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."

 

[18*20]

One reason might be that the latest stabilization tech in these light rackets work very well. I am surprised by how stable the Gravity team plays for a 280g racket making it moot to use fatiguing heavier rackets.

 

[Fed_Ex]

It really depends on which type of racquet you use. I think that to play at a given level, you need a certain amount of power.

For example, you see plenty of Spanish 5.5s playing with stock Pure Drives at <325g unstrung and 320 SW, because they are powerful, stable and they have adapted their games to get the control by applying high amounts of topspin. But if you like the feel of thinner beam flexible racquets, you will need at least 10-15 additional grams and close to 330SW to match their power and for the racquet to be stable enough to absorb spin.

The route you chose is up to you and your game. Is it obviously more rewarding and also more physically demanding to play with control frames, but a W is a W and if you win more matches with tweeners, why bother?

 

[Icsa]

Until recently I was recommending everyone to heavier racquets however a recent conversation with a friend changed all that for me. She told me the 305g unstrung racquet she was demoing at my recommendation was causing her arm and shoulder pain. I realized that not everyone is trained to use a relaxed wrist and let the racquet do the work by initiating the kinetic chain. Most recreational players (under 4 rating) push the racquet with a locked wrist and a lighter racquet will be easier for that. Most don't have to return 100mph serves either so having the additional weight is unnecessary.

 

[Shroud]

I use the RF97 and even add lead tape. I'm a lowish 4.5 player, so good but by no means elite.

Yet, I hear everyone say the RF is incredibly heavy and can really only be used by top-of-the-line players. That makes me think I have the wrong racquet, but when I try lighter frames they feel like they get pushed around by the ball, and my shots aren't nearly as heavy.
I also think about the fact that 10 years ago, all rec players were using heavy frames. So it shouldn't be too absurd to have a heavier frame.

What am I missing about these lighter racquets?

tensions are proportional to swingweight. The lower the swingweight the lower the tension needs to be.

But yeah I don’t get how a heavy frame makes you tired. I hit with a higher sw than pretty much any one and am probably in worse shape than most of this board yet its not the racquet tiring me out. Its the running.

Like you I find it really hard to go lighter, though I think my first sentence is dead on and though I like stiff stringbeds, i think I am finding the one that lets me hit with a low swing weight without hurting my arm.

 

[Injured Again]

But yeah I don’t get how a heavy frame makes you tired. I hit with a higher sw than pretty much any one and am probably in worse shape than most of this board yet its not the racquet tiring me out. Its the running.

The higher your level of play, the faster the ball comes and the faster and more often you have to swing at the ball. And the higher your level of play, the more balls you hit consecutively. It adds up over the course of a couple of hours.

When I practice, I usually use six balls and we put a ball into play immediately after the previous ball goes out of play, whether through an error or a winner. When my son and I practice this way, we get through 90 minutes and are just getting to our limit as our court time runs out, and we’re both 4.5’s.

I’ve recently been hitting with a guy at least at the midpoint of 5.0 and he misses significantly less than either I or my son does, mostly because he is cooperatively hitting back to me rather than driving it into a corner. So out of six balls, we may have two or three that go 15 shots or more. By the 60 minute mark, I am beyond fumes and my hand is near cramping, something that never happens with my son.

It’s a major cumulative effect from the more continuous repetitions. It’s like if you can do four sets of ten weight lifting motions and that puts you at your limits, you won’t be able to do two sets of twenty.

 

[Grafil Injection]

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.

Rafa, Roger, Djok and Pete swing their 350+ SW rackets faster than we can swing a 280sw stick. So they get power and control from mass plus the spin from fast swing speed. Only when they retire will they find they can achieve the same level of spin with a lighter racket, but they will then lose the control or consistent blocking capacity, like you say.

So for us amateurs it's a choice. If we want high spin we will probably have to get a light stick and sacrifice control somewhat. Rafa swings his 370sw Aero faster than we can swing a 320sw version.

 

[KingCarlitos]

I was using 305g when I was 13 and started using 315g at 15.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

There are people incapable of understanding that other people experience the world differently than they do. Kudos to y’all who have the patience to explain your experience and suggest, through such explanation, that other experiences exist and are valid.

Is it obviously more rewarding and also more physically demanding to play with control frames

The epitome of this thread might be this statement. It’s obvious that playing with a heavy, control frame, that’s more demanding, is more rewarding?

