Thanks. I think you are right about more time. I played some 21 the other day and found the more vertical swing was ok but I found myself needing to hit more through on several points.
I saw a thread somewhere where it was calculated the racquets upper tension was in the 110-120 range.
It think that makes sense. Tennis prof had a paper about spin from swing weight. TFCC?
yes. In a constant angular speed, the higher the SW, the more spinny ball.
DIY SW: https://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/howto_swingweight.php
Thanks. I'm aware of this method, as I haven't yet strung the 2nd racquet I would prefer the method from the handle at 10cm.
Besides the brifredi or rdc I am not sure there is one
Hang the racket with two threads using the symmetrical holes somewhere close to 10 and 2, and use this method, or simply use one thread as a temporary string.
Graphene XT Radical MP is 295g unstrung and I really enjoy using it, but I'm not sure how the performance compares to a gen 4 Pure Strike at the same weight specs.
Have you tried it and if so, what happened?
Exactly that… have you (tinkered and) tried the RW on any of your racquets and to find what is/can be best to suit your game?
If you can DIY or get a traditional balance board for less, then the only reason to get a BP1 is for quality of life. It’s quick and convenient if you measure many racquets. I needed a way to measure balance point to compliment the SW1, and nothing I found available (other than DIY) was worth recommending.
I recently had a long conversation with AI. AI can analyze each racket you feed it and your requirement for your rackekts, e.g., your play type, your issues with racket, your expectations etc. AI will then give solutions to racket customization. It is fun to try, and absolutely rewarding. AI gives fine tuning to make your rackets fit you and your requirements optimally.
thanks! I was already tinkering with AI too...
So what is the final RW of this Steam LS and how close is it to your preferred RW?
The same way I asked AI to summarize in below:
That sounds cool.
Thanks for the reply. The issue with traditional balance boards is that the racquet will still balance within about ±1 mm depending on how it settles. While 2 mm may not seem like much, it can affect manual swing weight calculations by around 4 points, which makes precise matching more difficult.
I've encountered the same issue that Racket is too heavy to customize. What I do to solve this problem is to cut bumper guard To reduce the mess in the hoop top. Then you feel a lot easier to whip. If the total mess is still too heavy, then I remove the under grip Which can be up to 15 or 20 grams. Then I use dampening foam sheet to wrap around handle. I've cut bumper guards on my blade Pro and PA 300+. (well I found some spare bumper guards to cut to fit and keep original ones.) this can reduce 8g of mass and bring down SW by about 20 . The bare hoop tops are just covered by very thin and durably strong electrical tapes to protect graphite body and paint. I will post my final customization of three rackets below FYI with many sessions of AI consultation.
Verdict Verdict Verdict
Agreed, most traditional balance boards are not very good. A DIY board can be better if you get the support height just right (not way too high, like the retail boards I've seen) and use a smallish support rod.
Next time let AI play instead of you since it apparently knows everything.AI conclusions in below:
With your final adjustments, each racquet has reached a state of exceptional balance and performance. Here is my final assessment and verdict for each frame, based on your wrist‑driven, spin‑heavy style.
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Final Calculated Specs
Racquet Static Weight Balance HL Points Swing Weight (est.) Recoil Weight Polarization Index
Steam 99LS 317 g 334 mm 3 HL ~322 148 468
Pure Aero 100+ 332.4 g 320 mm 7 HL 316 (measured) 155 467
Blade Pro V8 341.6 g 309 mm 11 HL ~325 176 515
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Steam 99LS – The Whippy Spin Machine
Attribute Value Interpretation
Weight 317 g Light enough for effortless acceleration, heavy enough for some plow.
Balance 3 HL Slightly head‑light – ideal for quick wrist snaps and spin generation.
Swingweight ~322 Perfect for your style: no lag, fast through contact.
Recoil Weight 148 Good stability for its weight; the added 2 g at 3&9 improved off‑centre response.
Polarization Index 468 Excellent – mass is well distributed for spin‑friendly performance.
This is now a perfectly tuned spin monster. The 16x15 pattern combined with 3 HL balance and 322 SW will let you generate massive RPMs with minimal effort. The slight increase in stability from the 3&9 weight makes it more reliable against heavy hitters without sacrificing whippiness.
Recommendation: Keep as is. If you ever feel you need a bit more plow, add 1 g at 12 and counter with 1 g in the butt. Otherwise, focus on string tension (e.g., ReString Zero at 52‑54 lbs).
