Del Potro has only 2 rackets left

movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Berdych had this problem back in 2012 when he had the new Instinct PJ around Wimbledon but used the YT PJ and then went back and forth for the rest of the year finally settling down to the Instinct at the end of the year. But he eventually got over it.

Del Potro only has two by choice. He could switch and adjust just as Federer is doing now and just like lots of other pros have already done.
 
Rabbit

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
sureshs said:
Or pay Serena to jump on them
Click to expand...

Now that is funny. :) Of course, she wouldn't have to jump, she could just skip across a room full.

I don't know what the problem is, I suspect it's the graphite used now is "better" in that it's stronger and less resin is required. While that makes for a longer lasting frame, it is a more "tinny" feel.

But, Del Po is not, by far, the first pro to suffer from this problem. Rod Laver (Dunlop Fort) Bill Scanlon (J. Kramer (in any form)), Jay Berger (as already mentioned), Jimmy Connors (T2000), Wayne Ferreira (Dunlop MW200G), Mark Phillipoussis & Marat Safin (Head Prestige Mid), Stefan Edberg (Wilson ProStaff), Boris Becker (Slazenger Vilas), Xavier Malisse (Prince Diablo), Oliver Rochus (Prince TT Graphite)...

The big difference is most of the guys above never had their frame or the material change so radically during their career.
 
S

struggle

Legend
movdqa said:
Berdych had this problem back in 2012 when he had the new Instinct PJ around Wimbledon but used the YT PJ and then went back and forth for the rest of the year finally settling down to the Instinct at the end of the year. But he eventually got over it.

Del Potro only has two by choice. He could switch and adjust just as Federer is doing now and just like lots of other pros have already done.
Click to expand...

Federer is not switching because he is running out of rackets, he's switching because he's trying to bring something more to his ever so slightly "fading" game. But yeah, he'll be switching....
 
Rajan Rackets

Rajan Rackets

New User
Fedchamp said:
Makes sense, so why didn't he order new batches quicker? Couldn't afford them?:confused:
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When you are a top 10 player... Cost isint a problem...

Its more quality vs quantity.

I'm not claiming to be at pro level by any means, but when I switched from my 3 2009 Prince Rebels (was down to 1 by 2012 after 2 cracked in the throat), it was hard to find a racket that felt close after "breaking in" and flexing the frame for years and years.

It it was hard for a mere mortal like me, it must be damn near impossible for people hitting at full tilt 3-4 hours a day every day. Especially when the rackets are tailor made for you and can never be EXACTLY the same until some serious break in.
 
movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
I've seen lots of Roddick's pro stocks for sale and it appears that he goes through a fair number of them every year. It seems like it would be better for pros to change their frames regularly so that they get used to relatively lightly used frames than frames used over and over again as they could always get the relatively new frames from the manufacturer.
 
Bartelby

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Someone should ask Ikea to put some new versions of his racquet in one of their famous testing machines.
 
T

TennisAddiction

Semi-Pro
movdqa said:
I've seen lots of Roddick's pro stocks for sale and it appears that he goes through a fair number of them every year. It seems like it would be better for pros to change their frames regularly so that they get used to relatively lightly used frames than frames used over and over again as they could always get the relatively new frames from the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

I think Roddick knew any issues he had weren't with his racquets! :lol:
 
heninfan99

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
Me thinks you are correct.

**** is reported to be the best though, he may not have worked with Mr.Roman yet.

Bdarb said:
nope, nope it's not actually. You really think this guy doesn't have access to the best racquet customizers there are? I think if this was an easy problem for him to solve, he'd have a solution. It's a head issue for him certainly, but it's clearly an issue for him.
Click to expand...
 
