nicolaisidek
Semi-Pro
this is the thing I don't understand. is it shaped according to his hand or sth? or just the standard shape with his desired size?
Roger’s BLX90
- Thread starter Fabfed
- Start date
this is the thing I don't understand. is it shaped according to his hand or sth? or just the standard shape with his desired size?
Povl Carstensen
Legend
As I understand, it is often a replica of the grip of an old favourite racket of the player. The current PS grip has a different shape than it had earlier, as I can see and feel from my PS 85 and K90. I prefer the old one.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
It depends. Some players do get their handles to fit their hands specifically and some just want a consistent size that they like and some want a different shape altogether. For example, some pros who don't like Head's rectangular grip shape can still play with Head racquets because they get their handles custom molded into the shape that they prefer.
nicolaisidek
Semi-Pro
Thanks for clearing things up, dudes....
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
OK, I got my hands on a BLX90 today and took a look at the grommet channel and compared it to that of my K90. You're right. They are different. I'm not sure if the depth is much different but the channel on the BLX90 is definitely wider than that on the K90. Does this mean that the molds are different? Not necessarily. It may just mean that they tweaked the sides of the mold a little bit for the BLX90 but the general mold shape remains the same.
Remember that there's not just one single K90 mold. There are dozens of them or maybe more. They couldn't produce so many frames so quickly with just one single mold so there are many copies of the same mold. Same for the BLX90 mold. I think all it is is that they made the grommet channel a bit wider when they went from the K90 to the BLX90 but that they are still basically the same mold and not a brand new mold like they would need to develop and tool for a brand new model with a different shape. The shapes of the BLX90 and K90 are obviously the same.
Povl Carstensen
Legend
A small difference, but a difference. When I had my look, it seemed the grip on the BLX was slightly longer, and even the head on the BLX was slightly more elongated, but that may have been my eyes fooling me (these were unstrung rackets)? I know that the longer grip (pallets) would have nothing to do with the mould.
0d1n
Hall of Fame
Such small differences can come even from one mold being through more "use and abuse" when compared with the other.
It's not like they use a SINGLE mold to manufacture all of the racquets, there are many...and probably even in different factories...different cities...etc.
Such differences are "within tolerance" probably ... especially given Wilson's stupidly loose tolerance when it comes to quality control.
It's not like they use a SINGLE mold to manufacture all of the racquets, there are many...and probably even in different factories...different cities...etc.
Such differences are "within tolerance" probably ... especially given Wilson's stupidly loose tolerance when it comes to quality control.
Povl Carstensen
Legend
No, this was definitely more than use and abuse, and tolerance. A distinct difference in the measurement/design of this (small) detail, imo.
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Hey jimbo, thanks. Wow, very brave of your friend to look both under the bumper and overgripI should be getting the balance board by tomorrow, so I'll get the racquets measured soon.
Hi,
So... any news about it ? ...
I still don't see how Greg and ArtArt can both be right. Nobody has explained how with a weight of about 364g, the SW can be 355 on such a HL racquet?
My friend can't weigh his racquet (no scales, but it's probably about 364g anyway) and can't measure SW. However he has checked under grommets/bumper at top of racquet and there is one layer of very thin lead across the top 10 grommets (on both sides), about 5" or 12cm each side, which I guess would only be about 3g in weight. He also carefully looked under overgrip, and it is a P1 leather grip underneath not Wilson!
So along with balance of 32.1cm, that's all the info I can get on this Federer K90 racquet. Am looking forward to seeing balance of Fabfeds 4 racquets.
