Why is everyone using such light racquets? Can we really not handle it?

[Grafil Injection]

This video is really insightful and eye-opening on the difference of performance in light vs heavy racquets. I was surprised how well light racquets pefrormed in the spin department.

TWU Racquet Analyzer Tool

A racquet comparison tool that plots the power and sweetspot size of any two user-defined racquets on a graph in relation to the plot of every other racquet on the market; a great way to see two racquet

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

'Spin Decreases with Swingweight' because 'Swing Speed Decreases with Swingweight'.

 

[yonexRx32]

how much money do you think a manufacturer saves going 20 grams lighter on a racket......lolz

A lot if the difference is a 5 ply layup vs a two or three ply layup. That is pro stock vs retail. Not much if they just use lead tape to segment the models into 280 300 315 submodels.

 

[robyrolfo]

TWU Racquet Analyzer Tool

A racquet comparison tool that plots the power and sweetspot size of any two user-defined racquets on a graph in relation to the plot of every other racquet on the market; a great way to see two racquet

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

'Spin Decreases with Swingweight' because 'Swing Speed Decreases with Swingweight'.

Yep, making the switch to a Vcore 95 (and sometimes Vcore Pro 97 310) helped me a lot after spending a long time with the Vcore Pro 97 HD and D. And the lighter racquets are also easier on my wrist (which is why I switched in the first place).

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

TWU Racquet Analyzer Tool

A racquet comparison tool that plots the power and sweetspot size of any two user-defined racquets on a graph in relation to the plot of every other racquet on the market; a great way to see two racquet

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

'Spin Decreases with Swingweight' because 'Swing Speed Decreases with Swingweight'.

However, Tennis Warehouse University also says:

It was further found that adding mass to the racquet periphery will increase topspin at all locations, though more at some than others.

https://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/location.php

 

[Icsa]

If you can move that increased mass with the same speed, of course it will increase topspin. Big "if" though.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

If you can move that increased mass with the same speed, of course it will increase topspin. Big "if" though.

I find the available information conflicting though. The racquet analyzer tool link says:

If the swing speed is kept constant, then the spin will be the same for all racquets

This is different from what you're saying, and also different from what this link says. I don't know what to make of it honestly.

 

[Icsa]

To get more spin, you need to move the main strings more sideways. This leads to a bigger snapback which in turn is inducing a faster rotation to the ball. To move the strings, you need more force. Newton's second law of motion states that net force is equal to mass times acceleration. The statement you quoted might be correct since when the speed is kept constant, the acceleration is zero.

 

[Anton]

What am I missing about these lighter racquets?

Fast swing and short lag timing window

Not for me either.

 

[AMGF]

Fast swing and short lag timing window

Not for me either.

What do you mean by short lag timing window?

 

[AMGF]

I know that when I demo a light or low SW racquet my timing is completely off and I tend to overhit like crazy making me hit outside the sweetspot or framing shots. To me light racquets are screwing my whole game up and I don't see any advantages. Maybe I've been playing with heavy racquets for too long.

One thing for sure though, I took a long break of tennis many years back. When I came back I bought a pair of Head Radical Microgel MP. I liked the feel, it reminded of my older frames. Anyway I started playing and I would get beat by players that were impressed they could beat me because my technique was so good. One even said to stop letting him win, I wasn't. All my life I had never tried to customize a frame, I would just play it stock. I didn't know at the time that the MG Radical MP was a platform frame with a puny 304sw.

One day I decided to demo the then new Head Prestige Pro Graphene with a healthy 340sw. None of these guys beat me after that and I needed to change league.

Low sw and low weight have no power, no stability and you get pushed around. Sure you might be able to get a few balls back more and make a few shots fall inside the lines instead of outside. But for me, I went from getting beaten by everyone to beating everyone just by switching frames. There is such a thing as too light a frame.

