What am I missing?

[g4driver]

Can't seem to find a racquet I like. Anyone had this problem? 15 years ago, before the internet, and all the data on the internet, I seemed to walk into a Tennis Shop talk to a pro, pick out three or four sticks and make a choice.

In the past two months, I've hit with:

Prince 03 Pro White Speedport
Prince EXO Whites & Black (almost went the Black, but choose the White)
Head Extreme Pro (2009 Version)
Babolat Pure Drive GT & GT+ (love the power, hated my sore elbow hours later)
Wilson BLX Six.One 95 (the stiffness scares me)
Wilson BLX Six One Team (too light- light on power, but I love the volleys)
Wilson BLX Tour (didn't care for this at all)
Wilson BLX Pro Open (like the power, but worried it is too stiff)
Dunlop 300 4D (nice frame and I enjoyed hitting with this racquet)
Dunlop 300 4D Tour (too heavy for me)
Pro Kennex Ki 5X (not enough power for my game. I was hoping this would be my replacement racquet, but it didn't live up to expectations)

I'm been playing with the Prince EXO White since Jan 2010, but sometimes feel like my elbow is going to fall off my arm due to over hitting. I normally play Sat-Sun-Mon as I am out of town Tues-Fri, and maybe I'm simply hitting too many days in a row. I thought I would try to get a racquet that is less stiff than the Prince EXO White, but haven't stated "I love this racquet" when demoing many of these sticks.

The ones that had a positive playtest:

Dunlop 300 4D, Wilson BLX Pro Open (but the color scheme is hard as a Georgia fan with Georgia Tech sporting that same ugly yellow and black)

I liked the BLX Pro Open quite a bit, but with elbow issues, I wonder if it is simply too stiff, along with the Prince EXO White. When I go to the softer frames such as the BLX Six One Team, I just don't feel the racquet has enough power compared to the BLX Pro Open.

When I compare the TW power zones, the two Wilson sticks look very similar in power, but when I hit with both, the Pro Open seems much more powerful than the BLX 6.1 Team. The Six.One Team is fairly light, but the Pro Open isn't much heavier. What am I missing? These racquets are vastly different in my opinion.

Would adding lead tape to racquets with the softer frames (RDC range of 59-63) give me the "heft" I'm look for for when hitting with guys who crush the ball? The Head Extreme Pro had a very solid feel when I hit with it, but again the racquet feels stiff.

When I hit with lower level 4.5 players, or top level 4.0s, too often I feel I'm getting pushed backwards at the point of impact with these lighter frames. Imagine a 150 lb Corner Back standing still hoping to stop a 225 lb Running Back coming at him full speed. This is how I feel sometimes. It's like the ball is coming toward me with mass of a fast moving dump truck, and I'm sitting idle in a Mini-Cooper, when I would stand a better chance of not getting killed if I was in a Ford F350 Truck. Hope that makes sense.

Are the light weight frames part of my problem? I don't feel like I can hit certain frames with enough power, therefore have been sticking with mid-plus tweener racquets. I think I can handle an racquet in the 11+ oz weight range (maybe even the low 12 oz range), but I still need the power of a tweener frame.

Should I be trying something like Babolat Pure Storm GT+ or Pure Storm GT? Both are flexible, over 12oz, but they don't have ton of power.

Are there there some 11 oz frames, around 95 to 100 square inches, that will give me the plow-through and power I'm looking for, without being so stiff?

 

[ManuGinobili]

If you really stretch the comfy part then try Yonex and ProKennex... RDS002 or 003 could be a good start

To your last question of 95-100, plowthrough, flex,.... Head Radical/Speed MP 18x20?

 

[fuzz nation]

Sounds like you'd be smart to at least try out a few heavier frames if you have that feeling of being overwhelmed by harder hitters. In recent history I've enjoyed a few racquets above the 12.5 oz. mark and find their inherent stability to be essential when the heat is on. By contrast, lighter frames - let's say 11.5-12 oz. - make me feel as though I need to overswing to make decent power with them and that kills my consistency. I'll even bet that I'm most injury prone when I'm trying to serve well with a racquet that's too light for me.