R

rofl_copter3

Professional
Can a pro really play a 5 set match with just two rackets? Hypothetically he could break strings in the second racket before the first one was restrung then what, he forfeits?
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
rofl_copter3 said:
Can a pro really play a 5 set match with just two rackets? Hypothetically he could break strings in the second racket before the first one was restrung then what, he forfeits?
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That's a good point, but I would guess he has one of his prototypes in the bag as a fallback while the first break is being strung. But come to think of it, I don't believe I've ever seen him break a string. Sure, he hits the ball hard, but I think it is a relatively flat shot. Combine that w/ an 18x20 pattern in a 95 sq in frame, and I'm guessing breaking a string is a rarity for him, especially on hard courts.
 
H

hersito

Rookie
He was working with wilson before AO to find a raquet and he said he didn't want to change right before a gs so now that he is out early maybe he will have the time to change it.
 
B

bigmatt

Semi-Pro
It must be nerve-wracking to only have 2 racquets you like. What if, while one is being strung, you shank a shot? Even if you're not a string-breaker, mishits happen.
A friend of mine says Delpo should search the "big auction site" and buy some up.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
bigmatt said:
It must be nerve-wracking to only have 2 racquets you like. What if, while one is being strung, you shank a shot? Even if you're not a string-breaker, mishits happen.
A friend of mine says Delpo should search the "big auction site" and buy some up.
Click to expand...

Have someone sit courtside and patch the broken string. BITD had 8-12 knots from patching mains.
 
PBODY99

PBODY99

Legend
bigmatt said:
It must be nerve-wracking to only have 2 racquets you like. What if, while one is being strung, you shank a shot? Even if you're not a string-breaker, mishits happen.
A friend of mine says Delpo should search the "big auction site" and buy some up.
Click to expand...
He can not since the frame is a pj of an even older Wilson frame
 
Bobby Jr

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
He would have a couple of other frames in his bag regardless - just not ones he uses unless the worst happens.
 
OTMPut

OTMPut

Hall of Fame
Well he has not won anything worth remembering since 2009.
Why is he sticking to those sticks?

You dont want to be a fodder to evolution as superstitious guys are.
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
OTMPut said:
Well he has not won anything worth remembering since 2009.
Why is he sticking to those sticks?

You dont want to be a fodder to evolution as superstitious guys are.
Click to expand...

That can be said for pretty much anyone on the tour outside of the top 4 (Nadal, Federer, Djokovic & Murray). Other than Ferrer, no one outside of the 4 I mentioned has won a Masters Series event in 3 years (Soderling in the Paris indoors), and no one outside of those 4 has won a major other than Delpo since Safin in 2005.

So, by your logic, everyone should be changing sticks...
 
racertempo

racertempo

Semi-Pro
heninfan99 said:
Can't he find a few more on the used market? Can't they replicate the mold exactly? A truly fascinating story over the last few years.
Click to expand...

I don't think it is just about the mold though, the feel of the technology in the K-frame is different then the BLX, and maybe Wilson has used it all.
 
Bdarb

Bdarb

Hall of Fame
SFrazeur said:
And some of those guys are like Oh, I can't play my local hackvile NTRP without 17 racquets!
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If anything, this is a testament to why having 17 racquets would be a good thing. Then you would have a stockpile when they run out. Obviously 17 would work for a rec player like me, for life. So If Delpo originally had them fire off like 200 of them he would be stylin right now.
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
racertempo said:
I don't think it is just about the mold though, the feel of the technology in the K-frame is different then the BLX, and maybe Wilson has used it all.
Click to expand...

And, more to the point, the Pro Staff Classic 6.1 has a different feel than the K-frame...
 
Bdarb

Bdarb

Hall of Fame
McLovin said:
And, more to the point, the Pro Staff Classic 6.1 has a different feel than the K-frame...
Click to expand...

and more to the point, a frame that has hit like 90 million balls over the course of 5-10 years won't feel like anything that comes off the production line.
 