My most rewarding tennis has been the gradual switch from a Gen3 18x20 PStrike to a 290 Rafa and more recently SX 300 Lite over the last couple years.

Perhaps it is not obvious.

 

[TennisLogic]

The RF 97 shouldn't be used by anyone, including your level

He advised Agassi on his sticks and redesigned Novak's approach to rackets a few years ago.

Doesn't matter if you grew up with heavier rackets, we all switched to lighter ones as the tech improved, it's easy to transition and just increase RHS. Most of the guys I grew up with playing have gone down to lighter rackets despite muscle memory etc. You would be amazed the utility a lighter racket can provide.

Of course we can all pick up an RF97 and swing it without our arm falling off, but unless you are in the top 10% of athletes it is probable that the RF97 hits a great ball "IF" you are in position to hit with immaculate footwork for an entire 3 hour singles match. Not many people are. Top of the line players, using the RF97? There aren't hardly any if you mean anyone above 4.5 playing 18+ age matches.

I made a small survey of UTR 10 plus guys this summer that I ran into (got destroyed by some in matches). mostly college kids home from college tennis if they use lead or even know their swingweight, most don't. Also knowing the TCU and SMU program and their rackets, most are stock and don't know the numbers, they just know they like the racket they are using.

This post should be pinned.
Heavy racquets are great but most people lie to themselves and cannot handle them. At the rec level, people benefit from lighter racquets

 

[zoingy]

Why didn't Fed play with a 450g 500sw racquet like me, an ntrp 1.0? Was he physically incapable of handling such a stick, despite it being objectively better?

 

[Shroud]

This post should be pinned.
Heavy racquets are great but most people lie to themselves and cannot handle them. At the rec level, people benefit from lighter racquets

This is the best post on here in a long time once you factor in your signature. That stick is heavier than the RF97A!

 

[Shroud]

Why didn't Fed play with a 450g 500sw racquet like me, an ntrp 1.0? Was he physically incapable of handling such a stick, despite it being objectively better?

objectively better? Who said that? And fwiw if as the vid says don't use a pros racquet unless you are a pro is valid it most likely goes the other way too. Pros shouldn't use rec players frames!

BTW Wimbledon was won with a 393 SW and some pros have been over 400...

 

[Anton]

Why didn't Fed play with a 450g 500sw racquet like me, an ntrp 1.0? Was he physically incapable of handling such a stick, despite it being objectively better?

At 1.0 level of competition number of ways to win approaches infinity.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Why didn't Fed play with a 450g 500sw racquet like me, an ntrp 1.0? Was he physically incapable of handling such a stick, despite it being objectively better?

Genius

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

This is the best post on here in a long time once you factor in your signature. That stick is heavier than the RF97A!

haha, good catch

 

[TennisLogic]

This is the best post on here in a long time once you factor in your signature. That stick is heavier than the RF97A!

Playing competitively and weekend warring or slicing around aren’t the same. Most people who play competitively benefit from switching to an ezone, pure babolat, or the sort
The main difference can be perceived when one is playing defensively or on the back foot

 

[Shroud]

Playing competitively and weekend warring or slicing around aren’t the same. Most people who play competitively benefit from switching to an ezone, pure babolat, or the sort
The main difference can be perceived when one is playing defensively or on the back foot

Yet the goats all have higher sw than ezones and babs. Arguably Nadal and Joker are some some of the best defenders ever. Yet they have higher swingweights than the stock RF that is talked about in the vid.

 

[TennisLogic]

Yet the goats all have higher sw than ezones and babs. Arguably Nadal and Joker are some some of the best defenders ever. Yet they have higher swingweights than the stock RF that is talked about in the vid.

we're comparing apples to oranges here. regular people to elite level pros.

 

[Shroud]

we're comparing apples to oranges here. regular people to elite level pros.

I suppose we are though you just mentioned:
"Most people who play competitively benefit from switching to an ezone, pure babolat, or the sort
The main difference can be perceived when one is playing defensively or on the back foot"

How do the pros not fit in there? They play competitively.

And wouldn't you benefit from those Ezones and Pure Babs yourself? Or are you an elite level pro?

 

[zoingy]

objectively better? Who said that? And fwiw if as the vid says don't use a pros racquet unless you are a pro is valid it most likely goes the other way too. Pros shouldn't use rec players frames!

