Roddick racquet change

pabletion

pabletion

Hall of Fame
Roddick is such a strong guy, with a massive serve; why does he use such a powerful racquet? I see him nowadays how careful he is with his groundstrokes, specially his FH. When he first arrived on tour it was one of the biggest, almost all of them would either be winners or cause an easy reply from opponents. I've wondered recently if he wouldnt benefit from a more controlled oriented stick, maybe the Pure Storm? Anyways, I know pros have acces to any kind of racquet they want to try out, and the ones they use (top pros) are custom made to their own specifications..... but still, just wondering if he wouldnt benefit from a heavier, more controlled oriented stick that would let him go for his shots more... thoughts?
 
yeah. roddicks rackets are the same mould as the ones you get of the shelf, but heavier. ive heard his might be longer than 27.5, any one know if its true? ive tried to search but not got the time to check every post! thanks
 
yeah his racquet is weighted differently to limit the power. I believe he would probably benefit from a tighter string job in order to allow him to hit flatter with confidence on his forehand side.
 
pabletion said:
Roddick is such a strong guy, with a massive serve; why does he use such a powerful racquet? I see him nowadays how careful he is with his groundstrokes, specially his FH. When he first arrived on tour it was one of the biggest, almost all of them would either be winners or cause an easy reply from opponents. I've wondered recently if he wouldnt benefit from a more controlled oriented stick, maybe the Pure Storm? Anyways, I know pros have acces to any kind of racquet they want to try out, and the ones they use (top pros) are custom made to their own specifications..... but still, just wondering if he wouldnt benefit from a heavier, more controlled oriented stick that would let him go for his shots more... thoughts?
Click to expand...

If you think he is so strong then he should use the Pure drive standard instead of the Plus. since control is of some issue for him. but roddick just isn't fast enough to play defense for too long. I think current racket suits him just fine.
 
RoddickistheMan said:
yeah his racquet is weighted differently to limit the power. I believe he would probably benefit from a tighter string job in order to allow him to hit flatter with confidence on his forehand side.
Click to expand...

Do you mean balanced differently? Adding weight just increases it's power potential...

Force= Mass+Acceleration buddy. Get it straight
 
Jack & Coke said:
interesting.. I wonder why TW rates it as:

"Power Level: Low-Medium"

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-BPDR.html
Click to expand...

Most player's racket are just listed as "low". Therefore, it has more power than any players' racket anyway.
 
RestockingTues said:
Do you mean balanced differently? Adding weight just increases it's power potential...

Force= Mass+Acceleration buddy. Get it straight
Click to expand...

I'd hate to burst your bubble there chief, but force is equal to mass TIMES acceleration. It's Newton's 2nd law, simple physics. Don't try to put people down when you can't get the facts correct yourself.
 
Jack & Coke said:
interesting.. I wonder why TW rates it as:

"Power Level: Low-Medium"

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-BPDR.html
Click to expand...

ROFL Yeah a stiff racquet with a thick beam isn't going to produce a lot of power. Comon buddy, think outside of the box for once and don't always trust what other people say.
 
Jack & Coke said:
interesting.. I wonder why TW rates it as:

"Power Level: Low-Medium"

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-BPDR.html
Click to expand...

Yes, sonny..., Low-medium racquets are about the most powerful there are for a "players" racquet.... Aaaaaaaaaaaand, if you know anything about tennis, and have tried the racquet yourself and compared it to others, you'd agree that it is a very powerful stick...

Anyways, I brought the subject up because you see other big strong power hitters (Safin, Gulbis, amongst others) using control oriented sticks... I just wonder how Roddick would handle say, an NCode 95, a Prestige, or, in the interest of not switching brands, a Pure Storm Tour....
 
master_stringer_mitchy said:
yeah. roddicks rackets are the same mould as the ones you get of the shelf, but heavier. ive heard his might be longer than 27.5, any one know if its true? ive tried to search but not got the time to check every post! thanks
Click to expand...

Mitch,

totally off topic but as I saw you come from Leicester thought I would respond. I used to play at Gynsells in Anstey back in the day amongst other places and my folks still live there (Desford). Brings back memories of my junior days playing Leicestershire opens etc.
 
pabletion and TennisProdigy, I'm not disagreeing with you or other people's opinions about the "power level" of the Pure Drive.

I was just pointing out that I found it interesting that TW rates what many here on TT concider to be a "very powerful" racquet as "low-med power".

To me, the terms "low power" or "med power" are not what comes to mind when describing the feeling of bashing serves and groundies with a Pure Drive.
 
Jack & Coke said:
pabletion and TennisProdigy, I'm not disagreeing with you or other people's opinions about the "power level" of the Pure Drive.

I was just pointing out that I found it interesting that TW rates what many here on TT concider to be a "very powerful" racquet as "low-med power".

To me, the terms "low power" or "med power" are not what comes to mind when describing the feeling of bashing serves and groundies with a Pure Drive.
Click to expand...

I agree. According to TW's Racquet Finder, they have 126 11+oz racquets in their current line-up. Only four of them do not have "low" or "low-medium" power levels (Shark, Aerogel 500 Tour, Ki15 PSE, and tFlash 290).
 
