Thinking about going back to a shorty

[travlerajm]

I chopped off 1/4" off one of my Blades this week.

Advantages of the shorter frame:
- More confidence on forehands.
- Better for returns (more solid).
- Better for volleys (more solid).
- Can get adequate plowthrough at lower swingweight = a little easier to serve reliably when I'm not playing frequently.
- Easier to play attacking tennis.

Disadvantages:
- less spin (not as natural to hit spinny safe moonball rally balls).
- clunkier feel due to increased stiffness.

The reason I cut my Blade was that my serve has been awful lately - partly because I just don't practice it enough anymore, partly because the high swingweight I prefer (high 360s) makes my motion less forgiving of poor form, and partly because I might be losing arm strength and a high-swingweight frame is just not as natural to serve with as it use to be when I was younger.

I'm going to alternate play with both the shorty and the standard for a while - tough decision.

 

[Silent]

If it's anything like golf clubs, even cutting a tiny bit off will increase the stiffness massively. Is it the case here ?

 

[travlerajm]

If it's anything like golf clubs, even cutting a tiny bit off will increase the stiffness massively. Is it the case here ?

Yes - makes quite a difference. I'm not sure yet whether I like it or not yet - the Blade BLX 98 has a really nice stiffness level at standard length - firm but not too flexy -- so the shortened version is maybe a bit stiffer than my preference. With thinner beam frames, like my Diablo mid and Exo Graphite mid, a 26.5" version stiffens them up to a really nice stiffness, but the Blade is stiffer than those due to wider beam.

The higher stiffness has pros and cons - shorter dwell time is better for control on flat shots, volleys, and returns. But it does decrease the spin level.

 

[BlueB]

For me the main advantage of long body is better serves, power and spin. After that power and spin on groundies, then reach on voleys.
Disadvantages are stress on the arm, less touch and precision, more jamed on shots closer to body.
I can happily play with anything between 27 and 27.5 if the specs are right.

 

[Soundbyte]

It sounds like you're modifying far too many variables on your racket despite the fact that you are identifying your issues. If your serve is lacking because of lack of practice and high SW, why not practice it more and consider reducing the SW some? This seems far easier than cutting down a racket to unorthodox length that will clearly affect ALL aspects of your game.

I don't know...I'm one of those people that thinks far too many people tweak too many variables rather than focusing on their own game and technique. If playing with stock frames make tennis absolutely impossible for you to play comfortably with, then mod away. But you're never going to be satisfied. Focus less on the gear, more on the tennis.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[TennisCJC]

Couldn't you have accomplished the same thing with choking up by moving you hand 1/4 to 1/2 up the handle? McEnroe in his prime seemed to not hold the racket way down on at the butt cap like most modern pros - McEnroe looked like he was at least a 1/4 inch up the handle. I have also seen some pretty good rec players who used a grip up the handle a bit.

 

[TW Staff]

We have actually been playing around with this. Right now we are hitting a Volkl Tour 10 at the following specs:
Length: 26"
Strung weight: 13.05 oz
Balance: 10 pts HL
Swingweight: 318
Have not measured the RA yet.

It is surprisingly easy to swing. Even at 13 oz I can whip it through the contact zone without issues. Getting used to the shorter length is surprisingly easy. However, 13 oz is still 13 oz and it does get tiring after awhile. It is a strange thing -- getting tired from hitting a racquet that feels so maneuverable.

Cheers,
Chris, TW

 

[robbo1970]

It sounds like you're modifying far too many variables on your racket despite the fact that you are identifying your issues. If your serve is lacking because of lack of practice and high SW, why not practice it more and consider reducing the SW some? This seems far easier than cutting down a racket to unorthodox length that will clearly affect ALL aspects of your game.

I don't know...I'm one of those people that thinks far too many people tweak too many variables rather than focusing on their own game and technique. If playing with stock frames make tennis absolutely impossible for you to play comfortably with, then mod away. But you're never going to be satisfied. Focus less on the gear, more on the tennis.

Just my 2 cents.

You're a brave man lol. Not saying I don't agree with you though.

Personally I think there is a stock racquet out there for everyone. I just think everyone should try and buy loads from TW until they get the right one :wink:

 

[sureshs]

Is there any pro who plays with a length shorter than 27"?

