Static weight vs swing weight

[Gee]

What factor is more critical, the static weight or swing weight of a frame?
I guess the swing weight will.
I am looking for a comparable racket as Head MG Radical Pro that has a static weight about 11.7 oz and a swingweight 319.

Now I found two frames of Technifibre that I want to demo:
TFight 335 Static weight 12.4 oz (352 gr) swingweight 320
TFight 320 static weight 11.7 oz (332 gr) swingweight 308

I am not sure which one to choose. I doubt the light swingweight of TFight 320. I am afraid it will be too low powered. I am also uncertain about the (too) high static weight of TFight 335.

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[anirut]

Gee,

Add balance to the equation too.

All three of them -- weight, SW and balance -- determines how a racket plays to you. (Actually the beam width is another factor to look into, if you want it to be a little more complicated.)

 

[Gee]

I only would like to know what TFight will swing most like the MG Rad Pro because I felt the weight of MG Rad Pro suits my game well. However I want to demo a frame with a denser string pattern for better (directional) control. So which one you will advice me?

 

[LPShanet]

What factor is more critical, the static weight or swing weight of a frame?
I guess the swing weight will.
I am looking for a comparable racket as Head MG Radical Pro that has a static weight about 11.7 oz and a swingweight 319.

Now I found two frames of Technifibre that I want to demo:
TFight 335 Static weight 12.4 oz (352 gr) swingweight 320
TFight 320 static weight 11.7 oz (332 gr) swingweight 308

I am not sure which one to choose. I doubt the light swingweight of TFight 320. I am afraid it will be too low powered. I am also uncertain about the (too) high static weight of TFight 335.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Both factors will affect the overall feel, but swingweight (and balance point) slightly more. However, since you can't REDUCE swingweight, I'd suggest getting the 320 and then adding a little lead to the head. You can't make the 335 lighter, but you can come close to the swingweight you want without adding as much overall weight by starting with the 320.

 

[ClayisFun]

it is really easy to modify the swingweight of a racquet to make it higher. You are much better off going with the frame closer to the weight you want and adding lead tape to taste. Demo the 320.

 

[Gee]

Thanks for your tips, LPShanet and ClyisFun. I can try to customize (I haven't done this before). But if I prefer stock frames which one comes then most close?

 

[LPShanet]

Thanks for your tips, LPShanet and ClyisFun. I can try to customize (I haven't done this before). But if I prefer stock frames which one comes then most close?

Different people perceive it different ways. They're both in the same ballpark, so it's worth demoing them both and seeing which you like better. Also, the amount of lead tape we're talking about isn't much. To add the weight we're talking about, it would just be a small strip on each side.

 

[Gee]

Different people perceive it different ways. They're both in the same ballpark, so it's worth demoing them both and seeing which you like better. Also, the amount of lead tape we're talking about isn't much. To add the weight we're talking about, it would just be a small strip on each side.

How much gram of lead and on what spot of the frame should I add to reach a swingweight of about 320?

 

[LPShanet]

How much gram of lead and on what spot of the frame should I add to reach a swingweight of about 320?

First thing you need to do is get your racquets' proper/actual specs. Using TW's listed specs is a big mistake, as they are often listed inaccurately, and even if they're right, there's quite a bit of variation from frame to frame. For example, the USRSA tools list different specs than you mentioned for both racquets. Also, the real specs of the Tecnifibre 320 apparently vary slightly depending on whether you use the 16 main or 18 main version.

If you can give me real numbers on YOUR actual frames, I can help you locate the lead.

 

[Gee]

Thanks LPShanet. I just ordered both demo rackets TFight 320 and 335 18x20 (because I still prefer stock frames). Friday I will play with them. I am curious.

 

[jace112]

Having played with both TF335 and 320, I highly doubt that the swingweight is that low. Tecnifibre claims it's much higher (I saw an ad for the TFight serie few months ago). Think about that!

 

[Gee]

Having played with both TF335 and 320, I highly doubt that the swingweight is that low. Tecnifibre claims it's much higher (I saw an ad for the TFight serie few months ago). Think about that!

