Federer needs to switch to a bigger racquet

[JediMindTrick]

What was that ridiculous shank-fest? Oh, it was windy! And if it's not windy then it's too dark! Or to bright! Come on man, enough with the excuses, Federer has to accept the fact that he needs a bigger racquet. Sampras also clinged to his minuscule racquet until retirement and then he admited that he should have changed to a bigger one, but was afraid to do so.

 

[vapor guy]

What was this ridiculous shank fest? Oh, it was windy! And if it's not windy then it's too dark! Or to bright! Come on man, enough with the excuses, Federer has to accept the fact that he needs a bigger racquet. Sampras also clinged to his minuscule racquet until retirement and then he admited that he should have changed to a bigger one, but was afraid to do so.

True, I just read Sampras' book and he said exactly that about the racquet.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

I vote POG 108.

 

[HeadPrestige]

What was this ridiculous shank fest? Oh, it was windy! And if it's not windy then it's too dark! Or to bright! Come on man, enough with the excuses, Federer has to accept the fact that he needs a bigger racquet. Sampras also clinged to his minuscule racquet until retirement and then he admited that he should have changed to a bigger one, but was afraid to do so.

I normally try to keep it civil on these forums, but you and all the people who think you know better than federer about racket choice are simply ********

 

[oscar_2424]

babolat pure drive

 

[JediMindTrick]

I normally try to keep it civil on these forums, but you and all the people who think you know better than federer about racket choice are simply ********

No need for high school level name calling, and Federer knows he needs a different racquet, that's why he smashed it. It was a cry for help!

 

[canuckfan]

I normally try to keep it civil on these forums, but you and all the people who think you know better than federer about racket choice are simply ********

Yes, changing rackets will significantly change the feel on every shot and might easily screw him over (exhibit a, djokovic who is nowhere near his level from last year since his racket change). However, i think there is a non-zero chance it might help him. Sampras's parallel case cannot be totally dismissed.

 

[JediMindTrick]

I think he would play well with Djoko's racquet. Or even Murray's racquet would suit him nicely.

 

[clayrules]

He crearly needs to switch to a larger frame.

 

[theduh]

And I thought the racquet change episode was over. He needs to make adjustments on both his forehand and backhand, clearly it's not the same as before.

 

[canuckfan]

Fed's most important problem, however, is lodged squarely between his ears.

 

[vndesu]

this is like saying we should give nadal or roddick bigger frames too?
this hate gotta stop haha
if they feel like they can play good with that racquet thn fine but always bringing stuff like this back its like eh

 

[clayrules]

Fed's most important problem, however, is lodged squarely between his ears.

I disagree, his nose has always been like this.

 

[oneguy21]

For all you ," not another Fed needs to change a racquet " haters.

Listen, it's a legit argument. He shanks way too much. He definitely needs a bigger head.

 

[vapor guy]

Fed's most important problem, however, is lodged squarely between his ears.

I agree... a case of paralysis by analysis.

 

[theduh]

I disagree, his nose has always been like this.

I don't think he/she was pointing to his nose, more of a brain I think.

 

[Serpententacle]

My vote is for this:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-Y118SG.html

 

[canuckfan]

I disagree, his nose has always been like this.

Pretty funny, I admit. But really the magnitude and frequency of fed's mental breakdowns is shocking since the masters cup 2007. Noone thought he'd fall away this quickly.

 

[JediMindTrick]

Nadal, Roddick, Djokovic, Murray are not shanking as much as Federer, not even close. Nadal-Murray match was a lot more windy and while they had some mishits it wasn't nearly as bad.

 

[saram]

I hope he does switch so that all of these stupid threads expire....

 

[federerdomination]

 

[tahiti]

switching racquets damaged Djoko's game........a bad workman blames his tools anyway....Fed has still done pretty well with his racquet.

 

[theduh]

For sure! and I think Fed needs to change sports as well from tennis to squash, at least he doesn't need to put the ball on court always since the squash courts are boxed!

 

[CyBorg]

I thought maybe Mirka's pregnancy would fuel Roger.

It didn't.

