allcourt128
New User
Which racquet does Tomas Berdych really use? Does he use the graphene instinct or does he have just an instinct paintjob?
Tomas Berdych racquet and setup
- Thread starter allcourt128
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THESEXPISTOL
Hall of Fame
When it comes to pro gear your eyes deceive you! It's some sort of pro stock model you can't buy. Then they paint whatever they want to promote, in Berdych's case the Instinct and the Radical previously.
From what I remember, its a TGK 260.2 (might have the number wrong). It's a pro stock (lighter, all graphite) youtek radical in 16x19 pattern. He played with the radical paint before he signed his deal with head and a bit into it. When head changed the instinct, they changed his paintjob also. Pretty sure he plays the smooth ALU Power too, but I could be mistaken. When he played with Dunlop, he used the same mold as Blake, Melzer, and various other pros. I might have a few details wrong, but most of it I've gathered from the forums here. I'm sure VSBabolat or somebody with similar knowledge of pro frames could chime in too.
president.s
Rookie
It's a TGK260.2 (youtek radical mp 16x19). It's not all graphite. It's same materials as regular youtek radical mp but different string pattern. This model as all pro stocks, come lighter (around 250 gr) from the factory so that pros can customized exactly to their specs. As for Berdych: 347gr untstrung and somewhere near 32cm unstrung balance. 12 grms of lead at 3 and 9 total (2x2 layered strips of 6 in at each side) and 2 gr at 12. I have two of them in radical paintjob.
floydcouncil
Professional
No one knows for sure one way or the other. It's all speculation.
I know this, I've owned many prostocks, TGK238.1's PT57A's (which I still currently own) I know exactly how Head work there prostocks. IF you read the post underneath yours here, you willl see that it is in fact a prostock RADICAL. I was correct in what I said.
president.s
Rookie
All pro's rackets are highly customized. I don't know about his old dunlop but my guess is that his current setup won't be far from his old. Btw the TGK260.2 is a Head racket but it's not available in retail.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Or you can just buy IG Radical Pro which is exact same frame he is using (among many pros, Matt Reed,Karlovic,matosevic,stephens among many...) and with caps installed you only need one layer of lead at 3 and 9.
You can trim the caps if you want to or buy std grommets from **** I believe...
As an experiment I trimmed the caps and guess what exactly 6 grams on each side. So basically for whatever reason berdych does not like caps (IMHO the frame feels more rigid with CAPS so maybe that's why) but wants the benefit of cap
You can trim the caps if you want to or buy std grommets from **** I believe...
As an experiment I trimmed the caps and guess what exactly 6 grams on each side. So basically for whatever reason berdych does not like caps (IMHO the frame feels more rigid with CAPS so maybe that's why) but wants the benefit of cap
DownTheLineWith90
Rookie
TGK260.2
Custom Drilling
Custom Drilling
president.s
Rookie
IG radical is nothing like the TGK260.2. He doesn't use caps because both radical mp and instinct paintjobs that he is endorsing don't have caps.
Btw stephens also used TGK260.2 and now the newest models TGT260.5 that's the same.
president.s
Rookie
HAHA! I don't know about 400 but i have heard that is pretty high...
If this lead setup is correct, supposing that his swingweight from factory comes near 300, then with lead it will be +- 328, but still unstrung.
weight unstrung = 345gr (from another source) + string + overgrip = ~365gr
Balance unstrung (from another source) = 31.5cm; strung + overgrip = ~32,2cm
SW unstrung = 328; strung + overgip = ~360
This is a very common setup in ATP tour players.
You can try this setup yourself, power and spin are very easy to achive, the problem is... can you play with it ? :twisted:
.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
260.2 and 260.5 are two different frames.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
He does really use a YT Radical MP just with a 16x19 string pattern.
anubis
Hall of Fame
It sounds great and I'd love to fool around with that some day, but my primary racquet is the Technifibre T-Fight 315 LTD, and it's so horribly upside down that in order to achieve a swing weight of 365, the static weight would have to be around 385 grams.
