Interview with Nate Ferguson at 2009 BNP IW (also talks about racquet specs)

[djoko4thewin]

great post. love the info.

 

[adiwadi]

How much lead is "sneak"ed in the bumper guard? And if adding lead weight at 12 o clock, must you also add lead to the grip/butt cap?
Maybe Ron from Priority One can make some recommendations to increase power and topsin

 

[roller~]

Interesting~
Thanx~!

 

[ManuGinobili]

Ron your picture in the first interview looks scary!!!

 

[kiteboard]

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eql8Jnpa9Bs


Here are some short notes from the interview:

• Monfis and Safin string string tension = upper 20's kg (60+ lbs)
• Djokovic string tension = 27-28 kg (60 - 62 lbs)
• Federer string tension around 22 kg (48-49 lbs)
• Wawrinka is 30 kg mains, 28 kg crosses (66 lbs and 62 lbs)
• Federer racquet.. 4 ⅜ grip, 27", not a lot of lead in the head, but they sneak a little under the bumper at the top, string in 40's (lbs)
• Gael Monfis' racquet.. [comparing it to the K90 that Nate was holding] "it is a much more manly racquet.." big handle, very club-like, got a lot of weight in the head, string tight with all lux
• Andy Murray's racquet.. Radical, custom handle - somewhere between a 4 ⅜ and 4 ½, lux mains, nat gut crosses, custom pallet shape that they widen out just a little bit..
• Djokovic's racquet.. 2 overgrips on a 4 ½ handle, leather grip underneigth, lead tape under the bumper guard, nat gut mains, lux crosses..
• Marat Safin's racquet.. full lux BB original, 28-29 kg
• Fernando Gonzales' racquet.. just over 27", added weight to the head, full lux BB ALU rough, custom big butt cap flare
• Mardy Fish's racquet.. 27.5", 4 1/2 handle, 18 x 20, custom weight and bal, nat gut mains, lux crosses, 55 lbs.

Joker, Fed, marty, Cilic, Murray, ALL USE ALU AND GUT. MURRAY IS THE ONE WHO USES ALU POWER IN THE MAINS. Roddick uses vs in the cross. I wonder how Fed feels about being called a girly man racquet user?