What do you...

T.P3D0R

Rookie
What do you look for in a racquet? So many racketholics out there - what keeps you going?

Would you be interested in "settling" if you could just find the right one, or do y'all merely enjoy trying out new sticks?

Just curious what the consensus is - I personally just like trying new rackets, but am getting ready to say that I want to stick with a single frame for a few years.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
I look for a few major aspects:
feel
control
spin

When I find a racquet that fits my needs in these areas, I stick with it until I find a better one (which includes testing nearly every frame whose specs seem interesting :p).

Currently I'm happily bonding with my BLX Six.One Pro Staff 95, but I'll be glad to have an affair if something else catches my eye :twisted:
 

Long Face

Semi-Pro
They are toys. I like to play with them.

And occasionally a good toy helps in my game, and in this case I play with that toy a bit more than the others.

My toy of this week is:

2014-04-16_15.51.08__custom_.jpg
 

kimguroo

Legend
My #1 priority is power,
2. Spin
And control&Comfort might be bonus.
I just want to settle if I find right one.
I thought My modified APDGT (12.4oz) is the one but have micro cracking issues. I am sick and tired of changing equipment nowadays. I feel that frequent adjustment periods ruin my techniques. I prefer to pick one racket and continue to work on consistent strokes.
 

T.P3D0R

Rookie
My #1 priority is power,
2. Spin
And control&Comfort might be bonus.
I just want to settle if I find right one.
I thought My modified APDGT (12.4oz) is the one but have micro cracking issues. I am sick and tired of changing equipment nowadays. I feel that frequent adjustment periods ruin my techniques. I prefer to pick one racket and continue to work on consistent strokes.

This is exactly how I feel. My technique was much better three years ago - changing rackets has brought my game to shambles. I tried blind picking a frame and sticking with it - unfortunately I picked one that didn't suit my game at all.

I'm just generally interested in the topic as a whole - it seems like a lot of people have this issue of not settling on a frame and then suffering the performance hits.
 

KYHacker

Professional
I enjoy playing with new toys, but now I need to work on improving my technique. Picked Juice 100S to stick with. Decided to pick the newest frame and will adjust to it. Good news is that the frame is pretty user friendly. No more 12+ oz player frames for me-- unless something shiny catches my attention:)
 

kimguroo

Legend
This is exactly how I feel. My technique was much better three years ago - changing rackets has brought my game to shambles. I tried blind picking a frame and sticking with it - unfortunately I picked one that didn't suit my game at all.

I'm just generally interested in the topic as a whole - it seems like a lot of people have this issue of not settling on a frame and then suffering the performance hits.

Some of recreational players don't spend much time to improving techniques.
Because it takes time and effort.
Racket change might help a little but There is no magical racket so some of features might be missing. One has to accept certain missing features and working on techniques to improve those areas.
I played BLX 90" tour briefly. I like comfort of BLX 90, it offers decent power with natural gut hybrid, nasty slices, decent controls. I still felt need a little more power from racket. Hated babolat but I decided to have long time testing with customization (similar to BLX 90" tour). It was better than I thought but I am still missing some features such as nasty slice like 90", better controls and valleys. I tried handful of rackets but just could not find everything which I want.
Since APD give me the power and spin That I want so nowadays, I use less slices and my two handed backhands skills are better than a year ago and try to improve valley skills too.

Unfortunately, I have a micro cracking issue for APD but I plan to keep the APD unless I have serious arm problem so far I don't have arm problem unless I play 4 more hours but if I rest a day, I am okay.
 

danotje

Rookie
I didn't think much about my stroke and racquet choice until I tried the new POG. It is such a good fit that I demoed twice and bought it. Of course, now I wonder if I've been missing out, but for me, I'm looking for flex, weight, spin and low power. I have such a long swing on the FH side that I can't do the service line short stroke warm up. I have to hit from the baseline or risk blowing it by the other player. The POG 100 fits my stroke very well. No more trying to adapt my game to the racquet.
 

kingcheetah

Hall of Fame
For me it comes down to:
Control
Feel
Stability

The feel is mainly a hybrid of touch/control but also not being too stiff.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Would you be interested in "settling" if you could just find the right one, or do y'all merely enjoy trying out new sticks?

