Closeup pics of Djokovic's new Head racket
- Thread starter viktorkwan
- Start date
Quite a few 98sq" frames from Head have crosses far from the top and bottom, the LM Prestige MP for example. I'm thinking it's a 98, that's what Novak has been using all along.
The beam looks a bit wide in the pics. We shall see.
I think that's Sesil Karatantcheva. Back from a drug suspension, IIRC.
Bud
Bionic Poster
It reminds me of the second generation Graphite Pro with the Single Power Wedge at the top.
Bud
Bionic Poster
Chauvalito
Hall of Fame
I think the way the HEAD letters are printed on the top of the frame give the impression that it is larger at the top of the frame.
Djokovic has played with constant beams for the majority, if not all of his career, I would be quite surprised if he switched at this point.
Djokovic has played with constant beams for the majority, if not all of his career, I would be quite surprised if he switched at this point.
Lambsscroll
Hall of Fame
Was Djokovic using a Head PT 280 painted as a Head Liquidmetal Radical? If so do you think his current racquet stiffness is 58 like the PT 280?
Going by photos his Radical had actual liquidmetal ridges. Does not mean that it was a standard LM Radical or Radical Tour, but it could be. A few posters with more inside knowledge than me have stated that he used the Rad Tour.
The LM Radical was quite flexy (57?), but I think the Tour was stiffer (and heavier) but had the same head size. I almost bought the Tour back in 2004. Kinda wish I did, they are now very hard to find.
Another poster made a thread about Novaks "N/KBlade", said it was given to him/her, and attested that it was quite flexy. And quite heavy. It seems Novak has added weight to his racquets over the years. The thread I'm referring to was made not too long ago (late autumn, if memory serves). A search will find it...
Flexy is a quite subjective statement. It depends very much on what you are used to. If you normally play with a Pure Drive, you can feel a 62RA racquet bend. Especially if it is flexy in the throat.
What have I added to this? Novak coud be playing with a flexy racquet?:wink: I do not think it's a very stiff one, I'll say that, lol.
Also, the racquet he's using is not a PT280 or Radical or whatever you punters think it is. It is the new Speed Pro. His specs might vary from the final product that Head will produce, but it won't be by much. During the Medibank he had a couple more racquets quickly made to a slightly different spec which had to be sent from China (where they are made) to Austria (to get something else done) then to some other country for something else to be done again, then to Sydney. Total time took around 5 days I was told!
djoko4thewin
Professional
cool any idea what tension he was using?
I can't remember off the top of my head. I will need to check the book.
Djokovic and his coach seem far more astute than nearly all of the other players. His coach is the first I've ever met that was aware enough that Novak was using brand new racquets and therefore had to string them tighter on the first stringing to break in the grommets. Also planned ahead enough to have all the fresh racquets strung and used once before being strung for matches.
Djokovic and his coach seem far more astute than nearly all of the other players. His coach is the first I've ever met that was aware enough that Novak was using brand new racquets and therefore had to string them tighter on the first stringing to break in the grommets. Also planned ahead enough to have all the fresh racquets strung and used once before being strung for matches.
djoko4thewin
Professional
ooh interesting. so how do you know that hes defianetly using the gut/alu (power)(rough)? from a book? what book? plus when u check the book tell me the tension he is using to break in the grommets and then the norm tension he will use after. Thanks.
Because I was stringing at the Medibank.
The book I was referring to is the book we right down all the orders when the players come in.
As far as breaking in grommets go, there is no "rule" you need to abide by. All you need to be mindful of is that the first time you string a racquet it is going to lose a lot of tension VERY fast. So you compensate for that. 2lbs should be enough really, but you'd use your best judgment.
The book I was referring to is the book we right down all the orders when the players come in.
As far as breaking in grommets go, there is no "rule" you need to abide by. All you need to be mindful of is that the first time you string a racquet it is going to lose a lot of tension VERY fast. So you compensate for that. 2lbs should be enough really, but you'd use your best judgment.
djoko4thewin
Professional
right thanks. so when do u think your be able to look at the book? i saw a log that he used that combo for pacific life open with 26.5/25.5 kg. so that's 58.3/56.1 lbs so up 2 lbs is 60.3/58.1 does that sound close? lastly is he using alu rough or power?
djoko4thewin
Professional
ok thanks. according to nicholas cole he said djoko is using full lux. everyone is saying something different, is there anyway of distinguishing yourself in terms of proving that your right.
crazylevity
Hall of Fame
Well, if he's still tweaking specs on his frames, it doesn't sound like very good preparation to me. I'm surprised he's still winning in Sydney, but I doubt he's going to take down any of the other big 4 if he's not totally comfortable with the racquet in his hand.
viktorkwan
Rookie
lol good to see you've gotten into this forum Mr Fujiwara Tofu Shop!!!
viktorkwan
Rookie
Haven't read the posts put up by Nicholas Cole...but tofu shop would be the last poster on this forum that has strung his rackets...
