racket with small beam, power and control

[ruud5]

Is there such a classic racket:

- hitting little higher in the stringbed
- max swingweight about 320 gram
- max. weight about 305 gram
- max. 21 mm beam
- headsize between 98 and 100 inch
- flex max. 65
- max. service power
- max. groundstroke power
- max. control
- perfect return review

Now playing with the BB London (with lead on 10 and 2) and I want a little more power

 

[PhrygianDominant]

maybe just wait for the new Federer racquet?

 

[jshanem72]

Head graphite master. 102.5 head size but very close otherwise.. I have 2. Awesome sticks when strung with full beds of poly at 35lbs.

 

[Power Player]

I still have a head graphite master but the grommets are toasted. It sucks because I want to restring it and have it around. I have yet to find any grommets that fit it.

 

[LeeD]

Do you have the time to improvise (patch) the broken parts of the grommet with a visit to the local TapPlastic's store. Ours offer all sorts of different flex and densities, and they will even cut to size for you.
But you have to drill, of course.

 

[retrowagen]

Nothing within your max. weight range... classics were closer to 350g, strung, on the average.

 

[LeeD]

Did you look at the 18mm shafted Donnay's?

 

[jshanem72]

Hey power player.. I used the fxp prestige team grommets if I'm remembering correctly.. They are cap grommets and fit ok but not perfect.. I got them from a vendor in Canada.

 

[Sanglier]

Retro is right, it's a pretty safe bet that no "classic" frame can satisfy all of your listed criteria.

The only frame I know of that might come close is the very first model MatchMate Graphite (AKA Dunlop Black Max Plus), with its 16 mm beam and a strung weight of between 306 -310 g (later versions have 18.5 - 20 mm beams and weigh a bit more, and are far more common). The extended 28.5" frame may have been designed to circumvent the Prince patent, but the resultant shift of the sweet spot further away from the grip (relative to that of a 27" stick) does translate to better serves and more power for essentially the same effort. However, the extra length also increases the swing weight, pushing the latter past the 360 mark, well above your desired maximum (and is likely the reason they had to make the frame as svelte as possible to begin with). Nevertheless, this stick looks and feels quite modern if you ignore the skinny beam and ancient cosmetics. In the right hands, it can undoubtedly hold its own against more recent offerings.

The one well-known Achilles's heel that mars this otherwise excellent design is the frame strength, as anorexic geometry + ultra light weight + increased leverage + muscular modern playing style = stress fractures waiting to happen (namely in the throat); which may be one reason no one else chose to make anything with this kind of specs back then, and why your search is probably in vain.

Truthfully, I don't know how this stick would fare against your BB London, as I have no experience with the latter, but if it's primarily more power that you are after, I rather doubt that you'd find it among the classics (as generally defined on this board), even if you had relaxed your search criteria a little more. Of course, by relaxing your search criteria, at least you'd have more options to play with, literally.

Good luck with your quest, and let us know if you find anything!

---

 

[Power Player]

Hey power player.. I used the fxp prestige team grommets if I'm remembering correctly.. They are cap grommets and fit ok but not perfect.. I got them from a vendor in Canada.

Thanks!

10char

 

[ruud5]

Retro is right, it's a pretty safe bet that no "classic" frame can satisfy all of your listed criteria.

The only frame I know of that might come close is the very first model MatchMate Graphite (AKA Dunlop Black Max Plus), with its 16 mm beam and a strung weight of between 306 -310 g (later versions have 18.5 - 20 mm beams and weigh a bit more, and are far more common). The extended 28.5" frame may have been designed to circumvent the Prince patent, but the resultant shift of the sweet spot further away from the grip (relative to that of a 27" stick) does translate to better serves and more power for essentially the same effort. However, the extra length also increases the swing weight, pushing the latter past the 360 mark, well above your desired maximum (and is likely the reason they had to make the frame as svelte as possible to begin with). Nevertheless, this stick looks and feels quite modern if you ignore the skinny beam and ancient cosmetics. In the right hands, it can undoubtedly hold its own against more recent offerings.

The one well-known Achilles's heel that mars this otherwise excellent design is the frame strength, as anorexic geometry + ultra light weight + increased leverage + muscular modern playing style = stress fractures waiting to happen (namely in the throat); which may be one reason no one else chose to make anything with this kind of specs back then, and why your search is probably in vain.

Truthfully, I don't know how this stick would fare against your BB London, as I have no experience with the latter, but if it's primarily more power that you are after, I rather doubt that you'd find it among the classics (as generally defined on this board), even if you had relaxed your search criteria a little more. Of course, by relaxing your search criteria, at least you'd have more options to play with, literally.

Good luck with your quest, and let us know if you find anything!

---

Thnks,

So a classic shall be difficult...

I like a racket as the Prins Classic Graphite 100 Longbody but that one is a little to heavy for me.

 

[struggle]

as always.

Microgel Radical MP.

 

[lgbalfa]

you should try experimenting with your strings before you decide on a new racquet.

the right string set-up can make a world of a difference.

 

[ChicagoJack]

Power (as measured by rebound ball speed) is largely a matter of swingweight, overall mass, and racquet head speed. These are the biggest factors on the table by a wide margin, with stiffness playing third fiddle. All things being equal, a flexible racquet will never be more powerful than a stiff one, becuase frame bending and vibration always represent kinetic impact energy loss. However, the difference a stiff frame will make in terms of power is much less than most would assume, about 2-4 mphs tops, depending upon the stroke. These are slight gains, but they are not insignificant gains, in that a stiff frame represents "free" power. It's "free" because a stiffer frame will swing just as easy as a more flexible frame. Tennis is a game of inches and the right racquet coupled with the right strings at the right tension can really add up to something meaningful out on the court.

