We all play with the same racquet.

[Ashley D]

I've noticed recently that people seem to off-set the individual differences in racquets, to minimize the effects of the more extreme characteristics. For example, in a very open string pattern racquet people will use thicker gauge string to minimize the space between strings. If the racquet is particularly stiff, they will string with softer string or at lower tension. If a racquet is really soft, string it with stiffer poly. Powerful stick? String it tight. Low powered stick? String it loose. I often notice that this kind of thing is recommended by the TW playtesters. Are we all essentially aiming for the same racquet?
I realize that the the inherent characteristics of certain racquets will still make them very different from others, no matter what you do, but it seems like a strange phenomenon to me.

 

[navigator]

Just a personal opinion but... I think most players below 6.0 could get used to - that is, play about the same with - almost any racquet with roughly the same head size. I think the obsessing over small differences in flex, weight, string tension, etc. is mostly just in the mind. When I'm not playing with wood, I use a Slazenger V98 Team - pretty middle of the road in all respects. But I bet within 8-10 practice sessions with just about any 98-inch frame - specs all over the place - I'd probably be playing about the same - I'd just get used to it. I think only the pros and near-pros can really tell the difference between these various racquets... and notice how many pros with very similar games use different racquets. 99% of results are determined by the player, not the racquet (keeping frame size roughly constant).

 

[LeeD]

Weight, most of us can play 10-13 oz rackets.
SW might be tougher to generalize, as some like 310, other's 355.
Feel is totally subjective.

Best quote "I tried _-_- racket, but I hit too long, so it's a terrible racket for me"....... and your swing is soo grooved you play at WHAT level?

 

[Ashley D]

I guess I'm wondering why people would choose a particular racquet because of specific characteristics, such as an open pattern, and then attempt to negate these characteristics, for example by using thicker gauge string? Seems funny to me.

 

[LeeD]

In defense of all our friends and neighbors.....
Open pattern, to hit lots of topspin. But strings break when there aren't a lot, so thicker gauge strings break less frequently.
My choice, 60 flex for long dwell time and saving my fragile body. But 60 flex is not great for big serves, so 47 lbs helps regain some ball speed, without using my 68 flex Aero500's, that sometimes cause a twinge in my wrist.
I guess there are at least two sides to every story.

 

[Ashley D]

I think you've taken my comments as a criticism. They weren't. Just thought it was interesting.

 

[OTMPut]

Good observation from Ashley.
I dont think the mods are intended to "negate" the special effect. There is a continuum of feel and people some times land on magic combination by either accident or by trial and the search continues.

 

[ShahofTennis]

TW play testers have an ideal spec for their racquets. When they play tested Volkl Cyclone Tour; everyone said to string at a higher tension because it was more powerful than Volkl Cyclone which they had a preferred(lower) tension for.
Say you wanted more power; well if you like the amount of power Cyclone Tour gives you at the tension you normally string Cyclone at; then great. But tension, and gauge help to adjust the power if it's too much power.
I think everyone is trying to play with their own racquet.
Great post OP!

 

[fuzz nation]

It rather is a strange phenomenon. I read the book Technical Tennis by Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey - it was a long winter - and they really dig into the nuts and bolts of what physically happens when a racquet and the strings interact with a tennis ball. It includes a whole lot more than what I may have thought before I found this work.

One aspect of what's right or wrong for each of us with any racquet/string setup is an intangible that lives entirely between the ears. What feels and also sounds "right" for each of us when we hit a ball is often something that we only recognize when it happens on the courts. Yes, the realm of physics holds sway over what happens between the strings and the ball, but our brains have their own opinions or "filters" that interpret that sound and also what we feel through the grip.

That's probably why I still enjoy a more old-school racquet that has at least a little in common with the wood frames I used as a kid. Even if a more modern design has a greater potential for better general performance, I'm in trouble if I don't feel that connection. Whatever has felt "right" for me has probably changed only a little through the years. Kids who have learned to rip the ball with an APD strung up with a poly hybrid have a different association with that sort of feel. It's not right for me, but it's great for a lot of them. And so it goes...

 

[TimothyO]

If the racquet is particularly stiff, they will string with softer string or at lower tension. If a racquet is really soft, string it with stiffer poly. Powerful stick? String it tight. Low powered stick?

I generally agree with your premise but you got some important details backwards.