 

[Mischko]

For a good player everything under 320 is too low. With a stiffer punchy racquet you can get away with 315sw as a total minimum, just to hold the ball coaching and similar, but you have to swing out of your heels all the time. Only from 325sw can you play more normally if you like to drive through and attack, and that's also with a stiffer punchier racquet, such as Aero VS or Ezone 98. For players who like to hold, block, slowball and counterpunch with a doublehander a 320sw stiffer Radical can work well if they're quick, but not lower, but they risk having their serves attacked all the time

So basically 325 is a starting point, and can work for stiffer punchier racquets, but flexy racquets - and 18x20s - will still feel weak below 330, for a Blade v8 98 18x20 starting point is more like 335sw, same with Speed Pro, but both feel nice only at 340, esp Speed Pro. A flexy Prestige 98 18x20 320g is also half dead at 335sw, 340 is a starting point kind of

Haha I also remember trying to play with a Microgel MP a tennis friend played with since juniors, and I played with RF97s and 340g Pro Staffs for a long time, felt like a total fly swatter, and I really couldn't understand how can he even play with it, and his balls were really weak for me. And also I honestly thought for many years that I don't somehow understand something crucial, seeing those light racquets everywhere around me, didn't know much about specs either when I was younger

 

[aaron_h27]

For a good player everything under 320 is too low. With a stiffer punchy racquet you can get away with 315sw as a total minimum, just to hold the ball coaching and similar, but you have to swing out of your heels all the time. Only from 325sw can you play more normally if you like to drive through and attack, and that's also with a stiffer punchier racquet, such as Aero VS or Ezone 98. For players who like to hold, block, slowball and counterpunch with a doublehander a 320sw stiffer Radical can work well if they're quick, but not lower, but they risk having their serves attacked all the time

So basically 325 is a starting point, and can work for stiffer punchier racquets, but flexy racquets - and 18x20s - will still feel weak below 330, for a Blade v8 98 18x20 starting point is more like 335sw, same with Speed Pro, but both feel nice only at 340, esp Speed Pro. A flexy Prestige 98 18x20 320g is also half dead at 335sw, 340 is a starting point kind of

Haha I also remember trying to play with a Microgel MP a tennis friend played with since juniors, and I played with RF97s and 340g Pro Staffs for a long time, felt like a total fly swatter, and I really couldn't understand how can he even play with it, and his balls were really weak for me. And also I honestly thought for many years that I don't somehow understand something crucial, seeing those light racquets everywhere around me, didn't know much about specs either when I was younger

This is pretty much spot on. 18x20 & flexy sticks rackets require 330+ also extended frames need 330+ because the swingweight increase is from length and not mass.

When people think they want 18x20 frame because they "hit flat" but never consider the fact they'll need to play with a higher SW.

 

[Gee]

For a good player everything under 320 is too low. With a stiffer punchy racquet you can get away with 315sw as a total minimum, just to hold the ball coaching and similar, but you have to swing out of your heels all the time. Only from 325sw can you play more normally if you like to drive through and attack, and that's also with a stiffer punchier racquet, such as Aero VS or Ezone 98. For players who like to hold, block, slowball and counterpunch with a doublehander a 320sw stiffer Radical can work well if they're quick, but not lower, but they risk having their serves attacked all the time

So basically 325 is a starting point, and can work for stiffer punchier racquets, but flexy racquets - and 18x20s - will still feel weak below 330, for a Blade v8 98 18x20 starting point is more like 335sw, same with Speed Pro, but both feel nice only at 340, esp Speed Pro. A flexy Prestige 98 18x20 320g is also half dead at 335sw, 340 is a starting point kind of

Haha I also remember trying to play with a Microgel MP a tennis friend played with since juniors, and I played with RF97s and 340g Pro Staffs for a long time, felt like a total fly swatter, and I really couldn't understand how can he even play with it, and his balls were really weak for me. And also I honestly thought for many years that I don't somehow understand something crucial, seeing those light racquets everywhere around me, didn't know much about specs either when I was younger

What annoys me a little bit is that many reviews on the Prestige 98 18x20 they label it as a very low powered frame with a rather small sweetspot because they test it in stock condition. Often they also used to string it on too high tension with a low powered poly.
Once customized properly these kind of control frames will perform much better and they are not that demanding anymore.

