Serving better with my old Dunlop 300G. Newer 4D 300 feels 'heavy' for serve

[NineEleven]

Guys while executing the serve, i feel my new 4D300 feels 'heavy'. More often then not, i tend to serve into the net. Seems i cant hit the ball on time on usual toss.

So i changed my racket and next thing i know, i was serving ' bombs'. well not exactly but i can hear the 'pop' sound especially on first serve.

It just seem that i can handle the racket better and maneuver it during the serve.( Could be due to Shoulder impingement)

Im little confused now. the trade off is ground strokes felt not as solid as my 4D300 which i find more firm and stable .

I tend to frame the ball with the old 300G and definitely feels light which gives me a weak feeling like i cant return 'hard' balls.

In sum, i like the old 300g for serve mostly and 4D 300 on the rest.

Now looking at the specs, it seems they are pretty similar. Only thing is the swing weight which is 320 grams for the 4D 300 versus 300 grams for the 300G. So im thinking that its the 20 grams extra in the 4D300 which makes it feel heavy when i serve.

Next i proceeded by removing all my lead tape on the 4D 300 which i earlier positioned at 3 and 9 intending to reduce swing weight. I however left the 5 grams at the buttcap. I then did a couple of serve, still i found it not as easy to serve as my Dunlop 300G.

Now can somehow please help me figure this problem i am having?

Here are the specs for both racket...


1) Old Dunlop 300G(non-tour) added 2 grams at 3 and 9 .leather grip+overgrip

Length 27 inches 69 centimeters
Head Size 98 sq. in. / 632 sq. cm.
Weight 10.8 ounces/306 grams
Balance Point 13 inches
33 centimeters 4 pts Head Light
Construction 21.5 mm Straight Beam
Composition Hot Melt Braided Graphite with Elastomer/Kevlar Yoke
String Pattern 16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Flex Rating 64
Swing Weight 300

2) New Dunlop 4D 300 Aerogel(non-tour)
** Added 2.5 grams at 3 and 9 and 5 grams at buttcap./ 1 Overgrip

Head Size: 98 sq. in. / 632 sq. cm.
Length: 27 inches / 69 cm
Strung Weight: 10.oz / 309g
Balance: 3pts Head Light
Swingweight: 320
Stiffness: 60
Beam Width: 21 mm Straight Beam
Composition: Aerogel 4D Braided Graphite
Power Level: Low-Medium
Swing Speed: Fast
Grip Type: Hydramax Tour
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Mains skip: 8T,8H
One Piece
No shared holes
String Tension: 55-65 pounds

 

[cellofaan]

It's quite difficult to figure out what's the problem.
The stock specs indeed differ a lot on SW. I suppose you have a similar lead and grip setup on both racquets? If not, then the balance and static weight can be quite different as well.
(SW by the way is not measured in grams but in kg/cm^2)

To find out if it indeed is the SW which causes the serve, you could try to match your ag with your 4d.
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customization.php
I'd remove all leadtape from the 4d, use the stock specs of both to match the ag to the 4d, and then put the same grip and overgrip on both.

If the ag then serves similar to the 4d (and both not as good as the ag originally did) it's probably the SW. If it still serves better, it could be something else, like the flex. The 4d is quite a bit flexier than the ag.

Edit: with only 3 grams difference, you can't match the SW. If you put for example 10 grams at 4 inch on the 4d, the SW won't change, but the balance will become about 32.61 cm, and the static weight 319 grams. you can use those specs to match the racquets.

 

[LeeD]

Strange, I notice the opposite effect from gaining weight from Mfil to Aero 200's.
Exact same strings.
Aero is definetely heavier and heavier swing weight. I can serve better most of the time with the heavier Aero. I can serve spin serves with more spin with lighter Mfil.
Overall, makes little difference, I can easily miss with either racket doing anything.
Aero is almost 3/16" LONGER than Mfil....

 

[NineEleven]

Its strange i guess for now i will serve with 300G and return with 4D300 lol.. yea right..

Yep i agree with you guys, will remove all lead tape and compare again.

Another thing i should add is my shoulder has been giving me problems and it just seem to be very tight especially on overheads. I suppose this could be another reason why my racket feel heavier than normal.

 

[Mig1NC]

Don't suppose you have any interest in selling that 300g if it is 4 1/4 to 4 1/2?

 

[LeeD]

You tend to hit LATER, causing higher ball, serves go long, with heavier rackets or rackets with more swing weight.
Your problem is you're swinging earlier, so don't blame increased swingweight. Swinging earlier meaning ball goes into the net.
4D has stiffer hoop, might be heavier as well.

