Racquets don't matter. Seriously.

I'm a 3.5 and 4.0 usta singles player. I love to geek out on racquets and tennis physics.

I occasionally play 4.5 and 5.0 guys at my club -- played a 4.5 last night who is 51, played D1 singles at a PAC 12 university. Lost love and 1. And I played well!

Most of the better guys I play show up with one racquet or a racquet and a mismatched backup. Guy I played last night had an ig extreme pro with some totally frayed multi in it and a half wrap (even tho he has 2HBH) of orange overgrip that looked like it had been on there for six months. His backup was some weird Wilson granny stick that must have been 10 years old. No tennis bag.

News flash: racquets don't matter! Not that thinking about them isn't pleasurable in its on right.

Seems legit. I guess I like my racquet so much more than others, and I don't have to adjust my strokes when I use random racquets to get the same exact shots on all of them ^_^

Must be mental.

I believe racquets and strings don't matter much. What does matter is sticking to one racquet and one string at the same tension for the long term. Constant experimenting with equipment hurts my game.

tell racquets dont matter to any good college or pro player and he would disagree.

what might matter more are shoes, or strings / tension, but getting used to a racquet is important

I like to believe footwork and conditioning matters way more than equipment. That has been proven by my shank % and win loss record observed across a multitude of frames.

^^^ or perhaps by the time equipment starts to matter, you are an accomplished player anyways and you can bring a walmart stick and school a 3.5 or 4.0

they matter within certain parameters..

I can, for example, play with anything between about 95 and 102 sq inches and about 10.9 to 12 oz strung..

that's a pretty big range, but if I go outside it I start to struggle with aspects of my game..

I reckon I could play pretty well with an IG Extreme Pro though, all the same

daved said:

.....
News flash: racquets don't matter!.... .

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BLASPHEMY!!!

Racquets certainly don't matter when you are playing someone two levels below you...

It matters, but not as much as good technique and a lot of experience.


An IG extreme Pro is a major weapon in the right hands, so I am not sure of your point there.

Power Player said:

It matters, but not as much as good technique and a lot of experience.


An IG extreme Pro is a major weapon in the right hands, so I am not sure of your point there.

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Agree, it matters. However ability is more important.

Having said that, I can't control a Big Bubba nor is a PS 85 forgiving enough for me. I also would not be able to play as well with a 20 dollar metal frame. I am sure there is a wide, wide range of racquets that I would play equally well(or poorly) with.

Some matter for different reasons for example comfort, power, spin generation, etc. Weight matters, launch angle matters, swing weight matters. A person can get used to almost anything, but if you are used to a racquet with certain specs, switching to something completely different matters in a big way.

Depends on which level. For a club player it doesn't really but for a pro yes!

I don't want to offend anyone, but we do have 3.0s who show up with a new 12 pack bag and three or four sticks. I usually have two with me, but I don't carry bag most of the time and the one I do have was given to me by a Head rep years ago. The top handle is torn off and it looks like crap. I hardly ever take it out.

I had funny incident in a league mixed match last summer. I played with my wife and the guy shows up with the complete Babolat gear. He had four 2013 APDs, spotless 12 pack bag, new Babolat propulse shoes, full Babolat outfit including the hat and wrist bands.

He got there and opened up the bag and had all of the handles sticking out to make sure we could see them. He then takes a couple out and hits the frame against the string bed of another. Then he proceeds to run out to the court similar to Nadal. Now we talked to his partner (dudes wife) while all this was going on and she was nice and social.

I grab a ball and feed it to the guy and he nails the ball! Of course the first thing it makes contact with was the back fence. The guy was about a middle of the road 3.0. I had a hard time not dying on the court, but I managed to hold it together. It was brutal. He never talked to us. He would yell encouragement to himself, but he was a nut job. Why he signed up in our level I will never know. They only played one more league match and forfeited the rest.

TobyTopspin said:

I don't want to offend anyone, but we do have 3.0s who show up with a new 12 pack bag and three or four sticks. I usually have two with me, but I don't carry bag most of the time and the one I do have was given to me by a Head rep years ago. The top handle is torn off and it looks like crap. I hardly ever take it out.

