How much does racquets do for you?

[donnyz89]

I've seen so many thread on this board asking things like "im a power hitter, what racuqet should I get?" "im a counter puncher. what racquet should I get?", "my shots are sailing long, should I get a dif racquet?" etc, etc...

hardly do I hear people asking tennis related questions regard to their game or lack of one part of their game, whenever something is wrong, they turn to racquets.

so my question is do you think you can just get a racquet and become a better s&v or get better shots? people see racquets as like little "upgrades" in a videogame, where N95 is control+5 or N1 is power+10 or something...

 

[SageOfDeath]

Racquets can make a difference but I don't think that it makes a huge difference. I mean obviously if I were playing with an ncode force 1 my balls would go long unless I put more topspin but I think its just what racquet is best for you.

Some people seem to get an edge with certain racquets and great for them but overall I wouldn't buy a racquet I'm not used to, just to gain an edge on a certain playing style.

 

[Kelly]

Well, it's a huge difference in what's comfortable for you, or maybe the power level.

I can say that after I got my new racquet. You can't play your best if you aren't comfortable with what you're using, right? Or if the racquet has too much natural power and just isn't right for your long strokes.

But it's safe to say that...well, the majority of my problems are in everyone's game, not their racquet. I got a Liquidmetal Prestige MP, I don't have any excuses anymore.

 

[donnyz89]

i realize racquets DO create more power or control or what not, but if you cant control a ball with one type of racquet, does switching really make that much of a difference. of course if u are a 5.0 all court player, n1 wont be suitable for you.

 

[SageOfDeath]

If you can't control the power of the ball it could possibly be the racquet, but if you can't control the directional control, I wouldn't blame it on the racquet. What does being a 5.0 all court player have to do with the n1 being unsuitable? An n1 is probably unsuitable for any 5.0.

 

[papa]

Yeah, I'm with SageOfDeath on this one - sure the racquet makes a difference but not as much as most think. Give a good player any racquet and let them practice with it for five or ten minutes and they will give you good run for your money.

 

[kenshireen]

For over 15 years I have used a prostaff 7.0 lite OS. Prior to that I used a Prince OS for 15 years. I cannot adjust to a smaller head.. I have demoed over 100 rackets-even though midsize that play like they are OS (like the Yonex rdx 500). I have used a leather grip for 30 years. (fairway).
I cannot use any other kind of grip or overwrap. I need to feel the bevel and the hardness of the leather.

I have tried every OS out there..some were far more powerful than my 7.0 lite and others lighter and easier to maneuver... others were thinner and easier to slice etc.

The bottom line for me is that I am so comfortable with this racket in my hand that nothing feels as good when I make contact. It's a confidence factor.
My BH has always been weak and no reacket in the worl is going to make up for what I lack in mechanics.. No racket will "give" you a FH BH etc.
Maybe more power or control but usually these two characterists are mutually exclusive.

My advice... find a racket that you are comfortable with and stick with it..don't blame the equipment for your shortcomcings

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I've seen so many thread on this board asking things like "im a power hitter, what racuqet should I get?" "im a counter puncher. what racquet should I get?", "my shots are sailing long, should I get a dif racquet?" etc, etc...

hardly do I hear people asking tennis related questions regard to their game or lack of one part of their game, whenever something is wrong, they turn to racquets.

so my question is do you think you can just get a racquet and become a better s&v or get better shots? people see racquets as like little "upgrades" in a videogame, where N95 is control+5 or N1 is power+10 or something...

Well the truth is rackets do make a difference in a players ability to perform better or worse. Rackets do not fix poor technique or will help a player if they do not practice and spend time working on timing and fitness. However, the racket will help a player reach a higher level within their limitations.

For instance, I can not play with the large (100 +) head sizes and in general frame stiffness over 65. I will demo rackets a little higher only if I know the racket plays somewhat dead. But that is because I provide my own power and I do not want the racket to add anything.

The Volkl Tour 10 is a very flexible racket and that is how I like it. On the other hand, I have recently demoed the Babollot Pure Control and had a tough time adjusting my swing to keep balls in play. Using the same swing for the Volkl, I would hit long or wide, I simply either had to adjust my swing and keep the racket or stay with my Volkl and what I was used to.

