Question about Nadal's racquet.......

N

nukkuz

New User
Hey guys I read about how babolat adds lead tape to Nadal's racquet but I'm just a little confused as to where though

heres what I mean:

What strings and racquet does Rafa use?

In December 2003, Rafa switched from his Babolat Pure Drive to a prototype racquet. The racquet is called the "Babolat Aeropro Drive," and is now available for sale. His grip size is 4-1/4 (Babolat VS Overgrip). His strings are Pro Hurricane 135/15L, and his tension is 24 kg. As for weight, starting from a standard frame available in shops, Babolat adds 21 grams, 15 under the bumper (top head) and 5 grams at the bottom. Weight: 321 g BP 32.7 cm unstrung.
Click to expand...

Ok, so I get the first part but here's what I DON'T get. What did they mean by 6 grams at the "bottom." BOTTOM OF WHAT?!!?!?

Did they mean 6 o' clock?

or did they mean at the bottom of the handle?

That's my dilemma! lol

by they way, they forgot to mention where the last gram goes.......they said, "Babolat adds 21 grams, 15 under the bumper (top head) and 5 grams at the bottom," which only equals 20 grams, where's the last gram?

Awaiting your responses!

-Daniel
 
well 15 grams under the bumper would be 15 grams at 12 oclock, and 5 grams at the bottom would be at the buttcap. however the 15+5=/=20 might be a typo.
 
I interpret that as, 15 grams placed on the top on the frame underneath the bumper gaurd so it is not seen and it wont come out. The other 5 grams would be placed under the grip in the handle. Thats what I would assume after reading that.
 
Anyone going to buy same racket and put same weight in?

just to try and be like nadal?

Anyway why does he need added power? his muscles are huge!
 
Im not sure what people are talking about when they say lead under the bumber. Do they mean that nadal has lead tape on his racquet underneath his grommet in order to conceal the fact that he uses it? If this is not what is meant here, I wonder if that would be possible...
 
so that he doesnt have to try as hard to produce the same power but get lots more spin because of the racket head speed as well???
 
Lloyd Barcenilla said:
I am? no im not, copying vamos dosent mean you'll play like vamos.
Click to expand...
Well from you're threads asking about Where nadal puts his lead and how much it does. I mean why else would you bother knowing.
 
Duzza said:
Well from you're threads asking about Where nadal puts his lead and how much it does. I mean why else would you bother knowing.
Click to expand...

Im not that stupid. Im going to add lead tape to help my own game!

And its just curiosity anyway!!!!
 
lol - 321g? i use an aeropro drive plus and i have 325g...i'm 5'8" and 147lbs - is this bad if Rafa has a lighter racquet than me and is like twice my size??
 
Yes, they mean 5g at the handle end, probably under the grip. Adding it at six o'clock would not give a balance point of 32.7 as stated.
 
AJK1 said:
Yes, they mean 5g at the handle end, probably under the grip. Adding it at six o'clock would not give a balance point of 32.7 as stated.
Click to expand...

Under the grip at the top of the handle, or bottom?

If it was at the bottom, wouldnt you feel it?
 
They usually put 5" long strips of lead tape along the top, bottom, and side bevels of the handle. 4 in total. I'd say Nadal has the other lead tape at 12 o'clock for some extra swingweight to help him create extra spin. He is obviously strong enough to create his own power.
 
AJK1 said:
They usually put 5" long strips of lead tape along the top, bottom, and side bevels of the handle. 4 in total. I'd say Nadal has the other lead tape at 12 o'clock for some extra swingweight to help him create extra spin. He is obviously strong enough to create his own power.
Click to expand...

Adding weight to 12 gives power,
 
Duzza said:
I'm gonna have to go with AJK1 on this one, I'm pretty sure 3 and 9 give power, 12 for increasing swingweight.
Click to expand...

Adding a little bit of lead at 12 increases power. But 15g is not a little. That amount of lead actually REDUCES power because the swingweight is so high. That's why he needs to string so low to compensate for the low powered frame.
And since his frame is strung so loosely, his poly strings give lots of spin. And the weight at 12 gives even more spin because it causes the strings to stretch more laterally, and the ball to flatten more.

So in effect, his 15g at 12 has the complete opposite effect as adding only 3g grams of lead at 12, which would flatten out his shots and add power instead.

The same effects can be seen by adding at 3 and 9, but it just takes more lead then.
 
Lead at 12 o'clock would only lower the power on his frame if it lowered the speed of his swing. Placing weight at 3 and 9 o'clock would pull the sweet spot slightly out and make the frame more stable on off centre shots.
Last time I weighed his frame it was 319 grms with the over grip on.
All the best,
Richard
 
Richard Parnell said:
Lead at 12 o'clock would only lower the power on his frame if it lowered the speed of his swing. Placing weight at 3 and 9 o'clock would pull the sweet spot slightly out and make the frame more stable on off centre shots.
Last time I weighed his frame it was 319 grms with the over grip on.
All the best,
Richard
Click to expand...

SO all the lead at 12 gives him extra spin, and he has low tension for power? + his muscles? If so im never trying a racket like that, i would die!

Inless it really does play nicely, any other reviews on it?
 
Richard Parnell said:
Lead at 12 o'clock would only lower the power on his frame if it lowered the speed of his swing. Placing weight at 3 and 9 o'clock would pull the sweet spot slightly out and make the frame more stable on off centre shots.
Last time I weighed his frame it was 319 grms with the over grip on.
All the best,
Richard
Click to expand...

Have you tried lead tape same as nadal? Do you really need that much strength to swing a racket that heavy? Would it be the same effect off mayb 12g and 4 g in the handle?
 
ive never heard of putting lead under the bumper. is this something that anyone could do. Is it just like putting lead under the grommet. If so wouldnt that make the grommet not sit flush on the top of the frame?
 
what does a stock aeropro drive weigh in grams?


then if someone knows rafa's specs for sure can they post the grams then convert it to ounces with string included?

Thanks
 
O.K. does anybody know how to put lead into the racquet (like do you open something and put the lead in or what?)

Also, can you buy lead?

I'm Confused!
 
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