Stiffness rating misleading ?

[ferrari_827]

I think these stiffness RDC ratings are misleading. I think the stiffness is measured in the throat area, but not in the head, which is just as if not more important.

For example, some Yonex rackets have a low rated stiffness (RD7, Ti50), but are actually very stiff in the head area, resulting in feel but good power. Conversely, there are rackets which are stiff in the throat but flexible in the head.

Maybe the stiffness index should measure deflection at the head as well for an overall measure of stiffness ?

The IPrestige Mid and LM Prestige are listed with about the same stiffness of 60-61. In actual play, there is a huge difference. The IPrestige feels more like 66-67, and the LM Prestige feels more like 57.

 

[AAAA]

AFAIK practical/affordable equipment isn't available for measuring racquet head stiffness in the tennis world.

The flex ratings are not misleading, rather people are mis-interrupting the meaning of the readings with respect to actual play. As you point out racquet 'feel' is dependent on head flex, throat flex, any handle dampening materials and the strings and tension.