Rios' Racquet

[Cobaine]

I always thought he played with the RD-7, but...... a guy I go to school with overheard I was a tennis player and we started talking. He said he used to work at saddlebrook 3-4 years ago and asked if I knew a guy named Marcelo Rios. Of couse I did, and the guy told me he used to do Rios favors while he was training there (getting him food after hours, helping him carry his bags, etc) When Rios left Saddlebrook he gave the guy two of his racquets as a thank you. He doesn't play tennis so he gave them to me. The sticks are an Ultimum RD Ti-50 Long. There is no bumper guard and they have black leather grips underneath a lefty wrapped tournagrip. There is some lead tape at the top of the hoop, but not a lot, maybe 5-6 grams at most. They feel pretty light for a pro's raquet, too. They have to be Rios' racquets though, becuase the guy knows nothing about tennis, he couldn't make this up. The lefty wrapped tournagrip backs it up, too. Did he switch to these sticks at the end of his career. I mean I guess it could be a paintjob, because both have the same sting pattern. How else could I tell?

 

[Jonas]

Sounds cool,
why don't you post some pics and we'll be able to tell you for sure.
Rios did indeed use a customized (extended) rd-7.
If those are really Rios' racquets than they are extended rd 7's with ti-50 paint.
Again, post a few pics and we'll be able to tell you for sure.

 

[Feña14]

Wow pictures would be amazing.

I agree with Jonas, i'm sure we would be able to tell from some good pictures.

Should definetly give them a hit regardless and tell us what you think.

 

[gonzalocatalino]

just one word: PICS!!!!

 

[Cobaine]

okay, I will get some pics and put them up. It may take me a few days though, since I have to borrow a digital camera (mine broke )

 

[ericsson]

and take high resolution so we can see clearly :mrgreen:
can you weigh the racket too? im curious howmuch they would weigh though

 

[Cobaine]

A year later

I cant find one racket so here are the pics of the one I have. I'm not the best photographer, so I hope these are sufficient. The racket is strung with Gosen Proform Tuff. I don't know if that's what was on it when Rios used them, or if the guy had them restrung. There are powerpads in certain areas, and the guy who gave them to me doesn't play tennis, so i doubt he would have it restrung. Who knows though... Anyway, check out the pics and tell me what you think. Oh yeah, I take back what I said about them being light. I dont have a scale, but it weights at least at much as my 12 oz Pure Control Team Standard.

 

[Cobaine]

 

[drakulie]

where are the power pads??

 

[Jonnyf]

Drak, in the 3rd last pic you can see some right up at the top where 10 o'clock would be

 

[Cobaine]

 

[Cobaine]

 

[drakulie]

HotCarl, the placement of those pads is very interesting. I would think only a pro would be so particular about where he has the pads placed and this is very unique. Thanks for sharing the photos.

I'm interested in seeing what other peoples opinions are of the frame.

 

[AJK1]

I once owned 3 RD Ti 50's, and they were about 12.3oz, 11pts headlight and a very low powered frame (1600) They were all about control. No inherent power whatsoever.
From the above pictures i can safely say it is a PJ, as the original 50's had a matt, rubbery paint finish to them, that looks a bit glossy to me. Also, the shape of the beam and throat looks a little different. That is definitely a RD7 in my opinion.
Power pads are really only used to prevent the strings from being cut through by the friction of the grommets.
You're a lucky man to have those in your possession. Keep 'em whatever you do.

 

[auzzieizm]

i think the finish was the difference between the standard length and the long version. one of the versions had a matte finish and one of the versions had a glossy finish.
my question to you all is: if rios used an extended rd 7 with the paintjob of the rd-ti 50 long, why did he use an un-stenciled version of the rd-ti 50 for his matches on the senior tour? i have a hard time believing he would use frames that are that old in competition (if he is indeed using an extended, paint-jobbed rd 7

 

[ericsson]

my question to you all is: if rios used an extended rd 7 with the paintjob of the rd-ti 50 long, why did he use an un-stenciled version of the rd-ti 50 for his matches on the senior tour? i have a hard time believing he would use frames that are that old in competition (if he is indeed using an extended, paint-jobbed rd 7

Maybe cos he has a big stock left and the RD 7 is his holy grail and not stecilled cos out of contract with yonex.

 

[Chauvalito]

I searched at gettyimages, and saw some pics of rios playing with a racket that looks very similiar as far as the throat shape and grip are concerned.

 

[Cobaine]

I'm tempted to hit with it. I always heard RD-7's were topspin machines. . .

 

[Yevgeny2010]

Sorry to bump this, but wondering if you (HotCarl) have any working images of Rios's racket or further specs you can provide or if you've posted them elsewhere? I'd really like to find out more about his racket setup ie. lead placement and weight and actual racket length etc.