Would love to get my hands on a nice, lightweight pro stock frame so that I can really customize it properly. So many frames out today have just too high of a stock weight, too low of a swing weight, so you're always having a swing weight that is way lower than stock weight. And as you add to the swing weight, it never catches up to and overtakes static weight.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
I get that feel is very personal thing and I don't want to argue with you seeing that you are new to this forums
I have tested both pro stock and retail and feel is the same IF you remove the caps of radical or in other words match them...
AFAIK Berdych now uses tgt BTW
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Hi,
In a way, you might have, at least partially, answered my question as to why racket brands do not release pro styles sticks. If they are so light, so you have to mod them, than they are not for general marketplace.
However, I was always surprised that Head Radical MP YT was available as 18*20 pattern for amateur market but not in 16*19 (or 18)pattern.
I found the radical MP more difficult to play with (lacking spin and power) than Prestige MP and Pro models (and I am just 4.0 level now), so 16*19 would suit the intended market better IMO.
regards,
Andrew
president.s
Rookie
Yeah i know.. I mispoke. I meant that she uses the 16x19 version of ig radical mp. 260.5. If i'm not wrong.
thanks for your respect and not arguing and i don't want either but i'm new at the forums,i'm not new at tennis. I too have tryied both rackets with and without caps. they are not the same. They come somewhere close but not the same. Btw i meant that are different rackets different molds beacause you said that TGK260.2 and Ig radical pro are the same rackets. I "argued" mostly about that. Anyway the feel is a personal thing as you said.
He might use TGT260.2 but it's the same. K and T stand for the factories in china
president.s
Rookie
weight strung is around 368-9 (13oz) because strings in tgk260.2 weighs about 17-18 gr + 5-6gr overgip. Balance is around 32.7.So swingweight is higher too
Alu Power1.25mm with 16x19 in that 95" weights 16~17gr, + 5gr for the overgrip = ~21gr.
Total weight= ~366gr.
If balance without string+overgrip is 31.5cm, then with string+overgrip should be 32.2cm or 32.3cm.
But if balance is 32cm, with string+overgrip, then should be 32.7cm or 32.8cm.
Regarding the SW, if the info posted here about the lead setup on his rackets is correct, then the SW with string+overgrip is correct = ~360.
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movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I just weighed strung + unstrung. Strung with ALU + Luxilon purple O vibration dampener + Wilson Pro Overgrip is 375 grams. I do not know which overgrip Berdych actually uses - I just happen to like the Wilson Pro. Unstrung weight is 350 grams.
Art Art: do you play with yours regularly or are they collectables?
Art Art: do you play with yours regularly or are they collectables?
I used to play with it, but only for a few minutes.
I have sold it now.
Can you please check balance and SW ?
I guess the one I had it was with some other setup.
It was(is) a very nice racket, very comfy, power and spin are very easy to achive, the problem is that you get very tyred to play 2 or more sets with it.
I have sold it now.
Can you please check balance and SW ?
I guess the one I had it was with some other setup.
It was(is) a very nice racket, very comfy, power and spin are very easy to achive, the problem is that you get very tyred to play 2 or more sets with it.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
It would take me a few hours to check the SW as I'd have to drive about 50 miles to a shop to do it. I've been meaning to do this for a long time but haven't gotten around to it.
I think that most people that bought them modified them as they are just too hard to use for regular play. I could probably play with them now that I'm used to high swingweights but I don't think that I'd play my best game with Berdych frames. I find that a polarized setup is easier to use in a high swingweight configuration than a stability setup with a lot of lead at 3+9.
For those thinking of playing with Berdych's setup: it may be fun to hit with but you probably won't play your most effective tennis with it. I wouldn't mind picking up one of these in YT PJ but I'd guess that there aren't any more of these in original form around today.
I think that most people that bought them modified them as they are just too hard to use for regular play. I could probably play with them now that I'm used to high swingweights but I don't think that I'd play my best game with Berdych frames. I find that a polarized setup is easier to use in a high swingweight configuration than a stability setup with a lot of lead at 3+9.