I had funny incident in a league mixed match last summer. I played with my wife and the guy shows up with the complete Babolat gear. He had four 2013 APDs, spotless 12 pack bag, new Babolat propulse shoes, full Babolat outfit including the hat and wrist bands.

He got there and opened up the bag and had all of the handles sticking out to make sure we could see them. He then takes a couple out and hits the frame against the string bed of another. Then he proceeds to run out to the court similar to Nadal. Now we talked to his partner (dudes wife) while all this was going on and she was nice and social.

I grab a ball and feed it to the guy and he nails the ball! Of course the first thing it makes contact with was the back fence. The guy was about a middle of the road 3.0. I had a hard time not dying on the court, but I managed to hold it together. It was brutal. He never talked to us. He would yell encouragement to himself, but he was a nut job. Why he signed up in our level I will never know. They only played one more league match and forfeited the rest.

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Awww... poor Babolat frames being abused..

Equipment in general doesn't matter that much depending on the person. For example: I GUARANTEE that Federer would double bagel me with a dollarstore tennis racquet. Probably even with a frying pan (or maybe only Roddick can do that). However, Federer would be miserable doing it and likely feel as though he played awful.

We all have our creature comforts. Some people are more open to change than others. I can notice differences with strings and racquets, and I certainly have a preference...but I play at a 5.0 level and thats it. Grab a k90 and I'm no Federer, still that same 5.0. Aeropro drive and become Rafa? Nope, even with RPM blast string I'm still a 5.0 (shocker)!

It's not only mental, strings and racquets make a difference. But its very small difference (especially when compared to technique). Now I suppose it could be a bigger difference when we talk about wooden racquets vs modern racquets. Or strings from the 50's compared to modern day string. But when comparing RPM Blast to Black Code don't expect some giant difference.

Story time! (true story too):

College player snaps his string on huge shot. Hands off racquet to Assistant Coach.

Coach says I'll string it up right now, what do you want?

Kid says I dunno...Poly I guess.

Coach says ok...What did you have before?

Kid says Um...spin sumthing?

Coach laughs, ok what tension do you want?

Kid says I guess like 40 or 50, whatever is easier for you.

BTW this college player is a beast and was ranked 93rd in the country when this happened.

^^^ hilarious story!

It's all about what you're used to.
My usual stick is the Steam 99S and i've got a backup Yonex 98D. I can switch between them with no problems, but last tuesday i killed the strings on both of them (one mishit, one old strings) and i had to switch to an old backup that my opponent had in his bag, which was a sub 9oz, head-heavy walmart special. I couldn't hit a decent shot for a set and my hand hurt afterwards.

Yes we know skill, ability, & strategy are most important. But in a close match you probably want to use your "go to" racket or set up.


It also matters if you are used to a racket or if it is within your spec range. Lately I have been rotating between several different rackets when practicing, either just for fun, getting used to the rackets, tweaking specs, seeing what they can do differently, etc.. These range from 115 to 90sq in and sometimes woodies, 38mm to 19mm, extended and standard, new frames and old school, gut & poly, etc. But I took two chunks of silicone out the buttcap of a racket I was pretty comfortable with just to see if it would swing a bit easier & suddenly I coudn't hit very well with it because it was too different from what I was used to.

OP, you've gotta be kidding ...

Racket does matter.

You've gotta have one to play! C'mon!

I guess it all depends on your opponent. If I show up to my club friendly round robin I can bring an old racket no water and trounce everyone. If im playing an open tourney you can be sure ill have my gear setup and ready.

What is wrong with a Head Extreme?

sam_p said:

Racquets certainly don't matter when you are playing someone two levels below you...

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Exactly!

Racquets are part of the equation...and they are a relatively SIMPLE one to adjust, find the one that works, and can cause improvements.

Conditioning, footwork, technique all as important, but require constant work and honing.

Simply taking a little time to try out a few sticks and get one in your wheelhouse is a smart move that gives you a head start, and the rest will come as you work at it...then when skills improve the need for newer style stick to compliment those skill sets might follow.

