Best Racquet For Hitting on The Rise?

RedBeard

Rookie
What type of racquet is best for taking the ball early?

I'm finding some success with my Prince Phantom Pro 18x20, but I also seem to do well with 100 sq inch lighter, stiff racquets. For some reason, 97-98 sq in medium-stiff racquets (65 RA or so) don't seem to work as well for me hitting on the rise. Am I just benefitting from the extra forgiveness of 100s?

This is hitting with partners in the 7.5-11 UTR range...not ATP pros, but no slouches for sure.
 

Gemini

Hall of Fame
I'm not trying to be glib by stating this but hitting on the rise is a function of how skilled the user is and not which racquet he/she uses. Any racquet will do. Just go out and practice it. While racquets with larger heads may make it "easier" to hit on the rise, it's the player that matters most.
 

TennisHound

Legend
What type of racquet is best for taking the ball early?

I'm finding some success with my Prince Phantom Pro 18x20, but I also seem to do well with 100 sq inch lighter, stiff racquets. For some reason, 97-98 sq in medium-stiff racquets (65 RA or so) don't seem to work as well for me hitting on the rise. Am I just benefitting from the extra forgiveness of 100s?

This is hitting with partners in the 7.5-11 UTR range...not ATP pros, but no slouches for sure.
Pro Staff 85 or Wilson Six One 90
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
Based on personal viewing experience, I would say a tighter patterned racket. All of the college players, men and women that have had excellent timing and hit the ball on the rise have used 18x20 rackets. They also tend to hit flatter balls overall. I'm not sure if the rackets actually contributed or it was just the racket they chose and their timing was the main factor. Mostly 18x20 blades but have also had some with prestige and speeds. No super stiff babolats with open patterns.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
To me it seems that the smaller head sized racquets do fairly well with this. Maybe because of the tighter pattern.

I agree with this, but I think that the big difference-maker is that these smaller frames are typically more hefty and stable. I still have a few different mids handy that I love to noodle with off and on and what I always appreciate is that they're rock-solid through the ball. The smaller-headed mids that I have are well over 12 oz. and my old Prince NXG mids weigh around 13 oz. strung and overgripped.
 

1HBHfanatic

Legend
op, to answer your question
i like to simplify my thinking by assuming that:
in directional control: 18/20 will be better than a 16/19 raket
in forgiveness at impact "off the center hits", a 100 sq is better than a 90 sq raket

if your a 2hander,, the wilson.blade.SW 104sq 18/19 would get my vote..
 

ron schaap

Hall of Fame
It has not so much to do with actual racquet, but with tecnique and hand eye coordination. My coach let me practice these situation quite often when he volleys my grounstrokes at net.
You have to make an abbrevated backswing because you have little time and be sure to stay low and finish your strokes from low to high otherwise you will be netting a lot.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
It has not so much to do with actual racquet, but with tecnique and hand eye coordination. My coach let me practice these situation quite often when he volleys my grounstrokes at net.
You have to make an abbrevated backswing because you have little time and be sure to stay low and finish your strokes from low to high otherwise you will be netting a lot.

The reason the POG107 is so good is that it has stability, plow and an OS stringbed so that it makes up for hand eye limitations and carries enough plow that it sends the ball back with force even with a short swing.

Yes technique is huge but certain rackets have specs that fit with certain tasks.
 

RedBeard

Rookie
I agree with the posts pointing to the player, hand-eye coordination, and committing to hitting on the rise as the primary factors to success. Just wondered if there's a consensus as to what racquet type works best? Don't see myself switching from my Phantom Pro 100 18x20, more just wondering why it works so well for me and other racquets don't work as well.

Seems like the consensus so far is that higher weight seems to be preferred, but the head size is maybe a matter of preference and how much you value forgiveness (larger head) over precision (smaller head).
 

FedLIKEnot

Professional
As many has said the ability to hit the ball on the rise is more a function of technique, timing, and footwork. However the racquet does play a part and why wouldn’t it. I would say finding a good cross between your current racquet and a more control based racquet would be the sweet spot. That said you already use a 18/20 pattern so not sure where there is to go.

For me I do take the ball early more so on my backhand side than forehand. I use a 95sq in racquet in a 16/15 pattern (Pro Staff 95s). I find success doing it. However for me the pattern I have requires me to be on time and get low as if I get wrist-y with it my strokes become to topspin based and defeats the purpose of taking it early with higher launch angle and all that. At my club I can think of three 4.0s and above who take the ball early more often than not as a part of their game style. One uses the Prince Textreme 95, one uses the PS97 with a touch of lead at 12 the last uses a super old 98sq. in. Donnay (older guy in his 50s). So take that for what you will.
 

KG32

Rookie
Well, it is the racquets forum...but whatever.

Still, if I asked what’s the best racquet for deer hunting, it’d make sense to point me in the right direction.

But seriously, I guess there’s no “ideal” racquet for hitting on the rise. Certain racquets (or setups really) feel different on different strokes, but if you’re playing great with a racquet but can’t hit on the rise (or the opposite), it’s just not the racquet
 

RedBeard

Rookie
These type of questions make my teaching pro head explode!

