Age versus power

[Mulligan]

Just wondering if anyone has stuck with a low powered and possibly relatively heavy frames as they get older. Being in my 40's, and in decent shape, I have always been teased by trying lighter, or stiffer, or more powerful sticks to make up for any decreasing mobility. Examples would be players that used frames like the Prestige or Pro Staff going to the PDR or Extreme Pro - or going to lighter larger headed frames like the Volkl V1, etc. On the flip side; why give up arm comfort, control and feel by making a switch?

What are players in their mid 40''s and 50's using out there? Is lower power or a 12 oz. frame still effective for you?

 

[markwillplay]

well I am only 38 (ha ha) but I have more experience with "tennis elbow" than most. I have had surgery years ago (not from tennis, but then again that injury rarely is). I have figured out that IMHO the main thing that keeps it away or my arm from flairing up is PLOW THROUGH. If I could find a stick that had real plush plow through at a lower weight I would try to use it.....never found it......never. I use my POG OS' 4 stripes right now but am always trying to find something newer because they can be hard to find and they don't last forever. The only time I really feel it is heavy is when I play someone who is ripping tremendous pace and even then, if I shorten my strokes a bit I am OK (plus as a serve and volleyer, I keep the baseline bashing to a minimum if I can) . Honestly, I doubt I will ever play with a really light stiff racqet because of my arm. Like I said though, if I fine one that weighs 11.5 oz and has the plow through of a heavier stick with that plush feel, I will probably take a shot.

On another note, every time I pick up my 12.7 oz max 200G I remember that Steffi Graph played with it, and Sabatini played with a POG OS (using a 1hbh). I think I will have to be older than 50 to admit that I can't play with those types of sticks in recreational play.

 

[Kirko]

Just wondering if anyone has stuck with a low powered and possibly relatively heavy frames as they get older. Being in my 40's, and in decent shape, I have always been teased by trying lighter, or stiffer, or more powerful sticks to make up for any decreasing mobility. Examples would be players that used frames like the Prestige or Pro Staff going to the PDR or Extreme Pro - or going to lighter larger headed frames like the Volkl V1, etc. On the flip side; why give up arm comfort, control and feel by making a switch?

What are players in their mid 40''s and 50's using out there? Is lower power or a 12 oz. frame still effective for you?

I'm 55 yrs. and just switched to the Babolat AeroPro Control Plus (non-cortex). added lead & 10 and 2 o'clock. it weihs about 12.3 oz. I try to keep in shape run 3 miles every othe day and still weigh the same as in high school 6' 155 lbs. but I finally realized I needed more power on all my strokes and serve. I never had one bit of elbow or shoulder problems so a stiff, powerful babolat with some weight was a Great choice for me! one thing for certain I could never play with a sub.-12 oz. frame.

 

[ced]

What are players in their mid 40''s and 50's using out there? Is lower power or a 12 oz. frame still effective for you?

No longer in my mid 50's (72 actually) but I would suggest staying with the 12+ oz frames as long as possible...... after all a court is only 78 ft long and how much power do you need for that ! I did finally have to give up on my AVERY M3's (grew a little tired in the 3rd set).... tried the new DONNAY Mid from TW, but found it a tad head-heavy. Settled on the GAMMA G325 (slightly lighter than the AVERY and very head-light) actually feels much lighter than a 12oz stick. In fact I'm going to use a little lead to raise the sweetspot just a tad.

Thin beam,head-light,12oz stick is the ticket for a long tennis life.

 

[max]

Mulligan. I'm 44. I went with a lighter frame (11.5 oz.) for most of a summer. Nice to just swing out like crazy, but it lacked things like touch at the net, touch in general, and CONTROL. At my age, I can reasonably place the ball around the court; the lighter frame wouldn't admit this so easily. I went back to 12.2 oz.

 

[mauricem]

at 45 I used a 120 "10 oz frame
at 50 I used a 110" 11oz frame
at 53 I now use a 97" 12+ oz frame

logically then by 60 I will then be using an 80" 14oz head:?