Sure, any decent player can adjust to any stick, but why bother when you find a "spec range" that you pick up and it feels like "hand in glove"...and hence by that definition Racquets matter!

tkoziol said:

Equipment in general doesn't matter that much depending on the person. For example: I GUARANTEE that Federer would double bagel me with a dollarstore tennis racquet. Probably even with a frying pan (or maybe only Roddick can do that). However, Federer would be miserable doing it and likely feel as though he played awful.

We all have our creature comforts. Some people are more open to change than others. I can notice differences with strings and racquets, and I certainly have a preference...but I play at a 5.0 level and thats it. Grab a k90 and I'm no Federer, still that same 5.0. Aeropro drive and become Rafa? Nope, even with RPM blast string I'm still a 5.0 (shocker)!

It's not only mental, strings and racquets make a difference. But its very small difference (especially when compared to technique). Now I suppose it could be a bigger difference when we talk about wooden racquets vs modern racquets. Or strings from the 50's compared to modern day string. But when comparing RPM Blast to Black Code don't expect some giant difference.

Story time! (true story too):

College player snaps his string on huge shot. Hands off racquet to Assistant Coach.

Coach says I'll string it up right now, what do you want?

Kid says I dunno...Poly I guess.

Coach says ok...What did you have before?

Kid says Um...spin sumthing?

Coach laughs, ok what tension do you want?

Kid says I guess like 40 or 50, whatever is easier for you.

BTW this college player is a beast and was ranked 93rd in the country when this happened.

Click to expand...

Only about half of our elite juniors know what tension they are using much less the string. They just go play. There is a lot to be said for this.

I've tried out about a dozen different racquets this year, and have won matches with each and every one of them. The racquet isn't going to make you win or lose matches, period.

BUT, the right racquet FOR YOU can give you a slight boost to things like consistency, top spin, shot re-direction, etc.

But if you're a decent player, you should be able to use any racquet.

I have to add though, strings make more of a difference than the racquet. When I say that i've used a dozen racquets this year, each of them had my same strings and same tension, so it sort of evens out the playing field. I know what to expect when the ball hits the strings

anubis said:

BUT, the right racquet FOR YOU can give you a slight boost to things like consistency, top spin, shot re-direction, etc.

But if you're a decent player, you should be able to use any racquet.

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I agree with these comments. Having a racquet that feels about right should be enough for any decent player to go out and play pretty well. I'm still unconvinced by a lot of the very fine tuning that seems to go on. I think a lot of the racquet tweaking that goes on is to satisfy a hobby or an ocd because there seem to be many cases where a new set-up is amazing, then gets changed the following week. That's all fine and talking about these things is good fun and interesting.

There is a chap at my club who is a good solid player. A couple of weeks ago he bust a string and had to borrow another players racquet. Since then, I have seen him use about 5 different borrowed racquets, all with very differing specs, head sizes, weights, etc and it hasnt affected his game at all.

I am a fairly decent player, pretty consistent, all round game and I switch between a 100sq 300g, 98sq 310g and 93sq 335g racquet and do I play any better or worse with either.......no, not really. Its just fun mixing it up though.

It is fun to play about with different set-ups though, its a nice hobby to have, but I tend to think a lot of the changes made perhaps have more of a psychological effect than a physical one.

The racquet absolutely matters. That 4.5 or 5.0 you see at the club with a beat up old racquet doesn't use it because he's trying to make a statement or because he can play just as good with any racquet. That racquet is old and beat up because that 5.0 found the racquet that works best for him 10 years ago and still uses it. I guarantee you that if he found a shiny new racquet that he played way better with he would pick up two or three. As for tattered overgrips...some people, at all levels, just don't care about that kind of stuff.

daved said:

I'm a 3.5 and 4.0 usta singles player. I love to geek out on racquets and tennis physics.

I occasionally play 4.5 and 5.0 guys at my club -- played a 4.5 last night who is 51, played D1 singles at a PAC 12 university. Lost love and 1. And I played well!

Most of the better guys I play show up with one racquet or a racquet and a mismatched backup. Guy I played last night had an ig extreme pro with some totally frayed multi in it and a half wrap (even tho he has 2HBH) of orange overgrip that looked like it had been on there for six months. His backup was some weird Wilson granny stick that must have been 10 years old. No tennis bag.