I think that some of the nicer current frames with a little heft to them include the Yonex RDS 002 Tour and the Volkl C10. Both are rather head-light in balance, so they're not tough to maneuver and neither frame is terribly stiff. Moderate flex in a racquet could prove to be much more comfortable for you in light of your go 'round with both the BLX Six.One 95 and the Pure Drives.

Your list seems to be full of "middleweights" with the exception of only one or two of the Wilsons and since you mentioned you trips to the pro shop 15 years ago, you'd probably enjoy a test drive with one or two racquets with a touch of old school personality, including the C10. Just be careful not to warm up with a lighter frame before you go and demo a heavier one - that could make it feel really slow for you.

 

[Deodorant]

you should give the youtek radical mp a demo, it'll be nice, 11oz, 58~60 flex, and very spin friendly for an 18x20. crisp on volleys and enough power to make winners.

 

[g4driver]

I didn't notice the replies until this morning, but I appreciate the advice. I have a demo order in for the Head YouTek Radical, and will add the Volkl C10 and Yonex RDS 002 Tour to the demo list.

I've been demoing all racquets in the 11oz range, so I too was wondering about going up to a 12oz frame. This weekend, I will had some lead tape to my Prince EXO White, so I need to read the stickies on depolarized vs polarized again.

My gut intention is to add about 4 grams at three and nine and see how I like the modified Prince EXO White with more weight, until the demos come in.

I know there is a customization tool on TW, but I haven't looked at it yet.

Any thoughts on my adding lead tape to see where that gets me?

 

[bluetrain4]

I don't question that you haven't found a racquet you liked, but I think, in this day and age of limitless information and endless reviews regarding rackets, it's easy for many people (and I'm not saying that you are necessarily one of these people) to really never be satisified.

I'm 37, and when I was growing up playing tennis, I didn't have a lot of choices for frames, and when I was confronted with a decent choice at a sporting goods store during a family trip to the "big city" or eventually through mail-order retailers found in Tennis Magazine, I certainly didn't have the opportunity to demo multiple frames and make a decison. I had to pick a frame and play with it until my parents would buy me a different frame, which wasn't that often.

I would do the ridiculous "swing test" in the store, swinging an unstrung or factory strung frame to see if I liked it. I knew nothing of balance, swingweight, flex, or any of the specs that all of us now obsess about. The only way to truly get to know a frame and demo it at length was usually to use a teammate's frame or the frame of my coach or any number of older guys who played tennis.

My point is that I was rarely disappointed. Ignorance really was bliss. Yeah, some racquets felt better than others, but for the most part, knowing that I would be forced to play with a frame for a while really made me accept it and move on.

But, then I got older, and had access to (1) endless amounts of information (the aforementioned specs, professional reviews, and personal reviews of frames), and (2) disposable income, which made it possible for me to purchase racquets at will.

Thus, I became a much more discerning consumer, always checking specs as a starting point, being wary of getting too far away from my preffered specs (even if the racket felt great), and always checking what someone else (usually whom I'd never met and had never seen play) had to say about the frame.

I laugh, because having all of this information and the ability to switch frames at will, while it has prevented me from ever acquiring a frame I hated, hasn't really lead me to any sort of holy grail that is better than anything I played with growing up. It only makes me more paranoid that I've made the wrong choice. I should know better. I've played tennis for nearly 30 years. I'm a good player. I should know by now that I can play well with any number of frames. But, I still keep obsessing about finding the elusive best frame for me.

 

[canuckfan]

bluetrain, you are a wise man. your post should be stickied.

 

[g4driver]

Bluetrain4,

Thanks for your post. I feel you think too many people, put too much stock in specs. To some extinct I agree, but when looking for a vehicle among other things I look at specs ~ JD Power ratings, reliability, total ownership costs, towing capacity, etc. Since I am having Tennis Elbow issues, isn't it logical for me to examine what might be exacerbating the problem? Is it the racquet? Did I pick one that is too stiff or too light? Maybe...Maybe not. Is it the string tension or the strings themselves? I am hitting too many days in a row? Is it my technique?

I'm 43, seven years older than you, and have played tennis since 7th grade. I grew up in a small Georgia town of less than 15K. I too bought and picked racquets based on what other people had, and I could hit with if they let me borrow their racquet. 15 years ago there were fewer choices, and Tennis Magazine did some reviews that made it pretty easy to pick a stick based on your skill level. Today, it's information overload. I played with the same 95 sq inch Wilson 6.2 "Skunk" for nearly seven years, then walked away from the game as a competitive 4.0 player. I could have bought or played with any racquet I wanted, but the Wilson worked for me and I didn't need to change anything during those 7 years. I never had TE even with a Head Heavy Wilson Hammer frame.