 

[HeadPrestige]

The Sampras parallel does not apply AT ALL. Think before you post nonsense.

Sampras switched from the PS 85 to his current 90 inch frame, and says he regrets not switching to a 90 earlier. If you want to go by the follow Sampras logic, Federer is ahead of the game because he already switched from a 85 to a 90. Jesus.

 

[tahiti]

For sure! and I think Fed needs to change sports as well from tennis to squash, at least he doesn't need to put the ball on court always since the squash courts are boxed!

ROFL.... Poor Fed, he's never gonna live this down. I'm angry because he just won the sportsmanship award and he is not LIVING UP TO IT:evil:

 

[tudwell]

Bigger racquet? It's genius! How come no one's thought of this before???

 

[sureshs]

Fed needs to switch to the K88. Much more difficult to smash that one.

 

[drake]

Small Headed Racquet+Eastern Grip+Wind=Disaster

moved........................

 

[dextor]

He went from an 85 to a 90 didn't he?
Maybe Wilson should make it 95?

I actually think it has more to do with his mentality. He didn't shank that much before, you don't just switch equipment once you start sucking, that's obviously not the problem because equipment didn't change when you started sucking.

 

[HeadPrestige]

He went from an 85 to a 90 didn't he?
Maybe Wilson should make it 95?

I actually think it has more to do with his mentality. He didn't shank that much before, you don't just switch equipment once you start sucking, that's obviously not the problem because equipment didn't change when you started sucking.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

 

[JediMindTrick]

The Sampras parallel does not apply AT ALL. Think before you post nonsense.

Sampras switched from the PS 85 to his current 90 inch frame, and says he regrets not switching to a 90 earlier. If you want to go by the follow Sampras logic, Federer is ahead of the game because he already switched from a 85 to a 90. Jesus.

Sampras was hitting flat so 90 sq in may have been enough for him, Roger brushes up a lot more, he needs more than 90 sq in.

Let's try to design his racquet. I say he needs something that's not totally different, I'm thinking 95 sq, box beam, 18-19 mm cross section, 16x19, leather grip. Now the trick is that the bigger head size will give him more power and mess up his game so I think Wilson should make it softer like RA 60 to tone down the power. Damn, if Wilson would come up with something like this I would totally switch to it, especialy if Federer would use it.

 

[HeadPrestige]

Sampras was hitting flat so 90 sq in may have been enough for him, Roger brushes up a lot more, he needs more than 90 sq in.

Let's try to design his racquet. I say he needs something that's not totally different, I'm thinking 95 sq, box beam, 18-19 mm cross section, 16x19, leather grip. Now the trick is that the bigger head size will give him more power and mess up his game so I think Wilson should make it softer like RA 60 to tone down the power. Damn, if Wilson would come up with something like this I would totally switch to it, especialy if Federer would use it.

The ego's of posters on this board is absolutely incredible. You really think you know what is better for Federer than he does? Many great players, Sampras included went through mental slumps, which is exactly what this is.

 

[predrag]

What was this ridiculous shank fest? Oh, it was windy! And if it's not windy then it's too dark! Or to bright! Come on man, enough with the excuses, Federer has to accept the fact that he needs a bigger racquet. Sampras also clinged to his minuscule racquet until retirement and then he admited that he should have changed to a bigger one, but was afraid to do so.

Nonsense
My 12 y.o. kid plays with 93sq.in. and plays well with it.
and differnce is not that much

Regards, Predrag

 

[federerdomination]

Nonsense
My 12 y.o. kid plays with 93sq.in. and plays well with it.
and differnce is not that much

Regards, Predrag

But when ur playing on a windy day and against all that pace/spin, it's much more difficult.

12 yo tennis can't compare to professional

 

[predrag]

No need for high school level name calling, and Federer knows he needs a different racquet, that's why he smashed it. It was a cry for help!

No need for high school level name calling but HeadPrestige is right.

Regards, Predrag

 

[vbranis]

This is a legit argument and I fully agree with the OP.

