Novak should switch

N

Nobackhander69

New User
I might get some flag for this, but here we go:
If Novak is serious about playing until LA28, he should definitely consider switching to a more powerful stick. Watching him getting pushed by ADM and routined by Sinner at Wimby, it seems clear to me that something needs to change. If he only cares about winning the big stuff (let’s be honest, it’s only about #25 now) and he doesn’t get extremely lucky and avoids Sinner and Alcaraz (and increasingly some other young guys), he won’t beat them in a Bo5. I hope he proves me wrong and rolls back the years, but it will only get harder over time. While he still has the mechanics and is Novak, he can’t out-Novak or outgrind everyone, especially not multiple times in a tournament. He needs to adapt and shorten his matches and points as much as possible. If he is serious about staying another three years, he should consider moving to something bigger (i.e., the upcoming Speed with the smaller head size) and more powerful that will help him along. I know it will take some time for him to get used to it, but I think it is the only way to win another major through his own strength.
 
It’s really that Sinner and Carlos are still on their way to their peak and already a notch above everyone else on tour.

But I do love seeing Pro’s holic.
 
It’s really that Sinner and Carlos are still on their way to their peak and already a notch above everyone else on tour.

But I do love seeing Pro’s holic.
 
Well, he is still the 3rd best player in the world at worst. I'm not exactly sure if a racquet change would do much as its clear Nole prefers a low-powered and predictable response considering that he plays with a 95 head size, 18 mains, and tight tension.

If he ever was to experiment, modern prestiges and the H22 would be likely options, but again he's still playing better than everyone except for 2 guys in regards to the slams.
 
EggSalad said:
It’s really that Sinner and Carlos are still on their way to their peak and already a notch above everyone else on tour.

But I do love seeing Pro’s holic.
Click to expand...
We’ll see. Novak already had his peak when he was Sinner’s age. and it was a far better peak.
 
Statistically he peaked after thirty…:sneaky:
His forehand in particular looks somewhat more ponderous than Sinner’s & Alcaraz’s effortless power, and he seems to take substantially more time than they do to get his - much heavier - racquet moving; the backhand is holding up well & he’s still steady under pressure, but his movement is no longer world’s best, and the injuries are taking their toll in terms of thorough preparation.
 
Novak has never complained about lacking power. He always focused on precision and Roman Prokes knew this when giving him a bunch of rackets to try.

He was able to increase his ball speed with weight training as he got older.

I don’t think he frames any balls. Still hits clean using a 95. Why switch now when you’re at the tail end of your career? That’s what Andy Murray did and retired 3 months later
 
ChrisJR3264 said:
Novak has never complained about lacking power. He always focused on precision and Roman Prokes knew this when giving him a bunch of rackets to try.

He was able to increase his ball speed with weight training as he got older.

I don’t think he frames any balls. Still hits clean using a 95. Why switch now when you’re at the tail end of your career? That’s what Andy Murray did and retired 3 months later
Click to expand...
Yep, as with Murray, when a massive part of your success was movement & end range control, belated attempts to enhance your strike capabilities are ultimately irrelevant, if not downright counterproductive, particularly when they result in a corresponding decrease in finesse; it appears that Med too is struggling with the same conundrum.
 
jmacdaununder2 said:
Yep, as with Murray, when a massive part of your success was movement & end range control, belated attempts to enhance your strike capabilities are ultimately irrelevant, if not downright counterproductive, particularly when they result in a corresponding decrease in finesse; it appears that Med too is struggling with the same conundrum.
Click to expand...
Not really. If Novak wants to keep playing and fight for titles he'll have to reinvent himself and modify his game to make up for the deficits of aging.

He's already late to so many groundstrokes even on clay with his current racket.
 
There are so many things Novak can do short of a full racket change. That is not done overnight and takes time to fully incorporate the change. And there are no guarantees. There are many cases where a player makes a major racket and their game stays the same or takes a step back. Most recent might be Sakkari switching to the Shift and then switching back to the Ultra -- and her whole year went up in smoke. Maybe Novak goes a little bigger in head size like Roger did.
What I have heard is that when Novak is done, the Speed line is going away, along with the Boom line (changing), and Instinct. I don't think they're touching the Extreme or Radical lines. At the end of 2025 I would not be surprised to see Jannik no longer playing (or endorsing) a Speed, and Head creating a new silo for him with a newly designed racket that only he endorses.
 
No. power is not important for him.
He should switch to RF01 pro red ver. or ncode 90 to S&V and get touch like the gentlemen right there.
 