Fast forward to Aug 2007, after I've been away from tennis for over five years. I start hitting with the Wilson Skunks, and I'm horrible. I don't have the strokes or the power, as I am rusty. Three months later in Nov 2007, I herniate a disc in my lower back on both the left and right sides. I try shots, PT, and everything I can to avoid surgery, but in the end, I am told by my employer "Get surgery, or you will never return to work". I am a professional pilot, and must be able to hold 150 lbs of force on the rudder in the event of an engine failure on takeoff. My choices are quit flying or have surgery. Period. Dot.

Everything I read about back surgeries lead me to believe to once conclusion "Don't do it" But I don't have a choice. If I don't get the surgery, I lose my job. So I have a lamincetomy in March of 2008, but it doesn't fix my left side of my herniated disc. In July 2008, I have a fusion with titanium screws and plate with Bone Morphogenetic Proteins inserted into my back. I start PT in November and return to work in Feb 2009 thankful I have my life back. I went to PT three days each week, followed my neurosurgeon's advice, and my Physical Therapist instructions. In Aug of 2009, I return to the courts. I'm uncoordinated, stiffer, but thankful. I now hit every Saturday in a drill of 4.0s and 4.5 players under the instruction of two pros.

By Dec, I am hitting outside on clay and hard courts when the temp is 34F. The instruction as raised my game to a level I've never contemplated. I understand, it not so much about the racquet, but more about my technique and mechanics. But I also know when my speakers don't sound as good as they can. Maybe it's too much bass, or maybe I picked the incorrect speaker for the room where they are placed. After flying for 20 years, I also know when my seat in the cockpit is positioned to something other than optimal. Maybe it's too low or to high for what I am use to seeing, or maybe it's too close or too far back. Sometimes things need a small adjustment, whether it's a pair of speakers or a cockpit seat.

Yes, like you, I can play with a multitude of racquets, but I also know what it's like to have a frame that doesn't cause TE. With two titanium screws in my lower back, and an arm that most likely suffers due to hitting for two to three hours on Sat, two hours on Sunday and another two hours on Monday, I am adamant I need to tweak something. Maybe that tweak, is simply not hitting on Sundays. Maybe it's adding more mass to a 10.9 oz frame so the racquet absorbs more of the shock, with lead tape to increase the SW and the total weight. Maybe it's both, or maybe it's neither. Maybe it's softer strings at a lower tension.

The pro teaching my drill is a former top 10 Touring Pro, and he has played in all four Grand Slams. He's been teaching for 30 years now, and was recently inducted into the NCAA Tennis Hall of Fame. When he tells me to consider a racquet that isn't as stiff, I listen to him.

I love my job, where I live, and my lifestyle, so being content or happy certainly isn't the question. I am happy with almost all aspects of my life. I do wish, the dirt in my yard wasn't that crappy gray clay, but I'm not moving for that. ;-)

I am blessed and I know that. But contrary to the belief of some tennis players on this board, yes, sometimes tennis players like me need some advice other than "fix your technique". So why did I write all the info about my back surgery in this post? Because quite frankly, I'm not as mobile as I was before two back surgeries. I feel the pain in my back and down my left leg when I play too long. Am I complaining? Not at all. I'm thankful, my two surgeries were successful and I'm back to work. After two years of not running, I can still run a 1.5 mile under 10:30. I did it in Dec 2009 to the amazement of folks who can't run a 1.5 under 12 minutes because they are out of shape.

I appreciate the feedback you and others have given me, but I hope you also understand, that not everyone is looking for the Holy Grail. Some of us are simply looking for ideas, or suggestions from people with more experience. I do think a few other posters on here have noted one thing that I too noticed, and that is all the racquets I've been testing are in the same weight range. Give all things being equal, a heavier racquet is easier on the arm, than a lighter racquet. The same can be said for a softer racquet. Just like softer strings, strung at lower tension are better for those who have TE.

