Why don't manufacturers sell actual pro frames? (looong rant)

[AMGF]

Manufacturers it seems are lead by the marketing departments. But I believe they get it backwards. They bring some new techno-babble like hypercarbon, tungsten Carbon, liquidmetal and whatnot but in the end, they mainly just change the paint. All the while, pros still use the same frames year after year.

What if they gave customers actual pro spec frames? Like Wilson did with the RF97A? But even more hardcore, give the lead placement and why not, actual lead strip to have an actual RF frame? People buy the new techno babble frames because they think they get the real deal, why not just give the real deal? Stop this techno non-sense.

Of course, the bean counters might not agree. But I believe, just like in the guitar world, you could sell the real deal for a premium, and sell normal/cheaper versions at a more sane price. Like racquet manufacturers could sell, foam filled, high quality carbon, actual pros' spec frame for more than regular, hollow frame, high volume made, regular frames.

Easy to imagine what their answer would be... Techno babble sells new frames every year. They just change the PJ on the sponsored pros' racquets and then they're done. But I thought after Babolat's settlement last year, that we would see more actual frames hit the market and less technovapor. But no. Instead, they just added "this frame is endorsed by playerX, playerX might play a different version" or something like that. Just a legal way to continue doing the same stuff they've been doing for years.

Why not at the very least, release actual low number (read high prices) actual pros frame? I believe they'd sell like hot cakes. I could imagine some people actually starting to collect these frames. And at least, they'd be true for once when they market their pro frames.

Final thought, I'll never be a pro. But if I was and had a pro racquet deal, I'd request that if they use my name to sell a frame, that the frame they sell is mine. I know millions can change people's view. But with so many racquet companies, I'd bet there would be one willing to sell the actual frame and pay good money too.

 

[El Diablo]

Why would you want to sell people a product they won't feel a need to replace year after year???

 

[Irvin]

If everyone bought rackets as heavy as the pros frames their arms would bother them too much and they would quit playing tennis. I sold a lady a Tecnifibre 300 that she though was too heavy but she liked the racket. Imagine adding 50 g to it.

 

[dman72]

Actually most pros frames start off light and then they mod them to be heavy, so the truth is that most "players" frames that are sold here at TW are heavier than what most pros start off with.

Djokovic's frame for example is basically an 11 ounce radical mp with a crap load of lead added all over the place....a big chunk at the top of the handle and then all around the hoop. If you buy a microgel radical mp and put lead all over it you're pretty close to what Novak uses. A head prestige basically is a 10.5 ounce racquet with a lead bar placed in the handle to make it much heavier and much more headlight. When you go from "light" to "regular" to "pro" versions of certain frames, they're basically just putting lead in the handle. They don't make it out of "heavier" graphite.

 

[John]

Why would you want to sell people a product they won't feel a need to replace year after year???

Like a ps 85 that never die?

 

[AMGF]

If everyone bought rackets as heavy as the pros frames their arms would bother them too much and they would quit playing tennis. I sold a lady a Tecnifibre 300 that she though was too heavy but she liked the racket. Imagine adding 50 g to it.

I agree. But people could always buy the lower spec version or not install the lead.

 

[AMGF]

It's really weird to have companies building marketing around a player and his/her racquet but you never can have that racquet in real life. Worst, some of those players have PJs of a different model over their real frame. Like Djokovic that plays a Radical under a Speed PJ. I mean, come on. But all this time, some people would pay extra to have the exact frame of their favorite player.

 

[AMGF]

Why would you want to sell people a product they won't feel a need to replace year after year???

Yep. That's the main problem. But why not sell the exact product either? Maybe people would change to get the new PJ even though the frame is the same. Or companies could come up with studies that show that tennis frames lose their stiffness or resiliency over time and need to be changed every 200hours of play.

Companies could always come up with betterer pseudo-techno gizmos every two years. But I believe the Pro frame, should be the Pro frame no matter what.

