Do you modify your racquets?

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
cool. That is what it looked like you could do. But ugh I hate flexy sticks. Maybe pickle ball is better for me.
May the Thunderstick be with U! May discover Pickled-ball next year when eligible for the Silver Sneakers at the Y. And USTA Super Seniors Singles League
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Oh, there you are!...Glad you're back after that weird abduction incident.
I blame @travlerajm . His idea of Mgr/I tuning has really helped. The notion that you can slightly alter the racquet so its timing is better is a revelation and IME it does work in the wild. The common customization is lead at 3&9 and then some in the buttcap. That never really worked. After his posts i find 10&2 or 12pm way better especially if you do a ton at the 7" spot. Adding weight at the top of the handle has really transformed things for me and allows heavy sticks to not play that way!
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
OMG. That would be perfect. Though man those things were thick. Too thick.
Thunder-Thickerer Sticks. Add a Mach 1000 to the mix!
Prince-Extender-Mach-1000-LONGBODY-Tennis-Racket-STRUNG.jpg
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
What percentage of club level players do you think play around with lead tape, maybe silicone or blue tack in the handle, pojies, add a leather grip, etc.?

Someone at the club was asking me about lead tape this morning and I noticed a doubles group looking at us like aliens. I think it is pretty rare to see anything but stock racquets in the wild.
probably not a significant %
However, I custom setup, string, do pallets (head) my and everyone around me rackets...
 

TennisHound

Legend
I use a 10.4oz 100” racquet with 2x1/4”x7” strips along the top. Thus equals out to around 11.7oz and 2-3pts HL. This setup allows an amazing punch through the court on everything. The racquet is still pretty light and swings fast. For me, lead at 3&9 seemed to make the racquet swing a slower and I was late.
 

tennisbike

Professional
Few mod rackets indeed.

People remember me, not how I play or what I look like, but they remember my racket with funny looking grip, coins under the overgrip.
 

HitMoreBHs

Professional
This is my handle though now I add another wrap of tournagrip so its even bigger...the florida heat needs the extra absorption
Mind taking a shot like this one (credit to Tennisnerd) so we can see how the 5.75” fits in your hand? How many fingers can you get in the gap? I’m guessing your local barman gets you to open all his jammed pickle jars!

IMG_3896-e1555782094974-768x1024.jpg
 

StringGuruMRT

Semi-Pro
I have worked at several clubs, and very very few players modify their frames at all, unless they are advised by an equipment savvy pro to. My estimate would be < 5%.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I have worked at several clubs, and very very few players modify their frames at all, unless they are advised by an equipment savvy pro to. My estimate would be < 5%.
Most don't replace their strings before breakage. Buy extra grommets? Hello Babolat
 
I think less than 1%. It has to be a tiny tiny bell curve with the curve only rising a tiny amount in the 4.0 rating range I think. We've had racket stringers chime in here that they didn't see any mods on rackets at a UTR10-12 tourney for college prospects. I know from acquaintances and coaches many many more college players do not mod than do. It think it's the same with the Wilson RF prostaff autograph, most people who use that heavy stick are 3.5-4.0 and it's basically a pre-packaged leaded up stick in a way.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I think less than 1%. It has to be a tiny tiny bell curve with the curve only rising a tiny amount in the 4.0 rating range I think. We've had racket stringers chime in here that they didn't see any mods on rackets at a UTR10-12 tourney for college prospects. I know from acquaintances and coaches many many more college players do not mod than do. It think it's the same with the Wilson RF prostaff autograph, most people who use that heavy stick are 3.5-4.0 and it's basically a pre-packaged leaded up stick in a way.
Somewhere John Cauthen is smiling
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
 

taylor15

Hall of Fame
probably not a significant %
However, I custom setup, string, do pallets (head) my and everyone around me rackets...
I have found that those who customize tend to play with others who customize. Not all in the group customize, but at least some do.

@David Le?

Could just be more like a biker gang - they find each other or overly influence each other :-D. I will say that learning to swap out head pallets has really bumped up the possibility for used racquet purchases, especially since classic sticks seem to be a lot higher percentage of L4/L5 handles.
 

Kozzy

Hall of Fame
I'm a tinkerer at heart with almost everything I own, so I definitely customize. I love the lead tape! Most people I know and play with do not customize their sticks or even think about it.
 

mtommer

Hall of Fame
Mod? No way. If a frame isnt perfect stock, what is the point?? :)
To make my "stock" preference and buy twenty frames on clearance and match them. Then buy 100 grommets sets and be set for life, never having to buy another tennis racquet. (You did ask. :-D )
 

Classic-TXP-IG MID

Hall of Fame
What percentage of club level players do you think play around with lead tape, maybe silicone or blue tack in the handle, pojies, add a leather grip, etc.?