So here is my plan:

1) Add some lead tape at 3/9 and in the handle to my current racquets to get the weight up to 12oz
2) Restring one of my racquets at the lower range with soft strings
3) Compare the two racquets with different strings tensions with the same weight added
4) Stop hitting on Sundays to rest my arm

Again, I appreciate the feedback.

 

[coyfish]

I have tried almost every new frame out there. If there is anything I have learned is there is no PERFECT frame. There is always another one that does something better. Just have to pick one and make it work . Obviously one you enjoy hitting with. Its easy to get lost in a mess of racquets / lead / setups.

 

[g4driver]

Customized Prince EXO White:

Just added 8 grams total lead tape at 3&9, then added 10 grams in the handle about four inches up the handle under a Yonex Supergrap overgrip. I hit a 2HBH, so the lead is between my hands on the grip.
The added weight make the EXO White feel even better now that the swingweight is 343, 5.5 Head Light, weighing in a 11.7 oz with a Yonex SuperGrap overgrip. I'll let you know if this setup works for me after a match tomorrow night.

 

[Ross K]

I have tried almost every new frame out there. If there is anything I have learned is there is no PERFECT frame. There is always another one that does something better. Just have to pick one and make it work . Obviously one you enjoy hitting with. Its easy to get lost in a mess of racquets / lead / setups.

Quoted for truth!...............

 

[JackB1]

Quoted for truth!...............

I think it's most important to have something with a swingweight and comfort factor you like first and foremost. If you are trying to focus on playing but keep thinking..."this racquet's too heavy" or "this racquet's too stiff", you will never be able to focus on just playing. When you are just playing and the racquet feels like an "expension of your arm"...then it's right.

 

[g4driver]

I think it's most important to have something with a swingweight and comfort factor you like first and foremost. If you are trying to focus on playing but keep thinking..."this racquet's too heavy" or "this racquet's too stiff", you will never be able to focus on just playing. When you are just playing and the racquet feels like an "expension of your arm"...then it's right.

And if the racquet doesn't feel like a natural extension of your arm, what would you do? Demo different sticks, or try to adjust the racquet you already have. I've now done both. Demoing racquets is tougher if you have to have them mailed to you, so after many demos, I thought it would be better to try adding lead tape.

After warming up and hitting with my EXO White with 8 grams of lead at 3 & 9, and 10 grams in the handle, it didn't feel like a natural extension of my arm. It was too heavy. I was late on my swings, for most of the pre-warm up with guys on my team. I couldn't easily remove the tape from the handle since it was under an overgrip and my opponent just arrived for the match. I quickly took off 4 grams at 3 & 9. It played more natural with a little less weight. I didn't think about it, and simply went out and won the match 6-1, 6-3.

I've never tweaked my racquets with lead tape, so for me, yes, this is trying to fine tune the racquet a little, which I think is completely logical. People season food with salt, pepper, and/or spices. We adjust the seat and mirrors in vehicles. If I'm over hitting, and then shorten my swing to keep the ball from sailing, then I start hitting the ball short after I adjust my swing, I am changing the natural stroke.

It's logical to me to add at little weight, so I can attempt to hit a natural swing that sends the ball consistently past the service box on groundstrokes. Am I correct in this logic? And if my logic is sound, is there anything wrong with the idea below?

Add lead tape and record the weights and placement on index card for Racquet #1 and #2, then using a Sharpie to code the racquets as #1 & #2 on the back of the overgrip. Then go hit "blindly" without knowing the actual amount of lead added to each racquet, and see if one feels more natural than another.

If I find one "feels" more natural than another over several days of "Blind hitting", I will take off the overgrip once I find one that feels more natural, then look at the notecard and match the racquets.

This isn't a fixation, so much as a tweak. I generally like the EXO White, but think it just needs a little something. Similar to cooking something, and thinking. "This is pretty good, but it needs a little more of this spice "

 

[JackB1]

And if the racquet doesn't feel like a natural extension of your arm, what would you do? Demo different sticks, or try to adjust the racquet you already have. I've now done both. Demoing racquets is tougher if you have to have them mailed to you, so after many demos, I thought it would be better to try adding lead tape.

