Adjusting to high swingweight racquet

[DaylightBlue]

you're a rec player with a 340 SW, around 4g that were supposed to be in the throat found their way all their way to the tip, to fix it and go back to how the racket was supposed to be balanced, we're telling you to add some weight to the throat to hopefully make things right, at some point you have got to trust somebody if you don't know what you're doing. personnaly i fell in love with my racket when i added a bunch of coins at 20cm but i had a pro staff 97 and i wanted to simulate an rf97 so idk maybe it's all mumbo jumbo placebo who knows man do what you will.

I didn't mean to say I didn't trust you or anybody else. If anything it's me that's the problem and I absolutely have no idea what to do when it comes to racquet customization. What is supposed to happen if I add weight near the throat?

 

[DaylightBlue]

try shadow swinging a hammer. I used to warm up this way and need to get back to it. Do be careful on serves. I recall the first time going crazy and shoulder didn't like it too much. When you can shadow swing your shots with a hammer at full speed the racquet will be super light. That said I was up over 400 and well 340 is not that much IMHO.

So basically train my muscles to better handle the weight?

 

[golden chicken]

I didn't mean to say I didn't trust you or anybody else. If anything it's me that's the problem and I absolutely have no idea what to do when it comes to racquet customization. What is supposed to happen if I add weight near the throat?

You've got to try it for yourself to see if it works for you. Any weight added above 4cm up the handle will add swingweight. The further up, the more swingweight per gram.

But swingweight is only part of the equation, which is why it will work best if you try a few iterations of lead tape until you find what feels best to you.

For example, I am trying to customize one racket to match another. To make the weight, balance, and swingweight as close as possible, I added 7g of lead to 12:00, the very tip of the racket. But when I went to hit with it, it didn't feel right. On court, I removed 3.5g and it felt better, but I still feel like I should move that weight more to 10:00 and 2:00 or 3:00 and 9:00. So even though the math says it should feel the closest to the other racket one way, it feels better another way.

I do also recommend swinging a hammer as a training/strengthening tool.

 

[Shroud]

So basically train my muscles to better handle the weight?

Well sure if that is what you want to do. But really on most strokes it shouldn't be a muscle thing so much. Kinetic chain. In that context the racquet weight is pretty negligible IMHO.

 

[Dragy]

You've got to try it for yourself to see if it works for you. Any weight added above 4cm up the handle will add swingweight. The further up, the more swingweight per gram.

But swingweight is only part of the equation, which is why it will work best if you try a few iterations of lead tape until you find what feels best to you.

For example, I am trying to customize one racket to match another. To make the weight, balance, and swingweight as close as possible, I added 7g of lead to 12:00, the very tip of the racket. But when I went to hit with it, it didn't feel right. On court, I removed 3.5g and it felt better, but I still feel like I should move that weight more to 10:00 and 2:00 or 3:00 and 9:00. So even though the math says it should feel the closest to the other racket one way, it feels better another way.

I do also recommend swinging a hammer as a training/strengthening tool.

SW is a parameter to compare/match racquets or gauge them without trying. It’s actually synthetic, as we don’t swing the racquet from the hinge point. Even for the most flippy forehand and the very last part thereof whole arm is on the move. More to it, hand is on handle, so has to be considered a part of racquet.
If we look wider, racquet is actually swung from the shoulder, with the arm, so any mass, below or above 4cm mark, adds to “sluggishness” in some way. In other way, closer to balance point, it makes racquet faster to flip by itself, which can be also perceived.
So I agree with what you say - try it.

 

[golden chicken]

Last night I moved the weight from 12:00 to 10:00 and 2:00. I hope to be able to hit with it today or tomorrow. It feels better just swinging it through the air.

I think part of it has to do with material density too. I seem to be "aware" of the lead tape wherever it is on the hoop. Since my regular rackets have lead at 10:00 and 2:00, perhaps I just need that sensation of heft a certain distance from my hand.

Edit: went for a hit. Felt much better. Might move it down a tiny bit further to like 9:30 and 2:30 or remove a gram.

 

[DaylightBlue]

I just want to give an update to everyone, I ended removing all the weight as it was making it even harder to swing. I changed how I approached certain scenarios. In the case where I think I will not have time to do my groundstroke I will do a more defensive shot like blocking it or slicing it. It's not ideal because it usually allows them to attack the ball again but at least I keep the ball in and slow down the pace. I think I'll eventually switch to an lower swingweight racquet when I get the budget to do so. I'll continue to work on my technique and focus on prepping early and overall fitness.

