Pros that inspired you to buy or try a racquet

[Julian.Peter]

Actually Tsitsipas with his blacked out Aero made me want to give the Aero VS a second try after I felt it swinging a little unfluid on my one handed backhand the first time I tried it. I still think it is true that the beam is not ideal for the OHBH, but Tsitsipas demonstrates it may even though work quite well in terms of the **** quality result compared to classic beams, so I give it another try, at least for some casual fooling around topspin session and just for fun hitting while I am sure it will not become my main racket because if to much power and lack of / kind of feel compared to my current racket. But wouldn't he have shown what boost this racket can give even in the OHBH, I think I would not have given it another try and would not have bought an Aero VS for a second test.

 

[socallefty]

He is playing with an Aero98 though.

 

[tlmm]

Djokovic with the LM radical.
Fed RF97.
Mac inspired me to get the black limited edition cx200 tour.
Sinner Graphene xt mp (used to have the gt version but i bought it back in 2018 before sinner was pro, need to try and get it back from a friend I sold it to)

isnt'it the graphene touch from 2016 for Sinner? I got them both and xt doesn't fell the same at all, but maybe I wasn't well enough the testing days...

 

[tlmm]

Actually Tsitsipas with his blacked out Aero made me want to give the Aero VS a second try after I felt it swinging a little unfluid on my one handed backhand the first time I tried it. I still think it is true that the beam is not ideal for the OHBH, but Tsitsipas demonstrates it may even though work quite well in terms of the **** quality result compared to classic beams, so I give it another try, at least for some casual fooling around topspin session and just for fun hitting while I am sure it will not become my main racket because if to much power and lack of / kind of feel compared to my current racket. But wouldn't he have shown what boost this racket can give even in the OHBH, I think I would not have given it another try and would not have bought an Aero VS for a second test.

maybe ST plays with another layup (masses distribution eg) than the current aero 98 sold, it can changes the feeling a lot... btw I tested some babolat aero 98's, I am originaly a Head player, and at the beginning I was not finding them better than the one I use, but since some testing I found some of them really cool, I really love some of them now.

 

[AndrewUtz]

isnt'it the graphene touch from 2016 for Sinner? I got them both and xt doesn't fell the same at all, but maybe I wasn't well enough the testing days...

gt i bought in 2018. not sure when it came out. i know it’s a lot more muted than the xt, but i haven’t played with it in a while.

 

[mfoolb]

I disagree with the OP.
Never ever have I been driven by fake endorsement (paint jobs are a very known practice these days) and usually even true ones are a no go for me.
In terms or rackets, I evaluate test and choose as I do for every other thing I buy.. and I suggest you to do the same.

 

[cdik]

Safin for Prestige mid
Guga for Pro Tour 630

 

[codonnell]

I disagree with the OP.
Never ever have I been driven by fake endorsement (paint jobs are a very known practice these days) and usually even true ones are a no go for me.
In terms or rackets, I evaluate test and choose has I do for every other thing I buy.. and I suggest you to do the same.

Not really looking for people to agree or disagree with, just what players we looked upto or influenced us that may have had us try racquets. It could be as simple as liking a brand because a player used it. Some of the fun in tennis atleast for me is enjoying my equipment, if I play a little worse with something my favorite player uses but I get the enjoyment from it, I’ll get better with it overtime and have more fun .

 

[stapletonj]

Have to admit MArtina Navratilova piqued my interest in Yonex.... Didn't switch until after she retired, though

 

[esm]

Have to admit MArtina Navratilova piqued my interest in Yonex.... Didn't switch until after she retired, though

Yeah, the white RQ-180 widebody is a nice one, to look at. lol

 

[adchris2]

Back in the day I owned three Pure Storm GT’s strung with rpm blast because I wanted a forehand like Sam Stosur. Before that, I was inspired by Tsonga to own an APD

 

[codonnell]

Back in the day I owned three Pure Storm GT’s strung with rpm blast because I wanted a forehand like Sam Stosur

Nevermind the forehand, I still want arms like Sam Stosur

 

[SirCraigoryy]

Back in the day I owned three Pure Storm GT’s strung with rpm blast because I wanted a forehand like Sam Stosur. Before that, I was inspired by Tsonga to own an APD

Forehand? I was more inspired to have arms liker her!