After warming up and hitting with my EXO White with 8 grams of lead at 3 & 9, and 10 grams in the handle, it didn't feel like a natural extension of my arm. It was too heavy. I was late on my swings, for most of the pre-warm up with guys on my team. I couldn't easily remove the tape from the handle since it was under an overgrip and my opponent just arrived for the match. I quickly took off 4 grams at 3 & 9. It played more natural with a little less weight. I didn't think about it, and simply went out and won the match 6-1, 6-3.

I've never tweaked my racquets with lead tape, so for me, yes, this is trying to fine tune the racquet a little, which I think is completely logical. People season food with salt, pepper, and/or spices. We adjust the seat and mirrors in vehicles. If I'm over hitting, and then shorten my swing to keep the ball from sailing, then I start hitting the ball short after I adjust my swing, I am changing the natural stroke.

It's logical to me to add at little weight, so I can attempt to hit a natural swing that sends the ball consistently past the service box on groundstrokes. Am I correct in this logic? And if my logic is sound, is there anything wrong with the idea below?

Add lead tape and record the weights and placement on index card for Racquet #1 and #2, then using a Sharpie to code the racquets as #1 & #2 on the back of the overgrip. Then go hit "blindly" without knowing the actual amount of lead added to each racquet, and see if one feels more natural than another.

If I find one "feels" more natural than another over several days of "Blind hitting", I will take off the overgrip once I find one that feels more natural, then look at the notecard and match the racquets.

This isn't a fixation, so much as a tweak. I generally like the EXO White, but think it just needs a little something. Similar to cooking something, and thinking. "This is pretty good, but it needs a little more of this spice "

I dont think you need to get so elaborate. Just add lead to your racquet a little at a time. When it feels too heavy, back off a few grams and you should be all set. The way I know when a racquet it too heavy, is that serving feels like too much work late in a set.

 

[fuzz nation]

Just wanted to check back in and cover something that I missed earlier on.

I'm around the same age as you and a lot of your story of growing up around the game is certainly familiar. While there are a dizzying number of different racquets around compared to when we were kids, it seems to me that lots of them are seemingly one company's attempt to copy a popular frame from another.

Even when Wilson came out with its own complete line, let's say all the K Factors, I couldn't believe that every single model occupied its own place in the overall spectrum. Seemed to me that there could probably be two or three (or more) different racquets in their K series that would be fine for a player seeking a middleweight with mid-plus head and moderate stiffness. Maybe they're trying to put out enough different models so that all the different paint jobs will eventually appeal to more buyers... who knows, right?

If I know the weight and balance of a racquet, I'll have a rather good idea of how that frame will behave for me. Maybe a larger hoop size will be more lively, maybe an especially low flex rating will feel extra soft, etc., but if I want my racquet to not feel like that Mini Cooper in an unfortunate meeting with an F-350, I want it to be well over 12 oz. Actually, I've gotten to the point that my gear gets to feeling light when it's under 12.5 oz.

So there's the weight, but if all that heft is out on the hoop, I might as well be swinging the thing while wearing scuba gear. I like a balance in the range of 8-10 pts. HL. That's me. Not too hung up on head size, since I've enjoyed up to 100 sq. inch frames right on down to mids, and stiffness isn't a deal breaker either. Some flex is usually welcome, but my rigid old ProStaffs have never been irritating or uncomfortable for me.

It might be the case that you get nice and dialed in with your EXO3 White without much extra tuning, but pay attention to the weight and balance of the racquets you see in your travels. They may be the most telling in terms of your likes and dislikes.

The other big issue that's come along since we were kids is the introduction of poly strings. Some of the pros and college killers love them because they can help to get more control over extremely powerful games, but guys like us don't really need them. With your elbow issues, this stuff, along with kevlar, has no place in your racquets. Some polys are reputed to be softer, but that's only a subtle shade of grey - they're inherently un-resilient strings.

 

[athiker]

Hey, finally someone that writes longer posts than me! g4driver, I think your instincts to go heavier and softer are good if you have arm issues. Is it overall arm and shoulder or tennis elbow specifically? As you know your hitting schedule is not ideal. Do you do any arm/shoulder exercise the other 4 days? If not try throwing in a Theraband or some other tubing in your bag. They are great for shoulder strength work on the go. If you are moving up in racquet weight I would seriously consider this.

