Blake's racquet design since his split with Prince.

TalkingTennis91 · May 29, 2007

I caught a few minutes of Blake's match today on ESPN2, and is it just me, or does his racquet look completely structurally different since signing back with Dunlop?

(Obviously, I'm not just talking about the Dunlop stencil on the stringbed, but like a new headshape/shape/design altogether.)

Anyone else notice this or should I just not sniff my tennis hat so much?

Dunlopkid · May 29, 2007

I thought the same thing, tenniskid, but unlike you, was afraid to post on TW. It does look more Dunlopish, actually. Maybe it's just where the tournagrip is on this particular racket. Or maybe it's simply that the stencil does something with it.

Forehand Forever · May 29, 2007

It looks a little different. I recorded the match today because I was bored. I'll check now.

EDIT: not much different to me, check out this picture

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/photo;_...3283dm019_french_open_d_4_05_08_pm&prov=getty

ngtaj88 · May 29, 2007

i think its just the stencil because if you look at the butt cap of the racquet it still had the P on it. He just now stenciled his black out racquets until dunlop slaps another paint job on it. thats my opinion.

Stringer_Steve · May 29, 2007

Same stick he's been using all along.

TalkingTennis91 · May 29, 2007

Blake's racquet before split with Prince

Blake's racquet after split with Prince

The racquet in the second picture appears to be a different racquet. Note the longer throat and seemingly smaller headsize.

Opinions?

z-money · May 29, 2007

i bet he had to switch back or get sewed because he was using a dunlop all along!

MikeZee · May 29, 2007

Yea, I would say the headshape is definitely different. The prince has more of a teardrop shape (wider at the top) as opposed to the new frame whose head looks closer to an ellipse, like a more classic heat shape...
however, it may just be the angle of the 2nd photo.

Fedace · May 29, 2007

It is a new Aerogel racket, Dunlop will introduce after Wimbledon.

LarougeNY · May 29, 2007

Fedace said:
It is a new Aerogel racket, Dunlop will introduce after Wimbledon.

....
It definitely is a different racket though, different head shape.

gully · May 30, 2007

TalkingTennis91 said:
Blake's racquet before split with Prince

Blake's racquet after split with Prince

The racquet in the second picture appears to be a different racquet. Note the longer throat and seemingly smaller headsize.

Opinions?

I think his matchplay-meltdown cringing technique has changed more dramatically than the racquet.

Basicsys · May 30, 2007

I saw him playing in Paris at Roland Garros yesterday and he played with a Dunlop logo on his strings but with a Prince buttcap on his racket...

TalkingTennis91 · May 30, 2007

Fedace said:
It is a new Aerogel racket, Dunlop will introduce after Wimbledon.

I don't see Blake playing with this racquet for very long, considering the beating he took in the 1st round at the French.

logansc · May 30, 2007

TalkingTennis91 said:
I don't see Blake playing with this racquet for very long, considering the beating he took in the 1st round at the French.

He really got blown off the court didn't he?? Right...Karlovic just had a big day serving and he demoralized Blake with game after game. I doubt since this is his least favorite major to play that he will make a racquet switch based on his result here.

tintin · May 30, 2007

looks like a much bigger racquet head if you ask me

nn · May 30, 2007

to me looks like same but will see new dunlop in making..

Basicsys · May 30, 2007

logansc said:
He really got blown off the court didn't he?? Right...Karlovic just had a big day serving and he demoralized Blake with game after game. I doubt since this is his least favorite major to play that he will make a racquet switch based on his result here.

I don't think it was just the racket...
I was there at his the match in Paris. Karlovic not only won because of his serve. He was confident and focussed and had a bit of luck.

And Blake's footwork on gravel didn't look to good.....

Jonnyf · May 30, 2007

Same stick, using a prince buttcap and you can still see some of the white on the outside of the throat where "Prince" and "James Blake"

Richie Rich · May 30, 2007

TalkingTennis91 said:
I caught a few minutes of Blake's match today on ESPN2, and is it just me, or does his racquet look completely structurally different since signing back with Dunlop?

(Obviously, I'm not just talking about the Dunlop stencil on the stringbed, but like a new headshape/shape/design altogether.)

Anyone else notice this or should I just not sniff my tennis hat so much?

Dunlopkid said:
I thought the same thing, tenniskid, but unlike you, was afraid to post on TW. It does look more Dunlopish, actually. Maybe it's just where the tournagrip is on this particular racket. Or maybe it's simply that the stencil does something with it.

See these guys comments below. your imaginations are overactive.

Stringer_Steve said:
Same stick he's been using all along.

ngtaj88 said:
i think its just the stencil because if you look at the butt cap of the racquet it still had the P on it. He just now stenciled his black out racquets until dunlop slaps another paint job on it. thats my opinion.

these guys are right, he's using the same racquet he has always, always used.

theRadical · May 30, 2007

Its the same racquet

Forehand Forever · May 30, 2007

TalkingTennis91 said:
Blake's racquet before split with Prince

Blake's racquet after split with Prince

The racquet in the second picture appears to be a different racquet. Note the longer throat and seemingly smaller headsize.

Opinions?

You can't really judge it from that perspective because in the pictures the racquets are at different angles.

Blake's racquet design since his split with Prince.

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