Thanks in advance Fabfed, and I hope you enjoy the Grand Prix
If we take a stock K90 that comes on "on-spec" we have (unstrung):
Static weight: 340 grams
Balance: 30.5 cm
Swingweight: ~308 (this is derived from TW's 6-frame average, minus the ~15 gram stringjob they put into their demo/playtesting frames)
We then add 16g Natural gut mains and 16L Alu Rough crosses, which weigh about 17 grams in a mid (including his 10 string savers). The center of the stringbed is 21" inches from the butt, and using the TW University Customization Worksheet (http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customizationReverse.php) we can add that string weight and get:
Static weight: 357 grams
Balance: 31.6 cm
Swingweight: ~339
Then we add the 4 gram overgrip:
Static weight: 361 grams
Balance: 31.35 cm
Swingweight: ~339
Then we add the 3-5 grams at 12 o'clock that P1 puts under the bumpers to match the frames and reach Fed's target swingweight (lets do 4 grams):
Static weight: 365 grams
Balance: 31.7 cm
Swingweight: ~352.5
So we're very close to the 364 grams FabFed has reported, and also very close the the 354 swingweight that Art Art has reported. Our modded K90 is slightly more headlight than the 32.1 cm you reported. But that can easily be explained by the custom handle and custom leather added by P1. If those two things are slightly lighter than the stock equivlents, P1 could get to 364 grams by adding several grams at the top of the grip, which would raise the balance by several millimeters (weight at the top of the grip moves the balance down less than the same amount in the middle of the grip). Alternately, the frames chosen for Fed could be a bit less headlight than Wilson's target spec for the K90 (30.5 cm unstrung). (Actually, most K90s are several millimeters less headlight than that target spec.)
(BTW, most modern racquets can have a high swingweight and a short (headlight) balance. You just add weight to the butt, polarizing it. The K90 is moderately polarized in stock form. This is done with the lead bars Wilson places inside the butt of K90s, about a half inch from the end of the handle; dig through the foam a bit and you'll find them. For example, If we put 34 grams in the butt of Rafa's racquet (350 swingweight) to match Fed's 364 gram static weight, his APDGT would balance at 30cm (14HL)!)
I think Greg Raven's Fed K90 lacks the lead at 12 o'clock that P1 adds (thus, the 338 swingweight, rather than 350+). Raven's frame came from the Wilson War Room, not from P1, so it probably doesn't have P1's custom handle or leather either.
sixone90
Hall of Fame
This guy on the 3bay has what appears to be a Federer BLX90 and he's played with it!
Item number: 320596431195
It's from Australia. The guy says it was used by Federer in the 2009 Australian Open, I think he means 2010. He says there is silicon injected in the handle. I'm tempted to give him a ring for inspection just for fun, he lives about 1.5 hr drive from me. Maybe he'd let me play test it if I offered a bit of money
Item number: 320596431195
It's from Australia. The guy says it was used by Federer in the 2009 Australian Open, I think he means 2010. He says there is silicon injected in the handle. I'm tempted to give him a ring for inspection just for fun
, he lives about 1.5 hr drive from me. Maybe he'd let me play test it if I offered a bit of money sdstefanov
New User
63#, sounds more like the Blake paintjob at the Australian...
This guy on the 3bay has what appears to be a Federer BLX90 and he's played with it!
Item number: 320596431195
It's from Australia. The guy says it was used by Federer in the 2009 Australian Open, I think he means 2010. He says there is silicon injected in the handle. I'm tempted to give him a ring for inspection just for fun
hum... not the usual tension/day stickers and not the leather grip with white overgrip.. weird
sixone90
Hall of Fame
I thought Blake played with a retail BLX90?
Yeah, the grip and sticker had me really suspicious.
This guy on the 3bay has what appears to be a Federer BLX90 and he's played with it!
Item number: 320596431195
It's from Australia. The guy says it was used by Federer in the 2009 Australian Open, I think he means 2010. He says there is silicon injected in the handle. I'm tempted to give him a ring for inspection just for fun
I don't think this is one of Rog's sticks. Assuming the picture showing the tension label is supposedly one from when Rog used it, its obviously wrong. That's not anything close to what we use. I tend to agree that it may be one of James Blake's. The tension label and racquet identification label look to be one's that his customizer uses. Also, Rog always works in kilos, not pounds.
wonder1994
Rookie
WOW! Nice posts ! Where did you get this photos?))
wonder1994
Rookie
But now blake plays another racket, maybe prince...
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Excellent info
Also this shows that at Aussie Open this year Blake and Fed had exact same paintjob on their BLX90's. I don't if this makes it more likely that Fed is using a retail BLX90 as hairpin (I still personally doubt it), but they do both have what is an earlier version of the BLX paint which is different to retail version that was released!
