Why 27 inch ?

[lvuong]

I am 5.7 feet and I mainly play with a frame of 27 inch long, 95 square inch head size. I sometimes play with an extend-length frame and it is okie even though I felt less maneuverable in net.

I would imagine Isner playing with 29 inch frame. He would not need to move so much and still effectively cover the court in the baseline .

Why there are so litter variation in the frame's length ?, predominately 27 inch a a few 27.25 and 27.5 inch ? There are benefits and drawbacks to long frame as well as short frame.

Adult tennis players' height ranging from 4.5 feet to 6.5 feel. Modern head size variations is from 85 sqr inch to 115 sqr inch. So why so litter variation in length. ???

 

[jonnythan]

Wrist speed and strength don't vary that much by height. A longer racquet is significantly harder to move around quickly. Racquet length is an exercise in compromise between head maneuverability and swing speed. 27-27.5" is the sweet spot for an athletic adult.

 

[lvuong]

Wrist speed and strength don't vary that much by height. A longer racquet is significantly harder to move around quickly. Racquet length is an exercise in compromise between head maneuverability and swing speed. 27-27.5" is the sweet spot for an athletic adult.

So you are saying 27 inch is the "magic" number ? any scientific studies to back that up ?

 

[bluetrain4]

I think the legal limit is 29 inches.

Why isn't there more length variation? I'm guessing it's simply because there's no proven market for it. Does Wilson want to produce a 6.1 BLX 95 in 16 x 18 and 18 x20 string patterns AND offer the option of 27" 27.5" 28" and 29" lengths?

Recreational players aren't really going to care and/or don't really have the chance to appreciate the difference.

Competetive players are already aware that they can get a longer frame and while plenty of players do use a 27.5 inch frame, the majority still don't, and there doesn't seem to be any mass movement to get a better variety of longer frames on the market.

Even competitive players who aren't really aware of longer options, unless they suddenly find their current stick severely lacking because they feel it's too short, they're never going to seek out another option.

 

[corners]

I think you are perfectly correct. I am short and prefer 26.5" and I also wonder why giants like Isner aren't using the maximum legal length. Why are frames of varying lengths not available or popular? Think of how much inventory racquet shops would have to stock to be able to offer a greater variety. They already have to stock at least four grip sizes in each model, multiply that by three or four lengths and it would be a pretty big burden for retailers. Most likely they would end up with lots of unsold racquets at the end of the season. Companies like ProKennex, however, who don't bring out "new" frames every 18-24 months could do something like this. But extending or shortening a 27" frame is really not that difficult, so we are still free to try various lengths if we want.

 

[lvuong]

It make sense if we bring in the business side of the equation.

I do think with player like Isner, very tall but mainly baseliner a long frame would help a lot.

How could you extend the frame ?

 

[jonnythan]

Also, the longer the racquet the tougher it is to get the ball in the sweet spot. With a longer racquet, more precision is required.

I think we've gotten to 27-27.5 based on trial and error.

 

[Kirko]

So you are saying 27 inch is the "magic" number ? any scientific studies to back that up ?

nothing to validate the length .. with that being said .... just came out that way .... kinda like why isn't a ping-pong handle longer ... basically tennis is excelerated ping pong..... I think.

 

[DrpShot!]

The extra leverage will give more power and most pros don't need extra power, they're looking for more control. I also don't think Isner needs to worry about having extra reach, he can practically touch both net posts while standing at the net.

 

[Readers]

nothing to validate the length .. with that being said .... just came out that way .... kinda like why isn't a ping-pong handle longer ... basically tennis is excelerated ping pong..... I think.

Bad example, unlike tennis, ping pong racquet has no set length, every one varies a little.

 

[Delpojuice]

Delpo plays with an extended length racket. He uses a 27.3 inch K6.1 95 18x20 pj with lead tape at 3&9 o´clock.
He´s pretty tall, too. If you look closer at the new rackets from Wilson you will find plenty of extended length rackets. The Juice and Steam line are all 27.25 inch in length.

 

[movdqa]

Does Isner use an XL or SL? Pros get frames that start out as long hairpins. These are cut down to the length that they want. So a pro could be using an XL version of a retail frame (or a non-retail frame).

 

[millicurie999]

nothing to validate the length .. with that being said .... just came out that way .... kinda like why isn't a ping-pong handle longer ... basically tennis is excelerated ping pong..... I think.

Agreed. It just "is". We (tennis players) evolve our individual game accordingly to take advantage and compensate for a 27" frame. Also, how would one decide to match frame length with height: Shorter player with shorter stick (proportionally) or shorter people with longer stick (compensatory). At the end of the day, it still means adjusting your game to a racquet of specific length.

 

[El Diablo]

Some think the 27 inch racquet is the work of the devil. Laid end to end on the equator, it would take 58,666,666.666.. tennis racquets to encircle the earth (25,000 miles).

 

[Delpojuice]

Delpo plays with an extended length racket. He uses a 27.3 inch K6.1 95 18x20 pj with lead tape at 3&9 o´clock.
He´s pretty tall, too. If you look closer at the new rackets from Wilson you will find plenty of extended length rackets. The Juice and Steam line are all 27.25 inch in length.

 

[LeeD]

Does a tall player need more reach and power? Or does dat guy need control and the ability to defend against low balls and body shots?
Does a short player really need more power and more reach?
I have rackets from 28.75 to 27, and I can choke up on my 27's to effectively make them maybe 25.5.
Ends up, I choke up on long rackets, hold near the butt on 27" rackets, and even though I've tried a bit at choking higher, I always end up at the butt cap of 27's for hitting consistency.
I"m 5'11" and been playing tennis for 38 years.

 

[Larrysümmers]

its how the tennis gods wanted it to be

 

[millicurie999]

its how the tennis gods wanted it to be

This

http://www.photostringer.com/racquets_prince_god.htm

 

[PhotoBlue]

Bartoli uses 29 in.

 

[6-2/6-4/6-0]

Bartoli uses 29 in.

A cautionary tale for sure... If you use too long of a racket you'll end up with a crazy game and head like her...

 

[LeeD]

Post 16.
And when you're supposed to be a genius, you can write any rules you want.
Maybe reach and leverage is high on her wish list.

 

[2handsbothsides]

Over 40% of male top 100 use a racket length 27.4" or longer based on the data sets previously posted here by tour stringers.

 

[LeeD]

Over 40% of top male pros train harder than us, are fitter than us, have hit 15 times more balls than us too.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I believe that 5'9" Michael Chang used a 28" racquet.

 

[TennisA]

I believe that 5'9" Michael Chang used a 28" racquet.

I think it was 27.5 inches. Apparently he thought he needed more power to compete with the other pros, so he switched from the standard

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I think it was 27.5 inches. Apparently he thought he needed more power to compete with the other pros, so he switched from the standard

It is my belief that the original Prince Graphite Longbody (Michael Chang version) was 28" long. There may have been a 27.5" version that came out some time later. The following TW review talks about the original Michael Chang Longbody.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/MCTI/MCTIReview.html

 

[scotus]

It is my belief that the original Prince Graphite Longbody (Michael Chang version) was 28" long. There may have been a 27.5" version that came out some time later. The following TW review talks about the original Michael Chang Longbody.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/MCTI/MCTIReview.html

Yes, he used the 28 inch version on tour. The 27.5 is probably for his senior tour.

 

[Kirko]

its how the tennis gods wanted it to be

directly !