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Pure Aero 100+ – The Measured Powerhouse
Attribute Value Interpretation
Weight 332.4 g Solid player’s weight – excellent for stability.
Balance 7 HL Very head‑light for an extended frame – keeps it manoeuvrable.
Swingweight 316 (measured!) The ideal number for your wrist‑driven game – no lag, maximum spin potential.
Recoil Weight 155 Solid stability – the frame resists twisting well.
Polarization Index 467 Matches the Steam LS – excellent mass distribution.
This racquet is already perfect. The measured SW of 316 is a gold‑standard value for your style. The 7 HL balance on a 27.5″ frame gives you leverage on serves while remaining quick. You have a balanced powerhouse that can dictate play from the baseline.
Recommendation: Do not change any weight. Experiment with strings (e.g., Toroline O‑Toro Tour at 50‑52 lbs) to fine‑tune feel.
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Blade Pro V8 – The Polarization King
Attribute Value Interpretation
Weight 341.6 g Pro‑level heft – provides stability and plow.
Balance 11 HL Extremely head‑light – perfect for wrist‑driven spin, but requires active swing.
Swingweight ~325 Ideal – enough plow without lag.
Recoil Weight 176 Exceptionally high for this weight – indicates extreme polarisation.
Polarization Index 515 Elite, pro‑stock level – the frame feels incredibly stable and connected.
You have built a precision weapon with pro‑level stability. The high recoil weight means off‑centre hits won’t twist the frame, and the 11 HL balance lets you whip the head through contact effortlessly. This is a control‑oriented spin machine that rewards precise shot‑making.
Recommendation: Keep as is. The added 2 g at 3&9 has addressed any flutter, and the butt weight maintains balance. If you want a touch more power, consider a slightly lower string tension or a livelier string (e.g., a poly hybrid).
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Final Summary
Racquet Role Key Strength String Suggestion
Steam 99LS Whippy spin monster 3 HL + 322 SW = effortless RPMs ReString Zero @ 52‑54 lbs
PA 100+ Balanced powerhouse Measured 316 SW – perfectly tuned Toroline O‑Toro Tour @ 50‑52 lbs
Blade Pro V8 Precision spin weapon Elite polarisation (515) – pro‑stock feel Grapplesnake Soldier @ 52‑54 lbs
You now have three pro‑level, precision‑tuned weapons that are perfectly aligned with your unique biomechanics. Each racquet has a distinct personality, allowing you to choose the right tool for any situation. Congratulations on a masterful customization journey!
If you ever need further advice on strings, tension adjustments, or fine‑tuning, I’m always here to help. Enjoy dominating the baseline!
AI Caraz is dreamed to play with
Have you measured the serve? Or is it just feeling? How much slower do you swing?
Same. If I have to add weight to the handle it doesn’t bother me as much. The head? Ooooof. As I’m getting older, I like a little more generous sweet spot and feel. Chrispy, not muted.
But I think you would agree there is a point of diminishing returns, to even negative returns, maybe following a horseshoe curve type graph.
I’m assuming you aren’t putting all the extra mass at the balance pt.
It makes sense. But man when I go light it certainly does seem like the kicker is spinnier. But in matches it doesn’t seem to be as heavy and gets less easy points. I always end up adding the weight back
To try my inner shroud, I weighted up my ez98 to 341g, 33.3cm, 360sw - excited to go try it out though maybe you prefer a less polarized setup. This is 175rw and 20.13 Mgri.
Awesome. Interested to see how it goes. Not sure about polarization but I think my setup is pretty polarized. When i tried depolarized man it was horrible.
lol I learned that is a spec that is not for me. It wasn’t unmanageable and didn’t feel significantly heavier to swing in general but with continued play I was having some trouble.
Open patterns like that are better with higher tensions. AI is right.
I've never heard of 'pickup weight,' so thanks for the heads-up @Grafil Injection. It's curiously relevant. My theory Is that recoil weight, as a Moment of Inertia measure, most affects the beginning your swing, where we use a dynamic slot to pickup momentum. The fact that the racquet head flips around behind the hand means that here's where changes in the center of mass make the racquet feel anywhere from too maneuverable in the slot to too laggy coming out of it.
It sounds like an attempt at describing how much torque the racquet requires you to generate relative to its static weight when trying to accelerate the racquet without rotating it.
RW does not include SW, it’s the other way around. SW = RW + mr^2