Seriously now I find the smaller heavier heads are much better for my game although late in a singles match I'll sometimes put the weighted up nblade back in the bag and reach for the slightly less weighted aerogel 500

 

[goober]

I have seen some 70+ year olds play with PS 85 and POGs.

 

[bcast66]

Just wondering if anyone has stuck with a low powered and possibly relatively heavy frames as they get older. Being in my 40's, and in decent shape, I have always been teased by trying lighter, or stiffer, or more powerful sticks to make up for any decreasing mobility. Examples would be players that used frames like the Prestige or Pro Staff going to the PDR or Extreme Pro - or going to lighter larger headed frames like the Volkl V1, etc. On the flip side; why give up arm comfort, control and feel by making a switch?

What are players in their mid 40''s and 50's using out there? Is lower power or a 12 oz. frame still effective for you?

listen dont be bothered by idiots. if it keeps you active and healthy that is all that should matter. and if it feels good on your body why switch at all?

 

[bad_call]

No longer in my mid 50's (72 actually) but I would suggest staying with the 12+ oz frames as long as possible...... after all a court is only 78 ft long and how much power do you need for that ! I did finally have to give up on my AVERY M3's (grew a little tired in the 3rd set).... tried the new DONNAY Mid from TW, but found it a tad head-heavy. Settled on the GAMMA G325 (slightly lighter than the AVERY and very head-light) actually feels much lighter than a 12oz stick. In fact I'm going to use a little lead to raise the sweetspot just a tad.

Thin beam,head-light,12oz stick is the ticket for a long tennis life.

ced - this one works for me. glad you're still out there bashing away. FWIW - my current racquet is lighter than my previous ones which feel like logs now. for me the wheels are slower, the rest is holding up so far.

 

[netman]

Mid-40s. After 5 years of trying all the various lightweight configurations ended up back at 12 oz frames. Currently using Yonex RDS 001 MPs modded to 12.1 oz. 10 pts HL and plenty of mass. The touch of extra stiffness compensates for age. These racquets allow me to swing easy and still generate big power with control.

-k-

 

[anirut]

I'm 42 and happily swinin' my Redondo at 12+ oz. I've tried lighter sticks before but just can't stand them feelin' flimpsy. I play a 2-hour session twice a week.

 

[TravelinMan]

Well at 47 I went the other direction. Had a PDR that started hurting the shoulder, when to a Speedport Black had to lead up the head to control it , then on to an Speedport Tour. Out of a lark I tried a Speedport Red (10oz) and found I could hit shots I never had before. So I'm now a fan of lighter racquets.

BTW - All the Speedports have a similar swingweight.

 

[NLBwell]

51 and using my Original Black Ace. 86 sq. in frame, over 14 oz stock - only addition is one overgrip. It is easy on my arm (56 stiffness) and with a relaxed swing I can get big power using the weight. I've tried out almost every racket around looking for more spin, more power, or more forgiveness. In fact, I am still looking around since on days when I am playing badly it is hard to find the sweetspot. Still nothing has ever played better, so I keep going back to it. Still playing despite a torn elbow tendon, so you know its easy on the arm.

 

[anirut]

^^NLB,

Then you've got to try the Redondo mid with multis. I and my cousin were BlackAce diehards and we agree on the Redondo that it's an easier-to-play BA.

 

[nickarnold2000]

I'm 44 and play at the 5.0 - 5.5 level. I just recently traded in my RDS 001 90s for the new Becker Pro 100 and haven't missed a beat. I'm in good shape, lift 3x/week, practise often but was starting to get over powered by those Babolat type guys! Well, they're not all using Babs but certainly heads sizes larger than 90. Anyways the new sticks are weighted up to 345g and life is easier when swinging them. I can basically hit any shot with them as I could with the 90s except the flat heater which is almost as good. I'm playing on clay so the extra 10 inches is great for bad bounces. Maybe Fed should give them a whirl!

 

[Enlightened Coelacanth]

As you age you lose muscle mass, of course, but a little bit of maintenance with the weights should counter that.
No need to be a Schwarzenegger. Just maintain functional strength and there is no need to make racquet concessions to age.