Someone at the club was asking me about lead tape this morning and I noticed a doubles group looking at us like aliens. I think it is pretty rare to see anything but stock racquets in the wild.

I do... one of my hitting partners does... but it's not common. I think it's something lots of people don't really know about, but once they do and try it, it becomes a rabbit hole that they can get sucked into. When they realise that even small amounts in the right place can make a very big difference, they get into it.

But then again... that could just be me.
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Mind taking a shot like this one (credit to Tennisnerd) so we can see how the 5.75” fits in your hand? How many fingers can you get in the gap? I’m guessing your local barman gets you to open all his jammed pickle jars!

IMG_3896-e1555782094974-768x1024.jpg

Hopefully this works. Racquet in the vid is 386.8 g

 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
lol you do use a hyper hammer. I should have known. I'm going to try to find one so I can make a Shroud special pro stock. Lux 4G at 86 lbs, too.
TW sells them! Don't for get the kevlar mains. FWIW the one in the vid is special in that it has reused kevlar mains with knots for the outer mains where the reused strings were too short (because they were cut out) same with the poly crosses. bottom 4 are Ashway monofire...

Frankenstein...
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
lol you do use a hyper hammer. I should have known. I'm going to try to find one so I can make a Shroud special pro stock. Lux 4G at 86 lbs, too.
I am insulted. Sure most posters here are full of it, but man the stuff I say is true except for the racquet in the sig at the moment. I have 2 that I made longer and am playing with the one in the vid because the string bed is stiffer...
 

WYK

Hall of Fame
Thunder-Thickerer Sticks. Add a Mach 1000 to the mix!
Prince-Extender-Mach-1000-LONGBODY-Tennis-Racket-STRUNG.jpg

The original Thunder and Ripstick were lovely.
As for weights - I am noticing a lot of the newer, lighter, tweener frames weighted more in the throat play much bigger than you would think.
So the throat weighting does seem to make a big difference.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I do... one of my hitting partners does... but it's not common. I think it's something lots of people don't really know about, but once they do and try it, it becomes a rabbit hole that they can get sucked into. When they realise that even small amounts in the right place can make a very big difference, they get into it.

But then again... that could just be me.
Adding weight to the pommel, eh? Anyone remember tailweighting?

 
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Shroud

G.O.A.T.
The original Thunder and Ripstick were lovely.
As for weights - I am noticing a lot of the newer, lighter, tweener frames weighted more in the throat play much bigger than you would think.
So the throat weighting does seem to make a big difference.
Weird. I did a depolarized frame based on one of @travlerajm s posts and man that was the worst racquet. I played so bad with that. Serve sucked and no power at all. Played two sets losing 0-0 and just went back to the heavily polarized frames. Depolarized wasnt for me and I didn't take the time to adjust.

I had like 40g added to the throat on the sides of the v by wrapping lead tape and topping off with electrical tape:



Trav had a formula and the weight ended up there.
 

JRW911

New User
I usually have to modify all but one of my racquets. For my current frames I've had to add lead tape both under the grip and at 3 & 9 o'clock to get them to be the same weight and balance as the heaviest one of the bunch. The heaviest one does not have any modifications.
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Doesn't that increased grip size have an impact your serve?
Havent noticed it. The weight, the kev/4g at 86 lbs probably has a bigger impact. And my oldness.
Old vid with a handle missing the last wrap of tournagrip. Roughly 5 1/2”. Doubtful anyone watching would say the grip is a limiter with so many other things. Also it might help because its easier to hold loosely

 

xlv

New User
I think a decent amount of people have tried but they give up, stock racquets are much better than random modifications.
However, most of gear people in real life have 6 different racquets in bag, they don't know their specs but they know every single TW review scores for those racquets. They don't need any modifications.
 

SteveI

Legend
Yes... I mod my two main frames. Lead and Blue Tac... overgrips.. etc. I guess if you call a hybrid string bed a mod over a full bed.. that also.

I try to get softer frames on the lighter side and bring them up to my specs. I love to fool around with frames to get them to work for me. Most of the guys I know and string for do nothing much to their frames.
 

Strayfire

Rookie
Seem most like stock granny sticks till they get TE

Not sure about your club, but the myth here is that lighter sticks prevent tennis elbow, so a lot of people switch to something ~265g and get worse TE.

I used to string for a few low level players and I refused to give them anything thicker than 1.25mm. At least that will break maybe 1x/year.

I wish you strung at my club. Our club's VP recommends RPM Blast 1.35mm to everyone. Even beginners. They listen to him because he teaches the beginners and gives gear advice.