 

[JT Corona]

LeeD: I like your line of thinking, basically don't blame the racket and focus on your technique and timing, besides of course you have to adjust to a new stick. I too am trying a heavier frame and everything seems better except perhaps the serve. I will keep what you said in mind by keeping my left arm and head up and hitting the ball at the right place (so not late or early at impact).

Regarding the 4D, I find it very stable when I demoed the 4D200 18x20. I just wish they used less of that gel stuff cuz i find it a bit too dampened/muted. I even felt like it played slightly better without a dampner cuz it was dampened already. But the stability was unbelieveable I thought - very comfortable even when slightly off. Just my .02 thanx

 

[Power Player]

Strange, I notice the opposite effect from gaining weight from Mfil to Aero 200's.
Exact same strings.
Aero is definetely heavier and heavier swing weight. I can serve better most of the time with the heavier Aero. I can serve spin serves with more spin with lighter Mfil.
Overall, makes little difference, I can easily miss with either racket doing anything.
Aero is almost 3/16" LONGER than Mfil....

LeeD,

Do you notice much of a difference from the AG200 to the 4D200? The specs look close to the same. I was wondering if they could be switched out during a match. Sometimes I see great deals on AG200s.

Corona, I agree. I do not use a dampener on the 4D at all either. But it sounds like a canon, and does not give off much a ping to be annoying.

 

[LeeD]

The only thing I can say about the 4D is that the head felt really dull, but stiff. Aero head is much stiffer than Mfil head, but sharp and responsive feeling.
Could be strings. I use heavy 15 gauge and the demo 4D was 17 gauge. Also, the 4D demo was L-3, and I use a L-5 with overgrip, so the feel is completely alien to me.

 

[dParis]

Funny how experiences with a particular racquet can differ from one user to the next. I never expected to hear someone say the 4D300 felt heavy on serve. I thought it was a very easy swinging, excellent serving racquet. Actually, serving was the only thing I could do very well with this stick. Groundstrokes and volleys were average or below. I found myself wishing I could serve with this racquet and play the rest of the points with another. :lol:

 

[LeeD]

What do you mean by "groundstrokes were average or below"?
Were groundies weak, or inconsistent? Either can be cured with practice and adaptation. Were you too late on the ball, or were you overhitting? Practice and adaptation.
You can't expect something new and different to work exactly like the old and familiar. That's why they make NEW AND DIFFERENT.
As an aside, I hit yesterday with a Aero300. I'm used to much heavier 200's. Groundies were slow, spin was easier to attain, but ball had little penetration....compared to the 200's. I'm sure I could just swing out more, add more spin and swingspeed, and ....injure my shoulders.....

 

[dParis]

What do you mean by "groundstrokes were average or below"?
Were groundies weak, or inconsistent? Either can be cured with practice and adaptation. Were you too late on the ball, or were you overhitting? Practice and adaptation.
You can't expect something new and different to work exactly like the old and familiar. That's why they make NEW AND DIFFERENT.
As an aside, I hit yesterday with a Aero300. I'm used to much heavier 200's. Groundies were slow, spin was easier to attain, but ball had little penetration....compared to the 200's. I'm sure I could just swing out more, add more spin and swingspeed, and ....injure my shoulders.....

I thought the 4D300 had a small and linear sweet spot. Not much power otherwise. I really had to step into the court to get any depth. From behind the baseline I was giving up way too many short balls. Also, I thought it was difficult to generate effective topspin with the 4D300. On volleys, the 4D300 was stable for a < 11oz frame but just can't keep up with beefier frames that are almost as easy to manoever. Maybe lead junkies had a better experience with it. I thought the 4D200 16x19 had a bigger sweet spot even though the head is smaller - and was equal to or better than the 4D300 in all areas.

 

[LeeD]

Maybe it has something to do with getting used to the racket.
Lighter rackets = bigger swings, more net clearance, more topspin, less ball speed.
Heavier rackets can be hit much flatter, getting penetration with some topspin and fast moving ball.
If the 4D feels heavy AND doesn't swing fast, AND doesn't hit penetrating flat balls, then maybe it's time for a change.
I didn't like the 300's weight, or lack of. But hitting more topspin, swinging much faster, more net clearance, will get you back the depth and heaviness you lost with a light racket.
My normal racket is a just over 12oz Mfil and Aero 200 18x20s.