Marat Safin personal racquet specs & secrets

[Kalugin]

Marat Safin is a pure legend. He was a player with a talent and capabilities near infinity-level. In Russia we have this joke:
God decided to distribute talents to the best tennis players.
Big guy from Omaha Andy Roddick came first.
- You are so big and strong, perhaps I will give you the most powerful serve - said God.
Then it was tine for nimble guy from Adelaide Leyton Hewitt.
- Well, I will probably give you the highest speed of movement on the court - said God.
And then Roger Federer arrived from Basel.
- Why are you so late? I have already gave almost everything. Well, let me give you a little bit of everything, a good serve, good speed and reaction - said God.
And after all Moscow's own, Marat Safin, came.
- Its too late, i have no idea what to give you! Do you even like play tennis? - asked God.
Safin said: Well, it depends. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't.
And God said:
- Well, then, when you will really have a desire to play tennis, you'll be me!

Nothing to add))

In my huge collection of ATP and WTA stars personal racquets I have two from Marat.

The first one was used in 2010. Its a TGK237.3 Pro Stock stick.

Lead tape under the bumper, didn't want to open trap butt cap door, cause it's closed quite reliably. I gave this racquet as a present to my sister.

The second one (TGT292.1 with Pro Stock sticker D121702) i left for myself, cause it's a real legend. The racquet that survived!!!

Marat Safin broke an amazing 1055 Head racquets during his career. HEAD company presented Marat a special gift - a snowboard with "1055" - number of broken racquets!
Safin tried to brake this one too on 6.12.2015 in Manila, but the racquet was lucky.

Only little crack appeared after Marat actions. Meanwhile this crack didn't bother me when I tried to play this racquet - no vibrations.

But!!! It's almost unreal to play this stick. It has monstrous specs. I've never saw that much of lead tape under the bumper, that really swelled for the reason of several rows of lead tape under it.
Specs:
Weight - 371,
Swingweight - 393,
Balance - 34,2.

Safin experimented a lot with his customization, that's a fact. And in TGT292.1 you won't find lead tape at 12 in comparison with TGK237.3. The main part of lead tape is on 3-5 and 7-9 positions.

Hope you've got some interesting info from this post!

 

[David Le]

I’d add in Nalbandian as the 5 wheel. What did God give him? Backhand? Big stomach?

 

[TennisCJC]

Great rackets and Safin was a great player when he was on his game. It would be cool if you could post the balance and SW too.

 

[onehandbh]

Marat Safin is a pure legend. He was a player with a talent and capabilities near infinity-level. In Russia we have this joke:
God decided to distribute talents to the best tennis players.
Big guy from Omaha Andy Roddick came first.
- You are so big and strong, perhaps I will give you the most powerful serve - said God.
Then it was tine for nimble guy from Adelaide Leyton Hewitt.
- Well, I will probably give you the highest speed of movement on the court - said God.
And then Roger Federer arrived from Basel.
- Why are you so late? I have already gave almost everything. Well, let me give you a little bit of everything, a good serve, good speed and reaction - said God.
And after all Moscow's own, Marat Safin, came.
- Its too late, i have no idea what to give you! Do you even like play tennis? - asked God.
Safin said: Well, it depends. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't.
And God said:
- Well, then, when you will really have a desire to play tennis, you'll be me!

What about Nadal and Djokovic? The gods in Russia forgot about them?

 

[am1899]

The combination of very high ceiling and unpredictable personality made him super interesting to watch imo.

FWIW the racquet with the Graphene paint…that crack doesn’t look like much, but IMHO that racquet is done.

Regardless, cool racquets!

 

[Kalugin]

I’d add in Nalbandian as the 5 wheel. What did God give him? Backhand? Big stomach?

Hahah
My version: the talent to beat those, who had all the talents

What about Nadal and Djokovic? The gods in Russia forgot about them?

