I test 29 inches racquet (Hsieh Su-wei alike)

[Dalf]

I bought the Yonex V Core Duel G 330gr several month ago. I decided to extend it to maximum length of 29 inches. So it is now quite similar to Hsieh Su-wei's racquet (I don't know the weight). Quite fun to play with it. Thanks for a friend in the forum who helped me with the buttcap design .

This is the video showing the product. I only practice with ball machine today. I'll try to film playing with my friend to see how I can handle the racquet.

 

[joah310]

wow 29 inches. hows the swingweight?

 

[Dalf]

wow 29 inches. hows the swingweight?

Somewhere above 400 if I remember. Not sure if TW tool is applicable to extended racquet .

 

[joah310]

Somewhere above 400 if I remember. Not sure if TW tool is applicable to extended racquet .

damn thats alot to swing!

 

[Dalf]

Apparently I extended the lighter version of Yonex V Core Pro, 97 310gr. It's also 2 inches longer. It's much better for me as the 330gr is too heavy for having a good serve .

 

[graycrait]

As a guy who uses a 28" racket a lot I applaud your efforts. Very nicely executed. I may have to extend one of my favorite 28" rackets, Michael Chang Ti 95, to 28.5 or 29" after seeing this. I'm not getting any younger so might as well do it after picking up another good condition Chang 28" Ti 95 for just $36.00 to the door.
@Dalf , I don't suppose you live near Tennessee? I have pair MG Rads, in both 98 and 107, extended up to 28" and both weigh approx 14oz, very headlight. They are fun to play with.

P.S. Hsieh is one of my favorite players to watch.

 

[nicklane1]

That's pretty cool. Looks really good.
Do feel any significant increase in power?
How about maneuverability at the net?

 

[Dalf]

As a guy who uses a 28" racket a lot I applaud your efforts. Very nicely executed. I may have to extend one of my favorite 28" rackets, Michael Chang Ti 95, to 28.5 or 29" after seeing this. I'm not getting any younger so might as well do it after picking up another good condition Chang 28" Ti 95 for just $36.00 to the door.
@Dalf , I don't suppose you live near Tennessee? I have pair MG Rads, in both 98 and 107, extended up to 28" and both weigh approx 14oz, very headlight. They are fun to play with.

P.S. Hsieh is one of my favorite players to watch.

Thank you. For me, the change from 28" to 29" is more significant than 27" to 28", which is interesting. I still prefer 1 handed backhand with a 28" racquet to a 29" one. Standard length racquet feels subpar for me now as I need to put more effort to hit the shots. I live far from Tennessee. I live in Finland

 

[Dalf]

That's pretty cool. Looks really good.
Do feel any significant increase in power?
How about maneuverability at the net?

Yes there are more power, but I would say more energy return to the ball The swingweight of the V Core Pro is 384. Because of that SW, returning the ball is very easy. But I don't have the biggest serve with it. I serve faster with a 28" racquet.

Maneuverability at net is good when I understand the weight and extra length right. I can rely on the weight to hit the volley, so actually I volley better with this extended racquet. Most of the time, when I anticipate a fast return or quick exchange, I choke up the handle a bit to maneuver quicker.

 

[magnut]

28" is somewhat manageable. 29" is pretty combersome. What works for some shots make others very hard to control. with 29" you end up slowing things down and altering your timing in order to not overhit and stat spraying balls.

If you hit double handed off both sides 29" really come into its own with enough practice. My double handed stick is a 29" from.

My advice to people on length is around this

one handed backhand..... stick with 27" maybe 27.5. Problem comes from returning serve. If you traditionally choke up on a handle a half inch or so (ala Edberg, Muster etc.) that extra length is fine and gets you back into standard length reach territory.

two handed.... 28" is nice... gives you a full grip, little more reach, and still fairly manageable with practice and minor adjustmentson the forehand side

double handed player on both wings... 28" to 29". Gives you comfortable grip, and the aditional reach is a big plus for that style of player.


above 29"..... forget it. The racquet becomes a boat paddle. You have to basically hit groundstrokes like they are half volleys and if you have lazy feet you wont get out of your own way.

Also... Dont rule out a 26" or 26.5" frame if you are strugling with developing a one handed backhand. I fixed a lot of people backhands through the years by getting them to knock a little length off the frame. Racquet head control improves the shorter you go and many folks struggle early on with that on single handers.

 

[bleno567]

I'm going to guess that swingweight is well over 400.

 

[Dalf]

28" is somewhat manageable. 29" is pretty combersome. What works for some shots make others very hard to control. with 29" you end up slowing things down and altering your timing in order to not overhit and stat spraying balls.