News flash: racquets don't matter! Not that thinking about them isn't pleasurable in its on right.

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OP's analogy is meaningless. It's like saying boxing gloves don't matter in a fight between an amateur and a professional boxer. Andy Murray enjoys boxing but he isn't going to beat a professional boxer regardless of his gloves.

As far as player development goes, yes, racquets do matter to the extant that they force one to conform to the frame's characteristics or support a player's natural and most efficient and consistent swing path. It's just biomechanics and the laws of physics.

Based on a player's strength, flexibility, agility, hand-eye coordination, anticipation, and timing a given frame will or will not be a good fit.

If you give a really heavy, high SW frame to someone who lacks anticipation and timing skills then the individual will probably end up tearing some tendons or muscles in a futile attempt to muscle the frame into position at the last moment. And if he tries to arm the ball in really hard serves without proper torso rotation he's a good candidate for rotator cuff surgery.

And if you give an open-level player a 9 oz. WalMart Pink Pony frame pre-strung with plastic string he's probably not going to be effective returning 120+ mph serves. The frame simply lacks the mass to absorb the blow effectively.

Furthermore, even small changes in a frame's balance can make strokes such as the serve easier and more natural or make them unnecessarily more difficult. Based on a person's arm length, strength, and ability (or inability) to rotate from the core balance effects swing path and contact point. If one executes a smooth, natural core rotation to contact and a frame's balance is off for that individual then the point and angle of contact will be off too. Then the player is forced to arm the ball or break his swing for clean contact which leads to inconsistency. It ain't rocket science but it is simple physics.

The only way one can assert that frame characteristics such as balance don't matter is if one can't maintain a smooth consistent stroke from the core. In that case, yeah, frame doesn't matter because you can't maintain consistent form anyway.

I know it's très chic to dismiss tennis gear but if one were to follow the OP's advice and completely ignore the fit between player and frame then at the very least one will have a much less enjoyable playing experience and may well end up with permanent physical damage.

There are strong correlations between frame and physique and skill. Ignoring them, as the OP suggests, is foolish and can even lead to serious injury.

And that's not idle speculation. I know a lot of TT'ers love to amuse themselves with stories about Fedal Wannabes showing up with 12-pack bags and 6 matched frames and then proceeding to be bageled by the apocryphal "Grunge Player with One Old Frame and a Dirty Towel".

But such stories are the exception to the far more common rule. The fact is the VAST majority of rec players do NOT consider the frame's fit to their body and game. The result is stagnant player development, tennis elbow, rotator cuff damage, and frustration due to an inability to control the ball. They pick up a frame in the big box shop, swing it around a couple of times marveling at how light it is, get strung with an indifferent nylon, and off they go to the courts. They MIGHT get it re-strung once a year...maybe. And as they spray balls around the hot summer court with their worn out nylon and light frame they increasingly arm the ball in a futile attempt to control it. Within months they end up with a stupid magnet on their forearm.

Tennis "pros" don't help much by failing to teach skills such as anticipation, movement, and timing before focusing on strokes. I tell my boys that good tennis starts with the brain, moves to the feet and eyes, and ends with the core and stroke. Playing tennis like that lets you use a heavier, more stable, and accurate frame which is also better for your body. The usual tennis pro approach is to setup Ye Ole Basket of Balls on the opposite side of the next and start feeding balls to the student.

If you lack consistent form, don't care about improving, have a high tolerance for pain, and the bank account or health insurance to fund medical treatment, then your frame doesn't matter. Otherwise, just like your shoes, it's a good idea to fit your frame to your physique and game to avoid injury and maximize your enjoyment of tennis.

BTW...for those new to tennis and reading this thread, even the OP and those who echo his feeling don't buy the OP's advice. If they truly embraced it then they would save themselves hundreds and hundreds of dollars by buying pre-strung $20 kid's frames from WalMart. But they know it's stupid even for a 4.0 to go out on the court with a 9 ounce P.O.S. and try to compete. And so they don't do it and just flap their gums about the topic.

Nice write-up Timmy. I agree.

daved said:

I'm a 3.5 and 4.0 usta singles player. I love to geek out on racquets and tennis physics.

