I am interested in getting a couple of my racquets customized. Wanted to try some pro specs just for the heck of it. I would like to send two maybe three of my Prince Diablo Xp racquets and have them customized to Ferrer's specs. I have used Bosworth before but won't do that again.. they take months to do it and you have to call them every few weeks for an update. They weren't too expensive though but don't want to wait 3/4 months to get them done. Has anyone every used any of the other companies for this? Is tenniswarehouse doing this now?
Best place to get your racquet customized?
- Thread starter thanu
- Start date
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Do it yourself, especially if you just want to try different specs.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=514171
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=514171
kingcheetah
Hall of Fame
TW does some customization with weight/balance, they won't switch out a handle or anything but getting different weight/balance/sw is easily done, but as others have said you can do a lot of this yourself with a bunch of lead tape (TW reels are pretty affordable.)
What's your reasoning NOT to customize it by yourself?
You need to know specs.
You need to know how to change it if it's too heavy, light, heightlight, head heavy, and how to change grips.
If you're too lazy to figure that stuff out, you don't deserve a customised racket, and probably can't tell the difference anyways.
You need to know specs.
You need to know how to change it if it's too heavy, light, heightlight, head heavy, and how to change grips.
If you're too lazy to figure that stuff out, you don't deserve a customised racket, and probably can't tell the difference anyways.
Geoff
Hall of Fame
I agree with others that the work is easy to do yourself. If you have a way to get the starting swing weight (obviously getting the starting static weight and balance is straight forward) it is very simple using the TW Customization tool. If you want the lead hidden that takes a little more time but is still very easy to do. The only customization that is difficult, as I am sure you are well aware, to do on your own is custom pallets.
Geoff
Hall of Fame
As you probably already know, there are ways to calculate the swing weight as described on TW University or using the Racquet Tune smart phone app. The app requires a way to secure the racquet/swing the racquet for lack of a better description. Have not tried it myself but I believe others here have.
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I understand the DIY stuff.. some people are into that.. some people like to have it done by other people... LeeD not sure what's up with your negative tone... I have added weight to my racquet before and I can tell the difference. Because I don't want to do it myself, I don't "deserve" to have a customized racquet? That makes no sense to me.... what about stringing then? If I don't string my own racquets, does that mean I don't deserve to play tennis? :-/
UCSF2012
Hall of Fame
Problem is that pro specs are not supposed to be disclosed by these companies. Sometimes, a few bad eggs/employees like to do bad things....
Another problem is that "specs" are relative. Two rackets with the same specs, will hit differently. If you want Ferrer's specs, then you buy his racket and adjust it to his "specs."
Lastly, these companies aren't cheap. Many pros can't afford it themselves, as they're sometimes several thousands of dollars per year.
Another problem is that "specs" are relative. Two rackets with the same specs, will hit differently. If you want Ferrer's specs, then you buy his racket and adjust it to his "specs."
Lastly, these companies aren't cheap. Many pros can't afford it themselves, as they're sometimes several thousands of dollars per year.
I have contacted them before.. I think they quoted me like 85 per racquet or something like that.. this was a while ago. I just emailed ****.. I may or may not do it.. I always go back to my regular Prince Diablo XP even after I add weight to it.. was hoping maybe this time I could find that perfect balance.. I love my racquet.. just wanted to tinker with it. I'm not the best at attention to detail, which is why I am willing to spend a little money (definitely not thousands that I don't have).
RollTrackTake
Professional
OP, people in this particular forum tend to be overly obsessive about tinkering with their racquets. I can understand why you'd want to try a pro's spec & simply pay a professional MRT to weight, lengthen and balance your racquets. Bosworth, **** & Priority 1 are top tier customizers. Racquetmaxx.com and other MRT's, some may even be local to you, are out there.
Thank you and everybody else who has commented. Thank you for understanding I don't want to keep tinkering with my racquets. I just want it professionally done, have them match my racquets and I don't have to think about it. I have gotten Thomas Martinez to professionally lengthen a racquet for me before (I think he use to work for ****). I was just curious if anyone has tried any of these companies for weight, balance, and matching work. I emailed ****... want a quote from them.. if not, I will try other companies. Thanks again!
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
I think LeeD's point is actually a good one. If you're going to what sounds like a very different spec than you're used to, the only sensible way to do it is on your own so you can INCREMENTALLY adjust the spec to find what works for you. Ask a pro shop to do a spec you haven't used before and it's at least as likely that you'll get back something you're unhappy with, and will have to spend that amount again to correct it.
Yeah, I sounded pretty negative.
In every sport I've done, rich novices have asked for "Pro's Specs", spending a ton of money and playing much worst than they ever did.
We are NOT pros, we cannot play with pro rackets. Also, we are not exactly THAT particular pro.
I'd wanna be Goran. But I'm a skinny weak 5'10" slow serving lefty. Can't work!
It NEVER works.