Luckily I'm not the author of this joke, as I don't like it at all. First I've heard it, I believe, in 2004-2005. Nadal and Djokovic were nonames to enter such folk humor)) Especially after Marat didn't notice Djokovic in AO-2005 first rd)

 

[Kalugin]

Several years ago)

 

[ngtaj]

Marat Safin is a pure legend. He was a player with a talent and capabilities near infinity-level. In Russia we have this joke:
God decided to distribute talents to the best tennis players.
Big guy from Omaha Andy Roddick came first.
- You are so big and strong, perhaps I will give you the most powerful serve - said God.
Then it was tine for nimble guy from Adelaide Leyton Hewitt.
- Well, I will probably give you the highest speed of movement on the court - said God.
And then Roger Federer arrived from Basel.
- Why are you so late? I have already gave almost everything. Well, let me give you a little bit of everything, a good serve, good speed and reaction - said God.
And after all Moscow's own, Marat Safin, came.
- Its too late, i have no idea what to give you! Do you even like play tennis? - asked God.
Safin said: Well, it depends. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't.
And God said:
- Well, then, when you will really have a desire to play tennis, you'll be me!

Nothing to add))

In my huge collection of ATP and WTA stars personal racquets I have two from Marat.

The first one was used in 2010. Its a TGK237.3 Pro Stock stick.

Lead tape under the bumper, didn't want to open trap butt cap door, cause it's closed quite reliably. I gave this racquet as a present to my sister.

The second one (TGT292.1 with Pro Stock sticker D121702) i left for myself, cause it's a real legend. The racquet that survived!!!

Marat Safin broke an amazing 1055 Head racquets during his career. HEAD company presented Marat a special gift - a snowboard with "1055" - number of broken racquets!
Safin tried to brake this one too on 6.12.2015 in Manila, but the racquet was lucky.

Only little crack appeared after Marat actions. Meanwhile this crack didn't bother me when I tried to play this racquet - no vibrations.

But!!! It's almost unreal to play this stick. It has monstrous specs. I've never saw that much of lead tape under the bumper, that really swelled for the reason of several rows of lead tape under it. I believe the swingweight is around 375-380!

Safin experimented a lot with his customization, that's a fact. And in TGT292.1 you won't find lead tape at 12 in comparison with TGK237.3. The main part of lead tape is on 3-5 and 7-9 positions.

Hope you've got some interesting info from this post!

This is such an awesome post. Kudos!

 

[Hawks9451]

I always thought he put everything at 12. Cool to see that he radically tweaked his setup.

More recent pictures of an older Marat show him with an exposed strip at 12, so maybe that's what he ended up settling on late in his career.

 

[PurePrestige]

Is he using RPM Blast?

 

[Shaolin]

Great rackets and Safin was a great player when he was on his game. It would be cool if you could post the balance and SW too.

Agreed. Please post the swingweight if possible.

Great info thanks OP.

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

And at least two blondes in his player's box.
I consciously avoid jokes about them being head light balanced.

 

[vsbabolat]

And at least two blondes in his player's box.
I consciously avoid jokes about them being head light balanced.

You really need 3 blondes in the box.

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

You really need 3 blondes in the box.

Noted for my next beer league match.

 

[vsbabolat]

Noted for my next beer league match.

https://imgur.com/a/5PUi1Wr

 

[rafa_prestige89]

https://imgur.com/a/5PUi1Wr

That's his "family"

 

[rafa_prestige89]

Marat Safin is a pure legend. He was a player with a talent and capabilities near infinity-level. In Russia we have this joke:
God decided to distribute talents to the best tennis players.
Big guy from Omaha Andy Roddick came first.
- You are so big and strong, perhaps I will give you the most powerful serve - said God.
Then it was tine for nimble guy from Adelaide Leyton Hewitt.
- Well, I will probably give you the highest speed of movement on the court - said God.
And then Roger Federer arrived from Basel.
- Why are you so late? I have already gave almost everything. Well, let me give you a little bit of everything, a good serve, good speed and reaction - said God.
And after all Moscow's own, Marat Safin, came.
- Its too late, i have no idea what to give you! Do you even like play tennis? - asked God.
Safin said: Well, it depends. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't.
And God said:
- Well, then, when you will really have a desire to play tennis, you'll be me!

