Nadal uses Paint Job GT
- Thread starter kikiviva
- Start date
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
source please? This is a custom dyed Babolat. Definitely not PHT.
Wes_Loves_Dunlop
Professional
fedace never has any idea what he is talking about
lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
wow whoever stenciled that racquet messed up pretty bad with the placement of the bottom stripe
ci2ca
Semi-Pro
The strings are just crooked.
Bolivian Ace
Rookie
I think this proves he pj gt
with pj(?) duralast?
PS: Nadal's grip
Nadal uses syntec replacement grip with one babolat vs original over grip
Please elaborate....
JStar7
Rookie
what about your source? How do you know it's dyed? It seems to me like Nadal has alot more power than he previously did and the string looks like a legit totally different string in the second picture. I could be wrong, but thats what i've seen when he's played recently.
jmverdugo
Hall of Fame
and what is your source? very few people can be 100% sure about what it is.
good call jm! I am interested to see if anyone can find out if this is real PHT black or just dyed duralast. We will probably need to find someone who strings Nadal's racquets at Oz Open. That will settle the problem about the paint job on his racquet as well! ...Or maybe not!:?
It is all good fun though.
It is all good fun though.
VamosRafa10
Rookie
I thought the same myself. Or else its the light reflecting off it
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
That's what Babolat reps will say or will have Rafa say.
I am just struggling with the idea of a top player (#2 world ranking, 6 time slam champion no less) making such a big adjustment in strings just like that. It's not so easy.
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West Coast Ace
G.O.A.T.
Paintjob? Oh, the Humanity!
Black string rules!
Luxillon, I hope you are harvesting those black cat intestines ASAP!
Black string rules!
Luxillon, I hope you are harvesting those black cat intestines ASAP!
Miami Tiburon
Semi-Pro
Dyed or not Dyed that is the question.Id figure how expensive can it be for Duralast to make black strings
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The Young'n
New User
wrong, that is pht. the babolat rep came to our club and showed us the new black hurricane tour. Its back ordered for forever though
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
thats the white paint coming off showing the black underneath.
The Young'n
New User
wrong again my friends. that is white stencil ink instead of black. its so you can see the stripes against the black string
Wes_Loves_Dunlop
Professional
I expect its a PJ but the cortex deffo looks raised in this picture dont you think.
look at the previous pictures, you can clearly see its painted on
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
I agree on the other fotos but the light on the top of the cortex strip suggests its slightly raised. From what ive seen with the painted ones like below there does look like the cortex is raised. I dont know but looking at the fotos I would say hes palying with the new fella. It goes against everything i would have thought but.....
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T
TennisandMusic
Guest
It has long been said Nadal might be switching to the new black hurricane tour. I really don't think they would go through the trouble of "dying" duralast if he wasn't going to really switch. That sounds absurd.
Do his shots really appear to have more zip or depth on them now? It would certainly be expected IF he really switched, since duralast is such a dead no power string.
Do his shots really appear to have more zip or depth on them now? It would certainly be expected IF he really switched, since duralast is such a dead no power string.
D
Deleted member 45559
Guest
for ****s sake its a PJ I'm sorry but you ppl are blind if you cant see that the Cortex is painted on geeze
Just goes to show how posters get really excited about what they see from photos in the internet. Different photos with different lighting show or appear to show different things.
I think it is a pj racquet but really believe he has switched to PHT black. I have my own theory- just think it makes sense for Rafa to at least switch strings at this stage with his tennis. Changing the racquet as well would be a huge jump as they play completely differently, even the sound is different.
Maybe once he gets the string under control he will take on the new GT and tame that boomerang as well:twisted::twisted:
I think it is a pj racquet but really believe he has switched to PHT black. I have my own theory- just think it makes sense for Rafa to at least switch strings at this stage with his tennis. Changing the racquet as well would be a huge jump as they play completely differently, even the sound is different.
Maybe once he gets the string under control he will take on the new GT and tame that boomerang as well:twisted::twisted:
TennisFan3
Talk Tennis Guru
I don't think his shots have more zip or power than they usually have. He's better than his abysmal form in late 2009. But he's still not hitting the ball as powerfully as he was in Wimb 2008 and early 2009. I saw one of his double handed backhands at IW 2009 when his opponent came to the net. That shot had SERIOUS pace. I don't think Nadal has hit anything close to that for almost a year now. I would be interested to see the avg speed of his groundies. I'm sure it hasn't increased.