In every sport I've done, rich novices have asked for "Pro's Specs", spending a ton of money and playing much worst than they ever did.
We are NOT pros, we cannot play with pro rackets. Also, we are not exactly THAT particular pro.
I'd wanna be Goran. But I'm a skinny weak 5'10" slow serving lefty. Can't work!
It NEVER works.
RollTrackTake
Professional
No one including the OP is disputing what you, Ollinger and others are saying. You're missing what he's asking for. He just wants reviews or suggestions to get his racquets professionally customized. I'm sure if he wanted advice on DIY customiation he'd ask about it. What other options are out there? The guys at racquetmaxx.com do a good job. I'm not sure how their pricing compares.
kingcheetah
Hall of Fame
Well frankly the OP shouldn't be frusrated that other posters were looking out for him by mentioning the cost factor-- I would be grateful if other people potentially helped me save money. Making a very expensive and dramatic spec change just to be similar to a pro isn't the best logic.
I am definitely NOT rich. lol I have no kids and really no expenses so I am willing to spend a little on my hobby. That being said, I love my racquet and I have played with heavier racquets. My diablo xp is under 11 ounces (according to TW specs). I have played with the graphite longbody, Yonex RD power 7 long and enjoyed them. Both are at least an ounce heavier than my racquet. There is something about my racquet that I love, sometimes I just wish it was a little heavier. I've slapped some lead on there before, but my attention to detail is not the best, so I was looking for someone else to do it.
I have tried the pro staff 6.1 stretch and that was too heavy.. was like a club. I'm pretty strong gym wise, so no need for you guys to tell me to go lift weights... I already do (I use to work as a personal trainer). lol
Malisse's racquet is just over 11 ounces.. maybe that'll be my sweet spot.. I think maybe I'll just add a leather grip and a little lead at 3 and 9....
I appreciate all the feedback from you guys. I'm just weighing all my options.
You summed it up!
I appreciate everyone's advice. I was just looking for a professional shop to help me. I'll contact racquetmaxx.. thanks for the suggestion.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Don't just slap some lead here and there to see if you like it. Let me try to explain how simple SW is, assume you have a racket with a 315 SW and you want to bump it up. I'd add 5-10 'SW Units' (Kgcm^2) at a time until I got to the point where I liked the racket and I would play with it for at least a week to make sure I liked it. Now you must determine how to increase the SW by 5-10 units. The increase is equal to the distance from the SW axis (10 cm) squared times the mass in Kg. The distance from the butt to the inside of a 27" racket is ~67.7 cm minus the axis point 10 cm leaves you 57.7 cm squared is 3,328. Now comes the mass for 5 units divide the units by the square of the distance 5/3329 = .0015 Kg or 1.5 g. If you have a 27" racket no matter what the SW, balance, total weight, or twist weight is; if you add 3" of 1/2" lead tape that weighs 0.5 g per inch the SW goes up 5 units. If you want to add 10 units add two 3" strips at 12 o'clock.
Adding a leather grip doesn't almost nothing to the swing weight because your adding it at the axis and your distance on the average is 0. Zero squared time the extra mass is still zero. Don't waste your time. If you add your mass at 3 and 9 you're messing with the twist weight, which changes the feel of the racket much more than changing only the swing weight. Chances are you won't like it.
Stay simple at first only changing SW. If you don't know how much the lead tape weighs add only 3" strips at a time and you will stay in the 5-10 SW unit band. Once you get to the point where adding a 3" strip is too much take off the last 1 or 2 strips and see how you like it. If you still want more weight start adding it inside the butt cap with BluStik but again small amounts at a time. Each package of BluStik weighs about 28 g and there are 4 strips of BluStik in a pack so a half strip is 3.5 g. Add that inside the butt cap (at 10 cm below the axis) and your SW goes up 10*10*.0035 or 0.3 SW Units. That's nothing the only difference you will notice is the balance comes closer to your hand and there is a little more heft. Keep adding 3.5 g in the butt until your satisfied.
This way you have nothing to check except the feel of the racket every time you add weight and the most you will be spending is $10. If you don't like any of mods you will have saved a lot of time sending it to a 'professional' not to mention the money saved. If you find something you like and you still want it done professionally send your lighter racket to a professional and have all of them professionally matched to your one you modified.
EDIT: One of the posters in this thread (Geoff) does this professionally and I have seen posts on this forum where customers were happy with his work. Why not shoot him an email?
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RollTrackTake
Professional
You summed it up!
Welcome to the talk tennis racquet forum...for the love of god don't ask for racquet advice!! You'll get at least half dozen of the same dudes telling you to get a 13oz mid size frame, 10 lessons and some footwork drills! The other half will tell you to put silicone all over your old stick and chisel a new pallet from a birch out back. Many here don't seem to understand some people don't have the time, patience or desire to futz around with their tennis racquets.
Good luck getting straight answers from a straightforward question!
