Djokovicfan
Professional
Like is there an elasticity/recoil/absorption factor that doesnt get listed in normal racquet specs?
Are there other flex factors besides RA stiffness that affect the way it plays?
- Thread starter Djokovicfan
- Start date
MarkNut
Rookie
I would also say that the material that is used contributes to the play. The graphene radical comes in at 64 RA, but feels stiffer and firmer than the previous radicals. The Ti radical comes in at 65 RA, but feels "raw" and "old school" without feeling anything close to stiff. The IG Radicals come in at 63 RA, but feel downright plush and flexible. All 3 versions have a different unique feel, while all being within just a few points of stiffness.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I think Head rackets have the most variable feel for the RA. A Babolat RA of 71 feels like 71. A Prince RA of 61 feels like 61. A whole host of Head Rackets come in at 63-65 RA and all feel totally different as far as flexibility goes. Most of the Graphene models feel very harsh for their RA whereas all the microgel models feel pretty plush despite similar RA.
So I can never trust a Head RA to tell me if this is a comfy frame or not. You have to demo it. Whereas I know that Babolats will be stiff. Prince and Yonex will be plush. Wilson is generally in between. And Head is all over the map.
There is a lot that doesn't get listed in specs. Specs just measure certain easily measurable things in a specific way. Like others have mentioned, the layup and materials have an effect. Also the hoop geometry, string pattern, not just number of mains x crosses, but actual drill pattern/spacing, and I think quite a few people even suspect the paint can change the feel a bit.
Of course, on the other side of this equation is the individual using the frame. It seems we all have our own tastes and preferences and some are more picky than others.
And don't forget one of the most important things, the strings. Strings can radically change the feel and performance of a frame. I've hit with PureDrives that felt buttery soft because of the strings, and they are one of the stiffer frames around.
Of course, on the other side of this equation is the individual using the frame. It seems we all have our own tastes and preferences and some are more picky than others.
And don't forget one of the most important things, the strings. Strings can radically change the feel and performance of a frame. I've hit with PureDrives that felt buttery soft because of the strings, and they are one of the stiffer frames around.
Zoolander
Hall of Fame
You know this is a big point i have noticed...... particularly the beam shape in the throat. For me racquets with a thin rectangular throat like the strikes dont feel anywhere as comfortable when they flex as a racquet with a wider or round shaped throat, even if RA is the same.
Nope, think it depends mainly on the layup and the orientation of the carbon fibre layers in different parts of the racquet.
AMGF
Hall of Fame
Look for vibration frequency in the twu data for each frame. It is basically the dynamic stiffness while ra measures static stiffness.
My recent experience with my new Vcore98+ opened my eyes that a stiffer ra frame could actually feel more comfortable than a lower ra one. Probably why kevlar 6.1 and foam filled 70ra Angells feel much more comfortable than their ra suggests.
My recent experience with my new Vcore98+ opened my eyes that a stiffer ra frame could actually feel more comfortable than a lower ra one. Probably why kevlar 6.1 and foam filled 70ra Angells feel much more comfortable than their ra suggests.
proracketeer
Professional
off topic; can one filter the twu data?
AMGF
Hall of Fame
Yes.
stingstang
Professional
Yes. I have a 6.1 25th and a few '14 PS90's both which claim to have kevlar. The 6.1 is a scary sounding 72 flex - I don't doubt that number as it absolutely crushes the ball but it doesn't bother my arm and feels 'connected' rather than stiff if that means anything. It's a fantastic racquet. The 90's are high 60's but are one the sweetest playing frames I have ever tried. The Graphene Prestige was only a 64 but felt horrible.
Wall Ball Wizard
Rookie
Your NTRP rating...
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I tend to find that no matter the stated flex rating that Wilson's play crisp, Babolat's play stiff, Prince and yonex play plush and Head is all over the map.
Take RA with a grain of salt.
Anton
Legend
There is Flex Distribution and Vibration Frequency.
Weight and strings also effect how much frame actually dynamically flexes.
Djokovicfan
Professional
By box frame you mean something like sampras’s ps 85?
Bender
G.O.A.T.
Or the PS90 and 95 that followed it, yes.
Nowadays there aren’t too many obvious box beam racquets about, but there are some hybrids—the Babolat Pure Strike and Wilson Pro Staff 97 / 97S are popular examples.
I have a few older racquets that I've picked up recently that feel great. The PK Copper Ace which is graphite and fiberglass. It's a really thin box beam and just has a ton of feel. I've also got a few old Rossignols that are graphite and fiberglass with some great feel. For tournament play I'd probably go back to the Pure Control 95s I have with the 18x20 pattern and a bit more stiffness, but my usual teaching and recreational hitting I've really enjoyed the feel of these old fiberglass composite frames. I'm really not quite sure why the all graphite stuff replaced it.
Automatix
Legend
Babolat data says it's almost the same but then again we can't really trust racquet companies and there's also manufacturing tolerances.
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
My answer to this is yes.
I don't believe that the way RA is measured on say an RDC machine necessarily tells the full story because it can't take into consideration the way some racquets are made today in terms of the materials used and how it is applied.
A prime example right now which I have just commented on is the the new Head Extreme thread. The Graphene 360 material feels stiffer to me than say a graphite/fibreglass composite and when it is applied to the upper regions of the hoop rather than, say in the shaft, it's going to play differently. There is no way that this racquet for example plays like a 63 RA frame.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
Babolat data says it's almost the same but then again we can't really trust racquet companies and there's also manufacturing tolerances.
Interesting. I'm not sure I'm interpreting this graph right in that the stiffest part of the 2014 seems to be in space off the tip.
Overall the 2017 is a lot stiffer in the handle and the middle of the hoop, and a bit less at the tip.
