The Sad Racquet Epiphany :(

robok9

Semi-Pro
First off, my main racquet right now is a Wilson K90. I absolutely love this racquet. It feels so buttery, and I feel like it helps improve my technique. Most of the time I don't mind the heavy weight (13.3 ounces) as long as my shoulder isn't sore that day. Given the amount of praise this racquet on the forums, it has definitely earned a well deserved name for itself.

Today, I was playing some doubles with my beloved K90. After my friend and I went up in the set, I decided to pull out my old Kblade 98 (my former racquet of choice) and take it for a little spin. Within a few short games, I realized how tiring it is to use the K90. I used to just shake it off thinking that I will get stronger and get used to the weight which, for the most part, I have. However, I now realize that at my level, a racquet this heavy and unforgiving is just not viable for the modern game. As sad as it is, I am switching from my K90.

:(
 
I've come back from two rotator cuff surgeries, used Prestige Mids, BLX90 (also demo'd the k90), and now PS 85. And this racquet tire your shoulder out?

Are you kidding me?
 

nootles

New User
I wouldn't go as far as saying a 90 is not viable for the modern game. It's not optimal at the pro level, but it should be viable at just about any level.
 

ace0001a

Semi-Pro
First off, my main racquet right now is a Wilson K90. I absolutely love this racquet. It feels so buttery, and I feel like it helps improve my technique. Most of the time I don't mind the heavy weight (13.3 ounces) as long as my shoulder isn't sore that day. Given the amount of praise this racquet on the forums, it has definitely earned a well deserved name for itself.

Today, I was playing some doubles with my beloved K90. After my friend and I went up in the set, I decided to pull out my old Kblade 98 (my former racquet of choice) and take it for a little spin. Within a few short games, I realized how tiring it is to use the K90. I used to just shake it off thinking that I will get stronger and get used to the weight which, for the most part, I have. However, I now realize that at my level, a racquet this heavy and unforgiving is just not viable for the modern game. As sad as it is, I am switching from my K90.

:(


I have a 4.5 level buddy who went through the same thing, has K90s and switched to the the BLX Blade 98...also said it was tiring and less forgiving using the K90, but loved the racquet in general. He's a Roger Federer fan as well, but he made the switch last Spring and he's loved how his game has improved with the change...he thought is was funny when Federer was trying out a larger from later last summer.
 
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OTMPut

Hall of Fame
However, I now realize that at my level, a racquet this heavy and unforgiving is just not viable for the modern game. As sad as it is, I am switching from my K90.

:(

Weren't you just playing doubles? Is there a "modern" doubles game too?
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
And this is how I found Yonex Ai 98.
I need technology that actually helps and is not totally alien for a straight Prestige Mid guy :)
 

OTMPut

Hall of Fame
There is, it's a game in which one needs to disguise their foot faults. So they're one step closer to the net.

I was thinking, "holy crap, there are people playing doubles with both players 2 meters from the baselines ripping western grip topspin forehands"!

The foot fault image is more comforting.
 
I was thinking, "holy crap, there are people playing doubles with both players 2 meters from the baselines ripping western grip topspin forehands"!

The foot fault image is more comforting.

Well... it's kind of true. Just that they're bunt moonballs but they tell people the height is from the topspin of their "western grip".
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
I suspect that you have recently taken up a job at Yonex online marketing division.

No I didn't but I would not mind, probably.
Have been HEAD customer all my life... time to change gear.
I'm equally excited about what Prince is doing lately, seems like they really care about tennis and about players.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
First off, my main racquet right now is a Wilson K90. I absolutely love this racquet. It feels so buttery, and I feel like it helps improve my technique. Most of the time I don't mind the heavy weight (13.3 ounces) as long as my shoulder isn't sore that day. Given the amount of praise this racquet on the forums, it has definitely earned a well deserved name for itself.

Today, I was playing some doubles with my beloved K90. After my friend and I went up in the set, I decided to pull out my old Kblade 98 (my former racquet of choice) and take it for a little spin. Within a few short games, I realized how tiring it is to use the K90. I used to just shake it off thinking that I will get stronger and get used to the weight which, for the most part, I have. However, I now realize that at my level, a racquet this heavy and unforgiving is just not viable for the modern game. As sad as it is, I am switching from my K90.

:(

NOT sad at all - knowledge is power I think. If you know that this racquet isn't the best option, that's fine. When you know you have a stronger alternative to work with, you can play with more confidence more often. Worrying that my racquet might be a liability can be torture... or at least somewhat toxic for my positive outlook.

Don't get rid of that K90 right away if you don't have to. You might enjoy keeping it handy for an occasional refresher on the practice courts. I have a couple of 13.4 oz. LM Prestige mids that only work when I do everything right in terms of using early preparation and a complete swing. I can only use them in a competitive setting when I'm really on top of my game, but they're also fun to use here and there on the practice grinder. If I'm being lazy or late, these "trainers" don't let me get away with it for long.

