venus at WTT in Delaware

[RafaN RichardG]

hello all, i just got back( a little while ago) from the Delaware smash and saw venus play. she was very nice to everyone and was a good sport all throughout.
a couplt points of notice:
1. her grunt wasnt nearly as loud as it is on tv(even when she hit her hardest serves and groundstrokes)
2. she IS 6'1"(she stood next to my dad who is 5'11" and was taller by an inch or 2"

after her mixed dubs match her racquet(which was the same used at wimbledon) and a signed shirt were auctioned off. they went for 2,500- won by my dad(who works for the city) to be put into the DE sports hall of fame(so we didnt really have to pay shhh).

i got to hold it and stuff, and i got pics(a la crappy camera phone) and accurate specs on it. for those of you who say its a granny racquet- it weighed OVER 12 oz and was head heavy which seems like a very stable racquet and def. not a featherweight. it was a real n4 and the handle was 4 5/8 with a white overgrip. her racquet was strung at 65 lbs with wilson natural gut 16g. date of stringing was 7/10.

venus was a very nice person to everyone she met, judging by my observations and by what my dad said.(for all of you ppl who, i dont know why, hat her)

soon as i figure out how 2 upload the pics ill post them

 

[bamboo]

As you would expect, women pros tend to use larger grips than male pros - Venus 5/8 to Federer's 3/8 - country clubbers tend to see it as a sign of being macho to use a large grip.

 

[RafaN RichardG]

i think it has to do with the style of play aslo- 2h backhander vs 1 handed. i would guess a 2 hander needs more to hold onto that a 1h. hewitt also uses a 5/8.

pics

 

[RafaN RichardG]

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