Two identical racquets - different feel

[jmk223]

Hi All,

I have an issue that confuses me and I hope someone with more experience will be able to come up with explanation.

I've got two matching (customized) Blades V7 that have same weight, swing weight, balance and stiffness (the numbers were double checked) . However, when I hold the rackets in my hand one feels different from another (#1 feels heavier than #2). They also feel different when hitting. To make matters more confusing when I showed rackets to a couple of friends both agreed that the rackets were different but picked #2 as being the 'heavy' one. On top of that, when I removed Tourna Blue overgrips rackets felt much more similar.

The goal, of course, is to be able to pick a racket and feel no difference

Any thoughts?

 

[Kevo]

That's a tough one. Wilson racquets are not known for great quality control. Matching rackets after the fact doesn't always make them feel the same.

Are you using the same strings in both racquets? Strings can have different weights and change the swingweight noticeably. Also, who matched them and how?

Best thing to do is break them down to the bare frame and start from there. If the rackets are close in terms of manufacturing then they should be very similar when matched that way. When I did 3 PSLs quite a few years ago I measured the bare frames, the grips, butt caps, basically everything that went back on the racquets. They were less than .1 gram apart when I was done and the only way I could tell them apart later was from the scuffs and scrapes on the bumper guards.

It's also good to buy the frames from TW or a similarly accommodating shop that can select the closest frames from a good number on the shelf when you buy multiples. That usually gives a very good starting point.

 

[dr325i]

Hi All,

I have an issue that confuses me and I hope someone with more experience will be able to come up with explanation.

I've got two matching (customized) Blades V7 that have same weight, swing weight, balance and stiffness (the numbers were double checked) . However, when I hold the rackets in my hand one feels different from another (#1 feels heavier than #2). They also feel different when hitting. To make matters more confusing when I showed rackets to a couple of friends both agreed that the rackets were different but picked #2 as being the 'heavy' one. On top of that, when I removed Tourna Blue overgrips rackets felt much more similar.

The goal, of course, is to be able to pick a racket and feel no difference

Any thoughts?

Ive had a similar issue with my PT113B - two completely matched, same string setup but as you said, one felt heavier and more sluggish than the other one. People told me it is all in my head, however, I could always pick the one during blind test...
In the end, it was how the grip/overgrip were wrapped that made the handle shape slightly different that altered how I hit with that stick and everything else about it...

 

[jmk223]

Rackets were matched at (and bought from) RP NY, they know what they're doing and have sizeable inventory to pick the rackets from. Same strings/grips/overgrips. And this is not the first time they did it for me either. That's why it's so puzzling.

 

[jmk223]

Ive had a similar issue with my PT113B - two completely matched, same string setup but as you said, one felt heavier and more sluggish than the other one. People told me it is all in my head, however, I could always pick the one during blind test...
In the end, it was how the grip/overgrip were wrapped that made the handle shape slightly different that altered how I hit with that stick and everything else about it...

>> People told me it is all in my head
That's what Roman told me as well I can also tell which racket in blind test as well.

Interesting thought about grip/overgrip but even those are the same and done by the same person.

 

[EKTiger]

y'all have to stop buying wilson.

 

[TennisHound]

Ive had a similar issue with my PT113B - two completely matched, same string setup but as you said, one felt heavier and more sluggish than the other one. People told me it is all in my head, however, I could always pick the one during blind test...
In the end, it was how the grip/overgrip were wrapped that made the handle shape slightly different that altered how I hit with that stick and everything else about it...

Weird. Were you able to resolve it by wrapping the grips differently?

 

[Alexh22]

Even before I read your post I was like this must be Wilson. Nothing more you can do about it as the internal differences cannot be addressed by customization.

 

[jmk223]

y'all have to stop buying wilson.

My first Wilson in about 12 years but Blade played better for me than either Yonex HD or TF40

 

[jmk223]

Even before I read your post I was like this must be Wilson. Nothing more you can do about it as the internal differences cannot be addressed by customization.

I was afraid to hear that.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

>> People told me it is all in my head
That's what Roman told me as well I can also tell which racket in blind test as well.

Interesting thought about grip/overgrip but even those are the same and done by the same person.

your getting good advise it seems, from rp.ny and pros
but you are feeling something that's off

one thing I would try
do this yourself for piece of mind also
remove the original grip and any other overgrips you have onit
change the grip setup on raket A and place it on raket B, and vise versa,, then run your test again
see if the "feel" is still there
this would tell me if the grip is the issue, or if its the rest of the raquet, somewhere else

 

[jmk223]

You may be onto something given that the rackets became 'closer' in feel when I removed overgrips. Thank you.

 

[stephenpinkus]

I have two Volkl racquets (VSense V1MP) that have same exact specs however I noticed a difference. Finally determined it was way I wrapped the overgrip

 

[One Handed Dynasty]

If they’re both from RP then they’re most likely identical in every measurable spec. If I had to guess hairpin 1 had a lower swingweight than hairpin 2 and required more lead to bring it up to spec than the other. That extra lead would require more tailweighting, resulting in a more polarized racquet, and could also raise the twistweight which can feel sluggish.

 

[dr325i]

Weird. Were you able to resolve it by wrapping the grips differently?

I took everything off and rewrapped it and it felt better. But it was always in my head.
Eventually, I sold them

 

[J D]

Swingweight only measures one specific way to swing a frame and does not accurately reflect the most common ways a frame is swung while playing. To make it even more complicated, two frames can have the same weight, balance, and swingweight but have very different weight distributions that make them feel and play completely different.

