Ram no longer w/ Babolat

kkm said:
someone should tell him it‘s easy to take the buttcap logo off
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Lol…I thought the same thing. I mean…I do that regularly for my frames (use a 4 1/2 cap on a 3/8 palette…gives me more flare at the bottom), I’m sure a technician could do it in 5 minutes.
 
McLovin said:
Lol…I thought the same thing. I mean…I do that regularly for my frames (use a 4 1/2 cap on a 3/8 palette…gives me more flare at the bottom), I’m sure a technician could do it in 5 minutes.
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fo sho (Superbad reference;)) anyone having a racquet painted could easily pop the trapdoor off and pry the logo plate off the trapdoor

speaking of trapdoors, last I checked tecnifibre is still in the 20th century using buttcaps without trapdoors

would someone tell tecnifibre with the top WTA player and Medvedev they should get with the times and start using buttcaps with trapdoors?

wilson’s new trapdoors with the Clash v2 Blade v8 pro staff v14 and the Shift are also annoying with the logo sticking out. They started it a bit earlier with the trapdoor sticking out - I think with the clash v1 - but now they‘re using an even worse annoying buttcap on the clash v2 blade v8 pro staff v14 and the shift. probably the ultra if they didn’t already start.
 
ey039524 said:
I watched Ram/Salisbury practice at IW last year. It was eerie how few people were watching. I felt like I was intruding on their practice. It was super quiet. Their young coach (forget his name) was drilling shots at them from the baseline. I think Louis Cayer was there, too. They hit a couple volleys and an overhead, and then would switch why the other hit his. Very methodical and structured practice. When they packed up, nobody asked them for autographs. Ram almost looked like he was waiting for someone to ask him to sign or take a pic, haha.
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Was their coach David Ohare?
 
!<-_->! said:
He may have turned down only free stuff. Who knows. If I had his money, what’s a few rackets if I felt I deserved money
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I suppose it’s possible, but I at least understand not getting much money. As fantastic as he is, no one’s ever said, “I use the doubles specialist stick” except for maybe a Bryan Bros fan
 
He is great... youd think great would get you something..???
Perhaps he likes playing free and not under someone else's requirements..
 
A_Instead said:
Perhaps he likes playing free and not under someone else's requirements..
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Nah, there aren't that many requirements for players other than the superstars and that's a few photo sessions and personal appearances. Doubles doesn't get much attention; most fans couldn't tell you who the top players are--and it's only gotten worse for them since the Byrans retired as doubles gets even less attention these days. The singles winners at the Open get $3 million each while the doubles winners share $700,000, or get $350,000 each, the Mixed Doubles winners get $85,000 each. Given that discrepancy there's no way a doubles specialist would turn down a chance to make more money.
 
!<-_->! said:
For being #1 in the world for doubles, I'm a bit surprised to see that Ram doesn't have a deal w/ Babolat. I thought he had it last year, but maybe I missed that. Solinco stencil and bag on the last gen Aero currently.
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solico stencil is only for the strings not the racket. solinco rackets are so inferior to babolat, he won't switch
 
It's a shame that Rajeev Ram, who's one of the greatest doubles players of all-time, doesn't have a contract with Babolat, when he so obviously uses their past Aero sticks. He does have a Solinco deal though, but Babs should pay up. Also weird that Roddick wasn't a legacy pro with Babs, when he played the Pure Drive his whole career. Babolat, in my opinion, is the best, but if they don't treat some of their users/players better, they're going to lose more market share. It's not all about money (which Yonex has endless compared to Babolat), but how you treat and respect people.
 