 

[LeeD]

Not every good player hit's groundies with their hand at the very bottom of the grip. Some choke up a bit. Choking up equates to shorter racket.

 

[sureshs]

Not every good player hit's groundies with their hand at the very bottom of the grip. Some choke up a bit. Choking up equates to shorter racket.

They may not choke up on all strokes, so it is not the same as a shorter racket.

Is there any pro who uses a sub-27 frame?

 

[LeeD]

Choking up for groundies, volleys, and ROS is not a horrid idea.
I find that choking up on the racket ON SERVES is not all that bad either, as the racket is much easier to pronate thru, feel lighter, and while it might lose 2mph on serves, it's not like that's really going to affect anything at the rec level.
I've added a bump to build up the buttcap on one of my 28.5" TT Princes, and it did feel much more comfortable, the next set of rackets being Mfil 200's standard length.

 

[Chotobaka]

Couldn't you have accomplished the same thing with choking up by moving you hand 1/4 to 1/2 up the handle? McEnroe in his prime seemed to not hold the racket way down on at the butt cap like most modern pros - McEnroe looked like he was at least a 1/4 inch up the handle. I have also seen some pretty good rec players who used a grip up the handle a bit.

I am really interested in informed responses to this question. I have no experience with short racquets (other than fooling around with junior sticks, which is an entirely different proposition).

My gut feeling is gripping a shorter racquet loosely at the bottom of the handle is different from choking up on a standard length racquet.

 

[travlerajm]

After a few more sessions, it's become obvious that my level of play is much better with the shorty.

Control on the fh is clearly superior, and since my fh is my weaker wing, this really raises my level.

And offensive shots around the mid court area and at net benefit from the crisper more precise response.

I think I will be cutting down my other blade as well.

 

[Bhairava]

After a few more sessions, it's become obvious that my level of play is much better with the shorty.

Control on the fh is clearly superior, and since my fh is my weaker wing, this really raises my level.

And offensive shots around the mid court area and at net benefit from the crisper more precise response.

I think I will be cutting down my other blade as well.

But you will have less spin and less reach.are you sure it isn't a honeymoon period?
As well as an extended racquet is awesome for serving, a shortened racquet could feel in the long run as you are shorter than your real height.
Plus,because of shortening will massively bring down your racquet SW,have you put other lead to going back to 360 sw?
If I where you, I would never play with a 26" racquet,instead I would lower SW to 350, lower tension a bit to recover the lost power, and I would enjoy the better manuvrability of this setup. You know, 360 sw is awesome until you find you don't have the perfect shape to use it. Plus for stability purpose,at our level of playint.,even 340 sw is rock solid. We don't have to catch and reply 200kmh serves ;-)
That is what I would do if suddenly I find my high SW racquet too much demanding.

 

[bertrevert]

Racquet manufacturers offer +0.25 or +0.5 or +1.0 but I don't see any offering -0.25 off standard length.

Why?

I had the happy duty of hacksawing -0.25 off a Wilson ncode ntour - but that was just bringing it back to standard length. It made it play nippier and rippier and gives it a unique feel - kinda short and to the point. I don't lead a racquet up like you do that's for sure but I enjoy this racquet cut down though it was layed up for being longer. It communicates its character in a more direct way. Moreover I just couldn't get used to +0.25 - but to go shorter than standard length... surely you'd have a less flexy, rawer racquet?

 

[jersey34tennis]

LEED, what 28+ TT prince racquet are you using ?

 

[drak]

If you want to experiment and knock off 1/4 to 3/8 inch just remove the butt cap and build up the butt area with an old grip. This way you can experiment with a shorter length without ruining the racket for resale. I have done it several times.

Drak

 

[LeeD]

Jersey34...
That was 9 years ago. Prince TT MorphBeam, 28.25" long.

 

[travlerajm]

I've officially made the switch.

I had my forehand really dialed in today with more confidence and accuracy than ever.

Measured my new specs today - SW @ ~357. I was playing with 369 SW before I cut it down, but the effective mass is now slightly higher than it was before I cut it down, as I've actually added an additional gram or so near the tip, and the impact point is now closer to the balance point too. The strung length is actually about 26-5/8" due to the the high-tension-differential string setup.

