FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
I've been following all the heavy racquet talk across the various threads here with interest. I'm 36, a high 4.5/low 5.0 player, and a big guy (6'4, 104kg - which really should be 95kg =/) and my frames I used to use before finding this forum were ~365g static weight (Volkl Organix Super G 10 325g + leather grip + OG + dampner). I wasn't even aware of how relatively heavy they were until about a year ago. I just knew they played well for me.
Since arriving here I've gotten an education in all this stuff. I've been on a bit of a racquet journey over the last few months after the pallet of one of my Volkl's cracked, trying everything from 305g static weight and up. I've hit with probably 25 different racquets. Last night I played with the Volkl C10 pro. Not quite the 365g of my previous Volkls since it had no leather, but probably 355g given I had two overgrips on to simulate a bigger grip. And man did I play well. It was an incredibly high quality match against a big hitter, and I just felt right at home. It was one of the best matches I've been a part of, and that stick really lifted me.
Obviously my comfort with a heavy racquet played a part in that, but it doesn't change the fact that I played very well with a stick many would consider too heavy for a rec player. I was serving bombs, redirecting pace so easily, and my defense was solid. I have no ego around using a heavy racquet. I'm not doing it to show off or because that's what the pros do. It just feels good to me. Perhaps there is a situation where if I really grind out a lot of matches with a 330g or 340g stick I'll eventually play better than with my 360g's, but I don't know how I ever get there when it's not a guarantee. I could just be subjecting myself to months of worse play for no benefit. And my alternative is to just buy something heavy and play well now.
In any case, it's been very interesting to read all the opinions on weight. And I'll finish this by saying I am going to demo the RF97 next. I've never hit with it before, and I feel like the RA might be too high for me, but given that I'm still really vibing with heavy static weights and ~330g swingweights, I feel like I owe it to myself to try it.
I think you probably know what you are doing and aren't the typical rec player. I'm also 6'4, around 88-89 kilos (195-197 pounds) and if you are playing 1 match a day and are that large I think it works. I sometimes do 2-3 matches of a singles tournament a day in 100 degree weather (37 C) so that can be 6 hours of tennis, it gets hard to be above 12 oz unstrung in those, my serve suffers. Throw in the Yonex Vcore 330 too if the RF is on your list. Well written, doesn't seem like you are bragging.
You are my goal one day to be able to still play that long. The Babs are for the 20 year olds, but lighter Yonex, I guarantee you would be surprised what you could do, you in particular if I gave you a Yonex Ezone 98 or a Vcore Pro 95 and made you use it for a few months. It wouldn't hurt you physically and with your skill, I bet you would love them. They are 11.2-11.5 ounces and more stable than any other brand of the same "light" weight.At nearly 67 I get calls every day from guys 10-40 yrs younger than me for a hit. A D1 coach who was an SEC player called me a "sandbagging 4.5" but that ain't right, cause I hit just for fun. Oh, I'll play pickup matches from time to time but hitting an elegant shot is more important to me than beating someone.
Having said that currently I am playing with a trio of 12oz 93" 18x20 Volkl Tour 10 Mids, a trio of POG 107 Tours at 11.9oz and a trio of Babolat Pure Storm GT Tours 11.8oz when I feel younger than I am. I like narrow straight beams and I think it has something to do with vibration. I go off the "deep end" at times where I will switch to a big head OS or something else stiff but they always end up hurting my elbow. I was recently playing with every 110-116" racket that had an 18x20 pattern and was at least 11oz head light and at least 27.5". Believe me when I say learn from my mistakes, doing that in your 6th decade will probably cause elbow pain
This tiny little 5'3" D1 player I miss hitting with use to thrash me with her 10.6oz 100" 16x19 Wilson something or other. It sort of made me a bit jealous or angry until I thought, will she be hitting tennis balls when she is my age?
I really do think mass and the "right" construction can add longevity to your playing. When you are in your 20s and early 30s anything works. But as "father time" starts to creep up on you that Pure Aero might become "pure pain." And besides unless you are in your 20s and playing ITF Futures or Challengers you are just playing rec tennis. Whatever works for you on the day is fine whether it is a 13oz POG Mid or an 8oz Ti6.
I think the sweet spot is 11.3-11.5 ounces, I've described that as "light" on these kinds of threads, but maybe another word is better? What do you have in mind when you say "light", I am curious.It is certainly an interesting topic. Only my five cents to the conversation…..but one main challenge is that the majority of “light” racquets, also posses characteristics that contribute to higher level of power for players with less then perfect swings, such as higher stiffness and thicker beams. Usually lighter racquets are used by juniors or females or players who are still learning the game. On the other hand, heavier racquets usually have smaller headsizes and thinner beams. Players with well developed swings need more control and a racquet which is too light would just mess up their well developed swing.