Foam-Filled Racquets

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Deleted member 19728

Guest
I broke a 2015 blade 16 x19 the other day in the throat. I was pretty shocked that it was foam filled.
 

supineAnimation

Hall of Fame
Donnay are making the best solid core sticks out there imo. I've heard some good things about Angell, but I've also heard they play quite stiff, as where Donnays tend to feel a bit more "old school"
I play with TC97s and they're anything but stiff. Got bad TE in 2015 (couldn't hit on consecutive days, had trouble giving back-to-lessons) after 25 years of playing without the slightest hint of it, likely from hitting with a lot of retail frames when I was writing equipment reviews a couple/few years ago. Switched to the TC97 in the spring of 2016 and it never felt it again.
 

mike schiffer

Semi-Pro
Seeing the still photo recently of Zverev's broken foam-filled racquet made me wonder, what are the racquets out in the world, old and new, that a foam-filled. New racquets I know Donnay and Angell but besides that, my knowledge is limited. I believe the Prince POG is foam-filled, although not sure what years and models, also I know that some of the six one 95's are but again, not sure what years and models. Anyway, feel free to contribute if you like. I personal am a big fan of foam-filled racquets.
This is an interesting observation......how many of these Babs, Heads and other pro models are foam filled for the pros who need all the protection they can get from injuries....I dont think the Head Zverev retail racquet is foam filled or marketed with that as a feature.....
 

mike schiffer

Semi-Pro
I play with TC97s and they're anything but stiff. Got bad TE in 2015 (couldn't hit on consecutive days, had trouble giving back-to-lessons) after 25 years of playing without the slightest hint of it, likely from hitting with a lot of retail frames when I was writing equipment reviews a couple/few years ago. Switched to the TC97 in the spring of 2016 and it never felt it again.
I got the te bad and I was wondering what weight and model Angell did you get?...thanks
 

Zoolander

Hall of Fame
This is an interesting observation......how many of these Babs, Heads and other pro models are foam filled for the pros who need all the protection they can get from injuries....I dont think the Head Zverev retail racquet is foam filled or marketed with that as a feature.....

Yep the IG Speed 18*20 retail model I have that Zverev still uses is foam filled. Only Head racquet I have ever seen thats foam filled. Why did they foamfill it? Who knows, but I like it!
 

grhcan99

Semi-Pro
... are foam filled for the pros who need all the protection they can get from injuries....

This would alarm me if this is true. This statement implies to me that only the pros need protection from injuries. We are all aware the there is a very high incidence of arm injuries among rec players.
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
historically the most famous are the POG and pro staff 85

today they can be hard to find... Angell being known for it

Donnay seems to be going down some sort of rabbit hole trying to cram as many "cores" as possible into a frame then foam filling them... which seems like splitting hairs at a certain point.

The RF97 is partially foam filled apparently
what are cores?
 

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
what are cores?
The inside of th racquet. It’s either hollow or filled with foam or some other material

Donnay discovered that by giving the foam a specific shape it seems to improve the effect. I am skeptical as each season they simply roll out new racquets with a new core shape. First tri Core. Then quad. Then pentacore. I will not buy one until they have the dozencore technology. Ha ha.
 

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
This would alarm me if this is true. This statement implies to me that only the pros need protection from injuries. We are all aware the there is a very high incidence of arm injuries among rec players.
I think it has more to do with the fact that they are aware of these things and unlike a lot of rec players they actually take steps to protect their bodies.
 

gazz1

Semi-Pro
This would alarm me if this is true. This statement implies to me that only the pros need protection from injuries. We are all aware the there is a very high incidence of arm injuries among rec players.
It may add a bit of static weight & swing weight, but I'm sure they could design around that as most models have lite versions...only other thought is cost?
 

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
It may add a bit of static weight & swing weight, but I'm sure they could design around that as most models have lite versions...only other thought is cost?
The cost is probably the biggest reason why you don’t see it more often. It’s a whole other operation which requires material labor and equipment to do. Since most rec players are happy with hollow racquets why bother?
 

mike schiffer

Semi-Pro
yes and as any smart new racquet maker might make part of their marketing and performance profile....it does make a difference....It took me three years of playing after a long layoff to focus on how foam core might make a difference...and I was looking for this information....bought my first Donnay ...and I not a trace of arm discomfort since...people wake up!
 

ron schaap

Hall of Fame
I once tried foaming a racquet myself. Did not realize it would come outof the string holes, so it became rather messy. Furthermore foam needs air to give its foam structure, so it does not becomes foam when put inside a frame, or it does not fill the voids completely. So how do racquet manufacturers establish that? By putting foam into both halves of a racquet and then putting the halves together?
I dont believe foamed frames cure tennis elbows. Probably these frames are softer. Stringing softer helps the curing too ;)
 

BorgCash

Legend
Many older dunlops were... my lil brother's old SC95 was (He leaded that thing up to 13oz... beast
as was the Dunlop Biomimetic 200 tour... I think many of the 300 series were as well?

Head didnt really do foam filled sticks... things like twin tube technology and using twaron were vibration dampening... so there is more than one way to achieve dampening.

What I like about the foam filled approach is it lets the structural walls be structural walls and the dampening material be dampening material. The kevlar/twaron/ceramic sticks use that material in the structual walls.

Dunlops 200 (MW, HM, Aerogel and 4G AG) and 300 (HM and M-Fil) are not foam-filled, at least in the handle. Filled it by myself.
 

BorgCash

Legend
Ha, very funny my friend. The fact remains that when I bought the head instinct 100 mp I developed tennis elbow after 3 months and tried to deal with it for 2 years because I loved the frames and was playing great tennis. I finally sold all 3 rackets (on for sale forum) and got the angel. It was the vibration which caused my pain and with no vibration in the TC 105, my injury healed in 3 months. So yes, the racket cured my tennis elbow. I would ask others on this forum to see if they had any similar results switching, but there are just a handful of rackets that are actually foam filled. If that is snake oil, then sign me up for a lifetime supply

Angell (and Vantage before) are great racquets, probably the best current producing racquets. Very specific soft feeling.
 

BorgCash

Legend
What was your results with the addition of foam?......and how did it you do it?

I used window insulation material, something like foam rubber, it comes in long round pieces. So I put it inside the handle and press it. Can also add some modelling clay to get racquet heavier and more head light.
 

OlgaOM

Rookie
I would ask others on this forum to see if they had any similar results switching, but there are just a handful of rackets that are actually foam filled.
I couldn’t play without dampener and a special wrist guard without experience some discomfort in my wrist, soarness in elbow/shoulder before switching to Angell. All symptoms just gone after playing with only Angell sticks in about 3 weeks. And I don’t need any dumpeners, etc. So yes, great arm friendly sticks! Though I have both foam filled V3 and non-foam filled K7 - all are really comfortable.
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
Yes the Tecnifibre XTC T Fight 315 is foamed filled right from the handle to the tip of the head. I just cut one up so I'm 100 Percent certain.
 

mhkeuns

Hall of Fame
The first gen Pure Strike Tour was foam filled. Not sure if that really does anything significant in reducing vibration or shock, though.
 

Blakefan17

Rookie
Can anyone describe the advantage to foam filled racquets for me? All things being equal (stiffness, swing weight, static, twist weight, balance, etc) how would a foam filled stick play next to a hollow frame? Asking for the smooth brained amongst us.
 
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