Single Handed Backhand, 90,95,100 sq inch Head size

edberg_mania

New User
Hi There Everyone.

I play a single handed backhand. I might be wrong to judge, but I feel that a 90/95 sq inch head size is better to execute a single handed backhand, than a
100 sq inch, or large size.

Just had the experience, and I can't hit a back hand for nuts with 100 sq inch size. On, the other hand, the forehand improves for a larger head size.

I always felt that, the it is easy to take the racket back, and follow through with a smaller racket head, for 1HBH.

Any, Comments.

Regards,
 

mtommer

Hall of Fame
My own experience is that I noticed no difference when I went from the Ti Radical OS to the M-Fil 200 (18x20). *shrug*
 
Hi There Everyone.

I play a single handed backhand. I might be wrong to judge, but I feel that a 90/95 sq inch head size is better to execute a single handed backhand, than a
100 sq inch, or large size.

Just had the experience, and I can't hit a back hand for nuts with 100 sq inch size. On, the other hand, the forehand improves for a larger head size.

I always felt that, the it is easy to take the racket back, and follow through with a smaller racket head, for 1HBH.

Any, Comments.

Regards,

All about preferences, many do like the smaller head size.

But changing raquets won't do you magic.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Definitely easier with a 90-95 compared to 100. Demoing an APDC GT this week and noticed this immediately.
 
Pick a racquet that you like and work on the stroke itself rather than worrying about if your racquet is a "one handed backhand racquet" or not.

Yes, it really is that simple, except for the part where you demo a boatload of racquets and spend years developing your backhand, that is.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Nut turns the bolt, and regardless which bolt it is, the nut is in control.
I hit great `1hbh's occasionally with either a 95 heavy softy or a 115 super stiff featherweight boardstiff hoop.
 

gsharma

Professional
Hi There Everyone.

I play a single handed backhand. I might be wrong to judge, but I feel that a 90/95 sq inch head size is better to execute a single handed backhand, than a
100 sq inch, or large size.

Just had the experience, and I can't hit a back hand for nuts with 100 sq inch size. On, the other hand, the forehand improves for a larger head size.

I always felt that, the it is easy to take the racket back, and follow through with a smaller racket head, for 1HBH.

Any, Comments.

Regards,

It's possible as the smaller head-size racquet is probably more maneuverable. I switched from 95 sq in to 100 sq in and I found that 100 sq in was less maneuverable on the serve and 1hbh. I added some weight to the handle to make it more headlight and that did the trick for me.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Most 100+ sq in racket are lighter, and normally that is associated with MORE manueverable!
Most smaller rackets are softer and heavier.
Get used to your racket, and it won't matter what size for just the 1hbh.
Smaller heads to generally account for more precision on first serves, however.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Of course, swing weight is another factor. The more, the less manueverable.
In my cases, the big 115 are almost 2.5oz lighter, and have less swingweight.
It's easily possible to have a big hoop with more swingweight, but that's almost choosing the wrong racket for the reason of using a big hoop!
 

BillH

Rookie
If you lay a 93 si racquet on top of a 98si racquet head, the difference is negligible. For me, the biggest difference is weight and balance.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Yeah, weight, balance, aerodynamics, beam width, total strings, gauge of strings.
Notice my examples are more exxagerated, from 95 to 115 sizing. I don't think many players can feel the difference between my HeadLMRad 98 to my DunlopMfil 200 95, as they are the SAME size.
 
Several above have noted that laying racquets from 90 - 100 cm over one another will show very little difference in size.

More important is the "sweet spot" size, and the size and shape of their power zones. This is determined more by the mass and layout of the carbon fiber laminations, supplemental material (kevlar, titanium, gels, etc.) and epoxy glueing it all together.

You can compare up to four racquets at once with the Tennis Warehouse University Compare Racquet Power Feature. The results likely will surprise you, as some of the largest power zones are in small headed racquets that have are on the heavy side: http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/comparepower.cgi
 

finchy

Professional
It all depends on how comfortable you are with it. I play with a 90sqinch and I think it feels phenomenal to hit a one handed backhand with. Earlier today, I saw a kid blasting one handers with a 100sqin Babolat. Use whatever feels best for you.
 

Larrysümmers

Hall of Fame
It all depends on how comfortable you are with it. I play with a 90sqinch and I think it feels phenomenal to hit a one handed backhand with. Earlier today, I saw a kid blasting one handers with a 100sqin Babolat. Use whatever feels best for you.

same here. I'm not sure why but I don't feel right hitting a bh with a racket. It seems like if I go above 95, I lost it.
 

athiker

Hall of Fame
Is general opinion that racquet weight may be a bigger factor...or at least as big a facotr?

Do 1HBH prefer a heavier racquet that brings more mass to impact and maybe gives more power or at least stability to contact, or a lighter more maneuverable racquet that's quicker to bring around with one arm but maybe not so great on off center hits?

I've tried quite a few racquets, but not too many recently since my game has improved so really don't have any input myself...even though I play a 1HBH. I am curious though b/c I'm planning to pick up a 2nd backup racquet to replace the el cheapo I carry around "just in case" (I've always restrung before actually breaking a string in a match.). It seems like when I was demoing I paid more attention to my fh and serve than bh.
 

marosmith

Professional
I think heavy, head light, thin beamed, and under 100 is generally more friendly to a one hander but there are exceptions.
 

GuyClinch

Legend
Personally I have found smaller head racquets to provide more accuracy when the ball is well struck. this is likely why the pros don't use the biggest racquet possible.. The guy who wrote the racquet research website has some theorys on why this is the case but regardless I found that going from a 110 to a 98 improved my accuracy. My string pattern, weight, and stiffness were pretty similiar so there must be something to this idea.
 
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