What is your one wish for the racquet industry going forward?

[gino]

Figured I’d start a topic about what the future of the racquet industry holds

It’s the prevailing sentiment that there are no “bad” rackets anymore, across all brands and silos. While that may benefit the uninformed consumer, have found myself wondering why there’s a lack of excitement about impending releases amongst this more informed subset of consumers

I have a couple theories about how this dynamic has come to fruition:

• Paintjobs have neutered the impact of pro endorsement. Simply put, there’s not enough players using the frame they endorse
• There’s too many players endorsing the same stick within brands (Most big Babolat names use aero, nearly all Wilson pros use mostly blades, head pros mostly speeds/radicals, etc). This dynamic limits the number of excitable silos amongst true enthusiasts
• Surface/stylistic homogenization has homogenized frame specs as everyone is looking for a balanced performer that boasts above average performance on groundies
• Industry cycles are longer & thus not as many instances to get excited about (think Babolat is on a 4-year refresh cadence now?)

The confluence of the above makes for a pretty dull current state of affairs. Curious what you all think these companies can do truly excite this segment of the market

 

[aaron_h27]

Can we please get a 95 with a 16x18 string pattern...

 

[vandre]

oh look, the guy with the agassi avatar is here to lobby for "image is everything" but i miss the paint jobs from some of the late 80s/ early 90s frames (the originals are too heavy for this old man now). pics for reference:

 

[socallefty]

Innovation is with poly strings these days. Informed consumers have realized that you can buy any racquet in a particular preferred spec range and make it play exactly as they want by optimizing the string job.

 

[vandre]

see previous post. i miss paint jobs like this!

 

[gino]

Can we please get a 95 with a 16x18 string pattern...

A tennis player can dream, sigh

The 6.1 95 16x18 should’ve never gone away

 

[gino]

oh look, the guy with the agassi avatar is here to lobby for "image is everything" but i miss the paint jobs from some of the late 80s/ early 90s frames (the originals are too heavy for this old man now). pics for reference:

see previous post. i miss paint jobs like this!

We need some disruption cosmetically. Have to say that was Babolat’s lane and they’ve got quite conservative on that front. The pure strike has looked mainly white for 7 years. Currently all these brands just rip each other off trying to see who can do the same stuff better (rf97/speed 24 rubber paint, head/dunlop asymmetrical color blocking, etc)

 

[ozbikebuddy]

I Looking at the earlier posts above, they show exactly what I think is missing.... oversize player frames, with thin-ish beams, that are not feather weight power monsters.

The new Phantom 107 is bloody nice (saw one the other week), but it just feels way too light and like it would be missing some mass and plough. I got an old Bumble Bee Radical a few months back, and its just so dame nice to hit with. Maybe i nostalgic, but i still tink that ere is a place for this stuff. Gee we already have 4/5 different specs in each racquet silo from various brands, I just think that somethin like this would still sell.

 

[kevin qmto]

We need Pro Kennex to be a force again (like they were in the 80s and 90s). A brand willing to throw absolutely anything and everything at the wall and have a lineup so diverse it’s impossible to nail down a single style for them. From box beam players sticks to Widebodies to extreme tapered beams. They had like 15 DIFFERENT racket models in their lineup for a single model year at one time. And they weren’t even the biggest player by any means. Imagine any modern racket companies having 15 different models. Most have like 5 or 6 now lol.

 

[ozbikebuddy]

We need Pro Kennex to be a force again (like they were in the 80s and 90s). A brand willing to throw absolutely anything and everything at the wall and have a lineup so diverse it’s impossible to nail down a single style for them. From box beam players sticks to Widebodies to extreme tapered beams. They had like 15 DIFFERENT racket models in their lineup for a single model year at one time. And they weren’t even the biggest player by any means. Imagine any modern racket companies having 15 different models. Most have like 5 or 6 now lol.

What a lot of people are not aware of is that Pro Kennex is one of the largest racquet makers in the world, that actually manufacture the Racquet for a large number of other brands in their factories. What they actually have under their own name may be small but the R&D physical production for others is the majority of their business,

At one point they we the overall largest producer of racquets, of all types, eg Badminton, Squash etc, in the world.

 

[Guttersnipe]

I own too many frames as it is. There is no real need for me to buy anymore tbh.

A custom frame offered by all the major companies.