For those thinking of playing with Berdych's setup: it may be fun to hit with but you probably won't play your most effective tennis with it. I wouldn't mind picking up one of these in YT PJ but I'd guess that there aren't any more of these in original form around today.
president.s
Rookie
what do you mean "original form"? contact me if you like. i have two of them. president.s@hotmail.com
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movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
Pro Stocks can be had in a variety of forms: hairpin, assembled racquet without lead and silicone, assembled racquet with silicone, assembled racquet with silicone and lead, assembled racquet with custom pallet, etc. Someone that buys a Berdych racquet may hit with it a few times and decide that they can't play with it because it is too heavy. At that point, they can remove some of the weight (lead and/or silicone) or they can sell it or just keep it as a collectable. Some may not have the finances to keep a collection around or they may want to try something else. So the racquets could get passed around from person to person as it came to them or someone could modify the frames to their specs. If you want tgk260.2s because you like them and can modify them to your specs, then you wouldn't buy Berdych frames because they have high premiums because he's in the top ten. You'd buy them that came on the market where the name of the player isn't known.
I've seen Berdych Frames sold without his custom molded grip, without the lead tape, in hairpin form, etc. I have no doubt that they are authentic but they aren't what I consider original.
I've seen Berdych Frames sold without his custom molded grip, without the lead tape, in hairpin form, etc. I have no doubt that they are authentic but they aren't what I consider original.
suppawat
Semi-Pro
I have 3 Berdych's frames, but sold 2 already.
The first one was Dunlop AG200 paint over PT924 frame. It weighs 367g with strung balance of 317mm. Stiffness should be around 57-59. It hits the ball really solid and hard, but a bit sluggish.
The second one was Head TGK 260.2 16x19. I didn't measure the racquet spec, but all I know was I preferred the Dunlop one better. The TGK plays as soft as Dunlop, but lacks torsional stability.
The latest one is Head TGT 260.2 16x19 under IG Instinct paintjob, but I didn't customize it to Berdych spec. This TGT is really nice. It plays stiffer than those 2, may be 64-67RA. Stability and maneuverability are much improved, and I can finally hit one handed backhand comfortably with this frame.
The first one was Dunlop AG200 paint over PT924 frame. It weighs 367g with strung balance of 317mm. Stiffness should be around 57-59. It hits the ball really solid and hard, but a bit sluggish.
The second one was Head TGK 260.2 16x19. I didn't measure the racquet spec, but all I know was I preferred the Dunlop one better. The TGK plays as soft as Dunlop, but lacks torsional stability.
The latest one is Head TGT 260.2 16x19 under IG Instinct paintjob, but I didn't customize it to Berdych spec. This TGT is really nice. It plays stiffer than those 2, may be 64-67RA. Stability and maneuverability are much improved, and I can finally hit one handed backhand comfortably with this frame.
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president.s
Rookie
I know all of these. I've had various pro stocks. I didn't know whether you meant original Berdych's form or original hairpin form (uncustomized).Anyway i got it. Btw what do you mean with this?
i didn't get the meaning.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
You can get racquets that don't have the player's name attached to them for less than a name player frame. That is one of Murray's PT57As would cost a lot more than a PT57A where the player isn't known. If you just want the frame, then you don't need to pay for the player's name.
president.s
Rookie
Ah.. Yes of course.. Yours are personal Berdych's frames aren't they?
president.s
Rookie
could it be the case because of the caps that you have installed? Both the feeling of increaed stifness and the stability?
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
> Ah.. Yes of course.. Yours are personal Berdych's
> frames aren't they?
Well, personal has different meanings on the web. Some use it to mean that it is from the Pro's stock in hairpin form that they can customize for you. In the case of the two that I have, they are to his specs and the sellers indicated where he had used them. The are both reputable sellers so I have no reason to doubt them.
> frames aren't they?
Well, personal has different meanings on the web. Some use it to mean that it is from the Pro's stock in hairpin form that they can customize for you. In the case of the two that I have, they are to his specs and the sellers indicated where he had used them. The are both reputable sellers so I have no reason to doubt them.
president.s
Rookie
Actually it's one of my questions to VS but my guess is that the 260.5 has Innegra in the frame while 260.2 has Youtek.
Songs For A Dead Pilot
Semi-Pro
tennistomcat
Semi-Pro
Sorry to revive an old thread but I wanted to ask dgoran about trimming the caps on the IG radical Pro.
Am I reading this right? Trimming the caps took off how much total weight on the racket? 6 gms total or 6 gms from both sides equaling 12 gms total?
I want to lower the static weight of the radical pro as much as possible.
Thanks
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