 

[Slicerman]

I also use a Blade but with a 350 swingweight and a 16x19 pattern. I can only manage to handle this swingweight due to gradually increasing the swingweight and then practicing with this spec for a long time. I think with 18x20 it could be more demanding physically because of the distribution of weight and less access to power. Game style might also be a factor. My main style is taking the ball early and redirecting my opponent's pace. But whenever I end up grinding from the back of the court and I need to generate more my own pace then it can become more grueling.

 

[WYK]

I feel like I've strayed away from my original intent which was to find ways to adjust myself to the racquet. I think these racquet mods are great for having a smoother groundstroke but in a match where sometimes you're forced to run from one side of the court to another, it doesn't change the fact that it's still hard to get the racquet going right? I feel like this might be a fitness limitation on my end if what polksio says is correct and most rec players don't have training and fitness to accelerate the racquet easily.

Stop thinking about it so much. Grab the sticks and spend hours and hours with them. You have to build up muscle and muscle memory. That will take a while. Be patient.
I was using a Prince Woodie with protective head tape when I was 12. You can adjust to a racquet that weighs 30 grams less, especially if you are not a little boy like I was.

 

[movdqa]

I feel like I've strayed away from my original intent which was to find ways to adjust myself to the racquet. I think these racquet mods are great for having a smoother groundstroke but in a match where sometimes you're forced to run from one side of the court to another, it doesn't change the fact that it's still hard to get the racquet going right? I feel like this might be a fitness limitation on my end if what polksio says is correct and most rec players don't have training and fitness to accelerate the racquet easily.

On regular strokes, focus more on spin and let the weight of the racquet provide power.

Don't be afraid to bunt the ball back but try to get good placement.

Think about landing with the right footwork to get some leverage on the ball.

Don't think about swinging as fast as you did with a lighter racquet.

You shouldn't be trying to arm the ball. Let your bodyweight and rotation provide the power for your shots.

I bought a set of four heavy racquets and it took me six months to get used to them. First time I hit a ball with one, it landed on my side of the court.

 

[DaylightBlue]

Stop thinking about it so much. Grab the sticks and spend hours and hours with them. You have to build up muscle and muscle memory. That will take a while. Be patient.
I was using a Prince Woodie with protective head tape when I was 12. You can adjust to a racquet that weighs 30 grams less, especially if you are not a little boy like I was.

There's nothing to think about, I just feel sluggish and rushed when someone rips the ball hard and I am not standing far back. I think it's a little disingenuous of you to think that everyone can play like you do. Maybe you don't care about making yourself fit your racquet but I rather have a racquet fit me otherwise everyone should just use Djokovic's racquet regardless of the weight/height/gender/fitness.

On regular strokes, focus more on spin and let the weight of the racquet provide power.

Don't be afraid to bunt the ball back but try to get good placement.

Think about landing with the right footwork to get some leverage on the ball.

Don't think about swinging as fast as you did with a lighter racquet.

You shouldn't be trying to arm the ball. Let your bodyweight and rotation provide the power for your shots.

I bought a set of four heavy racquets and it took me six months to get used to them. First time I hit a ball with one, it landed on my side of the court.

I have no issue using my body to swing. I don't want to be broken record but I don't think technique is the biggest issue here.

 

[movdqa]

I have no issue using my body to swing. I don't want to be broken record but I don't think technique is the biggest issue here.

Perhaps you could post a video of your hitting with your frame so we could perhaps get an idea of the issues.

This is a video of me playing. The swingweight on the racquet is 386 and it looks like just normal hitting. I was not at my best in this hit but I wanted to record it as it could have been the last time playing tennis for me. It should just look like normal tennis hitting.

It's not obvious at all that I'm hitting with a very heavy racquet.

 

[golden chicken]

There's nothing to think about, I just feel sluggish and rushed when someone rips the ball hard and I am not standing far back. I think it's a little disingenuous of you to think that everyone can play like you do. Maybe you don't care about making yourself fit your racquet but I rather have a racquet fit me otherwise everyone should just use Djokovic's racquet regardless of the weight/height/gender/fitness.

I have no issue using my body to swing. I don't want to be broken record but I don't think technique is the biggest issue here.