Everyone seems to love those strings because they never seem to break.

Remember, people often combine that with their TE inducing ~265g frames...

Recently there's been a massive uptick in Vcore Pro players because they try my setup with multis. They love it because it's not RPM Blast from a decade ago and they buy a VCP and string it with... RPM Blast 1.35mm... (the string I apparently use, according to our club's VP).

This forum is where I encounter the most people that alter theis frames.

I play mine stock.

I think this is a bannable offense. :p
 

guanzishou

G.O.A.T.
I knew one recreational player who was a fanatic about balancing his racquets. One day he told me he had changed the brand of his overgrips and they were either heavier or lighter, I don't recall, but as a result he had to re-balance his racquets. I sort of sarcastically asked how much the finishing tape weighed and his face turned white...he had not accounted for that and ran home to do everything all over again. Crazy.
Lol that's too funny.:-D
 

guanzishou

G.O.A.T.
I only replaced the original grip with Fairway leather grip. No other modification, because my racquets are perfect powerful heavy racquets for me. It has built in extra weight at 3 and 9 o'clock. Both racquets have the exact same weight and balance. I'm impressed with its quality control. Toalson Power Swing 400.
 
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Booger

Hall of Fame
I wish you strung at my club. Our club's VP recommends RPM Blast 1.35mm to everyone. Even beginners. They listen to him because he teaches the beginners and gives gear advice.

Everyone seems to love those strings because they never seem to break.

Remember, people often combine that with their TE inducing ~265g frames...

Recently there's been a massive uptick in Vcore Pro players because they try my setup with multis. They love it because it's not RPM Blast from a decade ago and they buy a VCP and string it with... RPM Blast 1.35mm... (the string I apparently use, according to our club's VP).

lol that's hilarious. He must be getting a juicy kickback from the local physical therapy practice. I have no other explanation.
 

Strayfire

Rookie
lol that's hilarious. He must be getting a juicy kickback from the local physical therapy practice. I have no other explanation.

He's a health consultant for COVID afaik but your theory makes enough sense :p

"You want spin and control right? This is Nadal's string so you'll get both" is what he says.

That usually sells them on it. It's a common club myth that only polys can hit spin. Multis are seen as bad because they fray and I've had people call me a "hobo" before.

IMG_20210416_181704.jpg
 

slipgrip93

Professional
TW sells them! Don't for get the kevlar mains. ..
Frankenstein...

omgosh, I can't believe Wilson is still making and issuing that hyper hammer 5.3 stretch, since .. 1999? If they can do that, why couldn't they keep singularly issuing some of the other popular legacy models such as the ktour 90, or the steam 100 blx proper, I'm wondering..
 

Booger

Hall of Fame
"You want spin and control right? This is Nadal's string so you'll get both" is what he says.

That usually sells them on it. It's a common club myth that only polys can hit spin. Multis are seen as bad because they fray and I've had people call me a "hobo" before.

I liked to say "oh you play a lot like Federer! You definitely want strings for power and touch like him."
 

tomkowy

Rookie
Our club's VP recommends RPM Blast 1.35mm to everyone. Even beginners. They listen to him because he teaches the beginners and gives gear advice.

Everyone seems to love those strings because they never seem to break.

Remember, people often combine that with their TE inducing ~265g frames...
He's a health consultant for COVID afaik

"You want spin and control right? This is Nadal's string so you'll get both" is what he says.
This is gold :D

My friend is a tennis coach and he had a student that was a gym maniac. He treated tennis as a "cardio training". Guy was a mountain of muscles, yet he got tennis elbow at some point. He couldn't understand how somebody so fit and strong developed a tennis elbow, it somehow broke his ego. At first he didn't say about the pain, yet it was clear to see it just by watching him playing. My friend was constantly giving him technical tips, so he would play without burdening the arm and using muscles so much. Mr gym maniac did not listen to that, but bought 5 racquets in 4 months, tried different strings, etc. New setup on every training. Of course nothing helped. When the elbow hurt him so bad that he couldn't go to the gym, guy raved at my friend. My friend told him to shut up, listen to him and stop gripping the racket hard like a dumbbell. The pain was gone in 2 weeks. So was mr gym maniac, as my friend didn't want to coach him anymore.
 

Westerwick

Rookie
Can we take a minute to appreciate the genius mod that my doubles partner does to his frame?

"My strings aren't tight enough unless I do this, Stray".

IMG_20211105_221417.jpg
Am I the only person to note that your doubles partners modification is not legal per the rules? You can have multiple dampeners, but they must all be outside the string pattern.
 
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