jmacdaununder2
Legend
So, who to believe - boy it sure is a toss up; those who have in all likelihood handled at least one of the actual racquets in question, or the guy relying on gleaning precise measurements from extrapolated on line images. 
Karatsev Playing with a Shorty ??? (Conspiracy theory evidence)
- Thread starter travlerajm
- Start date
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I did not think this thread was about believing in one boy's fantasies and wasted time.So, who to believe - boy it sure is a toss up; those who have in all likelihood handled at least one of the actual racquets in question, or the guy relying on gleaning precise measurements from extrapolated on line images.
TO The highlighted above -- you mean -- ALL of his rackets that go his way?
Interesting comparison on how Karatsev's strokes have developed from 2019 to 2021. They definitely look a little different. I wonder if he changed specs in that timeframe.
Aussie-pro
Rookie
I asked someone who personally strung his frames down under for the A.O ... He did not measure the specs but said the frame was very heavy ... definitely not shortened... he said if anything Karatsev's frame could be slightly extended.
joah310
Professional
evidence is the last thing we need here!
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
It’s interesting that people associate ‘felt very heavy’ with ‘must have been slightly extended.’
joah310
Professional
i would assume feeling heavy would be referencing the static weight rather than the swingweight maybe karatsev weighted up his stick
Aussie-pro
Rookie
How did you come to that conclusion .... lol?
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
All details have been posted already, search
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
But those specs were before my Russian mobster friends touched it.
moon shot
Hall of Fame
did they also touch you original post?
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
You have Russian friends in your head. Go to FEDACE for help
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
I had not reached out at that time.
yonexRx32
Professional
Agreed. That doesn't even qualify as "heavy", let alone "very heavy".
teachingprotx
Legend
I think it’s entirely possible for any pro to use something a bit shorter than 27, someone once told me Boris Becker’s coach measured Becker’s frame length and said it was 26.5 .. so who knows , didn’t laver use a 26 or rosewall.
It’s always eye deceiving when tall lanky dudes start their serve rituals especially the old dudes like . Ivanesevic and Becker really do come to mind, their rackets really do look short as all get it , almost like little toys
It’s always eye deceiving when tall lanky dudes start their serve rituals especially the old dudes like . Ivanesevic and Becker really do come to mind, their rackets really do look short as all get it , almost like little toys
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Of course it is. Novak was using shorter than 27" stick until 2018.
However, what "the possibility" have to do with reality???
I gave you all his spec (length and strung weight, SW and balance...)
The rest is just a meaningless speculation by a few...
teachingprotx
Legend
Oh wow I didn’t know that Novak did, hopefully we can find out other pros do or did too. Especially ones I give a fvbn about
Blakefan17
Rookie
I want what you guys are having jeez
jarko111
Hall of Fame
This is when I love this site the most. We're such crazy rackeholics that we're measuring photographic proportions.. This is some Loch Ness Monster type stuff.
You know photos can be manipulated in almost any photo editing software to distort any pixel. When someone is measuring the actual racket and you have a photo of that.. but at the end of the day, I'm not too concerned with the spec. I like this player. I'm more than cool with whatever it is. I just love this site so much.
You know photos can be manipulated in almost any photo editing software to distort any pixel. When someone is measuring the actual racket and you have a photo of that.. but at the end of the day, I'm not too concerned with the spec. I like this player. I'm more than cool with whatever it is. I just love this site so much.
5.0 in 3.0 Body Guy
Rookie
Well here’s the proverbial smoking gun. Behold Karatsev’s actual racquet.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
He forgot to pack it with him on his trip to Miami.Well here’s the proverbial smoking gun. Behold Karatsev’s actual racquet.
bleno567
Professional
Well here’s the proverbial smoking gun. Behold Karatsev’s actual racquet.
Shawty confirmed
jmacdaununder2
Legend
So .08cm shorty...lol
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travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Not sure why everyone assumes that players stay the same spec. Observe the difference in forehand grip choke position. In AO, he was using a 1-finger choke-down. In 2022, back with longer racquet, he is no longer choking down, with pinky inside flare.
2022 Karatsev:
2021 AO Karatsev:
He's using the same grip in both pics, it's just the angle of the pics that are different. Same amount of grip is exposed behind the pinky finger.Not sure why everyone assumes that players stay the same spec. Observe the difference in forehand grip choke position. In AO, he was using a 1-finger choke-down. In 2022, back with longer racquet, he is no longer choking down, with pinky inside flare.
2022 Karatsev:
2021 AO Karatsev:
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
False!
No it's not. Get 2 pics where the butt cap is visible in both pics.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Pathetic
As we have read Trav has a very vivid imagination.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Here you can clearly see the choke position is different on his 2hb, and that the racquet length is different.