Paint job and choice of specs, at not too much of an inflated price. It’s just about the only thing that will get me to buy a another frame from retail...I can happily wait 2-3 years and pick on up on the second hand market or dirt cheap on 60%+ clearance

It’s hard to sell a frame if your name is written on it...

TLDR: give the public access to Pro stock and choice like the pros do

 

[Guttersnipe]

Would also love to see less Aeros, Ez-ones and Chunky Tweeners at the rec level...they don’t know what their missing out on.

Prince having a resurgence (Pro and rec) would be a sight to behold (no O ports please for the love of god)

 

[Seth]

I Looking at the earlier posts above, they show exactly what I think is missing.... oversize player frames, with thin-ish beams, that are not feather weight power monsters.

The new Phantom 107 is bloody nice (saw one the other week), but it just feels way too light and like it would be missing some mass and plough. I got an old Bumble Bee Radical a few months back, and it’s just so dame nice to hit with. Maybe i nostalgic, but i still tink that ere is a place for this stuff. Gee we already have 4/5 different specs in each racquet silo from various brands, I just think that somethin like this would still sell.

I also miss players OS sticks

 

[SirCraigoryy]

It’s a minor ask but a wish nonetheless. I would love to see a 16x20 blade 98.

 

[Yamin]

Need some thin beam high swing weight 95-98.

 

[Chairman3]

A brand willing to throw absolutely anything and everything at the wall and have a lineup so diverse it’s impossible to nail down a single style for them

Doesn't Prince fill this void now?
Twist power, Vortex, Beast, Phantom, Tour, the one that was spin focused but with O-ports (can't recall the name) edit: ripstick

I agree though, this makes it fun, but is hard to be sustainable as a business model.

 

[vndesu]

I dont know if others feel the same, but I hope that racket companies stick to more feel in the frames. My biggest gripe atm is how muted the current Speed line is compared to the last gen. I do like the updated swingweight, just having trouble with the feel.

 

[Chairman3]

To answer the question...

I think Influencer culture has ruined the excitement. Everyone knows about and has probably seen new racquets sometimes months before they're released. People review them and are handed free racquets and goodies so people know what to expect. Kind of kills the excitement for the everyman who isn't one of these super-special internet hawkers.

PLUS all these folks being given free stuff, feel compelled to say nothing negative or even critical about the racquets. So all racquets become homogenized as great...for someone. Some racquets don't feel good or aren't better than the predecessor.

My three "wishes":

1. Make new releases a secret again, have some low-key testing and marketing, kind of like Wilson did with the Clash. (Public but still sort of felt like a mystery)

2. Make racquet specs more unique again. Create some diversity. Everything seems like a 98 or 100, 305g, 32cm balance, etc.

3. Make a target swingweight spec. Prince is the only one who does this. This is a huge spec, and there is literally no reference point or baseline except for TW taking an average.

 

[Seth]

I also miss players OS sticks

To add to this: My wish would be for Head to give us a Radical Tour OS 2.0. The actual mold of the Agassi stick, not a repainted Ti Radical. It would complete the trifecta along with the PT2.0 and PC2.0.

 

[Guttersnipe]

I’d love if every racquet came with an extended option (upon request)

But more selfishly I NEED babolat to bring back the Pure Control 95+. The 19mm constant box beam is supreme!

I’ve only got 1 (((( & 1 non extended, but to get it shipped & off customised (from AU) would cost an arm and a leg. The XTP butt Cap doesn’t seem worth it either...the feel in hand will be whack (in comparison)

 

[esm]

Better QC across all the measurements would be very nice.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Rackets that make a special "ding" or other pleasant sound when the sweet spot is hit and a buzzer sound when not. Rackets that have LEDS that light up when you hit the ball, and strings that do the same.

 

[PistolPete23]

Glossy paint and a return to traditional box beams or simple elliptical cross sections. No more modern trapezoidal BS.

 

[gioca]

Figured I’d start a topic about what the future of the racquet industry holds

It’s the prevailing sentiment that there are no “bad” rackets anymore, across all brands and silos. While that may benefit the uninformed consumer, have found myself wondering why there’s a lack of excitement about impending releases amongst this more informed subset of consumers

Was there a time when you were really excited about the tennis racquet industry? It's possible that you've over-saturated on gear information to the point where there's no longer any novelty in it.

I don't notice any change generally, or a feeling of reduced "excitement". There's still a bunch of vendors, they have product lines, they market their products, act as if they've reinvented graphite...