 

[Shroud]

I've officially made the switch.

I had my forehand really dialed in today with more confidence and accuracy than ever.

Measured my new specs today - SW @ ~357. I was playing with 369 SW before I cut it down, but the effective mass is now slightly higher than it was before I cut it down, as I've actually added an additional gram or so near the tip, and the impact point is now closer to the balance point too. The strung length is actually about 26-5/8" due to the the high-tension-differential string setup.

What is the benefit of skipping the outer mains?

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

There's a teaching pro in Missouri who's been doing this for years, and there was a good Tennis article about it.

It makes a lot of sense for everything except the serve, but it does seem like choking up as necessary with a longer racket would let you have your cake and eat it too. It certainly worked that way for Chang. Sampras used to choke down on offensive forehands and up on neutral and defensive balls, even with a standard-length racket. I haven't made a study of it (come to think of it, I probably should), but I'd be surprised if they were the only ones.

I suppose cutting the handle could be preferable to choking up and down if you don't depend on the serve enough to need the extra racket head speed and reach, or if you are weirded out by holding the handle where you can't feel the butt flare. Can anyone think of any other reasons?

 

[jason586]

I normally play with a 27.5" 70 flex Vantage 100, but I also have 2 x 27" 70 flex Vantage 95, and 3 x 27" 63 flex Vantage 95. So, I decided to cut a half inch off one of the 63 flexes to try a shortie and add some additional control to my ground strokes. I played with it today for the first time and really liked it. The flex feels similar to my 27" 70 flex Vantage.

Anyone know exactly how much stiffness you add for cutting 1/2" off a 27" frame?

 

[nadalfanimal]

When i cut 1inch from my racquets previously coincidetally the balance point became the same as the length between my the lateral line of my elbow to the lateral line on my palm. I wonder if the OP or others who have shorten racquets have the same 'coincidence' that porportionally feels right....in terms of body mechanics porportionally lengthened racquets instead of a 'one size fits all' maybe could be something to think about... hmmm?

 

[travlerajm]

When i cut 1inch from my racquets previously coincidetally the balance point became the same as the length between my the lateral line of my elbow to the lateral line on my palm. I wonder if the OP or others who have shorten racquets have the same 'coincidence' that porportionally feels right....in terms of body mechanics porportionally lengthened racquets instead of a 'one size fits all' maybe could be something to think about... hmmm?

Actually, I think everyone would play better with a shorter racquet. Just like it's easier to pick up a paddle-tennis paddle and play well with good control of your shots from the first ball, a shorter tennis racquet just feels more user friendly.

I think my groundstrokes have reached a personal all-time-high level of confidence with my current 26.75" Blade setup. I was really ripping the ball today.
Love it at net too.

 

[newyorkstadium]

Actually, I think everyone would play better with a shorter racquet. Just like it's easier to pick up a paddle-tennis paddle and play well with good control of your shots from the first ball, a shorter tennis racquet just feels more user friendly.

I think my groundstrokes have reached a personal all-time-high level of confidence with my current 26.75" Blade setup. I was really ripping the ball today.
Love it at net too.

Wow, that's a bold statement. Is there a good shorty racket on the market to demo?

 

[travlerajm]

Wow, that's a bold statement. Is there a good shorty racket on the market to demo?

This one has the center of stringbed an equivalent distance from the hand to a mp frame 26.75" long:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_Classic_Graphite_107_Racquets/descpageRCPRINCE-PCG107.html

The weighting specs in my signature are pretty close to what Agassi played with in his prime.

 

[TaihtDuhShaat]

I leaded up my brother's Blx pro staff 95 to your last specs with Gut mains/stretched zx mono gut natural crosses at 57/47 lbs-

Cartoonish spin! His forehand, hit to the back 1/3rd of the court, can hit the fence rising! heavy! His groundstrokes and kick serves leap.

I added most of the upper handle mass around 8-9" since that box beam is so flexy. Still a spin monster. It's a little too grabby at net though.

Very good platform frame for singles.

I still like the feel more of my shortened Head 16x19 95". Crisp, solid, and precise for flat drives.