So...have you actually gone out and tried any of the suggestions made?

I mean, if you don't change anything, don't expect anything to change.

 

[WYK]

There's nothing to think about, I just feel sluggish and rushed when someone rips the ball hard and I am not standing far back. I think it's a little disingenuous of you to think that everyone can play like you do. Maybe you don't care about making yourself fit your racquet but I rather have a racquet fit me otherwise everyone should just use Djokovic's racquet regardless of the weight/height/gender/fitness.

I have no issue using my body to swing. I don't want to be broken record but I don't think technique is the biggest issue here.

I didn't say you should play like I do, I just said you should be able to play better than the 12 year old me The 50 year old me uses a Clash.
Like I said, stop thinking and start doing. You either can or you can't. Keep trying.

 

[Fintft]

Your 1, 2, 4 points+ what Giantschwinn says(like no tension, neither in your arm, nor in your grip), are exactly the advise Boletierri gave me (without seeing my strokes) more then 10 years ago :

What you described about standing back doesn’t sounds great. Nadal stands back on return to be able to hip full drives off fast first serves. And sometimes to defend against subsequent attacks. You never mentioned serves, and frankly speaking it’s not typical for rec levels to face consistently so fast deep shots which rob you of time to prepare so much. Taking the tendency you mentioned - getting short balls quite often - standing far back is not the best default positioning.

What I suggest you to work on:
- Use both hands on racquet to take I back, high and early;
- Make your unit turn as early as possible. You should know you’re going to hit a FH as the opponent’s ball passes the net, if not earlier. And act immediately.
- Against deep balls bouncing close to baseline start your swing earlier. Don’t wait for the ball to bounce, then see it’s trajectory, then swing. Gauge it before bounce, initiate your swing, micro-adjust as you go.
- Generally, check if you’re using your body to swing. Verify if you are 90deg sideways towards the net at the end of backswing and you have your chest flat open towards the net by contact. Coil-uncoil can be executed quite fast, and your while body can accelerate any reasonable racquet with same efficiency.

BTW, what’s the balance of your racquets.

I use a Wilson RF autograph for regular play. My tip would be don't even try or think to swing hard. Let the weight of the racquet work for you. Keep a loose arm and swing smoothly. With heavy racquets, you don't need to muscle it, just make contact and the racquet plows through the ball.

I keep my forehand grip very loose ... just holding with pinky and ring finger, middle and index finger barely holding.

 

[Curious]

Perhaps you could post a video of your hitting with your frame so we could perhaps get an idea of the issues.

This is a video of me playing. The swingweight on the racquet is 386 and it looks like just normal hitting. I was not at my best in this hit but I wanted to record it as it could have been the last time playing tennis for me. It should just look like normal tennis hitting.

It's not obvious at all that I'm hitting with a very heavy racquet.

Just random hitting with hundreds of errors but I watched the whole 25 minutes because that backhand of yours is a pleasure to watch, both slice and topspin.

 

[movdqa]

Just random hitting with hundreds of errors but I watched the whole 25 minutes because that backhand of yours is a pleasure to watch, both slice and topspin.

This hit was a few hours after chemo and radiation and before surgery to remove a large tumor. So I wasn't at my best. Nowhere near it.

 

[Curious]

This hit was a few hours after chemo and radiation and before surgery to remove a large tumor. So I wasn't at my best. Nowhere near it.

That sounds bad. I hope you’re ok now. Love that backhand prep which is mostly a shoulder turn and dipping the right shoulder, nice and simple, nothing fancy, just like Edberg’s. I’ve done some shadow swings already, feels good.

 

[movdqa]

That sounds bad. I hope you’re ok now. Love that backhand prep which is mostly a shoulder turn and dipping the right shoulder, nice and simple, nothing fancy, just like Edberg’s. I’ve done some shadow swings already, feels good.

I was diagnosed about three months before that video. I had run 40 miles the week of diagnosis so I was in good shape but the next couple of months were tests and second opinions so that video was about my third time out. I had a couple of surgeries in the upcoming months and couldn't play tennis for 15 months because I had an implant and an external medical device attached to my body and playing tennis would have been dangerous.

The idea of the video, though, was to show that a rec player can hit with a high-swingweight racquet and you wouldn't really know that it was a high-swingweight racquet unless someone told you. Shroud has a large number of videos of himself hitting with swingweights over 400. I don't think that it's noticeable unless you look for it.