If that's true the T320 will propably fit my game better. How much do you estimate the swingweight of T320 (18x20)?

 

[blubber]

The 320, whatever its swingweight is, feels significantly easier to swing fast compared to the Radical Pro. The balance between the 320 and the Pro are noticeably different - the 320 is more head light.

I liked the 320. Without lead it lacks some punch. It's more of an all-court frame. The Radical Pro better suits the style of tennis I want to play - more baseline oriented.

As for what Tecnifibre to choose, go with the 320. It's the same as the 335 but less heavy. You can always add weight to it. It's much harder, if not impossible to remove a significant amount of weight from the 335.

 

[LPShanet]

Thanks LPShanet. I just ordered both demo rackets TFight 320 and 335 18x20 (because I still prefer stock frames). Friday I will play with them. I am curious.

Good plan. Make sure you hit every stroke with both racquets, and do so on more than one day. You need to get to the point where you're not thinking much about the racquet, and just see which is producing better results CONSISTENTLY over the course of your sessions. Also, it's good to use both in practice and match situations if possible. In the end, I'm guessing that about an inch and a half to two inches of lead tape at 3 and 9 will make you fairly happy with the 320's...just a guess, though.

 

[Gee]

I liked the 320. Without lead it lacks some punch. It's more of an all-court frame. The Radical Pro better suits the style of tennis I want to play - more baseline oriented.

I also expected that I should add lead. But tomorrow I will know how it plays.
BTW I could play my serve and volley game very well with the Radical Pro. Much better than with my current frame FXP Radical Tour that is too sluggish for fast exchanges at the net game. Only a few things I dislike of the Radical Pro:
- The strings are moving a lot. After every rally I need to adjust my strings.
- Besides the directional control could be slightly better.
That's why I will try next a frame with a denser string pattern.

 

[Gee]

Friday night I played with TFight 320 and 335 (with 18x20 pattern). My impression with TF335 was the amazing control; I could place exactly where I want to. Groundstrokes felt very solid. Volleys were also very controlled and solid.
But after a few long rallies I felt the TF335 is a bit too heavy for me.
At that moment I picked up the TF320. Immediately I noticed the easier swing but also (of course) a bit less solid than TF335. During the first strokes with TF320 I felt a bit vibration but after a few rallies this feeling disappeared.
Concerning control I felt no difference between these frames.
After a while I changed again to TF335. I now felt clearly that this one is more solid due to the higher weight.
However the control is perfect to me, the feel/comfort was not so fine as with Head MG Radical Pro. Overall I fortunately have not that great feeling about the TFights that makes me to buy them.
Sunday I will try a second session with TF.

 

[LPShanet]

Friday night I played with TFight 320 and 335 (with 18x20 pattern). My impression with TF335 was the amazing control; I could place exactly where I want to. Groundstrokes felt very solid. Volleys were also very controlled and solid.
But after a few long rallies I felt the TF335 is a bit too heavy for me.
At that moment I picked up the TF320. Immediately I noticed the easier swing but also (of course) a bit less solid than TF335. During the first strokes with TF320 I felt a bit vibration but after a few rallies this feeling disappeared.
Concerning control I felt no difference between these frames.
After a while I changed again to TF335. I now felt clearly that this one is more solid due to the higher weight.
However the control is perfect to me, the feel/comfort was not so fine as with Head MG Radical Pro. Overall I fortunately have not that great feeling about the TFights that makes me to buy them.
Sunday I will try a second session with TF.

All signs still point to adding a little lead to the TF320 at 3 and 9.

 

[neverstopplaying]

I opted for the 335. In my case, weight is similar to my previous stick and I figured that the engineers and TF would do a better job of adding weight (from 320 to 335) than I would.

Absolutely no regrets - best racquet and string setup ever!

 

[LPShanet]

I opted for the 335. In my case, weight is similar to my previous stick and I figured that the engineers and TF would do a better job of adding weight (from 320 to 335) than I would.

Absolutely no regrets - best racquet and string setup ever!

Nice work...always best to do what you like the best. If you're comfortable swinging the 335, it's always good to go as heavy as you can handle.