 

[Sincaid`]

Glossy paint and a return to traditional box beams or simple elliptical cross sections. No more modern trapezoidal BS.

Absolutely!

 

[Downtheline1]

Bring back the Wilson K Factor Pro Staff 90.

Also, bring back both K Factor and N Code Six One 97 16 X 18

 

[A_Instead]

A racket with Prestige feel and control.. easy pure drive power and spin with out a high swing weight or high static weight.. that doesn't hurt my hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder.
Foam filled would be a bonus..

 

[dr. godmode]

I think Influencer culture has ruined the excitement. Everyone knows about and has probably seen new racquets sometimes months before they're released. People review them and are handed free racquets and goodies so people know what to expect. Kind of kills the excitement for the everyman who isn't one of these super-special internet hawkers.

Regarding this, it does feel like releases are disjointed. We see pro's using PJ's and early reviews coming out often before the racquets are even for sale. I think part of this was because of supply chain issues over the last few years, but also, racquet releases come staggered depending on the country. For example, they might have a US or Europe release prior to a global release so it feels like people aren't on the same page.

Smaller markets often get frames weeks if not months after the global release. I think a big part of this is due to local distribution as well. You would think racquet distributors would be a little more passionate about tennis but this is rarely the case.

There was definitely something special of the early TW review days when they were the only ones making videos and each release felt quite special, but maybe that's just because I was a kid at the time and highly excitable.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

I’m with Babolat on the longer product cycle.

Babolat racquets hold their value and each generation is iconic in its own way. They take the time to refine and playtest.

Wilson prolabs is also a great thing. Maybe take it one step further with the QC. I love the gloss paint, Wilson is doing a number there.

 

[2ndServe]

Extendable handle so you can go 27.75/27.5/27.25 etc.

 

[badmice1]

Since platform racquet is all the craze, it would be great to have more local customizers to help with tinkering.

 

[gino]

Bring back the Wilson K Factor Pro Staff 90.

Also, bring back both K Factor and N Code Six One 97 16 X 18

THIS

 

[SOY78]

Customizable layup and/or stiffness ratings would be great. I would love to have a PT layup to all Head racquets

 

[Eilathen]

TLDR: give the public access to Pro stock and choice like the pros do

This!

And also: way way waaaaayyy better QC! If you tell me your stick is 310g and SW 325, I don't want it to be 323g and SW 340! And the other directions is just as bad, say 296g and SW 309.

 

[gino]

To add to this: My wish would be for Head to give us a Radical Tour OS 2.0. The actual mold of the Agassi stick, not a repainted Ti Radical. It would complete the trifecta along with the PT2.0 and PC2.0.

This is what dreams are made of

 

[Downtheline1]

A Head Prestige Classic 2.0 in a 16 X 18 pattern would be great.

 

[gino]

I’m with Babolat on the longer product cycle.

Babolat racquets hold their value and each generation is iconic in its own way. They take the time to refine and playtest.

Wilson prolabs is also a great thing. Maybe take it one step further with the QC. I love the gloss paint, Wilson is doing a number there.

I think my only hope with Babolat is that they start taking more bold swings again. Make the pure drive bright ass blue like 2009, give alacaraz a sig aero cosmetic, etc

Couldn’t agree more on Wilson, they are doing the pro labs / pro stock mold thing right. Just need head and Babolat to buy in too. Keep Giving informed consumers a really small catalog of legendary molds. There are things they could do to make it even better: add the rf97, 16x18 6.1 95, and add some legendary mold/layup combos (k90, nTour, steam 99)

 

[Grafil Injection]

We're on the third generation of the Dunlop CX 200 line, so it's time they brought out a CX200G, around 325g unstrung.

 

[SirCraigoryy]

Another couple things I would like to see which may have already been touched on in previous posts would be…

1. Change up the standardization of pj colors. Spin is yellow, power is blue, control is green, etc. There are of course exceptions and I believe it’s just other manufacturers following in the footsteps of Babolat but I’d like to see some more originality in the colors associated with the playing characteristics of frames. ( I like spin frames and one of the reasons I use a vcore is that my favorite color is red so I gravitated towards that over the aeros and extremes.)

Honorable mention, more alternate pjs. I’m a sucker for these and I know other people are too. Idk why companies don’t do this more often.

