More maneovreable option to Speed Pro - Altitude is killing me!

[ajchop]

Hello! Looking for some advice,

I currently play with a 2020 Head Speed pro with Hawk Touch 17 strung at 48lbs. I think (haven't had a chance to rate officially) I play around the 4.0-4.5 american level. Played tennis all my life but right now I'm challenged by living at extreme altitude in Bolivia (as low as 3300m/11000ft to as high as 4000m/13000ft above sea level!).

I really like the feel of the Speed pro and have somewhat gotten used to it's swingweight compared to my previous one (Youtek Speed mp 2011, heavier but much lower swingweight). Problem is, as I am playing more and more, I'm realising that the lack of oxygen is making the racket so much harder to move not hours/sets in but minutes/rallies in! I play with a one hander and it's an easy weakness to exploit once I run out of oxygen, which is really quickly.

So I basically need a more moveable stick, I appreciate the stability and plow through of my current racket, so I don't want something much lighter, but do need a lower swingweight to be able to move it after my first serve game! No one should live so high up man... My old youtek is much easier to move but it is not as stable and pace and stability really take a hit when I use it.

Perhaps someone can give me some advice? I'm thinking of something like the Yonex VCORE 98 with perhaps a little bit of lead in the hoop to up the total weight and don't go too far in swingweight. But I'm open to anything that's not too obscure (I need to be able to find it in Bolivia or in a quick trip to the states).

Thanks in advance!

 

[what_army]

When I was in Ciudad de Mexico (3000m above sea level) for work (3 months) I had no issues with the racquet I was playing with at at the time (tc95 320gr 300 sw) but most of the balls were indeed too fast so we used kid’s green dots to be able to rally. With regular balls it was useless, every half good shot was an ace/winner.
My advice is to move elsewhere closer to sea level, it’s hard to play tennis that high up.

 

[Elrico]

I'm not really an expert, but I take measurements as a hobby stringer.
Try 'much' thinner strings with the same racket. This can make a difference of 10-15 pts SW. Maybe your racket will be popular again

 

[ajchop]

I'm not really an expert, but I take measurements as a hobby stringer.
Try 'much' thinner strings with the same racket. This can make a difference of 10-15 pts SW. Maybe your racket will be popular again

Thanks for the advice! I belieeeeve I can find Hawk Touch in 19g, I just ended up on it after trying many setups so I don't wanna let it go! I'll give it a shot.

 

[Elrico]

Solinco Tour Bite can be 1.05 and 1.10.
These diameters are comfortable and light.

 

[Trip]

@ajchop - I would agree with the others. If you can take a little more face weight out of the string bed, that may be enough. Full bed Hawk Touch 18 (1.20) is already fairly light, but moving to 19 (1.15) gauge may help enough, otherwise you might also consider even thinner poly like what @Elrico suggested, or potentially hybriding with a non-poly, which would lighten up the string bed even more (example: Gosen OG Sheep Micro 1.15 mains / Hawk Touch 1.20 or 1.15 crosses), then just increase tension for however much control you need to make up, versus full-bed Hawk Touch.

If it gets to the point where you determine that you really do want to try a lighter-spec frame, then I would suggest looking at the Prince ATS Tour 100P – basically a lighter, faster, more all-court capable Speed Pro, that handles more like a 98 and less like a 100. Static weight is 5g lighter, balance is 1pt more head-light and swing weight averages ~7pts lower (~322 vs ~329). If you don't have access to Prince, then there's always the Head Gravity Tour and/or Yonex Percept 100D, either of which will give you similar control/precision with the 100" 18x20 (or 18x19 with the 100D), but lower swing weight than the Speed Pro. The Gravity will probably be a bit easier to play with; the 100D potentially a bit more solid, once brought up to spec.

Hope that helps.