I occasionally play 4.5 and 5.0 guys at my club -- played a 4.5 last night who is 51, played D1 singles at a PAC 12 university. Lost love and 1. And I played well!

Most of the better guys I play show up with one racquet or a racquet and a mismatched backup. Guy I played last night had an ig extreme pro with some totally frayed multi in it and a half wrap (even tho he has 2HBH) of orange overgrip that looked like it had been on there for six months. His backup was some weird Wilson granny stick that must have been 10 years old. No tennis bag.

News flash: racquets don't matter! Not that thinking about them isn't pleasurable in its on right.

Click to expand...

You do realise that these guys have been playing with the same racquet for years and years and simply don't want to change? They're happy with what they've got and don't want to switch to the latest fad which is going to play differently, feel different etc

As for string, again no one's going to bother with a fresh string job for an afternoon knockabout.

Some of this has to do with disposable income too. When I was a junior, I didn't care about strings that much or racquets because I used whatever my Dad would buy me. I knew I liked Prince strings at 55#s and that was about it. My first racquet lust was for the original Estusa Savage banana that Connors used in the USO. I was pretty young and watching that famous run made me really Holic for that thing.

Venetian said:

Nice write-up Timmy. I agree.

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I got ADHD after the first paragraph.....

I find it funny how the posters arguing in favor of rackets mattering are mostly 4.0 and below.

In my opinion you just need to find a racket you're comfortable with, find strings your comfortable with, and play. I don't know the strung weight, swing weight, balance point, or flex of my Prestiges. I don't care either. They probably aren't matched at all, but why does that matter?

Having rackets that all weight the same won't help me magically make a running forehand down match point, so caring about that just takes away time that I could spend actually practicing.

My theory is: find something you like. Play with it until it breaks. Then you can worry about finding new equipment.

Doubles said:

I find it funny how the posters arguing in favor of rackets mattering are mostly 4.0 and below.

In my opinion you just need to find a racket you're comfortable with, find strings your comfortable with, and play. I don't know the strung weight, swing weight, balance point, or flex of my Prestiges. I don't care either. They probably aren't matched at all, but why does that matter?

Having rackets that all weight the same won't help me magically make a running forehand down match point, so caring about that just takes away time that I could spend actually practicing.

My theory is: find something you like. Play with it until it breaks. Then you can worry about finding new equipment.

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I whole heatedly agree with this.

TimothyO said:

...BTW...for those new to tennis and reading this thread, even the OP and those who echo his feeling don't buy the OP's advice. If they truly embraced it then they would save themselves hundreds and hundreds of dollars by buying pre-strung $20 kid's frames from WalMart. But they know it's stupid even for a 4.0 to go out on the court with a 9 ounce P.O.S. and try to compete. And so they don't do it and just flap their gums about the topic.

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I admit that there are racquets for specific needs. But I don't think that it is as drastic as many people would believe. If it was, then Rafa wouldn't be great at volleys with his APD, and Fed really would need a bigger head size than 90 to go toe to toe with baseliners. Obviously Walmart frames are terrible, no doubt about it. I was merely trying to show how important technique truly is. Comparing a walmart racquet to a babolat is like comparing a wooden racquet to modern day racquets.

Agree to disagree. And as for tennis elbow...I think that most tennis injuries are due to technique not the racquet itself. For example, I can play with any racquet at any stiffness, but this is is because I use a modern FH with plenty of brush up. For a player who has a more traditional FH that plows through, a stiff frame could cause tennis elbow. So who is to blame? The racquet or the person. Many TTW posters here are too quick to blame the frame. Especially Babolat!

If your obsessed with off-roading don't be mad at your Honda Civic when it gets stuck in the mud. It doesn't make the Civic a bad car. TONS of people drive a Civic and love it. So maybe something is wrong with you, not the car....Perhaps you should stay on the road.

Using a modern FH with brush up has nothing to do with TE. It's more about your contact point and consistently hitting out in front and clean so the racquet doesn't vibrate. There are plenty of old school, flatter players that don't get TE.

Torres said:

I got ADHD after the first paragraph.....

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lol...me too

My take is I can play my game with most rackets and strings. Then there are a few that I just suck with.