 

[PRS]

What annoys me a little bit is that many reviews on the Prestige 98 18x20 they label it as a very low powered frame with a rather small sweetspot because they test it in stock condition. Often they also used to string it on too high tension with a low powered poly.
Once customized properly these kind of control frames will perform much better and they are not that demanding anymore.

Most people that review racquets are wanting to provide info for the general population. Most people don't customize their racquet, so it's helpful to more people to review racquets stock.

But I do agree, a lot of those type of racquets would be better off adding weight to it.

 

[AleYeah]

Another member of the heavy racquet club. Quick version of my backstory:
My original sticks were Prince OGs and Head Pro Tour 280s. Both fairly heavy in stock form compared to modern racquets, but still at times I tinkered with a little lead at 9:00/3:00 on them. I didn't play at all for 15 years, but started again in 2020, picking right up where I left off.

Fast forward to this year, and on a whim I decided to audition a racquet that was actually manufactured in the current century. Now I have Wilson Blade 98 v6 16x19s as my daily drivers (although I can still pick up one of the oldies, particularly the Prince, and have no problems adjusting to playing with it). And I'm carrying on with my 9:00/3:00 lead taping. Currently I've got them sitting at 340g, which feels very solid, yet effortlessly whippy. (Still I might experiment with some more weight, because I'm addicted to tinkering.) My typical week includes playing at least twice, and I'm playing the best tennis of my life.

I say all that to say this: I personally don't play with a lighter racquet because maybe I'm afraid to mess with a good thing. Father Time is undefeated, though. I'm a fairly fit/fairly strong 49.5 yr old guy right now, but if I ever get physically burdened by the heavier sticks, I reckon that's when I'll start looking to lighten the load.

 

[pico]

Another member of the heavy racquet club. Quick version of my backstory:
My original sticks were Prince OGs and Head Pro Tour 280s. Both fairly heavy in stock form compared to modern racquets, but still at times I tinkered with a little lead at 9:00/3:00 on them. I didn't play at all for 15 years, but started again in 2020, picking right up where I left off.

Fast forward to this year, and on a whim I decided to audition a racquet that was actually manufactured in the current century. Now I have Wilson Blade 98 v6 16x19s as my daily drivers (although I can still pick up one of the oldies, particularly the Prince, and have no problems adjusting to playing with it). And I'm carrying on with my 9:00/3:00 lead taping. Currently I've got them sitting at 340g, which feels very solid, yet effortlessly whippy. (Still I might experiment with some more weight, because I'm addicted to tinkering.) My typical week includes playing at least twice, and I'm playing the best tennis of my life.

I say all that to say this: I personally don't play with a lighter racquet because maybe I'm afraid to mess with a good thing. Father Time is undefeated, though. I'm a fairly fit/fairly strong 49.5 yr old guy right now, but if I ever get physically burdened by the heavier sticks, I reckon that's when I'll start looking to lighten the load.

I just got a v6 too! How did you customise your frame and what is your string setup if I can ask?

 

[AleYeah]

I just got a v6 too! How did you customise your frame and what is your string setup if I can ask?

I have my lead tape equally distributed between 9:00/3:00, and then as equal as I can manage with a scissors cut for each side of the strings.

I break my mains every 7-8 times I play and that has steered me into budget friendly string setups (even though I do my own stringing). Current setup- different from what is pictured there- is Gamma Synthetic Gut mains and Pro's Pro Red Devil crosses. I have an ancient drop weight stringer, so I don't trust the poundage entirely, but I shoot for something like 60lbs on the mains/55 on the crosses.

I should note that I actually liked how they hit just fine in stock form, but I like them even better with the added weight.

 

[pico]

I have my lead tape equally distributed between 9:00/3:00, and then as equal as I can manage with a scissors cut for each side of the strings.

I break my mains every 7-8 times I play and that has steered me into budget friendly string setups (even though I do my own stringing). Current setup- different from what is pictured there- is Gamma Synthetic Gut mains and Pro's Pro Red Devil crosses. I have an ancient drop weight stringer, so I don't trust the poundage entirely, but I shoot for something like 60lbs on the mains/55 on the crosses.

