Racquet help

[Veninga]

Guys,

After some trial and error, i now want to buy a new racket which really suits me.

Last couple of years i improved my game a lot. From beginner to intermediate. I started with an old Head frame, bought a Prince EXO Red 105, after that a Wilson KTour 95 mp and my choice of last year a Head Youtek Radical MP.

I switched from Prince to the Wilson, because the Prince stick was broken when it flew the net pole. The Wilson had too much power, but i liked the steadiness. Swingweight was a little too much. Most of my balls flew behind the baseline. So i started to play with much more topspin and changed to big banger alu rough(more spin), but then my shoulder started to hurt. Tried some more comfortable strings, but my swing was already too long, so i had to be cautious with my shots. And i like to swing and fire my shots, so that wasnt my game. I decided to swith sticks again. I tried the radical and the flexibel open. In the end i choose the radical. Much more feel and comfort.

In the beginning the frame was great. But in longer matches i got tired an couldnt get my balls deep. So i added some lead at 3/9. Also because i found the plowthrough at low level shots too soft (probably because of the low flex?). Afterwards me and my coach decided to make even better use of my topspin shots and also learned a topspin serve. To inprove the spinnyness of the frame i added some lead at the top of the racket as well. But now the swingweight has increased too much (arms get tired), but also my balls get too far.

So i was thinking, i need my racquet adapted again or should sticks again. This time to an even more spinny racket (open pattern, also -1 or -2 HL), with a lower swingweight (less than 320) and something more stiffen (around 65)>

To use my natural spinnyness more, develop even faster strokes (more racquet speed because of lower swingweight).

In my search i see two options, both from Dunlop. The bio 300 or the bio 500 tour. At the moment i am injured, but in a few weeks ill start playing again.

Can anyone help me on this one. Any comment is welcome. But i have 3 questons in particular.

- Does my reasoning sounds ok? Or do i have fault assumptions
- Can i adapt my Radical MP in a different way so i get my preferred way of play?
- are there better options than the dunlops?

As i said, anything is highly appreciated.

Thanks from Holland.

 

[user92626]

Your reasoning is the opposite of mine. If I get tired and still have to play after x sets, that means the racket is a tad too heavy for me, especially when my shots start to get short or out of control. So, I would switch to something 10, 15, 20 grams lighter.

I would switch to heavy frame, increment by the same amounts above, which I did recently, if I swung and felt too light, to the point of mis-timing or felt the impact of opponent's shots too much.

To help with shoulder or arm injuries, lower the string tension. If you use a heavy racket, prepare early and think conceptually of slamming the racket weight to the ball instead of muscling the racket. That's what the weight is for. If you use a lighter racket, prepare early, focus to hit the sweet spot, loosen your grip allowing the racket to move/vibrate if it has to. Even if you miss your shots, so be it.

 

[Veninga]

Thanks.

Yes, i was thinking to get a stick which is slightly lighter. In swingweight, but also in static weight. Lighter means more racquet speed, less tired, more spin potential. But only in combo with a more stiffer frame, to maintain momentum when during hitting a ball.

Then is should be able to maintain my deep spinning balls.

You are talking about slamming and musling. What is the difference? Can you pease explain?

 

[user92626]

Thanks.

Yes, i was thinking to get a stick which is slightly lighter. In swingweight, but also in static weight. Lighter means more racquet speed, less tired, more spin potential. But only in combo with a more stiffer frame, to maintain momentum when during hitting a ball.

Then is should be able to maintain my deep spinning balls.

You are talking about slamming and musling. What is the difference? Can you pease explain?

Let's use examples of my speed elite (very light, 300gr) vs a lead-up apdc (330). Conceptually and physics-wise :

Elite - actively exert strength. Power comes from speed. The second you let up, you lose speed/power, hence the emphasis "active" well into follow-thru, think Nadal's whip.


lead up apdc - exert strength early (cuz it's harder to take back, prep, swing a heavier racket, ie upfront cost). Once it's going, rely on its mass for power and also you must "end" exerting energy early (earlier than a light racket) as well if you expect to have as a staple follow-through. In same way, you let go of the gas of a truck earlier than you would a smart car for both to gracefully stop at the same spot. While both were moving, both delivered the same force at the desired spot you want to measure (that's the contact point in tennis).

 

[Veninga]

Yes, clear. Thanks.

Essentially you use your muscles to get the stick on speed and let the momentum do the plowthrough. So in the end of long matches, you have more energy left.

In that particular case a something heavier but also more headlight racket (not to heavy on swingweight) would be ideal.

My radical MP with lead on top is just too heavy. So i get my Nadal dips. Therefore i was thinking in two options:

A a lighter frame, but stiffer, with a bit lower swingweight
B same weight, but less swingweight.

- you would advice me option b?

And which racket is that?

 

[user92626]

"In the beginning the frame was great. But in longer matches i got tired an couldnt get my balls deep. So i added some lead at 3/9."

It was strange in the first place that you and your coach added more weight to what already tired you out in the first place.


Just reverse the radical mp to its stock form and work on your technique and fitness. After a while if you're confident that your technique and fitness are fine and the racket still tires you out, your shots get short, change to something lighter and/or customize it to more power. A looser stringer gives you more power. An overall lighter and more head heavy to make up the sw is more powerful and easier to swing. The cost is harder to control and harder to absorb opponent's powerful shots.

 

[Veninga]

Thanks à lot. Sounds like à good advice.
Ill start trying.

The lead at 3,9, 12 was to make it more polarised. Which would deliver more spin. And ik Wormer well. Especially on my serve. So even my strokes had more power, they had also more spin. In the end, the Same number of balls flew out.

So what to do? Get rid off THE lead at 3 and 9? Its about three gramms or something?