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

Get an Angell

 

[randomcollegeplayer]

For some reason people think having Djokovic's stick will somehow make them play better...
I don't get why rec players don't understand that they DO NOT HAVE the technique or strength to be able to swing the same racquet as the pros and be even remotely successful. There are countless great sticks out there. Just because you don't see your favorite player on the court with a certain one doesn't mean that it wont be a good fit for your skill level and play style

 

[acura9927]

Most rec players can't even play 3 sets when its 80 degrees plus in any high level of play let along swing a heavy stick.

 

[AMGF]

For some reason people think having Djokovic's stick will somehow make them play better...
I don't get why rec players don't understand that they DO NOT HAVE the technique or strength to be able to swing the same racquet as the pros and be even remotely successful. There are countless great sticks out there. Just because you don't see your favorite player on the court with a certain one doesn't mean that it wont be a good fit for your skill level and play style

I totally agree. But it's not the point I'm trying to make. I'm saying, they're selling frames using pro's name and image, yet the frame you buy is, as you point out, nothing an average player could use. And that's perfect that way. Average player could use the lower spec based on the pro frame, but at least, have the decency to offer the real deal.

That's what I think, no matter how hard I try to view it any other way.

 

[AMGF]

Get an Angell

Funny you say that. I might very well order one of his frame really soon. Good design, top quality materials, foam filled, custom made to my liking does sound very good!

I really liked his direct, no non-sense approach.

 

[Seth]

Manufacturers it seems are lead by the marketing departments. But I believe they get it backwards. They bring some new techno-babble like hypercarbon, tungsten Carbon, liquidmetal and whatnot but in the end, they mainly just change the paint. All the while, pros still use the same frames year after year.

What if they gave customers actual pro spec frames? Like Wilson did with the RF97A? But even more hardcore, give the lead placement and why not, actual lead strip to have an actual RF frame? People buy the new techno babble frames because they think they get the real deal, why not just give the real deal? Stop this techno non-sense.

Of course, the bean counters might not agree. But I believe, just like in the guitar world, you could sell the real deal for a premium, and sell normal/cheaper versions at a more sane price. Like racquet manufacturers could sell, foam filled, high quality carbon, actual pros' spec frame for more than regular, hollow frame, high volume made, regular frames.

Easy to imagine what their answer would be... Techno babble sells new frames every year. They just change the PJ on the sponsored pros' racquets and then they're done. But I thought after Babolat's settlement last year, that we would see more actual frames hit the market and less technovapor. But no. Instead, they just added "this frame is endorsed by playerX, playerX might play a different version" or something like that. Just a legal way to continue doing the same stuff they've been doing for years.

Why not at the very least, release actual low number (read high prices) actual pros frame? I believe they'd sell like hot cakes. I could imagine some people actually starting to collect these frames. And at least, they'd be true for once when they market their pro frames.

Final thought, I'll never be a pro. But if I was and had a pro racquet deal, I'd request that if they use my name to sell a frame, that the frame they sell is mine. I know millions can change people's view. But with so many racquet companies, I'd bet there would be one willing to sell the actual frame and pay good money too.

I had this same thought earlier this morning. Say I was sponsored by Head and used the PT57A. I would want the PT57A released to the public with whatever cosmetics I was using. If it's a great frame to begin with, I'm sure there would be enough people wanting the "new look" to keep the model going.

 

[AMGF]

I had this same thought earlier this morning. Say I was sponsored by Head and used the PT57A. I would want the PT57A released to the public with whatever cosmetics I was using. If it's a great frame to begin with, I'm sure there would be enough people wanting the "new look" to keep the model going.

Oh definitely! And you should be allowed to choose your own PJ too!
Pro snowboarders have been choosing their own cosmetics for their boards for years. I think pro tennis players should to. I would be curious to see what some of them would come up with (cough cough Kyrgios).

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

I have a friend who own a autobody shop. I have been bugging him to make me a "custom" tennis racquet!! I think it would be awesome!