If you hit double handed off both sides 29" really come into its own with enough practice. My double handed stick is a 29" from.

My advice to people on length is around this

one handed backhand..... stick with 27" maybe 27.5. Problem comes from returning serve. If you traditionally choke up on a handle a half inch or so (ala Edberg, Muster etc.) that extra length is fine and gets you back into standard length reach territory.

two handed.... 28" is nice... gives you a full grip, little more reach, and still fairly manageable with practice and minor adjustmentson the forehand side

double handed player on both wings... 28" to 29". Gives you comfortable grip, and the aditional reach is a big plus for that style of player.


above 29"..... forget it. The racquet becomes a boat paddle. You have to basically hit groundstrokes like they are half volleys and if you have lazy feet you wont get out of your own way.

Also... Dont rule out a 26" or 26.5" frame if you are strugling with developing a one handed backhand. I fixed a lot of people backhands through the years by getting them to knock a little length off the frame. Racquet head control improves the shorter you go and many folks struggle early on with that on single handers.

I do agree with everything you said, especially one handers practicing with short racquets. Perhaps I'm a small guy (1,68m) so that standard length feel short to me. I take more effort to execute the same shot the bigger guys (1,75m and above) hit. 28" feels like home .

Very appreciated what you shared.

 

[Dalf]

I'm going to guess that swingweight is well over 400.

The Duel G is above 400. The V Core Pro is 384 when I use swingweight tool in TW.

 

[magnut]

I do agree with everything you said, especially one handers practicing with short racquets. Perhaps I'm a small guy (1,68m) so that standard length feel short to me. I take more effort to execute the same shot the bigger guys (1,75m and above) hit. 28" feels like home .

Very appreciated what you shared.

a lot of small guys on the tour with one handers were able to make those 28" frames work for them so its absolutely possible with practice and small adjustments to footwork nd preperation. If it feels good I would stick with it. Its a lot,lot easier to go shorter if you revert back than it is to go longer. the majority of tour players that stayed 27" or reverted back were due to volleying. Serveing and groundstokes were not a problem as you have lots of time. Volleys are many times more reaction oriented. If you have time on the volley its no problem.

 

[graycrait]

I live in Finland

Dang it!

 

[ron schaap]

Yes there are more power, but I would say more energy return to the ball The swingweight of the V Core Pro is 384. Because of that SW, returning the ball is very easy. But I don't have the biggest serve with it. I serve faster with a 28" racquet.

Maneuverability at net is good when I understand the weight and extra length right. I can rely on the weight to hit the volley, so actually I volley better with this extended racquet. Most of the time, when I anticipate a fast return or quick exchange, I choke up the handle a bit to maneuver quicker.

28" is somewhat manageable. 29" is pretty combersome. What works for some shots make others very hard to control. with 29" you end up slowing things down and altering your timing in order to not overhit and stat spraying balls.

If you hit double handed off both sides 29" really come into its own with enough practice. My double handed stick is a 29" from.

My advice to people on length is around this

one handed backhand..... stick with 27" maybe 27.5. Problem comes from returning serve. If you traditionally choke up on a handle a half inch or so (ala Edberg, Muster etc.) that extra length is fine and gets you back into standard length reach territory.

two handed.... 28" is nice... gives you a full grip, little more reach, and still fairly manageable with practice and minor adjustmentson the forehand side

double handed player on both wings... 28" to 29". Gives you comfortable grip, and the aditional reach is a big plus for that style of player.


above 29"..... forget it. The racquet becomes a boat paddle. You have to basically hit groundstrokes like they are half volleys and if you have lazy feet you wont get out of your own way.

Also... Dont rule out a 26" or 26.5" frame if you are strugling with developing a one handed backhand. I fixed a lot of people backhands through the years by getting them to knock a little length off the frame. Racquet head control improves the shorter you go and many folks struggle early on with that on single handers.

I ve an old Prince Ripstick which is 29inch long of the shelf. I sometimes use it in practice and it gives more power because of greater head speed ofcourse but i think little less control that could also be atributed because i m not used to it. I can mostly hit flat serves with it but timing is more difficult than with groundstrokes. Racquets over 29inch lenght are clearly forbidden according to the rules.

 

[weelie]

Thank you. For me, the change from 28" to 29" is more significant than 27" to 28", which is interesting. I still prefer 1 handed backhand with a 28" racquet to a 29" one. Standard length racquet feels subpar for me now as I need to put more effort to hit the shots. I live far from Tennessee. I live in Finland

Here in Espoo (Finland), I have sometimes hit with a retired guy who hits with an old 29" Prince. He hits from the rise, sometimes forehand on both sides, short strokes, odd floaty slice which has a lot of spin... (he is very experienced, so I get very frustrated and lose). Anyway, he said if his rackets broke, he'd rather just quite playing.

