G
guitarplayer
Guest
Man, the way he played, so much power and control....it must be the frame...it couldn't be me and my average skills!
Gosh, after watching the AO men's final...I feel the need to pick up a Head Speed!,
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
the sad reality is there will be thousands of people out there who will think exactly that and race out and buy one of the things..
Not that they are bad frames or anything, but a) I doubt Djoker's is anything like a retail one anyway and b) they are stiff and demanding pieces of kit for anyone, let alone the sort of person who would be most influenced by the marketing...
Not that they are bad frames or anything, but a) I doubt Djoker's is anything like a retail one anyway and b) they are stiff and demanding pieces of kit for anyone, let alone the sort of person who would be most influenced by the marketing...
roundiesee
Hall of Fame
Why not just get both the Speed and the APDGT? 
After 6 plus hours of tennis, the difference between the 2 of them were miniscule.
After 6 plus hours of tennis, the difference between the 2 of them were miniscule.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Buy a HEAD Radical MP it's actually a lot closer to what Djokovic uses. At the very least you will have the right mold of his actual frame.
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
GP was kidding..
TennisMaverick
Banned
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Radical MP Mold with his own custom lay-up.
G
guitarplayer
Guest
True...and I'll bet there were people going into sporting goods stores today asking......do you have the racquet that XXXXX uses?
TennisMaverick
Banned
klementine
Hall of Fame
I realize that the radical is closer to Djoko's frame but the racquet he's using seems slightly bigger to me and with a more open 18x20 string pattern.
For example, I look at Murray's, Soderling's and Haas' 98sq.in. Head frames and they really look like Head 98sq.in. frames. A familiar sight, that classic 95sq.in. that Head measures as 98.
Djoko's looks bigger to me. Maybe I'm off on this.
For example, I look at Murray's, Soderling's and Haas' 98sq.in. Head frames and they really look like Head 98sq.in. frames. A familiar sight, that classic 95sq.in. that Head measures as 98.
Djoko's looks bigger to me. Maybe I'm off on this.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
After watching the final i want to put 3 grams on my racquet...nadal was repeatedly bombing 100mph fhs
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
PaulFCB
Semi-Pro
Is it? I was actually thinking of an 18x20 and the IG Speed was one of them...
klementine
Hall of Fame
^ I thought that color might have something to do with it. But something still doesn't seem right.
There's a picture of Novak's frame in the pro gear section....
There's a picture of Novak's frame in the pro gear section....
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
you are in the MAC!
Adidas_Anderson
Semi-Pro
i wish there is a prostock of noles racket with same paintjob and specs for sale...
closet i see is a IG Speed pro mold
closet i see is a IG Speed pro mold
klementine
Hall of Fame
ALL CREDIT FOR THE PICS GO TO Fabfed.
To me it looks like a true 98, like the blade98 and not the 95sq.in. that is a radical.
To me it looks like a true 98, like the blade98 and not the 95sq.in. that is a radical.
klementine
Hall of Fame
Yup. Back home after many years abroad. I'll be out of tennis for awhile though. Next thursday shoulder surgery, hockey injury.
Once I get better, I'm looking to hit and hang with some people from the MAC.
gregor.b
Professional
ALL CREDIT FOR THE PICS GO TO Fabfed.
To me it looks like a true 98, like the blade98 and not the 95sq.in. that is a radical.
I have a couple of the N Blade 98's and they don't look that shape. They look a little rounder in the head.
klementine
Hall of Fame
AGAIN, ALL CREDIT TO Fabfed, ORIGINALLY POSTED BY HIM UNDER 'PRO'S GEAR SECTION'.
Djoko's sticking sitting next to a retail Speed. Again, to me Novak's stick looks bigger than a Radical and definitely has a more open 18x20 pattern. The Radical is one of denser frames out there, especially in the center. Djoko's stick looks more evenly distributed. It's a little smaller and less oval than the Speed retail.