Tennis players ARE stubborn, especially those who have achieved much success. Fed knows he needs to switch, but he's simply afraid to change something when he is still as successful as he is (#2 in the world, etc.). A bigger racquet wouldn't make a big difference, maybe 5-10% fewer unforced errors/shanks, but that might be all it takes to win a close match.

Yes, I know that this has been discussed to death, but I couldn't resist.

 

[RoddickAce]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnUJRQuIAdI

yeah, so he could play like these guys

 

[predrag]

But when ur playing on a windy day and against all that pace/spin, it's much more difficult.

12 yo tennis can't compare to professional

Federer beat the master of the playing in the wind back in 2005 (I think) at the USOpen
And the wind was beyond incredible. And he was using 85sq.in I believe
Ergo, the problem is not the racquet, but Federer who lost confidence

Regards, Predrag

 

[canuckfan]

The Sampras parallel does not apply AT ALL. Think before you post nonsense.

Sampras switched from the PS 85 to his current 90 inch frame, and says he regrets not switching to a 90 earlier. If you want to go by the follow Sampras logic, Federer is ahead of the game because he already switched from a 85 to a 90. Jesus.

Easy big fella. There is some small relevance when a former great admits he should have switched late in his career. Decade by decade head sizes have increased. 90 is not necessarily the final frontier just as 85, 75, and 65 sq in have all been progressively passed by as the game evolves. There IS a non-zero chance it could help him. But, as I agreed earlier in this thread, fed's biggest problem is in his mind and the racquet is secondary.

 

[theduh]

ROFL.... Poor Fed, he's never gonna live this down. I'm angry because he just won the sportsmanship award and he is not LIVING UP TO IT:evil:

I'm trying to be funny. I'm a FED fan.

 

[canuckfan]

We can't be certain fed is 'ahead of the game' at 90in since the game now is different than it was when pete played. Things inexorably change over time. Tennis is not immune to evolution. The racquet is not the main issue, but by totally dismissing it you're doing the same thing classic pros did when 65-85in were the standard. They turned out to be wrong. In a decade or two 100 could be the norm. It is entirely possible. Will it necessarily help fed at all? No. But drawing a line in the sand at 90 is nothing more than a line in the sand.

 

[federerdomination]

He'll never shank again!

 

[Fliparoni]

Federer beat the master of the playing in the wind back in 2005 (I think) at the USOpen
And the wind was beyond incredible. And he was using 85sq.in I believe
Ergo, the problem is not the racquet, but Federer who lost confidence

Regards, Predrag

Yeah, that quarterfinal (or was it semifinal) match between Agassi at the US Open in near hurricane force winds was definitely a classic. If it was the old fed playing today, those winds would have been nothing.

 

[theduh]

He'll never shank again!

For sure! If he can just get that racquet inside the stadium.

 

[GPB]

To everybody saying he should change frame sizes... have you ever held a K90 next to a 95 or 98 inch frame? The width (the only dimension that matters when you "brush up") is almost exactly the same! The biggest difference in stringbed dimensions of the K90 to almost any other midplus frame is the 6:00 position.

So saying Fed brushes up more than Sampras and therefore needs a bigger frame is BS.

I just had to get that out there. I used to think he needed a larger frame, too, until I demoed a K90 just to see what it was like.

Unless Fed is shanking in the throat area, his frame is not the problem right now...

 

[ZPTennis]

I think he would really benefit if he hit the weights more. In the past
he could get away with it b/c you are naturally stronger through
being younger.

Agassi bulked up later on in his career and it made a huge difference
for him.

 

[sureshs]

I think he would really benefit if he hit the weights more. In the past
he could get away with it b/c you are naturally stronger through
being younger.

Agassi bulked up later on in his career and it made a huge difference
for him.

Because Agassi was a short guy and was trying to keep up with big hitters. I don't think Fed's problem is an ability to hit powerful shots.

 

[ZPTennis]

Because Agassi was a short guy and was trying to keep up with big hitters. I don't think Fed's problem is an ability to hit powerful shots.

I know he hits powerful. It requires a lot of strength to hit really high one handed backhands though. Nadal wears him down doing this all the time.

 

[gsquicksilver]

so how long have you been playing tennis Jedi? let's see some vids of you hitting some balls