Tomaz Berdych racquet/bag

[BradThomas2121]

I don't know if there has been a thread or anything on this topic but as I watched Federer play Berdych yesterday at wimbly I noticed that Berdych was carrying a Dunlop bag with a youtek radical as his racquet. Was wondering if anyone knows why? Is he under contract with dunlop still?

 

[Rabbit]

I have no idea, but you got to like his moxy. I think it's cool that he goes out on court with a Dunlop bag and pulls a Head racquet out. And, he doesn't do the black-out thing, he just plays.

 

[coachrick]

I'm a little surprised at the lack of discussion(unless I've missed it) regarding the 'mix'. From what I recall, his rackets were not stenciled but certainly had the Head logo on the bumper.

Back in the old days, guys would often display their string supplier logo on their strings rather than the racket logo. There were an awful lot of VS logos on the strings of various racket brands.

Maybe he was 'confused' in a similar fashion to the Blake Dunlop/Prince conundrum a few years back.

On the other hand, maybe he has a racket contract but REALLY likes the Dunlop bags .

 

[richace]

See ''bag to the future'' topic.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Cool mix-and-(un)match by Berdych, but he can't rock it like Mary Federer:

 

[Rabbit]

From what I recall, his rackets were not stenciled but certainly had the Head logo on the bumper.

Not only that, his frames are fully cosmeticized.

 

[coachrick]

Not only that, his frames are fully cosmeticized.

Where can I get me some of THAT?!? Will it affect the balance of my racket?

 

[vsbabolat]

 

[Rabbit]

Where can I get me some of THAT?!? Will it affect the balance of my racket?

Clearly you don't know anything about tennis. Everyone knows that cosmetics don't affect the balance, it affects the aerodynamics.


BTW - I hit some with my newly acquired Fischer Superform. That damn thing makes a club look like a feather. It is by far the most cumbersome frame I've ever had in my hand.

 

[saigonbond]

What's even more weird is seeing Verdasco pulling a blacked out Tflight out of a Dunlop bag...

 

[pmerk34]

I don't know if there has been a thread or anything on this topic but as I watched Federer play Berdych yesterday at wimbly I noticed that Berdych was carrying a Dunlop bag with a youtek radical as his racquet. Was wondering if anyone knows why? Is he under contract with dunlop still?

lets see: Dunlop racquets stink and Head frames are some of the most popular on tour. Go Berdych, I've heard great things about the Youtek frames.

 

[kiteboard]

40 out of top 100 use heads, not one a stock stick. 32 use wilsons. Fed uses the stock mold with lead under the hoop. 15 use babs. Prince is going under.

 

[pmerk34]

40 out of top 100 use heads, not one a stock stick. 32 use wilsons. Fed uses the stock mold with lead under the hoop. 15 use babs. Prince is going under.

Good stats Kite but the idea that all 40 HEAD players are using some stupid Prestige from 17 years ago is something no one really knows.

 

[vsbabolat]

40 out of top 100 use heads, not one a stock stick. 32 use wilsons. Fed uses the stock mold with lead under the hoop. 15 use babs. Prince is going under.

Good stats Kite but the idea that all 40 HEAD players are using some stupid Prestige from 17 years ago is something no one really knows.

Sorry guys but those stats are off. In the Top ATP 100 as of June 21, 2010 I count 28 using HEAD, 26 using Wilson, 17 using Babolat, 13 using Prince, 4 using Tecnifibre, 2 using Yonex, 3 using Dunlop, 5 using Fischer/Pacific, 1 using Pro Kennex, and 1 using Bosworth.

I counted Davydenko using a Prince because that is what he is using and Verdasco using Tecnifibre.

 

[baseline_monster]

Sorry guys but those stats are off. In the Top ATP 100 as of June 21, 2010 I count 28 using HEAD, 26 using Wilson, 17 using Babolat, 13 using Prince, 4 using Tecnifibre, 2 using Yonex, 3 using Dunlop, 5 using Fischer/Pacific, 1 using Pro Kennex, and 1 using Bosworth.