It sounds like you are pretty sensitive to weighting (some are, some aren’t). You can match your frames by feel to swing the same. If weight was added to the head of the one that feels or swings heavier, you can remove it little by little until the frame feels like the other. Conversely, you can play around with gradually adding weight to the lighter one until it feels the same.

I usually compensate for differences in frames by using different strings, varying types and often gauges. Even after optimizing the playability of both frames, I usually prefer one over the other and that one will become my go to frame.

Unfortunately, swinging the same and playing the same are two different things. Weight distribution will affect feel at impact, power, stability, spin, how the frame flexes, etc.... Because of this, I have learned through the years to try and buy the demo if I like a frame because odds are extremely high that another frame will play very differently, even with matched specs. I do still use TW’s racquet matching/selection service to be sure I’m at least starting in the same ballpark of where I want to end up spec-wise.

 

[jmk223]

Thank you, all!

 

[AMGF]

I stopped reading at Wilson. That’s your problem right there.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

You may be onto something given that the rackets became 'closer' in feel when I removed overgrips. Thank you.

check this post out
very much related to what your seeing/feeling on your racquet

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Dartagnan64]

Hi All,

I have an issue that confuses me and I hope someone with more experience will be able to come up with explanation.

I've got two matching (customized) Blades V7 that have same weight, swing weight, balance and stiffness (the numbers were double checked) . However, when I hold the rackets in my hand one feels different from another (#1 feels heavier than #2). They also feel different when hitting. To make matters more confusing when I showed rackets to a couple of friends both agreed that the rackets were different but picked #2 as being the 'heavy' one. On top of that, when I removed Tourna Blue overgrips rackets felt much more similar.

The goal, of course, is to be able to pick a racket and feel no difference

Any thoughts?

You might be noticing some difference in polarization since not all weight is distributed evenly in matched frames. But the bigger question is: Does it matter? If the frames play identical, that's really all that matters. The goal is similar play not identical feel. Getting hung up on slight differences like this is way more OCD than tennis needs you to be.

 

[PistolPete23]

check this post out
very much related to what your seeing/feeling on your racquet

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Is this guy planning to keep the ones that aren't the "correct" thickness? Because if not, I'll gladly take them!

 

[tennistiger]

Same static stiffnes may be different when playing due to issues in the molding process.

 

[jmk223]

You might be noticing some difference in polarization since not all weight is distributed evenly in matched frames. But the bigger question is: Does it matter? If the frames play identical, that's really all that matters. The goal is similar play not identical feel. Getting hung up on slight differences like this is way more OCD than tennis needs you to be.

I agree with 'similar play' goal, I was just wondering why racquets that have identical specs feel different (difference in play is minimal but noticeable). It may be OCD but my previous racquets were done by Roman as well and I couldn't tell them apart

 

[Anton]

I have two 2019 APDs, both leaded up to same specs, but they feel somewhat different weighted...whatever, I just play them.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

Same static stiffnes may be different when playing due to issues in the molding process.

yeah agreed,, abit too much glue here and there would throw off the balance/feel
its amazing how little it takes for "us", to tell a difference

i also agree with others, you can simply ignore it and play with it!!

 

[Dartagnan64]

I agree with 'similar play' goal, I was just wondering why racquets that have identical specs feel different (difference in play is minimal but noticeable). It may be OCD but my previous racquets were done by Roman as well and I couldn't tell them apart

Well as i said polarity is often missed in the static weight, balance and swing weight formulas and can account for a slightly different feel.
Given Wilson has QC issues and can have frames with wildly different specs, it's not surprising when they pick out "matched frames" they aren't matched with weight in identical spots.

I started enjoying tennis a lot more when I quit worrying about inconsequential things like this. I doubt any human ever lost a match because his two racquets with identical static weight, swing weight and balance "felt" slightly different.

 

[braxeyez]

I have 3 RFs, two red-blacks, one tuxedo - all feel different.

What a joy.

 

[TBM]

I was just about to start a new thread before finding this one. I know it's a few years old, but I have the same observation with my rackets.

My main frames for the last few months have been the Dunlop CX 200 OS.

I have two that are customised to the same weight, swingweight and balance (machine checked).

The first one I have swings through the air perfectly for my game, and is the reason why I bought a second one.

The the second racket feels slower through the air and feels more sluggish despite the balance and the swingweight being the same.

My theory is that one probably has a higher twistweight than the other, which makes it feel more sluggish (I don't have any way of checking twistweight).

It's weird, if the second racket was the first CX 200 OS I tried, I may not have switch to it in the first place. It's not like the second racket isn't useable, but it doesn't have the same magic as the first one I bought.

 

[Donmikan]

I was just about to start a new thread before finding this one. I know it's a few years old, but I have the same observation with my rackets.

My main frames for the last few months have been the Dunlop CX 200 OS.

I have two that are customised to the same weight, swingweight and balance (machine checked).

The first one I have swings through the air perfectly for my game, and is the reason why I bought a second one.

The the second racket feels slower through the air and feels more sluggish despite the balance and the swingweight being the same.

My theory is that one probably has a higher twistweight than the other, which makes it feel more sluggish (I don't have any way of checking twistweight).

It's weird, if the second racket was the first CX 200 OS I tried, I may not have switch to it in the first place. It's not like the second racket isn't useable, but it doesn't have the same magic as the first one I bought.

Could be twistweight, the difference in its value of around 5%, where most people would notice a difference is right around the extreme spec difference you can find with quality control these days. Unlucky you i guess.