We are the two percent!

He's playing with a Garcia which I think was a JKA clone. A guy that I used to play with used them and I was curious because I had never heard of the brand.
yeah back in those days info on racquets was all word of mouth. Andre is 6 months older than I am so I kinda identify with the various timeperiods in which he's depicted.
 

pabletion

Hall of Fame
from another thread but works here.

...Nick Kyrgios who was asked recently about the size of his racquet head and strings used, he replied simply "wouldn't have clue mate" Obviously he would spank all the TT formula gurus on the court.

Yea but BE SURE SOMEONE on Kyrgios' team know exactly what he uses, and replicates it constantly so Kyrgios will have it. Specially coming from a young gun like him, who says "doesnt like tennis", you'd expect a whole entourage around him doing everything for him, that includes, knowing all of his specs (racquets, strings, grip size) and having everything ready for him.

We, tennis geeks & wannabes, sadly, have to do everything ourselves. This includes pretending a couple of pounds below or above from our proshop stinger are at fault from us losing a match.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
I'm actually starting to lean toward the lighter rackets myself. For the last 30+ years I've been playing with rackets that were 340+ SWs and 12+ to 14+ ounces. But just recently I got a new frame with a low 300 SW and liked how fast I could swing the racket through the ball. Even then though I wanted more mass in the head and for some strange reason I only put 5 g in the throat. That was better but I wanted more mass so I added 2 g more in the throat - too much took it off after playing three sets.

I still feel like I could use more mass in the head but my play is getting better and better so I going to force myself to get used to it. Force myself, like I don't like winning.

There is another good reason to get lighter rackets, it is much easier to add mass (for matching frames) to a light racket than it is to take mass off a heavy racket.
 
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TennisCJC

Legend
Another light vs heavy. I really didn't pay much attention to specs other than basic weight and balance until about 10 years ago. I've tried 11 oz tweeners that were thicker, stiffer, lighter, and 100" heads. I tried 12 oz, thinner, flexier and smaller 98" heads. I like the thinner, heavier, smaller rackets by a long shot. I think "light" means around 11oz, 4HL with SW320. My current rackets are 12oz, a bit over 6HL and around 330-335SW. I think anyone who plays a couple of times a week or more should play SW320 or higher, 11-12oz and 4HL or more. Geez, an 11oz, 320SW and 4HL racket is very "light" and still give you a chance of handling an incoming tennis ball that has a fair amount of spin and pace. It also allows you to generate plenty of RHS when needed and still have enough oomph to get pace from an easy smooth swing.
 
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RanchDressing

Hall of Fame
Yea but BE SURE SOMEONE on Kyrgios' team know exactly what he uses, and replicates it constantly so Kyrgios will have it. Specially coming from a young gun like him, who says "doesnt like tennis", you'd expect a whole entourage around him doing everything for him, that includes, knowing all of his specs (racquets, strings, grip size) and having everything ready for him.

Lol reminds me, someone was leaving comments on my youtube, basically saying I talk the talk but do I walk the walk.

How good you are doesn't change physics. It doesn't matter if you put every bit of weight on the racquet, or if someone else did it for you, or if you just picked up a stock racquet that you loved. The racquet and ball are completely dictated by physics. Physics doesn't give an eff. Rather than spend 100$s on new frames, chasing the newest technologies, spend 10 minutes with some cheap lead and some basic know how and get a better stick.

People act like spending a bit of time with the racquet will hurt you, or make you worse. Especially coming from all the "hardcore" people who talk down on it, if you spend the hours and money to get better on court, you'd be doing yourself a dis-service to not at least figure out what you're swinging. Whether that be DIY, or pay someone.

I can't think of any other change you can make at home sitting down at the table, that can have a permanent effect on your shot quality, in less time. Unless of course numbers are too much for you.
 

proracketeer

Professional
Come to think of it, I do not miss the extra weight of classics, but the extra glass fibre epoxy in modern frames.

sent from my E5
 

Christian Olsson

Professional
Lol reminds me, someone was leaving comments on my youtube, basically saying I talk the talk but do I walk the walk.

How good you are doesn't change physics. It doesn't matter if you put every bit of weight on the racquet, or if someone else did it for you, or if you just picked up a stock racquet that you loved. The racquet and ball are completely dictated by physics. Physics doesn't give an eff. Rather than spend 100$s on new frames, chasing the newest technologies, spend 10 minutes with some cheap lead and some basic know how and get a better stick.

People act like spending a bit of time with the racquet will hurt you, or make you worse. Especially coming from all the "hardcore" people who talk down on it, if you spend the hours and money to get better on court, you'd be doing yourself a dis-service to not at least figure out what you're swinging. Whether that be DIY, or pay someone.

I can't think of any other change you can make at home sitting down at the table, that can have a permanent effect on your shot quality, in less time. Unless of course numbers are too much for you.
I did just that.

I saw one of your YT videos on SW and curiously I've always hit in the past with 12.5 oz players sticks. So after having issues with execution of deep slices, ohb etc I modded my already modded SG10-295 from 330gr/325-328sw up to 340 gr/345sw all incl og and dampener. What a difference. I have no problems generating high pace and the racquet feels exactly like I want it to be! Big improvement on spin as well. Screw different string setups, this is awesome. 20 extra SW really feels good! Gonna try 350 SW as well some day!


So a big thanks for your fantastic videos! They are both fun and very informative!


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Volkl super g 10 midplus
 

Top Jimmy

Semi-Pro
I'm going to say the modern game for non-pro's does require lighter rackets. With an eastern and continental grip, it's much easier to swing a heavy racket. I would say a western grip takes different muscles than just clubing the ball with a 14 oz wood racket with a continental grip. You don't use a western grip if you're hammering nails into the wall do you?

I think some of the anti-light group like to pontificate about how manly they are and post their SW and weigh in their signature, lol.
 
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