A soft frame (usually lower powered) generally demands a softer string (usually more power). A stiff frame (usually more power) generally demands a stiffer string (usually lower powered).

And today, polys (stiff and low powered) are generally installed in stiff frames (higher powered) at lower tension while gut which is soft is strung higher in soft frames.

As for the general premise, the constants in this equation are the ball, its aerodynamics, and gravity relative to the court dimensions and net height. There's a envelope of parameters that must be met to drive a ball from one baseline to the other and over the net at reasonable pace with reasonable control. The great variables in the equation are one's physique and technique relative to that goal. The frame and strings serve as the connection between the player and the constants of the ball, physics, and the court.

Thus, for a given set of physical characteristics and technical skills there's frame/string system that might provide an optimum playing experience.

 

[SoCalJay]

For me, personally, it's all about a setup which:

1. Complements my game well (heavily on the topspin side of the spectrum vs. flat)
2. Is sustainable indefinitely (i.e. no tennis elbow or cumulative arm/wrist/hand fatigue)
3. "feels" good and inspires confidence (the most important because it keeps mind and emotions in check)

I think everyone is looking for the three things above but I don't think the three things above are accomplished by the same setup for everyone. Having said that, I think a person can use two very different racquets and accomplish all of the above. Using myself as an example, I'm currently using a Steam 99S as my racquet of choice but I also carry a Volkl PB10 mid in the bag with my Wilson sticks. I love both but I think the Steam complements my game a little better.

 

[andrewski]

It rather is a strange phenomenon. I read the book Technical Tennis by Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey - it was a long winter - and they really dig into the nuts and bolts of what physically happens when a racquet and the strings interact with a tennis ball. It includes a whole lot more than what I may have thought before I found this work.

Well, I have this book to hand now and I always had doubts about some of the claims, although it is definitely worth reading if you like tennis technology. For example on page 131 in section "Can racket and strings Increase Spin?" they claim that "lab experiments show that the end result is always the same spin"
I think TW has a video showing poly generating more spin.
Testing dozens rackets every year is sort of my hobby and why some rackets and/or brands always worked better for me than others some things were constant over the years for the frames of the same size:
1) thinner string of the same type generate more spin (like my Technifibre X-one or NRG)
2) gut generate more spin than multi (but not great option outdoors in UK)
3) open string pattern generate more spin.
I even tested poly/multi hybrid (Signum Pro 18/Technifibre X-one 17) first time in my rackets (Head PPYT and Dunlop 200 Bio Lite) for the last few weeks and it definitely generate much more spin than X-one.
Many rackets considered spin monsters like Bab APD or Head Extreme Pro delivered amazing spin for me even if Bab APD "delivered" elbow pain as well.
Rackets measured/published characteristics quite often do not reflect playing experience. I did not have elbow issues with Head EP although it is listed as similar stiffness to Bab APD.
I am surprised by another poster claim that we all can play with 10-13 oz rackets.
Well 10 is very light to me but 13 is very heavy (i.e. great for hitting but not playing). 10 grams in racket weight can make huge difference albeit not as much as swingweight difference of 10.
I could never play with Yonex after trying dozen rackets till I tried 310 Tour version few years back.
I disagree with comments that racket is just 1%. It is not going to allow 4.0 like me to beat 5.0 but racket which matches your game and fitness level is worth few games a set between evenly matched opponents.
If I could play with Babolat APD I would. I won a match 6:1, 6:2 against my regular tennis partner when normally we have very close matches with deuces galore. He commented on power and spin of my strokes.
No idea why it should be the case but it shows that testing is the only way to find your perfect stick, because racket spectrum is so varied.

 

[LeeD]

I claimed it because I went to Aero500's from the 12.6 oz Mfil and Aero 200's, immediately played well, lost a bit on flat first serves, but gained tons of easy spin on groundies.
Then, graduating to 11 oz and 320 SW, hit with Shroud's 14 oz 28 lbs strung weight POG and hit just fine with it. His SW seemed to be within ball park, as he hit just fine with my 11 oz 320 SW 4DAero300.

 

[Winners or Errors]

No way. Got to be headlight, got to feel right when I hit the sweetspot or I just lose confidence over time, got to weigh roughly 12 oz + or I get the yips, and I've played other people's racquets... and if they're not similar to my sticks they just don't have the feel I like. Too much sproing and I'm outta there... too much speed off the racquet face and I'm not enjoying it. This bear's porridge has to be just right.