Heavier Racquet?

[matt.jc]

So I play with an o3 red, and I've had lots of lessons and vastly improved over the summer. Before the lessons it was a good racquet but now it seems too powerful. So I want to get a more stable racquet that is heavier and is lower powered. I was thinking about getting either the speedport tour or black. The only problem is I can't demo racquets because 1) I'm in Canada so I can't demo from TW 2) I have no local tennis shops, just a sportchek and all they have are mid plus-oversize flex points. So I'm wondering is that will the tour be a big difference because of the weight that it would affect my game a lot?

 

[RoddickAce]

which part of canada do u live in? Cuz I know in Ontario, there are tons of tennis clubs where u can demo racquets.

 

[matt.jc]

which part of canada do u live in? Cuz I know in Ontario, there are tons of tennis clubs where u can demo racquets.

I live 3 hours from Toronto on Lake Ontario.

 

[RoddickAce]

Would it be too far to go to scarborough? Cuz I go to some place called L'Amoreaux tennis centre and u can demo some racquets there. I don't know which ones they'll let u demo, but they have like a whole list of racquets.

 

[matt.jc]

Would it be too far to go to scarborough? Cuz I go to some place called L'Amoreaux tennis centre and u can demo some racquets there. I don't know which ones they'll let u demo, but they have like a whole list of racquets.

Yeah I don't travel that much near the Toronto area. I was hopping I'd find tennis stores that demo through the mail like TW in Canada but i havent found any.

 

[RoddickAce]

Well in that case, I think the tour is a very stable racquet which offers a considerable amount of control, but still has power when u need it(I tried it a few times only though). But it all depends on ur own feel...so...u know...

BTW I think u should try the PDR, despite it's rep, it's not a power crazy racquet, it actually has a lot of control as well. But if u want a ton of control, go for the 12.0+Oz K-factor racquets, like the K90 or 95...

 

[J011yroger]

Before you choose a frame I highly reccomend you read my guide to racquet selection located here.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=160692

I put a good amount of effort into typing it up, and there is some good info in there. If it takes a few mins to read and can save you the price of buying a racquet that doesn't suit you, it is worthwhile no?

J

 

[j30tennis]

A heavier racquets is a must as you play more advanced players who punish the ball. Maybe I mean stiffer.

 

[j30tennis]

Oh Ya good read J011, whats up man

 

[J011yroger]

Nuttin much. Took a week off from tennis to see if my back would get better so I could serve again. Jury is still out on that one. Glad you liked the handy guide.

J

 

[j30tennis]

As always you are the tennis voice I trust, check out new post about nxt strings 16 gauge

 

[bluegrasser]

So I play with an o3 red, and I've had lots of lessons and vastly improved over the summer. Before the lessons it was a good racquet but now it seems too powerful. So I want to get a more stable racquet that is heavier and is lower powered. I was thinking about getting either the speedport tour or black. The only problem is I can't demo racquets because 1) I'm in Canada so I can't demo from TW 2) I have no local tennis shops, just a sportchek and all they have are mid plus-oversize flex points. So I'm wondering is that will the tour be a big difference because of the weight that it would affect my game a lot?

The tour will be a major drop in power, the black will have more weight and an increase in stiffness with a little less power. The PD or the Nadal might be a good choice.

 

[jimmycoop]

J011yroger,

Missed the guide when posted originally. Great stuff; appreciate your time and effort in helping/hoping to educate us hackers.

 

[fuzz nation]

One of my buds is switching away from the O3 Red and is really liking the O3 Hybrid Tour. It's heavier, yet headlight and he prefers how it handles and hits the ball in comparison to a 2nd hand nBlade he recently picked up. You may want to do more homework on that one and see what you think - the listed swingweight on the Hybrid Tour is way too high, imo. I'd put it somewhere around 328-330.

 

[Oleg]

Within Prince brand, better choices are:

03 Tour
Tour Diablo
Original Graphite

Before trying other frames try incrising control on you frame as follows:

1. Higher String Tension (if possible)
2. Installing Leather Grip
3. Try stiffer string (such as Kirschbaum Competition)
4. Try playing without vibration dampener.

 

[matt.jc]

Within Prince brand, better choices are:

03 Tour
Tour Diablo
Original Graphite

Before trying other frames try incrising control on you frame as follows:

1. Higher String Tension (if possible)
2. Installing Leather Grip
3. Try stiffer string (such as Kirschbaum Competition)
4. Try playing without vibration dampener.

I play with luxilon alu rough so my strings are fairly stiff and strung at 54 lbs. I also don't play with a vibration dampener either.

 

[matt.jc]

Before you choose a frame I highly reccomend you read my guide to racquet selection located here.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=160692

I put a good amount of effort into typing it up, and there is some good info in there. If it takes a few mins to read and can save you the price of buying a racquet that doesn't suit you, it is worthwhile no?

J

Thanks for the guide, made me think about my selection more. I find I have too much time when the ball is in the court but I have enough time when it's angled off the court.

 

[Oleg]

I play with luxilon alu rough so my strings are fairly stiff and strung at 54 lbs. I also don't play with a vibration dampener either.

I playtested many polyester based strings. Most of them loose tension very quickly. From the ones I found only few that held tension overtime and did not feel like a cement block. I did not realize that you played with such stiff strings already, so I would not recommend to increase tension too much with these strings, they will hurt you if you do not cut them out within a few days. Pro players use these strings just for a few hours...

It would be worthwhile for you to experiment with a soft string at a high tension. My favorite is Babolat Tonic + 16 natural gut. It seems to be expensive but the truth is it will be playable far longer than ALU Power, basically until it breaks. Use it with Babolat string savers and you will get even more life out of them. Natural gut string has the best feel and control at high tensions. Giive it a try, it will be hard to play with anything else after that.

 

[matt.jc]

My main question is that will it be too heavy and low powered for me? I'm kind of thinking it won't considering it's not the really heavy racquet and it would take time to get used to, but I think I'd manage. So is it smart to go with the tour or will the black be a better, safer choice?

 

[J011yroger]

My main question is that will it be too heavy and low powered for me? I'm kind of thinking it won't considering it's not the really heavy racquet and it would take time to get used to, but I think I'd manage. So is it smart to go with the tour or will the black be a better, safer choice?

I say bring your string tension up a bit, and put a bit of lead on the red, and play on. That will take some power away, and add some more weight. Do that, and see what you think.

J