Why is Rafa Holding this Racquet?

[haqq777]

So I came across this image

I got the image here: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...ing-a-training-session-on-picture-id169458043

Gettyimages caption says:

"Spain's Rafael Nadal checks his racket during a training session on the eve of the start of the French Tennis Open tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, on May 25, 2013".

Wondering if any of the tennis enthusiasts here know why Rafa is holding/using this blacked out, thinner beam non Bab. Could just be that he was checking out his hitting partner's stick or something. Just curious.

Cheers

 

[kkm]

Is that a Verdasco racquet?

 

[haqq777]

Is that a Verdasco racquet?

I have no idea to be honest. Verdasco switches his frames so much.

 

[WhETHANs]

I doubt that was his racquet or even if he was trying it out cuz 2013 was his last great year as of late. Probably his hitting partners cuz that's not rpm and 2013 was well before he switched to Lux original for a few months.

 

[kkm]

Verdasco used BBO and power pads...

 

[kkm]

plus the grip is wrapped for a lefty and the racquet itself looks suspiciously like Verdasco's old TF racquets

 

[haqq777]

plus the grip is wrapped for a lefty and the racquet itself looks suspiciously like Verdasco's old TF racquets

Good point. Verdasco was using Dunlop (supposedly a Biomimetic M3) early 2013 and had been using Dunlop for over two years by then though.

http://bit.ly/2bU2BqK

Edit:

After further investigation, look what I found. This photo was taken from 2013 French Open (day 6 match versus Tipsarevic).

Not sure what stick exactly it is but we know it is Verdasco's for sure - seems he was at the point of transitioning to another manufacturer maybe.

 

[kkm]

Good find!
probably one of the old Major mold racquets

 

[vsbabolat]

So I came across this image

I got the image here: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...ing-a-training-session-on-picture-id169458043

Gettyimages caption says:

"Spain's Rafael Nadal checks his racket during a training session on the eve of the start of the French Tennis Open tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, on May 25, 2013".

Wondering if any of the tennis enthusiasts here know why Rafa is holding/using this blacked out, thinner beam non Bab. Could just be that he was checking out his hitting partner's stick or something. Just curious.

Cheers

Its really very simple. He's looking at Verdasco's racquet and seeing how Verdasco broke the strings and how the poly sheered.

 

[haqq777]

Its really very simple. He's looking at Verdasco's racquet and seeing how Verdasco broke the strings and how the poly sheered.

Yep, sounds about right - any idea which racquet though?

 

[Fedinkum]

Bab PR just shlt their pants...

 

[WhETHANs]

honestly don't know how verdasco changes racquets so much especially on the pro tour. He's using the prestige xt rn but earlier he used the xt speed pro. And many more before that

 

[RanchDressing]

honestly don't know how verdasco changes racquets so much especially on the pro tour. He's using the prestige xt rn but earlier he used the xt speed pro. And many more before that

Well on one hand though the frames usually aren't too different (a few were however). I suspect he probably keeps the specs relatively similar and tinkers with the different string beds the frames have to offer. He seems to like those 18x20's in that 95-98 size. Hard to know. But interesting none the less.