I played a guy this summer in Germany who was a very good young teaching pro. Over the course of 2 matches, I barely won more than 2 games each set. The 2nd set of our 2nd match, he broke a string and had to borrow a different frame from another pro. We actually had a competitive set after that (I still lost). So I think he had one of those few frames or strings that just did not suit him.

daved said:

I'm a 3.5 and 4.0 usta singles player. I love to geek out on racquets and tennis physics.

I occasionally play 4.5 and 5.0 guys at my club -- played a 4.5 last night who is 51, played D1 singles at a PAC 12 university. Lost love and 1. And I played well!

Most of the better guys I play show up with one racquet or a racquet and a mismatched backup. Guy I played last night had an ig extreme pro with some totally frayed multi in it and a half wrap (even tho he has 2HBH) of orange overgrip that looked like it had been on there for six months. His backup was some weird Wilson granny stick that must have been 10 years old. No tennis bag.

News flash: racquets don't matter! Not that thinking about them isn't pleasurable in its on right.

Click to expand...

Your analogy or example makes zero sense. What does this guy's mismatched backup, frayed multi, half wrapped overgrip or tennis bag have to do with him playing with his IG Extreme Pro? I bet if you asked him to play with that "weird granny stick" you would have seen how racquets DO matter.

There is a reason why each racquet manufacturer has around 25 models of racquets. Because everyone has individual skills, needs and requirements.
Since the are lots of choices out there, why not pick the one that suits you the best? If you really believe your statement, go grab a racquet off the wall at Walmart and take that along with your regular racquet to your next match. Play one set with your normal racquet and then one with the Walmart special. See if the results differ.

Doubles said:

I find it funny how the posters arguing in favor of rackets mattering are mostly 4.0 and below.

In my opinion you just need to find a racket you're comfortable with, find strings your comfortable with, and play.

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So, you're 4.0 or below?

Or you suffer from multiple personalities?

First you're arguing that frames don't matter and then you're suggesting that one finds a frame that one is comfortable with. Which is it?

I agree that one should find a frame one is comfortable with (i.e. the frame matters and you shouldn't play with gear that makes you uncomfortable).

How exactly does one find a racquet they are comfortable using without trying different racquets ?

... And again, repeat button on not too familiar with the Head Extreme but isn't that a high end racquet?

So good player shows up with one Head Extreme and has an easy win....wouldn't that be expected? What am I missing here help me out....

tkoziol said:

And as for tennis elbow...I think that most tennis injuries are due to technique not the racquet itself.

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I didn't say the frame's stiffness inherently caused the injury.

It's that a poorly fit frame can cause hitches in technique which leads to injury.

A typical light, HH, large-headed rec frame offers little control. Add in rarely re-strung nylon strings and you have a ball control nightmare.

So when the rec player tries to take a full, proper swing the ball lands over the fence. Naturally, instead of taking a full swing from the core, he begins to arm it, thus straining his elbow and wrist. I see it all the time.

Another result is the "butt shot" due to poor anticipation and movement. Instead of anticipating the shot, moving to the ball, and setting up, the player sticks his butt out while leaning forward and taps at the ball with his arm fully extended. No control, no consistency, and really bad for the knees, back, and elbow. But the frame is light enough to pull off such a shot even though it's not good for the body in the long run.

Today's frames are making it easier to play tennis poorly (without form safe for the body) while punishing attempts to play tennis with good form.

Power Player said:

Using a modern FH with brush up has nothing to do with TE. It's more about your contact point and consistently hitting out in front and clean so the racquet doesn't vibrate. There are plenty of old school, flatter players that don't get TE.

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In my experience TE seems to be especially prevalent in players who have a more flat stroke. I think important factors such as racquet lag, relaxed arm, and plow through could explain why this is the case. Just my opinion, but a lot of people with TE bands tend to have really bad form. Stiff, plowing with no follow through, and a general haymaker punch style of swing. However, I agree that is qualities of the modern brush up technique that help prevent TE not the actual stroke itself. Just now saw the post above me. Brilliant description by TimothyO of this flat style of hitting I was trying to describe.

mikeler said:

My take is I can play my game with most rackets and strings. Then there are a few that I just suck with.

