I got a pro stock racquet before, and I found that it actually helps my game a lot. It gives me easy power and more depths on my shots. My retail racquet was much lighter compared to the pro stock racquet and gave me wrist problems, while the pro stock racquet is much more comfortable and easier to use! I felt like I can place the ball better and much more predictable.
Why don't companies sell the actual racquets used by the players?
- Thread starter MiamiWeekendWarrior
- Start date
I got a pro stock racquet before, and I found that it actually helps my game a lot. It gives me easy power and more depths on my shots. My retail racquet was much lighter compared to the pro stock racquet and gave me wrist problems, while the pro stock racquet is much more comfortable and easier to use! I felt like I can place the ball better and much more predictable.
vsbabolat
Talk Tennis Guru
You can have your retail racket customized to the specs of pro stock racket. And what pro stock racket is this?
HitMoreBHs
Professional
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BlueB
Legend
What does this even mean?
what are you talking about?
what is your point, i have LM radical MP. the layup isn’t exactly the same anyhow.
who tf cares bro, this topic has been beat to death. and you wouldn’t have to release a racquet with the same swing weight. you could release something similar in spec to the original LM radical tour which was more rare but weighed in heavier than the MP. but it’s not gonna happen either way.
i don’t think it’d be a bad idea for head to have a classics line or subsection that they produce far less of. similar to wilson pro labs. where they could have the pt 2.0, pc 2.0, LM radical MP, and a few others.
bobeeto
Hall of Fame
I think the best way for this to materialize is a custom shop approach (like guitars) where a significant premium can allow the few buyers to build a racket they truly want: mold, layup, specs, PJ.
Head feels like the fender of rackets already, would be cool to see them start a limited and personal custom program.
i myself as a guitar player and fender fanboy can get behind this. i have like 14 fenders lol
lidoazndiabloboi
Hall of Fame
me
i’m
i would ngl
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Except that the custom Fender is thousands of $$, something custom frames cannot ever achieve. Setting up that shop: baking the mold/hairpin (assuming they exist), customizing it, painting it would require multiple people, full line (at least one), and that is a big investment in not so big returns. I do not believe W Pro Labs is bringing big $$ to W...
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
The mold already exists. However, going commercial would require multiple molds. Mold has NOTHING to do with the racket specs.
ND racket does not come at that spec out of the factory.
yes.but for mass production, no one will customize them-LEAD( 100000), which means that in the new mold in places 3-9 it is necessary to make a thickening weighing 20 g.type PWS
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
you are talking a complete nonsense. Basically, you are saying -- release a whatever spec you mentioned above (which is not what ND is using) in a completely new/different mold. What is the point of that???
much less, do you really think head would ever implement PWS?
Djokovic real racquet is 95? It would be ironic bc most have associated roger with sticking to smaller headsizes but federer actually went up to 97 the last years.
I do want a Djokovic racquet. Im ok w an unleaded version that could be built up to his specs. Id also be fine is djokovic started playing w a 100” for his last years and they release that.
I do want a Djokovic racquet. Im ok w an unleaded version that could be built up to his specs. Id also be fine is djokovic started playing w a 100” for his last years and they release that.
i would be as well but i dont think we’ll get it unfortunately.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I’ll repeat for the last time:
1) head size/demanding frame. The days of 95 sq in, small sweet spot very demanding consumer released frame are behind us.
2) Mold. There is a single mold in existence since all PT346.x are made and baked in Austria. The molds are expensive and that would be an expensive investment especially considering #1 above.
3) Layup. This is the PT, Austrian layup. There is zero chance that layup would be shared with China factories. Austrian line is currently not capable to handle mass production. Again, the investment would not make any sense.
4) Marketing/history. Releasing the ND “actual” racket now, many years after having him endorse Speed Pro/Legend Pro would make no sense. The public has no idea about the PT346.1 or 95 sq in or whatever and they don’t care. 150 of us know about it and drool over it. Would not make sense to go through all that for a small audience.
Verdi
Rookie
Well written. Hopefully this subject is now put to rest forever.
oh i know, and never believed they would. and agree. just saying that i would be one who would buy it.