 

[pfrischmann]

It's really weird actually. I agree most people, including most of us could not play with a pro's frame for very long. But I also believe that is because we've been fed a diet of lighter, stiffer frames for so long (tennis racquet junk food) we haven't built up the health needed to swing a "bigger stick". There are tons of kids that used to swing the PS-85. a 12.5 ounce monster by today's standards. The pro's sticks of today are heavier but also much softer. Why not offer more choices. The RF-97 is one of the best selling sticks around.

 

[AMGF]

I have a friend who own a autobody shop. I have been bugging him to make me a "custom" tennis racquet!! I think it would be awesome!

I used to race cars (F2000) and had a custom painted helmet! A 1000$ job, but that helmet means a lot to me (as I chose the design) and a work of art. I'd say do it!

Pro players personnal PJ would be great!

 

[dr325i]

Actually most pros frames start off light and then they mod them to be heavy, so the truth is that most "players" frames that are sold here at TW are heavier than what most pros start off with.

Djokovic's frame for example is basically an 11 ounce radical mp with a crap load of lead added all over the place....a big chunk at the top of the handle and then all around the hoop. If you buy a microgel radical mp and put lead all over it you're pretty close to what Novak uses.

Not really.
1) Yes, it comes light but with a high SW. People that prefer specific static weight and balance would not be able to handle the SW
2) In uncustomized form, they are flimsy, not balanced and people would not like them
3) What, I have to pay someone to customize it now to be able to use it after I paid $250 for it???
4) The PT113B1 has very little to do with the MG Radical MP: mold is different, weight distribution is different, flex and feel is totally different

So, no, it is not that simple

 

[n8dawg6]

how many pros out there play with a bone stock uncustomized frame?

 

[WYK]

how many pros out there play with a bone stock uncustomized frame?

And more to the point, every pro player has a different frame from the next. Whether the mold has different parameters(flex, weight, balance...), or is a PJ, or is leaded up, etc etc. It would be impossible to sell a pro frame. You sell something that looks like what they have to all the 3.0's out there with $200 to shell towards something they perceive will improve either their game or their looks. Marketing sells as much, or more, than substance ever did. The rest of us hunt around and use lead and strings to get the stick where we need it.

 

[movdqa]

It's really weird actually. I agree most people, including most of us could not play with a pro's frame for very long. But I also believe that is because we've been fed a diet of lighter, stiffer frames for so long (tennis racquet junk food) we haven't built up the health needed to swing a "bigger stick". There are tons of kids that used to swing the PS-85. a 12.5 ounce monster by today's standards. The pro's sticks of today are heavier but also much softer. Why not offer more choices. The RF-97 is one of the best selling sticks around.

Rec players can get used to pro weight frames but it can take a while.

There are still a number of softer frames that can be used as platforms where you add lead and silicone to get to specs similar to pro stock frames and there are a lots of services around if you don't want to do the work yourself.

 

[HRB]

Simple...MILLIONS of people play tennis, under 100K play decent college level, and under 10K play Pro Level, and under 1000 play top tier level.

So why the hell would they take the time to market a stick that would probably be the proper one for less that 1% of the market share? STOP THINKING YOUR PRO'S AND JUST BE GLAD THEY MAKE DECENT STICKS THAT ARE CLOSE TO WHAT THE IMMORTALS SWING!

 

[AMGF]

Simple...MILLIONS of people play tennis, under 100K play decent college level, and under 10K play Pro Level, and under 1000 play top tier level.

So why the hell would they take the time to market a stick that would probably be the proper one for less that 1% of the market share? STOP THINKING YOUR PRO'S AND JUST BE GLAD THEY MAKE DECENT STICKS THAT ARE CLOSE TO WHAT THE IMMORTALS SWING!

Millions of people know how to read, yet there's always one that doesn't and writes something totally unrelated.