 

[adchris2]

Nevermind the forehand, I still want arms like Sam Stosur

For real

 

[adchris2]

Stosur was my favorite. I miss that kick serve and forehand combo

 

[Julian.Peter]

He is playing with an Aero98 though.

It seems like. But it is about the beam which is the same and the Aero 98 is to muted for me anyway, so I bought the more raw feeling VS which is not that much different in terms of performance I think.

 

[TennisLBC]

Although I no longer play with this racquet, Tommy Haas inspired me to play with the Head Prestige MP.

 

[Seth]

I disagree with the OP.
Never ever have I been driven by fake endorsement (paint jobs are a very known practice these days) and usually even true ones are a no go for me.
In terms or rackets, I evaluate test and choose as I do for every other thing I buy.. and I suggest you to do the same.

But have you ever watched Young Andre and thought about swinging a POG?

 

[TheBoom]

Shelton and Keys for the Ezone 98. It’s been fun to try so far, first Yonex I’ve liked, but definitely needed weight added

 

[stapletonj]

Yeah, the white RQ-180 widebody is a nice one, to look at. lol

R-22 I'm older than I look

 

[10S-Junkie]

Stan The Man > Yonex Vcore Tour G

 

[Steve Huff]

Jimmy Connors of course. I used a T series when I started high school.

 

[Elrico]

Jimmy Connors of course. I used a T series when I started high school.

T2000000000

 

[Mark-Touch]

Amateurs were/are not the only victims of the sophisticated sales trick used by
the racket manufacturers.

Pros fell/fall victim to it too.

Take Roger Federer for example.
Do you think it was just a pure coincidence that he started off playing
with the Wilson Pro Staff 6.0?

 

[borgpro]

Wilander (Rossignol F-200)
Bruguera (Yonex RD-7)
Federer (Wilson Tour 90)

Great, Wilanders’ Rossignol

 

[borgpro]

McEnroe: Dunlop maxplay
Lendl: Adidas gtx pro
Edberg: Wilson pro staff 6.0 85!

Forgot an important one (was still a kid, this one came after the Dunlop, wood, small head, heavy: 380 grams strung, but never considered it as heavy as a 12 year old)

Donnay Borg Pro!

 

[PRS]

Fed and the RF97
Wawrinka and the Duel G 97 330

Grabbing the Duel G was my first time trying a Yonex, didn't fully switch to it right away, then switched to it, went away for a little bit, now Yonex is my favorite brand. Used the Vcore Pro 97HD for a while and now the Percept 100D. Not exactly the same but still stems from wanting to try my one-hander using "Wawrinka's" racquet.

 

[Antónis]

We all know that endorsement drives sales including us on talk tennis. I’d love to hear what pro players inspired/influenced you to buy and or try a racquet, and which racquet? Do you still use it?

Originally for me, my first competitive frame was the Roddick pure drive drive gt 2012 and seeing Roddick hit massive serves and being the American #1 for years definitely contributed to why I bought the frame. I also became a big fan of Sock who when I found out played with the aero storm gt, gave it a try from the 2nd hand market and now they’re my main frame of choice. I may have a problem when it comes to buying and collecting them .

But I’m interested what are other people’s experiences. Niche or popular!

only once, I played several years with PS 6.0 95, and looked for something a bit easier for my off days
When Sampras started using Bab Pure Storm I felt a bit of curiosity, even as a confessed Babolat hater
I got a chance to buy one for a fair price, tinkered with lead tape, but never connected with it, so I sold her

 

[socallefty]

Where are all the guys who got inspired by Nadal, Djokovic, Murray or the newer generations to buy racquets?

 

[codonnell]

only once, I played several years with PS 6.0 95, and looked for something a bit easier for my off days
When Sampras started using Bab Pure Storm I felt a bit of curiosity, even as a confessed Babolat hater
I got a chance to buy one for a fair price, tinkered with lead tape, but never connected with it, so I sold her

I’ve always liked Babolat, but they are definitely not for everyone. I think the pure storm is a solid frame if any non Babolat enjoyer wanted to try one, that would be one of the ones I’d recommend. Did you try the tour or base model?