I counted Davydenko using a Prince because that is what he is using and Verdasco using Tecnifibre.

And none using Volkl! Thought there would be more Yonex

 

[pmerk34]

And none using Volkl! Thought there would be more Yonex

Well that's becuase the pro's don't know any better.

 

[baseline_monster]

Well that's becuase the pro's don't know any better.

Simple, all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[pmerk34]

Simple, all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yeah, so they should use Volkl's for nothing becuase Volkl's are just that good?

 

[baseline_monster]

Yeah, so they should use Volkl's for nothing becuase Volkl's are just that good?

What a stupid statement, that isn't what I said. All the top brands quality is on a level, they use what they like and in most cases go for the money.

 

[pmerk34]

What a stupid statement, that isn't what I said. All the top brands quality is on a level, they use what they like and in most cases go for the money.

Correct as they play tennis for a living.

 

[baseline_monster]

Correct as they play tennis for a living.

Your trying to make a point of something here, almost as if I am saying that they should use Volkl, Yonex, Pacific etc, I am not. What I said was I thought a few more players would have been using Yonex or Volkl as they make very good quality rackets, nothing more than that. And trust me, say If I was at that level and Wilson or Head offered me a contract worth big bucks and they made me a racket I liked I would switch, a tennis career lasts about 10-15 years, Djokovic's 10,000,000 deal is a good move

 

[LPShanet]

Simple, all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's true, but in many cases, it's not the specific $ most think it is. Outside of the top few players in each country, more often than not, it's the $ they could potentially win in prize money that is motivating them. However, their frequent choice of Head and Wilson is not purely an indicator of racquet quality (especially at the stock level), it's an indicator of the fact that those two companies provide a greater degree of customization for pros than most of the other manufacturers.

While 28 of the top 100 use Head, and almost as many use Wilson, a lot of them are not paid cash to do so. However, both companies offer their ATP players "pro room" services, which is a large reason these two companies are so popular. To a top pro, having his equipment be reliable, predictable and consistent is worth lots of money, and they take these services in lieu of payment in a surprising majority of cases.

The top endorsers (e.g. Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Roddick) can make a lot of money by using a particular racquet, but the amount to be made drops off precipitously after the top few guys in each country. For the majority of the top 100, the most important thing is not compromising their results, as that is where they make their money.

 

[marosmith]

That's true, but in many cases, it's not the specific $ most think it is. Outside of the top few players in each country, more often than not, it's the $ they could potentially win in prize money that is motivating them. However, their frequent choice of Head and Wilson is not purely an indicator of racquet quality (especially at the stock level), it's an indicator of the fact that those two companies provide a greater degree of customization for pros than most of the other manufacturers.

While 28 of the top 100 use Head, and almost as many use Wilson, a lot of them are not paid cash to do so. However, both companies offer their ATP players "pro room" services, which is a large reason these two companies are so popular. To a top pro, having his equipment be reliable, predictable and consistent is worth lots of money, and they take these services in lieu of payment in a surprising majority of cases.

The top endorsers (e.g. Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Roddick) can make a lot of money by using a particular racquet, but the amount to be made drops off precipitously after the top few guys in each country. For the majority of the top 100, the most important thing is not compromising their results, as that is where they make their money.

Yep. Also, I think alot of the Extreme paint jobs are the retail LM Instinct Tour, so they aren't all pro stock.

 

[Harry24]

I don't know if there has been a thread or anything on this topic but as I watched Federer play Berdych yesterday at wimbly I noticed that Berdych was carrying a Dunlop bag with a youtek radical as his racquet. Was wondering if anyone knows why? Is he under contract with dunlop still?

I have been wondering this myself as he has used a Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 in the past. Plus, Tennis Warehouse still has him listing as using it. Does anyone know which Head YOUTEK Radical he is using? Pro or Midplus?

