What's your preferred racket material?

[anirut]

Simple, just let us know your preference. If you prefer more than one type, please put them in order of preference.

Would be great if you could also name the racket(s) of your most preferred material.

1. Modern material additives (dnx, LM, nano, Titanium, Zylon etc.)
2. Graphite/Kevlar combo

3. 100% Graphite
4. Graphite/Fiberglass

5. Fiberglass
6. Metal, just metal (Aluminum / Magnesium / Titanium)

7. Wood and/or wood with lamination
8. Others (Ceramic / Boron / Silicon Carbide / etc.)

NOTE: The usually advertised 100% Graphite are usually stiffer than those advertised as Grapite/Fiberglass. (As we all know, for now we can't really have 100% graphite for a racket - that would be charcoal. But who knows, nanotech may allow a pure graphite racket in the future.)

If you have any other preferred material that should be notable, please list the numbers continuing the series.

OK, for me its #3, #7.

Cheers.

 

[The_Dark_Knight]

I guess Graphite and Hyper Carbon.....so #1

 

[bcsax123]

100% Graphite, all the modern rackets made with modern materials do not feel as solid.

 

[MasterOfDisaster]

#2
PS 6.0 85

though i due use a LM prestige mid, i prefer the 85

 

[wolfpackfive]

FI-BER-GLASS! Without it, feel is NOTHING!

 

[Barricade_steve]

kevar graphite composite

 

[diredesire]

FI-BER-GLASS! Without it, feel is NOTHING!

Gotta agree, although i never played extensively with one. I've had short periods of time with fiberglass frames, and they're really somethin' else. Graphite frames ("classic" non super-high modulus graphite) is also great. I like the kevlar feel, but can't say it's my favorite.

 

[jonolau]

I would have to say carbon/fibreglass, followed by graphite.

 

[louis netman]

#1 100% graphite
#2 graphite/kevlar
#3 graphite/fiberglass...

Although these materials offer the best feel IMO, they coincidentally also happen to be the most arm-friendly materials.

 

[Michelangelo]

1. Graphite-Kevlar
2. 100% Graphite
3. Whatever else.

 

[gonzalocatalino]

Graphite/Fiberglass (Volkl)
Graphite/Kevlar (Wilson)
Graphite (classics like POG)

 

[legolas]

graphite with moder material additives

 

[Sweden]

Isn't the case that a titanium rackets consist of around 5 % titanium and the rest is graphite. That wouldn't make a big difference compered to 100 graphite or am I wrong here? Some Wilson models (especially Pro Staffs) consist of 20 % kevlar and IMO that makes a difference.

 

[diredesire]

Isn't the case that a titanium rackets consist of around 5 % titanium and the rest is graphite. That wouldn't make a big difference compered to 100 graphite or am I wrong here? Some Wilson models (especially Pro Staffs) consist of 20 % kevlar and IMO that makes a difference.

Id say 5% is a pretty generous statement. I'd be surprised if many "titanium" racquets even have 2%. The way titanium is used is not typically what you'd think. Most reinforcement by titanium is a surprisingly low amount of titanium compared to the graphite. The titanium doesn't typically go throughout the entire frame, either.

 

[goosala]

If I were to change the Original Pro Staff I would make it a little more flexible say 70% graphite, 20% Kevlar, and 10% fiberglass to give it some flex.

 

[proracketeer]

Basalt Fibers

 

[007]

I love the crisp feel ceramic fiber imparts to a racquet ie: Fischer VT98 Pro, Prince Spectrum

NO Ti !!!!!!
Twaron over Kevlar
Glass is good

 

[Mugatu]

100% nano-wood!!

 

[EliteNinja]

Anything with a weight around 12 oz and a stiffness of ~60 with a thin beam.

You can use many different materials to achieve the same feel. You just gotta use different amounts (amount for weight) of it and change some geometries (thicker/thinner for stiffness) and distribution.

You can't achieve high stiffness (>40) with wood along with low weight, so wood is out of the question.

100% fiberglass would = too low stiffness/strength
100% titanium or other metal would not be stiff enough (with the same weight) or would be too heavy (with the same stiffness)
100% kevlar would probably also be too flexible/expensive

So that really just leaves steel.

...I mean CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) + a small amount of additional material, whatever that additional material doesn't matter as long as the 1st statement in this post is true.

 

[PBODY99]

80% graphite\20% fiberglass_ceramic mix = The feel of the ProKennex Original Ceramic Destiny

 

[Lakoste]

I wouldn't say its my "prefered racquet material" but my main racquet is graphite, silicon carbide, and ceramic all in one. It's a mutt

 

[anirut]

Hey, Lakoste, do we have the same racket? Is yours the copper-ish brown with the anti torsion bar? My Sting only says SC for Silicon Carbide. A really good hit.

 

[Rincon]

one word:

nCoded Boron

jk, but, um #1, #4, & #8 (does anyone know about those Wilson Boron racquets from the 80's?)

 

[thejerk]

So far, I'd say put me down for twaron 1st and Kevlar 2nd. The old classic mids with twaron feel so nice I can't believe noone is using it now. They'd probably make up for cost in sales.

 

[louis netman]

So far, I'd say put me down for twaron 1st and Kevlar 2nd. The old classic mids with twaron feel so nice I can't believe noone is using it now. They'd probably make up for cost in sales.

I think Twaron is another commercial name for Kevlar...kinda like Motrin, etc., is a commercial name for Ibuprofen.... probably why you like both of them...

 

[Lakoste]

Hey, Lakoste, do we have the same racket? Is yours the copper-ish brown with the anti torsion bar? My Sting only says SC for Silicon Carbide. A really good hit.

My sting is like yours but is white, has ceramic in it, PWS, and no cross bar either. To picture it better, imagine a racquet with the exact same mold as the PS 6.0 85, but white.

 

[Topherstein]

What are some twaron racquets?

 

[flashestennis08]

i prefer a graphite/kevlar stick overall

 

[anirut]

Thanks, Lakoste.

Actually the cross bar really keeps the racket stable. Too bad they don't have that on mid-size racket these days. OK, the POG is THE exception.

My racket plays stiff, though.

 

[thejerk]

Louis, I believe you are right. I always thought that twaron was a certain brand name for kevlar. I say twaron because the feel that I like is mostly in the head rackets and they call it twaron. I don't know if this is true but I have always believed that twaron was just a brand. I just know I like the way twaron rackets feel a little more than kevlar. Could be in my head or it could be in the placement or distribution.