BTW Wimbledon was won with a 393 SW and some pros have been over 400...

i said that, it's based on facts and logic, and definitely not out of a need to talk about my ability to perform quick strokes on my beefy stick

 

[TennisLogic]

I suppose we are though you just mentioned:
"Most people who play competitively benefit from switching to an ezone, pure babolat, or the sort
The main difference can be perceived when one is playing defensively or on the back foot"

How do the pros not fit in there? They play competitively.

And wouldn't you benefit from those Ezones and Pure Babs yourself? Or are you an elite level pro?

I’m just an old man who’s happy to exercise with old friends
When discussing high-level competitive tennis, I’m referencing people on these boards, perhaps 4.5s or 5s, not pros making a living competing in tennis

 

[robyrolfo]

Just my personal experience, but I was a believer in the old "use the heaviest racquet you can handle" line of thinking. Was using the Yonex Vcore Pro 97 HD and D, but started having some wrist issues, and switched to something lighter, the Vcore 95, and it helped my game a lot. Just a lot more maneuverable and quick when needed (at net, defensively), but more importantly it allowed me to whip through my forehand better (so faster head speed), without any wrist discomfort.

And while it is lighter than the Vcore Pro HD and D, it feels just as stable to me. Probably because of the 95 head size, but I love the combination of a light, quick racquet that is still very stable, and gives great feedback (better than the Vcore Pros in my opinion).

I suppose we are though you just mentioned:
"Most people who play competitively benefit from switching to an ezone, pure babolat, or the sort
The main difference can be perceived when one is playing defensively or on the back foot"

How do the pros not fit in there? They play competitively.

And wouldn't you benefit from those Ezones and Pure Babs yourself? Or are you an elite level pro?

Are you serious with this comment? Obviously competitive amateurs, even the really good ones, are still MILES (or KILOMETERS) away from the top pros. It's almost like a different sport at the very top level. So why do you insist on comparing?

Also, in case you didn't notice, some dude named Andy Murray switched to an Ezone for the end of his career, in the hopes that it would help him keep up with the younger guys. Doesn't seemed to have made a big difference for him, but if he made the switch he obviously felt it could help him in some way. But, again, those guys are from a different planet than us regular scrubs.

i said that, it's based on facts and logic, and definitely not out of a need to talk about my ability to perform quick strokes on my beefy stick

Not sure if this was a serious comment either. Definitely gave me a little chuckle.

 

[TennisLogic]

Just my personal experience, but I was a believer in the old "use the heaviest racquet you can handle" line of thinking. Was using the Yonex Vcore Pro 97 HD and D, but started having some wrist issues, and switched to something lighter, the Vcore 95, and it helped my game a lot. Just a lot more maneuverable and quick when needed (at net, defensively), but more importantly it allowed me to whip through my forehand better (so faster head speed), without any wrist discomfort.

And while it is lighter than the Vcor Pro HD and D, it feels just as stable to me. Probably because of the 95 head size, but I love the combination of a light, quick racquet that is still very stable, and gives great feedback (better than the Vcore Pros in my opinion).


Are you serious with this comment? Obviously competitive amateurs, even the really good ones, are still MILES (or KILOMETERS) away from the top pros. It's almost like a different sport at the very top level. So why do you insist on comparing?

Also, in case you didn't notice, some dude named Andy Murray switched to an Ezone for the end of his career, in the hopes that it would help him keep up with the younger guys. Doesn't seemed to have made a big difference for him, but if he made the switch he obviously felt it could help him in some way. But, again, those guys are from a different planet than us regular scrubs.


Not sure if this was a serious comment either. Definitely gave me a little chuckle.

Agree on everything. Except, Andy Murrray is playing better with the ezone. His body is failing him still, but otherwise, I watched him closely and think he’d have better results and could probably get back in top 10 if he could last a few weeks without injuries

 

[gfwp]

Again... what do you consider heavy?? RF97 is the extreme exemple but what about 310 gr frames... are those heavy? Experienced player only??

My Wilson Sting II Midsize is some 360g or a bit more.

 

[TennisLogic]

My Wilson Sting II Midsize is some 360g or a bit more.

Heavy is different for each person, but generally I’ve seen people play with 335 to 380+