 

[pmerk34]

Your trying to make a point of something here, almost as if I am saying that they should use Volkl, Yonex, Pacific etc, I am not. What I said was I thought a few more players would have been using Yonex or Volkl as they make very good quality rackets, nothing more than that. And trust me, say If I was at that level and Wilson or Head offered me a contract worth big bucks and they made me a racket I liked I would switch, a tennis career lasts about 10-15 years, Djokovic's 10,000,000 deal is a good move

I would agree. I guess the question would be this for a top pro: " Are Volkl rackets so good that I would use one for free?"

We know the answer to that.

 

[hoodjem]

lets see: Dunlop racquets stink and Head frames are some of the most popular on tour. Go Berdych, I've heard great things about the Youtek frames.

Sarcasm, or just an odd statement?

 

[pmerk34]

Sarcasm, or just an odd statement?

The truth.

 

[baseline_monster]

I would agree. I guess the question would be this for a top pro: " Are Volkl rackets so good that I would use one for free?"

We know the answer to that.

I guess you could reverse that. If you were getting sponsored by say Volkl and it was the other way, what would you do?

 

[CycloneSh0t]

damm thats a long strip of lead tape on his youtek rad

 

[pmerk34]

damm thats a long strip of lead tape on his youtek rad

He switches to Head from lousy Dunlop and his game has risen.

 

[TennisNinja]

I noticed it as well, felt really confused at first.

 

[adimax8]

Does anyone know which Head YOUTEK Radical he is using? Pro or Midplus?

Yeah i would like to know too.

 

[vsbabolat]

I have been wondering this myself as he has used a Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 in the past. Plus, Tennis Warehouse still has him listing as using it. Does anyone know which Head YOUTEK Radical he is using? Pro or Midplus?

He is using the YouTek Radical Miplus but with a 16x19 drill pattern.

 

[kiteboard]

Sorry guys but those stats are off. In the Top ATP 100 as of June 21, 2010 I count 28 using HEAD, 26 using Wilson, 17 using Babolat, 13 using Prince, 4 using Tecnifibre, 2 using Yonex, 3 using Dunlop, 5 using Fischer/Pacific, 1 using Pro Kennex, and 1 using Bosworth.

I counted Davydenko using a Prince because that is what he is using and Verdasco using Tecnifibre.

"Of the 128 men in the main draw at the 2010 Australian Open the break down was as follows; 40 players used HEAD, 32 used Wilson, 25 used Babolat, 15 used Prince, 5 used Technifibre, 4 used Dunlop, 2 used Yonex, 2 used Fischer, 1 used Bosworth, 1 used Pro Kennex, and 1 player was listed as using 'unkown'.

I'm guessing the 'unkown' was Karlovic--who we all know uses a blacked out HEAD Flexpoint Instinct." Previous post by : not me.

 

[vsbabolat]

"Of the 128 men in the main draw at the 2010 Australian Open the break down was as follows; 40 players used HEAD, 32 used Wilson, 25 used Babolat, 15 used Prince, 5 used Technifibre, 4 used Dunlop, 2 used Yonex, 2 used Fischer, 1 used Bosworth, 1 used Pro Kennex, and 1 player was listed as using 'unkown'.

I'm guessing the 'unkown' was Karlovic--who we all know uses a blacked out HEAD Flexpoint Instinct." Previous post by : not me.

Why did you Write "out of the top 100" then? That is certainly very different from what a you are now writing.......

40 out of top 100 use heads, not one a stock stick. 32 use wilsons. Fed uses the stock mold with lead under the hoop. 15 use babs. Prince is going under.

So I therefore correct that misinformation.
In the Top ATP 100 as of June 21, 2010 I count 28 using HEAD, 26 using Wilson, 17 using Babolat, 13 using Prince, 4 using Tecnifibre, 2 using Yonex, 3 using Dunlop, 5 using Fischer/Pacific, 1 using Pro Kennex, and 1 using Bosworth.