Djoko's sticking sitting next to a retail Speed. Again, to me Novak's stick looks bigger than a Radical and definitely has a more open 18x20 pattern. The Radical is one of denser frames out there, especially in the center. Djoko's stick looks more evenly distributed. It's a little smaller and less oval than the Speed retail.
klementine
Hall of Fame
^ I'll take your word for it VS. :smile:
It would've been nice if Fabfed got a hold of that radical to post side-by-sides, like he said he would but he has posted many gems in the past 2 years, so I'm not complaining.
If they made a radical with a more open 18x20 pattern, like Djoko's, I would be in racquet-nirvana.
EDIT: Wait,what! VS? You're saying that it's the same drill pattern too.. really?! Have they changed the drill patterns from the i.rad/lm lines to the mg/yt? I played with a radical about two months and remember marveling at how dense it was in the center, gradually opening up as it moved away from the sweetspot. Djoko's looks really well distributed, with slight variation as you move away from the sweetspot.
It would've been nice if Fabfed got a hold of that radical to post side-by-sides, like he said he would but he has posted many gems in the past 2 years, so I'm not complaining.
If they made a radical with a more open 18x20 pattern, like Djoko's, I would be in racquet-nirvana.
EDIT: Wait,what! VS? You're saying that it's the same drill pattern too.. really?! Have they changed the drill patterns from the i.rad/lm lines to the mg/yt? I played with a radical about two months and remember marveling at how dense it was in the center, gradually opening up as it moved away from the sweetspot. Djoko's looks really well distributed, with slight variation as you move away from the sweetspot.
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Cup8489
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic originally used the LM Radical. I can't speak on the drill patterns of the i.rad, but to my amateur eye, comparing this frame to my MG Radical MP (presently sitting in front of me on the desk) the string pattern is identical. It looks like a Radical to me.. I only wish I could get that paintjob on mine!
klementine
Hall of Fame
^ Well, it appears my memory doesn't serve me as well as I would like to think. It probably is the same drill pattern, it could be that the MgRad I played with a couple of months ago was strung with 16g strings.
Djoko's LmRad was capped was it not? Sure explains the lead on the inside of the frame, mimicking cap grommets.
Djoko's LmRad was capped was it not? Sure explains the lead on the inside of the frame, mimicking cap grommets.
klementine
Hall of Fame
Which prompts me to ask.
Has anyone tried cap'ng an IGRad yet?
TW has the beam a bit thicker than the Mg and Yt Rad.
The MgRad was torture to cap (I almost succeeded) and from what I've read, the Yt was a bit tougher. The IG could be even yet more difficult.
Maybe a separate thread would help with that one.
Has anyone tried cap'ng an IGRad yet?
TW has the beam a bit thicker than the Mg and Yt Rad.
The MgRad was torture to cap (I almost succeeded) and from what I've read, the Yt was a bit tougher. The IG could be even yet more difficult.
Maybe a separate thread would help with that one.
KenC
Hall of Fame
Come on guys, we all know the player makes the racquet and not vice versa. The real reason Djokovic is on fire now obviously has to be because of Sergio Tacchini clothing. Obviously Sergio Tacchini is better than Nike and will take your game to the next level. Of course we have to also consider the Adidas shoes in the mix. Maybe what will take us all to the next level is the combination of ST clothes and Adidas footwear?
JGads
G.O.A.T.
That black ST track jacket would most certainly take my game to the next level. I'm sure of it and wish TW would make that one available here. The spilled-ketchup-and-mayo polos (copyright FedKennedy), though, I'm not so sure.
Really must be an optical illusion with the bright white frame, because I agree, it always looks like he's swinging a frame that's slightly larger than the Radical MP. I trust that it is the same mold, but the white really does make it look bigger.
Ashanti
Rookie
frunk
Semi-Pro
The Speed IG Pro is a 98sqin 16x19. Wayyyyyyy too much power for my taste and I strung it up REALLY tight for more control. I think 70 with BHBR 17 and Gamma Livewire 16.
I'm importing all the black AO gear from TWE. I'll post pictures when it arrives in a week or so!