Top pic: 26.75", 1-finger choke down (5/8" choked down), with pinky overhanging 1/4” past end of butt. Note about 7/8'" between thumb and bottom of folk V.
Bottom pic: 27.0” (2022), no-choke down. Note 7/8" +1/4" handle length longer - 5/8" choke = only 1/2" between thumb and bottom of folk V.
photo upload sites
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Proves nothing. No context is given as to what shot is being hit. I know many pros who will choke up a bit to return a big 1st serve and not when in baseline rallies. Lots of players move their hands around for different shots but the racquet stays the same. And are you saying that when someone hypothetically moves to longer racquet they will always choke up on it?Here you can clearly see the choke position is different on his 2hb, and that the racquet length is different.
Top pic: 26.75", 1-finger choke down (5/8" choked down), with pinky overhanging 1/4” past end of butt. Note about 7/8'" between thumb and bottom of folk V.
Bottom pic: 27.0” (2022), no-choke down. Note 7/8" +1/4" handle length longer - 5/8" choke = only 1/2" between thumb and bottom of folk V.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
In many cases, when a player reduces the swingweight by chopping the handle shorter and replacing the buttcap, he will naturally be inclined to choke down to re-create familiar swing timing and feel at impact.
The other thread re: his racquets makes it seem unlikely he was ever looking to reduce swingweight.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Perhaps his coach at the time (a guy with a reputation of “he’ll try anything”, according to those who know him closely) chopped his racquet without telling him and said, “try this.” And after adjusting his grip position so that he felt comfortable with the chopped spec, he just ran with it.
By end of ‘21, he was still using the shorter length, but due to struggles in various conditions had migrated his choke position back to neutral, and the shorter length was hurting him and not helping him. So it wasn’t surprising that he went back to std in 22. Of course, his results went back to chally level too.
Good story...
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Of course there’s more to tell, but I’ll stop there.
Yeah, but you'll have to make it up first. But don't bother on my account, I'm good.Of course there’s more to tell, but I’ll stop there.
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Kalugin
Rookie
Here you can clearly see the choke position is different on his 2hb, and that the racquet length is different.
Top pic: 26.75", 1-finger choke down (5/8" choked down), with pinky overhanging 1/4” past end of butt. Note about 7/8'" between thumb and bottom of folk V.
Bottom pic: 27.0” (2022), no-choke down. Note 7/8" +1/4" handle length longer - 5/8" choke = only 1/2" between thumb and bottom of folk V.
Karatsev's 2022 racket.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Thank you for sharing. Your measurements are consistent with mine for his 2022 spec.
Karatsev's 2022 racket.
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
@travlerajm i applaud you for sticking to your convictions during a bombardment of hate. You have have clearly shown what you claim to be true. All while your detractors claim you to be wrong with zero reason or proof.
AK clearly used a shorty racquet. Thank you for your service.
AK clearly used a shorty racquet. Thank you for your service.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
No he didn’t.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Why would the Head guru(s) who are actually responsible for his racquets - including during the years in question - want/bother to lie about Carrotsieve’s racquet length?
He’s hardly as famous as Joker and Dajoker’s change in racquet length was not kept secret.
Zverev’s longbody version of a standard length only at retail isn’t secret either.
Why would they bother? I mean it’s not like the holes at the poles where those privileged enough can access the underground utopia…
He’s hardly as famous as Joker and Dajoker’s change in racquet length was not kept secret.
Zverev’s longbody version of a standard length only at retail isn’t secret either.
Why would they bother? I mean it’s not like the holes at the poles where those privileged enough can access the underground utopia…
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
How would the guru know what AK is doing with his own racquets? It’s not hard to cut down the pallet a little bit.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Except that it is in your dreams. Since 2020, his racket length was and remains 685mm unstrung (27")
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Because Head was doing the customization for him in 2020 and you'd think that he would have told them to do it shorter on ~20 rackets they did for him in 2020 instead of taking everything off, taking buttcap off, cut not only the pallet but the graphite under, put everything together...
You are in a dreamland, bud.
His 2020 frame:
Kalugin
Rookie
Just made swingweight measurements on Karatsev's racket - its 350 official.
Just now i've visited personal Aslan's stinger (while he is playing tournaments in Russia). And this stinger told me UNBELIEVABLE THINGS about Karatsev's racket. Today i will tell you the secret about his frame. All these recent years TT guys were talking about length of Aslan's racket, and you know what...his racket before 2022 was not a standart one!!!
More details - to come...
Just now i've visited personal Aslan's stinger (while he is playing tournaments in Russia). And this stinger told me UNBELIEVABLE THINGS about Karatsev's racket. Today i will tell you the secret about his frame. All these recent years TT guys were talking about length of Aslan's racket, and you know what...his racket before 2022 was not a standart one!!!
More details - to come...
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