Jack & Coke said:
pabletion and TennisProdigy, I'm not disagreeing with you or other people's opinions about the "power level" of the Pure Drive.

I was just pointing out that I found it interesting that TW rates what many here on TT concider to be a "very powerful" racquet as "low-med power".

To me, the terms "low power" or "med power" are not what comes to mind when describing the feeling of bashing serves and groundies with a Pure Drive.
Click to expand...

Alrite didnt mean to sound as a smarta$$. The thing is, that the ones marked as High or mid-High on power level, they all are racquets for people with short slower swings, and that are lower leveled players; they all are light, big headed frames. When a racquet is labeled as "low powered" it means that the player provides the power, with a longer, faster swing; if you look at most "players" racquets, they are labeled as low-powered, that is why the PD is low-medium, its more powered than most "players" racquets
 
The topic of the suitability of Roddick's racquet choice is an interesting one. Don't forget, though, the hallmark of his game is his serve, and a less powerful stick would mean slower serves. Control is enhanced through use of poly on the mains, weighting, and very tight stringing. Further, his style of play is very spin heavy, so his stick is not an unreasonable choice. Many other top players use similar racquets (in terms of power level and head size - 98-100 headsize and greater than 20/21 beam width): Nadal, Youzhny, Andreev, Ferrer, Gasguet, Karlovic, Lopez, Moya, and Ljubicic, to mention a few. But, I do hear you, and many of the top pros do, in fact, use thinner beams with smaller head sizes.

I think it's important to note that traditional players racquets and the more powerful players racquets aren't that much different in terms of power right in the middle of the sweet spot - the difference is mainly that the more "powerful" players racquets have wider sweet spots. This is widely accepted thinking in the world of tennis racquets. (Nonetheless, the "low-medium" power are indeed slightly more powerful in the center and certainly more powerful overall.)
 
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Doesn't Andreev use a PDR also???

Roddick strings pretty tight too. I think around 66 or so. PHT/VS gut

I'm a teaching 5.0 pro and use the PDR at 63 alu/nxt and it's not hard to control and I hit w/ top jrs. His forehand prob is he has a hard time flattening it out and it doesn't get through the court as quick as say a murray or del potro when he flattens it out
 
I've tried asking this on the other ARod racket thread that's going around right now but no-one's answered. Anyway, re Roddick's frame, anyone got an idea of even approximately how much lead tape he uses and where its located?
 
he is just fine with the racket he is using.
seems to be very comfortable with it.
 
Ross K said:
I've tried asking this on the other ARod racket thread that's going around right now but no-one's answered. Anyway, re Roddick's frame, anyone got an idea of even approximately how much lead tape he uses and where its located?
Click to expand...

2 strips at 9 & 3 o'clock.
 
RestockingTues said:
Do you mean balanced differently? Adding weight just increases it's power potential...

Force= Mass+Acceleration buddy. Get it straight
Click to expand...

lol were not talking about grade 10 physics.
Simply put, heavier racket moves slower then a light racket, so more control. and its mass multiplied by acceleration not plus buddy.
 
pabletion said:
Roddick is such a strong guy, with a massive serve; why does he use such a powerful racquet? I see him nowadays how careful he is with his groundstrokes, specially his FH. When he first arrived on tour it was one of the biggest, almost all of them would either be winners or cause an easy reply from opponents. I've wondered recently if he wouldnt benefit from a more controlled oriented stick, maybe the Pure Storm? Anyways, I know pros have acces to any kind of racquet they want to try out, and the ones they use (top pros) are custom made to their own specifications..... but still, just wondering if he wouldnt benefit from a heavier, more controlled oriented stick that would let him go for his shots more... thoughts?
Click to expand...

physical strength is far less impt in tennis than technique and fitness. to that end, he doesnt have great technique on his forehand (his head is all over the place like Reagan in the Exorcist) ;) He chokes way up on the racquet to hit his backhand (never seen a pro do that recently) and has a very straight armed stroke both which rob him of power.

also, he needs to serve huge to win and likely hasnt found anything he serves as well with...without him easily holding serve, he wouldnt win too many matches
 
roddick just isnt as good as the competition anymore. he is the equal to that junior kid who took way too many lessons as a junior... might have been good for awhile, but then never really got much better....

roddick came on the scene and had it, but never really got much better... meanwhile, his competition seemed to all improve... plus having to deal with federer while he was on one of the all time best runs EVER didn't help haha... no federer and roddick has a couple more majors as well
 
JediMindTrick said:
I also feel that Roddick is holding back on his forehand for fear of hitting long. It's painful to watch.
Click to expand...
ditto.
the difference is night and day when he loosens up and goes for it.
when will he realize that?
 
Yes a heavier racket would tend to give faster swing speeds more control dependent on the stroke; and i also know a fellow that has a racket supposedly used by roddick and it has the woofer painted on also.
 
I know his cortex/woofer is all pj'd.

And if i remember correctly his stick weighs over 13.5, but I'm not too sure really.

And I remember he was testing some strings I think earlier this year? (It was red, and blatantly obvious it was not PHT in the mains)

He doesn't need to change strings :p
 
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