My goodness! There's no equipment change that will allow Djokovic to beat Alcaraz and Sinner at this point. Even if he did switch, he doesn't have time to even adjust to a new frame. Djokovic is starting to physically struggle. Time doesn't wait for anyone.
 
Hansen said:
he needs a new body not a new racquet
Click to expand...
0b5f0e7e-2993-4e08-89ee-320859ce1b48_text.gif
 
He could try a wilson again. The steam 99 has been revived + upgraded officially as the

Wilson Ultra 99 Pro v5 , available on TW now.


"It also features an open 16x18 string pattern, giving you the tools to hit heavy, spin-loaded shots. Other features include a 330 swingweight, which not only helps keep the racquet steady against big hitters but also delivers impressive power to those who can leverage its mass. Technologies include Wilson's revolutionary SI3D layup technology, which helps give this powerful racquet enhanced pocketing and spin. This stick also features inner hoop power grooves to increase the ability of the strings to absorb shock and transfer energy to the ball."
Click to expand...


"In 2008, when Wilson launched the second model in the series, the KBlade, both Australian Open finalists in the men’s tournament, Novak Djokovic and Jo Wilfred Tsonga, played with the racket."
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I think a Gamma Big Bubba and some New Balance dad shoes would be highly appropriate for his demographic, and the forgiveness and sturdiness of both accessories may assist in his current struggles with the young powerhouses.

New Balance could run an “old man strength” campaign with Novak and his journey at its core.
 
Instead of trying a completely different model, he could use the same mold, but bigger with at least 98", slightly stiffer layup (64-65 RA), slightly more open string pattern (16x20) perhaps and a bit lighter in weight and SW (10g each). Just thinking out loud here, if I were the person responsible for planning something like this.
 
Conrado85 said:
Instead of trying a completely different model, he could use the same mold, but bigger with at least 98", slightly stiffer layup (64-65 RA), slightly more open string pattern (16x20) perhaps and a bit lighter in weight and SW (10g each). Just thinking out loud here, if I were the person responsible for planning something like this.
Click to expand...
he’s tried a 98in version of his frame.
 
Verdi said:
If Djokovic switches to a Speed MP, I'll eat mine
Click to expand...
@DJOKERNOLE please do so
Chopin said:
My goodness! There's no equipment change that will allow Djokovic to beat Alcaraz and Sinner at this point. Even if he did switch, he doesn't have time to even adjust to a new frame. Djokovic is starting to physically struggle. Time doesn't wait for anyone.
Click to expand...
He just beat alcaraz this australian Open :0)
 
I think people should understand that strings are the 50% of the performance of the racquet. The other 50% is the frame.
Djokovic uses natural gut in the mains. And, in my opinion and in my experience, it helps so much with power.
I know the Head racquet Djokovic uses is a 95sq, but natural gut help so much in the performance.
Is the same case of Fritz, I think.
Djokovic is, according to numbers, the GOAT, and I think Head would make any racquet he could ask for. If he haven't did it until today, is because he feel that is not neccesary a change.
As I have said, natural gut is the key. De Minaur and Medvedev are two good examples of players switching to natural gut to get more power.
 
At 38 years old I think it would be diminishing returns to try to adapt to a new racquet at this point. Maybe another year at most? Just stick with what you know and smile if you truly enjoy it.
 
ruripi said:
No. power is not important for him.
He should switch to RF01 pro red ver. or ncode 90 to S&V and get touch like the gentlemen right there.
Click to expand...

I think he could try a wilson like that Wilson Ultra 99 Pro v5 for touch also. It's a bit lighter, but not as much as a tweener. Or at least try the modified one with the extra cross string that they made for DeMinaur. Anyway, just imagining what-if per the thread idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
  • Poll Poll
Can Novak defeat Sinner ever again??
Replies
46
Views
2K
ChrisJR3264
ChrisJR3264
Elektra
What Novak needs to realize about RF
2
Replies
90
Views
8K
pame
pame
K-H
Nole fans are you angry he's avoided Novak these past few years...
Replies
31
Views
2K
Fabresque
Fabresque
TripleATeam
Novak should be ashamed
2 3
Replies
126
Views
10K
BeatlesFan
BeatlesFan
D
If Novak skips Cinci he drops to 3rd place and will have to face Alcaraz and Sinner in the semifinal and final at USO
2
Replies
88
Views
4K
KingCarlitos
KingCarlitos
Back
Top