How to make a stiff frame more flexible/comfortable and live to tell about it?

[OrangeOne]

I think you can easily flex out your frame by having it strung more than 30+ times. Of course you'd have to hit with your racket during those 30+ times, but that's obviously the safest way to do it.

Oooohhh - what about having that string job done at 'high' tension only in the crosses, so that the racquet elongates gently? Theoretically something that is longer should be more flexible?

(I hope this doesn't earn a rude smack-on-the-hand!)

 

[AlpineCadet]

Oooohhh - what about having that string job done at 'high' tension only in the crosses, so that the racquet elongates gently? Theoretically something that is longer should be more flexible?

(I hope this doesn't earn a rude smack-on-the-hand!)

That's still in theory of course, but it might work. Not sure about that though, because you'll be stressing your frame even more with the differences in lbs between the mains and crosses.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Oooohhh - what about having that string job done at 'high' tension only in the crosses, so that the racquet elongates gently? Theoretically something that is longer should be more flexible?

Finally a light at the end of the tunnel, great idea, sort of like #5 on my list. I have done that with John Cauthens stringing method and it makes for a comfortable frame, I have not measured it on an RDC machine. I will though like AlpineCadet suggested.

Alpinecadet questions are valid (we need a method which can easily be done and measured if we need to repeat the exact same on another frame) which brings me to Movdqa post regarding drilling.

Drilling holes in bumper guards makes for a lighter bumper. Prince also has holes in the frame as well. The idea of drilling is not so strange. My idea (which I borrowed from Donnay) involves cutting one inch (maybe two) slits at the bottom of the V throat above the handle.

Will post pictures for what I did with exact measurements on RDC machine and pictures of the Donnay frame which had a flex rating below the stick Bjorn Borg Pro racket played with due to the cut above the handle.

If anyone has a picture of the frame I am talking about please post it. I will try and dig it up.

NEXT ;-)

there are many, I will spoon feed them t y'all

 

[knasty131]

Finally a light at the end of the tunnel, great idea, sort of like #5 on my list. I have done that with John Cauthens stringing method and it makes for a comfortable frame frame, I have not measured it on an RDC machine. I will though like AlpineCadet suggested.

Alpinecadet questions are valid (we need a method which can easily be done and measured if we need to repeat the exact same on another frame) which brings me to Movdqa post regarding drilling.

Drilling holes in bumper guards makes for a lighter bumper. Prince also has holes in the frame as well. The idea of drilling is not so strange. My idea (which I borrowed from Donnay) involves cutting one inch (maybe two) slits at the bottom of the V throat above the handle.

Will post pictures for what I did with exact measurements on RDC machine and pictures of the Donnay frame which had a flex rating below the stick Bjorn Borg Pro racket played with due to the cut above the handle.

If anyone has a picture of the frame I am talking about please post it. I will try and dig it up.

NEXT ;-)

there are many, I will spoon feed them t y'all

there is no way you could prove the cuts made it more flexible unless you had proof that the frame you cut into had a flex higher than the end product. just because i want to totally discredit you...it is a Bjorn Borg racket...wasnt one of your points to "make a racket more flexible" is to let time pass and the fibers or whatever will break down and make the frame flexier??? how can we not attribute the flex change to time and/or use??? Im pretty sure any borg racket has had an ample amount of time to allow nature to take place and start to break down a little...

as far as i know...that racket was more flexible before the cuts were made...

 

[knasty131]

another thought is that wood flexes differently than graphite, so would this "slot" work (supposedly) with graphite??

 

[knasty131]

That's still in theory of course, but it might work. Not sure about that though, because you'll be stressing your frame even more with the differences in lbs between the mains and crosses.

I personally would love to find ways to make frames more flexible...but in reality, this is all a big theory...

all these presumed ways to make a racket more flexible have not been proven...and if anyone here has been to college, they are taught to challenge these theories and either prove them right or prove them wrong...so any assumption made by anyone, which draws a conclusion SHOULD be challenged and should be looked in to...if this method wasnt used at all in life (aside from tennis) then where would we be today???

 

[TourTenor]

Fool Proof Method

Call cousin Leo and find out that he just bought a Dunlop Aerogel 200. He tells you he doesn't like it as he is having trouble generating depth and decent pace. Take your Dunlop Aerogel 500 and wrap in box. Ship box to Leo. Wait for return box. Open return box... and voila .... you have a new flexier racquet. You have successfully reduced flex a full 6 points from 67 to 61, your racquet is intact, has no extra holes or slices, with original paint, bumper, etc.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

First you say impossible

.he gets mad at people when they cant give him an answer to something that is basically impossible....

then you say possible

the sanding idea is possible...that seems the only POSSIBLE way, but very risky

make up your mind

besides that is like my #6 which is removing paint either by sanding or striping ;-) NEXT

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

This is a good thread about the Donnay flex pro which had a slot from the factory above the handle there is also the donnay fiberwood anyone care to comment on that as well, it is blue and has a slit above the handle and very flexible, these are all like Borgs Donnay pro's which was stiff and did not have the slit/slots (from the factory) above the handle

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=107794&highlight=borg+flex+pro

Its actually Donnay Allwood and Bjorn Borg used it early in his career before beefing upto his Donnay Borg Pro. Donnay also made a racket called the flex pro which had a slot in the thin tapered beam and this was one of the most flexible woodies ever. Vijay Armitraj played it for a while.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=226445&postcount=20

anyway I will post picutres of the modern graphite frame I cut and will give you exact RDC measurements before and after. NEXT ;-)

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

another thought is that wood flexes differently than graphite, so would this "slot" work (supposedly) with graphite??