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
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Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
That is the entire idea of marketing. and HEAD will probably sell > 100,000 frames after this match worldwide. and these people will think they can beat Nadal in 5 set match. Isn't that wonderful ?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
What is Novak's racket really made out of ? Graphite composite only ? or did they really add some youtek material in there too ?
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
I always thought it was closer to the radical tour twin tube (think its the same mold as a pt630, which felt a lot squarer in the throat than the modern radicals....(??)
No. Nole uses the modern Radical MP Mold that is pre Youtek. He does not use PT630/RTtt630 (PT57A) mold.
Yourtenniscoach
Banned
So really, if someone had some crazy painting skills, they could take a MG Radical and paint it to look like IG Radical you've have a cloned look-alike copy of the frame!
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
You've got it.
KenC
Hall of Fame
And how many APDGTs has Babolat sold because of Nadal? How many people are convinced the APDGT is specifically designed to give all the topspin that Nadal gets? 99.9% of the tennis playing population wouldn't be able to generate any more spin with the APDGT than they can with the PDGT but swear they are getting twice as much with the APDGT. That's the power of marketing, product placement and endorsements.
Even more sad is when a new version of a racquet is released all of of a sudden the previous version isn't that great and they feel compelled to "upgrade" to what often is just a new cosmetic. This happened with the Pure Storm line recently, but it didn't stop many people from seriously believing there was something noticeably different in feel and playability from the previous version, even if TW clearly stated that nothing has changed except the paint job.
Some people really need to unplug from the matrix for awhile.
Ashanti
Rookie
I agree with most of you on the whole marketing front even if djokovic handed you a racket from his bag you thats not gonna empower you to go beat nadal or any other top 100 players. basically these days most pros rackets are there own creation they get a basic racket and customize the hell out of it so instead of buying a frame of a grand slam winner find a frame thats right for you and try customizing it as you grow definatly save u money from buying new frame every other year
JoelDali
Talk Tennis Guru
This match and Joker's equipment influence has caused many rec players to instantly increase their NTRP level by .5.
I know several 3.5ers who are now mid range 4.0 just after watching this match and merely contemplating switching to a customized Radical MP.
I think I compare this to when Dunlop introduced the Maxply Mcenroe and caused Borg whoars to get off the baseline and wear Tachini, thrusting them from 4.0 to 4.5 with a more agressive S+V game.
Insane how it all works. Influence and marekting.
I know several 3.5ers who are now mid range 4.0 just after watching this match and merely contemplating switching to a customized Radical MP.
I think I compare this to when Dunlop introduced the Maxply Mcenroe and caused Borg whoars to get off the baseline and wear Tachini, thrusting them from 4.0 to 4.5 with a more agressive S+V game.
Insane how it all works. Influence and marekting.
grass_hopper
Professional
get in shape guys, tennis is much more fun when running down the ball and hitting on the rise.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
If I recall correctly from fabfeds awesome thread, djokovics frame is an absolute tree branch something in the neighborhood of 370+ swingweight around 2pts hl with a bigtime static weight.
So basically to mimic this you need to get a radical mp and then duct tape another radical mp on top of it to get the djoker ball.
So basically to mimic this you need to get a radical mp and then duct tape another radical mp on top of it to get the djoker ball.
li0scc0
Hall of Fame
The average fan does not care about Djokovic. "His" Head racquets haven't exactly been flying off the shelves. Babolat sells, plain and simple. And a lot of Wilson's, as well (the Fed effect).
Fed Kennedy
Legend
And, what's this? Djokovic is also using a full bed of TF Bi-Phase as well? No poly? how can that be? All pros were supposed to have to play with poly to get that kind of spin and/or control...
Djoko uses champions choice. He is a total *******.
Yourtenniscoach
Banned
I'm afraid many people will suffer when they pick up jokers frame. I'm not super picky about my frames but just couldn't get the hang of it at all. I've played with Prestiges, Radicals & Pure Drives w/out issue, Speed was a whole different animal.