I counted Davydenko using a Prince because that is what he is using and Verdasco using Tecnifibre.

 

[adimax8]

Why did you Write "out of the top 100" then? That is certainly very different from what a you are now writing.......

So I therefore correct that misinformation.
In the Top ATP 100 as of June 21, 2010 I count 28 using HEAD, 26 using Wilson, 17 using Babolat, 13 using Prince, 4 using Tecnifibre, 2 using Yonex, 3 using Dunlop, 5 using Fischer/Pacific, 1 using Pro Kennex, and 1 using Bosworth.

I counted Davydenko using a Prince because that is what he is using and Verdasco using Tecnifibre.

Correct! 28 using head in the top 100 not 40

 

[1hbhBUX]

Head is clearly a favorite on the tour, but I seriously doubt that Berdych is using a Head frame. It's likely just his Dunlop frame with a paintjob.

 

[CzechM8]

Head is clearly a favorite on the tour, but I seriously doubt that Berdych is using a Head frame. It's likely just his Dunlop frame with a paintjob.

Jeeez, I do hope this is a sarcastic comment because THAT would really complicate things even further: Berdych being under a contract with Dunlop, carrying a Dunlop bag, but playing with a Dunlop frame under a Head PJ? Doesn't really make much sense.

Again: Berdych didn't switch to Head because he was unhappy with the previous frame. The reason was that, before the start of this season, Dunlop was no longer able to supply him with the same frames as before. So he looked elsewhere, tested a couple of frames and liked this one best.

 

[Rabbit]

Again: Berdych didn't switch to Head because he was unhappy with the previous frame. The reason was that, before the start of this season, Dunlop was no longer able to supply him with the same frames as before. So he looked elsewhere, tested a couple of frames and liked this one best.

Sounds like Dunlop has had a rash of this type problem. I wonder if they significantly changed something in their supply/manufacture chain. Tommy Haas left Dunlop and from what I heard this had more to do with a $ dispute than anything else, but he settled on his old Head model as the go to. James Blake also is having problems with Dunlop supplying frames as he can't get the old frame he uses.

 

[Rockitdog]

So... he's still under contract to carry a bag???

 

[LPShanet]

Head is clearly a favorite on the tour, but I seriously doubt that Berdych is using a Head frame. It's likely just his Dunlop frame with a paintjob.

Nope, it's not a Dunlop with a paintjob. The frame geometry simply isn't the same as his old Dunlop. It's usually best to get real info and/or look closely at good pics of a frame before posting. It's a YouTek Radical MP. Looks like it has a custom drill pattern, though.

 

[bsandy]

Nope, it's not a Dunlop with a paintjob. The frame geometry simply isn't the same as his old Dunlop. It's usually best to get real info and/or look closely at good pics of a frame before posting. It's a YouTek Radical MP. Looks like it has a custom drill pattern, though.

This isn't true either . . . Try TGK231.3

"It's usually best to get real info"

 

[vsbabolat]

This isn't true either . . . Try TGK231.3

"It's usually best to get real info"

That is not true. Berdych is using TGK260.2=YouTek Radical Midplus with 16x19 drill pattern that is not available at retail. So LPShanet is right and has correct info as usual.

 

[marosmith]

That is not true. Berdych is using TGK260.2=YouTek Radical Midplus with 16x19 drill pattern that is not available at retail. So LPShanet is right and has correct info as usual.

But- it's pro stock with no TY technology, just graphite, correct?

 

[LPShanet]

This isn't true either . . . Try TGK231.3

"It's usually best to get real info"

Wow...tough crowd out there. Bud, I'm pretty sure I was giving real info, and your correction may have been a bit hasty. I believe the 231 series you refer to are actually pro stock MG's, not YouTeks. And Berdych is using the 260.2, which is a YouTek Rad MP, with 16 x 19, as stated. So I did get/give real info.

Thanks for the backup, VSBabolat.

