Tsitsipas Racket
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gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
99.9% of the tennis playing population has no clue, it does not matter what level. Almost daily I hear, “I see you are using the Tsitsipas racquet, it must be really good, it looks like Serena switched too.”
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I don't think a racket is purpose built for any particular mechanics; i.e. one-handed or two-handed backhand.
StringGuruMRT
Semi-Pro
I wish there was a way to give this a giant thumbs up!
FourOutOfFive
Rookie
McLovin
Legend
While I agree, I can't help but sometimes wonder 'WTF were they thinking?' when looking at the length of the grips on some of the handles. For example, the ProStaff 95S they had a few years back. It did not even come close to accommodating a 2-handed backhand. I swear the top of my 2nd hand was practically on the opening of the throat.
Geoff
Hall of Fame
The pallets for the new Blades (v7) are intentional to be more comfortable for a 2 handed stroke. There is a slight change at the top of the pallet. Not sure if this has been mentioned earlier or not.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
to tell you the truth, I wish they would make grips shorter. I'd love the look of the older frames when shafts were actually part of the frame and it didn't go from throat to grip.
I stand corrected! Now that you mention it, I do remember a Wilson recently made that had some kind of modification to the upper grip portion or whatever to facilitate a two-handed grip. I think it now discontinued.
Geoff
Hall of Fame
From the TW product description page of the v7 Blade
"For this generation, Wilson adds a longer grip taper to the handle, resulting in easier hand positioning for players with two-handed backhands."
haqq777
Legend
If I am not mistaken, you are referring to Wilson's X2 Shaft technology used on the Burn line. I have a couple of Burn 95 and 100s that have it (not much use for me since I have a 1HBH).
From Wilson:
X2 Shaft offers a longer handle to give two-handed backhands better feel and leverage. Also features a narrower shaft for quicker grip changes.
Blade V7 has probably the same thing just renamed.
CiscoPC600
Hall of Fame
For any doubters he uses the 2013 version:
I use 4G at 57 lbs in my Blade v7 (18x20) and I still find it comfortable due to the flex. Great combination of control, power, and spin.
Dolgopolov85
G.O.A.T.
Not necessarily. 18x20 plus stiff strings means more control, so you can swing out. And when you swing out, you put work on the ball.
Mike Lambresi
Rookie
I think is very noticeable visually.
Doesn't the RF97 have velvet paint?
I have 2 PS97 one gloss one matte. Besides the newer being stiffer, it feels softer.
CiscoPC600
Hall of Fame
I know back in the first page of this thread it was shown his unstrung balance was 32cm(7HL). Do we have any guesstimate of what the balance would be once strung?
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
CiscoPC600
Hall of Fame
Ah I see. I went back and clicked on the link and read the article. This picture is from the there.
So the link basically says he has:
Unstrung swingweight of 308
Strung swingweight of 343
In my 97 sq. inch 18x20 racquet, adding 17 gauge poly strings adds roughly 30-31 points and 16.5g to 17g weight. But Tsitsipas uses 16L gauge (Luxilon 4G) strings in his 98 sq inch 18x20 (18.4 grams). That is a heavier poly even in thinner gauges, in my experience. After stringing up, I am sure 35 point swingweight difference is not out of the realm of possibility here, no?
Not sure if this image is accurate at all, but I had my local pro shop put 10g of silicone in the handle. My SW is 336 now. Balance is 31.5-32 cm (I was in a hurry and couldn't get the exact measurement).
Silicone DOES make a difference. I'm very happy with the reduced shock from mishits and the overall more muted feel. Before you could really hear how hollow this frame felt, compared to my VCORE which always sounded more muffled, but now it's more quiet. I still am not a huge fan of the 4G soft, so I can't wait to snap it or wear it out more to put in my string of choice. Obviously Tsitsipas has a different set up but it's fun playing with something close to his.
Alexh22
Professional
How did you stop the silicone from dripping all the way down into the shaft ?
CiscoPC600
Hall of Fame
I placed one cotton ball on each side of the handle before inserting silicone just be safe. It's a practice shown on some Youtube videos. It might not be needed but figured I'd be certain as this Blade was rare in that I bought it from a pro shop that went out of business and it was brand spanking new.
polksio
Semi-Pro
Do you have a 2013 kblade you put 10g of silicone into its handle?
CiscoPC600
Hall of Fame
The 2013 Blade is the BLX Blade. KBlade was gen before.
Mike Lambresi
Rookie
325 strung? Isn't that just stock? I thought he had 10g of resin in the handle.
A blade stock strung with an overgrip should weight around 328g.
A blade stock strung with an overgrip should weight around 328g.
One Handed Dynasty
Semi-Pro
Pro racquets don’t have metal shanks in the foam handle like retail. The same static as retail can have vastly different other specs.
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Trung Nghia
Rookie
Maybe have or maybe not. When I shaved my H25 handle there is a little metal weight about 10gr near the throat position.
My friend shaved the H22, they also have metal but near the buttcap.
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dr325i
G.O.A.T.
You are talking about Head...
hi @Alexh22 can you help me?
where can I buy the same racket as Tsitsipas is using?
if I purchase the same PJ job, will it have same parameters: flex, mold, pattern, lay-up, head size, SW, static weight, balance?