 

[Elrico]

Where are all the guys who got inspired by Nadal, Djokovic, Murray or the newer generations to buy racquets?

Head YouTec Graphene Speed (rev) .... OK ????

 

[Rabbit]

McEnroe: Dunlop maxplay
Lendl: Adidas gtx pro
Edberg: Wilson pro staff 6.0 85!

I have all 3 on the wall of my home office.

 

[davced1]

I'm sure the 2008 Wimbledon final inspired me to now have both the aero pro drive and the pro staff 90 in those paint jobs. It was a year or so before I even started playing tennis but I was totally into that match remembering hiding behind the sofa at times because I could barely watch at the end. I use the pro staff for recreational play and the aero pro drive for matches.

 

[esm]

As an Agassi fan from back in the days, I still need to hunt down a POG and a Donnay Pro One Yellow/Blue.
Then it’d be whatever is on sale with decent discount… lol

 

[California]

Edberg. got a Pro Staff Classic 6.1 back in the early 90s, played with it for a couple years. Learned he never played with it, but it was ok because I couldn’t play with a 85 square inch racquet.

 

[tennistiger]

Hingis although I did not like her. I was a Yonex client that time so I got every year new rackets and my choice was her choice starting with the SRQ Ti 700.

 

[socallefty]

Most of the names are from 20-50 years ago. It seems like players are more likely to buy a racquet endorsed by a pro when they are kids and impressionable. It also is likely a reflection of the age of the posters here. If we posted this on Instagram or whatever social media the kids are using, I bet we will get many more mentions of current players.

 

[gfwp]

We all know that endorsement drives sales including us on talk tennis. I’d love to hear what pro players inspired/influenced you to buy and or try a racquet, and which racquet? Do you still use it?

Originally for me, my first competitive frame was the Roddick pure drive drive gt 2012 and seeing Roddick hit massive serves and being the American #1 for years definitely contributed to why I bought the frame. I also became a big fan of Sock who when I found out played with the aero storm gt, gave it a try from the 2nd hand market and now they’re my main frame of choice. I may have a problem when it comes to buying and collecting them .

But I’m interested what are other people’s experiences. Niche or popular!

None.

In fact, I played for a very long time with Wilson Sting (not endorsed by any big player) and right now I'm playing with Angell TC 101.

Test if you can. And if you're an expert and you know what you need go with a total custom model.

 

[gfwp]

Sort of the same for me.
Mc/Steffi influenced me to buy the 200G.
I played with it for around 25 years.
I tried the RF97 but also didn't like it at all.

Test Volkl C10 Pro...

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Djokovic - Head Speed LegeXAXAXA

 

[gfwp]

Jimmy Connors of course. I used a T series when I started high school.

I played with Lacoste / T2000 for one year, too. Just because a friend of my parents gifted me one of them. I think I was 12 or 13 yo

 

[gfwp]

Amateurs were/are not the only victims of the sophisticated sales trick used by
the racket manufacturers.

Pros fell/fall victim to it too.

Take Roger Federer for example.
Do you think it was just a pure coincidence that he started off playing
with the Wilson Pro Staff 6.0?

Every Pro, at the very beginning, is an amateur...

 

[tlmm]

He is playing with an Aero98 though.

yes, the same than Carlos and Felix play with and that you can find in stores (without customization of course...)

 

[SirCraigoryy]

yes, the same than Carlos and Felix play with and that you can find in stores (without customization of course...)

Felix uses an old 2016 Pure Aero VS not the Pure Aero 98.

 

[Troicki’sCat]

Might sound random, but I was always a fan of Robin Soderling’s game so I bought the Head Microgel Radical back in 2010. It was also around the same time I became a huge Agassi fan after reading his book. Actually, I’ve had a total of 3 radicals in my life (Flexpoint, microgel and Youtek).

 

[ichaseballs]

Agassi for the Head Ti Radical.
Roddick for the Pure Drive Roddick.
Then all the recent pros switching to Yonex... or already on team Yonex