When I demoed a bunch 2 years ago I tried a number of light big headed racquets (high 9s low 10s) before realizing I needed more heft for ROS against the guys I was playing and less power to keep balls in. From reading the supposed rating you needed for the heavier racquets I initially thought light was the way to go for me. I'm a fairly tall strong male so it just wasn't the right move. Anyway, I moved up to the low 11s and settled on the AeroPro Drive w/ Cortex at 11.3. My final three were it, the 03 White (11.3) and the Becker Pro (11.1)

I picked the APDC b/c it felt more solid on ROS, even though I thought I had a bit better control and feel at the net w/ the White. Anyway I tried 15 or 16 racquets over several months and was pretty shocked at how different they felt from each other. I was also shocked by how bad the pre-hit "swing test" correlated to how I liked the racquet during play.

Somewhere near the end of the demo period I developed TE. I didn't know the correlation between racquet stiffness, weight, strings, etc. at that point. Through rest, exercise (Therabar & Therabands) and a switch to multi string I have a handle on it now. I still have a touch though and want to get rid of it completely so I'm getting a used backup racquet that I'm hoping will turn into my main stick. It's 12 oz and has a stiffness of 61 vs 67 for the APDC as well as a tighter string pattern. Both are HL 5 pts.

I had gained a little too much extra power with the switch to multi string on my APDC so I'm hoping it will all jive with the new stick since it should be a bit lower powered w/ the greater flex and very slightly smaller head size (100 vs 98 ) plus the control of a bit tighter pattern.

Splitting hairs?...yes. I completely agree that given time one can adapt their play to a pretty wide variety of racquets. I also know from demoing so many racquets that there are real differences. I've also read enough to see there is a pretty solid consensus about certain arm friendly racquets and ones that aren't so arm friendly. Not everyone is susceptible to arm issues, but for those that are, there seems to be a difference.

To wrap up, kudos for staying active in the face of health issues. My Dad has had 5 or 6, can't remember for sure!, back surgeries over 2 decades. It finally culminated w/ the metal rod and screws 2 years ago. He is now back to hunting, fishing and playing golf at 70. I can't imagine him not being active.

 

[g4driver]

athiker, Fuzz Nation, and JackB1,

Thanks for reading my dribble. I didn't mean to be so long-winded with my posts, but I appreciate you reading and trying to understand my issue. Specifically it is TE, and maybe my forearm to an extinct. My shoulder and my titanium screws & titanium plate enhanced lower back are doing quite well. I actually carry the green Theraband Flexbar in my bag. The TSA has rechecked my bag a few times, but for the most part, they don't give me to much of a problem.

I am giving up hitting on Sundays, will l simply hit on Saturdays and Mondays when I'm home. I'm only using soft strings. X-One Bi-Phase 17g. I tried Technifibre Black Code with the X-One Bi-Phase, but like Fuzz Nation mentioned, it's still a poly.

athiker,
It nice to hear your father is back to life considering all the surgeries he has had, and it is reassuring to know that real differences exists between so many different racquets. I'm trying to pick an arm-friendly one that has enough heft to not get push around on ROS and monster groundstrokes.
I tried a Babolot Pure Drive GT+. I loved the groundstrokes, but my thought my arm was going to fall off. Just curious what is the backup racquet you are switching back to?

Fuzz Nation,
I'm going to reattempt my lead setup this weekend. The more head light setup felt pretty nice on Monday. I didn't measure the racquet after the match, but suspect it's in the 5-7 Pts Head Light arena. I don't want a HH stick. The stock EXO White is 1 Pt HL, so adding weight to the handle is essential to get the HL stick. On Monday night, I had 4 grams at 3&9, and 10 grams about 4" up the handle under an Supergrap overgrip. I'm also going to hit with a few frames in the 12 oz range like you suggested.

Here's one that looks worthwhile of a Demo.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Yonex_RDiS_200_Midplus/descpageRCYONEX-IS200.html

JackB1,

Thanks again. I typed that last message way too late. I will follow your advice. Adding just 4 to 6 grams at 3 & 9 on two different racquet, then adding some lead under to the handle to make it HL and.

Again, I appreciate all of your comments and advice. I was bummed out after getting blown out 6-1, 6-3 two weeks ago, but realize the guy was simply better than me...and most players he has met this season. Nothing I can do but practice and try to get better. I would love a rematch though.