Nothing to add))

In my huge collection of ATP and WTA stars personal racquets I have two from Marat.

The first one was used in 2010. Its a TGK237.3 Pro Stock stick.

Lead tape under the bumper, didn't want to open trap butt cap door, cause it's closed quite reliably. I gave this racquet as a present to my sister.

The second one (TGT292.1 with Pro Stock sticker D121702) i left for myself, cause it's a real legend. The racquet that survived!!!

Marat Safin broke an amazing 1055 Head racquets during his career. HEAD company presented Marat a special gift - a snowboard with "1055" - number of broken racquets!
Safin tried to brake this one too on 6.12.2015 in Manila, but the racquet was lucky.

Only little crack appeared after Marat actions. Meanwhile this crack didn't bother me when I tried to play this racquet - no vibrations.

But!!! It's almost unreal to play this stick. It has monstrous specs. I've never saw that much of lead tape under the bumper, that really swelled for the reason of several rows of lead tape under it. I believe the swingweight is around 375-380!

Safin experimented a lot with his customization, that's a fact. And in TGT292.1 you won't find lead tape at 12 in comparison with TGK237.3. The main part of lead tape is on 3-5 and 7-9 positions.

Hope you've got some interesting info from this post!

I wonder why he asked for Head to put the old grip collar, with the new logo, on the Youteks...

 

[Kalugin]

These blondes at AO-2002 is a very popular story and is known by the all tennis world. But while living with Safin the room next door at Intercontenental hotel (the first 5-star hotel in Uzbekistan) in Tashkent in 2002, I know much more interesting stories about my great neighbor that week)))

 

[Seth]

These blondes at AO-2002 is a very popular story and is known by the all tennis world. But while living with Safin the room next door at Intercontenental hotel (the first 5-star hotel in Uzbekistan) in Tashkent in 2002, I know much more interesting stories about my great neighbor that week)))

Is that the “secrets” part of the thread?

 

[vsbabolat]

I wonder why he asked for Head to put the old grip collar, with the new logo, on the Youteks...

Because he likes the collar. I like the collar too even though I have a 2 handed backhand and I don’t have hands as big as him.

 

[vsbabolat]

These blondes at AO-2002 is a very popular story and is known by the all tennis world. But while living with Safin the room next door at Intercontenental hotel (the first 5-star hotel in Uzbekistan) in Tashkent in 2002, I know much more interesting stories about my great neighbor that week)))

I can’t believe that was 22 years ago!

 

[Kalugin]

I can’t believe that was 22 years ago!

Agree, too fast(
Like it was yesterday, but suddenly we are in 2024...
I suppose my neighbor went to Tashkent that time in too relaxed mood. But Marat used to do that too often) He lost to Srichaphan in QF. My result in media doubles tournament was a little better, as I reached final. That's my trophy from that trip:

 

[javitennis]

https://imgur.com/a/5PUi1Wr

They were known as the safinettes

 

[arsen]

Finals

Y. Kafelnikov (3)

7-6
7-6

V. Voltchkov (Q)

Tashkent​

Tashkent, | 9-15 Sep, 2002

M. Safin (1)
3-6

P. Srichaphan (5)winner

6-7(5)

 

[Kalugin]

Today made measurements for swingweight of that TGT292.1 Marat's personal. It's unhuman - 393!!!

 

[rafa_prestige89]

Today made measurements for swingweight of that TGT292.1 Marat's personal. It's unhuman - 393!!!

And the balance?

 

[Kalugin]

And the balance?

Sorry, didn't notice your message.
Around 34 cm!

 

[hereforthepopcorn]

Safin was a gun and one guarantee he slayed birds everywhere he went

 

[Lavs]

He was a beast.