Equal swingweights, different balances?

[Thomas Bird-Itch]

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and ask a question that's been asked before I'm sure. I just can't seem to find it.

A player has two racquets with the same swingweight, but one that's lighter and more head heavy. Everything else is equal. What would the advantages and disadvantages of using those racquets be?

I'll post my opinion later, but I want to hear from others first.

 

[fearless1]

If only it was that simple...light/head heavy (L/HH) vs heavier/head light (H/HL)...

At what swingwt? In other words, two diff racquets at 290 sw will play differently than two diff racquets at 350 sw. Also, lighter static wt racquets tend to be stiffer than their heavier static wt counterparts. Then there is the issue of stroke style having an effect on how one interacts with different racquets, etc.

The best generalized answer I can give you is...

The L/HH stick will feel stiffer, offer less feel, have a somewhat more responsive stringbed (more powerful), can suffer maneuverability problems at the higher swingwts, more difficult to use for high precision and/or touch shots, conducive to developing arm problems due to impact shock issues in the long run.

The H/HL stick will feel softer, provide better feel, feel less powerful, easier to hit precision and/or touch shots with, less prone to maneuverability problems at the higher swngwts, less likely to cause arm problems due to impact shock issues.

...I miss any?

Maybe this will help...
http://www.racquetresearch.com/

f1

 

[Thomas Bird-Itch]

Let's say the swingweight is 320, right in the middle. I agree, stiffness usually increases as weight decreases, but let's say they are the same.

In terms of "feel," some people may like a crisp feeling while others may like a dampened feeling, so there are exceptions. Someone could pick a flexible, HH racquet or a stiff, HL racquet. Just adding to the drama.

 

[louis netman]

your poll needs to address the balance issue...

 

[Thomas Bird-Itch]

louis, that was the premise, that the lighter one is HH, heavier is HL. I probably didn't explain that well enough though as usual...

 

[Thomas Bird-Itch]

The poll shows about what I was expecting. Heavier is better in most areas of playability. The lighter racquet was voted better at net a few times, but as louis mentioned, they may not have noticed it would be head heavy.

It puzzles me why racquets are so light these days if so many people believe heavier racquets are better. I think many people like to believe they can get something for nothing and racquet manufacturers market them that way (I have never seen a tennis elbow warning or "stabiliy issues may become present" label).

I believe a certain weight is required at certain levels of play, mostly due to ball speed, and my guess is most people on this board play toward the heavier, arm friendly side. That's a good thing more often than a bad thing.

I'm just now discovering the benefits of weight - stability, power, control. There is a lot of control with a light racquet, especially those closer to the HL or balanced side, not head heavy. But as ball speeds increase, swings become more refined, and greater depth is required there is no replacement for mass.

 

[fearless1]

Let's say the swingweight is 320, right in the middle. I agree, stiffness usually increases as weight decreases, but let's say they are the same.

In terms of "feel," some people may like a crisp feeling while others may like a dampened feeling, so there are exceptions. Someone could pick a flexible, HH racquet or a stiff, HL racquet. Just adding to the drama.

Well...it would appear to me that you have just answered your own question. It's not necessarily an issue of adv/disadv or pro/con but simply what the player prefers. I recently completed demoing almost all of the mid to heavy wt K Factor line of racquets, found I play well with all of them, but picking one model to stick with would be based more on the results I produce on the court than how the racquet "feels" when hitting with the ball.

One caveat: the benefits of hitting with H/HL racquets become apparent only after the player has fully adjusted to the racquet over a somewhat lengthy period of time.

BTW, I'm currently using K90.

 

[fearless1]

The poll shows about what I was expecting. Heavier is better in most areas of playability. The lighter racquet was voted better at net a few times, but as louis mentioned, they may not have noticed it would be head heavy.

It puzzles me why racquets are so light these days if so many people believe heavier racquets are better. I think many people like to believe they can get something for nothing and racquet manufacturers market them that way (I have never seen a tennis elbow warning or "stabiliy issues may become present" label).

I believe a certain weight is required at certain levels of play, mostly due to ball speed, and my guess is most people on this board play toward the heavier, arm friendly side. That's a good thing more often than a bad thing.

I'm just now discovering the benefits of weight - stability, power, control. There is a lot of control with a light racquet, especially those closer to the HL or balanced side, not head heavy. But as ball speeds increase, swings become more refined, and greater depth is required there is no replacement for mass.

Lighter racquets generally have greater "mass appeal". Many people aren't "into" racquets and buy what feels good while at the pro shop. I know of quite a few advanced level players who use lighter racquets...teaching pros, older players, and the rest who simply don't know better.