One Handed Dynasty
Semi-Pro
Definitely Head, they have the best feeling pro stocks IMO.
That’s really helpful to know about Wilson, thanks for telling me something I didn’t know! It could explain why I’ve always found Head pro stocks to have a better feel. From my extremely limited experience with Wilson pro stocks I was under the impression that they used some lead for matching hairpins and then added weight by using a much higher density foam than retail to mold the handle.
polksio
Semi-Pro
Mold pattern headsize layup RA yes
Sw weight balance No youll have to customize it yourself or have someone (pay?) do it. Also id recommend buying the lightest and the most head heavy but still lower than 343 kg/cm2 sw blades you can find , thatll give you the best chancesof being able to reach his specs if thats what you want
3virgul14
Rookie
Hi @blablavla
There are some prostock Blades in the 'market', those are V6 pj and quite affordable wih a Kblade underneath, very light weight and high SW.
I snapped them almost for the price of retail ones. These were unstrung 304gr with basegrip and silicone in the handle and lead under grommets so precisely prepared for an Italian Atp player.
They hit so easy with authority Crazy
Alexh22
Professional
How can you tell they are kblades? Special bumper guard ? Or is it it’s stiffness. Raonic uses a kblade right ?Hi @blablavla
There are some prostock Blades in the 'market', those are V6 pj and quite affordable wih a Kblade underneath, very light weight and high SW.
I snapped them almost for the price of retail ones. These were unstrung 304gr with basegrip and silicone in the handle and lead under grommets so precisely prepared for an Italian Atp player.
They hit so easy with authority Crazy
polksio
Semi-Pro
Lucky you, Kblades have crazy low twistweight according to the TW that might explain the ease of swing, high sw could explain the maintained plow through.
Personally went the babolat pure storm ltd way, 19mm straight 59RA crazy low TW 10 and SW 300 and headlight balance, very nice platform racket too
Personally went the babolat pure storm ltd way, 19mm straight 59RA crazy low TW 10 and SW 300 and headlight balance, very nice platform racket too
3virgul14
Rookie
It was told to me by the 'player's tech guy, and I actually played a h22 and all the other blades from 2015, these play stiffer but still comfortable.
Raonic, Goffin, Tsitsipas and some other lower ranked guys use this mold under newer pj's apparently.
I can see why, its by far the easiest stick I used.
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Hi @blablavla
There are some prostock Blades in the 'market', those are V6 pj and quite affordable wih a Kblade underneath, very light weight and high SW.
I snapped them almost for the price of retail ones. These were unstrung 304gr with basegrip and silicone in the handle and lead under grommets so precisely prepared for an Italian Atp player.
They hit so easy with authority Crazy
I am not interested in prostock.
I am interested in buying the same racket from an honest manufacturer who doesn't sell me garbage painted as a racket used by top pros.
cause this is the point where @Alexh22 cries and rants about some other manufacturer.
PSC85
Semi-Pro
seems like there are two versions of blade he used with this pj. @ProStringing showed one with different grommet channel with his name in bigger print inside
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fullwesternforehand
Rookie
He just posted a pic of some 30 or so racquets on his instagram story. Same pj, but with gold accents instead of the green stripes
PSC85
Semi-Pro
Moonballballer
Semi-Pro
Why would his rackets be sent to him strung with some white string? Does Wilson customize with lead under the bumper and then immediately string them?
lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
The gold accents might have been the lighting and filter used. Can't say for sure.
To me, it looked like brand new retail rackets that he was going to possibly autograph for Wilson. I don't see the pic anymore, but if I remember correctly, some of the rackets had the retail racket cardboard in it.
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
It isnt sure whkch blade Goffin uses. Might even be an older blade or a newer blx blade. I do find it fascinating these high ranked players dont use exotic pro stock h22 but old of the shelf racquets.
Down_the_line
Legend
Agreed. It's refreshing.
It isnt sure whkch blade Goffin uses. Might even be an older blade or a newer blx blade. I do find it fascinating these high ranked players dont use exotic pro stock h22 but old of the shelf racquets.
WacTennis2017
Rookie
Watching Toronto now and it seems Tsitsipas playing with a different paint job for his racquet? Is this V8 blade (at least in design, I realize it is probably an older version or pro stock under the paint)
volleynets
Hall of Fame
Most likely 2013 black/silver BLX amplifeel blade 98 under the V8 paintjob.
volleynets
Hall of Fame
H22 plays different. If you like the blade and how it hits then why play with a different frame.
It isnt sure whkch blade Goffin uses. Might even be an older blade or a newer blx blade. I do find it fascinating these high ranked players dont use exotic pro stock h22 but old of the shelf racquets.
WacTennis2017
Rookie
Thanks, I have not seen the V8 yet but I like it! No bright green on this version
Karma Tennis
Legend
After his performance against Opelka, perhaps Tsitsi should be considering testing the v8 to up his game.
Unless of course, he is using the v8 already and is mimicing FAA (who tried the new PA VS, didn't like it, and went back to the earlier one!)
Unless of course, he is using the v8 already and is mimicing FAA (who tried the new PA VS, didn't like it, and went back to the earlier one!)
volleynets
Hall of Fame
He had been using the same racket forever. His new one is already painted like V8. The new blades aren't as good as the old ones. 2007 k blade is the best. Many pros use that under the paint