neversaydienadalfan said:
It's a shame that Rajeev Ram, who's one of the greatest doubles players of all-time, doesn't have a contract with Babolat, when he so obviously uses their past Aero sticks. He does have a Solinco deal though, but Babs should pay up. Also weird that Roddick wasn't a legacy pro with Babs, when he played the Pure Drive his whole career. Babolat, in my opinion, is the best, but if they don't treat some of their users/players better, they're going to lose more market share. It's not all about money (which Yonex has endless compared to Babolat), but how you treat and respect people.
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Them not supporting Roddick is insane, he is so crucial to the incredible success of the Pure Drive
 
neversaydienadalfan said:
It's a shame that Rajeev Ram, who's one of the greatest doubles players of all-time, doesn't have a contract with Babolat, when he so obviously uses their past Aero sticks. He does have a Solinco deal though, but Babs should pay up. Also weird that Roddick wasn't a legacy pro with Babs, when he played the Pure Drive his whole career. Babolat, in my opinion, is the best, but if they don't treat some of their users/players better, they're going to lose more market share. It's not all about money (which Yonex has endless compared to Babolat), but how you treat and respect people.
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You think Ram as a doubles specialist sells a lot of racquets or a retired Roddick in the Big 3 era would have sold a lot of racquets for Babolat. I highly doubt it and it looks like Babolat execs thought the same. Babolat uses their budget for active singles pros and for up-and-coming juniors and junior/club coaches.
 
There is no debate that Nadal and now Alcarez are well worth the investment and will sell racquets (a lot of racquets!!!!) but I wonder if Babolat has tightened its budget on the lower ranked players.

Also - I think the Roddick/Babolat issue was building for years probably because Roddick was very distant from tennis first years after retirement. However, now he is back and quite popular since Covid with tennis Channel and now on a very successful podcast. I think Babolat should have tried to keep him- would have been great timing with the anniversary Pure Drive release. It definitely would not have hurt since the Pure Drive line doesn’t have “that” player right now. It was smart for Wilson to scoop up his endorsement- yes it will not have the impact that Nadal/Alcarez has for Babolat but it will bring some advertisement to Wilson and Shift which will clearly sell more racquets! I’m sad he is not marketing Pure Drive for historical reasons but great for Wilson’s new line!
 
neversaydienadalfan said:
It's a shame that Rajeev Ram, who's one of the greatest doubles players of all-time, doesn't have a contract with Babolat, when he so obviously uses their past Aero sticks. He does have a Solinco deal though, but Babs should pay up. Also weird that Roddick wasn't a legacy pro with Babs, when he played the Pure Drive his whole career. Babolat, in my opinion, is the best, but if they don't treat some of their users/players better, they're going to lose more market share. It's not all about money (which Yonex has endless compared to Babolat), but how you treat and respect people.
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How relevant is Roddick now? His podcast and Tennis channel are his only means of visibility, and I don't think anyone outside the US will care about him. He is now with Wilson, which is probably betting on him having some sway inside the US.
 
kkm said:
For some reason it seems like Babolat isn’t the cool kid anymore, even though their racquets are good. I think the Pure Strikes are great.

Yonex is acting like the whole made in Japan thing makes a big difference - I think it’s bs (they use the same carbon fiber, and it is not just that) - I think it’s Wawa‘s winning the Aussie in 2014 making people think ok maybe this isn’t just a chick brand anymore. Yonex has become the annoying Williamsburg hipster.

Wilson has huge shoes to fill with Federer and SW retired. Jabeur is the biggest name on the Pro Staff, and Tsitsipas is the biggest name on the Blade, but imho they need to figure out the Burn and Ultra.

I think Head is in good shape with basically all their lines.

TF has Swiatek and Medvedev but not so deep with the others.
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Brand in biggest trouble of the big brands is ProKennex, ProKennex is not sponsring anybody has no Jr models and only see older players with models because they have the most extended frames in a brands lineup I have seen from the big brands.
 
Casey 1988 said:
Brand in biggest trouble of the big brands is ProKennex, ProKennex is not sponsring anybody has no Jr models and only see older players with models because they have the most extended frames in a brands lineup I have seen from the big brands.
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I feel like only Babolat, Wilson, Head and Yonex have enough market share to be considered big brands for racquets. Everyone else has only a few percentage points of share.
 
socallefty said:
I feel like only Babolat, Wilson, Head and Yonex have enough market share to be considered big brands for racquets. Everyone else has only a few percentage points of share.
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I was meaning of brands with a full lineup in each category and are bigger, in my case Prince is another with no sponsored players unless I am missing somebody.
 
