New rackets bad

[B.B.]

Is all the new rackets crap?

Hear it over and over again that new tech in rackets is bad and that old frames are much better material wise.

Almost every pro is using older moulds painted in the new rackets colours.

Myself been playing my Prince responses now for 11 years, but I bought 2 new Head youtek extreme pro last week.

Is this really true, can all new frames be rubbish?

 

[canadad]

I'd have to disagree, I for one like the new technologies. I played with a Wilson Hammer 6.2 for ten years and did not really try anything else. When I did try new racquets and went back to the 6.2, I realized it was rubbish. New tech for me is great and it is one of my favorites of tennis.
I think the pros that are using the older frames are doing so because it merely works for them and it is what they are used to. Last I heard James Blake has only a few left of his favorite old frame and doesn't want to switch. What James Blake likes is his preference.

 

[jmverdugo]

I could be wrong, but I do not think any of the new technologies - not even the old ones - have crap on it, mainly graphite and other stuff, but no crap ... me thinks.

 

[Marcus]

I think there's a lot of romance involved here....

In years gone by frames were made in the west, UK, Austria USA etc, some of these places have near legendary status which evoke emotion, St. Vincent, Kennelbach etc etc

Now frames are made pretty much exclusively in China that romance has gone, big companies, far east manufacturing, cost control etc etc, not much to be inspired by. There's a temptation to think a lot of frames today are much of a much, maybe some truth in that.

I do know that a lot of the world's top grade graphite / carbon fibre etc is used in the aerospace industry and the tennis manufacturers use lower grade stuff to keep costs under control, whether this leads to a poorer quality of frame, and how much of a factor the "technology" has is anyones guess at best !!

Regards
Mark

What's good / bad / etc in a frame is very personal, difficult to make generalisations

 

[Larrysümmers]

I dont really go by tech. i am more of a specs person. if the specs are crappy and even if it was made 20 years ago. it is still crap. granted. if the racket was made 20 years ago, and has good specs. (POG) then it is a good racket, but not because it was made before i was alive.

 

[WitheringDemise]

Pro are using prostock models, painted to advertise the "current" technology.

It would be REALLY hard for the pros to keep advertising the technology, AND play their best game. Racket lines change...what? every 2~3 years? This would cause the Pros to be confused as **** about their games.

 

[user92626]

Is all the new rackets crap?

Hear it over and over again that new tech in rackets is bad and that old frames are much better material wise.

Almost every pro is using older moulds painted in the new rackets colours.

Myself been playing my Prince responses now for 11 years, but I bought 2 new Head youtek extreme pro last week.

Is this really true, can all new frames be rubbish?

If you've been here long enough you'll see that any new frame would have a following. The more popular a frame is, the bigger the following. Any frame would have a group attesting that it is a dream stick to them.

The pro using an older racket "fact" can be explained as that it takes quite a long time for a pro to get to our ears and eyes. Easily 5-10 years to be heard and seen, by then the pro's would have already ingrained with the stick they began with. 5-10 years from now, you'll see pro's who use today's popular sticks.

IMO, modern rackets are actually better and better. Money and time have been spent on research and design for better sweetspot, response, feels, looking, etc. Don't take it for granted.

 

[B.B.]

If you've been here long enough you'll see that any new frame would have a following. The more popular a frame is, the bigger the following. Any frame would have a group attesting that it is a dream stick to them.

The pro using an older racket "fact" can be explained as that it takes quite a long time for a pro to get to our ears and eyes. Easily 5-10 years to be heard and seen, by then the pro's would have already ingrained with the stick they began with. 5-10 years from now, you'll see pro's who use today's popular sticks.

IMO, modern rackets are actually better and better. Money and time have been spent on research and design for better sweetspot, response, feels, looking, etc. Don't take it for granted.

This is my thoughts aswell, funny you mention this in almost the exact same words as I would. Think that this is the main reason for PJ.