The OP has stipulated a max swingweight of 320, a max weight of 305, a max flex of 65, and max headsize. From these limitations, he's looking for something that will provide "max groundstroke power" and "max service power".

With these self imposed limitations in mind, we arrive at two basic options :

1. If you want to increase rebound ball speed on groundies (without altering your swing speed) you are going to have to increase your mass and swingweight.

2. If you want to stay within the same low swingweight range, and you want to achieve greater rebound ball speed you will have to swing faster.

I think the OP is backing himself into a corner with his racquet spec limitations, given what he's trying to achieve. Seems to me like he is probably overestimating the difference that a racquet can make in terms of increasing power on the one hand, and then, at the same time, sweeping all of those little things that can increase power completely off the table with the other hand.

-J

 

[jersey34tennis]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Original_Graphite_Mid/descpageRCPRINCE-GROMS.html

give it a try. an under-the-radar excellent frame. maneuverable, stable, solid, powerful, spinny, controllable frame. i say more user friendly than the ps 85 but with a brassy similar old school feel

 

[ChicagoJack]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Original_Graphite_Mid/descpageRCPRINCE-GROMS.html

give it a try. an under-the-radar excellent frame. maneuverable, stable, solid, powerful, spinny, controllable frame. i say more user friendly than the ps 85 but with a brassy similar old school feel

Yeah, that's an awesome frame for sure. However, did you notice that the OP wants a racquet that is :

- max swingweight about 320 gram
- max. weight about 305 gram
- headsize between 98 and 100 inch
- flex max. 65

The POG mid weighs 343 grams (12.1 ounces), has a sw of 328, flex of 66 and is 93 square inches.

 

[the hack]

as always.

Microgel Radical MP.

all Microgels are great! I can't believe Head quit making them. Go figure? I have a Microgel Prestige MP and a Microgel Radical OS and I hit with both every once in a while just to enjoy how good they are.

 

[the hack]

Do you have the time to improvise (patch) the broken parts of the grommet with a visit to the local TapPlastic's store. Ours offer all sorts of different flex and densities, and they will even cut to size for you.
But you have to drill, of course.

I have never heard of TapPlastic but I am sure going to investigate them. Thanks for the info.

 

[ruud5]

Power (as measured by rebound ball speed) is largely a matter of swingweight, overall mass, and racquet head speed. These are the biggest factors on the table by a wide margin, with stiffness playing third fiddle. All things being equal, a flexible racquet will never be more powerful than a stiff one, becuase frame bending and vibration always represent kinetic impact energy loss. However, the difference a stiff frame will make in terms of power is much less than most would assume, about 2-4 mphs tops, depending upon the stroke. These are slight gains, but they are not insignificant gains, in that a stiff frame represents "free" power. It's "free" because a stiffer frame will swing just as easy as a more flexible frame. Tennis is a game of inches and the right racquet coupled with the right strings at the right tension can really add up to something meaningful out on the court.

The OP has stipulated a max swingweight of 320, a max weight of 305, a max flex of 65, and max headsize. From these limitations, he's looking for something that will provide "max groundstroke power" and "max service power".

With these self imposed limitations in mind, we arrive at two basic options :

1. If you want to increase rebound ball speed on groundies (without altering your swing speed) you are going to have to increase your mass and swingweight.

2. If you want to stay within the same low swingweight range, and you want to achieve greater rebound ball speed you will have to swing faster.

I think the OP is backing himself into a corner with his racquet spec limitations, given what he's trying to achieve. Seems to me like he is probably overestimating the difference that a racquet can make in terms of increasing power on the one hand, and then, at the same time, sweeping all of those little things that can increase power completely off the table with the other hand.

-J

Thnks for you answer and sorry for my late reaction,

-Service power is one of my best things ans therefore I need racket speed. And that Is not working for me after 1 hour playing with a swingweight above 320 gram (for groundstroke power I could use a much higher sw..). Therefore I choose the BB London.

-I like the feel from a small beam and I do not wanted a stiff frame (2 years ago TE). Therefore I like rackets as the latest PK Black ace and the Volkl organic 10 (295).

- headsize can lie between 95 and 100.

- Maybe I must keep the Londen and further experience with the best string set-up.

And yes, maybe is also the migrogel radical mp the best option.

 

[ruud5]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Original_Graphite_Mid/descpageRCPRINCE-GROMS.html

give it a try. an under-the-radar excellent frame. maneuverable, stable, solid, powerful, spinny, controllable frame. i say more user friendly than the ps 85 but with a brassy similar old school feel

I like this racket but I cannot handle it.

I looking for the same racket and 20 gramms less..:???:

 

[ruud5]

Did you look at the 18mm shafted Donnay's?

thnks,

do you have experience with it?

you play with aerogel 4d 300!

 

[your best friend]

as always.

Microgel Radical MP.

Put on a little lead tape to stabilize and it's magic! Praise be to God that Head still turns them out.

 

[max_brat]

The only racquet I'd suggest for this is the Japan-only Dunlop Neo Max 2000 or 3000. The 3000 is readily available, and while a bit bigger head size than what you've listed, it handles well and will save your arm in the long run. I have the 2000, and I absolutely love it. The 2000 is 98 sq. inches, the 3000 is 102 (I think), and you can pick up a 3000 for about $45+$20 shipping from Japan. The 2000 is a bit harder to come by (I picked up the last two I found for $150 including shipping), but keep an eye out for them. Google translate is your friend if you can find a used racquet shop's website.