Does anyone do this? Pick a lighter racquet for doubles than you use for singles? And change depending on which you're playing? I'm using a Pro Staff 7.1 (11.6 oz) for doubles but it seems a little too heavy sometimes at the net. It's just right for singles, for the baseline. I just bought an M-fil 300 and like it for doubles. But changing back and forth can mix up my timing.
One racquet model for doubles, another for singles
- Thread starter sciwriter
- Start date
iplaybetter
Hall of Fame
seems a little tough to me maybe string tension
onkystomper
Hall of Fame
Yeah it is not the best idea IMO. THe higher level you play at the mor important it is to be in tune with your racket. Swingweight balance timing etc etc are all effected when you change
blitzmage_89
Rookie
uhhh its better to sort it out in
a. baseline - you want more power
b. netplay- you want a light one
a. baseline - you want more power
b. netplay- you want a light one
madmanfool
Semi-Pro
I don't like a light racquet for netplay, actually i prefer i heavier one. But they need to be more head-light.
I play mostly doubles and I think I'm going to try getting used to the M-fil 300. The PS 7.1 is a great racquet but a finicky instrument -- and you have to get into a groove to play well with it. It's hard for me to get into any groove with groundstrokes in doubles, and the M-fil is easier to start and stop with.
grass_hopper
Professional
go with a racquet that can do both. like speedport black or wilson k6.1 95.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
I've done this and really had no problems.
Prince Diablo mid strung with Kevlar/16 g Wilson Reaction syn gut, fairly tight for singles.
Dunlop Hotmelt 200g strung with 17g Prince Syn Gut Duraflex for doubles.
I don't do it anymore, but did it for a couple of months when I was playing a lot of "real" doubles (i.e., S&V on most points, always closing to the net), as opposed to my sometimes lazy doubles-as-modified-singles (i.e., Serving, staying back, hitting a groundstroke, then coming in, getting into baseline rallies with the guy diagonally from me).
Prince Diablo mid strung with Kevlar/16 g Wilson Reaction syn gut, fairly tight for singles.
Dunlop Hotmelt 200g strung with 17g Prince Syn Gut Duraflex for doubles.
I don't do it anymore, but did it for a couple of months when I was playing a lot of "real" doubles (i.e., S&V on most points, always closing to the net), as opposed to my sometimes lazy doubles-as-modified-singles (i.e., Serving, staying back, hitting a groundstroke, then coming in, getting into baseline rallies with the guy diagonally from me).
I tend to have 2 racquets (head light) strung differently - one tighter, the other a bit looser. The one with less tension is generally better for singles (more power from baseline when I'm tired, on slower courts). The tighter is better for doubles and controllable volleys. I'm comfortable with both of them and can adjust play as necessary.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
As long as your gear isn't a distraction, I don't think it's necessary to bet all your fortunes on one racquet. I've used the Prostaff 6.1 Classic for quite a long time and just can't play better doubles (at the 4.5 level) with anything else.
Improving at singles has made me work hard on improving my strokes in recent years because I grew up attacking the net - if I get bogged down on the baseline nowadays, I need better consistency and a couple of frames I've tried have been a lot easier for me to rally with. I'm hooked on a heavy, head light racquet, but I've found a better comfort zone in singles with sticks that have more flex than the old Prostaff. Plus, the weight and balance still let me do some good volleying.
I'd prefer to just reach for one racquet all the time, but more than once or twice I've done well with switching to an alternate when I'm having an off day. Ultimately, I know it's not the racquet's fault, but making a change can often break me out of a funk.
Improving at singles has made me work hard on improving my strokes in recent years because I grew up attacking the net - if I get bogged down on the baseline nowadays, I need better consistency and a couple of frames I've tried have been a lot easier for me to rally with. I'm hooked on a heavy, head light racquet, but I've found a better comfort zone in singles with sticks that have more flex than the old Prostaff. Plus, the weight and balance still let me do some good volleying.
I'd prefer to just reach for one racquet all the time, but more than once or twice I've done well with switching to an alternate when I'm having an off day. Ultimately, I know it's not the racquet's fault, but making a change can often break me out of a funk.
This a great forum! I learn so much from it. My M-fil 300 is strung pretty tight (at 60) and my PS 7.1 is strung pretty loose (at 53). This could exacerbate the functional differences between how the racquets play. I'd like to fiddle around more with tension and see what happens.
Supernatural_Serve
Professional
LM Radical MP - Singles
LM Radical OS - some Doubles
Sometimes I need more stability and a more forgiving racquet on mishits at the net when playing higher level doubles.
LM Radical OS - some Doubles
Sometimes I need more stability and a more forgiving racquet on mishits at the net when playing higher level doubles.