As I was fan of Michael Chang as a kid, extended rackets have always intrigued me, but have no real experience playing one (only hit a couple of sessions with extended rackets).

 

[Dalf]

Here in Espoo (Finland), I have sometimes hit with a retired guy who hits with an old 29" Prince. He hits from the rise, sometimes forehand on both sides, short strokes, odd floaty slice which has a lot of spin... (he is very experienced, so I get very frustrated and lose). Anyway, he said if his rackets broke, he'd rather just quite playing.

As I was fan of Michael Chang as a kid, extended rackets have always intrigued me, but have no real experience playing one (only hit a couple of sessions with extended rackets).

Yes for that long leverage, we just need short strokes and the ball already has lots of pace or spin or both. I don't know that there used to be 29" racquets off the shelf without customisation . We might go and play some days. Long and high swing weight racquets really calm me down and play better.

 

[Dalf]

I ve an old Prince Ripstick which is 29inch long of the shelf. I sometimes use it in practice and it gives more power because of greater head speed ofcourse but i think little less control that could also be atributed because i m not used to it. I can mostly hit flat serves with it but timing is more difficult than with groundstrokes. Racquets over 29inch lenght are clearly forbidden according to the rules.

For me, I think it gives more power (energy return to be exact) because of the swingweight. The racquet head speed is actually slower. Finding the sweetspot between weight and racquet head speed is tricky . Timing is certainly very different from standard length. We need more compact stroke preparation for the longer racquets. It's fun to play with them.

 

[weelie]

Yes for that long leverage, we just need short strokes and the ball already has lots of pace or spin or both. I don't know that there used to be 29" racquets off the shelf without customisation . We might go and play some days. Long and high swing weight racquets really calm me down and play better.

Maybe he plays ”Prince Thunder Powerdrive 900”, I am not 100%, but something like that anyways.

 

[PBODY99]

@weelie
Your friend's Longbody Prince may turn up on the 'bay. I have my stash of 29 & 28.5" frames from the era.
If you post the exact name, I might know of a source for a back up.

 

[A_Instead]

I always liked the Prince Diablo XP oversized..it wasnt a tank, nor a cannon... almost perfect...wish they would bring that one back...

 

[scotus]

I bought the Yonex V Core Duel G 330gr several month ago. I decided to extend it to maximum length of 29 inches. So it is now quite similar to Hsieh Su-wei's racquet (I don't know the weight). Quite fun to play with it. Thanks for a friend in the forum who helped me with the buttcap design .

This is the video showing the product. I only practice with ball machine today. I'll try to film playing with my friend to see how I can handle the racquet.

Great job on the extension.

I wonder how durable your 3D-printed extension is.

I have some 3D printed extended-length (only 0.5 inch extension) butt caps that I purchased from a member on this board. The material was brittle and not very durable.

 

[Dalf]

Great job on the extension.

I wonder how durable your 3D-printed extension is.

I have some 3D printed extended-length (only 0.5 inch extension) butt caps that I purchased from a member on this board. The material was brittle and not very durable.

I also wonder about durability when extending very long 1-2 inches. But all of my racquets stay strong til now. I've been using the blue VCore Pro for 50+ hours and there's no sign of breakage.

I think it comes down to the quality of the print. I tend to print with thick shells (2mm) so they are strong, but heavy (40+ grams for the 2 inches extender) and print slowly. Because the extended buttcap has stiffness itself, the racquet would feel differently depending on the shell thickness of the buttcap

 

[PBODY99]

@Dalf
Do you use ribs in your 3 D prints to increase strenght?

 

[Dalf]

@Dalf
Do you use ribs in your 3 D prints to increase strenght?

No I don't. I just make a solid buttcap. Then I printed with cubic infill pattern 40% and wall thickness of 1,5 or 2 mm.

 

[weelie]

I had a session with Dalf hitting with his 29" VCrore 97 Pro... I could actually play with it and no discomfort! Except on serves, as my shoulder is already a bit sore from before. Now I just need to find a suitable racket to do a conversion.

My own 27" Dunlop m3.0 felt really funny afterwards. Of course I framed a bit, but besides that it also felt like a trampoline. In the way the Rossignol F300 that I've played a couple of session. I could hit with teh M3.0 ok, but the 29" VCore was just so solid, solid, solid!