 

[Born_to_slice]

try shadow swinging a hammer. I used to warm up this way and need to get back to it. Do be careful on serves. I recall the first time going crazy and shoulder didn't like it too much. When you can shadow swing your shots with a hammer at full speed the racquet will be super light. That said I was up over 400 and well 340 is not that much IMHO.

Or you can tape a book to a racquet head.

Don't know about playing with 400g racquet as a rec player. Sounds like a recipe for an injury.

 

[movdqa]

Or you can tape a book to a racquet head.

Don't know about playing with 400g racquet as a rec player. Sounds like a recipe for an injury.

We're talking about swingweight, not static weight.

Rec players used 400 gram racquets back in the 1960s and 1970s. I think that racquets were typically 13-14 ounces with upside variances of one to two ounces. I just put an old Head Pro on the scale and it came in at 373 grams or about 13 ounces. Back then frames came in Light, Medium, Heavy - I guess that was how they sorted based on manufacturing variances. I've read that the Heavy frames could come in at 15 ounces.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/the-beast-jack-kramer-autograph-specs.565574/

Tried hitting with one of my wood racquets today and it felt heavy so I brought it to a tennis shop to get the specs measured. Was surprised it was so heavy. Does the "Lt Med" mean this is a light medium weight racquet?!

Jack Kramer Autograph
Lt. Med.
4 5/8 (L5)

Strung weight w/one overgrip: 14.9 ounces (422 grams)
Swingweight: 396

The Garcia was a Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph knockoff. I never used one but I played against people that did use them. I'd guess that they are solid racquets given that Agassi used them. I did play with the JK Auto, Pro Staff and Stan Smith Auto a long time ago. I wish I hadn't sold my JK. All three were great racquets. And very heavy by today's standards.

 

[movdqa]

This is the Bancroft Players Special and I used it in my teens. This is a 4 5/8 Light so you can get an idea as to what the Medium and Heavy models would weigh. The cosmetics also have similarities to the JK Auto but Billie Jean King and Martina Navrotilova used it so Bancroft had decent marketing.

 

[Born_to_slice]

We're talking about swingweight, not static weight.

Rec players used 400 gram ounces back in the 1960s and 1970s. I think that racquets were typically 13-14 ounces with upside variances of one to two ounces. I just put an old Head Pro on the scale and it came in at 373 grams or about 13 ounces. Back then frames came in Light, Medium, Heavy - I guess that was how they sorted based on manufacturing variances. I've read that the Heavy frames could come in at 15 ounces.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/the-beast-jack-kramer-autograph-specs.565574/

Tried hitting with one of my wood racquets today and it felt heavy so I brought it to a tennis shop to get the specs measured. Was surprised it was so heavy. Does the "Lt Med" mean this is a light medium weight racquet?!

Jack Kramer Autograph
Lt. Med.
4 5/8 (L5)

Strung weight w/one overgrip: 14.9 ounces (422 grams)
Swingweight: 396

The Garcia was a Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph knockoff. I never used one but I played against people that did use them. I'd guess that they are solid racquets given that Agassi used them. I did play with the JK Auto, Pro Staff and Stan Smith Auto a long time ago. I wish I hadn't sold my JK. All three were great racquets. And very heavy by today's standards.

I started with wooden racquets myself (only bought aluminum Spalding when I was 15). I'll have to measure them when I go to visit my mom but I don't think either of them was too heavy. I can imagine that pro sticks were heavy, but then again players are playing with weighted sticks today too. Andy Murray reportedly played with 400+ weight at one point and so did Djokovic. Though, Djokovic dialed down to about 360g, if tennis nerd is correct. I just don't see why would a rec player need a 400g stick. Adding anything to a hoop raises swing weigh, right? Specially higher in the hoop. All coaches I talked with are actually puzzled why I play with 360g racquet. Most of them don't play with anything over 340g strung and many play with lower weight even.

Either way, I think that the way sports is played has changed too much to just compare weight directly. Today's techniques have so much more twisting and bending. Grips changed. Power comes from bigger stringbeds. I never felt discomfort playing with a wooden racquet as a kid but adding 4g at 12 and practicing serve caused me a shoulder injury last year.

Great picture btw. Who's the kid?

