Same swingweight, different static weight ... what does it mean in practice?

[time_fly]

If two rackets have the same swing weight but one is light (static weight) with a neutral to head-heavy balance and the other is heavier (static weight) with a head light balance, what differences would I expect in practice in how they play? I understand the technical definitions of static weight, balance point, and swing weight but I don't really understand how the real-world feel of the racket changes if you change the weight and balance point without changing the swing weight too much.

 

[SpinToWin]

You'll get a huge range of responses here. It really depends on one's strokes I think.

Having said that, I personally find the lighter racquet to swing faster and thus be especially good on serve, whereas it is less powerful, especially on volleys and other shots with a fairly limited range of motion (lower racquet head speed). The drop in power is less noticeable on full groundstrokes where you can swing the racquet fast. Thus the more HL racquet plays better up at net, whereas the more HH racquet excels from the baseline in my experience. The more HL racquet also tends to be better at simply blocking a ball, which can be advantageous when pressed for time (on the return for instance).

Some people say that a HH balance is a detrimental quality for maneuverability, but I do not subscribe to that notion. I think that players who play more at the baseline should keep an open mind and give more HH balances a try. The benefits are clearly there IMHO.

 

[esgee48]

Same SW but different mass normally means the less massive frame is more head heavy.

 

[n8dawg6]

try a blade 98 18x20 if you want to experience fairly low static weight with meatier swingweight.

 

[movdqa]

I'd send them to a customizer to try to get the specs matched but the end result would very likely be heavier specs.