 

[PED]

Interesting article from Darren Rovell of CNBC this past tuesday. I guess the Berdych stick question has now hit the mainstream:

Berdych Getting Paid To Play Competitor's Racket
Published: Tuesday, 6 Jul 2010 | 2:30 PM ET

By: Darren Rovell
CNBC Sports Business Reporter

On Sunday afternoon, Tomas Berdych walked onto the court to play the biggest match of his life: The Wimbledon finals against Rafael Nadal. But there was something seriously wrong. You see, the 24-year-old Czech walked on to the court behind a man carrying his racket bag. On it, Dunlop logos all over it. Inside only Head rackets.

Why the deception? You see, Berdych still has an endorsement deal with Dunlop, but for some reason, at the beginning of the season, he left his Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200’s for a Head's Youtek Radical model.

It’s easy to blame Berdych, but he’s just one of the many players in the industry who aren’t playing with the racket they are paid to play with. Why?

Because outside the top players, the marketing contracts aren’t big enough to risk not being comfortable with what's in their hands. And, I guess, some companies just make better rackets than others.

So a few things happen. Some players use old rackets from the brand they endorse and get them painted to look like the new rackets the company wants to market. Others use rackets from another brand and try to pass it off as the competitor or hope the buying public doesn't notice.

This has been going on for a long time. I almost got in a fight with Lleyton Hewitt over his use of an older racket at the 2004 US Open.

The story surrounding Berdych is unfortunate because his recent play now means he is one of the world’s top players. After his Wimbledon loss to Nadal, he is now ranked No. 8 in the world, ahead of the top American Andy Roddick.

It’s now an awkward situation for both companies. Head saw its biggest endorsers Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic — who Berdych actually beat in the semifinals — go down. If only they could tell the world that Berdych was using a Head racket. It was even worse for Dunlop. They are paying Berdych and can’t, in good faith, use him to market their product.

Berdych's agent Per Hjertquist did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did Kai Nitsche, head of Dunlop's racket sports division. Kevin Kempin, CEO and president of Head USA, said the company would have no comment.

For the most part, Berdych’s switch has been kept behind the scenes, among the niche tennis crowd who like to talk about this stuff and confirmed by stringers who fill these types of message boards.

But his rise to the top is leading to more noise. NBC didn’t specifically address the situation between the brands in its finals broadcast, though commentator John McEnroe did make a veiled reference at the top of the broadcast on Sunday.

"Something has gone on with his rackets, I don't know what it is," McEnroe said, as the players were warming up. "But he has finally found a comfort zone with it."

A Czech paper recently asked Berdych about the switch and he was surprisingly frank about what happened. He said that Dunlop gave him a new racket and he said he played “terrible” with it. So in January, he tried four or five rackets and arrived on the Youtek Radical.

Since the first tournament of the year, the Brisbane International, an Australian Open tune-up, Berdych has been using a Head. The Dunlop stencil is off the strings and no Head logos are easily in view, though close-up pictures reveal two Head logos inside the racket frame and a Head logo on the knob.

Berdych had been playing with Dunlop for his entire career. It's believed he last renewed his deal with the company in 2006.

Questions? Comments? SportsBiz@cnbc.com
© 2010 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

 

[bad_call]

PED - good find. looks like Berdych following behind MaSha.

 

[pmerk34]

PED - good find. looks like Berdych following behind MaSha.

Dunlop makes garbage and HEAD is an absolute leader in tennis racquets.

WELCOME ABOARD TOMAS!!!

 

[leoresende2007]

Wow...tough crowd out there. Bud, I'm pretty sure I was giving real info, and your correction may have been a bit hasty. I believe the 231 series you refer to are actually pro stock MG's, not YouTeks. And Berdych is using the 260.2, which is a YouTek Rad MP, with 16 x 19, as stated. So I did get/give real info.

Thanks for the backup, VSBabolat.

And which are the racket specs? Flex, beam windth, balance?

 

[Head Youtek]

Yeah i would like to know too.

tgk260.2 head youtek radical mp