2. I believe that this has already been touched upon like Wilson Pro Labs to extend into past frames that were popular in the past or used more widely on tour now. Call it a “heritage” series and include frames like…

Aero Pro Drive Original
Pure/Soft Drive Original
Pure Control Tour
Aero Storm
Steam 99
Ezone AI/DR
Vcore 95 D/SV

Just to name a few. Manufacturers could make these slightly more expensive to avoid taking too much profit out of the sales of their current lines while still offering them to those interested.

 

[Power Player]

Put the feel back in the racquets. So much muting tech now that the frames just don't feel good at all. Even the "arm killer" older Pure Drives feel 100X better than the new version which is muted and dead.

But for frames like Gravity, Speed, Blade..etc - there is no excuse for muting them this much. Even the new Prestige Pro suffers a bit from this, imo.

Has to be a way to make classic frames with some punch, I mean Volkl figure it out 25 years ago.

And yes, please bring back the epic Donnay-looking paint jobs.

But please stop muting all the racquets..its ridiculous

 

[naturalexponent]

Paintjobs have neutered the impact of pro endorsement. Simply put, there’s not enough players using the frame they endorse

This. When I was (and a bunch of us were) growing up, you knew that Pete was using a PS85 / Andre was using a POG/Radical OS, etc. So when you went out and bought one of those, you felt like, even if you could never play like these dudes, you could begin to fathom what it was like to be them. Sure PJs existed but things just felt simpler, and simplicity = joy. And you can see how important this still is with how passionate people get about getting a real Novak stick, what the Legend is/should be/etc., and the lasting appeal of the RF to a number of us.

I also think there is a bit of racquet release fatigue. I don't need Head to incrementally release a new silo of racquets every few months when I'm barely grasping what they just put out. Excepting the tennis industry people among us, most of us don't have the time or resources to keep up with all of these releases at this clip, and that's one of the things Babolat does right. I'm fine with a new strike/aero/drive every 3-5 years, not every 1.5-2.

 

[naturalexponent]

To answer the prompt, simplify, simplify, simplify: when I would consider a racquet 15 years ago, I thought of it as a function of, if I want a player's racquet, I want a Pro Staff, a Prestige or a Radical, and I either don't have a choice in head size, or I have a choice between a mid and an MP or an MP and an OS, all with relatively distinct identities, vs. 4 silos within a given brand, 4 divisions within the silo, with new silos or a refresh on the horizon, and all these various slios/subdivisions having significant overlap rather than distinct identities.

 

[tomato123]

kind of thinking out loud based on the discussion, if racquets and strings have reached a certain point of saturation, could there be a future where racquet “fittings” become a thing like golf clubs? Like, you go to a racquet fitter, get your arms and height measured, hit a few groundstrokes and serves while measuring all kinds of numbers and you get you get a personalized menu of recommendations of racquet and string combo based on the data?

 

[caprivi]

I'd like to see a racquet that incorporates substantial AI in its design and manufacturing.

 

[TheSlicer]

stop making racquets

 

[JOSHL]

Extendable handle so you can go 27.75/27.5/27.25 etc.

Head adaptive. Didn’t sell or work that well.

 

[dyslexical-scope]

One wish? Stop raising racquet prices.

 

[gino]

stop making racquets

Lmao

 

[gino]

Was there a time when you were really excited about the tennis racquet industry? It's possible that you've over-saturated on gear information to the point where there's no longer any novelty in it.

I don't notice any change generally, or a feeling of reduced "excitement". There's still a bunch of vendors, they have product lines, they market their products, act as if they've reinvented graphite...

Personally, I do think there was. In the late 1990s all the way up until about 2010. It seemed like the racket brands had clear differentiation from each other and consistent refreshes that at least kept the same vein of things while implementing new changes beyond cosmetics. To me, the hyper pro staff and nCode 6.1 95 rackets, have a more clear through line while also feeling substantially different. Conversely, the auxetic 1.0 and 2.0 prestiges are largely the same stick, even cosmetically. I’m a huge fan of the pure strike mold, but haven’t considered for one second buying any of the new frames even though I like the feel and performance slightly better. So many reasons for that and I think a lot of people in this thread laid them out eloquently

And I don’t think I necessarily want any of these brands to reinvent the wheel, but rather to return to the roots of their marketing strategy, which is winning people over with true endorsement and creative marketing

 

[gino]

One wish? Stop raising racquet prices.

It’s funny, new sticks are outrageous but anything on sale is reasonable. Makes me think all the price hikes are just them trying to pound the margins