 

[Curious]

Agassi

 

[movdqa]

I started with wooden racquets myself (only bought aluminum Spalding when I was 15). I'll have to measure them when I go to visit my mom but I don't think either of them was too heavy. I can imagine that pro sticks were heavy, but then again players are playing with weighted sticks today too. Andy Murray reportedly played with 400+ weight at one point and so did Djokovic. Though, Djokovic dialed down to about 360g, if tennis nerd is correct. I just don't see why would a rec player need a 400g stick. Adding anything to a hoop raises swing weigh, right? Specially higher in the hoop. All coaches I talked with are actually puzzled why I play with 360g racquet. Most of them don't play with anything over 340g strung and many play with lower weight even.

Either way, I think that the way sports is played has changed too much to just compare weight directly. Today's techniques have so much more twisting and bending. Grips changed. Power comes from bigger stringbeds. I never felt discomfort playing with a wooden racquet as a kid but adding 4g at 12 and practicing serve caused me a shoulder injury last year.

Great picture btw. Who's the kid?

The kid is Agassi. I love this picture. The footwork, preparation and focus are amazing at such a young age.

 

[WYK]

He's not pointing out that you should go back in time. Nor am I. What we are pointing out is you get used to what you use, not what you think you want to use. If you want to swing a more hefty frame to benefit from the stability and power and spin it helps generate - you pay your money and you get the ticket. Put in the effort. I was late a lot when I was younger swinging a heavy stick. Eventually I wasn't late any more, and now I can swing a lighter stick with authority. Folks like Movdqa and my age started paying the price when we were kids. As I posted in the Clash thread - I have huge arms. I wear a brace for a 'small leg' on my arm. My point here is I wasn't born with huge arms. I developed them. You could lift weights(I haven't in 30 years), but I think weights are for pros. For rec players, I think it's best to just go out and play. Go out, grab a heavy stick, and earn it. It'll be a good time if you are just patient.

 

[movdqa]

Either way, I think that the way sports is played has changed too much to just compare weight directly. Today's techniques have so much more twisting and bending. Grips changed. Power comes from bigger stringbeds. I never felt discomfort playing with a wooden racquet as a kid but adding 4g at 12 and practicing serve caused me a shoulder injury last year.

RF97 with 15 grams of lead tape from 10 to 2. I really like this racquet and it would be under consideration if I had to replace my Prestiges.

 

[WYK]

The Prince Woodie I used to swing when I was 12 - now with 6 inches of 1/2" wide lead tape in the head.

This is more what I usually swing nowadays, tho:

 

[Born_to_slice]

Now that I know that it's Agassi, eyes and the look are recognizable.

RF97 with 15 grams of lead tape from 10 to 2. I really like this racquet and it would be under consideration if I had to replace my Prestiges.

Don't you totally mess up all the balance like that?

I'd very curios to try that stick, without lead.

 

[movdqa]

Now that I know that it's Agassi, eyes and the look ar

Don't you totally mess up all the balance like that?

I'd very curios to try that stick, without lead.

The RF is monstrously headlight.

The RF97 is a great stick. I did not think that I'd like it because it's stiff but the twistweight makes the stiffness comfortable, at least for me. One of the reasons I use heavy racquets is that I had a severe case of Golfer's Elbow back around 2010 and had to take six months off. These kinds of setups eliminate shock and vibration, even if you hit the ball on the frame.

 

[Born_to_slice]

The RF is monstrously headlight.

The RF97 is a great stick. I did not think that I'd like it because it's stiff but the twistweight makes the stiffness comfortable, at least for me. One of the reasons I use heavy racquets is that I had a severe case of Golfer's Elbow back around 2010 and had to take six months off. These kinds of setups eliminate shock and vibration, even if you hit the ball on the frame.

Yeah, I heard it doesn't feel so heavy but I never held one in my hand.

Still, adding 15g like that raises sw too much, I think. I watched a stringer demonstrate with a pro machine how swing weight jumps when you add same weight at different positions. So you're not adding 15g to sw but much more.

 

[movdqa]

Yeah, I heard it doesn't feel so heavy but I never held one in my hand.

Still, adding 15g like that raises sw too much, I think. I watched a stringer demonstrate with a pro machine how swing weight jumps when you add same weight at different positions. So you're not adding 15g to sw but much more.

My Prestiges are set up the same way so that's what I'm used to. The RF97 is seriously old school with new school headsize.

