Only saw it on the live broadcast while channel-hopping.
fwiw.
I've had multiple Novak's personal frames and they were standard length. Latest spec before change was 359g / 32.8cm and about 370SW. They were based on the Head FXP Radical MP mold and layup (slightly different layup and no flex point stuff).
Brad got 3 out of 6 correct. He is using the same frame and mold, different string pattern and weight. I do not believe the length has changed, but possible
 

maximus

Semi-Pro
I've had multiple Novak's personal frames and they were standard length. Latest spec before change was 359g / 32.8cm and about 370SW. They were based on the Head FXP Radical MP mold and layup (slightly different layup and no flex point stuff).
Brad got 3 out of 6 correct. He is using the same frame and mold, different string pattern and weight. I do not believe the length has changed, but possible

Interesting!
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
18 mains & 19 crosses
novakdjokovic-cropped_1tgfv2tg7r4x11mg9rvefm4lms.jpg

is what I counted in this picture
 

maximus

Semi-Pro
Here are a few photos of Novak Djokovic's rackets taken recently:

NovakDjokovicRacket01.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket02.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket03.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket04.jpg

Note that Novak uses two overgrips.

NovakDjokovicRacket05.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket06.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket07.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket08.jpg


The unstrung weight and balance (including overgrip) for the above racket was 335g and 31.8cm.

Hope these can be of help,

ProStringing

Wow! 62lbs? Thats a bit high string tension for such a control racket. I thought his tension was somewhere in 45lbs. Lol
 

maximus

Semi-Pro
Here are a few photos of Novak Djokovic's rackets taken recently:

NovakDjokovicRacket01.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket02.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket03.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket04.jpg

Note that Novak uses two overgrips.

NovakDjokovicRacket05.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket06.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket07.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket08.jpg


The unstrung weight and balance (including overgrip) for the above racket was 335g and 31.8cm.

Hope these can be of help,

ProStringing

So the string pattern is 18x20?
 

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
Wow! 62lbs? Thats a bit high string tension for such a control racket. I thought his tension was somewhere in 45lbs. Lol

64 nat gut and 62 poly - damn... No wonder he had elbow problems.

I'm guessing he just omits the bottom cross to make it 18x19 because that pattern is a little odd. I don't think I've ever seen an 18x19 pattern racket.
 

Zoolander

Hall of Fame
Here are a few photos of Novak Djokovic's rackets taken recently:

NovakDjokovicRacket01.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket02.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket03.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket04.jpg

Note that Novak uses two overgrips.

NovakDjokovicRacket05.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket06.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket07.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket08.jpg


The unstrung weight and balance (including overgrip) for the above racket was 335g and 31.8cm.

Hope these can be of help,

ProStringing

Great info as always PS!

So hes about 352g strung now and approx 5HL. So i would say his SW has dropped a fair bit, maybe 350 now?
 

Zoolander

Hall of Fame
64 nat gut and 62 poly - damn... No wonder he had elbow problems.

I'm guessing he just omits the bottom cross to make it 18x19 because that pattern is a little odd. I don't think I've ever seen an 18x19 pattern racket.

Theres been a few, the LM instinct comes to mind.......

Im sure if N.Djokovic wants his racquets in an 18*19 pattern, Head will happily drill it for him!
 

EasternRocks

Hall of Fame
Crazy how this guy swings that frame. It really shows you how the most important thing is technique. Have that down and you can unlock the potential of "log" type frames.

Over here getting nervous playing a competition with a 318 unstrung/328 swingweight/7 pts HL balance frame ha :rolleyes:
 

moon shot

Hall of Fame
64 nat gut and 62 poly - damn... No wonder he had elbow problems.

I'm guessing he just omits the bottom cross to make it 18x19 because that pattern is a little odd. I don't think I've ever seen an 18x19 pattern racket.

Never seen a Radical OS, Blade OS, several Tfight models...
 

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
Never seen a Radical OS, Blade OS, several Tfight models...

I'm not much of racquet aficionado these, so when I find what I like I pretty much stick to that. I've also never needed to venture into the oversized racket department either. I started with 93 and now play with 97. I doubt I'd consider anything >100 sq in. Even then, 100 would be on the extreme end of the spectrum for me.
 

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
Crazy how this guy swings that frame. It really shows you how the most important thing is technique. Have that down and you can unlock the potential of "log" type frames.

Over here getting nervous playing a competition with a 318 unstrung/328 swingweight/7 pts HL balance frame ha :rolleyes:

Holy hell, that's pretty light. Not even 11.5 oz when strung.
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
Here are a few photos of Novak Djokovic's rackets taken recently:

NovakDjokovicRacket01.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket02.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket03.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket04.jpg

Note that Novak uses two overgrips.

NovakDjokovicRacket05.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket06.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket07.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket08.jpg


The unstrung weight and balance (including overgrip) for the above racket was 335g and 31.8cm.

Hope these can be of help,

ProStringing

Who cares about the racket, look at that Mighty Sensor!!!!

thanks for the pics and scoop on Djoker's frame!
 

Federerkblade

Hall of Fame
So Novak is stringing tighter than his old racquet set up and using a lighter frame which has slightly less swingwieght. It seems to be he really clicked with the frame in the last 7 weeks and really so in the last 4
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
I've had multiple Novak's personal frames and they were standard length. Latest spec before change was 359g / 32.8cm and about 370SW. They were based on the Head FXP Radical MP mold and layup (slightly different layup and no flex point stuff).
Brad got 3 out of 6 correct. He is using the same frame and mold, different string pattern and weight. I do not believe the length has changed, but possible
That would be the Ti./i.Radical MP mold
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
Here are a few photos of Novak Djokovic's rackets taken recently:

NovakDjokovicRacket01.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket02.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket03.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket04.jpg

Note that Novak uses two overgrips.

NovakDjokovicRacket05.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket06.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket07.jpg


NovakDjokovicRacket08.jpg


The unstrung weight and balance (including overgrip) for the above racket was 335g and 31.8cm.

Hope these can be of help,

ProStringing

Same racket, same two OG, as before, just different string pattern and slightly lighter
 
Care to speculate on whether there has been any change in length? I mean, I know most comments from people 'in the know' are suggesting standard length either now or up from 26.8", but Novak himself made those comments about improved service angles etc. - I suppose .2" could be a big deal to a finely tuned professional player, but something doesn't seem to quite add up.
 
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