Systematic methodology when you demo rackets ?

I bet most people don't have a systematic way to demo.
They just hit for a while, and which ever racket they happened to be using during a random hot steak gets purchased.

What do you give most weight to ?
Do you see how it hits for an easy ball in your strike zone?
Do you see how it hits for defensive and awkward shots?
Do you test how it serves?
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
These days I look at comfort first. Is this an arm friendly frame based on reviews, RA numbers? Then once I have that list of frames I look for frames with a good amount of control. I'm a placement tennis player so the racquet needs to put the ball in tight windows. Then I look at specs trying to get something in the 330SW 12 oz static weight with a HL balance.

Then order and demo.
 

Chezbeeno

Professional
I can never decide what feels better when I'm demoing and switching racquets often (perhaps just because I'm the kind of person to overthink everything). So my "system" is to outright buy a racquet if I know specs-wise that it's gonna be what I need. I did this for my Blade 98's a few years ago and with my Clash now, and both times I was happy. I just needed to commit to the racquets in both instances in ways that I couldn't get myself to do with demos. That being said, a lot of research went into the Clash purchase. Not so much with the Blades, but they're still my all-time favorites.
 

ChimpChimp

Semi-Pro
How do testers know whether the feel they sense is from the racquet or from the dont-know-what string?

They don't know the string.

They cannot guarantee the same whatever string on two different demo racquets.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
How do testers know whether the feel they sense is from the racquet or from the dont-know-what string?

They don't know the string.

They cannot guarantee the same whatever string on two different demo racquets.

Yeah i dont demo much anymore because its too much of a hassle but i also know what i want so i dont try frames as much anymore.

So i just buy want and set it up how i want. If indont like it i send it to TW or sell on here and just use the credit for a new frame.
 

1990's Graphite

Hall of Fame
I bet most people don't have a systematic way to demo.
They just hit for a while, and which ever racket they happened to be using during a random hot steak gets purchased.

What do you give most weight to ?
Do you see how it hits for an easy ball in your strike zone?
Do you see how it hits for defensive and awkward shots?
Do you test how it serves?

Who were you previously on these boards ?
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
How do testers know whether the feel they sense is from the racquet or from the dont-know-what string?

They don't know the string.

They cannot guarantee the same whatever string on two different demo racquets.

You can tell a lot from a racket through shadow swings. You can tell whether it gets the ball on the sweet spot easily. You can feel the flex of the frame.

Generally I can tell whether the issues with a frame could be helped with string changes or not. Power and control can often be modified.
 

Chezbeeno

Professional
Why did you replace your Blade with the Clash ?
I was out of the game for a while (grad school is a *****) and when I tried to get back to hitting I found the Blades a little too taxing so I was having hand and wrist pain. I've been able to use the Clash pretty much pain-free, so I'm hoping to be able to get back into tennis shape to the point where I can usey Blades again. So the Clash is a temporary thing (probably - I like it a lot, so I might still use it sometimes after I get back to the Blades, who knows).
 

Chezbeeno

Professional
Yea, the unknown string and tension aspect
seems to make the entire demo process laughably unscientific
This is definitely a problem, also if you don't use a 4 3/8 grip size then demoing is even sillier. I use a 4 1/2 and finding demos with the right grip size is really difficult.
 
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