I don't think PK cares to waste money with a major player. They probably make more $$ bottom line from the other racquet sports than anyone else.
 
esgee48 said:
I don't think PK cares to waste money with a major player. They probably make more $$ bottom line from the other racquet sports than anyone else.
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ProKennex does not make for any sport other then Tennis maybe one Soft Tennis model that looks like a straight version of a Kings Tennis racquet. They used to make for Racquetball but stopped in the 1990's when looking up models. Brand made models for Squash into the 2000's that were a Squash/Tennis combo but stopped as well, never really saw ProKennex making for Badminton. Only other sports ProKennex is making models for uses a paddle in Table tennis only high end $90+ models when not on sale who is lesser used as non serious players go with cheaper brands like Badden or joke brand Franklen where only in Hockey is Franklin not a joke and Pro Kennex has Pickleball paddels.

Others like Babolat and Yonnex make for Badminton as does Kawaski who still makes knockoff clones or better cheap models in Tennis as well as is main manufacture for Soft Tennis and a Soft Tennis/ straight handle Kings Tennis model. Do not forget Prince had bought out Ektelon who is #1 or #2 in sales for Racquetball, Willson being the other big hitter for Racquetball.
 
Casey 1988 said:
ProKennex does not make for any sport other then Tennis maybe one Soft Tennis model that looks like a straight version of a Kings Tennis racquet. They used to make for Racquetball but stopped in the 1990's when looking up models. Brand made models for Squash into the 2000's that were a Squash/Tennis combo but stopped as well, never really saw ProKennex making for Badminton. Only other sports ProKennex is making models for uses a paddle in Table tennis only high end $90+ models when not on sale who is lesser used as non serious players go with cheaper brands like Badden or joke brand Franklen where only in Hockey is Franklin not a joke and Pro Kennex has Pickleball paddels.

Others like Babolat and Yonnex make for Badminton as does Kawaski who still makes knockoff clones or better cheap models in Tennis as well as is main manufacture for Soft Tennis and a Soft Tennis/ straight handle Kings Tennis model. Do not forget Prince had bought out Ektelon who is #1 or #2 in sales for Racquetball, Willson being the other big hitter for Racquetball.
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I can't understand what you are saying in this post, can you please try again.
 
atatu said:
I can't understand what you are saying in this post, can you please try again.
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ProKennex does not have racquets outside of Tennis, only paddles for Table Tennis in the high end USA $90 + that are not for the casual player who buys the cheap models and ProKennex has models of paddles for Pickleball .

Others like Babolat and Yonnex make for Badminton as does Kawaski who still makes knockoff clones or better cheap models in Tennis as well as is main manufacture for Soft Tennis and a Soft Tennis/ straight handle Kings Tennis model. Do not forget Prince had bought out Ektelon who is #1 or #2 in sales for Racquetball, Willson being the other big hitter for Racquetball.

I do not think ProKennex is really a big hitter outside of tennis in Raquet sports as there are none now or even in Paddle sports, besides Pickleball as other brands who have other Racquets sports and Paddles like Wilson or Prince/Ektelon being high in racquetball with Ektelon and Badminton as well as in Pickleball with Prince.
 
Casey 1988 said:
ProKennex does not have racquets outside of Tennis, only paddles for Table Tennis in the high end USA $90 + that are not for the casual player who buys the cheap models and ProKennex has models of paddles for Pickleball .

Others like Babolat and Yonnex make for Badminton as does Kawaski who still makes knockoff clones or better cheap models in Tennis as well as is main manufacture for Soft Tennis and a Soft Tennis/ straight handle Kings Tennis model. Do not forget Prince had bought out Ektelon who is #1 or #2 in sales for Racquetball, Willson being the other big hitter for Racquetball.

I do not think ProKennex is really a big hitter outside of tennis in Raquet sports as there are none now or even in Paddle sports, besides Pickleball as other brands who have other Racquets sports and Paddles like Wilson or Prince/Ektelon being high in racquetball with Ektelon and Badminton as well as in Pickleball with Prince.
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Pro Kennex has Squash rackets, Racquetball frames

https://prokennex-racquetball.com/product-category/racquetball/

Squash - ProKennex

prokennex.com prokennex.com

Also HEAD is a big hitter in racquetball

 
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