I should note that I actually liked how they hit just fine in stock form, but I like them even better with the added weight.

Do you use a leather grip as well? Just wondering how you got it up to 340g.

 

[AleYeah]

Do you use a leather grip as well? Just wondering how you got it up to 340g.

Just via lead tape. My wife does a lot of baking and has a big scale that (unbeknownst to her) is perfect for weighing racquets!

 

[Anton]

What do you mean by short lag timing window?

Time it takes for racket to get pulled and released by the wrist lag.

Generally for a given person lower SW racket will not lag as much and will not carry stroke as much after release, so it’s quicker, shorter action.

 

[AMGF]

Time it takes for racket to get pulled and released by the wrist lag.

Generally for a given person lower SW racket will not lag as much and will not carry stroke as much after release, so it’s quicker, shorter action.

Ok thanks, it makes sense.

 

[ouch_my_shoulder]

When I played in my teens/20’s I used a 370g+ racquet with whatever syn gut was cheapest. Coming back to the game nowadays, 330g feels great with modern poly strings and a whippier stroke. Even bumping up to 335-340 feels like too much to me now.

 

[matterer]

Being able to use a heavy racket doesn't have anything to do with age or strength, it's about technique. Better technique involves using larger muscles, which effectively makes the racket lighter. My racket is around 13oz, which is as heavy as I can go without starting to feel sluggish, but if I decide to arm my forehand it feels twice as heavy.

 

[TennisCJC]

TWU Racquet Analyzer Tool

A racquet comparison tool that plots the power and sweetspot size of any two user-defined racquets on a graph in relation to the plot of every other racquet on the market; a great way to see two racquet

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

'Spin Decreases with Swingweight' because 'Swing Speed Decreases with Swingweight'.

TWU Racquet Analyzer Tool

A racquet comparison tool that plots the power and sweetspot size of any two user-defined racquets on a graph in relation to the plot of every other racquet on the market; a great way to see two racquet

twu.tennis-warehouse.com

'Spin Decreases with Swingweight' because 'Swing Speed Decreases with Swingweight'.

I wonder how TW performs the test for swing speed and spin as it relates to swing weight. Are they using live data from players on the court or testing with machines.

My experience is a reasonable increase in SW increases spin as well as power. Rafa and Roger both used SW in 355 to 370 range and hit very high spin rates. Djoko uses approx 370 SW and hits plenty of spin when he wants but he does hit slightly flatter than Roger and Rafa. Sampras had a very heavy racket with high SW and his serve spin rates were extremely high. I have had a few rackets in the 310-319 SW range stock and customized them to 325-335 SW range and I found they had more spin and power after customization.

For me, if a 60 mph shot with 2,000 rpm of topspin is coming at me, I don't want to try to reverse the spin and hit a topspin shot back with a racket that has a 310 SW. In real life, I find higher SW helps with power and spin.

 

[pico]

I wonder how TW performs the test for swing speed and spin as it relates to swing weight. Are they using live data from players on the court or testing with machines.

My experience is a reasonable increase in SW increases spin as well as power. Rafa and Roger both used SW in 355 to 370 range and hit very high spin rates. Djoko uses approx 370 SW and hits plenty of spin when he wants but he does hit slightly flatter than Roger and Rafa. Sampras had a very heavy racket with high SW and his serve spin rates were extremely high. I have had a few rackets in the 310-319 SW range stock and customized them to 325-335 SW range and I found they had more spin and power after customization.

For me, if a 60 mph shot with 2,000 rpm of topspin is coming at me, I don't want to try to reverse the spin and hit a topspin shot back with a racket that has a 310 SW. In real life, I find higher SW helps with power and spin.

I like this insight a lot - "
For me, if a 60 mph shot with 2,000 rpm of topspin is coming at me, I don't want to try to reverse the spin and hit a topspin shot back with a racket that has a 310 SW. In real life, I find higher SW helps with power and spin."