And no, I don't think I should feel glad they make decent sticks, because we (millions of players) pay for those sticks. All the while they make millions selling lies. You make it sound like we should be grateful they make us frames. They should be equally grateful we buy them is what I think.

False advertising is the main point here (Radical frame under a Speed PJ).
The second point is if you use a pro's image to sell stuff, at least offer the option to buy the actual pro stuff.
The third point was that people should buy what they want, even if it's not good for their game. A 3.0 70+yo women can go out and buy a RF97A, you don't need a pro frame option to go out and buy a frame that doesn't fit your game.

20+ post in this thread no one said anything even remotely close to thinking they're pros. I'm just asking for more transparency from manufacturers. I also believe they would make money off of it. Plus it would save them money from lawsuits (Babolat was first, but others could be sued).

 

[AMGF]

Final thought, back in the days, some racing series required car manufacturers to build a small number of their race cars for the street. Joe Schmoe with enough money could go out and buy a car that he couldn't handle. The outcome for such a car in the hands of an untrained driver could result in death. Not only his, but maybe some others people on the road as well.

The worst that could happen to a bad player swinging a pro stick is what? A couple hundreds dollars out of pocket? Balls landing short and wide? A bruised ego? Big deal. We all know what "X player endorses that frame" means. It means, buy the marketing technobellishment and don't try to sue us because we've covered our bases.

 

[n8dawg6]

the problem is that they'd have to hand-apply all the lead to the frames. I get the "misdirection" thing, I really do. I still know folks that are convinced the djoker plays with a Speed Pro. it's deceptive.

but, it's a little more complex issue than simply selling "pro" frames that are the actual frames the pros use. they don't even make stock frames for those pros, how could they do it for the consumer?

meanwhile, it's a pretty powerful marketing tool to say that a pro "endorses" a frame.

 

[WYK]

meanwhile, it's a pretty powerful marketing tool to say that a pro "endorses" a frame.

^^^ This. Babolat is excellent at this.

 

[SpinToWin]

Yeah, cause selling pro spec frames to recreational players seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do... I dread the thought of juniors asking for Nadal's frame and actually getting it. There is a good reason why only certain few players get access to pro stock frames, they are individualised, labour intensive and they require a high base level of skill to be worth it.

If this comes to pass, I'll change occupations and open a tennis specific clinics chain.

The market seems to be there, because people think that they want to play what the pros play, but reality is that they don't want to, because they cannot use the frame and they can play better with the "hollow crap" the industry throws at them.

 

[Cerps]

Yeah, cause selling pro spec frames to recreational players seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do... I dread the thought of juniors asking for Nadal's frame and actually getting it. There is a good reason why only certain few players get access to pro stock frames, they are individualised, labour intensive and they require a high base level of skill to be worth it.

If this comes to pass, I'll change occupations and open a tennis specific clinics chain.

The market seems to be there, because people think that they want to play what the pros play, but reality is that they don't want to, because they cannot use the frame and they can play better with the "hollow crap" the industry throws at them.

This sounds like a tremendous idea! We could start a our own brand of clinics just for tennis related injuries

 

[kailash]

Millions of people know how to read, yet there's always one that doesn't and writes something totally unrelated.

And no, I don't think I should feel glad they make decent sticks, because we (millions of players) pay for those sticks. All the while they make millions selling lies. You make it sound like we should be grateful they make us frames. They should be equally grateful we buy them is what I think.

False advertising is the main point here (Radical frame under a Speed PJ).
The second point is if you use a pro's image to sell stuff, at least offer the option to buy the actual pro stuff.
The third point was that people should buy what they want, even if it's not good for their game. A 3.0 70+yo women can go out and buy a RF97A, you don't need a pro frame option to go out and buy a frame that doesn't fit your game.

20+ post in this thread no one said anything even remotely close to thinking they're pros. I'm just asking for more transparency from manufacturers. I also believe they would make money off of it. Plus it would save them money from lawsuits (Babolat was first, but others could be sued).