YES, you have been weighed and measured.......son

and if you personally would have LOVED to find ways to make your frame flex more why did you not post a thread about it and ask questions rather than knock a thread which does? anything is possible.

sanding down the area above the handle of a 21mm box beam frame to 18mm will make for a more flexible frame? you seem to agree to that!

 

[iambt21]

You can heat the racket and then string it. Possibly keep it in your car with windows up on a hot day. The green house affect will take place. After this the molecules will be softer and more likely to flex and this will be done when stringing the racket. This is just a thought, no certainty about whether it is 100% certain to work.

Also, after heating the racket, i would think that if you forcefully tapped the racket on the ground it would loosen up weak graphite and also create new loose graphite that used to be tighter.

Maybe you can compare a racket to a lightbulb. If you leave a light on and never turn it off it will last more than twice as long as a lightbulb that is turned on and off daily. This is because the light gets brittle and moisture is lost. I think that if you were to heat the racket for an hour, cool it for 20 minutes, then freeeze it for an hour and then repeat this procedure than that could be a good way of breaking down a racket.

I know you said to not ask, but im wasting my time if i post without asking. Flexible makes the racket less powerful, correct? This means more control. What other advantages are there to a flexible racket?

 

[knasty131]

YES, you have been weighed and measured.......son

and if you personally would have LOVED to find ways to make your frame flex more why did you not post a thread about it and ask questions rather than knock a thread which does? anything is possible.

sanding down the area above the handle of a 21mm box beam frame to 18mm will make for a more flexible frame? you seem to agree to that!

First off...i said it was BASICALLY impossible...if you were to sand it down 2 mm, that is really significant and while it would possible make it more flexible, it would also make it way more brittle and it would be pointless to do so and compromise the life of your racket...

so you knock me for saying something is basically impossible and then i say something is possible...did i say it would work??? no...i just said it was possible...i never said anything was definitely impossible and i never said anything would exactly work...get it straight....son

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

First off...i said it was BASICALLY impossible...if you were to sand it down 2 mm, that is really significant and while it would possible make it more flexible, it would also make it way more brittle and it would be pointless to do so and compromise the life of your racket...

Check the OP, Warranty is a none issue, so your point is ...... pointless ;-)

Brittle? son, I am using a very fine sander #200

so you knock me for saying something is basically impossible and then i say something is possible...did i say it would work??? no...i just said it was possible...i never said anything was definitely impossible and i never said anything would exactly work...get it straight....son

Yes, you agreed that it would be more flexible

"while it would possible make it more flexible"

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

there is no way you could prove the cuts made it more flexible unless you had proof that the frame you cut into had a flex higher than the end product. just because i want to totally discredit you...it is a Bjorn Borg racket...wasnt one of your points to "make a racket more flexible" is to let time pass and the fibers or whatever will break down and make the frame flexier??? how can we not attribute the flex change to time and/or use??? Im pretty sure any borg racket has had an ample amount of time to allow nature to take place and start to break down a little...

as far as i know...that racket was more flexible before the cuts were made...

In light of post #59, your post above is Pointless and a non-issue

The frame in question Donnay Fiberwood/Flex pro, it comes stock with slots/slit from the factory by Donnay and it is more flexible than the same model Borg pro which does not have "slots"

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

You can heat the racket and then string it. Possibly keep it in your car with windows up on a hot day. The green house affect will take place. After this the molecules will be softer and more likely to flex and this will be done when stringing the racket. This is just a thought, no certainty about whether it is 100% certain to work.

Also, after heating the racket, i would think that if you forcefully tapped the racket on the ground it would loosen up weak graphite and also create new loose graphite that used to be tighter.

Maybe you can compare a racket to a lightbulb. If you leave a light on and never turn it off it will last more than twice as long as a lightbulb that is turned on and off daily. This is because the light gets brittle and moisture is lost. I think that if you were to heat the racket for an hour, cool it for 20 minutes, then freeeze it for an hour and then repeat this procedure than that could be a good way of breaking down a racket.

I know you said to not ask, but im wasting my time if i post without asking. Flexible makes the racket less powerful, correct? This means more control. What other advantages are there to a flexible racket?

nice post

another advantage to flexible frames is FEEL, which is subjective but I think the majority would agree that a more flexible stick makes for more feel and TOUCH.

 

[iambt21]

nice post

another advantage to flexible frames is FEEL, which is subjective but I think the majority would agree that a more flexible stick makes for more feel and TOUCH.

Chaho, where is john cauthen? he was supposed to send me some weightings and then he dissapeared. i cant get ah old of him.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Chaho, where is john cauthen? he was supposed to send me some weightings and then he dissapeared. i cant get ah old of him.

dunno, last I heard that he was working on CNC'ing his prototype and ran into difficulties.

 

[Lucas2015]

Where are the photos? @Pro_Tour_630