If you think racquets don't matter, then just say so. But us mere mortal rec players don't spend 6-8 hours a day on court as you do.

I'm not claiming that extra time on court with my local pros won't help or that I know everything about taking the ball early...or even that I'm any good at it. But why is it so ridiculous to want to find the equipment that best suits the game style I want to play?
 

KG32

Rookie
If you think racquets don't matter, then just say so. But us mere mortal rec players don't spend 6-8 hours a day on court as you do.

I'm not claiming that extra time on court with my local pros won't help or that I know everything about taking the ball early...or even that I'm any good at it. But why is it so ridiculous to want to find the equipment that best suits the game style I want to play?

Because a very little effort (like an hour learning how to hit on the rise) will translate into progress 1000x greater than any racquet. So, instead of being lazy, try to be lazy in a good way.

Not to mention racquet modding to suit one particular thing and hoping it’s a magic cure is the simplest way to hurt your overall performance and progress
 

RedBeard

Rookie
Because a very little effort (like an hour learning how to hit on the rise) will translate into progress 1000x greater than any racquet. So, instead of being lazy, try to be lazy in a good way.

Not to mention racquet modding to suit one particular thing and hoping it’s a magic cure is the simplest way to hurt your overall performance and progress

You're right...they should just change the name of this forum to the "Racquets Don't Matter" forum. Also, if you'll notice, my original post didn't say I was looking for a magical cure. Just wondering out loud about a racquet question BECAUSE THIS IS A RACQUET FORUM.

How stupid of me that I would ask questions about racquets, on a forum called racquets, hosted by a company that sells racquets. What the heck was I thinking? Excuse me while I go find a car forum so I can not talk about cars there.
 

StringGuruMRT

Semi-Pro
If you think racquets don't matter, then just say so. But us mere mortal rec players don't spend 6-8 hours a day on court as you do.

I'm not claiming that extra time on court with my local pros won't help or that I know everything about taking the ball early...or even that I'm any good at it. But why is it so ridiculous to want to find the equipment that best suits the game style I want to play?
That's not what I'm saying at all! The correct equipment for your particular game is VERY IMPORTANT! That's why it also drives me nuts to hear 3.0 players on here say they can only play with whatever racquet Federer is swinging at that present moment. In fact in the past I have taken a lot of grief from colleagues who say I put too much importance in the equipment. A big part of my professional career has been matching players to the racquet that best suits their game, NOT ONE PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THEIR GAME! Too many people on these boards are trying to find "the best 1HB racquet" or "the best set up for (insert racquet here)." The better question that people should be asking is, "which racquet should I try for my playing style?" or "which string would benefit my game best?" Trying to match a racquet to one shot, or think that only one particular string makes a racquet play optimally is a losing crusade.

And if you want to hit better balls on the rise, work on it when you practice/play, don't try and find a crutch.
 

Boubi

Professional
You're right...they should just change the name of this forum to the "Racquets Don't Matter" forum. Also, if you'll notice, my original post didn't say I was looking for a magical cure. Just wondering out loud about a racquet question BECAUSE THIS IS A RACQUET FORUM.

How stupid of me that I would ask questions about racquets, on a forum called racquets, hosted by a company that sells racquets. What the heck was I thinking? Excuse me while I go find a car forum so I can not talk about cars there.
93 P is the only current racquet that makes me naturally get into the court and take it on the rise as you say
Manoeuvrable, stable, comfortable
 

golden chicken

Hall of Fame
The distance between the frame and the sweet spot is greater on an OS racket than on a midsize, so the midsize has the ability to hit those really short-hopped half-volley type of on the rise shots.
 

KG32

Rookie
You're right...they should just change the name of this forum to the "Racquets Don't Matter" forum. Also, if you'll notice, my original post didn't say I was looking for a magical cure. Just wondering out loud about a racquet question BECAUSE THIS IS A RACQUET FORUM.

How stupid of me that I would ask questions about racquets, on a forum called racquets, hosted by a company that sells racquets. What the heck was I thinking? Excuse me while I go find a car forum so I can not talk about cars there.

Read my post again. I didn’t say racquets don’t matter, I said there’s no such thing as improving your hitting on the rise by changing a racquet (simplified version).
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Read my post again. I didn’t say racquets don’t matter, I said there’s no such thing as improving your hitting on the rise by changing a racquet (simplified version).

That's wrong. I pull out my POG107 and I'm instantly better at hitting on the rise than I am with any other racket in my bag. All rackets have pros and cons and things that they are good at and things they aren't as good at. But that's also for an individual player. Someone that swings differently than me might find a POG 107 a terrible racket for hitting on the rise. But for my swing, it is the best racket I own for the purpose.
 

KG32

Rookie
That's wrong. I pull out my POG107 and I'm instantly better at hitting on the rise than I am with any other racket in my bag. All rackets have pros and cons and things that they are good at and things they aren't as good at. But that's also for an individual player. Someone that swings differently than me might find a POG 107 a terrible racket for hitting on the rise. But for my swing, it is the best racket I own for the purpose.

That’s wrong because if you pull out pog107 you think you hit better on the rise? Also, if you think so, how does it affect your other strokes? It magically only makes a difference in hitting on the rise?
 
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