FlatShot_V
Semi-Pro
It's wishful thinking. I don't see any harm in it.
I would like to buy Stan's 95D with percept PJ just for the heck of it.
mtommer
Hall of Fame
Do you know for a fact that there's only one mold? No backup? I'm not asking in the context of this thread, just from a logistics pov. I would just be surprised if they only ever made one.
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Red Rick
Bionic Poster
Liquid metal? Is it made from mercury thermometers?
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Why would they need a backup?? There are no moving parts to break, there is no volume that requires another one. There could be another one collecting dust, however, last time I was there, I only saw one. I'll check it out next week
Head Prestige 2.0 sold out despite not having any endorsements and I think it was 93 or 90 and 18x20 and heavy...
When wilson released a Federer ntour90 or kfactor 90, that bloody sold out this year from TW. I saw the podcast and then came to TW and they were all gone... (I suppose the 95 was still available for a day or two later)
At this point, it would make sense to leave Sinner as the face of the Speed pro. I don't think having them both endorse the same frame will boost sales #
Yes, I realize the Djokovic frame would not have the same sale #s as the Speed, but I think it would be a nice tribute to his career and a service for his fans.
The logistics of the single mold or having to share/produce in China are legitimate challenges.
mtommer
Hall of Fame
Molds still wear (although as you note volume produced probably negates that), sh** happens. On a one off mold, getting two made at the same time can be pretty cost effective, respectively.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Head prestige 2.0 is made with TK237 mold (Microgel Mid, 89.5) that was mass produced in China back in the day, and China layup and limited quantities, not really the release.
The tribute to his career is the Legend and 98% of his fans believe that is what he is using.
Yeah, it always catches me off guard when I hear others in my league or club mention that Djokovic uses the speed. goes to show even people who play the sport every week don't know.
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dr325i
G.O.A.T.
The majority of (dedicated hard core) people have no idea. And they really don’t care about it.
I’ve had more than a few conversations around that and people would not accept it or bother to accept that ND does not play with Speed and the whole PJ story…
The answer is simple: Most of time, a pro stock racket is not more user friendly than a retail racket. Brands do ton of playtests with different players, and they won't decide and release the racket until most of the playtesters say it's better than the predecessor (in some category)
oldmanyellingatcloud
Semi-Pro
curious to hear what you hear is in store for 2026 and beyond. Special PJs and classic releases, especially. the Ashe PJ is pretty coolWhy would they need a backup?? There are no moving parts to break, there is no volume that requires another one. There could be another one collecting dust, however, last time I was there, I only saw one. I'll check it out next week
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Nice summation of the intellect of the Djokovic fan base…?
There’s one guy that I know of at my 5,000+ member club that bought the Legend, but he needed to replace a Speed mp that incidentally he broke in play & not in an act of petulance à la the eponymous ‘Legend’; I guess we’re a bit more switched on to tennis retail down here - he demoed the Legend & thought it was ‘crisper’ than the generic Speed - could’ve been spec variation?
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the new one that just came out is crisper. the HyBor version.
ChrisJR3264
Legend
Crisper or Chrispy ?
ChrisJR3264
Legend
ChrisJR3264
Legend
Head would have done well with the legend if it were 310 98 same balance/SW as the pro in an 18x19 pattern.
I agree. not necessarily as a novak signature, but certainly would appreciate this over the rumored 16x19 speed 97. Even the pro staff is moving to 98 allegedly.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Head is doing well with the legend irregardless. So, would a new mold development and investment, layup, separate test time (from standard Hybor speed) justify possible extra profit.
I assume they determined it would not.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I believe 97 vs 98 it totally irrelevant for amateurs and in reality different companies measure spec differently and the differences could be even smaller, if any.
I assume Head went to 97 because there are (too) many 98s in their portfolio already?
I'd assume that's the likely reason. The Prostaff 97 is wider than my prestige 98 and radical 98, but not as tall. I don't think most will be able to tell the difference, would've liked to see that 18x19 like the tfight 305 though.