And Ron, you must be having a right good giggle at all of us, trying to find out Fed's racquet specs when you obviously know them but can't tell us:twisted:
I think there is a possibilty he uses different weights/balance/SW at different times of the season. It is great fun trying to work this all out though
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Just to follow up on Ron's observations...
Good work
Is someone going to tell that **** seller that he has Blake's racquet not Fed's LOL
And hope you enjoyed the Grand Prix
I'm a Ferrari fan, so I enjoyed it!
Great that you've got a balance board, and it's certainly going to be interesting to see the results, I'd have thought balance may be different on at least one racquet, anyway thanks in advance
sixone90
Hall of Fame
I'll do it...
Povl Carstensen
Legend
Excellent info
Also this shows that at Aussie Open this year Blake and Fed had exact same paintjob on their BLX90's. I don't if this makes it more likely that Fed is using a retail BLX90 as hairpin (I still personally doubt it), but they do both have what is an earlier version of the BLX paint which is different to retail version that was released!
And Ron, you must be having a right good giggle at all of us, trying to find out Fed's racquet specs when you obviously know them but can't tell us:twisted:
I think there is a possibilty he uses different weights/balance/SW at different times of the season. It is great fun trying to work this all out though
I think the information provided by Nate Ferguson, Ron Yu and others have given us a very good hint at the specs of Federers racket.
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
are you referring to Brotman?? I know that he has customized Blakes frames in the past, and he completes the lead strips in that fashion.
Nope. I won't say his name, just because he seems to be a fairly private person, so don't know whether he wants his name out there.
jimbo333
Hall of Fame
Yes I agree, Nate, Ron and others have given very good "hints"
It is really great that they are posting information on this message board!
I have measured the Fed racquets, took a little more time and pain than I thought. One racquet has the same balance as the one belonging to Jimbo's friend, the other 3 are not too far off. Will post the pics shortly.
zorg - the Fed grip measures 11.4 cm/4.48inches (with the overgrip).
zorg - the Fed grip measures 11.4 cm/4.48inches (with the overgrip).
bobbylechat
Rookie
thank you very much for all this information FabFed !!
bobbylechat
Rookie
sorry to see that
This is all I have... I'm tapped out. I have kept the racquets and will not be making any other measurements. Hope the balance info is useful for you guys. So as Linda Richman would say, "talk amongst yourselves", "discuss"
thanks for the great info fabfed! sorry about the board though.
wonder1994
Rookie
not bad.... very interesting)
VGP
Legend
Thanks again Fabfed.
To summarize:
2008 Fed K90 - 32.4cm, 364 grams
2009 Fed K90 - 32.1cm, 364 grams
2009 Fed K90 - 32.2cm, 364 grams
2010 Fed BLX90 - 32.2cm, 364 grams
2010 Nadal APDGT - 33.3cm, 335 grams
....too bad you broke your board. Don't let anyone around here say you didn't doing anything for anyone anymore.
To summarize:
2008 Fed K90 - 32.4cm, 364 grams
2009 Fed K90 - 32.1cm, 364 grams
2009 Fed K90 - 32.2cm, 364 grams
2010 Fed BLX90 - 32.2cm, 364 grams
2010 Nadal APDGT - 33.3cm, 335 grams
....too bad you broke your board. Don't let anyone around here say you didn't doing anything for anyone anymore.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Fed's ('09 &'10) racquets are closer to 7 pts. HL.
wonder1994
Rookie
2010 Nadal APDGT - 33.3cm
And this is what happened after the measurements.... didn't look and stepped on the board...
Hoooh.... what a CRaCk(!)(#%^)*# I didn't see it..
Check my post from 06-23-2009:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=3591531&postcount=192
Check my other post from 09-11-2009:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=3916281#post3916281
Now you can match specs... but again, I cannot tell how I did get those measures(I hope you can respect this).
Thank you Fabfed
Cheers
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=3591531&postcount=192
Check my other post from 09-11-2009:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=3916281#post3916281
Now you can match specs... but again, I cannot tell how I did get those measures(I hope you can respect this).
Thank you Fabfed
Cheers
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