I played a guy this summer in Germany who was a very good young teaching pro. Over the course of 2 matches, I barely won more than 2 games each set. The 2nd set of our 2nd match, he broke a string and had to borrow a different frame from another pro. We actually had a competitive set after that (I still lost). So I think he had one of those few frames or strings that just did not suit him.

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This is where I'm at. I think you can find a racquet that "suits you" and strings too. But some people on the forums make racquets and strings into a miracle cure for their game.

TimothyO said:

So, you're 4.0 or below?

Or you suffer from multiple personalities?

First you're arguing that frames don't matter and then you're suggesting that one finds a frame that one is comfortable with. Which is it?

I agree that one should find a frame one is comfortable with (i.e. the frame matters and you shouldn't play with gear that makes you uncomfortable).

Click to expand...

How am I arguing something different? You find something. You pick it up and hit with it. You like it, and if you do, you buy it and keep playing.

I'm referring to certain posters 4.0 and below that change rackets every 4-6 months and are worried about whether or not their poly crosses are prestretched

Torres said:

I got ADHD after the first paragraph.....

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Simple summary: if the OP and those who voice support for his view really believed this nonsense, then they'd be playing with cheap 9 oz. pre-strung kids' frames from Walmart and saving hundreds of dollars.

The fact is even they don't believe that the frame and string don't matter. Nor do the pros.

They just believe it sounds macho and chic for a 4.5/5.0 to say that gear doesn't matter.

TimothyO said:

Today's frames are making it easier to play tennis poorly (without form safe for the body) while punishing attempts to play tennis with good form.

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Um…no. Disagree there. There is no punishment if your form is good. It just boils down to what you like.


You are probably pretty new to tennis. Spalding, Wilson, Head, Prince were all making stiff and light sticks back in the 80s and 90s too.

TimothyO said:

Simple summary: if the OP and those who voice support for his view really believed this nonsense, then they'd be playing with cheap 9 oz. pre-strung kids' frames from Walmart and saving hundreds of dollars.

The fact is even they don't believe that the frame and string don't matter. Nor do the pros.

They just believe it sounds macho and chic for a 4.5/5.0 to say that gear doesn't matter.

Click to expand...

But if I'm putting up a winning record with my Prestige Pro (which I purchased based off of specs without a demo a 1 1/2 years ago I might add) at the 4.5 level, then why would I bother looking a other rackets?

Power Player said:

Um…no. Disagree there. There is no punishment if your form is good. It just boils down to what you like.


You are probably pretty new to tennis. Spalding, Wilson, Head, Prince were all making stiff and light sticks back in the 80s and 90s too.

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This. Exactly this.

Doubles said:

How am I arguing something different? You find something. You pick it up and hit with it. You like it, and if you do, you buy it and keep playing.

I'm referring to certain posters 4.0 and below that change rackets every 4-6 months and are worried about whether or not their poly crosses are prestretched

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Nah, you're definitely suffering from multiple personality disorder.

You're saying a player should find something he likes but that frame doesn't matter, two mutually exclusive positions.

I do agree that once you find something effective you should stick with it. I've been playing with gut poly for over two years now (about 66% of my short tennis life) and Pure Storm GTs for over a year (about 33% of my short tennis life) and I don't see that changing any time soon. But, due to lack of clear guidance on how to find a good fit, it took a lot of effort to find something I liked. That being said, I did figure out pretty quickly that I enjoyed gut poly, a 95-98" head size, 16 mains, and a low/soft flex and a static weight around 11.8 to 12.2 ounces. Everything beyond that was a detail.

Doubles said:

How am I arguing something different? You find something. You pick it up and hit with it. You like it, and if you do, you buy it and keep playing.

I'm referring to certain posters 4.0 and below that change rackets every 4-6 months and are worried about whether or not their poly crosses are prestretched

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Well put. Comfort matters. But it doesn't REALLY matter. If you had a bowl of cold soup it wouldn't be very good (comfortable). BUT, will it still work? Will you get the nutrients from the soup? Or because its cold, will it somehow magically lose all of its nutritional value?

Why do so many college players and pros change racquets and care less? Sometimes not even aware of what they are using

Also...I'm very macho. And some would even say quite chic...lmao