I really love the all-black frame. Not a fan of the Red/Green nor the Tuxedo. I should check if they're selling the all-Black.

 

[movdqa]

Yeah, it looks like Wilson is just selling the All-Black model - good choice.

 

[Born_to_slice]

My Prestiges are set up the same way so that's what I'm used to. The RF97 is seriously old school with new school headsize.

I really love the all-black frame. Not a fan of the Red/Green nor the Tuxedo. I should check if they're selling the all-Black.

I was pondering about buying 315 g version but gave up because most reviewers say that it has erratic string bed. Don't really like the thick beam and the black/dark grey paint job too. I play with prestige fp currently that is 359g strung with overgrip. Looking for something lighter and with more open string bed.

 

[Dragy]

Yeah, I heard it doesn't feel so heavy but I never held one in my hand.

Still, adding 15g like that raises sw too much, I think. I watched a stringer demonstrate with a pro machine how swing weight jumps when you add same weight at different positions. So you're not adding 15g to sw but much more.

I think it's around 44 pts bump in SW (adding directly at 27" is 3.4 x (mass in g))

 

[movdqa]

I was pondering about buying 315 g version but gave up because most reviewers say that it has erratic string bed. Don't really like the thick beam and the black/dark grey paint job too. I play with prestige fp currently that is 359g strung with overgrip. Looking for something lighter and with more open string bed.

The RF97 is a bit like that. Every once in a while, you hit a ball and it doesn't go where you expect it to even though you hit it the same way you always do. I think that the idea is that you're supposed to hit with a lot of spin all the time and that the spin gives you the control and that a lot of spin overcomes those oddball shots. Does not happen often - it's just a little unexpected. I only played with it for about six weeks and maybe there's something you do, without thinking, that makes it go away.

 

[Born_to_slice]

I think it's around 44 pts bump in SW (adding directly at 27" is 3.4 x (mass in g))

Yeah, something like that, probably a bit less because it's not all at 12 o'clock. How much weight would you need in the handle to balance it out?

 

[Dragy]

Yeah, something like that, probably a bit less because it's not all at 12 o'clock. How much weight would you need in the handle to balance it out?

18-19g at the bottom of the handle. But if you want to not get it that polarized and counter-weight at 5-6", it would be ~31g. so makes it 390+/- g to keep the balance.
I don't know actually why one would need it there. Plow-through is addictive, no doubt, but considering overall performance, considering spin serves... No, thanks.

 

[Born_to_slice]

18-19g at the bottom of the handle. But if you want to not get it that polarized and counter-weight at 5-6", it would be ~31g. so makes it 390+/- g to keep the balance.
I don't know actually why one would need it there. Plow-through is addictive, no doubt, but considering overall performance, considering spin serves... No, thanks.

Best spin potential I ever had with a racquet was with my old blade. When I weighted it to 360 strung I gained stability but lost that spin. It's like every shot suddenly become more flat. What I want to say is that it takes fine balance to gain access to easy spin.

 

[travlerajm]

Perhaps you could post a video of your hitting with your frame so we could perhaps get an idea of the issues.

This is a video of me playing. The swingweight on the racquet is 386 and it looks like just normal hitting. I was not at my best in this hit but I wanted to record it as it could have been the last time playing tennis for me. It should just look like normal tennis hitting.

It's not obvious at all that I'm hitting with a very heavy racquet.

I disagree. To me, it looks obvious that you are using a heavy racquet. Not because you are straining, but the opposite. Your backhand, it looks like you are barely swinging with a slow and relaxed motion, yet your shots go smoothly over the net. Your forehand is not as smooth as your backhand, but the same effect of decent power being generated with a slower, more measured swing, still applies.

Full disclosure, I am currently using a 27.25” racquet with 367sw myself because it gives me relaxed easy power and much better depth control.

 

[Shroud]

Or you can tape a book to a racquet head.

Don't know about playing with 400g racquet as a rec player. Sounds like a recipe for an injury.

I was playing with 16oz sticks for a bit and then was playing with 422g racquets. It was actually a reaction to getting injured. High sw and static weight are your friend to avoid injury IMHO. And my strokes are a rec version of modern. You can have a high swingweight high static weight that is balanced well and easy to swing...no need to go to 70s era strokes. Heck Murray was using a 400sw stick at one point.

Not sure what a book weighs but I routinely added 100g to racquets with 40g-70g in the handle depending on the stick and 30-40g in the hoop depending on the stick. Some were 8oz sticks to begin with.

