Who are the players that actually help to sell specific racquet models?

[Vicious49]

I've only ever seen one Head Extreme in the wild.
It should be more popular given Berrettini is the face of the line.
Perhaps he's too handsome and it intimidates buyers?

It could also be the ugly paint scheme. Never underestimate the aesthetics when it comes to people choosing a frame. When I chose my very 1st frame back in the early 90s I walked in to a big sports store knowing nothing about racquets and chose what I thought was a pretty frame at the time.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

no need to call me clown. the speed mp being one of the best selling racquets year after year just makes you look like the clown bruv. Head still has a far larger market share than Yonex as well and I believe Babolat but someone may have to fact check me on that one.

Only finishing what you started, clown. I guess people in my area don't care about the Speeds or Head racquets.

Tons of racquets could be a "best seller", but that doesn't mean people are playing with them. Racquets like RF97 was a best seller every single year it was available, you'd be lucky to see even 20-40% usage rate now.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Again, can only speak to what I see in the US market, but this take is not accurate. The Speed line, specifically the MP and the MP L, do very well in comparison to Babolat and Yonex. The Radical and the Gravity lines both hold their own as well. Head still has rock-solid connections to many of the local clubs and teaching pros here as well. And I reckon Head is still doing just fine in continental Europe as well where it also has long-standing ties to many of the clubs.

I think most people here would be surprised to learn how few customers have brand loyalty to any one manufacturer. Not saying that there aren't people who say "I only play with Babolat or Wilson." But I can tell you that it's way less than you think it is. Even the high-performing juniors in the area chop and change based on what sort of deal they can get from a sponsor.

Yeah, I can see that. And I'd agree with that logic. Much more than that other clown.

 

[Guttersnipe]

As a kid I went with a Pure Drive bc I respected my teammates play and wanted to rip it like him.

Getting back into the sport I bought an Aero Pro (gen 2), looking to reignite that nostalgia. That same kid moved to the APD after I cramped his style by getting a PD...
So I guess I’m most influenced by whoever is on the other side of the net (with the ability to whoop my ass).

After figuring out the APD is an elbow destroyer, I now drift wherever the wind takes me. If a Pro uses a frame...well I guess that’s a plus and a talking point.

Chris and Andy at TW are pretty reputable with their reviews.

 

[Hurting Elbow]

Ditto the Wilson Clash. No pro player endorses the racquet line but you will see tons of them at the public courts. The TF-X1 285/300 has been a pretty consistent seller despite the lack of pro-player endorsements and the fact some people still struggle to pronounce Tecnfibre. Even the Head Instinct line sells relatively well despite the price drop and the fact that Head has decided to put zero marketing effort behind it.

Madison Brengle uses the Wilson Clash pro.

 

[mtommer]

Which active players do you think help to actually sell a lot of the specific racquet models they endorse?

Any who are popular enough and well liked.

I can think of multiple Slam winners like Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz, but are there a lot of other players who move large sales volumes of the specific model they endorse?

If they aren't household names, no. Since companies can't be sure who will hit it big time, they cover their bases and quantity over quality does help but for brand recognition as opposed to player recognition.

 

[AndrewUtz]

Only finishing what you started, clown. I guess people in my area don't care about the Speeds or Head racquets.

Tons of racquets could be a "best seller", but that doesn't mean people are playing with them. Racquets like RF97 was a best seller every single year it was available, you'd be lucky to see even 20-40% usage rate now.

20%-40% usage rate is astronomical when talking about a specific racquet (or even if you’re just talking about players who still use a specific model years after that model has been introduced and discontinued). Anyhow, speed’s are incredibly successful and you haven’t listed anything other than anecdotal evidence as to why they aren’t.

 

[StormyPetrel88]

Madison Brengle uses the Wilson Clash pro.

And I'm sure all 10 gamblers tuning in for the live stream of her recent WTA 125 match went out and bought a Clash Pro afterward

 

[Hurting Elbow]

Meh, at least it can be used by a pro 5'6" unconventional player whose made almost $5 million and has been ad high as 35. Obviously she has an arm issue or would use the blade

 

[mtommer]

20%-40% usage rate is astronomical when talking about a specific racquet (or even if you’re just talking about players who still use a specific model years after that model has been introduced and discontinued). Anyhow, speed’s are incredibly successful and you haven’t listed anything other than anecdotal evidence as to why they aren’t.

I think it would be interesting to compare sales numbers of Walmart/Target-esque racquets. When it comes to public courts, these are by far the most common racquets I've seen regardless of city or state.

 

[AndrewUtz]

I think it would be interesting to compare sales numbers of Walmart/Target-esque racquets. When it comes to public courts, these are by far the most common racquets I've seen regardless of city or state.

public courts 100%

 

[Lavs]

Agassi made Radical to be Radical nowadays.

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

I'm sure many people went out to buy the Madison Keys racket after her AO win.

Even to this day, I see players playing with the Speed because "it's what Djokovic uses". It ranges from players at 3.0 to 5.0 level. Many of those 4.5/5.0 players aren't racketholics like us, online everyday talking about what real racket the players use. They "have a life". They see a player use it, they will buy it, they will play, and get on with their life. So this is where the marketing really comes into play.

 

[mtommer]

I'm sure many people went out to buy the Madison Keys racket after her AO win.

Even to this day, I see players playing with the Speed because "it's what Djokovic uses". It ranges from players at 3.0 to 5.0 level. Many of those 4.5/5.0 players aren't racketholics like us, online everyday talking about what real racket the players use. They "have a life". They see a player use it, they will buy it, they will play, and get on with their life. So this is where the marketing really comes into play.

The other thing to note, and why you won't see pros do this, is because the majority of pros are going to use whatever sponsor is willing to give them a players package. There aren't many pros who will get a choice in what racquet is available to them.

 

[Airspun]

Noone in history has or ever will sell as many rackets as Rafa did who single-handedly made Babalot the power it is today.