So, absolutely, just like in any other sport, good equipment can enhance a players ability to perform. Skiers want good ski's, ice skater's want good skate's. But good equipment or the right equipment can not replace technical and physical training. It will not cure a hitch in the swing. It will not cause a player to hit through the ball.

It may hide or mask bad technique but it will not cure it or correct it. Anything that moves on you (body, arms, legs, head, shoulders) involves the conditioning of the brain not racket technology.

 

[joe sch]

The racket makes a big difference !
This is why most players that learned with heavy old graphite or wood rackets generally have much better full strokes. This is also why Pete Sampras said he would start his kid off with a wood racket. A player that can play a heavy flexible rackets would be much better able to play a new light stiff air shell racket but the new technology racket player would have much more trouble playing an old school racket. The player and his/her ability and hitting skills are the most important factor in the playing level and this is why a very talented champion like Bobby Riggs was able to beat lesser players with cheapo rackets or shovels

 

[donnyz89]

Well the truth is rackets do make a difference in a players ability to perform better or worse. Rackets do not fix poor technique or will help a player if they do not practice and spend time working on timing and fitness. However, the racket will help a player reach a higher level within their limitations.

For instance, I can not play with the large (100 +) head sizes and in general frame stiffness over 65. I will demo rackets a little higher only if I know the racket plays somewhat dead. But that is because I provide my own power and I do not want the racket to add anything.

The Volkl Tour 10 is a very flexible racket and that is how I like it. On the other hand, I have recently demoed the Babollot Pure Control and had a tough time adjusting my swing to keep balls in play. Using the same swing for the Volkl, I would hit long or wide, I simply either had to adjust my swing and keep the racket or stay with my Volkl and what I was used to.

So, absolutely, just like in any other sport, good equipment can enhance a players ability to perform. Skiers want good ski's, ice skater's want good skate's. But good equipment or the right equipment can not replace technical and physical training. It will not cure a hitch in the swing. It will not cause a player to hit through the ball.

It may hide or mask bad technique but it will not cure it or correct it. Anything that moves on you (body, arms, legs, head, shoulders) involves the conditioning of the brain not racket technology.

i realize racquets do make a diffenece, but sometimes i hear these 2.5 players that have no proper stroke, and they are saying "o, im like the aero pro better than the pure storm, cs its got more control"... thats when it gets me kinda of wondering...

for me, i use the pure storm because thats the specs i was looking for when i looked for my racquet. and after playing it for a long time, nothing will feel the same. Even racquets that suppose to have more "control" doesnt feel good in my hands either, when i hit the the O3 Tour, shots were sailing long a lot even though its a 12 oz, players stick.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

i realize racquets do make a diffenece, but sometimes i hear these 2.5 players that have no proper stroke, and they are saying "o, im like the aero pro better than the pure storm, cs its got more control"... thats when it gets me kinda of wondering...

for me, i use the pure storm because thats the specs i was looking for when i looked for my racquet. and after playing it for a long time, nothing will feel the same. Even racquets that suppose to have more "control" doesnt feel good in my hands either, when i hit the the O3 Tour, shots were sailing long a lot even though its a 12 oz, players stick.

I see what you're saying.

 

[lendl lives]

raquets

sticks and strings can mean the difference between wining and losing.

 

[Jon Hampton]

Oiy, I know exactly how you feel. I think rackets are more like a placebo than an actual cure for people's defects in their games. If you're balls are constantly going long/going into the net, it's not the racket; it's your funky technique! But, like a placebo, if you tell people that a certain racket will cure them of a problem, they become more aware of their strokes and begin to correct them, without the aid of the racket at all.

On a side note, I think string changes do more for a player than the racket does. Although the majority of the stroke is produced by the racket (weight, balance, materials, etc.), if the strings don't match the playing style--particularily tension--then the game suffers.

 

[sandro]

As mostly of us are writing, it makes a difference; at least, in the way one feels his/her game.

 

[need2play]

i think power is a big difference. i find i really have to adjust my strokes for dfferent racquets

 

[thejackal]

Sometimes a fraction of an inch is enough to change everything. A shot that lands right on the baseline with a 12oz midplus racket might be way out when you use a granny stick. This times 20 and your match could be over in a hurry.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

everything counts, and rackets of course.
you must adjust even for 10g weight differences.