Manufacturers don't sell pro stocks in retail, because they think that the current method is the best way to make more money. It is that simple; only money talks in the business world!

False advertising is there, because most people fall for it and the companies are legally covered by "endorsed by" words. Maybe if many tennis federations and players unite and raise their voice (lawsuits, legal actions, ban etc), something could be done. But who has the will, money and power?

But even if that is done, 99% of the recreational players cannot play with the top players frames (with 370 g swing weight etc). And it will cost more to customize a pro stock frame than just buying a normal retail frame. And maybe other than the top few hundred, other low ranked ATP players play with retail frames (customized)?

The reality is that there are many many good frames available in the retail market today that can be wielded by the recreational players. And some of those can be customized similar to pro stocks by specialists if needed. And pro stocks are also available for sale, as many on this forum own those! So the current business model is working for most of the people and the companies; it WILL NOT change unless the companies find a way to make more money by pro stock selling!

 

[HRB]

Millions of people know how to read, yet there's always one that doesn't and writes something totally unrelated.

"Millions of people know how to read, yet there's always one that doesn't and writes something totally unrelated"...ummn..ok?

Why would I waste my time reading all the 20 plus post when I have an answer to your question, which was, why don't manufacturers just make the actual pro's stick? That's actually what you asked in your title..so how the hell is answering that "totally unrelated"?

Again...there is a miniscule market for it, and they run the risk of turning people off to tennis after they buy a 370g sw stick and watch their games go down the tank! Making a more realistic "replica" that a majority can actually play with is much safer investment, that's the answer..but your pissed when folks answer the question without having to read you post? Aren't we self centered!

If your title was "I think the manufacturers should just make the actually pro's stick and avoid being accused of deceptive marketing" I would have had a different answer for ya..but it wasn't!

 

[drakulie]

Pros are in constant motion with their equipment (change of lead placement), sometimes the length, flex, and tension in strings to name just a few variables.

Additionally, "pro racquets" simply will not sell well. For example, the mysterious and beloved PT57 that many pros use would not sell well at all. If you don't believe me, just look at how well the technifibre 315 Ltd did. It's practically the same exact frame. Yet, you don't see anyone asking for it, much less playing with it.

The vast majority of people playing tennis want easy and "powerful".

One more thing,,,,, many pros use racquets that could be purchased at any tennis store in the world. There is absolutely nothing special about them. For example, Groth uses a stock blade 98. Thiem uses a stock Pure Strike, etc.

 

[movdqa]

The PK Redondo has been a TW Best Seller on and off over the years and I haven't hit with a lower-power frame stock for quite a while since (the Dunlop Revelation Tour Pro). It's quite the noodle - I should have tried adding lead but I wasn't doing that back then. I've heard some say that it plays very close to the PT57A but you can't do the level of customization that you can with the PT57A as the Redondo starts out rather heavy.

If you want a pro racquet and have a few bucks, you can get one. I do think that a lot of players are disappointed with them when they go out to hit with them. There is no magic in the frame.

 

[li0scc0]

One more thing,,,,, many pros use racquets that could be purchased at any tennis store in the world. There is absolutely nothing special about them. For example, Groth uses a stock blade 98. Thiem uses a stock Pure Strike, etc.

How is this possible, when everybody on these forums assumes pros only use racquets with swingweight over 360?

 

[movdqa]

How is this possible, when everybody on these forums assumes pros only use racquets with swingweight over 360?

Pros can add lead and other materials to stock frames.

 

[Moonarse]

Yep. That's the main problem. But why not sell the exact product either? Maybe people would change to get the new PJ even though the frame is the same. Or companies could come up with studies that show that tennis frames lose their stiffness or resiliency over time and need to be changed every 200hours of play.

Companies could always come up with betterer pseudo-techno gizmos every two years. But I believe the Pro frame, should be the Pro frame no matter what.