 

[Shroud]

Best spin potential I ever had with a racquet was with my old blade. When I weighted it to 360 strung I gained stability but lost that spin. It's like every shot suddenly become more flat. What I want to say is that it takes fine balance to gain access to easy spin.

I am sure you felt that. I don't think its actually less spin. Its a lower launch angle. Higher sw lowers the launch angle for some reason (maybe it just the higher tensions) For years I would get spin but a flatish trajectory. Only light racquets or lower tension would get that loopy trajectory...on the same swing.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Not sure what a book weighs but I routinely added 100g to racquets with 40g-70g in the handle depending on the stick and 30-40g in the hoop depending on the stick. Some were 8oz sticks to begin with.

Book weighs about +- 500g. But that's just to practice shadow swings.

I am sure you felt that. I don't think its actually less spin. Its a lower launch angle. Higher sw lowers the launch angle for some reason (maybe it just the higher tensions) For years I would get spin but a flatish trajectory. Only light racquets or lower tension would get that loopy trajectory...on the same swing.

Hmm, I can hit loopy and flattish trajectory spins with what I consider a heavier racquet (350-60g) but that pinpoint accuracy brash spin that I had from stock 305g unstrung blade? Definitely not.

Consider that Nadal, who plays with least heavy racquet out of big 4 (tennis nerd says 342g and that's the heaviest he ever played), has that monster spin no one comes close.

Edit: don't know why that is, maybe because with lighter racquet you can better feel the stringbed. It's just my guess tho.

 

[Shroud]

Book weighs about +- 500g. But that's just to practice shadow swings.

Hmm, I can hit loopy and flattish trajectory spins with what I consider a heavier racquet (350-60g) but that pinpoint accuracy brash spin that I had from stock 305g unstrung blade? Definitely not.

Consider that Nadal, who plays with least heavy racquet out of big 4 (tennis nerd says 342g and that's the heaviest he ever played), has that monster spin no one comes close.

Edit: don't know why that is, maybe because with lighter racquet you can better feel the stringbed. It's just my guess tho.

Not sure your premise that Nadal has the highest spin because he has the lightest racquet is correct. Here is a thread that shows people hitting more spin than Nadal with heavier racquets. Sampras for instance. That guy used a club 14 0z or more IIRC. Also Roger has the highest measured spin. But players with a more attacking style will have less AVERAGES of spin....thats not because of the racquet. Also does Nadal have the lightest SW? Not so sure that is the case.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/bruguera-nadal-3-300-rpm-average-topspin.491921/

RE your 350-60g stick i bet I could tweak that to get the spin back or somewhat close.

 

[Shroud]

upload foto online

man @WYK you got me beat man.

Have lost soooo much muscle mass in the last few years...

 

[Born_to_slice]

Not sure your premise that Nadal has the highest spin because he has the lightest racquet is correct. Here is a thread that shows people hitting more spin than Nadal with heavier racquets. Sampras for instance. That guy used a club 14 0z or more IIRC. Also Roger has the highest measured spin. But players with a more attacking style will have less AVERAGES of spin....thats not because of the racquet. Also does Nadal have the lightest SW? Not so sure that is the case.

Well, you know what I mean when I say Nadal's spin. Also he flattened his game over the years and was adding weight accordingly.

RE your 350-60g stick i bet I could tweak that to get the spin back or somewhat close.

Not that I'd want it back. I changed my game since a lot.

 

[travlerajm]

Book weighs about +- 500g. But that's just to practice shadow swings.

Hmm, I can hit loopy and flattish trajectory spins with what I consider a heavier racquet (350-60g) but that pinpoint accuracy brash spin that I had from stock 305g unstrung blade? Definitely not.

Consider that Nadal, who plays with least heavy racquet out of big 4 (tennis nerd says 342g and that's the heaviest he ever played), has that monster spin no one comes close.

Edit: don't know why that is, maybe because with lighter racquet you can better feel the stringbed. It's just my guess tho.

Nadal's racquet is low-ish static weight for a pro, but his swingweight is in the 360s.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Nadal's racquet is low-ish static weight for a pro, but his swingweight is in the 360s.

Well sure, but still can't come close to TW's 400+ pros.

Actually tennis nerd said that he couldn't wield Nadal's setup effectively in his review.