UTR 13 - racquets

[kailash]

Watched a nearby tournament; amazing speed and footwork!!

Racquets: all I saw was retail racquets, with few customizations (EDIT: more customizations than I thought, mentioned below)!

Pure Aero (3+)
ProStaff RF97 (3+)
Blade 98 (3+)
Prestige MP (2, 360+ and Touch)
TFight 305 (latest)
Elevate 98
Ezone 98/100 (3+)
Radical MP (2, latest orange)
Pure Strike
Pure Drive
Extreme Pro (Graphene 360)

Customizations:
Dunlop with some lead in the hoop
Extreme Pro with little lead
Pure Aero with some lead
Ezone 98 with lead (355g)
Pure Strike 16x19 with some weights (latest version)

Strings: All full poly; yet to see anything else.

Tour bite
MSV Focus (some Hex)
Hyper G
Hawk Touch
ALU Power
...

 

[18x20 ftw]

Thanks for the post. It’s nice to see pros use [some of] the same racquets to which we have access. I practice with a very high level player who uses a stock Wilson 6.1 95 and he can play with anyone.

How do you know there were no customizations (lead under the bumper or in the buttcap)?

 

[longtimelurker]

Most would play stock and as mentioned they play so well too. You do hear of some mods at those levels, but I'd say the percentage is in favor of stock racquets

 

[CosmosMpower]

How do you know they aren’t modified. Kinda hard to tell if there’s lead under a bumper or grip.

 

[Lorenn]

The interesting question is the Pure Aero that good or is it simply great marketing. I think younger players tend to like the most powerful frame they can handle. They see little reason to worry about injuries...it is all about max performance. They are quite amazingly fit and solid players, in general.

 

[longtimelurker]

There have been many on here who string for college / higher level in general and some who even played at those levels and you would be surprised that the majority do not tweak their frames at all.

 

[kailash]

How do you know they aren’t modified. Kinda hard to tell if there’s lead under a bumper or grip.

Thanks for the post. It’s nice to see pros use [some of] the same racquets to which we have access. I practice with a very high level player who uses a stock Wilson 6.1 95 and he can play with anyone.

How do you know there were no customizations (lead under the bumper or in the buttcap)?

I spoke with them and asked about few things including racquets.

 

[mad dog1]

The interesting question is the Pure Aero that good or is it simply great marketing. I think younger players tend to like the most powerful frame they can handle. They see little reason to worry about injuries...it is all about max performance. They are quite amazingly fit and solid players, in general.

The PA19 is really that good. Babolat has made the frame a lot more comfortable than the past Aeros, too.

 

[Lorenn]

The PA19 is really that good. Babolat has made the frame a lot more comfortable than the past Aeros, too.

Only major issue I had with the frame was it was not as controlled as I would like with flat shots. Basically was a spin monster...

Wonder which racquet won the Tourney, surely it wasn't the amazing player using it

 

[FIRETennis]

Rare to see that many RFs.
No regular Pro Staffs?

 

[kailash]

Rare to see that many RFs.
No regular Pro Staffs?

Yet to see one. Also have not seen any Gravity so far.

 

[Stratotanker]

Watched a nearby tournament; amazing speed and footwork!!

Racquets: all I saw was retail racquets, with no customizations!

Pure Aero (3+)
ProStaff RF97 - (3+)
Blade 98 - (3+)
Touch Prestige MP
TFight 305 (latest)
Elevate 98
Ezone 98 (or 100)
Radical MP (latest orange)
Pure Strike
Pure Drive
Extreme Pro (Graphene 360)

Strings: All full poly; yet to see anything else.

Tour bite
MSV Focus (some Hex)
...

Cool info, thanks! Do you remember the 1HBH/2HBH breakdown among the players? 10% one handers, maybe? Also, was anyone playing at the net more often than not? (I'm guessing pure S&V is non-existent).

 

[kailash]

Cool info, thanks! Do you remember the 1HBH/2HBH breakdown among the players? 10% one handers, maybe? Also, was anyone playing at the net more often than not? (I'm guessing pure S&V is non-existent).

Saw only one 1HBH; it is rare!

Many players came to the net when needed, but only one guy played S&V style; that also not fully.

 

[Steve Huff]

Saw only one 1HBH; it is rare!

Many players came to the net when needed, but only one guy played S&V style; that also not fully.

Very interesting report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[lefty10spro]

Interesting that the OP mentioned footwork and speed. I'm not sure who said this but it's a great quote: "Tennis is a running sport disguised as a racket sport." A UTR 13 are the top women in the world and D1 college men approximately. If your feet can't fly, you don't need to apply (my quote!). No racket mods will get you to this rare air.

 

[kailash]

Interesting that the OP mentioned footwork and speed. I'm not sure who said this but it's a great quote: "Tennis is a running sport disguised as a racket sport." A UTR 13 are the top women in the world and D1 college men approximately. If your feet can't fly, you don't need to apply (my quote!). No racket mods will get you to this rare air.

100% right. I was about to comment on the same.

My observations, compared to amateur/club level players:
- Given same court and same equipment, they are much much faster and very athletic.
- Much faster racquet head speed.
- Much more consistent; very few unforced errors!

Between them, IMO, the one with better strategies, perseverance/stamina and speed (in that order) wins.

 

[AverageForehand]

Agreed - they are all some of the best movers/athletes I have ever seen.

I have here the racket of the #1 ranked player in NCAA:

- Wilson Ultra 100 (version 3.0) glossy PJ
- Solinco Tour Bite 16 - low 50s
- Lead placement - 5g at bottom of handle; 8g total at 3 & 9; 2g at 12.
- SW = 335
- Balance = 33cm
- Total static wt with string and overgrip = 336g

 

[CosmosMpower]

Agreed - they are all some of the best movers/athletes I have ever seen.

I have here the racket of the #1 ranked player in NCAA:

- Wilson Ultra 100 (version 3.0) glossy PJ
- Solinco Tour Bite 16 - low 50s
- Lead placement - 5g at bottom of handle; 8g total at 3 & 9; 2g at 12.
- SW = 335
- Balance = 33cm
- Total static wt with string and overgrip = 336g

is it a pro stock painted as an ultra?

 

[AverageForehand]

Nah - looks retail