I do think that eventually he should consider switching both the frame and the guts to APD GT with PHT. That might be his only option to counter hard hitters such as Del Potro. Otherwise it's only a matter of time before he gets blown off the court again.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
I think the Cortex is painted on.
Thanks thats the first foto that says PJ, all the others were inconclusive, esp mine above where it looks raised.
xFullCourtTenniSx
Hall of Fame
Federer started using Luxilon Alu Power Rough and soon after went on a tear in 2003, winning Wimbledon. Then, at the start of 2004, he switched the setup, using natural gut in the mains and Luxilon in the crosses. He ended up dominating the world tour for the next 4.5 years, and still remains one of the top two undisputed players in the world who have claimed a solid hold of the game.
If changing one half of his strings could do so much, maybe the same could be done for Nadal. :wink:
jazzyfunkybluesy
Banned
His strings are a pj. Maybe Nadal is paint jobbed as well. Its really Verdasco with a woofer system in his arm.
lew.m.f.tennisfan
New User
it is a painted cortex. i dont think nadal will ever change from his apd.
jazzyfunkybluesy
Banned
I think you are right. Just tinker with the strings and tension.
VamosRafa10
Rookie
I meant higher up in the string bed it looks like there are patches of white but i thought it was probably just the light. Sorry for not being clearer.
We'll have to wait for a stringer to take a super enhanced picture of Nadal's "new" string and compare it to whatever Babolat releases and also compare it to a piece of duralast and then we'll know what Rafa's using. But until that happens, we'll be clueless.
Of course rafa's going to say he's using the new model of racquet and their new string, but we the common people don't know.
Of course rafa's going to say he's using the new model of racquet and their new string, but we the common people don't know.
brownbearfalling
Hall of Fame
what year? And are there any pictures?
I think it is too early decide what he is using. Honestly, the strings look too shiny to be pht painted black. I am leaning more to another color of Duralast. It makes sense to me that Babolat is trying to boost the sales of their strings. It seems like they are making an attempt and are going to keep trying. They finally released duralast in US, they came out with revenge and other strings at the same time. Nadal seems to be their top endorser. So it would make sense if they just dyed duralast.
Also I was never a fan of pht. It is not as textured as it is said to be. And there are many other more textured strings. And now there are so many poly alternatives, it is very hard to dominate the poly strings.
Paint Job Gt but prototype string-to be named.
actually pht Echantillon(yes, it's a color!) is quite shiny (and incidentally stiff as barbedwire!...but anyway..I think the racquet is a PJ but the new string seems to be a prototype.(Please see the other PHT Black string thread.) I am sure Babolat will release details, give it a name in time...maybe Roland Garros launch!:twisted:
It is a different string to PHT black which is coming out next month.
actually pht Echantillon(yes, it's a color!) is quite shiny (and incidentally stiff as barbedwire!...but anyway..I think the racquet is a PJ but the new string seems to be a prototype.(Please see the other PHT Black string thread.) I am sure Babolat will release details, give it a name in time...maybe Roland Garros launch!:twisted:
It is a different string to PHT black which is coming out next month.
Fee
Legend
Today on the Tennis Channel Justin said that Nadal is using a new, unnamed polyester string that is a 135 gauge. (I think that's what he said, I should take notes when he does technical stuff). He also said something about his current racket but my phone rang and I missed it. Maybe someone else heard it.
I can't tell! - only his stringer knows what he uses! It is all just supposition. A good pro stringer will find the tension ...it is easy for both parties once the machine is calibrated and nadal has adjusted to the conditions, heat, humidity.
Just a couple of practice sessions...
But apparently Nadal used duralast for years...the prototype string is a big change for him. he spent a while testing this new prototype..or not!
everybody has their own opinion..that is the discussion in the other thread.
This is the new racket sold only in Europe for now
http://www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com/descpageRCBABH-BAPDGT.html
http://www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com/descpageRCBABH-BAPDGT.html
VamosRafa10
Rookie
The pht in black is up on TW europe now
TheMusicLover
G.O.A.T.
As in 99% of these cases - PJ.