At the end, nobody really believes that the new one is better, they just feel that they have to get the new PJ. The same frame with a different PJ would sell too.

 

[li0scc0]

Pros can add lead and other materials to stock frames.

My sarcasm is that most of what we assume about frames the pros use is flat out wrong . I've hit with a couple of Socks sticks, they are far lighter than what I use. I strung for a D1 team, men and women, and although not pros, their stocks are mostly stock without alterations (including the runner up female in the National Championship who used a Prince Exo3 White Lite 100, 10.3 ounces with overgrip and dampener. Another low level pro male, 135+ mph serve, uses an 11.6 ounce racquet with 320 swingweight. I've strung it, no modifications, the same racquets my wife used for years. I'm sure some pros swing heavy framds with 360 strung swingweight. And I'm sure others will shock you with how light they really are.

 

[Crocodile]

I'd just like more racquets to be heavier to start off with which is why I like the C10 and V Pro 330, less hassles. Both the Phantom 100P and Ultra Tour could be at least 325g or 330g off the shelf. Buying an Angell and being able to choose the specs is great. You just string it and play. 320 grams is still easy to fix but once you get down to 310 or 305 it's too much mucking around especially if you have 3 racquets to do and you are trying to match them.
Some racquets seem harder to customise than others. For example the Biomimetic 300 series always seemed easy to weight. I guess it comes down to practise. The other thing I noticed is the practise of adding a leather grip can have mixed results. Do it to a C10 and it feels great. I tried to do it to my Ultra tour and and noticed a distinct increase in unwanted harshness so I decided to just lead it up under the handle and continue to use the synthetic grip. Yes it all comes down to spending time to become a good customiser and continuous testing to get each frame to its potential.

 

[movdqa]

My sarcasm is that most of what we assume about frames the pros use is flat out wrong . I've hit with a couple of Socks sticks, they are far lighter than what I use. I strung for a D1 team, men and women, and although not pros, their stocks are mostly stock without alterations (including the runner up female in the National Championship who used a Prince Exo3 White Lite 100, 10.3 ounces with overgrip and dampener. Another low level pro male, 135+ mph serve, uses an 11.6 ounce racquet with 320 swingweight. I've strung it, no modifications, the same racquets my wife used for years. I'm sure some pros swing heavy framds with 360 strung swingweight. And I'm sure others will shock you with how light they really are.

I don't know that it's wrong - but it may be individual experiences. I have three sets of Pro Stock frames so that colors my perception of what the Pros use. If you have a set of Berdych's frames or Soderlings, then you may think that Pros play with high swingweights. Of course there are postings of what they actually use and you can make your own judgement given the sampling that you see.

I use high swingweights because I had an arm injury back around 2010 and playing with frames that are light or with low swingweights results in pain. So I don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Outside of Physical Therapy or Surgery. I have talked to Physical Therapists about my arm issue and they said that a PT approach would likely involve a lot of pain and there's no guarantee that it would fix the problem. So I just use high swingweights.

 

[Crocodile]

I'd also like to add that back in the 80's and 90's you had so much choice in buying a 12 0z frame. I remember that you could choose a whole range of Prince CTS frames all in that weight range. I had the Graduate 110, others had the approach, blast, storm, precision, spectrum, DP graphtec, synergy series. With Pro Kennex at one time you could have 3 different Destany and Ace frames in a good weight range, all you had to decide was the flex. If you wanted flexy and budget sensitive you could get the copper Ace while the Boron Ace was the pricey one and Bkack and Silver Ace being popular options.

 

[RVAtennisaddict]

I they don’t sell them because the profit margin in equipment (not shoes, not clothing) is so poor. I guess they could sell us pro frames at pro prices (aka free platinum, but make it a real playing racket or better yet give the players tons of rackets and let them switch every change over and sell the racket they actually played with/practiced with. But in the end it is because equipment profit margins just aren’t there. It is true in golf where the equip is much more expensive and it is true in tennis.