I know that coz tofu shop is real coz he's a mate of mine and he's stringing at the Medibank International this week.
crazylevity
Hall of Fame
lol...it would be funny if Fujiwara Bunta stopped making tofu and started stringing racquets. And Takumi would drive them to the Japan Open in record time.
Djoko4thewin, I could go out of my way to prove myself, but I won't because frankly I don't need to prove anything to you. Do you think my idea of fun is to come onto this forum and give you a steer in the wrong direction?
I used to be a regular on this forum about 4 years ago, then I stopped because I kept being harassed by users who wanted pro racquet information like it would somehow help their own game. Take or leave the information I provide. I really couldn't care less.
I don't know Nicholas Cole, and haven't read any of his posts so can't really comment. But did it ever occur to anyone that Pro's might actually change their racquet set ups? SHOCK!
I used to be a regular on this forum about 4 years ago, then I stopped because I kept being harassed by users who wanted pro racquet information like it would somehow help their own game. Take or leave the information I provide. I really couldn't care less.
I don't know Nicholas Cole, and haven't read any of his posts so can't really comment. But did it ever occur to anyone that Pro's might actually change their racquet set ups? SHOCK!
Heya Ronny. Actually I know Glen pretty well! He worked with us at the Medibank for a few years. I learnt a lot about stringing from that guy. Super nice guy! I haven't seen/heard from him in a couple years though. From what I've heard he's travelling pretty much full time stringing now. I think he's working with Ronnie Yu and Roman. I *think*.
Ronny
Hall of Fame
yeah i saw on the wilson biardo vid that he works for **** now...he always gave out a free dampener and supergrap after every restring lol
Ronny
Hall of Fame
no hes not, he got more money from the deal with head than wat he would have gotten if he won ao again...sometimes money comes first.
jamauss
Hall of Fame
You know, I think Sesil Karatantcheva might have been playing with that racquet for quite a while now.
She played in a tourney here, her first one after her suspension. I strung all the ladies racquets pretty much except hers. She had a white head racquet that I hadn't seen before.
Edit: Nevermind, looks like it was the LM Rave.
She played in a tourney here, her first one after her suspension. I strung all the ladies racquets pretty much except hers. She had a white head racquet that I hadn't seen before.
Edit: Nevermind, looks like it was the LM Rave.
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djoko4thewin
Professional
ok sorry i believe u know, i'm just cautious. anyway i know they change their racket specs lol SHOCK! but anyhow if u could check your book sometime than i would be grateful.
djoko4thewin
Professional
Thanks alot! one thing, which vs does he use touch or team, i think it's team because touch is 1.30 and 1.35, is that right? lastly looks like hes going down by 0.5 each time as u said because their new rackets. any idea what he might settle on roughly i know he changes it due to conditions. maybe 26.5/25.5 like at pacific open 08?
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alextennis0805
Rookie
what is speed pro and the racquet looks weird it looks pretty bulky
Tennisguy777
Professional
Looks eerily similar to LM radical mold.
Tennisguy777
Professional
so is this a new line ie. radicals and prestiges next or will it supplement the microgel line? Cause the microgel line is only about year and half old.
adlis
Professional
A new line of rackets? Thats great because HEAD seriously need to increase their model range.
I cannot wait to order the NEW HEAD Titanium Ti Comfort Zone 357 metric EU grams strung airflow mid radical prestige ISD microGEL pro speed classic Liquidmetal mid plus 630 team solo tour mid+ oversize Metallix Instinct Flexpoint mid- Intellifiber mojo Monster FXP pc600 tweener super standard plus lengh 27.005 inch crossbow 8.45 american ounces unstrung with the anti-torsion bar
But it's 8pts Head Light so no deal. Seriously HEAD please release the 1pt head light version with the ltd edtion MICROgold grommets.
djoko4thewin
Professional
lol adlis. anyway the pic tennisguy777 posted shows the gut/lux hybrid, which now is conlusive, that djoko uses that instead of full x-1.
Tennis_dude ^_^
Semi-Pro
Wow what a year
first gael leaves head for prince
now novak is coming
hey does anyone know when this racket will come out
first gael leaves head for prince
now novak is coming
hey does anyone know when this racket will come out
purple-n-gold
Hall of Fame
I've heard next summer.
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
Roman & Ron Yu don't work with each other. Ron works with Nate (Ferguson) and now with Glynn (Roberts) who worked with Bow Brand @ Wimbledon and are known as Priority 1. Roman runs **** and also the Wilson stringing team the will do the Aus & US open this year.
Maybe you've mistaken the Glenn you know with Glynn?
Regards
Paul
Tennis_dude ^_^
Semi-Pro
Ronny
Hall of Fame
nah its glen, he strings for the hopman cup and did it for the 05 aus open. and looking fom the biardo vid, he now works for **** international.