Interesting - that issue of "settling". I used the Volkl C10 for a number of years for lots of reasons. While it wasn't the most ferocious performer I'd ever sampled, it was a solid step better for my baseline control and also gummy-bear soft. I could keep a very busy tennis schedule while keeping my arm good and comfortable.

That frame was easy to live with, but never gave me more than acceptable spin through our years together. So be it, I settled... until I inherited a Volkl O10 325 to try out. Only after some lead tuning did it really come to life for me, but once it did, I could do all the stuff I wanted with my shots. The racquet was also rather soft and it even had a familiar grip shape.

Although I had "settled" with the wonderful C10's, the switch to the new racquet was a no-brainer. That was a year ago and the honeymoon continues. Sampling racquets has been helpful with understanding what different gear can do for me, but it's also helped me to appreciate what works well for me with the racquets I already have in my bag.

Don't rule out the issue of confidence. Even if your current racquet is in "9.5/10 condition" and in high demand, that's no help for you if your confidence bubble has burst and you think that frame is working against you. When that happens for real, it's usually time to go shopping.
 

Rozroz

G.O.A.T.
i personally think that once you find a good enough frame,
you better stick to it while trying to improve your game.
(same with strings)

each time you switch or demo all the time, it messes up your own muscle memory on strokes that you got used to.

change a frame only when you really have to.
(a minimum of 1/2 a year)
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
I've kind of settled on my racquet but now I'm focused on getting the right grip size. I'm in-between two sizes and I've tried two overgrips but it doesn't feel right.

I do believe you can get used to most racquets in a few weeks but I need plow through, I rely on it to hang with big hitters.
 
In order of priority:

1. Comfort. My main priority is to avoid injury and I am not immune to wear and tear. Injury means no tennis and no fun. So in this case, I use the word "comfort" in the "easy on the arm" sense.
2. Playability. I'm a shank-a-lot, and not overly muscular. I need a manoeuvrable, forgiving racket with a decently sized sweet spot.
3. Feel. It's what makes tennis fun. The feeling of sweet contact between ball and racket.

I used to play with a player's racket, but I swallowed some pride and switched to a tweener. It was a good decision.
 
i personally think that once you find a good enough frame,
you better stick to it while trying to improve your game.
(same with strings)

each time you switch or demo all the time, it messes up your own muscle memory on strokes that you got used to.

change a frame only when you really have to.
(a minimum of 1/2 a year)

You're not kidding about muscle memory. I played the same frames (PSO85's) for 15 years and every other frame type I pick up feels funky. I changed to prestige mids in '10, and just now to the volkl pb 10 mids. I can still pick up one of the two PSO85's I have left and hit way better with either of them then anything else out there. It's a mental and muscle memory thing.
 
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movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Flex 67 and under, preferably 62 and under.
High swingweight.
Consistency (I can get two or more matched/customized)

In general, not much else matters.
 

jayserinos99

Hall of Fame
You're not kidding about muscle memory. I played the same frames (PSO85's) for 15 years and every other frame type I pick up feels funky. I changed to prestige mids in '10, and just now to the volkl pb 10 mids. I can still pick up one of the two PSO85's I have left and hit way better with either of them then anything else out there. It's a mental and muscle memory thing.

I'm the same way with Wilson 6.1s. I grew up using them and although I can't use them for long periods of time due to arm problems, I can always pick one up and instantly hit well with it.

Basically what I look for in frames now are:
1) Comfort - I need to be able to use the frame w/o pain
2) Spin
3) Power
 

T.P3D0R

Rookie
Very interesting perspectives from all.

For me personally, I'm driven by what I consider to be feel: a function of frame stiffness & swing weight.

Next I look towards control, which I consider to be a function of access to spin, swing weight, and string pattern. Some frames feel wonderful but then I have a hard time maintaining depth or keeping the ball in play. Access to spin helps with depth control and side-to-side control.