I have Dunlop Maxply McEnroes that I've leaded up to 12.3 (or so) because to me overall weight is still the major consideration in a racquet and a heavier frame will prevent injury. Not cause it.

To me flexibility with the legs, back and hips are a much bigger concern than racquet weight. And much more difficult to combat.

 

[Seacoast Stringer]

As you age you lose muscle mass, of course, but a little bit of maintenance with the weights should counter that.
No need to be a Schwarzenegger. Just maintain functional strength and there is no need to make racquet concessions to age.

I have Dunlop Maxply McEnroes that I've leaded up to 12.3 (or so) because to me overall weight is still the major consideration in a racquet and a heavier frame will prevent injury. Not cause it.

To me flexibility with the legs, back and hips are a much bigger concern than racquet weight. And much more difficult to combat.

I agree with all of this^^. My frames are in the 12 oz. range with a swingweight at almost 320. Nice and comfortable. As I have gotten older, stretching as EC points out is a huge factor in staying healthy and agile on the court. I would work on physical fitness, flexibility, and overall health rather than just going with lighter or stiffer more powerful larger racquets. Like the poster "ced" mentioned..you can use a 12 oz. thin beamed frame and enjoy tennis for life!

 

[Chicken Neck]

At 43 and fast approaching 44 I use the Dunlop Aerogel 500 Tour and I find it to be a perfect compromise between weight and power. I was using the TF335 to very good effect but I have found that the extra power of the Dunlop does help compensate for my loss of quickness. I, like alot of you guys, lift three or four times a week but I have found that when I do a muscle building workout (high weight low rep) it has proved to be decidedly detrimental to my tennis game. I think I am going to switch to a speed workout with a little light weight work which I think will probably be a better program for me and perhaps for a lot of the other "old timers" out there.

 

[ced]

ced - this one works for me. glad you're still out there bashing away. FWIW - my current racquet is lighter than my previous ones which feel like logs now. for me the wheels are slower, the rest is holding up so far.

Bad_call ,I hit with the tour 10 V-mid and really liked it until I hit with the Gamma G325 and that racquet really turned me on! Tennis is really fun again and I can't wait for the mornings.

Volkl's were always a favorite of mine, I hit the 'red' Tournament Pro for years ..... the Tour 10 mid, DNX 10 mid and the Tour 10 V's were great but the feel I wanted though close was not quite there. I even tried the TW Donnay mid and had a Vantage built to what I considered my specs ..... liked them all, until I picked up a $79.95 G325 and got hooked immediately. I like the G325 so well I don't even think about the money I spent before I got there (thankfully the TalkTennis forum let me recoup some of my expenses).

Suggest you try one before they are gone.

 

[MrAWD]

Well, back in 20s I played with 12 oz mid when I didn't even know they where coming in different sizes Then 30s where the time for the OS frames (from some Prince to i.Radical) all in 11 oz range. Then move to the mid 11 oz and MP sizes. Now in 40s it is back to the 12+ oz and Redondo Mid! I don't think I will be swinging a different frame for a long time!!

As long as you stay in shape, you should be able to hit with 12+ oz frame. And as many others pointed out, it might be better for you health as well!


Good luck!!


Fedja

 

[itsstephenyo]

My dad, 61, refuses to play with anything except his old Dunlop Black Max.

 

[NLBwell]

^^NLB,

Then you've got to try the Redondo mid with multis. I and my cousin were BlackAce diehards and we agree on the Redondo that it's an easier-to-play BA.

I just play better with open string patterns and the Black Ace is about as open as you can get. Compared to the 14 main POG with a 93 in head size, the Black Ace has more strings in a smaller stringbed, but the Black Ace has a wider spacing between the strings in the center.

 

[anirut]

^^
I know what you mean. The BAO (Black Ace Original) and Redondo are just "not the same" in the feel department. Result-wise they're quite identical.

 

[Be Cool]

If you are healthy enough to play a heavier players racket, and play well with it, I'd stick to it. Lighter game-improvement rackets can cause you tendonitis pretty quickly. Just try a lower tension if you need more power, so go as low as 30 lbs. but I'd try about 45 lbs. first, assuming the racket is 85 sqft.