You may actually find that you need something that's only mildly less hefty than your K90. My newest racquets were no fun (too dead and unstable for me) in stock form at 11.8 oz. When I tuned them into a better (heavier) layout for me though, they were only slightly lighter than the frames they replaced - only 0.1-0.2 oz. with similar balance, but a good degree more manageable. Just a thought if you're worried that your Kblade isn't quite "enough" for what you want to do.
 

robok9

Semi-Pro
NOT sad at all - knowledge is power I think. If you know that this racquet isn't the best option, that's fine. When you know you have a stronger alternative to work with, you can play with more confidence more often. Worrying that my racquet might be a liability can be torture... or at least somewhat toxic for my positive outlook.

Don't get rid of that K90 right away if you don't have to. You might enjoy keeping it handy for an occasional refresher on the practice courts. I have a couple of 13.4 oz. LM Prestige mids that only work when I do everything right in terms of using early preparation and a complete swing. I can only use them in a competitive setting when I'm really on top of my game, but they're also fun to use here and there on the practice grinder. If I'm being lazy or late, these "trainers" don't let me get away with it for long.

You may actually find that you need something that's only mildly less hefty than your K90. My newest racquets were no fun (too dead and unstable for me) in stock form at 11.8 oz. When I tuned them into a better (heavier) layout for me though, they were only slightly lighter than the frames they replaced - only 0.1-0.2 oz. with similar balance, but a good degree more manageable. Just a thought if you're worried that your Kblade isn't quite "enough" for what you want to do.
Oh don't worry I am never getting rid of my K90. Like I said in the post, I love my K90. And actually I do have my Kblade and Blx Blade leaded up a little bit with a leather grip. The Kblade had some lead at 12 and on the pallet (12.2 oz) and the Blx Blade just has some on the pallet (12.15 oz). And when I said that the K90 isn't viable for the modern game, I meant just my personal game. Sorry to create a commotion there :)
 

robok9

Semi-Pro
Would this have anything to do with certain Rodger changing too?
Eh, not really. I just got my K90 from the bay like 2 months ago, so it's not really like I was a "long time midsize user." Plus, I already have the Kblade, so it's not like I went out and bought a new racquet.
 

reds17

Rookie
If you could go into a time tunnel and have Roger out there playing today, at 23 years old, with his Wilson 90, that racquet would be a top seller right now. But the fact is he's no longer a dominant force, so is looking for any edge that would put him back in the game with the big dogs.
 

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
Keep looking . . .

I went through the same realization about 10 years ago switching from my old SV Pro Staffs.

(Too heavy)
 
Would this have anything to do with certain Rodger changing too?

I usually try not say too much on here, but your signature is really annoying. On my iPhone it causes every other post to be so small I can't read it. Is there any way you can put a break in that statement so all the posts on the page don't look like a pixie wrote it?
 

dgoran

Hall of Fame
I usually try not say too much on here, but your signature is really annoying. On my iPhone it causes every other post to be so small I can't read it. Is there any way you can put a break in that statement so all the posts on the page don't look like a pixie wrote it?

Sorry it was a quote from one of the pro stringers and in order to fit the whole quote in chatacter limit and still make sense I had to do that
 
What? Really? I just bought 4 Prostaff 85s. Damn.

Just block it out of your mind. Because everyone thinks you're an idiot for sticking with an ancient racquet. :)

But then you can always crack some winners and beat "modern framed" players, and do this:

tumblr_lpoyztcw051qclt3z.gif
 

Silent

Professional
It's just an ounce. Lift weights a bit if you must and continue using it. Unless you're talking about drugs, an ounce isn't that heavy.

Sorry it was a quote from one of the pro stringers and in order to fit the whole quote in chatacter limit and still make sense I had to do that

A sig that will drive iPhone sales down...you're a ****ing genius (no pun intended).

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
But then you can always crack some winners and beat "modern framed" players, and do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCv_OEtTn2M
 

Shroud

Talk Tennis Guru
Just block it out of your mind. Because everyone thinks you're an idiot for sticking with an ancient racquet. :)

But then you can always crack some winners and beat "modern framed" players, and do this:

tumblr_lpoyztcw051qclt3z.gif

LOL. IMHO this is the post of the year!!!

I'll practice my hand wave!! The Prostaff really should come with instructions to do the hand wave.

Saw an edberg/ courier match the other day and if only they could weren't stuck with such a tiny low powered racket....
 
LOL. IMHO this is the post of the year!!!

I'll practice my hand wave!! The Prostaff really should come with instructions to do the hand wave.

Saw an edberg/ courier match the other day and if only they could weren't stuck with such a tiny low powered racket....

Why thank you, but I was being serious...
 

robok9

Semi-Pro
Just saying, I played today with my kblade against somebody that I played right before switching and the margin of victory was a little better. I do feel like the K90 improved my form by a mile. As a whole, other than volleys, I feel more comfortable with the kblade that with the K90.
 
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