 

[li0scc0]

I use high swingweights because I had an arm injury back around 2010 and playing with frames that are light or with low swingweights results in pain. So I don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Outside of Physical Therapy or Surgery. I have talked to Physical Therapists about my arm issue and they said that a PT approach would likely involve a lot of pain and there's no guarantee that it would fix the problem. So I just use high swingweights.

I agree, and I use 340+ swingweight as well. I suffer from a terrible case of the yips, and heavy racquets and high swingweights helps calm this unfortunate phenomenon..

 

[jacob22]

If everyone bought rackets as heavy as the pros frames their arms would bother them too much and they would quit playing tennis. I sold a lady a Tecnifibre 300 that she though was too heavy but she liked the racket. Imagine adding 50 g to it.

I wonder how much mph the lead add to the serve speed.

 

[Irvin]

I wonder how much mph the lead add to the serve speed.

My guess is little to none. If added mass were proportional to speed they’d all play with 10 lb rackets.

 

[movdqa]

I wonder how much mph the lead add to the serve speed.

There's a balance between RHS and Mass and there's an optimum point for everyone so it may be the case that serve speed goes up adding lead tape or adding lead tape could reduce serve speed. The thing is that you have to balance the strokes. No use in getting the best serve while the other strokes suffer.

 

[pvw_tf]

Take the top 100 players and sort out what racket they are playing with. When you do that you will find out that there are a limited number of frames used by the pro's and when you check them they mostly (not all) are frames with 315 gram and above. Many use lead tape to customize the rackets to their liking. But also they can get rackets from the factory which are heavier by default. And yes many do play with paint jobs and older versions of the frames. They are so trained and used to play with their rackets that they do not want to change. Just takes (a long) time to get used to a different frame. And players do not have that much time. The off seasons is not that long. And in Jan there is the first slam to be played.

To have those frames on the market for all of the tennis players does not make sense. Many will not be able to handle it. I can drive a car but driving a lambo at 300+ km is something different.

If you wan to play with a more heavy racket take 315 grams of higher and get them right for you

Peter

 

[Ronaldo]

If everyone bought rackets as heavy as the pros frames their arms would bother them too much and they would quit playing tennis. I sold a lady a Tecnifibre 300 that she though was too heavy but she liked the racket. Imagine adding 50 g to it.

But that is what we had to start playing with! Let them feel our pain! And I mean in their elbows

 

[Steve Huff]

These frames are not just pro player frames. They are "individualized" frames. I'm sure your stroke and experience is not the same as a pros, but with enough money, you could have an "individualized" frame also. It's made for the specific person, and quite frankly, you are not that person.

 

[Bartelby]

Yes, you need a bespoke frame for your game and it's more likely this is not going to be anwhere near a pro player frame. It's vanity to think otherwise.

 

[ron schaap]

Take the top 100 players and sort out what racket they are playing with. When you do that you will find out that there are a limited number of frames used by the pro's and when you check them they mostly (not all) are frames with 315 gram and above. Many use lead tape to customize the rackets to their liking. But also they can get rackets from the factory which are heavier by default. And yes many do play with paint jobs and older versions of the frames. They are so trained and used to play with their rackets that they do not want to change. Just takes (a long) time to get used to a different frame. And players do not have that much time. The off seasons is not that long. And in Jan there is the first slam to be played.

To have those frames on the market for all of the tennis players does not make sense. Many will not be able to handle it. I can drive a car but driving a lambo at 300+ km is something different.

If you wan to play with a more heavy racket take 315 grams of higher and get them right for you

Peter

I don't buy all your arguments. Top ATP players begin as normal juniors with light and maybe even shorter racquets. When they are 18 years they are not that used to their current series frame that they could not switch.
Anyway it is said that Kyrgios, Goffin and Chung don't use such a heavy frame at all.
Also Nadal used very little lead to his 300gr frame for the most part of his career.