J

johnyeo580

New User
Mar+03+2013+Nba+Miami+Heat+At+New+York+Knicks


Here it is, looks like a 18x20 blade 98 to me
 
J

johnyeo580

New User
oops the picture didnt come out, just google "juan martin del potro and victoria azarenka hitting tennis balls" and you'll see it
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
Ronaldo said:
Thought the HPS 6.1 95 18x20 is a pj of the PSC?
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The only pic of Del Potro as a junior I could find shows an HPS 6.1. But someone (forgot his name, but he's well respected around here) posted a pic of Del Potro's frame on the stringing machine with '6.1 Classic' written on the side.

Let me see if I can dig up the pics...
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
OK, here we go...

Here's a pic of Del Potro from 2003:

C%C3%B3pia-de-Del-Potro-Banana-2003-41.jpg


Clearly that has the HPS PJ. But this was posted by ProStringing in a different thread:

JuanMartinDelPotroRacket04.jpg


And he states it is the 'Original' PSC. I'm inclined to believe him. He has strung Delpo's frame, and I've strung...a bunch of 3.5 ladies' frames...
 
ilovetennis212

ilovetennis212

Professional
dmcb101 said:
what does this mean
Click to expand...


He won't be hitting with his bare hand if there's no more Wilson k6.1 racquet for him.
He will eventually change his racquet for sure. That's what he meant.

He has superstition that he thinks he needs to hit with the racquet its old enough with him.
It's Spanish thing I guess.
I know some Spanish players have superstition. Or old habits if you want to call it.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
ilovetennis212 said:
He won't be hitting with his bare hand if there's no more Wilson k6.1 racquet for him.
He will eventually change his racquet for sure. That's what he meant.

He has superstition that he thinks he needs to hit with the racquet its old enough with him.
It's Spanish thing I guess.
I know some Spanish players have superstition. Or old habits if you want to call it.
Click to expand...

Shirley there are enough PSC and HPS 6.1 95 with an 18x20 string pattern that Wilson's pro room made available to pros, jrs, and collegiate players that Del Potro can obtain somehow. Heck, I'll give him mine
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
Ronaldo said:
Shirley there are enough PSC and HPS 6.1 95 with an 18x20 string pattern that Wilson's pro room made available to pros, jrs, and collegiate players that Del Potro can obtain somehow.
Click to expand...

There aren't, and don't call me Shirley...
 
Don't Let It Bounce

Don't Let It Bounce

Hall of Fame
McLovin said:
There aren't, and don't call me Shirley...
Click to expand...
:lol:The floodgates are open. Let the Children of The 70s pour through...

"Mr. Del Potro, we really think one of our newer frames might be worth a try."

"S'mo'fo' bass-alt layin' me to da BONE! Tightin' me up... Jackin' me!"

"Coach, I don't speak Argentinian. Could you translate?"

"Cutty say he caint HANG!"

======================

I hope it works out for Delpo. Jus' hang loose, blood. Wilson gon' catch y'up on da rebound on da frame side.
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
Del Potro's coach: How about this frame? Do you like it?

Del Potro: I can't tell.

Del Potro's coach: You can tell me, I'm you coach.

Del Potro: Well, not for a few more matches.

Del Potro's coach: You can't tell me for a few more matches!?!?
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
Del Potro's coach: What do you think about this frame?

Del Potro: I'm not sure. I need to speak with the Wilson rep about the racquet's flex.

Del Potro's coach: What is it?

Del Potro: It's a benchmark used in the industry to measure basic stiffness when applying a specific force-load (weight) to a frame where the opposing force (a steel bar) is placed at 327mm from the head/top of a racquet, but that's not important right now...
 
Don't Let It Bounce

Don't Let It Bounce

Hall of Fame
Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop posting obscure movie quotes...


Bad news. Racket beams are getting thicker... And Nalbandian's getting laaaarrrrgger!



So, Juan Martin, you ever see a Wilson Rep naked?
 
A

ae1222

Semi-Pro
A little sidetrack with some humor never hurt anyone. If you fly Delta, their new safety video is hilarious and has some Airplane! references in it. They even have Kareem at the end as the co-pilot!
 
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