Last on my list is comfort - unfortunately I have to start paying more attention to this because my arm doesn't cooperate with a strange subset of sticks (and not necessarily higher stiffness). Seems like 18x20's drive my arm to shambles.

How much effort do you guys put into demo'ing (when you do demo)?

There are dozens of good sticks & strings that its cumbersome to get a fair review between frames based on day, string tension, ambient temperature, string wear, frame wear, etc.)
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
I'm the same way with Wilson 6.1s. I grew up using them and although I can't use them for long periods of time due to arm problems, I can always pick one up and instantly hit well with it.

Basically what I look for in frames now are:
1) Comfort - I need to be able to use the frame w/o pain
2) Spin
3) Power

Prince Tour 100 16x18 or ESP, have you played them?
 
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Prince Tour 100 16x19 or ESP, have you played them?

The question is what characteristics of the racket provide comfort spin and power? I'd think the racket would have to be reasonably flexible (60-64 points on the TW scale), have an open string bed 16x18 type, and a reasonably larger head for more power and forgiveness (98 - 102 sq. in.). Other things such has swingweight and the balance (HL-HH) are also factors. If these factors can be narrowed down, then a person can have more than just one option to try -- and that's optimal in my opinion.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
The question is what characteristics of the racket provide comfort spin and power? I'd think the racket would have to be reasonably flexible (60-64 points on the TW scale), have an open string bed 16x18 type, and a reasonably larger head for more power and forgiveness (98 - 102 sq. in.). Other things such has swingweight and the balance (HL-HH) are also factors. If these factors can be narrowed down, then a person can have more than just one option to try -- and that's optimal in my opinion.

well… aren't the options I proposed ideal then? By the way, I only asked whether he has ever played with them as they are a perfect fit for what he described ;)
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
The question is what characteristics of the racket provide comfort spin and power? I'd think the racket would have to be reasonably flexible (60-64 points on the TW scale), have an open string bed 16x18 type, and a reasonably larger head for more power and forgiveness (98 - 102 sq. in.). Other things such has swingweight and the balance (HL-HH) are also factors. If these factors can be narrowed down, then a person can have more than just one option to try -- and that's optimal in my opinion.

My racquets have power, spin, comfort and control though the comfort is a bit of a compromise - you can always go flexier.
 
My racquets have power, spin, comfort and control though the comfort is a bit of a compromise - you can always go flexier.

Well if you can get the comfort/spin, but power is lagging -- tension/string setup might be able to get you that extra umph.

Now trying to get comfort is trickier with string/tension -- you could go lower tension/softer string, but that may turn your racket into a rocket launcher if it's already powerful.

Just some things to think about ..
 
I look for a soft (60 RA or less), heavy (12 oz plus) racquet preferably with an open pattern but have had success with 18 mains in the past. I also like a head size of 97-100" even though I'm currently playing a 93.
 

chrisberchris

Semi-Pro
Control is my entire game. Shot placement from wherever I am on the court. I prefer mids in the 350 range with a flex between 65 and 70
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Well if you can get the comfort/spin, but power is lagging -- tension/string setup might be able to get you that extra umph.

Now trying to get comfort is trickier with string/tension -- you could go lower tension/softer string, but that may turn your racket into a rocket launcher if it's already powerful.

Just some things to think about ..

My swingweight is 386 - I can get all the power I want to with anything leaded up to my specs - doesn't matter what the flex is.
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
I look for a soft (60 RA or less), heavy (12 oz plus) racquet preferably with an open pattern but have had success with 18 mains in the past. I also like a head size of 97-100" even though I'm currently playing a 93.

1. Use the racquet finder.

2. A customized Price Tour 100 16x18 may be your thing ;)
 
G

GaryB

Guest
They are toys. I like to play with them.

And occasionally a good toy helps in my game, and in this case I play with that toy a bit more than the others.

My toy of this week is:

2014-04-16_15.51.08__custom_.jpg


Prince Mono - man, I would just love one of those!
 
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